What I Read in April 📖

We are on the cusp of summer reading, which means the internet is about to be bursting with summer reading guides— lucky us! Even though I’m committed to reading mostly books already on my shelves this summer, I still plan to pick up a few new buzzy summer books and indulge in all the summer reading guides because I live for the anticipation of joy, and summer reading is top-tier joy to me. And yes, you can expect a summer reading something from me in the coming weeks, too— printables, book lists, all the fun.

Today, I’m sharing a few thoughts about how I’m thinking about summer reading this year, along with my thoughts on everything I read in April, which includes the internet’s most popular book at the moment, more Elizabeth Strout, a book about money (!!!), a book I read for my book club, a book about rural living, the unread fiction book I’ve had on my shelf the longest, and a book about a 10 year affair. Let’s get into it…

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout | loved it!

As soon as I finished Olive Kitteridge, I immediately jumped into Olive, Again, which is an unheard of move for me because I’m usually itching for a lane change when I finish a book. I think I loved Olive, Again even more than Olive Kitteridge. Olive has softened up a bit, and there are a lot of changes in Crosby, Maine, and Olive’s world that we get to navigate with her. These books are stories of everyday life with layers peeled away to expose what it means to be human, even in a simple life. Don’t let the leaves on the cover fool you; this is a book that can be enjoyed in any season, and I have come to do the majority of my Strout reading in the spring.

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali | powerful, loved.

I read this for my neighborhood book club, and it was an excellent pick that generated a rich discussion. Elle and Homa are best friends, coming of age in the 1950s and 60s in Iran. It’s a powerful story about women, friendship, culture, history, sacrifice, and how we show up for the people who matter most to us. I learned a lot about Iranian politics, culture, and history, and in light of current events, I’m so glad I did. The ending brought me to tears. I hope to read The Stationery Shop, also by Kamali.

The Rural Diaries by Hilary Burton Morgan | enjoyed!

This is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a few years, and spring seemed like the perfect time to prioritize it. I remember Hilary from the MTV TRL VJ (so many acronyms!) contest way back in the day, and it was enjoyable to read her memoir on starting a family and actualizing a dream of living in the country. I listened to the audio, which was brought to life by her enthusiastic voice, but there were also heavier moments that she approached thoughtfully. It’s not a book that will stick with me (though I’ll never forget the pumpkin rolling down the hill scene… IYKYK), but I’m still glad I read it.

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel | enjoyed!

This book came on my radar after watching a handful of YouTube videos about frugal living and money mindsets, and it piqued my interest. I’ve seen a lot of money books and never really given them much consideration, but this one delves into the topic of psychology, which, in our current uber rich 1% culture, is something I do find fascinating. Overall, I really enjoyed it and the way the author differentiated wealthy vs rich. It was a quick read with some great takeaways and not too heavy on the investing jargon (though there is a touch of it). It was a great listen on audio while I was decluttering.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke | I have thoughts…

The book of the moment!! I love a book that gets people talking, and this one, about a “tradwife influencer” who winds up back in the 1800s, certainly does just that. Eager to sort out what was happening, I flew through the pages and found myself thinking of it when I wasn’t reading it, which is always a quality I value in a book. If you haven’t read it, I won’t give too much away or try to sway you one way or another, but ultimately, I couldn’t grasp onto any one aspect of this book and had more questions than answers by the end. Elizabeth Etherton shared a review that resonated with my own reading experience, and I left some thoughts in the comments if you want to go a little deeper. I felt like this book tackled a lot of current cultural themes at once, and as if they were all piñatas, the author beat each one down as aggressively as possible. Nonetheless, I’ll be excited to see the adaptation with Anne Hathaway. Have you read it yet? What did you think??

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Sommers | enjoyed!

At first, I wasn’t sure this book was for me, but I’m glad I kept reading because things kept getting messier, and I ultimately couldn’t look away. The book is exactly as the title implies: a ten-year “affair,” with all the mundane aspects of life happening in the foreground, and I was interested to see how things would play out for the two couples. This book asks the question: What happens when our fantasies are actualized? Do we really get what we want? And I thought the author did a great job exploring that in a way that genuinely felt realistic.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary | enjoyed!

This is the fiction book I have had on my shelf the longest! After spring cleaning my bookshelves, I decided it was now or never, and I’m glad I went with now because I enjoyed this romance between characters who share a flat, bed, and all! The concept was unique for a romance (I could never share a bed with a stranger, but good for her!) with a bit of an epistolary style to it in the form of notes and phone calls. I enjoyed the side plots, and while there were some heavier themes (an emotionally abusive ex and a wrongly imprisoned sibling), it still felt all around easy breezy and cute. I will be picking up more of O’Leary’s work.

This summer, I’m committed to reading from my shelves to tackle my physical TBR. But one thing I know about myself as a reader, I’m more likely to stick to my reading goals when I’m lightly scratching the buzzy book itch. To keep my reading life feeling fresh, I turn to Book of the Month (the sponsor of today’s post1). Book of the Month’s mission focuses on the best new fiction, which makes it easy breezy for me to confidently pick up a new book to spend my time with— many of my favorite books have come from Book of the Month! Knowing I’ll be able to read a few fresh new releases, in addition to a stack of backlist titles on my shelf, will help me stay on course with my reading intentions this summer.

BOTM’s May book selection already has me eager for sun-soaked days full of reading. My first May pick was Our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune. I read and loved This Summer Will Be Different by Fortune last summer (also a BOTM book), and my summer TBR is never complete without a summery romance, and this one sounds juicy. I also picked up The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff, which is about a family navigating the aftermath of a house fire, and it sounds like a captivating summer drama, which I also crave in my summer reading diet.

Head to Book of the Month to check out all of the May book offerings (lots of good ones this month!) and get your first book for $5 plus a free mini tote with code FLORAL!

audio: All audiobook opportunities have been surrendered to the new Noah Kahan album, but I’m hoping to start either The Strangers by Belle Burden or Abide With Me by Elizabeth Strout.

physical book: I am about 60 pages into Kin by Tayari Jones. I’ve heard many wonderful things about this book. I’m ready for a really good fiction book. I have high hopes!

In the comments, please share: What have you read and enjoyed lately?

I plan to share a summer reading post very very soon!!

Happy reading—

Want more bookish content? Here are some recent newsletters that have featured books and reading. I hope you find your next great read!

Books are linked through Bookshop.org. If you choose to purchase any, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. And I’ll likely spend any earnings on more books or salsa ingredients. :)