APRIL READS
This was an interesting month! I read a surprising amount on my iPad, which has been horrendous for my vision. My screen time is really off the charts. This month’s reads include the strangest book I’ve ever read (blue aliens?!) and some serious new loves.
I hope you find some gems on here — I love seeing people picking up books I’ve recommended! It really gives me the warm and fuzzies. I’ve been having some great book conversations with friends and I’d love to keep that going.
ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED
by Farah Heron
I LOVED this book. I mean, the character is named Reena and she loves to bake bread, so this book felt destined for me. I learned so much about Tanzanian/Indian/Canadian culture and diaspora. Cannot recommend it highly enough. I usually don’t love engagement/marriage romances but this one did it so well and I loved their chemistry. I’m glad it was sent to me in The Ripped Bodice’s Read, Romance, Repeat subscription box, because otherwise I would have missed it!
TAKING ON THE BILLIONAIRE
by Robin Covington
This was April’s book for Word Bookstores’ Romance Book Club, and I must admit I did not love it. I didn’t really understand the stakes and it seemed like they should just… be together with no complications. It’s a quick read if you are looking for a brief escape with a Jessica Rabbit-esque heroine and a Native American billionaire hero.
The Way You Hold Me
by Elle Wright
This book took me a second to get into! I usually read books in one sitting but I put this down and picked it back up again a few times. Once I really got into it though, I loved the genuine connection between Skye and Garrett. They build a really great life together. This is part of a series and seems like the second book, so worth picking up if you like to be in a universe with many love stories you can grow familiar with. I found this as part of the Ripped Bodice’s book subscription box.
JUST A HEARTBEAT AWAY
by Cara Bastone
Okay, this book is so good. Set in Brooklyn, Via and Sebastian fall in love in the most beautiful, genuine way. It was precious to read Sebastian’s relationship with his young son, Matty, and how Seb navigates dating for his family. Everyone in this book felt like a real person I could walk down the street and know, and the romance is a dreamy slow burn. Amazing, wonderful, so into this. This was recommended to me by a romance book club member and I am now such a fan.
CAN’T HELP FALLING
by Cara Bastone
Yes, I did go on a Cara Bastone binge because I was so into this world. The second book in the Forever Yours series follows Via and Sebastian’s friends Serafine and Tyler falling in love and I adored it. Both Via and Serafine have experience with the foster system, and it’s so wonderful to read them building homes and families. Serafine is also cool and witchy and falls in love with Tyler once she sees him, truly sees him for who he is. Ugh. So good. Another slow burn!
FLIRTING WITH FOREVER
by Cara Bastone
Are you sensing a theme… I really fell hard for Cara Bastone’s writing. This story follows Mary, the best friend of Sebastian and Tyler from the other books. Mary owns a shop in my current favorite neighborhood in Brooklyn and again, the way Mary and John navigate class, positionality, and the criminal justice system made them feel like real people navigating the complexities of our world. Cara Bastone forever!
THE DUKE WHO DIDN’T
by Courtney Milan
Seeing Asian people on a romance cover really got to me. I had so many expectations for this book that were very personal, so I ended up slightly disappointed. After a few days of mulling it over, I was able to appreciate it for what it is. This is a fun read with a good twist at the end that is a different vision of Chinese people in England. Definitely worth a read, and I’m here for anything Courtney Milan now.
WE DO THIS ‘TIL WE FREE US
by Mariame Kaba
I’ve followed Mariame Kaba on Twitter for years and I trust her vision and work so much. This book of essays is a great vision toward the future that is grounded in what justice and safety can actually look like for our society. Because the book is a mix of essays and transcribed interviews from Kaba over the years, the complex topic is digestible and you can take time to sit with different aspects of what abolishing the prison industrial complex actually means. I recommend this read to anyone interested in abolition.
THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE
by Katherine Center
This was a Christmas gift from a friend (thanks Anna!) and it’s a great firefighter love story that follows a female firefighter’s journey. The leads are precious together. I will say that there was quite a bit of trauma in this book, and while of course that is realistic, I would have preferred fewer storylines and more resolution in the end. There was already so much emotional depth, so some things felt a bit piled on to me. A good read though!
LOVE AT FIRST
by Kate Clayborn
This book is very swoony! I’ve seen it pitched as a Romeo and Juliet retelling, but don’t worry — nobody dies in the end. Instead there’s romantic balconies and found family and prank-style feuding and turning a what-might-have-been into a what-always-will-be. Plus, the book is set in Chicago, which always gets me right in the heart. I love everything Kate Clayborn writes and this was no exception. Magical.
GET A LIFE, CHLOE BROWN
by Talia Hibbert
This is a reread for me. Honestly, I turn to the Brown sisters trilogy as my comfort read. This time, I was reading to see how Talia Hibbert handled a particular storyline in this book, but I have to say — I loved it again. Chloe is such a good heroine and I love her voice. The book is just so funny and there is great imagery. Talia Hibbert has such a light hand but gets so much emotion and connection across.
ICE PLANET BARBARIANS
by Ruby Dixon
CW: There is a very graphic sexual assault scene that opens this book — I recommend skipping it and starting on page 19.
This is the weirdest fucking book I have ever read. Like, sex with blue aliens with giant dicks and tails. I’m not even yucking someone’s yum here — this book is fun. The worldbuilding is easy to lose yourself in and I liked the way this book handled language barriers. If the idea of falling in love with a blue alien resonates (haha, read the book and you’ll get the pun), pick it up. A romance book club read!
BARBARIAN ALIEN
by Ruby Dixon
Obviously, I was interested by the whole Ice Planet aliens thing, because I read the second book in the series. I don’t think I’ll read anymore, because there are like 22 books and my brain can’t handle that much alien. This book followed another human/alien couple and it was actually really adorable to see how their personality traits and her Earth life informed their story. The plot continues to deepen book after book in a propelling way.
GOODBYE, AGAIN
by Jonny Sun
This is a lovely book. Little essays and vignettes and drawings of plants on subjects that speak very closely to my own experience as a Chinese American person. I didn’t realize I could feel so emotional about eggs until I read this book! Jonny is such a thoughtful, kind human and I appreciate this peek into how he interacts with the world. This book felt like having parts of me I hadn’t considered reflected back to me in someone else’s voice.
SECOND FIRST IMPRESSIONS
by Sally Thorne
A tattooed bad boy with a heart of gold and a neat as a pin girl who dresses like a grandma make this book charming and hilarious. I raced through this book because I love Sally Thorne’s writing. It is so interesting to read single POV romance because the protagonist can be so unaware that the other person is DESPERATELY in love with them and you as the reader need them to open their eyes!! A fun, escapist read for sure.
THE LEAVERS
by Lisa Ko
This is the May read for the Proud Asian Women book club. We meet every three weeks and only read half the book at a time, and I must admit that I did not get through the first half in time for our meeting. This book made me so sad and really felt like a slog even though the language is beautiful. My book club friends assure me it gets better though — and I do think this is a great book. Simply not my particular taste because I need more serotonin.
Are you exhausted, because I am exhausted after typing out all of those books. Since I started taking note of the books I read month by month, I’ve been fascinated to realize how much I read. April was a more productive reading month for me, but mental health wise it was also a month when I needed more escape. A lot of these brought me some much needed joy. It’s easier for me to process my emotions when I’m in someone else’s world for a while, and I am so grateful for books. I hope at least one of these connects with you and takes you to a different place too.
If you want to continue the conversation, I love to talk about books, so hop over to the CONTACT tab if you’d like to discuss or recommend something!
