Welcome to Quick Lit, where we share short and sweet reviews of what we’ve been reading lately on the 15th of the month.
The 12th annual MMD Summer Reading Guide comes out on Thursday, May 18, and so today I’m sharing six new releases that I enjoyed reading but that you won’t see in the guide. These releases are all from April and May 2023 because my winter and spring reading have been heavily focused on vetting summer titles for the guide, but beginning next month you can expect to see a lot more backlist in this monthly roundup of what I’ve been reading lately!
This collection does a decent job of capturing some of the major categories of books I sought out for my guide reading: I read TONS of mysteries, thrillers, and love stories, because so many of us (definitely including me) enjoy reading those in the summertime. (In today’s book list you’ll see Joshilyn Jackson’s With My Little Eye, Vanessa Walters’s The Nigerwife, and Sarah Adams’s Practice Makes Perfect.) I read a good amount of historical fiction, represented here by Jasmin Iolani Hakes’s Hula. I wanted to make sure we had a solid nonfiction category this year; you’ll see Claire Dederer’s nonfiction work Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma below. And Alina Bronsky’s Barbara Isn’t Dying represents the sort of quirky work that could easily fly under your radar, but that the right reader will be THRILLED to discover this summer.
Our Summer Reading Guide is hitting inboxes on Thursday at 8:00am EDT. If you want your copy, there are three ways to get the full 2023 MMD Summer Reading Guide and included Unboxing access:
Our 10th annual Minimalist Guide will be up on the blog, in a blog post just like this one, on Thursday. (I had previously said it would be our 9th annual Minimalist Guide, but that is wrong! The first year we called our shortened guide the 5-Book Summer Reading Guide, but whatever you call it, we have in fact been sharing an ultra-curated compact guide for ten solid years now.) You don’t need to do a thing to get that guide on the blog. Sign up here if you’d like it to arrive in your inbox.
Without further adieu, here is my May 2023 Quick Lit compilation!
Who am I kidding, I could have added this to my TBR based solely on that gorgeous cover! Our MMD Book Club community manager Ginger has lived in Hawai'i for several years now, and she put this new release on my radar. In recent years my eyes have been opened to how little I knew about the islands' history, industry, and current struggles, including its complex relationship with tourism. This is a multigenerational family saga, in which three generations of women tell their story about life on the Big Island. It's also very much about Hawai'i's history and heritage, the US colonization of Hawai'i, and more recent Sovereignty movement, all seen through the eyes of the family's women. Hakes's writiing is warm and lush, and her evocative descriptions will make you feel like you're right there on the island. Mapuana Makia's narration for the audiobook is completely lovely and definitely enhanced my reading experience. Published May 2. More info →
Real talk: My native Kentucky doesn't get a lot of love in literature, so when I saw this was set in the fictional small town of Rome, Kentucky, I snapped it right up. The fact that I'd heard good things about Sarah Adams's work bolstered my confidence, plus the protagonists are named Anne (okay, Annie) and Will! This is the second in the When in Rome series, but I read that it could stand alone and I found that to be the case. Annie is a 30-year-old small town florist who dreams of getting married and having children, but fears her social awkwardness may prevent that dream from coming true. Will is the badass bodyguard to pop star Rae Rose, also known as Annie's soon-to-be sister-in-law Amelia. Nobody expects "angel Annie" and bad boy Will to belong together, but sparks fly whenever they're together. This is actually a fake dating story, the idea being that Annie needs lessons from the more experienced Will if she's ever going to have a successful date. That premise strained credulity, but that's okay: I liked this for its small town setting, ongoing conversations about Annie's cherished pirate romances and their tropes, and thoughtful examination of family dynamics. Published May 2. Closed door. More info →
This new release, just out May 2, is already in development at HBO and may be even better in that format. This book is pitched as a thriller, but if you approach it instead as a mystery about a secretive community I suspect you'll have a more satisfying reading experience. Nicole is a Black British woman who’s been married for seven years to a wealthy Nigerian man. Nicole spends most of her time with her friends, women she’s mostly met thanks to the Nigerwives community—a gathering of international women who, like her, have married wealthy Nigerian men. But then Nicole disappears, Tonye shows no interest in finding her, and her Auntie flies in from London to investigate. It quickly becomes apparent that everyone knows more than they’re willing to say, and no one can be trusted. The sense of atmosphere in this story is impeccable, but I actively disliked the ending. (For that very reason a book club could have a blast discussing this book!) Published May 2. More info →
I minored in German in college, and so didn't think twice about trying this contemporary German novel from Europa Editions. (Although I read Tim Mohr's new translation; I shudder to think what my experience with the original German would be after all these years!) In this tragicomic tale, Herr Schmidt wakes one morning to discover nobody has made the coffee yet—and his immediate thought must be that his wife has died in the night, because what other explanation could there be? Barbara is in fact alive, but unwell, and as the story progresses, we see this curmudgeonly husband learn to do things he's never thought twice about doing for himself, let alone someone else, in all his long decades of married life: purchase ground coffee, cook a potato, run the vacuum. And that's just the beginning of the adaptations this couple will have to make to their relationship as they enter a challenging new stage. Bronsky covers a lot of emotional ground in just 182 pages; I recommend Fredrik Backman fans take a look. Published in the U.S. on May 9. More info →
Jackson has long been an auto-read author for me: I’ll read whatever she writes. Here she once again pulls together things she loves and knows well: Atlanta, the theater, human nature, and autism, combining to tell a story that had me continually going WAIT, WHAT?! The plot of this new thriller revolves around an actress who was in a hugely popular show when she was 23. Now, twenty years later, she’s moved back to Atlanta with her daughter to get away from a scary stalker back in L.A. But when the stalker’s letters start showing up at her new address, she has to find a way to protect herself and her child. I loved this for its delicious misdirection, well-drawn child characters, and breathless conclusion. Published April 25. (Lots of content warnings here, including children in peril.) More info →
I was previously unfamiliar with Dederer's work but picked this up because I was interested in the topic: how can we reconcile our love for art with the biographies of its creators? Gone are the days when fans knew little about the real people who created the art they consumed; Dederer writes of how things are different in the internet era: "Biography used to be something you sought out, yearned for, actively pursued. Now it falls on your head all day long." She frames her case from the jarring (and somewhat graphic) opening: she has long loved the films of Roman Polanski—Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist—yet Polanski committed objectively terrible crimes. What is the fan to make of this? How can the fan think about their relationship to art made by always imperfect and sometimes monstrous people? I found this a thoughtful and thought-provoking treatment, which covered questions I knew I wanted to hear more about and also topics I didn't expect to enter the conversation, like capitalism. (So fascinating!) I listened to the audio (narrated by the author), and found Dederer's conversational style worked well in that format. Published April 25. More info →
What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments.
I’m with you on the Hula cover, it’s gorgeous! And I’m looking forward to Joshilyn Jackson’s latest, I have enjoyed her last couple of books.
This month I read three very sad novels from three very different genres; each held a unique message and tone, but all three did their job of keeping me reading and feeling all the feels. Apart from adult fiction, it was a month for reading about friendship, faith, and the power of moments, with some poetry and adorable middle grade thrown in.
Hula sounds like a great historical fiction/family story for me! With graduation looming for our senior and subbing every day, my reading time has been extremely limited. I’ve only been able to listen to audiobooks and today, I’m sharing 3: a mystery recommended by Anne that I LOVED (full cast audio), a historical fiction novella by a writer I love, and a memoir that wasn’t a hit.
I am adding Hula to my TBR! It sounds really good! I always enjoy seeing what you have been reading. I have read some great books recently that have been a mix of backlist and new releases. https://fromourbookshelf.com/april-reading-2023/
I recently finished Happy Place and Romantic Comedy (both 5 star reads). I started Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies – it’s very well-written and poetic, but I’m not entirely sure what I’m reading. I started Aurora (https://bookshop.org/p/books/aurora-david-koepp/17777738?ean=9780062916471) at the suggestion of a friend, and I’m hooked.
This was the kind of reading month I love. The genres, settings, characters, and overall take-aways were all so different. Although I didn’t love them all, I really appreciated and enjoyed the cumulative reading experience.
My recent reads are:
* Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (4 stars). I am looking forward to the MMD Book Club conversation later this month!
* From Scratch by Tembi Locke (3.5 stars) which I liked even though I thought it really dragged in places
* A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (4 stars) – I thought the premise was just a bit too far-fetched, but I really enjoyed this time travel mystery and the heroine is fabulous.
* Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (5 stars) which I LOVED! Great, believable characters I could root for, an interesting story line, and of course, seeing the events unfold from the point of view of Marcellus, the octopus.
I’ve just started Covenant of Water, the new book from Abraham Verghese and am re-reading Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister for a book club discussion next week. Happy Reading!
Omg … a comment without a link to your blog. (MMD should block links.) Thank you! I agree with “from scratch”; I thought it dragged. I meant to read another book with a similar title.
Hey all, I appreciate that not everyone wants to click external links and that is fine and good! I did want to point out that the readers sharing links in the comments section of this particular post are doing so at my explicit invitation. We’ve been hosting Quick Lit since January 2013, which now feels like the olden days of the internet.😂 “Link parties” were A Thing back then!
Great to know – I’m newer here and was really frustrated with what seemed like self promotion – thanks for clarifying!
Ruth O says:
I listened to an excellent audio version of Remarkably Bright Creatures, and loved it! The narrator who read Marcellus was especially perfect (Michael Urie, and the rest was Marin Ireland).
I just finished Sutton Foster’s memoir Hooked. As a Broadway fan and avid crocheter, I really enjoyed it! I am partway through Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver. It’s the 3rd in a series of mysteries set in WWII London, with a protagonist who is putting her experience as a locksmith/safecracker to use helping the British Secret Service. Fun and lighthearted!
I must say that Sarah Adams is adorable. I read The Cheat Sheet in less than 48 hours.
I decided to read The Enchanted April in April, and I loved the premise and opening but had mixed feelings about the second half.
I also loved Ken Ludwig’s How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare!
At the moment, I’m in the middle of Hello Beautiful and not loving it as much as I thought I would!! 😢 https://bookdevotions.com/book-reviews-april-2023/
I know it’s not a popular opinion, but I felt the same way about Hello Beautiful! I think my expectations were too high since it was described as being inspired by Little Women. I love Little Women, and this book did not give me the same feelings when reading it. I definitely appreciated parts of it, but overall I was not looking for such a heavy book when I picked it up.
I did not enjoy it either! I almost abandoned it several times – I’m glad I didn’t because the last third was the best, I think, but it was a slog to get through.
I think my expectations were a tad too high, too. Also, I’m listening on audio, and the narrator’s voice is straightforward and even…I like narrators who bring a little more emotion to the table. That could be part of why I’m “meh.”
I think I had some good variety to my reading in April, before I turn to a lot more lighter books for the summer! It was my best reading month of the year thus far!
Thanks for mentioning Backman fans try the Bronsky book. Put it right on my TBR!
One school read-aloud, two book club reads, and one for myself. Not a great month all around in terms of numbers or enjoyment, unfortunately!
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz 4/5
The Spoon Stealer, by Lesley Crewe 3.5/5
The Devil’s Half Acre, by Kristen Green 2/5
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 4/5
Check out our website for tiny reviews and story summaries.
April was a dud of a reading month for me. After having a strong February and March, I took a break in April and only read a few titles. So far May is going much better with some really good books (The School of Essential Ingredients might be my favorite so far this month).
In April, I read How to Sell a Haunted House (evil puppets!), What You Wish For (cute, but a little long), The Garden of Small Beginnings (ok, the characters were hard to like), The Beach House (a cute starting over story), The Friend Zone (can’t go wrong with Abby Jimenez). I think the Grady Hendrix book made it hard for me to get going on another book in April, but I hit my stride again after about a week and half after reading about those puppets.
I don’t know that one, Missy—thanks for the rec! I must say my track record lately for the translated-from-German titles hasn’t been great. But I did really enjoy Inkheart!
My favourite of the month/year/and lifetime top 3 (!!!!!) is We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman. I absolutely loved this charming, funny, heartbreaking, thoughtful, powerful read about a woman supporting her friend who is in hospice care.
Other 5 star reads for me this month were Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon (not a typical pick for me but I really liked it), Maternity Rolls by Heather Kuttai (excellent memoir/auto-ethnography about pregnancy and disability), and This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (a timely and poignant read about parenting a trans/gender non-conforming child that was delightful on audio).
4 stars for Chemistry by Weike Wang, Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley and Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith, all worth checking out too!
Thank you to all posters who include information and not just links. Loved Remarkably Bright Creatures, liked Looking for Jane (and so timely), enjoyed The Bandit Queens and although I love Louise Penny’s writing, found A World Of Curiosities quite dark.
I can’t wait to read Practice Makes Perfect! Sarah Adams’s books are delightful. Today on my blog I’m sharing 7 new books that get five stars from me. Thanks for inviting us to share our book recs.
I just finished Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. It is shortlisted by UK’s Women’s Prize For Fiction along with Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead & O’Farrell’s The Marriage Portrait a few others.
Absolutely loved this book. So much so, that I could start at the beginning and reread it immediately.
It is Kennedy’s first novel. She has a previous book of short stories titled The End of the World is a Cul de Sac. Unfortunately my library does not have a copy & I am desperate now to read more by the author.
I am so grateful to Women’s Fiction for bringing this book to my attention, but fear she has less of a chance of winning the prize, since she is up against powerhouse Kingsolver (Copperhead of course was chosen as an Oprah read) and O’Farrell.
Just goes to show we need to reach out beyond the top seller new releases. I enjoyed Demon Copperhead & The Marriage Portrait as well, but this was a brilliant debut novel.
I’m so glad this book was a winner for you! (Psst—it was one of the featured titles in our MMD Fall Book Preview last year, before Trespasses was released. We share good stuff in fall and spring too, not just for the summer season!)
I have an ARC of the Joshilyn Jackson one, but was afraid to read it because it was around the time when I had read 3 duds in a row, all narrated in first person with female protagonists in sticky situations, and I had read a bunch of reviews that made it sound like Jackson’s book would be in the same vein. After seeing Anne’s review though, I might go back and give it a try (after I finish all my May books that is).
I just finished our July pick No Two Persons (very good) as well as R.F. Kuang’s latest Yellowface (which I had complicated feelings toward).
Lee, timing is everything in the reading life, so let me see if I can help a bit more: I think you have to know what you’re getting into with this one: it’s a very pacey thriller packed with unlikeable characters, very much in the vein of her more recent thriller-y reads. Let me know what you think if you read it?
Excited and added Hula to my TBR! I finally finished Demon Copperhead and loved it, and Becoming by Michelle Obama on audiobook (that Libby waitlist finally paid off for these big hits!). Currently trying to get into The Edge of Summer.
Glad to see Joshilyn Jackson’s new book on here. She’s an auto-read for me as well. I took my 15yo daughter to meet her last week at a little library in Virginia. She’s as great a storyteller in person as she is in writing. I love her even more now!
I’m reading lots of walking books.
Waypoints by Sam Heughan
Walking with Sam by Andrew McCarthy
Wild Silence by Raynor Winn
I have to agree -LOVED Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Like Hello,Beautiful when I got past the fact that these were not the March sisters.
Just put Barbara isn’t Dead on hold!
I’m reading two novels back to back for two different book clubs: Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger and Homecoming by Kate Morton. I actually took the afternoon off on Thurs to be able to see the 1pm Sumner Reading Guide unboxing live 🙂
Barbara Isn’t Dying is on my TBR list now! Right up my alley. And I’m in the minority about Remarkably Bright Creatures—I did like it, but I was disappointed in the relationship between the octopus and the cleaner, I expected much more. Still, it had a satisfying ending.
My April reads included Hello Beautiful (and I’m on the side of the 5 star reviews!), The Stars are Beautiful by Anita Shreve (4 stars) about the fires in Maine in 1947—good writing, The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley, which I really liked! (5 stars-heartwarming) The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth (4 stars, not her best, but still good), Frog Music by Emma Donoghue which really dragged for me (3 stars), a reread of Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler (still a fave!!) and TWO DNF’s! Right now I’m reading Disappearing Earth by Julia Philips, and even though it’s been on my TBR for about 3 years, I can’t remember why I wanted to read it! I’m 4/5 of the way thru and I still don’t get it! I hope it all comes together soon…..OH, and I’m listening to, and enjoying, My Korean Deli, on audio.
I have read/listened to four great books this past month. While it took a bit to get into, really found Kate Morton’s Homecoming to be excellent: so many red herrings! Listened to Remarkably Bright Creatures (commented above) and enjoyed it, stayed up way too late to finish! and then just finished a cozy Scottish mystery called An American in Scotland, a starting over story with a lot of potential for a series (I hope there are more coming!). That was written by Lucy Connelly. And the last one was Once We Were Home by Jennifer Rosner, about Jewish children separated from their parents, and the controversy about the way that was done in some cases.
I agree with you about Homecoming. I started with the eBook and wasn’t sure about it. I switched to audio, which made it much more enjoyable for me. Like you, I thought it was excellent overall. Remarkably Bright Creatures is not typically a book I would like, but I loved it. The audio was great!
Recommend THE AUDACITY OF SARA GRAYSON by Joani Elliott. This is a story about a woman who finds the courage to write. My DIL recommended it to me and I loved it as much as she did. I especially love the author quotes at the beginning of every chapter.
I’m currently reading Vast Conspiracy by Toobin. I know he’s persona non grata right now but I’m fascinated by scandals. This book was recommended by American Scandal, a podcast that I listen to and it’s good so far.
Ooh Hula went right on my TBR. I love multigenerational novels that take me to a different time or place. Pachinko and The Good Left Undone are two favorites. This month I’ve been had some great read alouds with my six year old. He fell in love with the Boxcar Children, and we’re currently enjoying Flora and Ulysses.
A recent five star read for me – NEXT OF KIN by Kia Abdullah. It was so tense and gripping, I often found myself holding my breath as I turned the pages. She was a new-to-me author, and I’m so glad to have found her. 🙂
I just finished With My Little Eye a few days ago. That ending! “Delicious misdirection.” Exactly! I couldn’t figure out how two things could simultaneously be true. (No specifics to avoid spoilers.) I found the beginning slow, but it was worth getting through that for the ending. Excellent book!
Favorite April reads included The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley, The Sentence by Louise Erdrich (audio) and Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, also audio.
In Memoriam (5⭐️) and my book hangover was horrendous but I’ve pushed through the beginning of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy and I think I’m finally recovered!
It’s probably too late to leave a comment, but I have to share with the WORLD that I listened to the greatest audiobook ever! It’s THE VANISHING LIFE OF MARGARET SMALL by Neil Alexander, and it was a delight! Read by two narrators with delicious British accents, it’s a tale with a spunky main character who I rooted for and loved. Hope you can find it in audio.
I’m happy to see you enjoyed Barbara Isn’t Dying. I just finished reading Baba Dunja’s Last Love by the same author, and I have decided I need to read everything ever written by Alina Bronsky. She is my favorite reading discovery of the year!
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79 comments
A month full of five star reads plus my thoughts on two books from popular authors that I…didn’t love??
https://neverenoughnovels.com/2023/05/14/april-2023-mini-book-reviews-2/
I’m happy to see Joshilyn Jackson has a new book! Thanks for sharing these suggestions, Anne.
I had a very good month of eclectic reading! Here are 8 books I heartily recommend.
https://lisanotes.com/books-i-recommend-april-2023/
* 3 fiction writers I’d take with me to a desert island
* my Little Log Cabin Road Library
* what’s on my nightstand
http://www.lindastoll.net/2023/05/desert-island-fiction-little-library.html
I’m with you on the Hula cover, it’s gorgeous! And I’m looking forward to Joshilyn Jackson’s latest, I have enjoyed her last couple of books.
This month I read three very sad novels from three very different genres; each held a unique message and tone, but all three did their job of keeping me reading and feeling all the feels. Apart from adult fiction, it was a month for reading about friendship, faith, and the power of moments, with some poetry and adorable middle grade thrown in.
https://kendranicole.net/may-2023-quick-lit/
just requested a follow on IG!
I’ve got a picture book perfect for starting summer and two mindset books that couldn’t be more different.
https://carolinestarrrose.com/quick-lit-what-ive-been-reading-lately-25/
I’m always here for a nice variety!
Hula sounds like a great historical fiction/family story for me! With graduation looming for our senior and subbing every day, my reading time has been extremely limited. I’ve only been able to listen to audiobooks and today, I’m sharing 3: a mystery recommended by Anne that I LOVED (full cast audio), a historical fiction novella by a writer I love, and a memoir that wasn’t a hit.
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2023/05/quick-lit-mini-reviews-of-some-recent-reads-may-2023-edition/
I read a few long books this past month that unfortunately weren’t worth the length in the end: https://cocoonofbooks.blogspot.com/2023/05/what-ive-been-reading-lately-quick-lit.html
Oh no!
My April list has several good ones, three yet to be published and all worth putting on the list to read. https://frommycarolinahome.com/2023/04/21/april-books/
Putting Practice Makes Perfect and With My Little Eye on my library list right now!
Here’s what I’ve been reading: https://readeatrepeat.net/2023/05/15/books-in-progress-what-ive-been-reading-lately-may-2023/
https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2023/05/reading-update.html
Books 22-25 of the year.
I just finished the audiobook of Robinne Lee’s ‘The Idea of You”, after hearing about it here. Pretty steamy and a good escapist novel.
I am adding Hula to my TBR! It sounds really good! I always enjoy seeing what you have been reading. I have read some great books recently that have been a mix of backlist and new releases. https://fromourbookshelf.com/april-reading-2023/
Just followed on IG! Looking forward to it…
Thank you!
I had some good, solid reads in April with a good mix of fiction and non.
http://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2023/5/14/show-us-your-books-may-2023
Looking forward to the summer reading guide this week!
I recently finished Happy Place and Romantic Comedy (both 5 star reads). I started Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies – it’s very well-written and poetic, but I’m not entirely sure what I’m reading. I started Aurora (https://bookshop.org/p/books/aurora-david-koepp/17777738?ean=9780062916471) at the suggestion of a friend, and I’m hooked.
This was the kind of reading month I love. The genres, settings, characters, and overall take-aways were all so different. Although I didn’t love them all, I really appreciated and enjoyed the cumulative reading experience.
https://avikinginla.com/2023/05/what-ive-been-reading-lately-april-2023/
That sounds like a wonderful reading month!
My recent reads are:
* Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (4 stars). I am looking forward to the MMD Book Club conversation later this month!
* From Scratch by Tembi Locke (3.5 stars) which I liked even though I thought it really dragged in places
* A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong (4 stars) – I thought the premise was just a bit too far-fetched, but I really enjoyed this time travel mystery and the heroine is fabulous.
* Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (5 stars) which I LOVED! Great, believable characters I could root for, an interesting story line, and of course, seeing the events unfold from the point of view of Marcellus, the octopus.
I’ve just started Covenant of Water, the new book from Abraham Verghese and am re-reading Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister for a book club discussion next week. Happy Reading!
I really enjoyed Remarkably Bright Creatures too!
Omg … a comment without a link to your blog. (MMD should block links.) Thank you! I agree with “from scratch”; I thought it dragged. I meant to read another book with a similar title.
Totally agree about your comment about the links. Who has time to look them all up?
I agree, I am not interested in someone’s link being tagged on to another person’s hard – working website. That’s lame.
Hey all, I appreciate that not everyone wants to click external links and that is fine and good! I did want to point out that the readers sharing links in the comments section of this particular post are doing so at my explicit invitation. We’ve been hosting Quick Lit since January 2013, which now feels like the olden days of the internet.😂 “Link parties” were A Thing back then!
Great to know – I’m newer here and was really frustrated with what seemed like self promotion – thanks for clarifying!
I listened to an excellent audio version of Remarkably Bright Creatures, and loved it! The narrator who read Marcellus was especially perfect (Michael Urie, and the rest was Marin Ireland).
I just finished Sutton Foster’s memoir Hooked. As a Broadway fan and avid crocheter, I really enjoyed it! I am partway through Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver. It’s the 3rd in a series of mysteries set in WWII London, with a protagonist who is putting her experience as a locksmith/safecracker to use helping the British Secret Service. Fun and lighthearted!
Oh my! Hooked sounds right up my alley! I’m a yarnie.
Hi Hope! The series by Ashley Weaver sounds interesting! Could you share the titles of the first two books? Thanks!
I must say that Sarah Adams is adorable. I read The Cheat Sheet in less than 48 hours.
I decided to read The Enchanted April in April, and I loved the premise and opening but had mixed feelings about the second half.
I also loved Ken Ludwig’s How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare!
At the moment, I’m in the middle of Hello Beautiful and not loving it as much as I thought I would!! 😢
https://bookdevotions.com/book-reviews-april-2023/
I know it’s not a popular opinion, but I felt the same way about Hello Beautiful! I think my expectations were too high since it was described as being inspired by Little Women. I love Little Women, and this book did not give me the same feelings when reading it. I definitely appreciated parts of it, but overall I was not looking for such a heavy book when I picked it up.
Glad to hear I’m not alone. Hello Beautiful was not for me either.
I did not enjoy it either! I almost abandoned it several times – I’m glad I didn’t because the last third was the best, I think, but it was a slog to get through.
I think my expectations were a tad too high, too. Also, I’m listening on audio, and the narrator’s voice is straightforward and even…I like narrators who bring a little more emotion to the table. That could be part of why I’m “meh.”
Barbara Isn’t Dying sounds right up my alley!
As for my reviews, I was surprised to be a little disappointed last month in a book everyone else seemed to love. Here are my latest: https://www.mindjoggle.com/april-2023-book-reviews/
I think I had some good variety to my reading in April, before I turn to a lot more lighter books for the summer! It was my best reading month of the year thus far!
April 2023 Reading Recap
Thanks for mentioning Backman fans try the Bronsky book. Put it right on my TBR!
One school read-aloud, two book club reads, and one for myself. Not a great month all around in terms of numbers or enjoyment, unfortunately!
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz 4/5
The Spoon Stealer, by Lesley Crewe 3.5/5
The Devil’s Half Acre, by Kristen Green 2/5
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 4/5
Check out our website for tiny reviews and story summaries.
Haha, same! I saw “Backman fan” and put it on my list immediately as well! 🙂
I’m glad that spoke to you!
Can’t wait for the summer guide! Here’s what I’ve been reading 😊 https://www.instagram.com/p/CsEgMafJONy/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Followed!
April was a dud of a reading month for me. After having a strong February and March, I took a break in April and only read a few titles. So far May is going much better with some really good books (The School of Essential Ingredients might be my favorite so far this month).
In April, I read How to Sell a Haunted House (evil puppets!), What You Wish For (cute, but a little long), The Garden of Small Beginnings (ok, the characters were hard to like), The Beach House (a cute starting over story), The Friend Zone (can’t go wrong with Abby Jimenez). I think the Grady Hendrix book made it hard for me to get going on another book in April, but I hit my stride again after about a week and half after reading about those puppets.
Anne
I’d love to hear your recommendations on books translated from German! One of my favorites of all times is All for Nothing by Walter Kempowski.
I don’t know that one, Missy—thanks for the rec! I must say my track record lately for the translated-from-German titles hasn’t been great. But I did really enjoy Inkheart!
My April wrap up…
https://readingladies.com/2023/04/30/april-2023-reading-wrap-up-aprilreadingwrapup/
I won two copies of The Nigerwife from GMA for my LFL and also actively disliked that ending. Like, really hated it. Ugh.
My favourite of the month/year/and lifetime top 3 (!!!!!) is We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman. I absolutely loved this charming, funny, heartbreaking, thoughtful, powerful read about a woman supporting her friend who is in hospice care.
Other 5 star reads for me this month were Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon (not a typical pick for me but I really liked it), Maternity Rolls by Heather Kuttai (excellent memoir/auto-ethnography about pregnancy and disability), and This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (a timely and poignant read about parenting a trans/gender non-conforming child that was delightful on audio).
4 stars for Chemistry by Weike Wang, Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley and Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith, all worth checking out too!
Thank you to all posters who include information and not just links. Loved Remarkably Bright Creatures, liked Looking for Jane (and so timely), enjoyed The Bandit Queens and although I love Louise Penny’s writing, found A World Of Curiosities quite dark.
I am looking forward to the summer guide! I have recent reads here including some of my favorite historical fiction authors like Martha Hall Kelly and more: https://talesofabookworm.com/summer-2023-reads-reviews-new/
I just finished The Secret of Flora Lea (and recommend!) and will be starting Pineapple Street next.
I can’t wait to read Practice Makes Perfect! Sarah Adams’s books are delightful. Today on my blog I’m sharing 7 new books that get five stars from me. Thanks for inviting us to share our book recs.
I just finished Trespasses by Louise Kennedy. It is shortlisted by UK’s Women’s Prize For Fiction along with Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead & O’Farrell’s The Marriage Portrait a few others.
Absolutely loved this book. So much so, that I could start at the beginning and reread it immediately.
It is Kennedy’s first novel. She has a previous book of short stories titled The End of the World is a Cul de Sac. Unfortunately my library does not have a copy & I am desperate now to read more by the author.
I am so grateful to Women’s Fiction for bringing this book to my attention, but fear she has less of a chance of winning the prize, since she is up against powerhouse Kingsolver (Copperhead of course was chosen as an Oprah read) and O’Farrell.
Just goes to show we need to reach out beyond the top seller new releases. I enjoyed Demon Copperhead & The Marriage Portrait as well, but this was a brilliant debut novel.
I’m so glad this book was a winner for you! (Psst—it was one of the featured titles in our MMD Fall Book Preview last year, before Trespasses was released. We share good stuff in fall and spring too, not just for the summer season!)
I have an ARC of the Joshilyn Jackson one, but was afraid to read it because it was around the time when I had read 3 duds in a row, all narrated in first person with female protagonists in sticky situations, and I had read a bunch of reviews that made it sound like Jackson’s book would be in the same vein. After seeing Anne’s review though, I might go back and give it a try (after I finish all my May books that is).
I just finished our July pick No Two Persons (very good) as well as R.F. Kuang’s latest Yellowface (which I had complicated feelings toward).
Reviews of both (and everything else I’ve read recently) on my blog: https://bkwmbookramblings.blogspot.com/?m=0
Lee, timing is everything in the reading life, so let me see if I can help a bit more: I think you have to know what you’re getting into with this one: it’s a very pacey thriller packed with unlikeable characters, very much in the vein of her more recent thriller-y reads. Let me know what you think if you read it?
I did not finish Yellowface which is incredibly rare for me. Not sure if I’ll be willing to try it some other time.
Excited and added Hula to my TBR! I finally finished Demon Copperhead and loved it, and Becoming by Michelle Obama on audiobook (that Libby waitlist finally paid off for these big hits!). Currently trying to get into The Edge of Summer.
https://fincacieloazul.wordpress.com/category/books/
Glad to see Joshilyn Jackson’s new book on here. She’s an auto-read for me as well. I took my 15yo daughter to meet her last week at a little library in Virginia. She’s as great a storyteller in person as she is in writing. I love her even more now!
Julie, I bet you two had a blast meeting Joshilyn!
I’m reading lots of walking books.
Waypoints by Sam Heughan
Walking with Sam by Andrew McCarthy
Wild Silence by Raynor Winn
I have to agree -LOVED Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Like Hello,Beautiful when I got past the fact that these were not the March sisters.
Just put Barbara isn’t Dead on hold!
I’m reading two novels back to back for two different book clubs: Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger and Homecoming by Kate Morton. I actually took the afternoon off on Thurs to be able to see the 1pm Sumner Reading Guide unboxing live 🙂
Barbara Isn’t Dying is on my TBR list now! Right up my alley. And I’m in the minority about Remarkably Bright Creatures—I did like it, but I was disappointed in the relationship between the octopus and the cleaner, I expected much more. Still, it had a satisfying ending.
My April reads included Hello Beautiful (and I’m on the side of the 5 star reviews!), The Stars are Beautiful by Anita Shreve (4 stars) about the fires in Maine in 1947—good writing, The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley, which I really liked! (5 stars-heartwarming) The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth (4 stars, not her best, but still good), Frog Music by Emma Donoghue which really dragged for me (3 stars), a reread of Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler (still a fave!!) and TWO DNF’s! Right now I’m reading Disappearing Earth by Julia Philips, and even though it’s been on my TBR for about 3 years, I can’t remember why I wanted to read it! I’m 4/5 of the way thru and I still don’t get it! I hope it all comes together soon…..OH, and I’m listening to, and enjoying, My Korean Deli, on audio.
I have read/listened to four great books this past month. While it took a bit to get into, really found Kate Morton’s Homecoming to be excellent: so many red herrings! Listened to Remarkably Bright Creatures (commented above) and enjoyed it, stayed up way too late to finish! and then just finished a cozy Scottish mystery called An American in Scotland, a starting over story with a lot of potential for a series (I hope there are more coming!). That was written by Lucy Connelly. And the last one was Once We Were Home by Jennifer Rosner, about Jewish children separated from their parents, and the controversy about the way that was done in some cases.
I agree with you about Homecoming. I started with the eBook and wasn’t sure about it. I switched to audio, which made it much more enjoyable for me. Like you, I thought it was excellent overall. Remarkably Bright Creatures is not typically a book I would like, but I loved it. The audio was great!
Recommend THE AUDACITY OF SARA GRAYSON by Joani Elliott. This is a story about a woman who finds the courage to write. My DIL recommended it to me and I loved it as much as she did. I especially love the author quotes at the beginning of every chapter.
I’m currently reading Vast Conspiracy by Toobin. I know he’s persona non grata right now but I’m fascinated by scandals. This book was recommended by American Scandal, a podcast that I listen to and it’s good so far.
Ooh Hula went right on my TBR. I love multigenerational novels that take me to a different time or place. Pachinko and The Good Left Undone are two favorites. This month I’ve been had some great read alouds with my six year old. He fell in love with the Boxcar Children, and we’re currently enjoying Flora and Ulysses.
A recent five star read for me – NEXT OF KIN by Kia Abdullah. It was so tense and gripping, I often found myself holding my breath as I turned the pages. She was a new-to-me author, and I’m so glad to have found her. 🙂
I feel like I need to put all the Books on my TBR list. This is what I read in May https://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2023/05/what-i-read-may.html
I just finished With My Little Eye a few days ago. That ending! “Delicious misdirection.” Exactly! I couldn’t figure out how two things could simultaneously be true. (No specifics to avoid spoilers.) I found the beginning slow, but it was worth getting through that for the ending. Excellent book!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Favorite April reads included The House is on Fire by Rachel Beanland, The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley, The Sentence by Louise Erdrich (audio) and Commonwealth by Ann Patchett, also audio.
In Memoriam (5⭐️) and my book hangover was horrendous but I’ve pushed through the beginning of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy and I think I’m finally recovered!
It’s probably too late to leave a comment, but I have to share with the WORLD that I listened to the greatest audiobook ever! It’s THE VANISHING LIFE OF MARGARET SMALL by Neil Alexander, and it was a delight! Read by two narrators with delicious British accents, it’s a tale with a spunky main character who I rooted for and loved. Hope you can find it in audio.
Not too late! Thanks for the rec.
I’m happy to see you enjoyed Barbara Isn’t Dying. I just finished reading Baba Dunja’s Last Love by the same author, and I have decided I need to read everything ever written by Alina Bronsky. She is my favorite reading discovery of the year!
I’m adding Hula to my list. I just started The Night Watchman.