Everything I Read in April 2024
April was a big month for me in terms of reading because this was the month I discovered the magic of Emily Henry’s books. I read three Emily Henry books this month, including her newest release, Funny Story. Besides these highly emotional contemporary romances, I enjoyed a variety of historical fiction and even dabbled into psychology non-fiction in the form of Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman. So, here’s what I thought of everything I read in April!
Of the 11 books I read this month, here are my top five favorites:
- Funny Story by Emily Henry
- Happy Place by Emily Henry
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- Maria by Michelle Moran
- Powerless by Elsie Silver (Chestnut Springs Book #3)
Table of Contents
- Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
- Happy Place by Emily Henry
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry
- Funny Story by Emily Henry
- Maria by Michelle Moran
- Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman
- The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn
- Don't Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
- Heathen & Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey
- Powerless by Elsie Silver (Chestnut Springs Book #3)
- The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton
P.S. to track my reading, I started using the StoryGraph website and app. This reading tracker is really cool and gives you all kinds of interesting stats about your reading style. Plus, the app gives great recommendations based on books you’ve previously read and loved. Check out everything I’m currently reading and add me on the app here!
April 2024 In Books
Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
5/5 Stars
A sweet little romance set in Scotland, Kilt Trip is a bit of an enemies-to-lovers story (that is a bit extreme) that will make you want to pack up and move to Scotland. Or maybe that’s just where my head is at all times. Anyway, it took me a little while to get through the book; the pace is a little slow at first. However, once the story gets going, I couldn’t put it down! Lots of personal growth for the main character, Addie, too, which I love to see. Definitely gave me some inspiration for honeymoon planning!
Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley is available from Amazon here.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
5/5 Stars
I listened to the audiobook of Happy Place and then went out to pick up a hard copy of the book because I felt drawn to annotating it. I wanted a hard copy to hold in my hands because so many parts of this emotional story resonated with me. Happy Place follows a group of college friends as they spend one last week at their happy place — a vacation home of one of the friends that is being sold. There is a profound sense of loss throughout the novel, of losing a place that feels like home, which is entirely relatable, alongside the feeling that everyone is moving on and the fear of change.
Whether or not you see yourself in the characters or the situations, Emily Henry’s emotive writing and ability to put into words the absolute growing pains of your late twenties and early thirties are incredibly powerful. I went into this expecting a lighthearted rom-com, not a novel that would challenge me and help me through some of my own emotional turmoil. Honestly, a must-read, and I can’t wait to read the rest of Emily Henry’s works!
Read my full review of Happy Place, along with some favorite quotes from the book, here!
Happy Place by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
5/5 Stars
My second Emily Henry novel, I picked this one up when I stopped at Barnes & Noble for the hard copy of Happy Place. The title drew me in and I read it as a bit of escapism on a flight earlier this month. In short, Nora, a dedicated (and potentially cutthroat) literary agent, is convinced into going on a trip with her beloved little sister, Libby. Libby and Nora lead very different lives (Libby is a mom with a growing family, Nora is resolutely childless) but they come together for a summer sisters’ trip.
There were so many moments that I was literally laughing out loud at this book, and then others when I felt tears stinging my eyes, and I enjoyed every minute of it. From the on-the-nose prologue poking fun of romance tropes to the love interests’ banter to the emotional moments of honesty between the protagonist and her sister, this book really has it all.
Read my full review of Book Lovers, along with some favorite quotes from the book, here!
Book Lovers by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
Funny Story by Emily Henry
5/5 Stars
Emily Henry’s newest release, Funny Story, was released on April 23 — conveniently coinciding with Taylor Swift’s new album release, which made for a fun reading experience (the overlap of Taylor Swift fans and Emily Henry fans is vast). Of the three novels by the author that I have read so far, this is far and away my favorite. And that is saying something, because I absolutely adore both Happy Place and Book Lovers.
This novel starts out with a jilted marriage, with protagonist Daphne’s fiancé leaving her for his childhood best friend. Daphne winds up moving in with said best friend’s similarly-jilted partner, Miles. What starts as a count down of getting out of the small (but beautiful) town of Waning Bay, Michigan, turns into a story of Daphne finding herself outside of her relationships (both romantic and familial). Equal parts entertainment and therapy session, Funny Story made me laugh and cry in comparable measure.
Funny Story by Emily Henry is available from Amazon here.
Maria by Michelle Moran
5/5 Stars
I’ve been a fan of Michelle Moran’s writing since reading her Egyptian Royals Collection, a historical fiction trilogy about Nefertiti, Nefetari, and Selene. So, you can understand my excitement when I received an early copy of Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp to read! Maria by Michelle Moran follows the story of Maria von Trapp, the protagonist famously played by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. I was aware that I knew little of Maria or the von Trapps when I began the book, but I was shocked by the depth of the woman’s character, brought to life by Michelle Moran in her latest novel.
Read my full review of this upcoming novel here!
Maria by Michelle Moran is available for pre-order from Amazon here.
Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman
5/5 Stars
I’m not usually one for psychology or “self-help” books, but the title and synopsis of this book caught my eye and TarcherPerigee were kind enough to send me a copy. While I am all for positive thinking and all that, as someone who tends towards pessimism, I have been on the receiving end of forced positivity many times. Sometimes, you are just not in the headspace for that. This book explains that that is ok. It goes beyond that, too, and explains why such forced positivity can actually be harmful in situations, and why “healthy positivity means making space for both reality and hope.” In all, it’s a great read that walks the reader through a range of emotional practices. I highly recommend picking it up – not everything will apply, of course, but I think it has a lot of good info for all of us.
Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman is available from Amazon here.
The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn
3/5 Stars
Another Scotland-based romance, The Highland Fling came up as a suggested read from Kindle Unlimited. It was a pretty quick read, with lots of entertaining banter, but the characters really frustrated me. Two American girls, Bonnie and Dakota, respond to an advert to spend a half a year in Scotland running a small family coffee shop. Dakota pressures Bonnie into doing this and then, later on in the novel, basically abandons Bonnie to manage the shop herself while calling her a bad friend and all this nonsense. The love interest also takes out a lot of family drama on Bonnie because his dad is dying but they don’t tell him (like what!?) and then he gets mad at Bonnie and misses the coffee shop (which his family owns) grand reopening.
Basically, everyone in this book needed therapy and no one was getting it. So, there were cute Scotland scenes and all that, but the toxic relationships were too much.
The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn is available from Amazon here.
Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews
3/5 Stars
A psychological thriller with dark academia vibes, Don’t Let the Forest In seemed to me like a mix of The Secret History (incidentally, also not a favorite of mine) and the show Wednesday. I really wanted to love this book, but it just wasn’t for me. There were parts that really drew me in, but I was fairly confused about what was happening throughout the entire novel. Take my review with a grain of salt, though, because this genre really isn’t for me. I was excited to review the book because I love the author’s Instagram, but I perhaps did not consider the actual genre close enough before requesting a copy.
Don’t Let the Forest In by C.G. Drews is available for pre-order from Amazon here.
Heathen & Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey
5/5 Stars
A dual timeline romance with a second-chance story arc, Heathen & Honeysuckle is a quick and enjoyable read full of funny banter, small town character, and (sort of) high school sweethearts. The story touches on some dark themes, but generally follows Darby as she reconnects with her first love, Leo, who helps her escape a doomed wedding. I read this book in a day; once it got going, it was tough to put down! Also, it is the start of a new series by Bailey, surrounding the fictitious and quaint beach town of Pacific Shores.
Heathen & Honeysuckle by Sarah A. Bailey is available for pre-order from Amazon here.
Powerless by Elsie Silver (Chestnut Springs Book #3)
5/5 Stars
Of all the Chestnut Springs books (more on those here), I think Powerless is now my favorite. It starts with wedding drama, which is not my favorite thing (especially when…you know…planning a wedding), but pretty on theme for the books I read this month (I read this right after Heathen & Honeysuckle and before Funny Story).
Anyway, Powerless is Jasper and Sloane’s love story, two sort of tangential characters to the Eaton family we meet in the first two books of the series. He’s a talented hockey star; she’s a prima ballerina. Sloane has always loved Jasper, but he never felt like he was good enough for her — partially because her family told him exactly that. But, when Sloane’s engagement falls apart, Jasper is the one who helps her find her way.
Powerless by Elsie Silver is available from Amazon here.
The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton
4/5 Stars
I’m a big fan of Chanel Cleeton’s writing, so I was excited to get my hands on The House on Biscayne Bay. Telling the story of a fictional great house in Miami, Marbrisa, The House on Biscayne Bay jumps between two time periods: the house’s construction in pre-war South Florida to the post-war era, when the house is plagued by mysterious deaths. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I found the characters and their relationships a little difficult to follow — this might have been easier if I read it as a regular book or ebook — but it had Cleeton’s trademark Florida-historian flare.
The House on Biscayne Bay is available for from Amazon here.
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What have you been reading lately?
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*Some of the novels featured here were gifted to me as part of various book review programs that Cats & Coffee is a part of. I was not required to post about the novel in exchange for getting a copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my honest own.
