Sunday Book Club: April 2020 Reading List

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Reading was (well it always is) a huge comfort to me in March. Between some long solo walks and a lot of time inside, I ending up making it through a lot of books in March. Because of that, my April 2020 reading list is pretty long. But hey, more books for you to look forward to, right?

April 2020 Reading List

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

Note: This was an advanced copy gifted to me in exchange for an honest review. Will be published on 4/21/20Con-men (or rather, con-women) are definitely one of my favorite topics to read or watch. Pretty Things isn’t just an average con novel though. The reader doesn’t just get the con and how the con happens, but also what pulled Nina into her life. The reader also get to see how Nina decided to pull off this “ultimate con.” Finally, the book shows something a con book rarely does-the full backstory of the target. By the end, not only do you understand both women, but you’re able to empathize with both. Pretty Things is a great book to get sucked into for a few hours.

One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus

I’ve been looking forward to the sequel to “One of Us is Lying” for a while, but during the first few chapters, I almost wondered if maybe I should have reread “One of Us is Lying” for a quick reminder? The book did a decent job of doing catch up, but it was confusing for a little bit. Especially since the main characters of the first book had moved on and this book focused on Maeve, the younger sister of Browyn (a main character from the first book), and her friends. Once I was able to get all the characters straight, I really enjoyed the book though. It was a good mystery to unwind and I appreciated that it came with some unexpected twists throughout the book.

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

This book definitely toyed with my heart strings. I was expecting one of those bookstore books for book people, type of novels and I semi got that. However, it was also a book about a family finding it’s way back to each other and a woman finding a way to get her life back on track. I think that it may have been a little longer than it needed to be, but I enjoyed it regardless.

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand

Another day, another great Elin Hilderbrand beach read. Only this time we got a great mystery too. There were so many great characters in this book and so many good side stories. I don’t know what to say more than I fully recommend it!

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

This book makes me scared to have kids. There I said it. Between competitive parents, competitive kids, trying to get kids into the best schools, it all just sounds terrifying. Plus, the fact that it seems to start earlier and earlier, it’s crazy. The Gifted School captures all of those feelings perfectly in this novel and also manages to balance it out with the calm parents who aren’t crazy competitive and just want the best for their kids.

The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess

Ugh. This one was just a dud for me. I wanted it to be more interesting, but I literally fell asleep on it. Like, actually fell asleep. I was listening to it on audio and fell asleep while it was playing. I went back and re-listened to what I missed, but honestly, I just didn’t care.

He’s Making You Crazy by Kristen Doute

Note: This was an advanced copy gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.I originally wanted to read this book because I’ve watched Kristen Doute on Vanderpump Rules and I was curious what she was going to share from it. So I’ll be honest, my criticism comes from two sides, the regular reader side and the Vanderpump Rules fan side. As a fan, I’ll say that the book was pretty interesting. I didn’t know as much about her earlier life or dating history, so it was interesting to read. There was only really one or two things that shocked me (because it wasn’t shown on the show), but everything else she has basically talked about in interviews at this point. ​​​​​​​

From a regular reader point of view, I don’t know if I would have bothered to pick up the book. It has entertaining dating stories, but nothing really helpful. Just “here are stereotypes of terrible guys, stop dating them.” If you really want to read it, I’d say go to the library.

Love, Unscripted by Owen Nicholls

I wanted to like this book, I really did. But I can’t stand when the main character is a wimp. Sorry. The main character is a wimp to the nth degree in this book and it drove me crazy. The end.

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

I’m absolutely obsessed with this novel. It’s about a female fire fighter who has to relocate to her mother’s home after an unfortunate work incident. The book is funny, heartbreaking, and a can’t-put-down read. Also, I want Phoebe Waller-Bridge to play the main character if this ever gets turned into a movie.

In Five Years by Rebecca Serle

For some reason, I thought this would be some cute romcom. Warning, it’s not. It’s great, but it’s a little bit of a tear-jerker. It starts with a woman who right after getting engaged falls asleep and dreams that she’s engaged to another man and sleeps with him. She immediately wakes up and is back with her fiance, but the dream feels so real. But then later on she meets the man from her dream…and he’s her best friend’s new boyfriend. It all sounds crazy, but I promise, this is a great read and not as “out there” as it sounds.

All This Could Be Yours by Jami Attenberg

I did not like this book. I thought I may enjoy this “getting the family back together” but I didn’t. When I was writing this I forgot the plot twice and had to look it up. Basically, there are better books to spend your time on.

The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz

Note: This was an advanced copy gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.
Would you wear your mother and grandmother’s wedding dress? That’s the issue Rocky has to face while getting ready for her wedding. She doesn’t want to disappoint her mother, but she also knows that the dress just isn’t her. While we read Rocky’s story, we also get to read her mother and grandmother’s story of how the dress became their own. I went back and forth on home much I liked this book. I always looked forward to the grandmother’s chapters, but I felt so iffy about the mother’s chapters. Rocky’s were also enjoyable, though some of the things that came up in them felt so random. If you’re looking for a book that crosses over multiple women in time who are tied together, this is okay, but I have some other recommendations.

They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall

An interesting, but not remarkable mystery read. I can’t even decide if I still liked it by the end. I was so wrapped in it because I wanted to know how it ended, but when it finally did, I was so annoyed by the ending, that I was just over the book. Does that even make sense?

Followers by Megan Angelo

I don’t know if this is the book to read right now, but once you’re ready, this is such an interesting look at how people are so obsessed with followers and what it can do to a person’s ego and life. It’s a fiction novel that goes back and forth between two narrators, Orla and Marlo, who live in times separate by what they call “the great spill.” Before the spill, everything is pretty similar to how we live now. After the spill, government appointed “celebrities” live their every moment on camera. I avoided this book for a while, but once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down.

Anna K by Jenny Lee

Everyone likes to say and think their thing is “the next Gossip Girl” but Anna K is “Gossip Girl-Anna Karenina.” I think that’s the best way to describe it and the best thing I can say about it. If you haven’t read it yet, GO. Stop reading this and go read that now.

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

I loved this book. It follows Oona’s life, but out of order. One day Oona is blowing out the candles for her 19th birthday and the next second she wakes up as a 51 year old. It’s as jarring as you would think. Every year as Oona turns a year older she’s lives out another year of her life, just not chronologically. It was such a good and interesting read. I also have casting preferences for this movie as well (Essie Davis as Oona).

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Oh my gosh, this is one of the cutest YA novels I’ve read in a while. Run, don’t walk to read it. Also, I was incredibly impressed with how well they actually did with tweeting in this book. It actually felt like reading a twitter war. But really, go read this book.

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

Sandhya Menon does it again! I already talked about this in my fairy tales adaptation round up, but it’s Beauty and the Beast retelling at a boarding school in Colorado. You’re welcome.

Oh my gosh, the problem with reading so many books is having to then write reviews for so many of them! If you want something a little more up to date, check out my instagram where I try (but am a little behind) on sharing what I’m currently reading!