I had an extremely busy month in April, which included volunteering at two weekend free clinics (I’m an optometrist) in other parts of my state. I was determined not to let my reading slide despite my weekends being much more packed than usual, and I ended up reading 3 short pieces (2 short stories and 1 essay) to be able to participate in Dewey’s 24-hour readathon during a busy clinic day. I did find a new 5-star standout, but also read many great 4-star picks.
Stats
Total books read: 9
#readmyowndamnbooks: 3
Short fiction/nonfiction: 3
2024 releases: 5
Reviews
All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows (5 stars) – Sometimes it takes me a really long time to finish a book I love, and All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows, which I started about a month ago, was no exception. Its predecessor A Strange & Stubborn Endurance was one of my favorite books of last year, and you never know how a sequel will live up, but this one was just as intricately written, heart-wrenching, and full of action as the first. It delves more into court politics, which I love in fantasy books, and the central arranged-marriage romance continued to develop in a way that makes sense for each character’s history of trauma. I also felt that the ending was potentially setting up a spinoff featuring several prominent side characters we met in book 2, which I wouldn’t be at all mad about
At First Spite by Olivia Dade (4 stars) -I’ve loved every Olivia Dade book I’ve read so far, and At First Spite was no exception. It’s a difficult premise for an author to make work–our heroine is engaged until her fiance’s brother talks him out of going through with the wedding, ostensibly because he doesn’t approve of her, but also because he finds himself extremely attracted to her. She begins to fall for him as well in the aftermath, but our protagonists also have to deal with depression, burnout, and the aftereffects of family tragedy on their way to an HEA. Despite these darker themes, At First Spite still has plenty of funny and sweet moments, and I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and how much they loved one another. I received an eARC of At First Spite from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dominoes by Phoebe McIntosh (4 stars) – This contemporary fiction was kind of a random pick for me, and I ended up finding it really interesting. I listened to the audio and the narrator was GREAT, I’d definitely recommend consuming it that way, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from this debut author.
Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun (4 stars) – This was my third contemporary romance from Cochrun, and definitely my favorite. It features a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance between two English teachers who are taking their mentor on a road trip as his dying wish, and who learn about each other and themselves along the way. It has great discussion on the importance and impact that great teachers can have on our lives, so I was recommending it to my English teacher friend within the first few chapters. There is sadness but it’s well-balanced with humor and romance, along with mental health discussion.
Two Women Walk Into a Bar by Cheryl Strayed (4 stars) – This was the essay I listened to during Dewey’s; I previously really enjoyed both Wild and Dear Sugar by Strayed and found this essay about the author’s relationship with her mother-in-law to be very well-told.
Rosie and the Dreamboat by Sally Thorne (4 stars) – A very cute short story with Thorne’s signature addictive writing style that involves a rescue from a sensory deprivation chamber.
Graceful Burdens by Roxane Gay (4 stars) – My second short story for the month was from a past favorite author, and the thing is that I love Roxane Gay so much that anything less than a 5 star is almost a disappointment. I just think this concept needed more room to grow and develop, although I did enjoy the read.
Iris Kelly Doesn’t Date by Ashley Herring Blake (4 stars) – I would say that I enjoyed this Sapphic contemporary romance second-best in the Bright Falls trilogy; I liked the depiction of anxiety and also that prickly Iris finally got her own love story.
Billion Dollar Loser by Reeves Wiedeman (3.5 stars) – This is the second book I’ve read about the downfall of Adam Neumann and WeWork, and it helped with my reading mood for a nonfiction book that feels like a podcast but wasn’t necessarily a very strong read.