Best of Book Riot

The Best Books Being Published in February

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Jeff O'Neal

CEO and co-founder

Jeff O'Neal is the executive editor of Book Riot and Panels. He also co-hosts The Book Riot Podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @thejeffoneal.

Welcome to The Best of Book Riot, our daily round-up of what’s on offer across our site, newsletters, podcasts, and social channels. Not everything is for everyone, but there is something for everyone.

The Best Books Coming Out in February

The best books coming out in in February include everything from literary fiction to romantasy and sci-fi. They may be future blockbusters, predetermined to move units, or well-written books by talented authors with smaller budgets. Some are by popular writers, and others by authors making their debut. 

Either way, you should have these books—chosen by various Book Riot contributors—on your radar this February.

February’s Best Book Club Books

What an…eventful year January was. Now that we are in the month of love and of Black History (no matter who tries to remove it from schools), there are so many books coming out, many of which are book club-friendly. There are memoirs, like the ones I mentioned in a 2025 memoir roundup not too long ago (Bibliophobia by Sarah Chihaya and Fearless and Free by Josephine Baker), and of course, lots of great romance.

8 Demon Romance Books to Sink Your Teeth Into

Vampires, werewolves, fairies, and shifters rule the paranormal romance genre. But aren’t we forgetting someone? What about demons? Demons are wickedly fun, and they don’t follow the rules as we know. When you encounter a demon in a book, you can always expect them to be daring, cunning, and full of secrets.

Short Month, Long Books: 9 Fantastic New SFF Books Out February 2025

The great new release train of 2025 keeps rolling, with a bunch of amazing new sci-fi and fantasy books out this month. Whether you like your SFF loud or quiet, sweet or slimy, cozy or scary, there is something for everyone!

There’s a thriller about a contagion at a research base in Antarctica that turns its hosts into superhuman killers; a young girl with special powers on the run from organizations that hope to exploit her abilities; a Gothic romantasy novella with a humanoid spider; an eighteenth-century mermaid tale (tail?) set in France; and more.

This Year’s Rainbow Book List Highlights the Best in LGBTQ+ Youth Books

But rather than summarize the work done by this year’s committee, let’s hear from them directly. Find below a little bit about the work of the Rainbow List, the goals of such a curated LGBTQ+ youth literature guide, and the duo of Top 10 lists.

Your Guide to All the Book-to-Screen Adaptations Coming Out in February

February is the month of love, which means it’s the perfect time to grab a date and cuddle up for a movie or TV show based on your favorite book. And no, we’re not just getting romance adaptations in February. So whether your “date” is a romantic one, a cat, or just a really comfy blankie, let’s ride out these cold months with book-to-screen adaptations in a wide variety of genres. Here are seven new adaptations coming to theaters and TVs near you this month.

Your Library’s Hoopla Digital Collections Are Breaking Their Budget

Usage of digital materials in public libraries continues to skyrocket. A report from 2023 notes a 34% increase in digital book use at libraries since just 2019, while other libraries have reported even higher increases in their digital collection use. Woodstock Public Library (IL), my local library, provided data that specifically shows increased use of hoopla. In 2023, patrons borrowed 6,402 digital items and in 2024, they borrowed 9,213, an increase of nearly 40%. Among the most borrowed hoopla items were audiobooks (from 3,498 to 5,427), movies (from 406 to 681), ebooks (from 1,708 to 2,121), and comics (from 266 to 359).

The Best LGBTQ+ Books for Young Readers As Picked by Librarians

Let’s take a look at the best of the best in LGBTQ+ youth literature from the last year. We’ll take a look at the Stonewall Awards, the Rainbow List, and highlight some of the queer youth literature that appeared across the awards landscape. Despite an environment that is especially hostile toward queer youth, books highlighting the experiences and stories of LGBTQ+ books are continuing to be uplifted and championed.

A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Poetry Collection

Honestly, the main reason I put the poetry collection I’m recommending today on my TBR was because of the David Bowie reference, and I’m so happy that bit of randomness introduced me to Tracy K. Smith and her breathtaking Pulitzer Prize-winning work.

Delightful Feline Antics Abound: Enjoy an Excerpt of SAPHIE THE ONE-EYED CAT by JOHO

Excuse me while I squeal at the adorableness of Saphie, the absolute star of JOHO’s all-ages graphic novel, and her furry feline siblings. A familiar scene is set in this excerpt of the comic for cat lovers and fans of Pusheen and Chi. Anyone who has been graced with the company of cats knows if it fits they sit. Watching a cat get a taste of their own medicine is hilarious and satisfying.