I only managed to fit in 4 books last month, but they were all great! Each one very different, but all four I would definitely recommend…depending on your mood. Here’s everything I read in April!
1. All The Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker – 5 stars
This book is in the thriller/mystery genre, and it’s really more of a slow-burn mystery than a thriller. So if thrillers aren’t usually your thing, don’t overlook this one. All The Colors Of The Dark is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Set in a small town in Missouri in 1975, Whitaker weaves together a long, winding tale that will keep you guessing until the very end. This fictional missing person mystery with a serial killer element somehow managed to also be a beautiful albeit untraditional love story. It’s a long one, but once you start you won’t be able to stop reading until the very end…and you’ll likely need some tissues.
2. Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins – 4 stars
I listened to this non-fiction book on a solo road trip, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was flipping the pages of the physical book and reading it to myself. Because the author’s voice fell kind of flat and almost emotionless for me, but the writing is anything but void of emotion. This honest, sometimes hilarious, heartwarming account of a loving yet complicated mother-son relationship and a special road trip they took together is quite compelling. And the overarching message, whether or not you can relate to the specific conflict highlighted in this book, is relatable in any kind of relationship.
3. Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall – 5 stars
This will likely be in my top 5 best books of the year, and no one is more surprised by that than me. Just based on the blurb, I did not expect to love this book so much because love stories aren’t typically my thing. But there is so much more to this story, and it grabbed me right from the start! This epic love triangle is about a married woman whose first love comes back into her life and turns her world completely upside down taking you on quite the unexpected rollercoaster. It’s kind of like a mashup of The Notebook, The Bridges of Madison County, and Legends of the Fall. And I loved every single part of this masterpiece! I am absolutely unsurprised this was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick because this story and these characters will undoubtedly make for a great film. Of course the book is always better, so you’ll definitely want to read it first!
4. Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez – 3 1/2 stars
As previously mentioned romance isn’t my favorite genre, but I always throw a few into the mix every year. And BookTok convinced me that I needed to read Just For The Summer, but then I realized it’s the third book in a series. So, of course, I had to start at the beginning. And while I didn’t love Part of Your World, I didn’t hate it either. I liked it, and I plan to continue the series! In this feel-good romance the wealthy professional female ER doctor falls for the small-town handsome carpenter who is 10 years younger. It’s a quick, easy, entertaining read. And if you haven’t already read it, I think this lighthearted rom-com would be a good one to throw in your beach bag!
Your turn! What have you read lately?
