I only realized I read so many books (10!) in April when I sat down to put this list together. Shoutout to audiobooks! I spent a lot of time this month crocheting and going outside for long walks at the end of the workday, which I often paired with my current audiobook.Â
I also read some fantastic romances this month, putting me back on a romance kick. Which feels really nice for the spring weather. I read some duds this month and some inspiring titles, so I hope I can pass along a great recommendation if you’re looking for one.
Here are the ten books I read this month and some brief thoughts on them.
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Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan | Literary fiction | Loved it
I loved this quiet and lyrical novel about an Irish family. On the surface, the book is about a violent crime that happened in London in the early 90s with Lucy, a 10-year-old, as the prime suspect. But what follows is a deep dive into the history of Lucy’s family, exploring the dynamics of a family that isn’t good at being a family. I was impressed with Nolan’s insights into the mundanity of day-to-day life and how tragic it can be in the most minor ways. Readers of Claire Keegan will enjoy this one.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune | Fantasy | Liked it
I wanted to add a little genre variety to my reading life this month, so I picked up Klune's most recent release. This one is just as cozy and warm as The House in the Cerulean Sea (which I loved!) as it follows Victor and his rag-tag group of robots as they venture into the world. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I hoped. Victor and his gang travel from their isolated home in the woods to the big city, and I started losing interest in the back half once they were well on their way. I also felt very distracted by the tone of this novel. It reads like a cozy YA novel, but then there would be overt sexual references. Every time this happened, it felt jarring and distracting.
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang | Romance | Loved it
I sang this book’s praises last week, and it’s immediately been added to my list of favorite romances! It combines many of my favorite elements of romance into one package. Kuang is such a fantastic writer, and I appreciated her expertise in the world of Hollywood shining through in the pages. Helen and Grant are such a lovely couple; they are smart and thoughtful, funny and vulnerable, and I loved their dynamic throughout the whole novel. I’m looking forward to whatever Kuang does next!
Wear It Well by Allison Bornstein | Nonfiction | Loved it
This book brought back so much joy in getting dressed for me! Like many others, I’ve found getting dressed a struggle after the pandemic. I went from living in New York and working at an office five days a week to living in Maine working for myself from my home office. These last few years, I’ve had a real crisis of confidence when it comes to getting dressed. Bornstein’s approach is so refreshing and approachable. Her focus is more on developing a personal style that works for you and your budget and lifestyle and makes you feel completely like you. This book also pushed me to finally really clean out my closet, so now it’s only full of things that I love, that fit me, and make me feel great.
Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler | Literary fiction | Really liked it
I picked up this novel because it checked two boxes in the reading projects I'm working on this year. I love Anne Tyler and was happy to sink back into the world of her writing. This is another quiet and lyrical family novel (I love them!) that has Tyler's quintessential keen eye turned on Rebecca, a 53-year-old mother of one daughter and three stepdaughters. Her children are grown, and she has been long widowed, so her gaze turns back to the year she met her husband, and she starts thinking about the other paths she might have taken. Ultimately, this is a novel about enjoying wherever life has taken you.
Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson | Nonfiction | Liked it
This was a reread for me, and I enjoyed it even more the second time around. In April, my goal was to seek more joy in my daily routine. This book was recommended to me by my therapist two years ago and really helped me during a time of transition back then. So, I decided to revisit it, reading a chapter each morning while I ate breakfast this month. Brain science is fascinating, and Hanson provides practical advice on how to hone in on more positive things without letting toxic positivity take over.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez | Contemporary fiction | Liked it
I read this for my local book club this month and it is such a great book club read! There is a lot to talk about, which led to a great discussion when we met. I found this book very readable and entertaining. It's told from three perspectives, and I enjoyed Raquel's the most (I would have happily read a campus novel entirely from her perspective, in fact maybe preferred it?). However, I really struggled with the magical realism that is introduced at the 60% mark of this book, which ultimately took away from my enjoyment of the book.
The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams | Literary fiction | Really liked it
What an impressive, poetic, and lush debut! It’s the story of a family, Tess Richards, and their young twin sons, Sonny and Max, who live in the English countryside. There is tension, and we get alternating perspectives from each family member that slowly reveal what’s causing strife in this family. I was particularly drawn in by the descriptions of nature and the changing seasons. I look forward to seeing what comes from Williams in the future.
Effie Olsen’s Summer Special by Rochelle Bilow | Romance | Really liked it
I adored this romance set on an island off the coast of Maine. It has a cast of lovely, quirky characters and tons of great food writing. It is warm, funny, and tender, and it gave me some serious Evvie Drake Starts Over and Happy Place vibes! Another great one to add to the list of Maine novels.
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl | Historical fiction | It was okay
I love Reichl's memoirs and enjoyed her fiction debut, but ultimately, this one wasn't for me. I'm not a huge Francophile, and I think someone interested in French food (so much meat! As a vegetarian, I struggled reading about this), culture, and history might enjoy this one more. After finishing and reading the author's note, it sounds like Reichl wrote this book in honor of her editor, who gave her the idea but passed away before the book came into being. So, I got the impression that it is a novel she stuck with in memory of this person. The plot moved too conveniently, and I was distracted by the addition of actual historical figures to the fictional tale. It was a quick read (I listened on audio over the course of a day!) but ultimately didn't live up to my expectations, sadly.
Have you read any of these? What was your favorite read this month? I’d love to hear in the comments!
Wow what a month!! You just put When We Were Grownups, The House of Broken Bricks, and Effie Olsen's Summer Special on my radar, all sound like the perfect read for this time of year. I also need to check out Wear It Well-- after having 4 kids I've been dreading purging my closet but it's definitely time. I'm listening to How to End a Love Story but somehow the audio isn't quite doing it for me, every once in a while this happens. I'm sorry about The Paris Novel I know you were really looking forward to that.
Hardwiring Happiness sounds like one I might want to pick up! All of the romances I read this month were great and I definitely feel like I'll keep up with the genre through the Spring and Summer.