Reading in April
All these details are coming at you a couple weeks late, but I guess it’s better now than never! While I am working on posting more regularly over on Instagram, posting on here takes a lot more time..which in theory I have more of lately, but the chaos of our days would say otherwise! 😉
Reading has always been one of my coping mechanisms to handle stress but this quarantine really has thrown that for a loop. I have struggled like many to focus which has meant reading has felt challenging at times.
I have found that certain genres are really working for me right now and others are just NOT. I have had to DNF quite a few books because the timing was just off right now even though a few months ago I would have had no trouble becoming fully immersed.
Reading Highs
My favorite books during April were Summer Longing and The Happy Ever After Playlist. They totally filled my quarantine reading buckets and were just so enjoyable and engrossing!
Reading Lows & DNFing a Book
I really enjoyed the books I read during April for the most part. I think it is because I had NO problem setting aside ones that weren’t working for me. I have always felt that there are way too many books in the world to read something that just isn’t clicking.
I sometimes come back to then later on which most likely will be the case with Valentine, which was just too heavy for me right now. If I had to pick my least favorite read, it would be The Wife Stalker just because I really struggle with endings that are just too “out there” but I know some people love that about a domestic thriller/suspense style read.
What I Read In April…
I read ten books during the month of April. It wasn’t my best month of reading but what I read I really enjoyed! I listened to two of them on audio and read the rest of them on my Kindle Paperwhite.
East Coast Girls by Kerry Kletter
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: May 26th, 2020
Amazon Link |LibroFM Bookstore Link
This story, while not as light as I expected, held my attention throughout. I love stories that go back and forth between present and past, uncovering details as it goes.
This book was about a group of four close-knit friends who after a tragic night in high school, part ways for many years. Their attempt to rekindle their friendship is full of challenge, hardship, and honesty, while ultimately proving how strong true friendships can be. This was a great but not too fluffy “beach style read”.
Perfect Tunes by Emily Gould
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: April 14th, 2020
Amazon Link |LibroFM Bookstore Link
This book threw me for a loop in the best possible way. While it starts with a story about a young musician with lots of hope and dreams, tragedy hits. It takes on a raw and powerful look at motherhood and the sacrifices women make for their children. While I am not a huge music person, I connected with both these characters and the storyline, and I just really enjoyed this one.
The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: June 11th, 2019
Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link
I somehow missed out on this one last year but after reading and loving The Happy Ever After Playlist I knew I had to go back and devour this one. While I really enjoyed this one, I did find that I felt more invested in the storyline of The Happy Ever After Playlist. I love how Abby Jimenez includes the “messier” parts of life in her writing and that is my favorite part of these books. While they are in the contemporary romance genre they are quite multifaceted (family dynamics, infertility, grief & loss, etc) which make them in a league of their own I would say!
The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link
The Happy Ever After Playlist was my introduction to author Abby Jimenez and I was hooked on her writing right away! The Happy Ever After Playlist is a contemporary romance that was totally engrossing, which is exactly the kind of book I need right now. The characters are multidimensional and the plotline was unique and the perfect escape kind of reading.
The Closer You Get by Mary Torjussen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: April 21st, 2020
Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link
I found this book totally engaging and full of twists and turns. It is a perfect example of “be careful what you wish for”. While the plot was fairly predictable, it was a totally entertaining reading ride filled with love, jealousy, secrets, and plenty of manipulation.
You can read my full review of The Closer You Get HERE.
Playing Nice by JP Delaney
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: July 28th, 2020
This domestic thriller about swapped babies at birth and just how far parents will go to protect the child they love was just what I didn’t know I needed! At first, everyone plays “nice” but soon the drama ensues. While this topic has certainly been covered before, I was impressed to find the number of issues and topics author JP Delaney was able to interweave into this compulsive plotline. I had a hard time putting this one down and am definitely adding it to my summer thriller’s recommendation list!
The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link
While The Wife Stalker was definitely entertaining, I struggle with an ending that is too “wait, what??!” I know that is what some people love about thrillers but I guess I just need something a little more based in reality. I did find this book completely engrossing until that point though!
Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link
Summer Longing is set in a tightly woven Provincetown community and Brenner’s vivid details set the scene so well I almost felt as if I was there too.
There is a great mix of drama, mystery, and romance which made the book a total page-turner. I loved the strong and capable female characters and the sense of connection not only with each other but eventually with themselves. It is a wonderful reading journey that encompasses the ups and downs of life and the lesson we learn through them.
You can read my full review of Summer Longing HERE.
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld was one of my most anticipated 2020 reads! After loving Sittenfeld’s 2008 novel, American Wife SO much that I had high hopes for this one.
Sittenfeld presented a compelling (and sometimes quite steamy) look at what might have been if Hilary Rodham Clinton had NOT married Bill Clinton…I always love books that look at the path not taken and this was such a nuanced look at female ambition, marriage, and compromises women have and still have to make.
Sittenfeld’s writing was engaging and the characterization of Hillary, Bill, and their initial relationship was well developed. As you move further into this book, this does become obviously a fictional look at the “what ifs” of a real individual which may not work for some readers. I really enjoyed this aspect of looking at things through an alternative timeline, especially during today’s political climate.
You can read my full review of Rodham HERE.
The Imperfects by Amy Meyerson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Amazon Link | LibroFM Bookstore Link
This book was just what I needed to hold my attention right now. The Imperfects was equal parts family drama and historical fiction, which was a pleasant surprise to me. When a distressed family comes across an unexpected gem in their inheritance, they are led down a path of discovery, exposed secrets, and necessary growth.
You can read my full review of The Imperfects HERE.
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