Best Books of April

As I say every month, I’m shamelessly stealing this idea from Jessica Lahey. She has a recurring monthly date where she reviews all the books she reads that month. Book reviews are important for authors, and I want to get better at doing this.

So. I’m going to review them here and also online, but I’m going to do it a little differently. I’m only going to review the stuff I really liked. I don’t see a reason to spend my time writing about something I didn’t love; it’s just using up more of my energy. So only positive reviews.

These are the books I liked (or mostly liked) from April.

A Deadly Education (Naomi Novik): Wow wow wow. This was incredible. I immediately started reading the second book in the trilogy. It hit the same spot as Rainbow Rowell’s Simon Snow books. Absolutely loved this world and cannot believe I waited this long to read the series.

A Good Person (Kirsten King): 3.5 rounded up. I’ve noticed a literary trend that now I can stop participating in. I really don’t like the recent slew of books I’ve read with unlikeable characters. People who are just terrible people, not good people in bad situations making bad choices. If you like this sort of thing, and I know many people do, this is a well-written book. But I’ve realized I don’t. So it’s well-written and part of that genre. If you’re into that, this is a good one.

Yesteryear (Caro Claire Burke): I’ll start out by saying this is great writing. Great storytelling. I don’t think I was the right reader for this book. Meaning, I think another person would find this book mind blowing. I did not. But I could see how other people will really like it, and there were plenty of moments that made me think. Glad I read it.

Good People (Patmeena Sabit): This is the best sort of book because I couldn’t stop talking about it with people, and I’m still thinking about it weeks later. It will challenge you and move you. You will walk away understanding how little we all know about situations we think we know with your heart a little more open. What an incredible book.

Kutchinsky’s Egg (Serena Kutchinsky): While I admittedly started skimming toward the end, I found the first half fascinating. It’s about the egg, but it’s also about assimilation, family relationships, and making your own mark on the world. I bet it would make a good audio book.

The Tainted Cup (Robert Jackson Bennett): I liked this very much. I’m not normally a fan of fantasy, but this one grew on me until I had to devour the remaining 150 pages. It’s a complex world, but you quickly grasp how everything works, and the mystery part is great. But the heart is the characters. Loved them. I’m pausing a bit before I start the next book in the series.

Go Gentle (Maria Semple): I adored this book. A pleasure to read. A pleasure to think so deeply. To feel so deeply. Thank you, Semple, for writing a great story.

What did you read last month?