April Reads

A book I couldn't get out of my head, and so much Magnolia Parks

This month was a month of Magnolia Parks. And it is also the month I read, and couldn’t stop thinking about, The Women. I had a major book hangover, and it might be my favorite book all year. After last month’s BRAD heavy focus, I barely have any this month, something that will be rectified shortly I am sure.

Five Star Reads:

The Women (Libro.fm) - About the women in Vietnam, this book will break and build your heart. I am usually so-so on Kristin Hannah (loved the Nightingale, hated Four Winds) and this blew The Nightingale out of the water in my opinion. I felt anger, horror, sorrow, grief, love, hope, all of it along with Frances and her bad-ass women friends. This book will stay with you, and I am so grateful I had someone to chat it out with immediately - looking at you, Nora - because I needed a debrief desperately.

Funny Story (Libro.fm) - I ate this book up. I love a good fake dating premise and this one delivered. Emily Henry is always a delight to read, and I just loved reading this one. I always feel transported by her books, and I am pretty sure I just spent the summer in Michigan without leaving my house.

Just For the Summer (BOTM Audio) - The Abby Jimenez recipe is predictable but delightful. I love how her characters all tie together in some way, and the "quick review” I left myself in Storygraph was “good feels” and that just about nails it. I loved reading how the main characters fell in love through an Am I The Asshole post, and a shared “curse” of breaking up with people only to have them find their soulmates after.

Magnolia Parks:

#2 Daisy Haites, #3 The Long Way Home, #4 The Great Undoing, #5 Into the Dark (all Libro.fm) I was a slow burn on this series, which I have heard isn’t uncommon, but once I got going, I couldn’t stop. The books are listed in order above (excluding the first, Magnolia Parks, which I read in December) and they will suck you into their uber-rich British world. The books alternate perspectives, from Magnolia and BJ to Daisy and Christian and Julian. There’s romance, love, betrayal, mob ties, flagrant wealth, and just overall an enjoyable ride. There are some heavy topics in there, and I really can’t wait for the next book.

Other Reads

Anger Bang (Libby) - I was borderline on classifying this as a BRAD and decided it’s not but still earns 2 peppers because it’s got some good spicy scenes. Thea is a shy paleontologist roped into her reality TV sister’s week long 80’s themed wedding in the middle of nowhere. In an effort to piss her sister off, she proposes an “anger bang” to the best man, and spice, feelings, and crazy 80’s themed activities ensue. Really fun and quick read.

True Love Experiment (Scribd) - I had this on my bookstand for too long. It was so delightful, and Christina Lauren can write some great chemistry, and I like how this played off of the Soul Mate Equation with the premise of the reality show. Not my favorite Christina Lauren by any means, but this was a really delightful and quirky book.

Mad About You (Libby) - I really like Mhairi McFarlane usually, but this one wasn’t my favorite. Harriet breaks up with her fiancè in the beginning of the book, and accidentally moves in with the runaway groom from a wedding she photographed. She also runs into an abusive ex-boyfriend. If you love a British narrator, the audio is nice.

No One Can Know (BOTM Audio) - Thriller isn’t my genre. This was enjoyable but tough to do on audio unless you know it’s told from different perspectives and different times. I kind of guessed what happened, but enjoyed the few twists that were there.

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