The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

First in The Paper Magician series

3.25 stars

Ceony Twill never wanted to become an apprentice in the art of paper folding. When she arrives at Magician Emery Thane’s house, she is far from ecstatic. She was the top of the class and this isn’t the field she desired, but once she is bound to paper she can never leave the field. As she discovers the intricacy of paper, Ceony becomes more entranced by its beauty. Someone from Mg. Thane’s past is coming back for revenge and Ceony will have to go through a journey into Thane’s heart (his literal heart) to save him. I have had an ARC of this book for far too long. I have been getting better at reading ARCs as get them, but I have a ginormous backlog of ARCs that I must read. I wasn’t sure if I was going to pick this one up any time soon, but I was approved for a copy of the fourth book in the series and I decided to read the first book to decide if I would like to continue. I’m glad I picked this up. It was fun and the concept is incredibly unique. It’s not often you read about someone using magic through paper or having to embark on a journey through someone’s heart after their heart is ripped from their chest. These are probably spoilers, but I’m telling you this upfront because if I had known these details I would’ve been much more excited to go into this novel. While this isn’t the strongest novel in the fantasy or magical-wielding genre, I think it’s pretty unique and I want to see more people reading it. Holmberg’s writing style is simple and breezy. It isn’t complex and this makes the story very readable, but it also poses a hinderance to worldbuilding, characterization, and prose. This was Holmberg’s debut novel though and if this is what she is producing at the start of a fantasy series, then it is pretty promising and has a lot of room for growth.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 3

The main female character is Ceony. I like Ceony. She is a simple girl who has moments of strength. She isn’t a new favorite of mine, but I did really like her journey. I will say however, that I felt her decisions were a little off the cusp and impulsive. This made her a little hard to root for because things could’ve gone very bad for her, but they didn’t. (I kind of wish they had though; I would’ve loved some tragedy.) Also, she falls for Thane quite rapidly and it is one-sided, which is totally relatable and nice to seen portrayed in a fantasy novel, but it probably won’t stay one-sided for long.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3

The main male character is Emery Thane. He is supposed to be a bit of an oddball, but he didn’t seem all that odd to me. He seemed like your typical magician who happens to have a tragic past. Nothing new and I can’t whether or not I like him because I don’t feel like I know him.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 2.5
The Villain- Holmberg isn’t afraid to create a villain who loves terror and pain. It’s definitely creepy. I would’ve loved to see more development as to why this woman had a change of heart and what turned her into someone who uses blood for magic.


Villain Scale: 3.25

Overall, the story is a lot of fun and it offers a unique twist on a genre that is overrun with magicians. I did like the directions the Holmberg decided to go and I do plan on continuing with the series. This series has a lot of promise and I think that it will be one that I become a fan of. I do recommend this to lovers of rapid-fire fantasy that focuses more on the story than on the worldbuilding.


Plotastic Scale: 4

Cover Thoughts: I love this cover. It’s stunning and it fits with the story quite well.

Thank you, Netgalley and 47North, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read The Paper Magician? Are you planning to? What are some of your favorite fantasy stories with magicians? Let me know down below in the comments!

Spring Book Haul

 

Hey, everyone! It's been a long time since I've done a book haul and I'm so happy that I filmed one. Here are the books that I've acquired over the months since the summer of 2017.

THE BOOKS:

 

I've read Song of Blood & Stone (ARC won in GR giveaway), The Master Plan of Evangelism, and God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

Have you read any of these books? Do you plan to read any of them? Let me know down below in the comments!

The Game of Hope by Sandra Gulland

The Game of Hope Publishes June 26, 2018

The Game of Hope by Sandra Gulland

DNF @ page 133 - 2 stars

The Game of Hope is a YA historical fiction novel that follows Hortense de Beauharnais, Napoleon's step-daughter. Honestly, I have no clue what the plot of this novel is because the 133 pages I read were a hodgepodge of girl drama, sordid family dealings, and music. It was all very boring and I'm quite sad because I thought this was going to be a novel I would love. I do enjoy historical fiction re-imaginings and I had high expectations for this one, not absurdly high, but I thought it would be a nice YA historical fiction that would at least garner four stars. What I read only garners 2 stars. It's not bad, but it is bland and drab. This book lacks substance, life, and vitality. It feels like it wants to be dramatic and over the top, but is bogged down by Gulland's disconnected writing style. The style has no passion and it left me feeling so disconnected from the story and the characters. Historical fiction has to be fierce and passionate because it is recreating the past and presenting a multitude of characters. I cared about no one and was interested in no plot. I am so sad that this wasn't a new favorite.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 2

The main female character is Hortense. She is bland, but she does have a drive for composing music, which is an interesting passion. However, her actions in the last chapter towards her friend, Mouse, in revealing the truth behind her mother's death was very cruel and it left a sour taste in my mouth. I was over this novel by that point, but her cruelty and it being swept under the rug so easily was just the nail on the coffin for this novel.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 1.5

There are a multitude of characters and I can't be bothered with any of them. The drama is petty and manages to be uninteresting. There is also some weird romantic subplot with Jaydin, her music teacher, and I just wasn't feeling it or interested in it. Basically, I couldn't be bothered and found there to be too many characters and not enough development to hold my interest.


Character Scale: 2

Overall, I do think The Game of Hope will be a favorite for many fans of the Napoleonic period. I was sadly disappointed by this book and did not finish it. I don't regret my decision to DNF this novel because I feel like I would've probably ended up disliking it even more by the end of the novel.

Plotastic Scale: 2

Cover Thoughts: I love this cover so much. The art is stunning.

Thank you, First to Read and Viking Books (Penguin), for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

 Are you planning on checking out The Game of Hope? What are some of your favorite Napoleonic novels? Let me know down below in the comments!

Video Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

 

Hey, everyone!! Today I'm talking about Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. I gave this novel 5 stars and I thought the book was a cinematic masterpiece! There were so many wonderful aspects of this novel and I definitely call myself a fan of Sepetys work.

Have you read Salt to the Sea? Are you a fan of Ruta Sepetys? What are some of your favorite YA historical fiction novels? Let me know down below in the comments!

The Luck of the Bride by Janna MacGregor

The Luck of the Bride by Janna MacGregor

Third in the Cavensham Heiresses series

3 stars

March Lawson has been down on her luck. Her parents fell sick and died leaving her and her three siblings without a proper caretaker and destitute. She has raised her brother, the future heir, and hopes that her sisters can enter into a London season to find their match. However, she can’t access her trust until she is twenty-five and her family is starving. She takes upon herself to pose as the Marquess of McCalpin. When she is summoned to meet him, she is expecting her family to meet ruin, but she is charmed by Michael Cavensham. He isn’t sure if he can trust her, but he can’t stop thinking about her. The Luck of the Bride is your typical historical romance romp. It doesn’t offer a whole lot of substance to the genre and MacGregor’s writing style is simple and wracked with clichés. It’s not a horrible novel and it is a lot of fun, but I can’ see myself heralding this as a must read in the genre because it doesn’t stand apart from the countless romance novels within the market. It’s fluffy and fun, which is a plus in all HRs, but I must admit, I want substance with this genre. I want dark and gritty topics that are touched on and not just glazed over. The Lawsons live in poverty, but I don’t feel like MacGregor took much time to really portray its effect on the family as in individuals. The dialogue is forced and stilted. The most famous and cliché line in HRs is found here and repeated in a multitude of different ways:
“Even if it was his complete undoing.”
This novel gave me second-hand embarrassment, not only for the characters but for the lines that are written. Like this one:
“My God, she was a seductress without even knowing it. His little embezzler was temptation incarnate.”
How embarrassing to read and it is just laughable. It is a fun novel and it does read rather quickly. It’s biggest drawback besides the diction usage is its pacing. It can definitely feel a little boring at times and then all of a sudden, something will occur to change the game. It doesn’t change the game believably though. It just feels like an abrupt shift in the narration because it has to happen or else the story can’t go on. It doesn’t feel natural.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.5

The main female character is March. March is sassy and headstrong. She is incredibly compassionate and deeply loves her siblings. She is very much the mother hen character and I can relate to that. However, her stubbornness seems contrived at times and almost completely unfounded in reality. It doesn’t fit her sensible nature and just left me feeling annoyed.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3

The main male character is Michael. Michael isn’t a bad romantic lead, but he doesn’t really speak to me. He is just kind of there. He says all the right things (when they aren’t the cringey dripped lines in the throes of passion that haunts all HRs), but he feels just as frustrating as March. He is kind of dramatic and he contradicts his passions with others’ opinions. It became really annoying towards the end when the novel was reaching its climax. I don’t think he is bad by any means, but I am not swooning whenever he is on page.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 3

The Villain- Predictable. I have been reading HRs this year that have upped the ante when it comes to villains, but this one falls into the usual run-of-the-mill HR villain who is out to thwart true and everlasting love usually for money.


Villain Scale: 2

I did love the secondary cast of characters. Faith, Julia, and Bennett were wonderful and I would definitely read a novel that follows any of their perspectives because I adored them. Bennett was my favorite and towards the end he was the only character with any sense which says a lot because he’s still a kid. Also, he’s obsessed with sweets and has some of the funniest lines. Faith and her buddy romance with the Scottish doctor who was healing her had me shook. I was invested in them so hard. Kind of wish this novel had followed them. I also loved the Cavensham clan. They are so funny and they made the novel fun. The secondary characters are definitely where this novel shines and that is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to novels.


Character Scale: 4

Overall, The Luck of the Bride has its fair share of faults. I do think it will be loved by many HR fans, especially those who love the Cavensham series. I recommend for the hopeless romantics and anyone just looking for something fun that doesn’t require a lot of brain power and can transport to the London ton with balls, dresses, scandals, and romance.


Plotastic Scale: 3

Cover Thoughts: A wedding dress on a HR! I feel like I don’t see those often. There’s always a dress, but never a wedding one and this one is cute.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read The Luck of the Bride? What are some of your favorite HR novels? Do you like wedding dress covers or think books should stick to eye-catching dresses? Let me know down below in the comments! 

Reign the Earth by A.C. Gaughen Video Review

 

Hey, everyone! Today I'm reviewing a 2018 release that I gave 5 stars! I almost passed up on reading this novel because I thought it was going to be an Arabian Nights retelling. It isn't! Reign the Earth is one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read. If video reviews aren't your jam, here is my written review.

Have you read Reign the Earth? Are you a fan of darker and grittier YA fantasies? What were some of your favorite aspects (or least favorite) of this novel? Let me know down below in the comments!

Mini Review: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku 1 by Fujita

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku 1 by Fujita

DNF @ page 53

I don't know. I just could not get into this one. I tried. I wanted something cute, light and fluffy and with cheesy office romance, but I was unimpressed with the pointless plot. The panels were packed with too many words and it overshadowed the art. It was unappealing to my eyes and the story wasn't enough to hold my attention. I'm probably just being incredibly negative and everyone will love this, but I'm not loving it and I won't be continuing.


Cover Thoughts: It's cute and fluffy.

Thank you, Netgalley and Kodansha Comics, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

What are some of your favorite mangas? Are there any office mangas that I should read? Let me know down below in the comments! 

Video Review of Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies

 

Hey, everyone! It's been a hot minute since I've posted a video on my YouTube channel. Finals week and the weeks leading up to it are always incredibly hectic and filled with a lot work. I already have a review of Anne Frank Remembered and you can read it here if you aren't a fan of videos.

Have you read Anne Frank Remembered? What are some of your favorite World War II memoirs? Let me know down below in the comments!

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

4 stars

“I don’t plan on living a long life. Or a short life, necessarily. I have no plans at all. The thing is you keep existing whether you have a plan to do so or not, until you don’t exist, and then your plans are meaningless.”

Romy Hall finds herself in the Stanville Women’s Correctional Facility with two consecutive life sentences and it’s all because of the Mars Room. If she hadn’t been a dancer there then she wouldn’t have met Kurt Kennedy and she would still be with her son. The Mars Room looks into the harsh and degrading life of female inmates who never had a chance outside of their circumstances. Every woman and man that finds themselves in the prison system and in this novel is a stark representation of the reality of what environment does to those who can’t find a way out. When reading this novel, I was immediately reminded of Eileen (which is a fantastic character study) and her deranged musings. Eileen was a despicable human being and the characters in The Mars Room are in the same vein of apathetic and sympathetically enduring. It’s easy to hate these characters because they have done horrible things, but at the same time they are so very human. It’s an interesting contrast the Kushner captures brilliantly and it’s one of my favorite things about The Mars Room. Not only does Kushner excel at character studies, but her writing is gorgeous. I highlighted so many passages and I would sit back and reflect on certain sentences. Every word here feels intentional. Kushner delivers excellent descriptions of San Francisco and Romy’s turmoil with not appreciating its beauty until it was only a memory. Everything felt vivid and I felt like I was watching a documentary or a TV show unfold.


Whimsical Writing Scale: 4.5

“We are all hopeful things would go differently. They did not go differently. They went this way.”

Romy is an intriguing main character. She is portrayed in such a way that the reader feels incredibly sympathetic towards her plight and the injustice of her trial and lack of ability to defend herself. I must say that Kushner threw me for a loop with Kurt Kennedy’s chapters. I was left feeling still sympathetic towards Romy, but also with a great distaste because it is important to keep in mind that she did brutally murder a man. I’ll just leave this quote here and let you decide whether or not Romy is reliable or not because I still don’t know.


“You can’t believe anything people say. But what they say is all you have.”

I was not a fan of Gordon and his POV. Why was it in this novel? He was a weird creep who was obsessed with Thoreau (obvious red flags) and I didn’t gain anything from his perspective. Doc’s POV (a dirty cop in a men’s correctional facility) is also a weird POV. He is just disgusting and crude. I know he’s supposed to make me uncomfortable, but that doesn’t equate to him being necessary. If half of his POVs were edited down, I probably would have enjoyed those passages more. It does shed light onto misogynistic entitlements that run rampant in people with power though, so it isn’t all nonsense. Kurt Kennedy’s chapters made me think. This guy was a repulsive stalker who had no respect of boundaries and was incredibly entitled to the thought of Romy (aka Vanessa). He shows up at her house in a completely different city after she tries to run away from him and confronts her with his son. Kurt is incredibly disable and can barely walk. He has two canes and to me, is obviously not a threat. However, to a mother, he poses a huge threat. Romy’s reaction is understandable of a woman who has been stalked and fears for the safety of her child.

Character Scale: 4

“That’s how dumpsters got their name. People dump bodies. The bodies of women and girls.”

The ending… what an ending. It was open-ended, but it hints at what probably occurred. I felt satisfied by it and I’m glad that Kushner ended it this way instead of some sappy or implausible happy ending. I do think that The Mars Room will be a favorite for a lot of people. It has a lot of wonderful qualities—the writing and characters. It also is hindered by unnecessary point of views that take away from the Romy’s story. I do recommend this one. I was so excited for this one when I heard about it before it was released and it did not disappoint.


Plotastic Scale: 3.75

Cover Thoughts: I like it. It’s depressing and bleak. Not a favorite of mine, but it has a certain thematic quality to it that represents The Mars Room well.

Thank you, Netgalley and Scribner, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

 

Have you read or plan on reading The Mars Room? What are some of your favorite books and movies that follow prisoners? Let me know down below in the comments! 

April Reading Wrap-Up + A TBR

Hi, everyone! April has been a busy month. Finals week started on April 30th and it is a crazy way to end the semester. It's been a wonderful, but also challenging semester. There's been a lot of highs and some lows, but God has showed me the path I should take on every struggle and it has alleviated my stress.

Books Read in April:

I Have Lost My Way by Gayle Forman - 4.5 stars  This follows three teenagers from very diverse backgrounds who have all lost their way in life.Forman is known for writing contemporaries that sucker punch the soul and this was no exception. It can be a little dark and hopeless, but I absolutely adored the journey. Check out my review here. (First to Read ARC)
School for Psychics by K.C. Archer - 1.75 stars This one follows Teddy, a gambler with the uncanny ability to know when people are lying. She finds herself attending a school for psychics and this may be her one chance to redeem herself and save her family. I wasn't a fan of this one. The writing was juvenile and it was just cringey. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien - 4 stars I listened to the BBC dramatization and it was fantastic. I do have a soft spot for LOTR, but there is just something about the story that always makes me pull away. I always lose interest before the end and I don't know what it is. However, I do still enjoy LOTR and it was a fun listening experience.
Gerald's Game by Stephen King - 5 stars This is one of my favorite books of the year hands down! Jessie's story and journey were intense, heartbreaking, heart stopping, and emotional. I felt so many things while reading this novel. Terror, panic, disgust, sorrow, and hope. King is a master storyteller and only he would be able to convey a woman's journey of finding herself and accepting the horror of her past while being handcuffed to a bed while her husband is a three course meal for a dog. This is one of my favorite King novels and it was so feminist. Love it!
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien - 4 stars I really enjoyed this one. The audio experience is absolutely stunning and it was a wild ride.
Love and Death in the Sunshine State: The Story of a Crime by Cutter Wood - 1.25 stars This says story of a crime in the subtitle, but really it's a nonfiction/introspective journey into Wood's relationship with a girl and it just so happens that he has a connection to a crime in Florida that he becomes enamored with. Wasn't a fan of this one at all. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)
Coraline by Neil Gaiman - 4.5 stars I love the movie Coraline, but I had never read the book before and I wanted to check out a Gaiman audiobook because he narrates them himself. The experience was haunting and eerie. I am a fan of Gaiman and his odd worlds that are incredibly unique and horrifying. I really loved this one, but I found the ending to be a little... boring. I wanted more and that's the only reason that this isn't a five-star read for me, but it's pretty close.
Song of Blood & Stone by L. Penelope - 3.25 stars This is an adult fantasy and the premise is so interesting, but this just didn't live up to expectations. Also there were a lot of tropes I hate that this story heavily relies on and I just wasn't living for it. However, the themes Penelope discusses are so important and a lot of them are hardly touched upon in a fantasy setting. It was refreshing to see, but the love interest was a creep. Check out my review here. (Physical ARC/won from GR)
Click-clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman - 4.25 stars I love creepy stories that are weird and remind me of creepypastas.Check out my review and a link to the story can be found here.
Hello, Motto by Nnedi Okorafor - 3.5 stars Wigs that turn the wearer into power hungry maniacs? Sign me up. Plus, I love Nnedi Okorafor. However, I want this to be longer because it can't just end like that. Check out my review here.
Murder in the Bayou: Who Killed the Women Known as the Jeff Davis 8? by Ethan Brown - 4 stars Jeff Davis Parish isn't far away from where I live. I actually heard about this case from a native to Jennings when I used to work in sales. They lived on "the wrong side of the tracks" and they told me all about the corruption in the police force. I was shocked and when I saw that my library carried the novel that discussed the corruption and murders of 8 prostitutes, I picked it up ASAP. This isn't perfect, but it's a solid true crime novel.
Dimension Drift Prequel  by Christina Bauer - 2.5 stars This is a YA dystopian novella. It has an interesting premise, but seems inconsequential for the validity of a dystopian world. Check out my review here. (Netgalley ARC)
Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk - 3 stars This is my first Palahniuk and it won't be my last. I definitely enjoy his satirical style. My biggest problem with this one was the gratuitous depiction of sex and rape. It was uncomfortable to listen and if I had read it, I may have not been as affected or squeamish, but I listened to it.
Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian - 3.5 stars This was a fun wrap-up to the trilogy, but the writing is so juvenile. The characters are unbelievable and it is just so dramatic. Of course, I did love the drama, but it was a little much at times.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King  by J.R.R. Tolkien - 4.25 stars This is my favorite of the trilogy. There's just something about it that I love and adore. It isn't amazing to me, but I have a love for it. Also, I finished the entire trilogy in a month. Wow! I never do that!

2018 Goals:

 -I want to finish at least three series (five doesn't seem doable). COMPLETED 3/3 

*I finished The 5th Wave Trilogy with reading two novels!

*Burn for Burn trilogy was finally finished!

*I read and started The Lord of the Rings trilogy in one month!
-I want to read five sequels (I don't have to finish the series). COMPLETED 7/5 

*Flawless by Sara Shepard is book 2 in the PLL series. 

*The Infinite Sea and The Last Star by Rick Yancey are the 2nd and 3rd book in The 5th Wave series.

*The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon is the fifth book in the Outlander series. 

*The Lord of the Rings: The Towers and The Return of the KIng are the first and second in the LOTR trilogy.

Ashes to Ashes by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian is the last book in the Burn for Burn trilogy.
-I also want to read four short story collections. COMPLETED 5/4 

 *Harry Potter and Philosophy. 

*Manga Classics: The Jungle Book

*Starlings

*Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe.

*The Merry Spinster
-I want to read three classics that are not Stephen King novels. COMPLETED 8/3 

*Manga Classics: The Jungle Book

*Anne Frank Remembered

*The ABC Murders

*Manga Classics: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

*The Master Plan of Evangelism (Christian Classic) 

*The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

-I want to read five Stephen King novels (I've already read one in 2018). 2/5  

*The Long Walk (5 stars)

*Gerald's Game (5 stars)

Read 2018 ARCs. Read 17/18!
Books I Posted on End of the Year Survey. YES! 3/18

*The Fiery Cross

*Ashes to Ashes

*Gerald's Game

Overall Thoughts:

I read 15 books in April. Seven of those fifteen were on my to be read. This is amazing because I didn't read much during the last week of the month because I was preparing for finals week. I'm pretty happy with all that I read! I only had one 5 star read, but it was amazing and nothing measured up to my love for Gerald's Game so it was hard to beat. I Have Lost My Way and Coraline were excellent novels that I do highly recommend! I completed my goal of finishing 3 series and it's only April, so I may actually have to raise my goal. I also completed my goal of reading five sequels!

Currently Reading/ Hoping to Finish in May:

Already Finished: Pretty Girls, The Mars Room, and Blonde Hair, Blue Eyes
Netgalley ARCs: The Mars Room
 I'm currently reading God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater and it's my first Vonnegut since 2016 and I have missed reading his work. It's nice to be back. I'm still reading A Wilderness Station, Helter Skelter, Against Forgetting, A Darker Shade of Magic, Amity, and East of Eden.

Books I'm Thinking About Picking Up: 
ARCs
 
I received The Game of Hope and The Mermaid for review from Penguin's First to Read program and they release in June. I'm really excited about both of them! I didn't get to The Luck of the Bride in April like I wanted to, so it's my first priority read. I also need to pick up The Paper Magician, which I have had an ARC of for way too long. I would love to get to Furyborn and It's All About the Duke before their release dates in May! Hopefully, I can knock all of these out of the way!
Audiobooks:

I'm still on hold for The Hollow, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and The Woman in the Window. The Lightning Thief, The Lovely Bones, and It are all in my queue. I've already read It when I was in middle school, but I've always wanted to reread it and I feel like the audiobook would be a fun medium to try!
Books I Own:
 
I didn't get to You or The Shining and I still really want to pick both of these up soon. I'm going to try to get to them in May, but I'm a mood reader when it comes to my book shelves. Also Peter Likes Books is reading Heaven from April 29- May 13 and I love Peter so much. I just want to be apart of a a book club and interact with a bunch of people. So, I'm planning on starting this pronto. I don't own A Court of Frost and Starlight yet, but I will soon because I need this book in my life.

What did you read in April? Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts on them? Let me know down below in the comments!