I’ve been so behind when it comes to posting on this blog. If you are a regular reader, you would know that I have been focused on revision and my final exams, so I have not been posting as frequently as I would’ve liked– hence why this Month Reading Wrap-Up is a little late (we are literally in the middle of May! lol)
That being said, it is better late than never.
Now about April; I would say I read a pretty reasonable amount of books considering how little time I had for reading, so I’m not going to complain. I think April has been my best reading month in terms of the number of books I have read, and most of these books have been pretty good, solid reads.
Things that happened in April
- Novelstorian has been reaching some milestones
This blog has reached over 2000+ views and over 100 followers!!! Again, thank YOU for being the best part of this little space we have here on this blog. Every like, comment and follow is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for being here, friends!
- Lectures, Revisions, Exams
Exam season is on the horizon so I’ve been a bit busy this month with revision (which is weird considering I read the most number of books this month lol). To be honest, I still can’t believe I’m already on my last year of university, as a law student, and about to take my last exams as an undergraduate. Crazy how fast time flies.
April Reading Stats
10 Books
Total Number of Books Read This Month
Books I Read In April
Dirty Talker by Mira Lyn Kelly
Snippet of review:
Currently going through a hockey players phase, and I am pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
‘Dirty Walker’ focuses on Wade, a man in desperate need of a fake girlfriend to take to his brother’s wedding. When none of his hockey teammates offer up their sisters or female cousins or female friends, he thinks all is lost. Then he meets Harlow, the only girl who seems up to the challenge and agrees to be his fake girlfriend for the next 10 days. All they have to do is pretend to be completely infatuated with each other, throw in some subtle touches here and there, and maybe even in a kiss for when they’re in the eyes of everyone else. At least, that’s all they thought they were bargaining for….
This is the perfect romance if you want a hockey romance, characters who know how to dirty talk, and lots of chemistry all packed into one book. There’s barely any angst, just lots of spice. There is more romance than plot, so if you’re into that than you will definitely enjoy this book.
Can’t wait to read more of Mira Lynn Kelly’s works!
The characters, the romance, and spice… good lord
4 stars.
Full Review: Goodreads
Simmering with Resentment by Daryl Wood Gerber
Snippet of review:
This was another lovely addition to the cosy mystery series, Cookbook Nook Mystery. Keep in mind this the 11th book in the series, and I would suggest reading the other books beforehand if you want that connection with the characters. That being said, this book does a good job of catching up the reader with what has happened in the previous books, and does mention any important relationships with characters and notable events that have happened. One thing I wished was improved was the writing— I think the book could’ve been shortened as some scenes added nothing to the story at all; they acted like filler pages. The revelation wasn’t too shocking but the intrigue was well kept till the reveal
2. 5 stars.
Full review: Goodreads
Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer
Snippet of review:
First of all, this book blew all my expectations out of the water. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did— I think I had predicted this book to be a 3-4 star read. A few reasons why I hesitated about reading fantasy books is because I either get overwhelmed about the magic elements, the big cast of characters, or all the unique names/terms I have to keep track of. Not only does that make reading fantasy books take me longer than usual to finish, but it makes writing a book review slightly daunting. That being said, this book erased all of those fears. The plot was pretty straightforward, there is a sickness spreading and the cure is limited to the wealthy/those in power, but it had layers to it that were slowly being unravelled throughout the book that not only kept the story interesting, but also tied all the elements of the book nicely.
5 stars.
Full review: The One About Choosing Between Duty & Love: Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer | Book Review
Rescue Me
by Sarra Manning
Snippet of review:
This book is one of the cutest contemporary romances I have ever read in a while. There were so many moments throughout the book where I catch myself smiling or grinning at this book— it was that cute. I love the idea of two people falling in love with not only a rescue dog, but eventually with each other because of the dog they adopt together. I think this was such a unique take on a contemporary romance, and one I had yet to see be done anywhere else.
4 stars.
Full review: The One Where They Fall In Love With The Same Dog: Rescue Me by Sarra Manning | Book Review
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu (Artist), Joamette Gil (Letterer)
Snippet of review:
First of all, this book blew all my expectations out of the water. I was not expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did— I think I had predicted this book to be a 3-4 star read. A few reasons why I hesitated about reading fantasy books is because I either get overwhelmed about the magic elements, the big cast of characters, or all the unique names/terms I have to keep track of. Not only does that make reading fantasy books take me longer than usual to finish, but it makes writing a book review slightly daunting. That being said, this book erased all of those fears. The plot was pretty straightforward, there is a sickness spreading and the cure is limited to the wealthy/those in power, but it had layers to it that were slowly being unravelled throughout the book that not only kept the story interesting, but also tied all the elements of the book nicely.
2.5 stars.
Full review: Goodreads
Juniper Hill by Devney Perry
Snippet of review:
The characters are fairly well-written, with each other princesses given a distinct personality and charm. Daphne is the daughter that is the most like their mother; cunning, smart and has a knack for archery and poisons. She’s the daughter who yearns the most fortheir mother’s approval. Beatriz is the more rebellious sister. Her charming looks and bold personality have been known to get her whatever she wants whenever she pleases. The last sister is Sophie. Although the princesses are triplets, Sophie seems like the youngest among the three simply because she’s the more empathetic, sweet, and is the only sister who seems to have harboured some feelings for her pre-arranged royal spouse. However, her naturally kind-hearted nature is seen as a failure to their cold-hearted mother
5 stars.
Full review: The One About Princesses’ Who Were Raised To Deceive: Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian | Book Review
The Tea Dragon Society by Kay O’Neill
Snippet of review:
I read and finished this book at around 00:00am and I have come to the conclusion that I need my own tea dragon. The Tea Dragon Society has managed to pack so much cuteness and heart-warming elements all in one book. This graphic novel is just a cute, wholesome graphic novel that you read for the the cute illustrations (of the cute little dragons) more than anything else. However, there is an underlying message of the importance of memories and not being afraid to try new things.
4 stars.
Full review: Goodreads
Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
Snippet of review:
The characters are fairly well-written, with each other princesses given a distinct personality and charm. Daphne is the daughter that is the most like their mother; cunning, smart and has a knack for archery and poisons. She’s the daughter who yearns the most fortheir mother’s approval. Beatriz is the more rebellious sister. Her charming looks and bold personality have been known to get her whatever she wants whenever she pleases. The last sister is Sophie. Although the princesses are triplets, Sophie seems like the youngest among the three simply because she’s the more empathetic, sweet, and is the only sister who seems to have harboured some feelings for her pre-arranged royal spouse. However, her naturally kind-hearted nature is seen as a failure to their cold-hearted mother
5 stars.
Full review:
Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
5 stars.
Full review: Coming soon!
Nine Lives by Peter Swanson
Snippet of review:
Nine Lives’ is a psychological thriller that follows nine strangers after they receive a mysterious letter that lists nine names, including their own. They don’t know who sent the letter nor do they recognise the other names on the list. At least, that’s what they thought. When one by one the people who’s names on the list start dropping like lies, it’s a race against time to figure out who is behind the letter and the murders. This was a pretty solid thriller for the most part. I was gripped from the very beginning and eager to find out how this story ends. The writing was good and I liked how the chapters were split up into every character’s POV. This prolonged the suspense and kept readers guessing what will happen next. However, some parts were definitely slower than others, and I found myself caring less for other characters. With nine different characters, it does feel like a chore to keep up with their stories. That being said, once the deaths started happening it meant less characters to keep up with!
3 stars
How was your April Reading Month? Did you read any memorable books?
Let me know in the comments below!
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Novelstorian 
I really love the way you format this month’s reading wrap-up
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