What I Read in April 📖

From a reading slump to a new author obsession, a look at everything I read this month.

new fave bookmark, new fave mountain lion, new addition to my Pango bookshop and a new author obsession!

The first half of April felt very slumpy as I engaged in a drawn-out DNF dance with a book that I ultimately finished. But over the last week of April, I ended up reading 3 and a half books, thanks to the momentum gained from devouring Emily Henry’s latest release, Great Big Beautiful Life. And now I’m sucked into a Pulitzer Prize winning author’s backlist—that I did not see coming— with no signs of stopping! Let’s chat…

The Morningside by Téa Obreht | tucked in the back

I’ve wanted to dip into Obreht’s work for a while now (I have a hardback copy of Inland sitting on my shelf that’s been collecting dust for years), and last spring her recent release, featuring a not-so-distant future of a city under water, immediately caught my attention. But it wasn’t until I saw it had been shortlisted for The Climate Fiction Prize that I cracked it open. The story of Silvia and her mother, seeking refuge at the Morningside, a formerly luxurious high-rise, was certainly unique and raw. And the depictions of a future grappling with drought and flooding were fascinating. What I struggled with in this story was the magical realism— I loved the folklore and the way that was woven in, but some of the magical elements didn’t connect for me. Overall, I’m glad I stuck with it after nearly DNFing twice, but I think other climate fiction books resonate more with me.

Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken | lend out immediately

I find the topics of food and nutrition completely fascinating and empowering. I’ve had Ultra-Processed People on my audio-TBR since my favorite podcaster, Ella from The Wellness Scoop, recommended it at least a year ago. This book was well researched and offered plenty of powerful insights into the current world of nutrition, how we got here, and what specific challenges interfere with our collective health. I found the connections to food injustice particularly harrowing and could not stop talking about them with anyone who would listen (sorry Pat!). If you like books like Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food and Dr. Michael Greger’s How Not To Die, then you may find this detailed look at processed food in our modern world equally as interesting. (P.S. These are the type of books I especially enjoy on audio, and this one really felt like a podcast!)

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy | displayed front & center

Okay this book. First off, I loved it! But the expectations I had going in were off from what this book actually was. Somehow I was expecting a climate fiction thriller and while there’s certainly a haunting and ominous tone, it wasn’t really a thriller. Set on a harsh and remote research island, loosely based off of Macquarie Island, this is a story about family, human connection, love, resilience, tragedy, and doing everything we can to protect the natural world. And yes, there is a mystery woven in too. This book made me want to hug my family and then pack everyone up and move to the the isolated island to live in an old lighthouse full of books and spend our days lounging amongst the penguins and sea lions. I loved the setting as much as I loved the characters. This was a beautiful book that could very easily land a spot on my top books of the year.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry | displayed front & center

I’ve been reading Emily Henry’s newest release every year since 2020 when she published Beach Read (which I’m hoping to re-read this summer!) and I’m here for the evolution we witnessed in this book! This was a typical EmHen rom-com with witty banter, a delicious setting and charming businesses and side characters but also there is a bit of historical fiction mystery that leans a little Daisy Jones, and I loved it!! The setting felt extra magical to me since this very time last year we were visiting Savannah, GA and Little Tybee Island which is essentially where this story takes place. I devoured this book and loved the way the mystery element kept me turning pages. I also loved seeing this merch from Out of Print that made some of the little details from the book feel all the more real.

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout | displayed front & center

I’ve picked up a few second hand copies of Strout’s books over the years but I’ve never known exactly where to start with her backlist, since the characters all share a mix of connections. But within a week I encountered two completely random yet compelling recommendations for her latest release, Tell Me Everything, and spent some time researching an ideal reading order of Strout’s backlist (but for the record it’s also true that you can read any of her books as a standalone however I am an eldest daughter libra and that’s akin to going to bed without washing my face, aka— not gonna happen). This beginner’s guide to Elizabeth Strout led me to start with My Name is Lucy Barton and the library gods were on my side because I was able to pick it up instantly on my kindle via Libby this past weekend. I nearly finished it in a single day! While in the hospital for an extended stay, we meet Lucy and her mother and learn about Lucy’s time growing up in a rural town in Ohio. We also hear many stories about other characters from her hometown and the themes about what it means to be imperfectly human, and to love imperfectly were so beautiful. I immediately jumped into the next book and all I want to do is continue my journey with Lucy and co.

Open Throat by Henry Hoke | lend out immediately

Open Throat first caught my attention last year when

Michelle Martin

of Literary Leanings shared about it and if I can trust anyone’s review about a book narrated by a mountain lion in the hills of L.A. it’s Michelle! This book was utterly fascinating and thought-provoking and truly positioned me into the mind of a mountain lion— it is wild how well this worked. Through the perspective of this mountain lion, while saying so much with so few words, we see the odd and ugly ways humans behave and exist in the world. This book will stick with me for a long time.

a collection of favorite strings of words from this month's reading

Elizabeth Strout books collected via secondhand over the years, the moment has arrived!

audio: Because I could not wait for my e-book hold to come through, I started the next book on my Strout journey— Anything Is Possible. I am greatly enjoying a visit to Lucy’s hometown of Amgash and learning more in depth details about the characters we were introduced to in My Name is Lucy Barton. Strout captivates me with the way she writes characters and depicts the many actions that make us human. These stories are gossipy and juicy yet quiet and raw. I’m also still working my way through The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt which I’ve been digesting in small doses (also because this subject actually makes me anxious).

physical book: Still leaning into cozy translated Japanese fiction and just started What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama. I look forward to curling up with this book tonight with a big mug of tea.

e-book: I’d still like to get to Never let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro but my mood reading tendencies have had other plans and summer reading is lurking over my shoulder…

Ultimately I’m satisfied with how my reading life evolved over the month, and I’m excited to see how May shapes up as we creep towards summer reading— a most indulgent reading time— but I’m still focused on spring read as it has barely started to feel like spring here in Vermont. When do you start your summer reading?

What are you reading these days that is sparking joy?

P.S. I keep my Pango Bookshop updated regularly, you can shop my shelves here!