Okay…I promise, I’ll get better at actually posting these closer to the start of the month, haha!!! At least it’s coming at ya, right? 😀
With that, here were the five selections from April:
For the first time this year, I definitely struggled with my decision so hopefully you will see reviews for some of these other books throughout the year! Now on to the synopses:
#1) Lost and Wanted by Neil Freudenberger – A gender-bending novel of love, loss, and 5D spacetime.
#2) Normal People by Sally Rooney – Two misfits share an on-again, off-again romance in this wise coming-of-age story about friendship and belonging.
#3) Miracle Creek by Angie Kim – An addictive courtroom thriller about a tight-knit community and the murder trial that turns neighbor against neighbor.
#4) Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson – Three young women enter West Point on the eve of 9/11. Their lives will never be the same.
#5) All That You Leave Behind by Erin Lee Carr – A young filmmaker learns to make sense of the world, and her place in it, through her correspondence with her father.
Like I said, this month was kind of a tough one! Right off the bat, I crossed off All That You Leave Behind and Lost and Wanted. Neither really interested me for various reasons, and I probably won’t be picking up either of these moving forward.
However the other three…I was definitely interested and had to take some time to think through which one I wanted to pick. First, Normal People is right up my lane with its coming-of-age, hard-hitting contemporary self. I was also really intrigued that the two main protagonists start as teenagers and then we follow them during their college years, which I just don’t think we have enough of in the literary world. Second, Miracle Creek was actually the only book from this list that was already on my TBR!! I am also happy to support a Korean author, but also support stories that have better representation, particularly a courtroom thriller! I honestly have never been drawn to courtroom thrillers, so that was my only true hang up. Lastly, Beyond the Point is actually more in line with what I’ve been interested in as of lately…which is adult contemporary. I’m definitely intrigued.
So what did I pick? Drum roll please!!!
I picked…Miracle Creek!!! I ended up picking this book because the other two are books 
that I would normally pick up on my own, and so I chose the book that I was least likely to pick up on my own. Like I mentioned, I’m not normally drawn to courtroom thrillers, or thrillers in general. Spikes my already spiked anxiety. However, I am interested to try a courtroom thriller and see if it’s a new genre that I could find myself being interested in. I imagine it to be like a book-version of watching shows like “Scandal” or “HTGAWM”, so we’ll see if that is what courtroom thrillers are actually like, haha!!!
Of course, as I mentioned above, I also want to support diverse stories told by diverse voices. And as a Korean-American woman myself, I always want to support other Koreans putting out (hopefully) great works and stories that deserve to be told and heard. I am interested in seeing more diverse representation in stories that we see over and over again.
With that, I hope you enjoyed seeing my pick and hearing some of my rationale in how I picked! I will definitely be putting out my short review of Daisy Jones & The Six later this week, so stay tuned!
Happy Reading, Friends!!
I picked…Daisy Jones & The Six!!! I couldn’t help it!! I didn’t even think when I saw this as a pick, honestly, haha!!! I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and was so enamored with Taylor Jenkins Reids’ writing, that I had to pick up Daisy Jones & The Six. I am so excited to get into this and I cannot wait to share my thoughts with you all on this read.
STOP!! I so admire Michelle and her memoir was raw, vulnerable and a real call to action for female empowerment. I really don’t think I need to say much more, aside from if you haven’t read this yet…GO READ IT NOW!!!!
This is one of my favorite series not only because we have some great female protagonists, but is a refreshing fantasy series highlighting female friendships and the empowerment of our female protagonists. I think that the genres of fantasy (and sci-fi) have historically been behind in empowering marginalized groups and so it is so refreshing to see a female author who creates an elaborate world celebrating female friendships.
and soul, and this book touches on womanhood and motherhood in a truly profound way. This book really puts what it means to be a mother under a microscope and challenges the white liberal narrative.
I read this a couple of years ago and this short story collection really hit me hard in the feelings. This was a hard compilation of stories to read as it was so real putting the lives of various women under the microscope. I have yet to read Roxane Gays’ other works, and that is definitely something that I need to remedy ASAP.
Clares’ works have really evolved over time starting at City of Bones all the way to now with Queen of Air & Darkness. What I appreciate most about Cassandra Clare is her ability to evolve not only with her audience, but also with the times. As a writer of YA Paranormal Romance/Fantasy, I appreciate the risks that Cassandra Clare has taken as of late to address the social issues that we face today and how marginalized communities need to be brought up today.
Min Jin Lee for creating a beautiful and heartbreaking story that follows a Korean family over multiple generations. While this is a multi-generational story, the women in this story really stood out to me as the pillars of the family over time. This helped me to reflect on the sacrifices of my mother and my grandmother, which made this story feel that much more impactful.
have read this, Autoboyography, and My Favorite Half-Night Stand. I would honestly recommend any of their books if you’re in need of a romance. This one was my first Christina Lauren read and I think definitely my favorite. I enjoyed the quirky and sweet romance, and it was a quick and breezy read. So I definitely recommend!
This book made my 
going to be one thing and it ended up being quite the other. I don’t know why, but I went into this thinking that it would be more of a thriller, but it ended up being one of my favorite romance stories that I read recently. This book was quite the emotional journey, and it definitely tugged at my heartstrings while also making me smile along the way. So if you’re looking for something with a little more heart, then this may be the right book for you!
I read this one recently, as it was getting a ton of hype and I wanted to see if it was worth all the hype. And I can say…that it definitely was!! This book is a beautiful story capturing Evelyn Hugos’ larger story, but also capturing her greatest and most tragic love story. This book had me laughing one minute and then sobbing the next, it was such an emotional roller coaster. If you’re looking for a love story that will get you all up in your feels, but also tells an epic love story…this is definitely the book for you!
well, as one of my favorite romance reads as of late. But the romance in this duology just had me not only feeling all of my feels, but was also just so sweet to read. The romance spans time and life itself, and if you are really needing a huge and expansive love story that will just make you cheer for the pair from the rooftops, then this is the book for you!
I picked…Early Riser!!! This book just sounded so unique and such a departure from what I normally read, which I thought would be a good way to shake up my reading. I also do want to make sure that I am diversifying my reading by making sure that I am broadening my reading across other issues that are present within our current society. With all the elemental and nature-related things happening in our world today, I definitely did find this incredible intriguing and would be like I said, a change up in my reading plans.
YAASSS!!! I am so excited for Angie Thomas’ next book, as I loved her debut novel and cannot wait to dig into her newest book. On the Come Up follows sixteen-year-old Bri who wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Bri is trying to follow in the footsteps of her father, one of the greatest underground rap legends who unfortunately died before he hit big. Now Bri’s mom needs to figure out how to make meets end, which means Bri needs to figure out not only how to support her mom but also how to make it big. I cannot wait to get into this…I will be digging into this ASAP!
year-old Starr Carter as she moves between the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy private school that she attends. One night after a party, Starr tragically witness the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of an officer. Khalil was unarmed. Words can’t begin to express how moved I was by this story and how important this story and stories like this, are in today’s social and political climate. To read this story from the perspective of a sixteen-year-old really broke me and really sent home the message that something needs to be done. Young black men do not deserve to be shot at, unprovoked and their stories need to be shared, so that change can hopefully come. If you haven’t read this, I urge you to do so. The movie adaptation was also incredible.
time. Homegoing follows the story of two sisters, Effia and Essi, and their differing destinies. One becomes a slave trader’s wife and one is sold into slavery. What comes is not only their stories, but also the stories of generations to come and the continued ripple effect from their original stories. This was the first of this style of book that I read and I loved it. I loved the multi-generational storytelling style and it really well illustrated the concept of generational pain incredibly well. This book is something that I still think about to this day and I’m sure I will always keep this story very close to my heart.
identities into your stories, but also stop appropriating the cultures of people of color in order to make your exciting and fun fantasy world. Okay, soapbox moment over. Children of Blood and Bone is the first book in a new epic high fantasy series based off of West African mythology. Zélie Abedola remembers when magic was ever present and maji were free to practice their magic. Everything changed the night that magic disappeared…which was the night that the ruthless king ordered all magi be killed, effectively taking magic away from the land. The book follows Zélie, as she journeys to find how to bring magic back and how to take vengeance against the evil king. This was a high-paced, action-packed fantasy steeped in racially charged violence. With how heavy this was, it was also genuinely refreshing to read a different take one an epic high-fantasy start to a new series. The next book in the series is set to come out this coming March and I cannot wait to continue on in this world!
with the book. An American Marriage follows newlyweds Celestial and Roy, who are the real embodiment of the American Dream and the New South. They had their whole lives still ahead of them and they were both ready to seize the opportunities. However, it is all ripped from them when Roy finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is wrongfully accused of a crime that he did not commit for which he ends up being sent to prison. This book explores race, justice, Black masculinity and Black womanhood in America, and it really was a somber and profound reading experience.
believes in science and facts, and is definitely not one to believe in love at first sight. On the other hand, we have Daniel, a Korean-American young teen who is constantly trying to live up to his parents’ expectations but has a love of poetry. Natasha and Daniel find themselves meeting the day of Natasha and her familys’ deportation, and what ensues is their 24-hour tragic love story. This story really hit me in the feels and was both a heartwarming and heartbreaking story all at the same time. If you haven’t gotten around to this yet, please pick this up!!
favorite thus far! This book was creepy, a little scary and quite profound for a less than 200 page book. I really resonated with Jacks’ character and she just made me feel all the things.
Avid Readers Mediocre Writers 