Super belated (as usual)
but here are the books I read in April. Some great ones in this bunch!
THE WINNER’S CRIME by
Marie Rutkoski
A reread to prepare for
book three. I enjoyed this even more the second time around. The first time I
was itching for Kestrel and Arin to be on the page together, but this time I
appreciated their individual journeys/dangers/strategies even more. Kestrel is
one of my all-time favorite YA heroines, and this second book dives even deeper
into her brilliant mind.
UP TO THIS POINTE by
Jennifer Longo
Ballet + Antarctica = I
am sold! This was a plot I’d never heard of before. When Harper’s life plan to
become a professional ballerina goes down in flames, she finagles her way onto
an Antarctic expedition. One of her ancestors was a South Pole explorer, so she
figures, why not? Her panic and hopelessness about her lack of direction rings
so true. The story is told in two timelines, jumping back and forth between
Harper’s life in Antarctica and the year before as a ballerina. The ballet
parts were my favorite—I’m really into ballet books lately! I recommend this
one for sure, especially if you’re looking for an MC trying to rediscover
herself.
THE WINNER’S KISS by
Marie Rutkoski
One of my most
anticipated books of the year, and I was SO pleased with it! No spoilers, but I
was very happy with how things played out. There’s not a lot I can say without
giving something away, but we finally saw Kestrel and Arin together in more
than just a handful of scenes. Very satisfying!
HARRY POTTER AND THE
HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling (audiobook)
Jim Dale’s narrations are
my all-time audiobook favorites. I borrowed this one through the OverDrive app
and listened to it night and day (practically). SO enjoyable!
THE WAY I USED TO BE by Amber Smith
THIS
BOOK. Wow wow wow. The story follows Eden through all four years of high school
after she is raped by her older brother’s best friend. It’s a completely
character driven story, showing how the assault shapes Eden’s sense of self and
decision-making. We see her cope, we see her spiral downward, we see her make
and lose friends. Even when she’s not thinking about what happened to her, we
can see how it has saturated her every action and decision. This quote sums up
Eden’s journey well:
“And me, well, before it was like you had the girl and then you
had the rumors about the girl, but now there’s only the girl, because the
rumors aren’t just rumors anymore, they’re the reality—they are the girl.”
NO BAGGAGE: A MINIMALIST
TALE OF LOVE AND WANDERING by Clara Bensen
I wanted a travel memoir,
and this one caught my eye. Traveling with just the clothes on your back and
money/passport/iPhone in your purse? And your companion is a guy you met on
OKCupid a few weeks ago? Sounds like the opportunity for panic, hilarity, and
some great lessons. But what I got from the book? Minimalist traveling is
actually no big deal. Nothing went seriously wrong—Clara didn’t even seem to
struggle—so it made for kind of a dull read. Also, the dialogue between Clara
and her boyfriend/travel companion, Jeff, read as very
philosophical/academic/pretentious. Her thoughts and narration sounded normal,
but I wondered if they really only talked about super abstract concepts instead
of more normal exchanges like: “Oh my god, these sandals are MURDERING my feet
right now.”
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR
PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs
I put off reading this
for YEARS because the pictures scared me. I thought the book was going to be a
horror story, but I was so wrong. In case you haven’t read it I won’t spoil
anything; it’s one of those (I think) where it’s best to go in blind and discover
the story as you go. Basic plot: After a family tragedy, Jacob journeys to an
island off the coast of Wales with his father and finds the remains of Miss
Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Who were these children? Why did they
live on this island? Jacob unravels the mystery, and discovers he might play a
part in it.
IN THE AFTERLIGHT by
Alexandra Bracken
Finishing The Darkest
Minds series has been my goal for almost two years. Finally, FINALLY
accomplished it in April. A solid finale—slower-paced, but once we hit the big
takedown part, I was hooked. Also, I almost started crying when our gang was
reunited with a character we haven’t seen for a while. And books DON’T make me
cry unless they’re HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, so when I come close,
it’s a big deal.
I read some solid books
in April. My favorite is a tie between THE WAY I USED TO BE and THE WINNER’S
KISS—though you can’t really compare the two, so I’m making it a tie! Favorite
contemp, favorite fantasy.
Happy reading!
