April Book Recap

It's still a little hard for some of y'all to believe, but I didn't really grow up reading. Clif Notes were a lifesaver in high school. I'd read 'enough' to get by, but I didn't enjoy the act of reading so never did it. Maybe I wasn't reading things that held my interest or maybe it was because it was "required", but whatever the reason, I'm glad I took the challenge to add the goal of reading 17 books in 2017 (which became 88 books in 2017, 77 books in 2018, 67 books in 2019, 66 books in 2020, 67 books in 2021, 41 books in 2022, 98 books in 2023, 224 books in 2024 and 136 books in 2025). The majority of my reading recently has been listening to audiobooks, but it still counts! Even still, holding a physical book is my JAM and I hope I can add that back into my routine on a more regular basis. Just like in years past, writing a monthly recap of the books I finish is a great way for me to both record what I'm reading (so I don't forget and in case anyone is curious) and to stay accountable. So, without further ado, here are the books I completed in the month of April:

• Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben - I had seen this book mentioned a couple times, so figured it might be worth picking up. I got in line at the local library and was able to grab it a few weeks later. I seem to be on a thriller kick recently, so this goes right along with that theme. This one centered around military trained surgeons who were trying to advance the technology around artificial organs (specifically the heart). There are definitely a lot of conspiracies, and once you think you have figured everything out another twist comes along and throws you into a tailspin. I would say that I did actually have to look up an explanation about the ending because I didn't pick up on some of the hints that were given, but once I found the clarification everything seemed to fall into place. I don't know that it was my favorite, but it totally kept me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next/ what secrets would be revealed. I could see it easily adapted for the big screen. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds - I saw this in the YA section on my Libby app and thought it looked cute. I know last month I mentioned that I am not one for time traveling books (and I still stand by that opinion), but I didn't hate that theme in this one. This story is about Jack and Kate. Jack meets Kate when he is on a campus tour of the college he plans on attending in the fall. He falls for her, they become friends and then get into a relationship. Little does he know, Kate has sickle cell and she passes away from the disease a few months after they meet. Well, then the unspeakable happens and he is caught in a timewarp. The book follows his attempts to save Kate/ right the world/ get out of the time loop he seems to be stuck in. Think of it like a YA version of Groundhog's Day, but instead of a single day it's a four month span. I wouldn't say it changed my mind of time travel-y type books, but it was cute enough and I enjoyed it. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney - I had seen this one pop up in the recommended list of my Hoopla app for a while now, so I thought it was time to grab it. This was a thriller about a husband and wife who go away to a remote vacation and a plethora of secrets come out. I don't want to give anything away, but there were tons of twists and turns that really kept me on the edge of my seat. I would say I was really enjoying the book until I was about 80% done... then things started to unravel for me. I've decided that I don't like books with unreliable narrators. If they can be lying about parts of their story, then technically they could be lying about it all... and, if that's the case, it puts the entire book in question and that makes me dislike it. Also, there seemed to be a lot of loose ends that were never fully tied up. All-in-all, not my favorite book. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

• Catch Her If You Can by Tessa Bailey - I was excited that the local library had this book on the selves, since neither of my audiobook apps had it available. I was secretly hoping, when I saw there was another book in this series, that it would be about Eve and Madden and my wish came true. This was definitely a spicy rom-com with a marriage of convenience thrown in (it wasn't the main theme since this pair seemed to have it bad for one another for many, many moons, but the trope was there). Madden was picked up by the New York Yankees as a catcher and Eve was down on her luck with a struggling business and her sister's twins to care for. The two get together because of the health insurance, but we all knew the fake relationship wasn't going to stay fake for long. Here's to hoping we get another book in the series and that it focuses on Elton and Veda (although everything I've seen said this was the final book - sad face). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers - I don't remember if I saw this on a 'best of' list or on a friend's social media account, but I recently got in line for it on my Libby app and after a couple weeks it became available. I didn't know anything about it, but surprise, surprise, it was another thriller. This was the story of a 25 year old murder in a small Indiana town. It was told from two different perspectives - the mother of the murdered girl (back when it was happening) and a friend of the murdered girl (now in the present, 25 years after the fact). The friend, Margot, is a journalist who decides to dig into the case of her murdered friend when another girl goes missing in a similar fashion. As with most thrillers, this one had its fair share of twists along the way - some of which I guessed and some that caught me off guard. I didn't realize the author is a huge crime podcaster, but it makes sense with her storytelling ability and ability to keep an audience engaged. I would say that I was a little disappointed with the ending, but they can't all be home runs. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar - I had seen this on a couple of 'must read books of 2025' lists so I grabbed it from the local library. It was told from two different perspectives, Ma and Booma, told over the course of a week. Ma is trying to get her family, her two year old daughter and her aging father, out of India and to Michigan to meet her husband who has already moved for a job. Boomba is trying to get his family out of the slums and into a better situation. Each is doing their best with what they've been given, even if what they have is scraps and less than enough. The book itself is fairly short, but golly gee does it pack a punch. This is a story about sacrifice, family and survival. I think I knew where the story was heading the whole time, but I didn't want to believe it. Some stories, just like in life, don't have happy endings where everything works out and things are wrapped up with a nice, pretty bow. And how perfect is the title? I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Imposter by Adriane Leigh - Last month I listened to the first book of this series on my Hoopla because it was a 'bonus book' (meaning it didn't count against my month limit). I'll admit that it wasn't my favorite, but when I saw the next two books were released and that the rating for the second book was a lot higher than the first I figured I'd give it a second try. I'm happy to report that I did actually enjoy this one more than the first book. The first book was about Shae, a woman who managed an IG account that took over her life. Her husband, Dean, eventually leaves her for the woman they hired to be the face of Shae's IG account. Let's just say "a lot happens" - Shae ends up killing Jesika, going on trial for the murder, is put in a psychiatric hospital, maims her therapist beyond recognition and escapes under the identity of said therapist. The second book is about her living under the stolen identity. As luck would have it, Shae (who is impersonating Kelly) becomes the therapist of the couple who was her downfall in high school. Of course another insane plot for revenge is hatched and along the way we learn what has lead Shae to become the woman she is. I would say that I absolutely did not see the twist towards the end coming. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren - I was excited when another one of this dynamic duo's books became available at my local library (I honestly wish they had more of them). This rom-com is fraught with the enemies-to-lovers trope. Olive and Ethan were miraculously spared from a terrible bout of food poisoning at their siblings' wedding and end up taking the honeymoon that the couple could no longer make. The pair find out that what they thought was mutual hatred towards one another was actually just a huge misunderstanding and fall for each other (at least they fall in lust if not completely in love) in this tropical paradise that is their fake honeymoon. As with everything else from this pair of authors, I enjoyed it thoroughly. The slow-burn of their relationship kept me flipping the pages and the fun banter had me grinning from ear to ear (and not too much spice for the YA preferring reader ;)). Now if only I could track down the follow-up novella I would be all set (neither my library nor my audiobook apps have it available yet - bummer-ruski!). I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson - I had seen this book pop up a couple times recently so thought it was worth grabbing from the library (especially when I had a couple weekdays off due to one of the dentists being off for their kiddo's spring break). I have enjoyed some of this author's previous books (this was her debut novel in the adult realm, previous books have all been in the Young Adult genre) so I figured this one would be one of the same... and it was. It's a thriller about a woman who was violently attacked and given a week to live, in which time she wants to solve the mystery of who "killed" her. I thought it was a unique idea and even though I guessed the murderer, I was still hooked until the end. It was also much more emotional than I was expecting it to be and I appreciated how Jet felt flawed, yet real and relatable. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• The Intruder by Adriane Leigh - Well, it hasn't been my favorite series, but the third book was on my Hoopla app and I had listened to the first two already so I thought I'd give this one a go (originally it looked like it was going to be a three book series, but now it may be five books in total). This book follows along Shae as she plays the role of caregiver to Kelly, her previous therapist, who she subsequently stole her identity and then eventually found out was her mother! I know, just when you think this series can't get any more intense, it goes and turns another fourteen corners. Let's just say you can see Shae's grasp of reality become looser and looser as the story progresses. I would say that this one felt a bit repetitive, but maybe that's just how Shae's mind was working (or not working) - because, golly gee was she unhinged! I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison - I picked this book up from the library after seeing it on a 'best of 2025' list and thought I'd give it a try. I had read a few of books from this author in the past (the Lovelight series a few couple years back) and remembered liking them so was excited for this next series (even if it is only two books long and I can't find the second book available anywhere quite yet). This is a romcom set in Baltimore. Lucie's twelve year old daughter calls into a local romance radio show looking for dating advice for her mom. Little does Lucie know, the call will go viral, she will end up as part of the radio show looking for love and find it with one of the jaded hosts, Aiden. It was cute, but nothing you haven't heard before. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• When We Walk By by Kevin F. Adler and Donald W. Burnes - I saw this book on my Libby app and it caught my attention. This is an in-depth look at how we can help our neighbors who are unhoused. The main premise is that this is not a problem to be solved, but these are people to be loved. Often times people who have found themselves without a place to call home are ignored and walked past without much of a second thought. This book reminds us that we are all people looking for love, connection and to have our basic needs met. The focus of this book are the failing systems and our failing humanity. Although at times this book made me feel as though the problems may be too overwhelming, it also shows that if we focus on compassion and the needs of our neighbors (helping them where they are at) we can make a huge impact. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy - I had seen this mentioned a bunch recently, so decided I'd grab it from the local library. As with the majority of books I read, I didn't know what to expect when I picked this one up. It was about a family who lived at a research facility near Antarctica. They were there to be caretakers, but eventually the facility falls into ruins and they are tasked with wrapping everything up and helping to move a vital seed bank off the island. Their lives are thrown into chaos when a mystery woman washes up on shore during a tumultuous storm near the end of their stay. I didn't love it and I think it's because I couldn't tell what exactly the book was trying to be. At times it seemed like it was trying to be a thriller, while at other points it felt like it was attempting beautiful prose, oh yeah, and with some romance sprinkled in. It was okay, but nothing that felt too overly amazing to me (definitely not worth all the hype I had seen). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin - I had this one in my 'for later' list on my Libby app for a while and it was available when I needed something to read so I grabbed it. I didn't realize it was a memoir when I checked it out, but as per usual, I always enjoy a good look behind the current of someone's life. This is Lara's story about ending up in jail due to her addiction, the fall out and then subsequent successes after her release and hard work to turn her life around. I found it easy to root for Lara and want nothing but the best for her, her family and the many people she met along her journey. This is not only the story about redemption, but also about how broken the system is (or at least that is what kept coming to the forefront of my mind). I am stoked that Lara was able to 'make it out', but know that for the handful of stories about overcoming the odds there are hundreds of stories that don't have as happy of an ending. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey - I had been on the waitlist for this audiobook for quite a while and it finally became available. I normally really enjoy memoirs, but I've gotta say, this one wasn't my favorite. It definitely helped that it was read by the author because it felt like you were really inside of Matthew's head, but maybe it was just that I couldn't relate to his life in the slightest that made me have a hard time connecting. He tended to pop around from thought to thought very abruptly and it left me feeling a little like I had whiplash. I seem to be on an island by my lonesome, though, because it appears like everyone loved this one. It was a quick listen and entertaining, but not in my top books like I was hoping it might be. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• I Take You by Eliza Kennedy - None of the books that I had in my 'for later' list were catching my attention, so I went through my Libby app looking for books narrated by my favorite - Julia Whelan. This one looked interesting (and by "looked interesting" I mean I liked the yellow of the book cover, ha) so I grabbed it. This was about a lawyer, Lily, who was set to marry her fiance but wasn't sure if that was the route she wanted to go. She couldn't seem to stay faithful to him, even though he seemed 'perfect' on paper. I'll be honest and say that I was actually more interested in the career aspect of her story than the romance department, but that may say more about me than the book itself. I could listen to Julie Whelan narrate audiobooks for hours a day and never tire of it, so of course I was wrapped up in this story. I wouldn't say the story was amazing (a decent beach read, if you're looking for one, but be warned that it is a bit spicy), but it kept me entertained and I wanted to stick it out to see if she would end up with Will in the end or not. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane - Real Talk: This is another one I grabbed simply because Julia Whelan was narrating it. I saw that it was a thriller and that was about all I knew before downloading it. It was about a journalist who has an on-air breakdown after experiencing extremely traumatic events in Haiti. Her mental collapse forces her to retreat from the world until she reunites with a man she met years earlier while trying to find her father. The story follows her journey through her agoraphobia with the help of her second husband, only to find out that he is not the man she believes him to be. It was full of twists and turns that I did not see coming and ended up really enjoying. Some of the plotlines got a little muddled and even a bit confusing at times, but if you hang on till the end I felt like everything came together. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• No Tea, No Shade: Life of a Drag Queen - A friend of mine had recently read this book and I thought it looked interesting. I was expecting it to read a bit more like a memoir, but it was actually short essays written by six different drag queens. With drag (and the LGBTQIA+ community in general) being so villainized these days, I was interested to read more about a lifestyle that I don't know much about first hand. I appreciated not only the perspective that these folks shared, but all of the work and activism that they do for not only their community but for society at large. Although the book may not have been what I was expecting, I enjoyed it nonetheless and want to learn more about each one of these people/ performers. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page - I had seen this book mentioned on a few different lists recently, so as soon as I saw that my library had it in stock I got in line. Oh my goodness, I can see why! It was about Tilly, who recently lost her husband. Before he passed, he went to their local bookstore and set up a 'year of books' for her - where she'd receive a different book every month. Be still my heart ;) The books take her on different adventures (whether in her backyard or across the globe), learning more about herself along the way. I couldn't put this down, finishing it in a single afternoon. It was so sweet and heartwarming, even if a bit predictable. It was about grief and love and friendship and second chances and the love of books and so much more. It made me smile and tear up and wish it would never end! I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston - I had read this author's first adult novel back in February and enjoyed it, so thought I'd grab this one once it became available at the library. This tale is told from many different points of view on multiple different timelines (before, during and after 'the alibi'). I'd say that at times it felt like I had a little whiplash because it was jumping all over the place, but I guess you never really had time to stop and try to figure out the whodunit when everything was changing from page to page. The story focuses on two main women, Aubrey and Camille, who seemingly have nothing in common except for one man, Camille's husband, Ben. Ben is a high-profile lawyer who has gotten himself twisted up in Aubrey's life, unbeknownst to Camille (and Aubrey herself). The two women switch places for twelve hours to try and figure out what Ben is up to, but then he ends up dead the following day and they have to hang on for dear life as everything starts to unravel around them. I'd say it was a keep-you-on-your-toes thriller without being scary. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Mad Wife by Meagan Church - This popped up in the trending section of my Hoopla app so I thought I'd give it a listen. I'm normally not one for historical fiction (don't ask me why, they just aren't normally my jam), so with this one set in the 1950s I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it, but it wasn't too bad ;) Lulu is living the perfect housewife life outwardly, but inwardly she is tearing her hair out (I mean, let's be real, I think most women in that era probably had some underlying anger/ resentment/ frustration). The plight of the everyday (and often silenced) woman. This is the story of how societal pressures and misdiagnosis can ravage a person. I thought it was suspenseful in all the right spots and it kept me want to find out what would happen next. For not normally enjoying this genre, I'm pleased with how it held my attention. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - This is another audiobook that I grabbed simply because my favorite narrator, Julia Whelan, was reading it. It ended up being about a love triangle of sorts - an ex-wife, her ex-husband and his soon-to-be wife. The story appears to be about a jealous ex-wife, until you find out there is more than meets the eye. There were tons of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat for the entirety of the book (some feeling a little more forced than others, but, hey, it was all entertaining). I could see this easily being turned into a movie or series. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman - I actually snagged this one on my Hoopla app because I saw the "Reese's Book Club" sticker on the front and assumed it had to be good (and you know what can happen if you assume...). This book is told on two different timelines - in 2008 when three high school seniors go to Greece for the summer after they graduate and in 2018 when two of the friends get back together after ten years apart. I enjoyed switching back and forth between the two timelines, but at times I felt like the story was a twist on the real life story of Amanda Knox (but with a third friend thrown into the mix). I was intrigued enough to finish it, but not too invested in any of the characters to be drawn in completely (maybe it was the entitlement or privilege that I just couldn't relate to). I'll just say it wasn't my jam. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• The Celebrants by Steven Rowley - I don't remember how exactly I came across this book, but I do know that I am in line for another one of this author's books at the library (it had a longer line, so this one became available first) so maybe that's how it potentially popped up on a recommended list. This is the story of a group of friends who met in college and put together a 'funeral pact'. They can each call the group together when they are going through an extremely rough patch to enact their own funeral - where they all have to get together and say nice things about the 'dearly departed'. They don't want to leave anything left unsaid and it is meant to be a springboard into getting their lives back on track. I thought it was an interesting premise and a quick read. I wouldn't say that it was earth-shattering, but I enjoyed it. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter - I have always enjoyed this author's books, so when I saw another one of them was available at my local library I put it on my hold list. As expected, this one was cute and sweet romcom. It was the story of Abi and Declan (told in alternating perspectives). Abi is a professional cleaner and while her apartment is being fumigated she sneaks into one of the places she cleans to crash, but unbeknownst to her, the penthouse is NOT empty and she ends up waking up and walking into a fake relationship. Declan is a millionaire who seems to have it all, except for a girlfriend, which is why he made up one for the previous year. When Abi rolls out of bed and into the prying eyes of Declan's parents, they assume she's the always busy girlfriend and a fake relationship is formed. I've never seen Pretty Woman, but I'm guessing it had those vibes. This is a quick read full of swoon-worthy moments and witty exchanges that had me chuckling (even if you do have to suspend reality a bit while reading). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Glass by Ellen Hopkins - I listened to the first book of this series, Crank, last month and was taken by how real and raw it was. The writing felt like you were in the mind of an addict (or at least what I would imaging the mind of an addict would be like). This is the next book, meeting back up with Kristina after she has given birth to her baby boy and, at the moment, is free from crystal meth. Unfortunately she falls back into the "monster's" grip and can't seem to stay clean. The book focuses on the impact addiction has on families and the devastating effects addiction can play in every aspect of someone's life. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

With that, April is done-zo. If you have suggestions, let me know! I'm always looking to add to my "must read" list! 

What's the best book you've read lately?