This post includes my April 2023 book reviews.
I must say, April was an excellent reading month for me. I think I broke a record for most read books in a month! I ended up reading 10 books, which is pretty solid!
Let me get started on the April 2023 book reviews of the books I read last month.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfield
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
I listened to this book on audio, and it was pretty ok. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it either. The narrator’s voice was very soothing, which made it more enjoyable.
It was a pretty depressing book otherwise, with barely any action happening. But that was the whole point of the book. It is a book that is mostly focused on strong character development, with great psychological depths and introspections. If you’re into slow-paced books that are strong on character development, then you will probably like it. And the author’s style is also becoming one of my favorites, but I’ll see after I read a second book written by her in May.
The book can be a downer for some readers, so beware of the heavy emotional content. I listened to it on audio and it was pretty decent overall.
I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
This is my second book by the author, and I was very anxious about loving it.
To be honest, I was a tad disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Makkai’s writing is sublime, but the back-and-forth timelines and different points of view were a bit confusing.
I don’t generally have any issue with either of these styles of presenting a story, which is why it didn’t live up to my high expectations.
It was a great book that tackled important issues cleverly, but I thought it dragged on a bit and it tried too hard, in my opinion. Thankfully the writing made it worth sticking to the end, but I much preferred The Great Believers.
Two for the Road by Chantel Guertin
I must say that when I first read the synopsis, I found the premise of the book a bit cringy for me. But it ended up being such a light, cute read that made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
I liked most of the characters except for Zane, who I thought was a bit too full of himself. But all the other supporting characters were lovable in their own way and gave the story a nice backbone.
All in all, if you want something lighthearted and fun to read, I definitely recommend it! Plus it may give you an itch for traveling, so that’s another interesting aspect of the book. All the London references made me want to book a trip!
The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore
The reason this book took me so long to finish is that I had many pressing deadlines, but it was a feel-good story that bookworms from all over would enjoy.
The idea of forming a book club that became so much more than that was a nice touch on the author’s part. I, for one, will never tire of books that are about books, readers, librarians, book clubs, and anything else to do with reading.
If you want a few enjoyable hours that will transport you to the home of a grumpy old man and the people that ended up getting together to form a most unusual book club, then this book is for you!
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski
This book was pretty good on audio! Narrated by the authors themselves, it was enjoyable and highly informative.
As women, we are programmed to please and put our needs on the back burner in order to ensure our children’s and men’s needs are fulfilled. That leaves us empty, frustrated and stressed out.
But before we get to the end of our ropes, we should all read this book. It gives explanations as to what the stress cycle is, how to recognize it, and how to break it.
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Boyle
This is my first five-star book of the year! At least I made it before the first half of the year ended! I was actually starting to worry. As I plan to write a whole post about this book, this review will be short and sweet.
Read this book! It is well-researched, well written, and it will evoke emotions you haven’t felt in a while, surely. The topics are heavy yet important, therefore everyone should pick up this book.
Here’s a link to my full review:
The Next Girl by Pip Drysdale
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my advanced reader’s copy to read and review!
I loved this book! Not enough to give it five stars, but it was very addictive. I couldn’t put it down, that’s how involved you get with the storyline.
The author has a way of making you want to know more, and you need to keep reading to find out what the MC is going to get into next.
Loved Billie and her reckless ways, and I was rooting for her the whole time. Her character was brave yet vulnerable, and she always tried her best but didn’t always succeed in doing the right thing. Her youth is one of the reasons for her questionable decisions, but her background played a major part as well.
If you never read a book by the author, just like me, I definitely recommend this one. It’s a fast, easy read that will keep you on your toes until the very end!
What Lies In The Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
This is another book that I loved! And how about that twist at the end? I kind of had some doubts about how it would turn out, but the author managed to surprise me nonetheless.
This book was supposed to be my read-along book for my online book club LiveLaughMurder for the month of March. But of course, I take on more than I can chew, so here it goes in April. At least I got to it, eventually. Better late than never, right?
If you’re looking for a bingeable thriller that keeps you on your toes, then definitely pick up this book. It is worth the hype, friends. I don’t want to say more, because I feel it’s better to go in knowing less. Then it will be so much more climatic!
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
This book is one of the best historical fiction books I’ve read in a while. Ruta Sepetys is a master storyteller, and if you want to get into historical fiction, she’s one of the authors to try.
For me, this book was ever so important. As a Romanian who experienced living during Ceausescu’s tyrannical regime, this book hit very close to home. But as I was a child before we left the country a few years before the revolution of 1989, I was not aware of just how bad my people had it. I guess my family shielded me from the worst.
Sepetys recounts the betrayals, the mistrust, and the way my fellow Romanians were kept ignorant in order for the notorious leader to have ultimate control. The conditions were atrocious, and it brought back painful memories of back home. I recalled waiting in line with either my great-grandma or my grandparents to get the basic necessities in life. I experienced these things as a child, and it does have an impact on how you grow into an adult.
At some point in the future I will go into even more details about all aspects of this book, but if you’re curious about one of the worst communist regimes in the world, read this book. It will enlighten you, as the author retells the story with a very accurate account.
The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters
Thank you, NetGalley, Atria Books, and Simon & Schuster Canada for my advanced readers’ copy.
I enjoyed reading this book, but it’s not a favorite of mine. I especially appreciated the cultural references, but most of all, the delicious food mentioned. Now I need to learn how to make jollof rice, as the author mentioned on several occasions throughout the book!
But the story was a bit too pretentious with all the Nigerian and British cultural differences. Although it provided a solid background to the story, it seemed a bit too unnecessary for this type of book. Don’t get me wrong, I love learning about different customs and cultural nuances, but this was not an in-depth anthropological study. It is a work of fiction. And it was classified as a thriller, therefore it was a bit too much, in my opinion.
I can see the character development was pretty well-done, but the ending fell flat for me. With all the anticipation about what happened to Nicole, I thought the author could’ve ended it differently. But it was still a decent read overall, which merits at least three stars, in my opinion.
Concluding Words
This sums up my April 2023 book reviews. If you read any of these, let’s chat in the comments box!
Until next time, keep reading great books fellow bookworms!
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