the best books i read this month – april 2020

Well what a month this has been. Everyone has had different experiences with reading at this time. There are people that are usually big readers that can’t seem to pick up a book, and others that are reading more than ever. Neither of these are wrong. If you are reading lots right now here are some ideas for now, and if books are not on your priority list you can just save this list for later..

I know that for me I have not been reaching for series books as often. I think there is one serious book on this list and besides that I have been loving home books, romances, and books that are more funny as they help to transport me to new places. This is also the first post that every book except one was read on my e-reader which is very different for me. I have been loving the Libby app lately, which even as a librarian I have barely used before now, but now getting notifications from Libby that a hold is ready is one of the highlights of my day.

If you have been reading in your self-isolation please let me know what you have been reading and if you are going to pick up any of my favourites!

Rick by Alex Gino

Rick is off to middle school with his long-term friend Jeff, where he meets new people and also starts try to figure out who he is. Together with the Rainbow Club, his new friends, and his Grandpa, Rick starts to figure out more about himself, that some friends aren’t always worth keeping, and that it is okay to be a little bit different.

This book was so lovely and it made my heart happy that there are middle grade books out there to let kids know that they aren’t alone and about friendship, family, and figuring out ourselves.

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

This book is not the happiest, but it is full of adventure from beginning to end. While out camping with her friends Ashley gets lost in the woods, with an injured foot, and no easy way home. She has to figure out how to survive, but also how to make her way out of the woods with no supplies and with the infection in her leg getting worse and worse.

This book definitely made me uneasy at times as the descriptions could get a bit graphic, but it was so different from the home bound life that I am currently living that I absolutely tore through it.

Houseplants for All: A Guide to Becoming a Perfect Plant Parent by Danae Horst

This book is possibly the most beautiful book that I have ever seen in my life and when it comes out in the summer I think I want it to display in my home. Not only is it beautiful, but it is so full of important information about taking care of your plants; from watering, to soil, to light, and so much more.

Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City by Tanya Talaga

I have been hearing about this book for a while, but when I saw it on Libby a few weeks ago I figured now was as good as a time as ever to check it out. This book tells the true stories of seven indigenous high school students who died in Thunder Bay, Ontario in the early 2000’s.

The narrative of this book was very interesting, going back and forth to the past and history about the residential schools, to the present and how the horrors still exist in Canadian society today.

Something to Talk about by Meryl Wilsner

This may be one of the first f/f romances that I have read, but it is one of the best romances that I have ever read. The storyline was so sweet and cute and I swooned many times throughout the story. This book also dealt with more serious topics, but the main storyline really brought me out of the world we are living in and into one that I really loved.

The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

This is another really great diverse middle grade book that I read this month. It really showed racism in both the past and the present and I loved the little mystery that the girls are trying to solve throughout the novel.

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner

This is another really fun summer read that is a lot more than meets the eye. The book focuses around Daphne and Drue, old somewhat-friends from high school that are now suddenly back in each others lives when Drue asks Daphne to be in her wedding.

Daphne has changed since she first knew Drue, she is a successful plus-sized Instagram influencer with way more confidence than she did back then, but for some reason she is drawn back into Drue’s world.But then something horrible happens and Daphne is sent on an adventure that reveals hidden family, secrets, and much more than she was looking for in a Cape Cod wedding.

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

This is definitely the darkest book that I read this month, but it was also so important. This book deals with the repercussions of a teacher/student relationship, but years later. When other people start coming out against the teacher, Vanessa doesn’t want to be involved because their relationship wasn’t like that at all. It was consensual, wasn’t it?

This book goes back and forth between the past and present as we see the relationship develop, but also as we see Vanessa trying to figure everything out in the present. This book really makes you think, but is very unsettling to read.

American Royals (American Royals, #1) by Katharine McGee

Ending off on a purely fun note. This book is based on a past where George Washington decided to be king and America is run by a royal family. With an oldest daughter poised to become the first Queen of America, and younger twin siblings who haven’t yet settled down, they all have a lot to figure out in their love lives, their royal lives, and with each other. This book was just pure fun and had some great moments.

Whether or not it is in books right now, I hope you are finding comfort in something. If so, what have you been reading and loving lately?

2020 Recap:

2020 Reading Goals

Numbers are for the full year, topics are for the challenges I completed this month.

Goodreads Profile

Total 2020 Books: 92

Goodreads Choice Awards: 13/20

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge: 7/24

ARCs: 27