Wow I apparently read a ton in the month of April. I’ve been waking up almost every day (every weekday and some weekends) at 5:15am to read, which has been a game changer for reading more. I also kind of stopped listening to podcasts and have found myself listening to audiobooks even more, especially since the weather is nice and we’re walking to school drop off and pick up almost every day too. Reading wins all around.
WE ARE MADE OF STARS by Rochelle B Weinstein
4/5 Stars
This book gave me White Lotus-adjacent vibes. It follows a group of travelers– couples, a group of friends, a mother/daughter– as they check into a special hotel for a week. It’s a slow burn and took me forever to get into. I was enjoying it for the most part but it took a while to really grow attached to the characters. Then something clicked and I couldn’t put it down. The guests of the hotel all become “family” for the week and you see their relationships deepen with each other and themselves. There’s a lot of drama to keep you on the edge of your seat (secrets! betrayal! regrets!) and the ending was definitely worth sticking with it!
4.75/5 Stars
One of the most unique books I’ve ever read, I couldn’t put it down! It was a little frustrating at points, just because the main characters were just so painfully self-centered, but it is brilliantly written. It is a PAGE TURNER. I think you’re either going to be into it, or completely not into it. It’s a stream-of-consciousness novel told through alternating points of view of the male and female main characters, throughout one night. The narration ping pongs between the characters and you really get into each of their heads. The gist? A man and woman have been in a long-term affair and they’re spending the night in a hotel when a fire breaks out in the hotel. It’s messy.
5/5 Stars
Wow, this memoir!! I immediately added it to my TBR list when I saw that Oprah, Jenna Bush, and Reese Witherspoon (the biggest names in celebrity book clubs right now) all came together for the first time to rally behind Amy Griffin. You must read it. It’s a powerful and vulnerable memoir about the secrets we hide from ourselves. The author comes to terms with childhood trauma as cracks in her “perfect” NYC mom facade starts to crack. It can be a difficult read at times, so definitely check content warnings if you think you might be sensitive to certain topics.
OH WILLIAM! by Elizabeth Strout
3.5/5 Stars
I can’t stop with Elizabeth Strout’s novels. I have found myself completely enamored with the characters from the Amgash series. Oh William! is the third in the series. It wasn’t my favorite of the series plot-wise, but as I said, I really just love the characters and the character development of it all has me into. I think you have to be in the mood to read about flawed people and less motivated by plot to enjoy, so if that sounds like something you’re into, I definitely recommend this whole series. I love how you get background into everyone and why they are the way they are and their personal motivations.
LUCY BY THE SEA by Elizabeth Strout
4/5 Stars
Another Amgash series book (#4!). Can you tell I was hooked?! I literally couldn’t stop I was so obsessed with the characters. My only qualms about this particular book in the series is that it took place during COVID. It’s very pandemic-y, which right now just isn’t my favorite thing to read. I did think it was well-done though, just a personal preference.
4.5/5 Stars
Okay. This was such a good, interesting read. At first I thought, “hmm this might not be for me.” It was so interesting though and a good novel with a little more depth to it. A woman hiking the Appalachian Trail disappears and the countdown to find her before it’s too late is on. The novel follows the perspective of a few different women (the woman who disappeared, the warden in charge of leading the investigation, and a woman in a retirement center states away). I was on the edge of my seat! Highly recommend!
GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry
3.5/5 Stars
I love Emily Henry’s books usually! They’re light easy romances that are good palate cleansers for me. This one just didn’t quite do it for me. I think because The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was so popular, there are a lot of books following similar ideas. I just read The Goddess of Warsaw, which felt much more meatier but had the same kind of plot idea as Great Big Beautiful Life. Alice, a writer waiting for her big break, is in a competition of sorts to be chosen as the author of a biography of a reclusive heiress, Margaret, who disappeared from the public eye. The story is told through two timelines (modern day Alice and Margaret’s past life) and I much preferred the modern timeline. There’s a love story, family secrets, and a bit of a mystery involved!
TELL ME EVERYTHING by Elizabeth Strout
4/5 Stars
The fifth book in Elizabeth Strout’s Amgash series. Tell Me Everything read a bit more like a series of intertwined short stories than one big plot-driven book. But the best part is that it features all of the most beloved characters Elizabeth Strout is known for. I need to go back and read the rest of her books now… I can’t stop!!
That’s awesome waking up early to read is such a powerful habit! Love how you’ve made space for books in your routine, even during walks. If you’re into cool reads and cool style, check out my site Las Vegas Jacket perfect for book lovers on the go
You have me wanting to read Elizabeth Stout now! Thanks for the recommendations!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
I look forward to your reading recs every month – thank you for sharing. Wondering if you may be open to linking to Bookshop.org instead of Amazon in the future.
I used to for about a year– but unfortunately no one used it 😪