April Reading Recap
Another month in the books! (Get it?) As always you can follow me on GoodReads for real-time reading updates and shop my 2024 Reads here on BookShop.org.
Book 18 | Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz
This scratched a springtime itch in that I wanted to pretend I was in dirty, gritty Edinburgh with the flowers about to bloom, slick cobblestone streets, and a lingering winter chill. Success! This book is about a young girl torn between passion and convention. Maintaining her place in society — and her family’s fortune — requires her to marry well and step into her role as wife, socialite, and, eventually, producer of an heir. And yet Hazel fantasizes about being beneath the hot glow of lights in a surgeon’s theatre, elbow-deep in cadavers, and unlocking secrets of human anatomy. When she finds herself unexpectedly alone in her home for several months, Hazel risks her future and her heart to pursue her dream of being the first female surgeon and unravels a dark and deadly mystery in the process. The highlight of this book for me was a steamy make-out session at the bottom of an open grave. Yes, please.
Book 19 | A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall
I was so excited to receive a digital ARC of this book. I’m calling this a literary fantasy, though it’s also somehow a historical romance and steampunk sci-fi novel with a nod to the paranormal. The skill that it took to weave all of these elements into a story told entirely through letters is remarkable, and yet Cathrall makes it seem effortless. My full review is on GoodReads here. (Spoiler alert: this is the perfect summer read.)
Books 20-23 | Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, and Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
Okay, it’s official. I have fallen head-over-heels in love with Murderbot. I was unable to pull myself away from this series which combines so many of my favorite elements of soft science fiction — a sub-genre where the weird futuristic science of how the world works never really gets explained and the reader just needs to go with it. There is robust world-building with incredible transit stations and planet colonies and colossal ships that travel through a worm hole. There are humans and augmented humans and sentient bots all interacting via “the feed.” There are greedy, murderous corporations seeking out alien remnants and causing trouble for everyone. And finally, we have a grumpy robot whose media time is constantly interrupted by stupid humans who need saving from the precarious situations they get themselves into. This is tattoo-level obsession (in that I am pretty sure Murderbot will end up inked on my body in the near future.)
Book 24 | Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
The perfect palette cleanser, I tore through this new romance in a single sitting. I love Rebecca Serle. Contemporary Romance (or contemporary anything, for that matter) is not a genre I read often but she does it superbly. Daphne’s dating life has a peculiar twist: each time she starts seeing someone new she gets a postcard with the exact length of time the relationship will last. When a blank postcard shows up just before dinner plans with Jake, Daphne is in shock. What does it mean? Could this next first date be her last first date? The premise is perfection and the setting — L.A.—totally transported me. Put it on your summer reading list ASAP.
Book 25 | The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo is a must-read author for me and I loved that this was so different from her other work but still solidly told in her recognizable voice. Set in Madrid during the Spanish Inquisition, lowly scullery maid Luzia has kept her Jewish lineage and meager magic hidden. When her mistress discovers her abilities, she parades Luzia in front of dinner guests to boost her social standing. The king’s former secretary bears witness to Luzia’s power and she is thrust into a dangerous competition. With the help of a strange mentor, Luzia pushes the limits of her power in pursuit of what she wants most: freedom.
Book 26 | Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
Cozy fantasy at it’s best! Cast out of their home world, humans are confined to the city of Duskmere, controlled by elves who wield powerful magic. Lore’s ability to read puts her on a path to discovering more about herself and her people, leading her to the realization that’s she’s more powerful than she ever imagined. I got lost in this book. There is an ancient enchanted library, a magical forest, a grimoire powered by moonlight, and even a delightfully tense love triangle. Can’t wait for the next in the series!
