April Reading Wrap-Up 2019

Today I am sharing my April reading wrap-up. This month I managed to read 11 books. And as a result, I’m nearly halfway to my yearly goal of reading 90 books.

This month also saw the return of my Harry Potter binge-read for the eighth year in a row.

April Reading Wrap-Up 2019

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danber

In preparation for my trip to New York City, I was on a New York book bender. After watching the Starz TV series Sweetbitter I knew I wanted to read the book. It is a sexy, very literary kind of read where nothing really happens and yet it leaves its mark. I really enjoyed it. In fact, I would say it was up there in my Top 5 reads of the year so far.

You Need a Budget by Jessie Mecham

As someone who desperately needs to budget right now, I thought this audiobook would be the perfect place to start. Unfortunately, this book is basically an audible ad to purchase a slot on the YNAB course. Not only is this book frustratingly empty of suggestions it also has an annoying acronym.

Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life by the Fab Five

I listened to the audiobook of Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life because I love the Queer Eye five and I find their advice to be strangely helpful.

Where the Dead Fall by MJ Lee

I read this book for work and I really enjoyed it! I do love a bit of crime fiction and Martin writes fantastically unique crime books set in Manchester about a cancer-stricken detective who is seconded to the Coroner’s Office.

What Would the Spice Girls Do by Lauren Bravo

I’ve been meaning to get this book for a while – mostly because of the title. I used one of my Audible credits to get it, and it was only four hours so I listened to it in one afternoon. I fun, lighthearted read about the Spice Girls and the way they helped raise a generation of feminists. Sure they were not perfect and they weren’t exactly around long but I still loved them and I appreciate their efforts to encourage girls to not give a fuck.

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams

I’ve read Laura’s previous books Becoming and Ice Cream for Breakfast and so when I heard she was writing a fiction book I pre-ordered it straight away! Luckily I was then sent a copy and I spent a blissful weekend reading on my sofa. By the time I had finished, I was ready to get onto the nearest tube and ride it around London all day until some magical man fell in love with me and posted it in the Metro’s Rush Hour column.

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

I love a historical non-fiction book from time to time and this book was killer. Excuse the pun. This book is all about the five women supposedly killed by Jack the Ripper. It is not a book about Jack the Ripper at all, in fact, you barely hear about their gruesome murders. Instead, you learn all about their lives from where their parents met up to every street they ever lived on. It is so in-depth and arresting that I looked forward to listening to the book every time I put my headphones on. Fantastic read!

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessha Moshfegh

Another one of my New York book benders. I’ve been seeing this book around for a while and I was always interested in the unique artistic cover. The cover really has very little to do with the book which is about a New York rich girl who decides, after losing both of her parents in quick succession, to spend a year hibernating. Literally slept and ordered take-out for a year. But a friend of hers, who is very dysfunctional, keeps interrupting. A literary piece of work that you wonder why you enjoy but undeniably do. And the ending destroyed me.

Just Eat It by Laura Thomas PhD

Got to admit, I found this book a bit of a drag. I was hoping it would be a good insight into foods and health. And it encourages you to love yourself but it was just too scientific and dull to be interesting for the everyday consumer.

the mermaid’s voice returns in this one by Amanda Lovelace

Whilst in America I picked up this collection of poetry and read it in a matter of days. A feminist selection of poems with a fairytale theme. This is the third and final book in a series of Princess-related poetry collections and I look forward to reading the other two.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling

And it had to be done! Since I was a little nervous about flying on my own for the first time I thought I would listen to the audiobook of Harry Potter as we took off as it is effectively my happy place of literature. And it worked. I was so calm. I really do love this series, even if the JK of JK Rowling’s name is stated to be an acronym for ‘Just Kidding’ when it comes to her plot lines and character development.

That’s it for my April Reading wrap-up. What did you read in April? Let me know in the comments below.

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