My 2025 Reading Challenge - February Progress

Two months down in 2025, and here's my second reading challenge update—talk about consistency! February has treated my reading journey wonderfully. I managed to finish five books spanning different genres and writing styles, with only two being planned reads. The other three? Pure chance and mood-driven picks, but isn't that what makes reading so magical? Each book offered its own unique experience.

Books for February with ratings: "The Hobbit," "The Nosy Neighbor," "The Reunion Dinner," and "The Flatshare." Reading goal progress shown.

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

Selecting my 2025 reads hasn't been difficult thanks to my never-ending TBR list and ever-changing reading moods. But I had made promises—to myself and to a Tolkien-obsessed friend—to finally tackle the LOTR series. I rarely enjoy books that others subtly push on me, but The Hobbit? It completely won me over.

The Lord of the Rings series had been gathering dust on my TBR list for ages. This year, I finally found the courage to overcome my intimidation of classic works and started with The Hobbit.

"The Hobbit" book with scenic cover of green hills and eagle, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Small painting of open book on grass in the corner. — A fantastical journey requires a matching bookmark!

I was surprised by how much I related to Bilbo Baggins, hobbit or not. His journey begins reluctantly, but those Took instincts guide him through one dangerous adventure after another, all navigated with quick wits and a sprinkle of luck. His yearning for home and comfort zones? That hit close to home for this human. The book pours with witty, emotional, relatable quotes you can imprint in life. My absolute favorite and the most cherished was this:

Highlighted book text with emotional quotes about adventure, peril, and valuing simple joys over wealth. Orange and pink highlights emphasize key phrases. — I have read the quote highlighted in pink, a numerous times but nothing matches the emotions you feel when you read it with the context!

Every page of Tolkien's writing captivated me as Bilbo's adventure unfolded, and I often caught myself wishing I could join him in the journey. This book beautifully shows how certain journeys can change our core—or perhaps reveal our true selves when put to the test. I'm definitely revisiting this one!

The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary

I'm part of a global virtual book club where we choose a monthly read based on poll results.

Since February was the month of love, we opted for the rom-com genre. This book was the clean winner with a captivating plot!

Leon, a night-shift worker, will take the apartment during the day, and Tiffy can have it nights and weekends. He’ll be there only when she’s at the office. In fact, they’ll never even have to meet.

I struggled through to finish the first 20% due to the lethal reality getting in the way, but once Tiffy discovered Richie? I couldn't stop. The pace picked up wonderfully from there.

Person holding a Kindle displaying "The Flatshare" by Beth O'Leary on a train. Blurry palm trees visible through the window. Relaxed mood. — I continued reading this book on my journey to Bangalore by train and finished it at the State Central Library in Cubbon Park.

Leon's narrative style was my favorite part as it perfectly matched his character. The concept of two strangers communicating entirely through post-it notes was both original and it was heartwarming to read their exchange. A few characters in the book has remarkable impact and are wonderfully developed, especially Rachel - everyone needs a friend like her in their lives!

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster, making me laugh, cry, and seethe with anger (particularly whenever that toxic ex Justin appeared). I'll admit I felt pretty smug about predicting some of the twists correctly, though!. ;)

The Reunion Dinner by Jesse Q. Sutanto

The Reunion Dinner proves that great storytelling doesn't always require length. This quick revenge story centered on adultery demonstrates Jesse Q. Sutanto's mastery of packing unexpected twists into a short format. Her ability to develop a compelling narrative in such a condensed form is truly impressive - definitely an art form that Sutanto has mastered.

The Nosy Neighbor by Nita Prose

Nita Prose crafts a near-perfect story that reminds us that neighbors aren't always what they seem. The writing is excellent, making you feel the tension "in your bones." While the overall execution is well-done, I felt that something was missing that kept it from being truly exceptional. Despite this minor shortcoming, it was an engaging read that kept me turning pages.

Both the books above were random reads I found on Amazon Prime Reading.

Aristurtle by V Shantakumar

I stumbled upon this gem at the Bookworm bookstore in Bangalore. After reading about 20 pages in-store, I was hooked enough to purchase the Kindle version to finish it. Aristurtle is an illustrated collection of wisdom presented with a delightful twist—deep philosophical insights delivered through funny quotes (completely relatable too!). The clever combination of depth and humor made this a quick yet thought-provoking read. My only disappointment was not finding it in the Fable database, so I've included a snapshot from my Goodreads shelf.

2025 Reading Challenge: 10 of 35 books read, 300 days left, 29% progress. Blue book icon, encouraging message.

Reflections

As I compete embarking on my 2025 Reading Challenge - February journey, I take away two major wins: 1. Finally conquering Tolkien after years of procrastination! 2. The variety of February's reads has reinforced my love for diverse genres and storytelling approaches by setting momentum for my March reads.

I leave quick reviews always on Goodreads and Fable.

Until the March progress,

Shruthi Jothsana.