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Find out what I’ve been reading and loving lately before you reach for your next book!
We are going to call April reading a success! I finished seven books in April and found a new favorite book.
The April bonus reading challenge in my book club was to pick your books from a TBR jar. Honestly, I think I will probably keep this going anytime I feel like I’m in a reading slump!
I ended February with 86 books on my unread shelves. All five books I read in March were from my shelves, which is awesome. Then I unhauled quite a few books in March. My TBR just felt too overwhelming and I had some books that I knew would not be a priority any time soon or that I could get from the library later. I haven’t filled in my March spread, but I think I have around 84 unread books on my shelves, which I’m honestly still trying to figure out because I only hauled four books in March and read two of them.
Four of the books I read in April were on my physical TBR. I also read two ebooks and one audiobook from Libro.FM. Unfortunately, I still have 84 unread books on my shelves, and I don’t see that number improving because I know I will get some books for my birthday in May. But summer break is only four weeks away, and I plan to catch up on some reading then. I may even host a weekend readathon at some point, so follow me on Instagram and join my book club for updates on that!
I had three Book of the Month picks and read one of them this month plus two backlist BOTM titles on my shelves. Not great, but at least I am somewhat staying on top of things!
Related: Is a Book of the Month Subscription Worth It?
Now let’s talk about all of the books I read in April.
Stay Awake by Megan Goldin
Probably more like 4.5 stars, but it kept my engaged and I didn’t figure it out. I’m a little confused about the ending because I definitely feel like I missed an explanation for the stalking stuff. Don’t read the full synopsis-I didn’t and I feel like I knew enough without it. A girl wakes up in the back of a taxi with a bloody knife in her pocket and the message “stay awake” written on her hands.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advance review copy of this title.
Rating:★★★★★
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: published in 2022
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of The Last Flight. This is a backlist BOTM title that I’ve heard great things about, so I’m really disappointed it didn’t work for me. I didn’t care about Eva’s POV, so that slowed down the plot for me. There really wasn’t enough happening in this to keep me interested.
Join BOTM with my link and get your first book for only $5!
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt:book featuring travel
The Dating Dare by Jayci Lee
The Dating Dare was way too cheesy for my taste. There was zero emotional connection between the two characters-just corny dialogue about how attractive they found each other. I don’t really even have much more to say about this book. I didn’t keep up with writing my reviews throughout the month, so I’ve already forgotten most of this one.
Many thanks to Libro.FM for an advance listening copy of this title. Join Libro.FM with my link and use code CHOOSEINDIE to get two books your first month when you sign up for a new subscription.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: Genre: Romance
Related: Best Audiobook Services 2021
These Hollow Vows by Lexi Ryan
These Hollow Vows was a bit too similar to ACOTAR at times, but it found it’s way towards the end. Definitely looking forward to reading the next book after that ending and recommend to fans of The Cruel Prince and ACOTAR.
Rating:★★★★☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: Genre: Fantasy
The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
The Golden Couple was my March BOTM pick. It was a fun thriller but not my favorite from the author duo. The plot kind of dragged at times because it was hard to be invested in every aspect of the plot. There’s a lot of moving pieces in this story, but it was a fun time that kept me interested enough to finish in a couple of days.
Rating:★★★★☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: Book by two or more authors
Related: Best Audiobook Services 2021
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
It is SO hard for me to find romance books that work for me. It can’t be too cheesy and it needs to be believable and funny at times.
Somewhere around the middle of The Love Hypothesis, I became a sappy mess who constantly grinned while reading this book! I adored Adam and Olive and apparently the fake dating trope is something I should read more often. Give me more characters like Adam in romance novels, please!
Rating:★★★★★
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: an illustrated cover
Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
After a rocky start to the Throne of Glass series, I wasn’t really sure I was going to be feeling it as much as ACOTAR or Crescent City.
Then the last chapter of Crown of Midnight happened, and I decided I’m all in on this series now. This was still not amazing, but I did fly through it in three days. Then I got too comfortable and forgot Mrs. Maas is a master at turning a plot upside down. Definitely a wild ride and I’m happy to see the plot start to expand beyond the walls of the castle in future books.
Rating:★★★★☆
#readwithallison2022 Prompt: Book picked at random
Carry Over TBR
One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle
Libby surprised me with the audiobook for this about six weeks earlier than I expected, so I immediately borrowed it. I honestly thought I would be able to finish this before May 1, but I had a terrible headache the first day I borrowed it and didn’t listen to as much as I planned to. I also had to slow this down to 1.5 speed because Lauren Graham is the narrator. I honestly want to savor the story and its only a 6 or 7 hour audiobook anyway.
What books did you read in April? Did you read any books for the 2022 Reading Challenge? Let me know in the comments!
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