Hello Friends :)
Can you believe we're almost to the end of May already?
I had so many book reviews to share with you all this month, that I never actually got a chance to post my April wrap up.
I know it's really late, but I'm finally going to share it with you all today.
At the end of March, I decided to make myself a goal of trying to read 30 books in 30 days during April. I figured since I wasn't working, and entirely social distancing at home, why not give it a try. I was taking part in OWLS Magical Readathon, I had a bunch of ARCS I needed to get to, I had a bunch of books checked out through the library's Libby app, and I had a bunch on my own shelves I was wanting to try and get to. I ended up actually completing this goal which I'm pretty proud of, and today I thought I'd share with you what books I ended up finishing and what I ended up thinking about them.
Before I get started, I wanted to state two things:
First, unfortunately, I ended up reading quite a few books I didn't end up enjoying, and as such, there will be quite a few books I rated one or two star books on this list. However, the amazing books I read definitely made up for this.
Second, because I do have thirty books to get through, I'm not going to go into too much detail about any of these as I don't want this blog post to be as long as a book.
Here's all the books I read in April 2020 in the order in which I finished them:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black:
I unfortunately started the month off on a bad note. I'd chosen this one to complete my Arithmancy exam for OWLS Readathon, and I ended up hating it. The content was dark and disgusting, the plot was muddled and hard to follow, and I couldn't stand any of the main characters. Final Rating 1/5.
A Date With Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt:
This one ended up being a little bit hard to get into, as the first third of it really drags and the main character is practically insufferable. However, the second two thirds of it I really ended up enjoying, and I loved the growth shown by the main character. I often find myself loving these modern adaptations of Jane Austen's beloved classic stories. Final Rating: 3/5.
Second Impressions by Pepper Basham:
I ended up reading this one to complete my Potions exam for OWLS Readathon, and it ended up being a bit of a letdown. I still enjoyed it alright, but I didn't like some of the included content, and thought the romance seemed kind of insta-lovey unfortunately. Final Rating: 3/5.
The Truth in Tiramisu by Rachael Bloome:
I can't even begin to describe how much I loved this amazing second title in Rachael's Poppy Creek series. This was one of my favorite reads of the month for sure, and you can check out my full review here. Final Rating: 5/5.
Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead:
I ended up really enjoying this one overall, and only two things kept it from being a five star read for me. I really didn't like the religious system, and as a Christian reader, it made me extremely uncomfortable. I also didn't enjoy the sexualized nature of some of the passages. However, I still did like this one for the most part. Final Rating 4/5.
Amish White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunstetter:
I decided to reread one of my favorite Christmas books in April, which may seem weird to some, but I read Christmas stories all year round. I love this sweet, heartwarming story, and enjoy rereading it time and time again. Final Rating: 4/5.
Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills:
I expected to love this one, and I didn't. It had such a great premise, but the content was atrocious, and I thought the main character's friendship with her best friend was toxic and hostile, it was honestly even hard to read about. Final Rating: 2/5.
On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher:
Another one of my favorite reads of the month. I ended up reading this one for my Defense Against The Dark Arts exam for OWLS Readathon, and I loved it. You can check out my full review here. Final Rating: 4/5.
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling:
I reread the first Harry Potter book for my History of Magic exam for OWLS Readathon, and I buddy read this one with my best friend. I enjoyed it as much as always, especially since it had been a long time since I'd last reread this. Final Rating: 5/5.
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg:
I couldn't wait to read this one, as the premise reminded me of one of my all time favorite series; the Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. However, I thought the plot left way too many holes in it, and it really didn't answer a lot of the questions it raised throughout. Plus, I found it kind of boring and hard to get through during certain parts. Final Rating: 2/5.
The Crown's Game Evelyn Skye:
I loved this one, and thought it was honestly unlike anything I'd ever read before. I loved the setting of Russia, and thought that Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha were all characters I quite easily found myself rooting for. The plot twists kept me guessing around every corner, and the ending has me wanting to pick up the second book as soon as possible. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy:
I thought I was going to love this one, and in many ways I did. The plot and magical system are both complex and original, and I really enjoyed most of the characters. My complaint was the fact that everything wraps up way too fast and this book isn't nearly long enough to give the complex story the attention it deserved. I think this would have been much better formatted as a series, or as a much larger stand alone story. Final Rating: 3/5.
The Emerald Sea by Richelle Mead:
I really ended up liking this story, as I loved how it showed a whole other side to Tamsin's character. I enjoyed the strength she showcases, and how all three girls tales finally come to an epic conclusion. Once again, my only complaints were the inclusion of sexual content and the religious system that quite bothered me. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Bookworm Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts:
I've loved every one of Lisa's previous books, but this one ended up not being quite as great as expected. I really didn't like the inclusion of the sexualized content, and I didn't love how Toff and Amy's relationship was for the majority of the book. I still liked it, but I didn't end up loving it. Final Rating: 3/5.
Watch Over Me by Mila Gray:
I'd had this one recommended to me by a bunch of other readers, most of who I usually trust their opinion. For years I've been hearing nothing but amazing things about Mila Gray's young adult novels, and I ended up being completely turned off of ever reading another one of her books. This should never have been categorized as young adult in the first place, as it's quite clearly new adult, and the plot line made no sense and was basically just about an insta lust relationship with way more content than I'd ever want to see in a young adult novel. Final Rating: 1/5.
Stay With Me by Becky Wade:
Thank goodness that I chose to read this one after the last one mentioned, as it definitely made up for the awfulness of it. This book is phenomenal, and in my opinion, is Becky's best book to date. I loved Sam and Genevieve, and I loved the fact that this one is part contemporary romance, part mystery, and part timeslip as readers are treated to chapters of events that occurred when Genevieve was a teenager. Final Rating: 5/5. Check out my full review here.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer:
I ended up choosing this one to read for my Transfiguration exam for OWLS Magical Readathon, and since I love retellings and this one is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I was looking forward to it. It ended up being a pretty amazing story, and kept me guessing around each and every corner. I loved that it included a protagonist that has MS, and I thought that it was represented really authentically. There were a couple of content pieces included that I could have done without, but overall a really good story. Final Rating: 4/5.
Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins:
I should have read reviews of this one before I decided to borrow it from the Libby app. The content was a complete and utter turn off, and I've rarely disliked a main character as much as I did Edie. Also, why has it become a new trend to have cheating plotlines in so many young adult novels? Why are we encouraging teens that this is okay? This was another one of the worst books I read this month, and taught me that I really need to research books better before I decide to pick them up. Final Rating: 1/5.
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger:
My hubby and I read this one together, and we ended up loving it. Sophie was a fantastic protagonist, and I loved the way the magical world and system were portrayed. It's definitely a new favorite middle grade read, and I hope to continue on with the rest of the series shortly. Final Rating: 4/5.
Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay:
I really enjoyed this one, which was another of my most anticipated reads for this year. I loved the coffee shop setting, and I really enjoyed Jeremy and his adorable daughter. I did have a few issues with it though, which I'll share fully in my upcoming review, but basically I didn't love Alyssa, the fact that it's told from too many viewpoints or the fact that the faith element is nonexistent. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey:
I expected to love this one, as books set in bookish settings are usually some of my favorites. However, I didn't love that once again this has a cheating subplot, I thought Darcy was a booksnob and quite rude to others, and I didn't think the issues with Darcy's mother were resolved in a way that satisfied me by the end of the story. Final Rating: 2/5.
Hunted by Meagan Spooner:
I started out really enjoying this one. I thought it put a really unique spin on the Beauty and the Beast story, while still including some of the original elements. I liked the characters and I adored the setting. However, I thought the ending and the way everything wraps up was honestly really weird, and it kind of changed my opinion of the overall story a bit. Final Rating: 3/5.
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza:
I truly adored this one. It's been so long since I last read a fantastic science fiction book, and this one definitely fit the mark. The plot is twisty, and kept me guessing around every corner, and I truly loved Mila as a main character. I'm really looking forward to continuing on with the rest of this series. Final Rating: 4/5.
Avalon High by Meg Cabot:
This was a favorite book of mine from ten years ago, and I decided to give it a reread this month. While I don't love that there is a bit of a cheating subplot, I really enjoy this one overall, and it's definitely my favorite Meg Cabot book to date. Final Rating: 4/5.
Making a Play by Abbi Glines:
I can say without a doubt that this will be the last book I ever pick up by this author. I'd read the first four books in this series and I thought I wanted to try and continue with it, but I'm officially done. The language, drinking and sexual content is atrocious, the writing reads like bad fan fiction, and the male characters are all toxic jerks who don't deserve to be in a relationship in the first place. Plus, the romance in this one is pure insta love and doesn't even make sense. Representation is horrible and cringe worthy to read about, and many serious issues that arise between the couple are not ever resolved or even talked about. This book was definitely not for me, and I'm saddened that stories like this are being marketed as romantic to teenagers. Final Rating: 1/5.
Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter:
This was another one of my favorite reads of the month. I loved Levi and Mia's story just as much as I did Molly and Adam's, and I officially can't wait for Grace's later this year. Final Rating: 5/5. You can check out my full review here.
Carols and Chaos by Cindy Anstey:
It had been such a long time since I last picked up one of Cindy Anstey's books, and I'd honestly forgotten just how much I love them. Her character's are always witty and hilarious, and find themselves in the worst possible situations. She's definitely one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the very near future. Final Rating: 4/5.
Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey:
I loved the first book I read by this author, and I loved this one as well. Abigal Wilson is insanely talented, and this one kept me guessing around each and every corner. I had figured out a tiny bit of the mystery, but the way everything ended still had me completely blown away. Final Rating: 5/5. You can check out my full review here.
Dark Skies by Danielle Jensen:
This was my last read of the month, and it was kind of hit and miss. I liked the main male character, the female guard, and the magical system. I didn't care of the female character, and certain parts of the plot. You can check out my full review here. Final Rating: 3/5.
Thanks so much for reading guys!
What was your favorite read of the month during April? Let me know in the comments below, and I hope you all have a great rest of your day.
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me and all rights to the respective owners.
At the end of March, I decided to make myself a goal of trying to read 30 books in 30 days during April. I figured since I wasn't working, and entirely social distancing at home, why not give it a try. I was taking part in OWLS Magical Readathon, I had a bunch of ARCS I needed to get to, I had a bunch of books checked out through the library's Libby app, and I had a bunch on my own shelves I was wanting to try and get to. I ended up actually completing this goal which I'm pretty proud of, and today I thought I'd share with you what books I ended up finishing and what I ended up thinking about them.
Before I get started, I wanted to state two things:
First, unfortunately, I ended up reading quite a few books I didn't end up enjoying, and as such, there will be quite a few books I rated one or two star books on this list. However, the amazing books I read definitely made up for this.
Second, because I do have thirty books to get through, I'm not going to go into too much detail about any of these as I don't want this blog post to be as long as a book.
Here's all the books I read in April 2020 in the order in which I finished them:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black:
I unfortunately started the month off on a bad note. I'd chosen this one to complete my Arithmancy exam for OWLS Readathon, and I ended up hating it. The content was dark and disgusting, the plot was muddled and hard to follow, and I couldn't stand any of the main characters. Final Rating 1/5.
A Date With Darcy by Tiffany Schmidt:
This one ended up being a little bit hard to get into, as the first third of it really drags and the main character is practically insufferable. However, the second two thirds of it I really ended up enjoying, and I loved the growth shown by the main character. I often find myself loving these modern adaptations of Jane Austen's beloved classic stories. Final Rating: 3/5.
Second Impressions by Pepper Basham:
I ended up reading this one to complete my Potions exam for OWLS Readathon, and it ended up being a bit of a letdown. I still enjoyed it alright, but I didn't like some of the included content, and thought the romance seemed kind of insta-lovey unfortunately. Final Rating: 3/5.
The Truth in Tiramisu by Rachael Bloome:
I can't even begin to describe how much I loved this amazing second title in Rachael's Poppy Creek series. This was one of my favorite reads of the month for sure, and you can check out my full review here. Final Rating: 5/5.
Midnight Jewel by Richelle Mead:
I ended up really enjoying this one overall, and only two things kept it from being a five star read for me. I really didn't like the religious system, and as a Christian reader, it made me extremely uncomfortable. I also didn't enjoy the sexualized nature of some of the passages. However, I still did like this one for the most part. Final Rating 4/5.
Amish White Christmas Pie by Wanda E. Brunstetter:
I decided to reread one of my favorite Christmas books in April, which may seem weird to some, but I read Christmas stories all year round. I love this sweet, heartwarming story, and enjoy rereading it time and time again. Final Rating: 4/5.
Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills:
I expected to love this one, and I didn't. It had such a great premise, but the content was atrocious, and I thought the main character's friendship with her best friend was toxic and hostile, it was honestly even hard to read about. Final Rating: 2/5.
On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher:
Another one of my favorite reads of the month. I ended up reading this one for my Defense Against The Dark Arts exam for OWLS Readathon, and I loved it. You can check out my full review here. Final Rating: 4/5.
Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling:
I reread the first Harry Potter book for my History of Magic exam for OWLS Readathon, and I buddy read this one with my best friend. I enjoyed it as much as always, especially since it had been a long time since I'd last reread this. Final Rating: 5/5.
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg:
I couldn't wait to read this one, as the premise reminded me of one of my all time favorite series; the Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. However, I thought the plot left way too many holes in it, and it really didn't answer a lot of the questions it raised throughout. Plus, I found it kind of boring and hard to get through during certain parts. Final Rating: 2/5.
The Crown's Game Evelyn Skye:
I loved this one, and thought it was honestly unlike anything I'd ever read before. I loved the setting of Russia, and thought that Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha were all characters I quite easily found myself rooting for. The plot twists kept me guessing around every corner, and the ending has me wanting to pick up the second book as soon as possible. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy:
I thought I was going to love this one, and in many ways I did. The plot and magical system are both complex and original, and I really enjoyed most of the characters. My complaint was the fact that everything wraps up way too fast and this book isn't nearly long enough to give the complex story the attention it deserved. I think this would have been much better formatted as a series, or as a much larger stand alone story. Final Rating: 3/5.
The Emerald Sea by Richelle Mead:
I really ended up liking this story, as I loved how it showed a whole other side to Tamsin's character. I enjoyed the strength she showcases, and how all three girls tales finally come to an epic conclusion. Once again, my only complaints were the inclusion of sexual content and the religious system that quite bothered me. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Bookworm Crush by Lisa Brown Roberts:
I've loved every one of Lisa's previous books, but this one ended up not being quite as great as expected. I really didn't like the inclusion of the sexualized content, and I didn't love how Toff and Amy's relationship was for the majority of the book. I still liked it, but I didn't end up loving it. Final Rating: 3/5.
Watch Over Me by Mila Gray:
I'd had this one recommended to me by a bunch of other readers, most of who I usually trust their opinion. For years I've been hearing nothing but amazing things about Mila Gray's young adult novels, and I ended up being completely turned off of ever reading another one of her books. This should never have been categorized as young adult in the first place, as it's quite clearly new adult, and the plot line made no sense and was basically just about an insta lust relationship with way more content than I'd ever want to see in a young adult novel. Final Rating: 1/5.
Stay With Me by Becky Wade:
Thank goodness that I chose to read this one after the last one mentioned, as it definitely made up for the awfulness of it. This book is phenomenal, and in my opinion, is Becky's best book to date. I loved Sam and Genevieve, and I loved the fact that this one is part contemporary romance, part mystery, and part timeslip as readers are treated to chapters of events that occurred when Genevieve was a teenager. Final Rating: 5/5. Check out my full review here.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer:
I ended up choosing this one to read for my Transfiguration exam for OWLS Magical Readathon, and since I love retellings and this one is a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I was looking forward to it. It ended up being a pretty amazing story, and kept me guessing around each and every corner. I loved that it included a protagonist that has MS, and I thought that it was represented really authentically. There were a couple of content pieces included that I could have done without, but overall a really good story. Final Rating: 4/5.
Hearts, Strings and Other Breakable Things by Jacqueline Firkins:
I should have read reviews of this one before I decided to borrow it from the Libby app. The content was a complete and utter turn off, and I've rarely disliked a main character as much as I did Edie. Also, why has it become a new trend to have cheating plotlines in so many young adult novels? Why are we encouraging teens that this is okay? This was another one of the worst books I read this month, and taught me that I really need to research books better before I decide to pick them up. Final Rating: 1/5.
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger:
My hubby and I read this one together, and we ended up loving it. Sophie was a fantastic protagonist, and I loved the way the magical world and system were portrayed. It's definitely a new favorite middle grade read, and I hope to continue on with the rest of the series shortly. Final Rating: 4/5.
Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay:
I really enjoyed this one, which was another of my most anticipated reads for this year. I loved the coffee shop setting, and I really enjoyed Jeremy and his adorable daughter. I did have a few issues with it though, which I'll share fully in my upcoming review, but basically I didn't love Alyssa, the fact that it's told from too many viewpoints or the fact that the faith element is nonexistent. Final Rating: 4/5.
The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey:
I expected to love this one, as books set in bookish settings are usually some of my favorites. However, I didn't love that once again this has a cheating subplot, I thought Darcy was a booksnob and quite rude to others, and I didn't think the issues with Darcy's mother were resolved in a way that satisfied me by the end of the story. Final Rating: 2/5.
Hunted by Meagan Spooner:
I started out really enjoying this one. I thought it put a really unique spin on the Beauty and the Beast story, while still including some of the original elements. I liked the characters and I adored the setting. However, I thought the ending and the way everything wraps up was honestly really weird, and it kind of changed my opinion of the overall story a bit. Final Rating: 3/5.
Mila 2.0 by Debra Driza:
I truly adored this one. It's been so long since I last read a fantastic science fiction book, and this one definitely fit the mark. The plot is twisty, and kept me guessing around every corner, and I truly loved Mila as a main character. I'm really looking forward to continuing on with the rest of this series. Final Rating: 4/5.
Avalon High by Meg Cabot:
This was a favorite book of mine from ten years ago, and I decided to give it a reread this month. While I don't love that there is a bit of a cheating subplot, I really enjoy this one overall, and it's definitely my favorite Meg Cabot book to date. Final Rating: 4/5.
Making a Play by Abbi Glines:
I can say without a doubt that this will be the last book I ever pick up by this author. I'd read the first four books in this series and I thought I wanted to try and continue with it, but I'm officially done. The language, drinking and sexual content is atrocious, the writing reads like bad fan fiction, and the male characters are all toxic jerks who don't deserve to be in a relationship in the first place. Plus, the romance in this one is pure insta love and doesn't even make sense. Representation is horrible and cringe worthy to read about, and many serious issues that arise between the couple are not ever resolved or even talked about. This book was definitely not for me, and I'm saddened that stories like this are being marketed as romantic to teenagers. Final Rating: 1/5.
Carolina Breeze by Denise Hunter:
This was another one of my favorite reads of the month. I loved Levi and Mia's story just as much as I did Molly and Adam's, and I officially can't wait for Grace's later this year. Final Rating: 5/5. You can check out my full review here.
Carols and Chaos by Cindy Anstey:
It had been such a long time since I last picked up one of Cindy Anstey's books, and I'd honestly forgotten just how much I love them. Her character's are always witty and hilarious, and find themselves in the worst possible situations. She's definitely one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the very near future. Final Rating: 4/5.
Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey:
I loved the first book I read by this author, and I loved this one as well. Abigal Wilson is insanely talented, and this one kept me guessing around each and every corner. I had figured out a tiny bit of the mystery, but the way everything ended still had me completely blown away. Final Rating: 5/5. You can check out my full review here.
Dark Skies by Danielle Jensen:
This was my last read of the month, and it was kind of hit and miss. I liked the main male character, the female guard, and the magical system. I didn't care of the female character, and certain parts of the plot. You can check out my full review here. Final Rating: 3/5.
Thanks so much for reading guys!
What was your favorite read of the month during April? Let me know in the comments below, and I hope you all have a great rest of your day.
This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photos do not belong to me and all rights to the respective owners.
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