April Reading Recap

Warning: some persnickety opinions ahead

My reading life in April wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be. It was stop-and-start for most of the month, with dedicated chunks of reading time being harder to find than I’d hoped, and I sometimes found myself over-analyzing when what I wanted was to be swept away by a story. In the last few months, I’ve really prized books that have that immersive quality, like The Favorites by Layne Fargo and Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir, and I’m hoping to find a few more books to completely devour my life in May, along with the start of summer reading season. I do have a number of books from April I’d wholeheartedly recommend and others that might be perfect depending on where your reading life is at.

My April reading categories were:

• Two books from the Women’s Prize longlist: The Dream Hotel by Leila Lalami and to my deep shame, I must admit that I did not get to The Artist by Lucy Steeds. I’m very hopeful that it could be a perfect May read, however, with its sun-drenched setting.

• A backlist romance from a legendary author: Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

• Two books published before 2000: Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns and Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin

• An anticipated 2024 release that I still haven’t read: The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

In May, I’m keeping it pretty simple:

• Two books I’ve received from Aardvark Book Club

• Two romances published at least 15 years ago

Favorite of the month

Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone

A really lovely, deeply felt slow-burn love story and examination of grief, as our heroine Lenny tries to complete the “live again list” she compiled with her best friend Lou before her death. We only get little snippets of Lenny and Lou together but what we do get absolutely broke me. Their love story is just as big a part of Lenny's life as the love she has with Miles and Bastone writes so movingly about their friendship. There's a softness and a generosity to her writing that I really responded to. Everyone here gets to be a little prickly and complicated but everyone is also fundamentally kind. I particularly enjoyed how deeply rooted in New York this story is, how realistically Bastone writes children, and how delightfully chatty and candid Lou is as our narrator. The voice is so strong, I'd be able to tell you that this was a Bastone book without even seeing her name on the spine. (Open door, low steam.)

Really liked

Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater (Regency Faerie Tales #2)

Overworked housemaid Effie Reeves finds herself with a well-intentioned—if slightly chaotic—fairy godfather and a magical bargain to win the heart of the high-society gentleman she loves (or thinks she does) in this charming and clever Cinderella retelling with a strong sense of justice. I really like Atwater's writing style, which is whimsical and enchanting but also has a sharp eye for the inequities of Regency society. There's a real sparkle to this world and real emotional stakes. Effie and Lord Blackthorn’s dynamic is a delight to read, the whole cast of characters is well wrought and memorable, and I’m dying to read more of this kind of romantic fantasy. (Kissing only.)

All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley

After his brother’s death from cancer, Bringley leaves his job at The New Yorker to work as a security guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in this reflective memoir about grief, art, and finding the sublime everywhere you look. A peek behind the scenes at the Met, a story of workplace camaraderie, and a tribute to both the objects and the people of the museum. I adore the Met, so I was predisposed to enjoy this, but I found it to be so lovely and moving. If it hadn't been for my daily obligations, I would have been on the next subway uptown to wander the galleries.

Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin

A woman seemingly living a charmed life finds herself increasingly caught in the trap of her own perfection and the demands of her very particular family and then, much to her surprise, having an affair that could rearrange her life. Midlife life crisis affair novels aren't often my thing but when Laurie Colwin writes them, somehow they magically are? Polly felt like such a real and rich character to me, one I would maybe even want to be friends with in real life. As always with Colwin, this was funny and wonderfully smart about human behavior and she captures a very specific New York City milieu so well. Wistful, wise, and as clever and nuanced as its heroine.

Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns

A peek into life in 1930's Bohemian London and a look at how poverty can erode a marriage, told through the story of artist and artist’s model Sophia and the precarious life she tumbles into after marrying young. Sophia’s voice is breezy, conversational, and charming even when she’s recounting personal tragedies and I was won over by her instantly, as well as absolutely furious at her spectacularly selfish husband Charles. Comyns' writing is grounded and forthright and the story is both very funny and very heartbreaking. The pairing of slightly madcap, forthright tone with dark and emotional content is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered but it feels completely all of a piece anyway.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett (Emily Wilde #3)

The final installment of one of my favorite fantasy series finds Emily and Wendell facing new dangers and deadly curses deep in Faerie. This delivered on basically everything I like about this series: the opposites-attract chemistry between Emily and Wendell, the alluring yet deadly Faerie lands Fawcett creates, the stellar cast of supporting characters, and Emily’s wryly observant narrative voice. Ending a series isn’t always easy but Fawcett does it with aplomb and I felt like I was in good narrative hands the entire time. Note that if you like these, you might enjoy Olivia Atwater and vice versa.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

On a remote island off the coast of Antarctica, a mysterious woman washes up on shore and is taken in by the Salt family, the caretakers of the island harboring a host of secrets of their own. This propulsive literary mystery features some of the most stunning nature writing I've read in a long time and in a distracted month, this was a book that drew me in completely. McConaghy's descriptions of Shearwater Island and the creatures that inhabit it are vivid, striking, and imbued with a deep appreciation for the natural world. I also enjoyed her more hopeful take on climate fiction, both painfully aware of the ways our world is falling apart and passionate about the imperative to save what we can. I was absolutely hooked by the story and atmosphere and could see myself recommending this to many other different kinds of readers. (Perhaps a great in-person book club choice?)

Two titles that I had an occasional craft quibble about but still really enjoyed

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins

After escaping slavery as a child and building a new life in Michigan, Hester Wyatt works on the Underground Railroad and finds herself sheltering a legendary conductor known as the Black Daniel. I loved Hester, our smart, strong, frequently undervalued heroine, and the rich historical context Jenkins provides but was a bit more medium on the hero Galen. In a lot of ways, he's a typical 90's historical romance hero: wealthy, powerful, very experienced sexually, and sometimes a little too insistent that he knows what's best for Hester. However, I did enjoy him wooing and extravagantly spoiling Hester, in true historical romance hero fashion. This is one of Jenkins' first novels and so on occasion we get big chunks of history where her later novels weave it in seamlessly, but the sense of fear and tension she creates is superb, as is her portrayal of a community clinging fiercely to their freedom. Reading this feels like watching a legend hone her skills in real time and I think that's a very worthwhile reading experience. (Open door, medium steam.)

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

Chilling and infuriating, this look at a dystopian near-future where an opaque algorithm is used to detain people before they can commit crimes revolves around Sara, a woman pulled aside at the airport and told that, according to her dreams, she’s at risk of harming her husband. The prose is stripped-back and evocative, the sense of dread ever increasing, and the set-up all too plausible. I’ll caveat that there are a few lines here and there that hammer home the book’s themes a little too obviously for me and that didn’t seem to fit with the close third-person POV the book is told from—I found myself pausing to wonder if Sara would really have those thoughts in those exact words. Overall, however, I found this to be a gripping, eerie, and highly discussable reading experience.

Some charming romances that I had minor quibbles with but would still recommend

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

Former high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb, now experiencing a rocky patch in their relationship after years of marriage, embark on a wilderness retreat to work on their marriage. Bonam-Young is really good at writing chemistry between her two main characters, from flirty banter to moments of deeper connection, and the lasting love between Sarah and Caleb is tangible throughout. However, she also writes low-angst stories and I want my marriage-in-trouble romances to be angsty. (Just a me thing!) I also think this might really have benefited from dual POV and more insight into Caleb’s arc over the course of the book. I did enjoy Sarah's quirky narrative voice, the thoughtful ways Sarah and Caleb work on their marriage, the portrayal of friendship and found family, and the outdoorsy setting. (Open door, high steam.)

Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Fleeing a murder plot, Archduke Felix finds himself pretending to be an evil wizard in the court of the much-feared witch queen Saskia…and falling for her. Burgis has a talent for cleverly swapping gender dynamics in romantic fantasy: here, our heroine is the fearsome, powerful one and the hero the vulnerable one in need of protection. I'd love to see more of this in the genre, especially since a lot of romantasy titles feel a bit same-y to me. I was also very fond of the cozy found family elements with Saskia's loyal majordomo and housekeeper, the humor, and how Felix is the epitome of a sweet and supportive hero. I did want it to be longer, both so we could spend a bit more time with Saskia and Felix falling for each other and so the climax feels a little less rushed. It's less than 300 pages which feels particularly short for fantasy. (Open door, low steam.)

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

A cute debut about an event planner and an astronaut who agree to a fake dating scheme for the three months until he leaves for a six-month mission to the moon and discover that they have very real chemistry. I particularly liked our heroine Amerie and was rooting for her from page one. Reading her narration felt just like catching up with a friend over coffee. Easton strikes a nice balance between humor and emotional weight and has a voice-y writing style. I did feel like the third act conflict was a little weak and could have been woven more seamlessly into Amerie's character arc and fears but this was a fun quick read and I would definitely pick up another title from Easton. (Open door, medium steam.)

I went in with very high (perhaps too high?) expectations

Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley

A will-they-won't-they story about creative collaboration, music, and coming of age set in the 2000's indie sleaze scene, as writer Percy and musician Joe make music together, fall for each other, and teeter on the verge of admitting it. I was mixed on the love story between Percy and Joe--I never got to the point where I was rooting for them to end up together and found myself rolling my eyes at Joe more than once--but what I loved was the love story between Percy and music, as well as her friendship with Zoe. Percy analyzes music relentlessly and loves it ferociously but doesn't think she has the talent to make it herself and that push-pull is spiky and complicated and fascinating. Brickley really nails the way music can take you right back to a specific moment in your past, as well as the early 2000's atmosphere. I suspect I might love this on film more than on the page, especially with Austin Butler playing Joe.

The River Has Roots by Amal el-Mohtar

A blend of folklore and murder ballads, powered by the bond between two sisters and set in a land on the edges of Faerie. I enjoyed the dreamy atmosphere and new take on classic stories, although I did want a little more clarity on the magic system and sometimes found myself being pulled out of the story whenever I stopped to wonder exactly how the magic worked. I do think this might have been a case of readerly expectations, since this has been getting rave reviews and I went in expecting to be blown away. Recommended if you’re looking for a quick, magical read.

A highly discussable book club pick

Bibliolepsy by Gina Apostol

A playful, bawdy, incredibly original and assured coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Marcos dictatorship and the EDSA Revolution in the Philippines. This was funny, clever, and very much unlike anything else I've ever read, as Apostol plays with language, style, and narrative in a sensual whirlwind of prose. However, the middle section, when our heroine Primi is mostly having sex with a succession of awful men in her pursuit to get closer to the literature and authors she loves, dragged quite a bit for me and I sometimes found myself admiring this book (and Apostol's obvious talent) more than I liked it. I'd recommend this if you're looking for a book about books that's the opposite of sentimental or if you'd like to read more international literature.

Still not my favorite combination of romance elements but I also had a good time reading it?

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood

Two collegiate athletes embark on a secret fling based on their shared desires, only to uncover deeper feelings. This was my favorite of the three Hazelwood books I've read, although the character types she likes to play with still aren't my favorites. Once again, we have an insecure heroine and a physically imposing hero but this time she's an elite diver trying to get back into competing after a traumatic accident and he's an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer, so the pieces clicked into place for me much more smoothly. I liked the niche sports setting and the portrayal of how college sports can swallow up elite athletes' lives, as well as the messy friendship between Scarlett and Pen, Lukas’ ex who shoves the two of them together. (I actually wanted more of it! Like I would have swapped a sex scene or two--although I did feel like the steamy scenes really developed and deepened Lukas and Scarlett's relationship--for a scene of Scarlett and Pen bonding.) The pace also sags a little in the middle and I still maintain that very few contemporary romances should be over 400 pages but I mostly found it to be a really engaging read and I’m newly curious about Hazelwood’s paranormal romances.

---

Currently reading: Fan Service by Rosie Danan, a paranormal romance with a mildly bonkers premise (actor who played a werewolf detective on TV discovers he’s actually turning into one!) that I’m really liking so far.

Recommendations, miscellany, and little bits of joy from a very arty week:

• The Sargent and Paris exhibit currently at the Met, which features some stunning portraits.

• An all-Balanchine evening at the New York City Ballet. Going to Lincoln Center still feels like a wonderfully New York-y thing to do.

• Speaking of ballet, Amy Sherman-Palladino’s over-the-top but still quite entertaining new show Etoile, about two ballet companies (one based in New York and one in Paris) who swap top dancers.