Everything I Read in April ‘23 + May TBR
I didn’t read much in April and went through a little bit of a slump, but I did finish a handful of books and planned out what I *hope* to read in May. So far, I have read 19/25 books for my 2023 Reading Challenge which may not seem like much to some but it’s a lot of reading for me. I love the feeling of finishing a book and then opening Goodreads to mark it as finished. It’s like a reward. I think that’s part of why it’s so painful to leave books unfinished even if I’m not enjoying them, because I like having the satisfaction of finishing something and getting one book closer to my reading goal. But that also means I’m wasting time reading books I don’t actually enjoy. Does anyone else do this or is it just me?
Anyways, without further ado, here’s my *spoiler free* thoughts on everything I read in April and my May TBR.
April Reads
“It is very unfair to judge of any body’s conduct, without an intimate knowledge of their situation.”
-Jane Austen (Emma)
Emma by Jane Austen
Goodreads Description:
Emma Woodhouse is one of Austen's most captivating and vivid characters. Beautiful, spoilt, vain and irrepressibly witty, Emma organizes the lives of the inhabitants of her sleepy little village and plays matchmaker with devastating effect.
My Thoughts:
4 stars
Loved this one! It was lighthearted and comedic and there was so much character growth (like in any Jane Austen book). I didn’t love it quite as much as Pride and Prejudice but it was good and I highly reccomend it. I am on the hunt for a decent film adaptation. The only one I’ve seen is the one with Gwyneth Paltrow and it’s okay but nothing to write home about. There is a 2020 version of Emma but I have yet to watch it. If you have any suggestions please comment them below!
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
Goodreads Description:
A recipe for happiness: four women, one medieval Italian castle, plenty of wisteria, and solitude as needed. The women at the center of The Enchanted April are alike only in their dissatisfaction with their everyday lives. They find each other—and the castle of their dreams—through a classified ad in a London newspaper one rainy February afternoon. The ladies expect a pleasant holiday, but they don’t anticipate that the month they spend in Portofino will reintroduce them to their true natures and reacquaint them with joy. Now, if the same transformation can be worked on their husbands and lovers, the enchantment will be complete.
My Thoughts:
2 stars
This was another book club read! The setting was absolutely stunning and made me want to plan a trip to Italy, however, that was about the only thing I liked about this book. I didn’t connect or relate to any of the characters, the plot was a bit dull and I found it to be quite boring. It just wasn’t the book for me. That being said, I’m glad to be branching out more with books and discovering what I like (and don’t like).
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Goodreads Description:
The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions - including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.
My Thoughts:
4 stars
I love this series so far! It’s fun and interesting. I love reading a good trilogy because you get to know and become attached to the characters.This series in particular is one mystery, but with each book it slowly unravels and a new piece of the puzzle is found. I am excited but also sad to read the last book because it means the series will be over.
May TBR
The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The last book in The Inheritance Games series!! I don’t have a physical copy yet so it’s not in the photo. Looking for the paperback version but all I’ve been able to find are hardbacks.
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Can’t wait to read this one! The last Lynn Painter book I read I finished in less than a day. This one is super popular and it sounds cute and fun!
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
This is our book club pick this month. It’s Historical Fiction Fantasy. It sounds really interesting and the cover art is perfection.
The Montessori Toddler by Simone Davies
Started reading this one a few days ago and I love it so far. I already know it’s going to be so helpful for toddler parenting, and there’s tons of inspiration for activities.
