I’m not sure what happened in April, but I’ve read nine books (instead of my usual six). It’s like the moody, constant rain of April has made it harder to leave my bed, where I’ve spent most of the month reading, watching Palm Royale episodes, and eating too much popcorn.
Emily Herny’s new book came out at the end of the month, and I broke my rule of not buying physical books this year, but I couldn’t wait to read it, and my local library has a long waiting list for Funny Story.
Re-read of the month
Daughter of the Pirate King and Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller
How I read it: on my Kindle
Genres: Fantasy, romance
My rating: 5/5
I’m trying to make up for already breaking my goal of rereading a book each month by reading two this time. I love this series, and I can’t wait to read the third stand-alone novel.
Fiction
Funny Story by Emily Henry
How I read it: physical copy
Genres: Romance, contemporary
My rating: 4/5
Every year, I wait around for the new Emily Henry book, and this one doesn’t disappoint! I bought the hardcover, which I rarely do, but I’m glad I did because I loved this story about two people who start living together after their respective partners leave them to marry each other instead.
A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin
How I read it: physical copy from the library
Genres: Historical fiction, romance
My rating: 3/5
I watched Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte in March, and I needed something to keep me entertained while I waited for the new season in May. This book felt pretty much like watching the show. A young woman in charge of her younger sisters goes to London to find a rich husband who can help her pay for all the debt her late father left them.
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
How I read it: physical copy from the library
Genres: Fantasy, time travel, mystery
My rating: 4/5
Adrienne Young is another of my favourite writers, and she definitely has a particular style that fully transports you to her reality.
But this is a story about time travel, something I usually avoid because it makes me anxious. I thought this would be another witchy book, instead, we have a complicated mystery about multiple generations of Farrow women travelling to the past.
I had only one ambition in my simply built life, and that was to be sure the Farrow curse would end with me. It was as good a place as any to end a story. I wasn’t the first Farrow, but I would be the last.
Non-fiction
Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell
How I read it: audibook
Genres: Sociology, cults
My rating: 4/5
I recently started listening to the podcast Cultish, where Amanda Montell talks about a different “everyday cult” in each episode. When I heard she wrote a book about cults focused on linguistics, I knew this would be a great way to use my Audible trial. I’m too introverted to be part of any “cult”, the social aspect puts me off, but I really enjoyed the book.
YA reads
Social Queue by Kay Kerr
How I read it: on my Kindle
Genres: YA, autism
My rating: 4/5
Early this month, I wrote a post about Autism Acceptance Week, where I added a list of books written by neurodivergent writers with autistic characters. Social Queue was on my list, and it was a great read. It’s a bit childish for me now, I wish I had read this as a teenager because it would’ve been so helpful to have more insight into my mind growing up.
These Hollow Vows and These Twisted Bonds by Lexi Ryan
How I read it: on my Kindle
Genres: Fantasy, romance
My rating: 4/5
This duology follows the current trend of faeries being tangled with humans, and what can I say? I guess faeries are my new vampires, and I will keep reading this fantasy genre until a new fantastical being comes along. The first book feels like a retelling of ACOTAR, with similar characters and circumstances, but it gets better during the second book.
So that’s the list for April! I read more than I expected, and I have a pretty long TBR for May I don’t know if I’ll be able to complete. The weather got warmer this week, and if it keeps improving, I should be able to read in the park more often and change the scenery, but not the hobby!
Willow in Winter 