Everything I Read in April 2025
This was a busy month of ready — in the best ways! I think I peaked as a book blogger by getting the chance to listen to early audiobooks of the new Emily Henry and Lyla Sage books — both of which I loved — and then I explored a variety of other stories, from historical fiction to fantasy. Most I enjoyed; a couple…I did not. Read on for my April book reviews!
Of the 12 books I read this month, here are my top 5 favorites:
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
- Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan
- Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
- Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
Table of Contents:
April 2025 In Books
Romance & Contemporary Fiction
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
5/5 Stars
Emily Henry’s latest release, Great Big Beautiful Life is a bit of a departure from her typical style, adding layers around the romance central to the story. Perfect for fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Great Big Beautiful Life follows writers competing to get the job of writing a huge celebrity memoir for Margaret Ives, a tragic heiress from one of the most scandalous media families of the 20th century.
The romance between the writers is a mix of enemies to lovers and opposites attract, though their storyline is only part of what makes this novel great. It exists alongside Margaret Ives’ stories — past and present — and the messy interaction of all these lives.
Truth be told, some readers have felt disappointed in this book because it is quite a departure from Emily Henry’s typical (and beloved) style. I understand this critique, for sure. That being said, if you separate it from, say, Funny Story (my personal favorite of hers), I think it is a strong novel that features Henry’s robust wit and shows off her storytelling skills in new ways.
P.S. I highly recommend the audiobook of this novel. Julia Whelan does a fantastic job bringing these characters to life.
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher (The macabe Brothers Book 1)
4/5 Stars
A Scottish-based sunny-grumpy romance, Whisky Business is a fun read that will make you want to move to the Isle of Skye and run a distillery. The novel follows April Sinclair, now a famous actress, who retreats to her home on Skye after a series of career setbacks. She is thrown together with Mal, the man who has been running her grandfather’s distillery since his passing. Mal and April don’t get off on the right foot, of course, but wit and delightful chaos ensue.
Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher (The macabe Brothers Book 2)
5/5 Stars
This is the second book in Elliot Fletcher’s Macabre Brothers series, but it can be read independently. With a predictable but satisfying plot, this novel follows Callum Macabre and Juniper Ross. Callum fell for Juniper before finding out she was dating his brother. However, when her engagement falls apart, things get complicated. The characters are engaging and memorable, and I liked seeing how they grew throughout the story. The descriptions of Scotland were a major plus, too!
Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher is available for preorder from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage (Rebel Blue Ranch Book # 4)
5/5 Stars
The fourth and final book in Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series, Wild and Wrangled tells the story of Camille Ashwood, a character we have seen throughout the series but know little about. Camille is left at the alter by her picture-perfect fiancé (chosen for her by her family) and her life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly, she is on her own and building the life she wants — and reconnecting with her first love, Dusty Tucker.
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan
5/5 Stars
A challenging, moving, and beautifully written novel, Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan tells the story of thirty-year-old Max, a trans woman who decides to take “a stab at good old-fashioned heteronormativity,” to borrow a line from the synopsis. At first, she finds this in Vincent, a thoughtful man who she finds herself falling for. However, despite his doting and devotion, when faced with the details of something awful Vincent did ten years ago, Max is left to try to make peace with his past and his role in her future.
Disappoint Me by Nicola Dinan is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Wild Eyes by Elsie SIlver (The Rose Hill Series # 2)
4/5 Stars
Wild Eyes follows Skylar Stone, chart-topping country singer, as she retreats to Rose Hill for a sabbatical of sorts while she works on a new album that is all her own. When she arrives early to the recording studio, finding that the guest house she was supposed to be set up in was not ready, she winds up bunking with her producer’s best friend, Weston Belmont. Shameless flirting ensues, alongside surprisingly thoughtful growth from both Weston and Skylar. A very fun read all around.
This is the second book in Elsie Silver’s Rose Hill series. You can find my review of Wild Love, the first in the series, here.
Wild Eyes by Elsie SIlver is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Just Our Luck by Denise Williams
1/5 Stars
I really wanted to like this book. I really tried to like this book. But…I just couldn’t. This review has major spoilers, because I simply cannot handle it. It could have been a good representation of undiagnosed ADHD in women, but, instead, it just paints ADHD adult women as incompetent manic pixie dream girls in the most hurtful way.
Sybil Sweet, the flighty and quirky protagonist, relies on “luck” as the basis of her life plans and goals. After a series of setbacks — lost jobs and the like — she decides to swear off men, only to hook up with one right off the bat at a donut shop (Kieran), and buy a lottery ticket because her luck will help her win (which she leaves behind at the donut shop as a sort of gift/tip to Kieran).
Of course, she wins, and suddenly she is flighty and quirky and rich. And she and the guy start fake dating to get publicity for the donut shop. She tries her hand at philanthropy, and is immediately ripped off, but uses it as a learning situation to teach people about scams. Cool.
Some cute scenes ensue as she and Kieran start to actually fall for each other, but the novel falls into the frustrating trap where the characters just don’t communicate so everything goes wrong. Sybil basically bribes (inadvertently, because she’s “quirky”) the med school that Kieran is trying to get back into after deferring for a year, instead of just talking to him about moving to wherever his school is with him, and gets him fully kicked out. He gets mad — obviously — and they have to see if they can make it through this hardship. They wind up together.
Just Our Luck by Denise Williams is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
5/5 Stars
This story is not for the faint of heart, so if you’re going through traumas or losses, maybe wait to pick this one up. That being said, this book is incredibly well written, has a delightful romance plot line, and the characters are fantastic. Lenny lost her best friend to cancer and is struggling to cope with her grief when she runs into Miles, the grumpy-yet-helpful uncle to the girl Lenny is babysitting. Miles helps Lenny work through her “live again” list — a laminated card of things she promised her friend she would do after the friend passed away.
It all sounds really dark, and some of the book is, but mostly it is a heartwarming story with laugh-out-loud moments and deep moments of humanity.
Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Fantasy
The Sirens by Emilia Hart
3/5 Stars
Emilia Hart works her magic with a second multi-timeline story, like her breakout novel Weyward, which I reviewed here. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but had a harder time following the plot than I expected. The nonlinear narrative worked at times, but felt disjointed at others, and the characters never fully formed to me. The history that Hart works into the novel is engaging, as is the role of sirens throughout history. I can see why people love it, but it just didn’t entice me like her previous work.
The Sirens by Emilia Hart is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross
5/5 Stars
Beautifully written with a robust lore, Rebecca Ross’ Wild Reverence is equal parts mythology, fantasy, and romance, with a dash of mystery thriller thrown in. I really enjoyed learning more about the gods who serve as the unseen foundation for the Letters of Enchantment duology, but also appreciated how separate this book felt from that set. It did make me want to revisit Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows, though, now that we know more about the lore of the story!
P.S. Check out my book and drink pairings post here for more about Rebecca Ross’ novels!
Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross is available for pre-order from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Historical Fiction
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan
4/5 Stars
For fans of historical fiction set in WWII, and those of us who love and support our local libraries, this is great book to pick up. Following three women’s stories around the Bethnal Green Library during the London bombings, the novel does a great job of showing each characters struggles and points of view. Though the focus is on Juliet Lansdown, the new deputy librarian, the book also tells the story of library worker Kate Upwood and Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee fleeing Germany. Each woman has a unique story to tell, and Jennifer Ryan does them all justice.
The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
Non-Fiction
Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith
5/5 Stars
As someone who is working on a creative writing project and constantly needs a little bit of a pep talk to keep that going, Dear Writer by Maggie Smith was the perfect read. Quick and easy to follow, the book breaks down creativity into elements — attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Smith is a poet, so most of the examples given throughout the book are in verse, which may or may not feel super relevant to you as a writer, but the rest of her analysis and writing applies to all kinds of writing styles.
Basically, nothing in the book is particularly ground breaking, but it is shared in short-and-sweet chapters that give actionable steps to encourage writing practices and enhance the reader’s skills. Lots of great reminders to trust the creative journey.
Dear Writer by Maggie Smith is available from Amazon here and Bookshop.org here.
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