Another month is gone and done! And can you believe a third of this year has passed already? I can’t believe how fast time goes. Today we will show you guys all the books we read this month. And you better get ready because we read A LOT! So here’s our April Wrap Up, enjoy!

Isabelle

This wasn’t my best reading month to be honest. I had a hard time picking up books and stay concentrated on my reads. Luckily, I did read a couple of novella’s, comics, and manga and that really helped me to stay reading throughout this slump’. I really don’t want to call it a slump since I still have read 17 stories. However my page count it the lowest of the year by far haha. I hope I get to read more the coming month. I’m participating in a middle grade challenge in May and I hope that helps with actually reading full length books!
I’m currently at 57 books out of 100 for my Goodreads Challenge so that is going really well! Other than that I didn’t do that well in my challenges, I read a couple of comics so I might be close to already finishing that goal. And I also read one book that I got in a bookbox so that’s slightly going the right direction. Lets take a look at what I read this month! Also, if I have posted a review for a book, you can click on the link.

Sightwitch – Susan Dennard

I read Sightwitch, a prequel novella in the Truthwitch series by Susan Dennard. I enjoyed it but didn’t like it as much as I liked Truthwitch and Windwitch. Part of that was probably because I read the first half as a Netgalley ebook and the images that were used throughout the story didn’t look that great. And after seeing how they look in the actual book I think that would’ve made it a lot easier and more fun to read.

Gangsta 2 & 3 Kohske

After reading Gangsta 1 last month I also picked up book 2 & 3 as soon as possible. I’m really enjoying these manga’s and while the story gets a bit confusing every now and then I really want to continue reading this.

The Promised Neverland 1 – Kaiu Shirai

I had never heard of this manga but the title got me to pick it up. The synopsis sounded interesting and I really enjoyed the story! There are some surprising turns in this story and the characters are really cute. Looking at the age of the main characters I would’ve said this was a middle grade read but with the story progressing I think it might be more YA because of the creepiness factor. I already picked up the second book and I hope to read it soon.

The Oracle Queen – Kendare Blake

This is the second novella in the Three Dark Crowns and takes place years and years before the first novel. This was an amazing novella in my opinion! The history of the Oracle Queen is mentioned throughout TDC and ODT but it was so much better than I expected it to be. I love being in this world and this one really played with my emotions! Recommend it to every Three Dark Crowns fan.

Son of the Dawn – Cassandra Clare

Another novella series in the Shadowhunter world and I still can’t stay away. These novella’s all have something to do with Jem, one of my favorite characters in this world. I enjoyed this one enough but it was pretty short and there wasn’t that much plot. Also, why does this short of a story need two writers?! It’s a quick read and despite the shortcomings I will be reading the next one’s as soon as they are released haha.

See All The Stars – Kit Frick

I got a free copy through Netgalley and will write a full review closer to the release date. This was not what I had expected at all and it took me FOREVER to read…

My Hero Academia 1 & 2 – Kohei Horikoshi

I recognized this title from the anime and that’s what made me pick it up in the first place. I really enjoy superhero stories and this is definitely a fun one. It is quite simple and a bit predictable but enjoyable nevertheless. After reading a couple more I will probably watch the anime as well.

Fables vol 1 – Bill Willingham

This is one I picked up because of the cover haha. After realizing it was a Once Upon A Time kinda story, fairytale characters living in our world, I knew I had to get it. And once I was home I read it right away. I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to start the second volume. There are a couple of spin off series as well so I have quite some comics to go with these characters.

Saga vol 3 – Brian K Vaughan & Fiona

After reading vol 1 & 2 it was time for #3. I don’t want to wait to long between volumes as there are quite some storylines going on and I don’t want to become confused. This was a great read and I enjoyed it a lot, more than the first 2. I might treat myself and buy volume 4 soon 😉

Ms Marvel 2 – G. Willow Wilson

Another really enjoyable read. I like the characters a lot and flew through it. I hate repeating myself but this is also a series I will definitely be continuing haha. There is quite some diversity in this story and for once I didn’t feel like there were that much references I didn’t get. Sure, there are things mentioned from other Marvel comics but it wasn’t confusing which was pretty great.

The Call – Peadar Ó Guilín

I heard about this book a little while ago and put it on my want to read list on Goodreads but didn’t really think about it anymore. Some of my friends read it and enjoyed it so when I saw it on Storytel I started listening to it. This was such a captivating, gruesome, and amazing read. I couldn’t stop listening and didn’t go to sleep until 2.30 so I could finish it. And obviously then I couldn’t sleep because of how disturbing this story was!

Milk & Honey – Rupi Kaur

I simply picked this up because I saw it on Storytel. After Rupi’s second poem collection was recently released this was all over booktube and bookstagram so that had me intrigued. Some of these poems I really liked but others seemed like a bunch of random sentences put together. They didn’t feel like actual poems. Poetry might just not be my thing!

Everless – Sara Holland

After deciding to go to YalfestNL last minute I really wanted to try and read more books by the authors attending it. I got Everless in a Fairyloot and also had the audiobook. I listened to it during work and was happy to finish it before YalfestNL. Around the release there was quite some hype surrounding this books but I got the feeling that died down pretty quickly. Readers seemed to be pretty disappointed. I’m glad I waited until now to read it because I really enjoyed it and wasn’t disappointed at all!

The Assassin’s Blade – Sarah J Maas

We posted our thoughts about this reread on Monday! In anticipation of Kingdom of Ash, Candyce and I are doing a reread of the whole Throne of Glass series and we started with the Assassin’s Blade last month. It was really fun being back in this world and seeing all the details that will come into play later on in the story!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – J.K. Rowling

While I was cleaning the house Monday I was in the mood to listen to an audiobook and accidentally I came across Fantastic Beasts. I already read the physical book but saw that this one was narrated by Eddie Redmayne! This edition also had a little extra story at the start I think that tied in with the movie and that was so much fun to listen to! This audiobook is amazing and has some great sound effects. Highly recommended this <3

Candyce

Last month I had a really good reading month. I was really curious to see if I was able to keep it up. April was another good reading month! I read 9 novellas and 20 books. This is an all time record for me. This means my Goodreads challenge is now at 79 out of 160. After only four months I am almost halfway done with my reading challenge. I finished 2 series and I read 2 backlist books. Time to show you what I read this month. If I have already posted a review for the book, you will be able to click on the title.

This Savage Song – V.E. Schwab

After hearing so many good things about this book, hearing about a group read finally gave me the final push to start this duology. This story sucked me in right from the start and I couldn’t put it down. It’s that I had to go to Easter dinner with my boyfriend’s family or I would’ve finished this book in a day. It was a breath of fresh air. This Savage Song is the first YA book in a long time that only has a friendship and isn’t focused on a blooming romance. Add monsters being created from tragedy and you have a pretty interesting story.

Our Dark Duet – V.E. Schwab

I surprised myself by actually picking this up right after the first one. I’m not exactly good at continuing a series right away, haha. At first I wasn’t planning on continuing right away. This Savage Song doesn’t really end with a cliffhanger, but I needed to know where it would go. I was happy I did. Another very intense story that had me on the edge of my seat. The ending wasn’t the happily ever after a lot of books had. It ended nicely, but I still have a lot of questions. I know I wouldn’t mind if we got more from this world.

The End Zone – L.J. Shen

I am a big fan of sports romances. If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, this won’t be a surprise, haha. The End Zone is a friends to lovers story and I am definitely happy with those types of stories. My only issue with this is it’s only a novella. I would’ve loved to have read so much more about these characters. L.J. Shen is definitely an author I want to read more from.

Virtually Sleeping Beauty – K.M. Robinson

As a fan of retellings, this one sounded really interesting. Instead of Sleeping Beauty being in bed asleep, she is trapped in a virtual reality game and can’t get out. The only problem is that if you’re in there too long you can actually die. This was a cute take on this fairytale. Virtually Sleeping Beauty is only a novella though. After reading this I definitely want more short stories from these characters or in this world.

So Much More – J. Daniels

As a big fan of the Bama boys, I definitely should be ashamed I only got to reading this now. So Much More was actually released last October in a small anthology, Eye Candy. I was really excited to read it, but just didn’t get around to it. After reading this I was upset with myself that it took me so long, haha. It was so nice to be back with these characters. So Much More takes place on Halloween and all the characters are getting ready for the Halloween party that will go on that night. All four main male characters tell the story and it was swoonworthy! We got to see how all the couples were doing and there were some major melting moments. Nolan definitely needs the book where he is all grown up, because he is the sweetest thing.

The Birthday List – Devney Perry

The Birthday List isn’t the easiest book to read. It actually starts off pretty sad. After losing her husband, the main character decides to complete his birthday list. She is hoping by doing this that she will be able to move on. Reading this was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. There are a lot of happy moments, but also a lot of moments that had me crying along with the characters in the book, haha. The Birthday List is a well written book and I really recommend reading it. Even though there are a lot of sad moments, it’s nice seeing the characters grow and find their ways back to a sense of normal.

Chaotic Good – Whitney Gardner

I am definitely a geek, so this book sounded like so much fun. The main character goes in to a comic book store and isn’t treated very kindly because she is a girl. This changes when she goes back in dressed as a boy. As a female, this is very insulting, because we can love comics as well. While she is trying to get her portfolio ready, they play D&D and there are fun other nerdy elements. I will be posting a review this month, so keep an eye out.

The Oracle Queen – Kendare Blake

The Oracle Queen was the next novella in the Three Dark Crowns series and it left me wanting more. We learn more about the Oracle Queen, which is also the last known one. She didn’t have an easy life and it seems that not everyone was honest with her. There is a lot of betrayal and a few characters that I didn’t like, but dislike even more so now. This book left me wanting the next book, but unfortunately we have to wait until September! It’s going to be a long wait.

Son of the Dawn – Cassandra Clare

Son of the Dawn is the first short story in Cassandra Clare’s new Ghost of the Shadow Market book. Starting in April a new short story will be released every month. I still love the Shadowhunter world and debated for awhile if I would wait to read them all at once, but I didn’t. Jem is one of my favorite characters, so I was happy when I saw it would be with him in it as well. It’s also the first time we read a bit more about the time before Jace went to live in New York. I will be posting a review after reading a few more of these stories.

With Love, Ella – Alexa Randolph

This book was a lot different than I expected. I read With Love, Ella in one day and while I liked it, the writing style did annoy me at times. Some things were just too obvious, like the author needed to have something happen to explain a later event. Other than that this book is filled with so much emotion and had me in tears on the train. This was a beautiful story and it shows us that life definitely doesn’t always go according to plan.

This Time Around – Stacey Lynn

Two characters come together that are both suffering a loss, her husband died and his wife cheated on him. He comes to hide on her farm, so he can take time to deal and stay out of the spotlight. Even though this story is predictable, it was still such a nice read. The author got me loving both the characters and hoping they would get their happily ever after. They both weren’t looking for anything new, but I think they needed each other. The ending left a smile on my face.

The Wicked Deep – Shea Ernshaw

I wasn’t planning on reading this book this month, but there was a group read in TBR & Beyond and I was hearing a lot of positive things. The Wicked Deep gives us a creepy feeling and I love how the past is mixed together with the present. My only regret is that I didn’t wait to read this around Halloween. It would’ve been a perfect book for that time of year, even though it does take place in the summer. My review will be up this month.

Suitors & Sabotage – Cindy Anstey

Suitors & Sabotage is an historical fiction with a bit of mystery. If you’re not a fan of love triangles, I wouldn’t recommend this, but I thought it was sweet. While one brother is spending time with Imogene to try and win her heart, the other one develops feelings he didn’t expect to get. Imogene is a girl who is so much further in time than most girls. Instead of just getting married, she wants to teach art. Things start happening to one of the brothers though and it’s a mystery who is doing these things. This book has some romance, humor and mystery. It’s a lot of fun.

Chasing Love – Kayla Tirrell

Kayla Tirrell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and this book didn’t disappoint. Chasing Love is the final book in the Mountain Creek Drive trilogy and once again I loved it. Being a teenager in the early 2000s this book brought back so many memories. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun reading about stuff now, but these memories will always have a special place in my heart. Once again, her book was too short. I’m sad this trilogy is all over, because it was so much fun.

Startup Fiancé – Shilpa Mudiganti

This was a shorter story, only over 150 pages. It’s a story about two CEOs who are actually being set up by there family, but meet the other before that. It’s a cute and fast read, but the ending was kind of off for me. Some things just didn’t make sense. I think it would’ve been more fun if it was a full novel, instead of a novella.

A Prom to Remember – Sandy Hall

A Prom to Remember is a sweet contemporary that is perfect for the summer. Seven teenagers are getting ready for prom and all have their own issues. I was afraid seven characters would be a bit much, but after two chapters by each character, I had the hang of it. Even though not all the characters are in the same group of friends, they end up connecting one way or another. It was definitely a prom to remember.

Three Summers – S.J. Sylvis

I don’t remember how I ended up seeing this author on Instagram, but that is besides the point. She was posting about her book and giving updates. After awhile we got the chance to sign up to read and review and I am happy I did. For a debut novel, it was amazing. Something tragic happened and changed Sadie’s life. Her boyfriend Rowen kind of disappeared after that. They run in to each other again the summer after and feelings resurface that she wasn’t counting on. Can they find their way back to each other in these three summers or is it really over? My review will be online next week!

I Dare You – Ilsa Madden-Mills

Another sports romance (I know I love them, haha). We have Delaney and Maverick. They kissed at a bonfire during their freshman year and apparently if that happens you won’t forget the other person. A couple years later they run into each other again and start talking. Delaney is a nerdy girl who loves cats and Star Wars and Maverick is a typical jock (or so we think). They start texting and when Delaney gets a dare she doesn’t back down. This book is full of funny moments and some very romantic and sexy moments. I definitely recommend this book! My spot on the blog tour is this Saturday, so if you want to see my full review, keep an eye out.

The Black Witch – Laurie Forest

Before a couple of months ago, I had never heard of this book. Then there was a group read in TBR & Beyond and it sounded really good. I also heard nothing but great things about it. It’s a pretty thick book, but it sucks you in from the start. Even though not much happens action wise, the world building is amazing and I think it will be so important for the future books. Right after finishing this book, I bought the novella (still have to read it). I can’t wait for the second book. My review will be posted this month.

The Assassin’s Blade – Sarah J. Maas

If you’ve already read the review, you will know that we decided to read one book of this series a month until the last one comes out. It was amazing to dive back in this world. I missed the characters. The Assassin’s Blade was the first thing I read when I started this series. Which means, it’s been awhile, haha. Reading these novellas brings back so many memories and details. It makes me understand certain events and decisions so much more. I can’t wait to start Throne of Glass this month!

Blood Type – K.A. Linde

This is a paranormal romance and it’s not something that this author has done before. I know she can write amazing romances, so I was curious to see what would happen when vampires were added to the mix. Blood Type was so much more than I expected and had plot twists I didn’t see coming. K.A. Linde is an amazing writer and definitely knew what she was doing when she wrote this book. After that cliffhanger, I need more. It’s nice to know that we get all three books this year. The wait won’t be too long.

Tradition – Brendan Kiely

This book wasn’t on my radar until recently. I signed up for the blog tour after I read the sypnosis and it sounded amazing. Tradition is a book about traditions that aren’t the best to have. It shows us what happens in society today and that it’s not all okay. Sometimes having money gets you free passes for things your really shouldn’t get them for. After reading tradition, I definitely see similarities with today’s world. I would recommend this book to everyone. My spot on the blog tour will be posted later today.

Bro Code – Kendall Ryan

As a big fan of Kendall Ryan, I definitely wanted this book. A guy who likes his friend’s sister. That is not done, haha. It does however leave us with some funny and sexy moments. Kendall Ryan knows what she’s doing when she writes romances and once again, she didn’t disappoint. I still don’t know how she is able to write as many books as she does, haha. My review will be up this Thursday, so keep an eye out.

Bittersweet – Carmen Jenner & Lauren K. McKellar

Not too long ago I read Carmen Jenner’s book Cake. It was so much fun, so I didn’t have to think twice when I read that this book was being published. The main character has a wedding blog, but isn’t married. She was cheated on and has a wedding dress to show for it. The guy that works at Bittersweet has been keeping her coffee addiction going and she is definitely crushing on him. Certain misunderstandings throw bumps in the road. This leads to some funny and sweet  moments. A predictable read, but still a lot of fun. I always need books like these. My review will be online Friday.

Scythe – Neal Shusterman

Scythe was another book I wasn’t planning on reading this month, not until a friend told me she started reading it and loved it. This book has been on my TBR for quite awhile and hearing her be excited about it, I just couldn’t stop myself. Neal Shusterman has an amazing way with words and I loved reading this. This is an unique world and it’s definitely hard to think of no natural deaths and being able to live to be hundreds of years old. The only way to die is to be gleaned. There were a few plot twists I didn’t see coming and I hope to read Thunderhead soon. I need more!

 

We both had really good reading months! Hopefully May will be just as great. How was your reading month? Did you read any books we should know about?