May 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 May:

• This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens - I had read one of this author's books back in January and thought it was cute, so when I saw this one while scrolling through my Libby app I thought I'd give it a try. As expected, this was a sweet rom com about Minnie and Quinn. The two were actually born minutes apart in a London hospital, but their lives couldn't be more different. Minnie grew up being told that she was one unlucky soul, whereas Quinn seemed to have been given everything in life (at least to an outsider). The two randomly meet on their 30th birthday and strike up a friendship realizing who each other are (and even getting their moms back in touch after 30 years of built up resentment on Minnie's mom's part). It was a quick, light-hearted read and I enjoyed seeing how their paths had 'almost' crossed so many time leading up to their eventual run in. I'm always a sucker for alternating perspectives and this one even jumped around a bit with the timeline, which keeps you on your toes. If you're looking for a lot of romance, this might not be the book for you, because it seems to be a little more focused on Minnie's growth as a person instead of a romantic relationship between her and Quinn (although it's slightly there), but, nonetheless, I enjoyed it. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Fallout by Ellen Hopkins - This is the third and final book in the Crank series. I read the first book in March and the second book last month. Unlike the first two, this one was not told from Kristina's perspective. It was actually alternating perspectives from her three oldest children - Hunter, Autumn and Summer. It didn't necessarily focus on her addiction to crystal meth, but instead the fallout in their lives from this 'monster'. Each of the teens (they were teens at this point in the story) were living with different people (whether it was grandparents, foster parents or an absent parent) and had different levels of knowledge about their family history. I thought this was a great conclusion for the trilogy and liked how it wrapped everything up (especially with the news blurbs about other characters we met throughout the series). I was rooting for these kiddos, who felt real and raw, and loved being along for the journey of their personal growth. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Bodyguard by Katherine Center - I'm not sure how I came across this book, but it ended up on my 'for later' list and it was available at my local library so I grabbed it. It's a sweet romcom seeped in the fake relationship trope. Hannah is a bodyguard who is hired to protect a famous actor, Jack. Jack wasn't aware of the protective service until she appeared on his doorstep. Jack will agree to the protection detail only if Hannah pretends to be his girlfriend, because he doesn't want to stress out his mother who is currently battling cancer. As you can imagine, feelings bloom and Hannah struggles to keep the relationship professional while trying to decide if Jack is just a really good actor or if his feelings might be real too. This was a quick, clean read (not much spice) that had me smiling and saying 'awwwww' in all the right parts. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• It's Not Her by Mary Kubica - This book was highly rated and popped up on my recommended list on Hoopla (after my month of downloads reset) so I thought I'd try it out. It was told from two different perspectives - Courtney and Reese. Courtney is Reese's aunt and they are on a family vacation in Wisconsin with both of their families (Courtney, her husband, Elliott and their daughter Cass, plus Nolan [Courtney's brother], Emily [Nolan's wife and Courtney's best friend], Wyatt and Mae [Nolan and Emily's other two children]). Nolan and Emily had been having marital issues and one night they are murdered in their cabin and Reese goes missing. Courtney does her best to try to figure out who murdered her best friend and brother and where her teenage niece is. Courtney and Reese's timelines are slightly off (Reese's being what happened leading up to the murder/ disappearance and Courtney's after the incident). I'd say it was a decent thriller with a good number of plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing what would happen next, but nothing too amazing. I'd also say the reveal at the very end was a little much. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Molka by Monika Kim - I had seen this book on a bunch of lists last month, so when I saw it pop up on my Hoopla app I thought I'd grab it. I clicked into the audiobook and saw it was listed as horror and got a little nervous. Normally I am a scaredy-pants when it comes to horror type things, but I did a little googling and it didn't seem like it was supposed to be too scary, so I went for it anyway. This book mostly focused on the problem of hidden cameras and voyeurism in Korea. There were two main characters - Junyoung, an IT tech who becomes obsessed with a fellow coworker after spying on her in the bathrooms at their office, and Dahye, the woman who is being watched without her knowledge or consent. The book focuses on issues such as the dehumanization of women, revenge and misogyny. There are some ghosts and violence thrown in, which is where I'd assume the book turns from thriller to horror, but nothing too terrible. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• That's a Great Question, I'd Love to Tell You by Elyse Myers - I love following Elyse on social media, so when she released her book I knew I wanted to read it. I noticed that my Hoopla app actually had it available (I figured I'd have to wait until my library got a copy), so I downloaded it right away. This book was exactly what I expected it to be - a collection of raw, funny and vulnerable stories from Elyse's life. She is a comedian and content creator who happens to have anxiety and was diagnosed with autism. Her stories read like her social media posts - short snitbits from her life that are awkward yet endearing. I also love that we get more of a behind-the-scenes look at the early days of her relationship with her now-husband. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins - I had seen this book on must read lists for many moons, but it hadn't been released on either of my audiobook apps, so I just kept waiting... that is, until I noticed my library had a copy so I got in line for it. If you don't know who this author is, he's a retired Navy SEAL who became an ultrarunner. I was interested to learn more about his backstory (as well as his mentality, since I have heard so much about it) and this book delivered. It dove into his time as a child, his life in the military, his struggles with racism throughout his life, his mindset shifts and so much more. I would say that we are NOT cut from the same cloth, but that's okay. He enjoys beating his mind into submission and getting 100% out of himself, while, apparently, I enjoy the cushy life in my comfort zone ;) I would say that I read this book more as a memoir instead of a how-to guide of becoming a better/ stronger runner. I don't know that I plan on implementing any of his challenges, but I can see how his perspective may be helpful for others. I would give it a 9 out of 10. 

• The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzalez - I figured it was time for some YA books and came across this one when I was scrolling on my Libby app. I didn't know anything about it, but the cover looked cute so I grabbed it. I would say that had I read the synopsis I probably wouldn't have checked it out, since it was a little more sci-fi-ish than I normally enjoy, but it was good nonetheless. This was a coming of age story about Ivy. She somehow brings the main character of her favorite TV show (and the fanfic that she writes) to fruition in her life. She realizes he is living out the different stories that she has written, a day at a time (for example - enemies to lovers, the soulmate trope, etc). She has to enlist the help of her best friend and former best friend to try and figure out what is going on and how to 'fix' the situation. It was 'good enough', but I wasn't in love with the story. I did, however, appreciate the inclusion of a bi character, because it seems as though they are fewer and farther between, even with LGBTQIA+ characters. I would give it a 7 out of 10. 

• Mate by Ali Hazelwood - I noticed that a follow-up book to one of this author's previous novels was released earlier this year and I knew I had to check it out. I am normally not one for books about werewolves and vampires, but for some reason I get wrapped up in this storyline from Ali. I read the precursor of this book last year and although this one is a standalone story, I knew I'd probably enjoy it just as much. I will warn you, this is spicy with a capital S. Even still, I can get swept away in the plot like nobody's business. This story follows Serena and Koen. Serena is an extremely rare human-werewolf hybrid and Koen is the Alpha of the Northwest werewolf pack. Koen realizes that Serena is his mate, but knows it is unrequited so decides he will do his best to protect her while also keeping her at arms length. As with all of this author's books, there is witty banter, there are deep conversations, there is trauma, growth and dry/ dark humor, there is found family and fated love, there are high stakes and lots of heart and heat. I'll be honest, I'm not one for the paranormal fantasy genre, but if another book in this series is released I'll be in line for it pronto. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• Say Nice Things About Detroit by Scott Lasser - I was randomly scrolling around on my Libby audiobook app and came across this book. Obviously the title caught my attention and I had to grab it. I think I was expecting it to be nonfiction, but it turned out to be a novel. It was a quick listen, but nothing special to write home about (other than the fact that I loved hearing words like Ypsilanti, Livernois, Gratiot, etc). The story jumps around a lot - to different points of time and to different characters' perspectives. The main character, David, moves back to Detroit because his mom is unwell and has to deal with a lot of racial tension and economic decline in a city that may not be welcoming him back with open arms. There is a bit of a murder mystery thrown in, but I feel like everything was pretty surface-y and there wasn't too much depth (whether in the characters [which there are many] or in the plot overall) to make it an amazing book. I would give it a 7 out of 10.

• Little Movements by Lauren Morrow - I had seen this book mentioned on a few lists recently so thought I'd pick it up from the local library. It was a novel about Layla Smart, a Black choreographer who leaves New York City to move to Vermont for a residency with a prestigious art program. While there, she deals with life - marital problems, losing a pregnancy, the problematic [read RACIST] past of the institution she has been hired to work for, maintaining adult friendships and so much more. The story felt genuine (and maybe that was because nothing was too over-the-top or different from the 'real' world - the characters felt relatable, the struggles from normal) and I appreciated the focus on self-discovery and growth. You could also really tell that the writer was a dancer by the way all of the 'little movements' were so vividly described. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey - When I was scrolling through my Hoopla app I saw that there were three of this author's books bundled into one download (there is a limit of five downloads per month on this audiobook app) so I knew I needed to grab the set. The first book is all about the fake relationship trope. Travis, a baseball star whose career was cut short due to injury, moves back home to try and pick up the pieces of his life and runs into Georgie, his best friend's little sister who everyone sees as a joke (both figuratively and literally, as she is a professional clown for children's birthday parties). The two realize a fake relationship could be a win-win for them - with Travis looking a little more wholesome (after years of escapades with rotating woman) and Georgie seeming more grown up (in hopes that not only her family but the community at large would start to take her seriously). As with most of this author's books, this one is filled with spice, but also emotional growth in the characters. It is a swoon worthy romcom that you can't help but smile through. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey - This is the next book in the "Hot & Hammered" series (the Castle family owns a construction/ renovation company, so that is technically the backdrop for the books). We left off with Georgie getting her happily ever after, but her friend Rosie is in the throes of a failing marriage. Dominic and Rosie were high school sweethearts (maybe even more like middle school sweethearts), but after his tours overseas, he stopped communicating and their relationship turned into one of just going through the motions. After the Just Us League helps Rosie to see she deserves more, she decides to move out and gives her and Dom a final chance by forcing them into intense marriage counseling. There's loads of humor and chemistry, but also serious emotions throughout. I was pulling for the couple to make it, but also for each of the characters to live their best lives (and for Rosie to get her restaurant). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Kin by Tayari Jones - I had seen this book on a few lists recently, so thought I'd get in line for it at the local library. I was excited once it was available to see what it was all about. This novel is a coming-of-age story about two motherless Black girls in Louisiana during the time of segregation and Jim Crow. The two were in different situations (Annie's mom had left her with her grandma to raise and Vernice's mom was murdered by her father before he killed himself, leading to her being raised by her aunt), but were friends through it all. Their lives started to diverge after high school, when Vernice moved to Atlanta for college and Annie moved to Memphis to try and find her mother. The book dives into topics such as friendship, motherhood, class and race (especially in the South). It was told in alternating perspectives, which I always enjoy (I liked Annie's POV a bit more). It's a beautifully written book about found family and imperfect people. I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - A lot of folks had been talking about this book recently, so I wanted to check it out. I grabbed it from my local library and am glad I did. I would describe this as a book about a grandma who enjoyed writing letters... but it was so much more than that too. The story was actually told in the format of letters, emails and notes, which I loved (at times it felt a little disjointed, but I actually enjoyed having to put the puzzle pieces together to see how they fit). Sybil is reflecting on her life through correspondence with different people in her life (whether they be family members, friends, past coworkers, politicians and even famous celebrities). It is a story about grief, family, the power of the written word and leaving a legacy. Sybil struggles through finding forgiveness for herself while dealing with painful periods of her past. I loved seeing Sybil's growth, showing us that it's never too late to make a change (even if it was a bit predictable). It was a charming read that flew by, but one that I wished would've kept going and going. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey - This was the third and final book in the Hot & Hammered series. Although these all could be standalone stories, I felt like the first two books set this one and the relationship between Bethany and Wes up perfectly. It's all about the enemies-to-lovers trope and it was pretty much perfect for fans of romcoms (and HGTV). Bethany is the perfectionist who is looking to move out from underneath her family's shadow and Wes is the new-to-town cowboy who has been roped into caring for his five year old niece. The two team up when a reality TV show is thrust upon them where Bethany competes with her brother, Stephen, on dueling house flips. As with all of this author's books, this one was filled with witty banter that had me chuckling out loud, sweet segments that had me saying 'awwww' and spicy scenes that had me blushing (what can I say?! I normally stick to the YA genre for a reason ;)). The chemistry between Bethany and Wes was undeniable, age difference be darned (even if the relationship jumped from contentious to affectionate and a little all-encompassing a bit too quickly in my opinion). I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• 10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte - I saw this book pop up in the recommended section of my Hoopla app, so I clicked on it. (I normally don't read about the book beforehand, but since the cover really didn't give anything away I thought I would at least check to make sure it would be in a genre I might be interested in reading.) It mentioned it was a thriller, which I thought would be perfect. I also noticed at the top of the page it references Only Murders in the Building, which I enjoyed as a TV series, so thought I'd give it a try. This was told in two main perspectives, Audrey and Lewis, with a third, Celeste, thrown in very sporadically. The premise is there is a murder in a small residential square and the landlady, Celeste, asks Audrey, her housecleaner and one of the residents, and Lewis, a crime writer and one of the residents, to team up and try to solve the murder because the police don't seem to be taking it too seriously. In the process of investigating, more murders take place and the duo try to track down leads and solve the crimes. I thought it was entertaining and enjoyable, cozy and charming. I'd read the next one if it ends up turning into a series. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez - I had been keeping my eyes peeled for this to become available at my library, so I was stoked when they finally got a copy. I always love whatever this author writes, so I expected nothing less from her newest romcom. This one was about three main characters, Mike, the boyfriend, Larissa, the girlfriend, and Chris, the boyfriend's best friend. It was told in alternating perspectives between Larissa and Chris' point-of-view. The book starts when Larissa meets the two guys after a concert and has to decide between Mike and Chris on who she'd prefer to drive her home. She chooses Mike and 'the rest is history'. The two become a pair, but Chris keeps getting drug into the mix when Mike drops the ball and asks him to step in and cover for him with Larissa. I think I was pulling for Chris since page one of the book. He is so sweet and thoughtful that I wanted him to get his happily ever after (at times, even more than I wanted that for Larissa). I also loved the storyline of the dog they were co-parenting. I could picture that little troublemaker causing havoc and it made me smile every time he was mentioned. This is technically the second book of a series, but they are standalone stories, so you'd be fine if you didn't read the first (or, if you're like me and read the first one many moons ago and sort of forgot about it). I think I heard Mike would be getting his own book in the series, so hopefully that'll be coming sooner rather than later. I loved the slow burn of this one and the overall pining feeling (also that it was more focused on the relationships than the spicy bits). I would give it a 9 out of 10.

• People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd - The cover of this book grabbed my attention when I was scrolling through my Libby audiobook app. This was a psychological thriller about an Instagram influencer and the dangers of putting your life online for all to see. It was told by three different narrators - Emmy (the influencer), Dan (her husband) and a mystery stalker character. It sort of reminded me a bit of His & Hers by Alice Feeney in that way. It was fast paced and had a couple twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I would say that I didn't really love any of the characters (but, I guess a good book makes you feel something and I definitely had feelings about everyone ;)). I felt like it did a good job at reminding folks about how fake and curated social media can be without feeling too overly preachy. It was a quick read that kept me guessing. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar - I thought it was time for something a little more lighthearted, so I was scrolling through some of my saved books on my Libby app and saw this one. Obviously you can tell from the title it is probably going to be all about the fake relationship trope (and you'd be 100% correct). This one focuses on two high schoolers, Hani and Ishu, who are doing their best to try to accomplish their goals. Hani wants to be accepted by her friends for who she is and Ishu wants to be elected as Head Girl so her parents see she isn't her sister and can be successful herself. The pair decide that the other girl can help her in her journey, so they enter into a fake relationship. As with most fake relationships, the feelings turn real and the two have to come to terms with the fact that they like the other person more than they expected to. It's a cute coming-of-age story with a diverse set of characters (Bangladeshi, Muslim, bisexual, etc) - wholesome and sweet while still dealing with some serious topics. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• Where He Can't Find You by Darcy Coates - This book kept popping up on my audiobook apps, so I snagged it. I probably should have looked at the description a bit more before downloading it... I'll be honest, when I started it, I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it. I can be a bit of a wuss when it comes to 'horror', even if this one was technically in the Young Adult genre. For some reason I can be absolutely fine if the story is about a serial killer, but a serial killing monster, now that is somehow 'too much' for me (don't ask, I don't get it either ;)). Yep, this was about 'something' that was taking victims around town and then those victims would reappear (sometimes days, weeks or years later) having been killed and then stitched back together (sometimes with other victims, sometimes stitched together as bags, etc). The story follows a group of friends who try to stay safe (and do a little sleuthing) with the Stitcher on the prowl. One of the main characters has a sister that goes missing and the group mobilizes to try and find her (and therefore try to solve the mystery of who/ what the Stitcher is). I won't give anything away, but let's just say that if this was ever turned into a movie, I wouldn't be watching it (not because it was bad, but because it was too scary for my lil heart). I also (now) know I'm not the intended target for this type of book, but I pushed through and made it to the end. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

• More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen - I had seen this on a few lists recently and since the library had it on the shelf I decided I would grab it. I didn't know anything about it beforehand, but I ended up enjoying it nonetheless. It followed the life of main character, Polly, as she went through some struggles, such as infertility issues and getting unexpected information about her family from a DNA test she was gifted. I enjoyed the fact that the characters were in their forties and fifties, since midlife characters definitely aren't the norm. It also made me smile that she was part of a book group who had a rule about NOT reading the book that they selected. It felt real and raw, like it could be happening to a friend of mine. Life is not all rainbows and unicorns, it is messy and tough and this book doesn't sugarcoat the hard parts. I would give it an 8 out of 10. 

• American Fantasy by Emma Straub - This was another one that I had seen mentioned a lot recently and that my library just happened to have available (they are normally late on getting in new books, so I'm always a little surprised when new stuff shows up quickly). I'm not even sure how to categorize this one. I was expecting it to be a rom-com, but (and maybe this is a spoiler alert, so warning!) two of the main characters that you think will get together really don't, so that aspect wasn't really fulfilled. Despite that, I thought it was a fun book. It was about a boyband cruise - you know, when the aging boyband goes on a cruise with a boat full of their fans and havoc ensues. I've never been on a cruise and I was never like super gaga over a boyband, but it was still nostalgia at its finest. There were three main character POVs - Keith (one of the boyband members), Annie (one of the fans on the cruise who ends up going alone because her superfan of a sister breaks her leg and has to cancel last minute) and Sarah (one of the crew members on the ship). It was a fun read that made me smile, while still making me ponder about things like aging, fame, relationships and purpose. I won't be adding it to my personal library, but it'd still be great if you needed a summer read. I would give it an 8 out of 10.

With that, May 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? 

Workout Recap - Week 21

Sunday, May 17th – 6 mile trail run with the hubby

Monday, May 18th – 7 mile run

Tuesday, May 19th – Rest day

Wednesday, May 20th – 5.05 mile run

Thursday, May 21st – Rest day

Friday, May 22nd – 3 mile run with the hubby

Saturday, May 23rd – 7.77 mile run 

We are just going to consider this week a bust... I know, I know, I still got out and got some miles in, but nothing was easy. I'd say Monday's run was the best - the hubby had work stuff till late so I actually ran after work which was nice to switch it up. Wednesday's run was more of a shuffle because I was having tummy troubles (and the beach bathrooms weren't open while I was running). Wednesday night my car died (like when we had it towed it was estimated to need $10K worth in repairs...) and we've been dealing with that for a few days so I haven't gotten in what I would have liked. This week was a bit overwhelming at work too since two of my coworkers were out on vacation for a couple days so there was a lot more to do, which drained me of energy to get out for more miles... Anywho, we're gonna close the book on this week and look ahead to next (especially since I only have to work three days next week, so have more time to get in longer runs - YAY!). 

How were your workouts this past week?

Walt Wednesday

Some people do a "Wordless Wednesday" post, where they simply share a photo or image, but I thought I'd make a little series out of my Wednesdays. And since I love alliteration so much, why not go with Walt Wednesdays (obviously everyone can use a little break from the seriousness, scariness and sassiness of life - and what better way to help put a smile on your face than with a cute wiener dog picture, am I right?!)... So, without further ado...

WALT WEDNESDAY!

When life gets overwhelming, how do you de-stress? 

Workout Recap - Week 20

Sunday, May 10th – 6 mile run with the hubby

Monday, May 11th – Rest day

Tuesday, May 12th – 5.05 mile progression run

Wednesday, May 13th – 5 mile run

Thursday, May 14th – Rest day

Friday, May 15th – 8 mile run (5 solo miles, 3 miles with the hubby)

Saturday, May 16th – 8 mile run 

Runs this week felt strong. Nothing too long or difficult, but the ones I did I felt like they were ticking away without as much effort as I'd have had to give just a few weeks earlier. I'll take it. Next week is going to be a long (and fairly stressful, if I'm being honest) week at work, so I probably won't get in as many miles (running with the hubby on Sunday, so a shorter distance and then I've gotta work Monday - Friday, so shorter mid-week runs too), but I still plan on getting out the door. 

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 19

Sunday, May 3rd – 4 mile walk/ run with the hubby

Monday, May 4th – Rest day

Tuesday, May 5th – 5.05 mile progression run

Wednesday, May 6th – 6.16 mile run

Thursday, May 7th – Rest day

Friday, May 8th – 10 mile run

Saturday, May 9th – 7 mile run 

Sunday's run did not go well, in fact, it went so poorly I didn't even remember to take a photo because I was just trying to get back to the car without throwing up. Instead of Sunday Runday, it was more like Sunday Speedwalk-with-lots-of-bathroom-breaks-along-the-beach-Day. I don't know if it was something I ate the night before, my period, or a combination of the two, but whatever it was, my stomach was not having it and I was just lucky to get out of the activity somewhat unscathed. Thankfully the rest of the runs throughout the week went much better. I waited a little longer than I would have liked to start my runs on Friday and Saturday, so it was warmer than I would've liked, which meant more walk breaks (and stops to refill my water bottle), but I got 'em done. Overall everything's clicking right along and I'm happy with my running.

How were your workouts this past week?

Workout Recap - Week 18

Sunday, April 26th – 7.27 mile run (4 with the hubby, 3.27 solo)

Monday, April 27th – Rest day

Tuesday, April 28th – 5 mile run

Wednesday, April 29th – 5.2 miles of hill repeats

Thursday, April 30th – 5.1 mile run (2.1 miles solo, 3 with the hubby)

Friday, May 1st – Rest day

Saturday, May 2nd – 10 mile run 

This week I had to work on Friday, which meant I ran Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, taking Friday as my rest day. Instead of running all of those runs before work, I met up with the hubby after work on Thursday (which meant I got to sleep a little longer that morning - YAY!). The runs all felt good and the body seems to be chugging right along. I'm also excited that the sky keeps getting lighter earlier and earlier so my pre-work runs aren't in complete darkness any longer. 

How were your workouts this past week?

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?