We’ve now officially wrapped up four months of reading in 2025! Where is this year going? Yesterday we told you about the books we added to our shelves. Today we want to tell you about the books we’ve read. So keep on reading four our April wrap up!
Candyce
In April I read 25 books (8 eARCs, 6 paperbacks, 4 audiobooks, 3 hardcovers, 3 Kindle Unlimited, and 1 eBook). My average rating of 3.8 was a little lower that previous months, but I did have quite a few wins as well. Let’s take a look at what I read!
Bridesmaid for Hire – Meghan Quinn
Meghan Quinn is one of my favorite authors and Bridesmaid for Hire reminded me why all over again. This book was the perfect combination of spicy, funny, and heartwarming. It also has fake dating and that’s my favorite trope. Brody and Maggie were fun characters. I’m mad at myself for taking so long to finally read this.
A Thousand Boy Kisses – Tillie Cole
A Thousand Boy Kisses is a book I read in 2016. I’ve been wanting to do a reread since the sequel in this series released. This is an emotional one, so I needed to prepare myself for that I guess. Poppy and Rin have a beautiful love story, but also a very tragic one. I remembered a lot of things, but there were definitely a few things I forgot.
Enchantra – Kaylie Smith
Enchantra was one of my many most anticipated releases of 2025 and it didn’t disappoint at all. Phantasma was an amazing book, but I think Enchantra is one I loved just a little more. Genevieve and Rowin’s story was so good and kept me on the edge of my seat. I almost finished it in one sitting. The only thing I would’ve loved just a bit more is if we had Rowin’s POV for a few chapters.
A Thousand Broken Pieces – Tillie Cole
After my reread of A Thousand Boy Kisses, I decided to finally read A Thousand Broken Kisses. I thought the first book was emotional, but this one had tears in my eyes when I read the prologue. Savannah and Cael are both dealing with grief and nothing seems to help. So they go on a trip with other teens dealing with grief. This is such a beautiful, but heartbreaking book. Seeing them all deal with losing someone they loved and how it happened, but also seeing them heal or even admit they need help. I’ll be thinking about this book often in the future.
Our Infinite Fates – Laura Steven
The idea of these two characters meeting in multiple lives, but also taking each other’s lives before they turn 18 was such an interesting concept. Evelyn thinks she remembers all of her past lives, but there are certain things she doesn’t know. This time around she doesn’t want to die before her 18th birthday. It’s her goal to save her sister and needs to stay alive just a little longer. Our Infinite Fates was emotional, magical, heartbreaking, and also hopeful. I never would’ve predicted how this book would end. I hope Laura Steven writes more books like this.
Apprentice to the Villain – Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Why did it take me so long to read this sequel?!? It had me laughing out loud and wanting our characters to just get their happily ever after. The short chapters make this such a fast read and I’m sad I have to wait again before we get the next book. Apprentice to the Villain ends in another cliffhanger. I need to know where this goes! Kingsley is still the star of the show though!
The Starlight Heir – Amalie Howard
The Starlight Heir is the romantasy book I got from Fairyloot in January and I wanted to love this. It started off really strong. I loved the mythology and magic, but also give me some type of tournament/competition setting and I’m happy. That’s where it kind of went downhill for me. This has a whole new fantasy world, but we’re using modern language like “spicy books” and “thick thighs save lives”. Also, I feel like we just don’t get much world building while that’s important to this story. Same with the side characters. I couldn’t love the love interest because we don’t really get to know him or really any side character. I feel this book could’ve used multiple POVs.
First-Time Caller – B.K. Borison
I’ve never seen Sleepless in Seattle, but First-Time Caller sounded like something I’d love and I was right. Lucie and Aiden were such fun characters and seeing them get to know each other and open themselves up to love was so interesting. I loved the little pages we got of their radio show. This story left a smile on my face.
Wild and Wrangled – Lyla Sage
I’ve loved all of the Rebel Blue Ranch books and I was sad that Wild and Wrangled was the final one. This second chance love story was amazing though! Cam and Dusty have always loved each other, but their first chance at love didn’t work. I will say Cam got on my nerves quite a bit near the ending, but Dusty stole the show and still made this book a five star read.
Rebel Witch – Kristen Ciccarelli
Heartless Hunter was one of my favorite fantasy books last year and I was anxiously awaiting this sequel. Rebel Witch was quite the ride and the second and final book in this duology was really interesting. I did find the ending a bit rushed and a certain trope/event that happens in quite a few fantasy books that I don’t love was here, but all in all, I’m happy with this conclusion.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On – Tina Wells
I read the first Honest June book a while ago and thought it was really sweet. This series really reminds me why I love middle grade books. June had the habit of not telling the truth, so a fairy godmother has made it impossible for her to lie. While she’s trying to deal with this she learns a lot about herself, friendships, and what it means to be honest. Honest June: The Show Must Goes On ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I need to get my hands on the third book.
Roll for Love – M.K. England
I don’t play a lot of Dungeons and Dragons, but it is something I think is fun. I’ve also loved seeing it incorporated in stories recently. Roll for Love is one of these stories. Dungeons and Dragons is a great way to spend time with friends, but it also helps our characters learn stuff about themselves and make them more confident. Harper and Ollie are two characters who are dealing with a lot, but learn a lot about themselves as well. I also loved that we got parts of their campaign in the story as well.
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits – Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer Weiner is an author I’ve heard a lot of amazing things about and The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits sounded like a book I’d love. We follow the journey of two sisters who ended up in a famous singing group that ended up disappearing after a tragic loss. I love the timelines and switch and POV. Also, just how we slowly learn what really happened. I need more books like this.
A Winter Wish – Emily Stone
On the outside this one looks like a sweet, holiday romance. I knew that wasn’t completely true, because I know Emily Stone tends to write the hard-hitting books. This also doesn’t take place only around Christmas. Our main character, Lexie, learns her father died. She hasn’t talked to him in years, but he left her half of his company. A Winter Wish is about her learning about the company for the year (the stipulation in her father’s will) and a lot about herself. This book is about family, grief, and new love. I really enjoyed her learning more about her father and family she didn’t know about. The romance with Theo was fun, but I didn’t really feel the chemistry. I do understand why so many people do love A Winter Wish.
Murder Between Friends – Liz Lawson
I read The Agathas duology Liz Lawson co-wrote with Kathleen Glasgow, so I was interested to read her newest book. Three best friends grew apart after a murder in their town. When the suspected killer is set free a couple of years later, the three of them come together to see if they can figure everything out. I loved that we got all three POVs and the chapters were short. That made Murder Between Friends a very fast read and I was quite invested. I was only a little disappointed that I figured out the twist very early on.
Mister Magic – Kiersten White
Mister Magic caught my eye because these childhood actors all remember the show they were on and its tragic end, but they can’t find any evidence the show existed. There’s no mention of it anywhere. Our five main characters come together so many years later for the recording of a podcast, but it seems to turn out to be so much more as they all slowly try and figure out who Mister Magic really was. This horror with thriller undertones was creepy and suspenseful. I’m normally not a horror fan, but this one kept me intrigued the whole way through.
A Whole New Ball Game – Stephanie Rose
I’m always open to trying new sports romances and A Whole New Ball Game sounded like fun. A Whole New Ball Game is a he falls first, age-gap romance. Silas was an all star baseball player until a knee injury made him retire. Rachel takes care of her 13 year old sister and write romance novels on the side. These two have the best meet cute and their chemistry jumps off of the page. It’s supposed to be just a one time thing, but fate keeps bringing them together. I loved these two together and seeing them slowly fall in love. This is a low angst romance that left me with a smile on my face.
My Funny Demon Valentine – Aurora Ascher
The title of this caught my eye and it sounded interesting, so I decided to listen to the audiobook. So I’m not sure if it was the book or just the fact that I chose the audiobook, because I didn’t really care for this one. We only had one narrator, so it was hard to notice at times when a POV switched. There were some funny moments, but it just wasn’t for me.
Till Death Do Us Part – Laurie Elizabeth Flynn
“What happens when the husband you thought died years ago shows up alive”? is the sentence in the synopsis that had me wanting to read this book. The first half had me hooked and the multiple POV/timelines was very interesting. While I love a good plot twist, I don’t know, this on didn’t seem realistic at all. Unfortunately, that made this book be one I ended up not loving.
Summer Fridays – Suzanne Rindell
Summer Fridays takes place in 1999 and that is what caught my eye. I love that it was described as You’ve Got Mail for a new generation. Our main character Sawyer works as an assistant in publishing and that’s another thing that caught my eye. It kind of ended there unfortunately. Sawyer meets Nick, who thinks their partners are having an affair together. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but let’s just say I didn’t love what turn the book took after that.
Tom Lake – Ann Patchett
Tom Lake is a book I’ve seen quite a bit on Instagram and it sounded interesting. I decided to listen to the audiobook and Meryl Streep is a great narrator. When I was done reading this, I kind of wondered if I should’ve read it physically, because I felt like not much happened. That’s when I saw a review say it felt like this book was mostly vibes and I can say I relate to that.
Getting it On with Gargoyles – Hazel Mack
Monster romances aren’t something I read often, but Getting it on with Gargoyles sounded fun. This is a book I read with one sitting and laughed out loud. Our main character ends up in a magical town after her sister finds a magical map. The world is interesting as well as the magic, and even the romance. I appreciate that the problem the characters were facing in this book didn’t wrap up quickly, but will continue to the next book.
Just for the Tip – Jenika Snow
All I can say after reading this novella is: what did I just read?!? The things done with a lollipop aren’t something I’ll get out of my head and the age gap trope went just a little too far for me here.
Bridesmaid by Chance – Meghan Quinn
Bridesmaid by Chance is the final book in the Bridesmaid for Hire for trilogy and this grumpy/sunshine, marriage of convenience romance was everything I needed! This book was funny, spicy, heartbreaking, and frustrating all at once. Meghan Quinn wrote another romance I won’t forget anytime soon. Hudson and Sloane were so much fun.
Until Next Summer – Ali Brady
Ali Brady is an author I’ve been wanting to read for a while, and I decided to start with Until Next Summer. Adult summer camps are something I enjoy in books. In this case it wasn’t supposed to be an adult camp, but with the camp shutting down, that was a way to spend the last summer. This book was filled with friendship, memories, romance, and figuring out what you want in life.
Isabelle
While I did read a lot, I didn’t finish that many books this month. Or rather, hardly any books. I do hope to finish a lot more of them this month, as I’m close to wrapping up a couple of books. Today I just have a few manga to share.
Kuroko’s Basketball vol. 1-4 – Tadatoshi Fujimaki
I was looking for a new sports manga after finishing Haikyu. Haikyu is such an amazing series, so it was hard finding something that could live up to it. While I am enjoying this basketball series, it isn’t as great as Haikyu. The matches are way less detailed and we don’t really see the team practice together. I love the personal side of Haikyu, but I don’t really feel like I got to know the characters in Kuroko yet.
SpyxFamily vol. 3 – Tatsuya Endo
This is such a fun manga! I love the storyline, I love the characters and I’m intrigued by the world. At the moment I’m reading the fourth volume and I hope to add more of the volumes to my collection soon.
So that’s our April wrap up! Have you read any of these books? Or did you find any new favorites in April? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!
