Well this was an interesting month … What have you been doing to pass the time? I’ve been indulging myself in hobbies I’ve neglected. I just wrote a post on things to do during social distancing if you’re running out of ideas. But if you’re like me and happy to just snuggle up on a couch and read, here’s what I read in April.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes | 5/5 stars
Synopsis: Set in a small Kentucky town in Depression-era America, the novel details the lives of five women who become traveling librarians, delivering books to the people of Kentucky. The story follows Alice Wright, a British woman, who moves after marrying the Kentucky native Bennett Van Cleve.
This one was a feel-good type of read even though at times the injustices against women during this time period upset me. But overall I enjoyed living out my dreams of being a librarian through this novel. Throw in a horse and you’re a traveling librarian on horseback. I can’t imagine it getting any better honestly.
The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson | 4/5 stars
Synopsis: Ellingham Academy must be cursed. Three people are now dead. One, a victim of either a prank gone wrong or a murder. Another, dead by misadventure. And now, an accident in Burlington has claimed another life. All three in the wrong place at the wrong time. All at the exact moment of Stevie’s greatest triumph . . . She knows who Truly Devious is. She’s solved it. The greatest case of the century. At least she thinks she has.
This is the third book of the Truly Devious trilogy. I actually really enjoyed this book given that it’s a YA read. If you know me you know that I’ve read many mystery crime novels in my time. So the twists weren’t as surprising as I would’ve hoped and I felt like it ended a bit too bland for my liking. But given that it’s a young adult novel, it did pretty well in keeping my attention and keeping me on my toes. You could easily finish the series in less than a week.
The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle | 3/5 stars
Synopsis: The detective and his companion Dr Watson unravel a mystery of hidden treasure and murder. … By the end of the story the criminals are either dead or arrested, and Miss Mary Morstan and Watson are engaged to be married.
I absolutely love Sherlock Holmes. However, this short novel didn’t impress me much. I’m slowly getting through the novels and before I get into the Sherlock Holmes short stories. I did enjoy the writing, though, and Sherlock and his odd habits are always entertaining. But I feel like the plot fell a bit short this time around.
The Perfect Wife by J.P. Delaney | 3/5 stars
Synopsis: Abbie awakens in a daze with no memory of who she is or how she landed in this unsettling condition. The man by her side claims to be her husband. But as Abbie pieces together memories of her marriage, she begins questioning her husband’s motives–and his version of events.
Okay, this one was a bit weird. I actually wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone. At the beginning it felt like the writing was a bit cheesy, but once I realized it was a sci-fi novel I let it slide. However, about halfway through or so some of the chapters left me feeling a bit uneasy and hesitant about knowing how the story ends. But I’ll admit I couldn’t put the book down. And when the twist came I wasn’t expecting it at all. I left me a bit confused but slowly started to make sense.
Park Avenue Summer by Renée Rosen | 5/5 stars
Synopsis: A young woman moves to New York, desperate to break into the creative business. Instead, she gets a job as a lowly assistant, and watches the days tick by as her dream seems further and further away.
I listened to this one as an audiobook. It was almost like “watching” a chick flick movie and I really enjoyed it. It was both funny and inspiring. It even had a little bit of mystery in there. I never knew much about the history of Cosmopolitan. Even though this book is fiction and only inspired by the story of Editor-in-Chief Helen Gurley Brown, I felt empowered and that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
I’ve linked the books below if you’re interested in any of them. If you’re interested in more recommendations, check out my post on books to read during quarantine. Happy reading! Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram: @_bonitappetit_ to keep up with what I’m reading next!
xx
bonitappétit 