Welcome to Monthly Wrap, where I share three books I loved last month, three books Iām looking forward to, and three good things. Start finding book recommendations you love by upgrading to paid today!
Phew! Since there are so many photos in this post, I highly recommend viewing it in your email or on a computer so you get to see the grids of photos instead of having to scroll through them individually. Thanks for reading!
Last week, I walked downtown to the library to pick up some holds and suddenly noticed that everything was in bloom. It happens seemingly overnight in New England, but it's such a joyous moment when you realize it'sĀ finallyĀ happening.Ā
April felt like a month in bloom to me. After a few months of feeling a little off, there were so many good things, and I felt deeply like myself. My intention at the start of the month was to infuse more joy into my daily routine, and I'm proud to say that I was largely successful.Ā
A big part of this was getting outside more and moving my body. We spent many Sundays driving up the coast and doing easy nature walks with my camera in tow. I also committed to going for a daily walk in the second half of the month, and it felt like such a game-changer. There is no exercise goal with these walks; it's simply to be outside, moving, enjoying an audiobook or music or silence, and just being away from screens for a little while.Ā
Other things that brought joy this month? Bowling with friends, taking a felting class and making the cutest jellyfish that now hangs by my desk, my mom visiting for the afternoon and making candles together, good therapy sessions, cleaning out my closet and wearing cute outfits, a yarn stash clear out, flowers in bloom around town, train rides to Boston to visit old favorite haunts for Indie Bookstore Day, physical therapy, and a really fun book club discussion.Ā What brought you joy this month?
Now, onto the books...
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3 books I loved recently
Ordinary Human FailingsĀ by Megan Nolan.Ā This was my first read of April and it set the bar high. I was blown away by this nuanced and lyrical story of an Irish family in London in the 90s. The novel is framed by a violent crime, with 10-year-old Lucy as the prime suspect, but Nolan takes the readers into the interior lives of all of Lucy's immediate family members. We get a glimpse into all the small tragedies they've endured, which paint a portrait of a family who isn't good at being a family.Ā
The House of Broken BricksĀ by Fiona Williams.Ā While perusing a recent issue of Kirkus, I came across this book and saw it got a starred review. It's the story of a family - Tess, Richard, and their two young twin sons, Sonny and Max - who live in the English countryside. Tensions are high, and the novel is told from alternating perspectives by each family member, where the reader slowly realizes what is causing strife in the family. This is an impressive debut and I especially love the lush and poetic descriptions of nature and the changing seasons of the landscape and this family as time progresses in the novel.Ā
Effie Olsen's Summer SpecialĀ by Rochelle Bilow.Ā I get a number of emails from publicists pitching books in my email, so it's rare that one catches my attention, but I'm glad this one did. The fact that this book was pitched as akin toĀ Evvie Drake Starts Over,Ā paired with it being set in Maine and by a formerĀ Bon AppetitĀ staffer, piqued my interest. And this book wasĀ delightful. After sixteen years working as a chef in revered kitchens, Effie returns home to Alder Isle, an island off midcoast Maine. She plans to stay just for the summer while she figures out her next move, but she reunites with Ernie, her high school best friend, and the island grows on her over the summer. It's got a lovely cast of quirky and lovable characters, excellent food writing, and a wonderful setting, and Effie and Ernie are such sweet characters. Now Iām eager to read Bilowās debut novel as well.
Looking for more recs? You can see everything I read in April here.
3 new releases Iām looking forward to
Whale FallĀ by Elizabeth O'ConnorĀ (out 5/7) because it's a debut set in a seaside English town in the 1880s, which reminds me of one of my favorite novels from last year, The Whalebone Theatre.
This Summer Will Be DifferentĀ by Carley FortuneĀ (out 5/7) because I loved Fortune's release last year (I didnāt love her debut! I know Iām in the minority) and am eager to dip into a well-done summery romance.Ā
Last HouseĀ by Jessica ShattuckĀ (out 5/14) because it's an expansive historical novel about a family spanning many decades from the 1950s on that was compared to one of my all-time favorite novels, Great Circle.Ā
3 good things
Indie Bookstore Day.Ā We celebrated Indie Bookstore Day this past weekend by hopping on the train down to Boston and visiting some of our old favorite bookstores! I went to undergrad in Boston and lived there for several years before we moved to New York (and then Maine!), so it's always a treat to be back in town. We hit up two of our favorite bookstores, got lunch at our favorite Mexican spot, saw a couple friends, and overall, just really enjoyed the day. It was one of those easy days where the plan worked out flawlessly, the weather was great, and I came home feeling happy and filled up.Ā More of these days, please!Ā
Bedroom refresh.Ā We moved into our apartment two and a half years ago, and I never put any design energy into the bedroom. It's a small room, so I always had a mental block about decorating it to make it feel cozy but not crowded. It also only has a small window, so it's the darkest room in the house, leaving me at a loss on how to make it feel airier. In mid-March, inspiration finally struck, thanks to a beautiful block print quilt I couldn't afford at a store downtown that sent me on a quest to find an option in my budget (success!). Once I had the vision of repurposing what we had and created a small budget to add some new touches, it came together quickly, and now it's the coziest room. I get so much joy whenever I go into it or walk by!Ā
Sparks of inspiration.Ā Like the bedroom, I had some major inspiration energy around my closet this month after readingĀ Wear It Well. I did a total closet cleanout, with the book giving me the permission I didn't know I needed to let go ofĀ a lotĀ of things that just no longer suited my lifestyle or taste. My closet feels the most inspiring it has since I made the change from working a corporate job to being self-employed, which is such a joy. I'm having a lot of fun trying new outfits based on what I have, putting energy into getting dressed in a way that feels like me, and thoughtfully building out a small seasonal wishlist for what I might like to add for the upcoming warmer months.Ā
Til next time,
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Love your bedroom refresh ā it looks so peaceful and inviting!
You perfectly captured how I felt about April. There was something about spending more time outdoors that completely transformed my mental outlook. Your bedroom refresh really brightened up the space! It's the best feeling to be able to retreat somewhere that brings you joy. Loving all of the photos in this post- especially your scenes from the beach and bookshops!