april_reads's reviews
270 reviews

A Hard Day for a Hangover by Darynda Jones

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I’ve enjoyed the series but the main character seriously needs to keep a better eye on her daughter. 
A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones

Go to review page

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This great little pallet cleanser. Gilmore girls meets Veronica Mars.

It’s funny with a bit of mystery and a fun cast of characters.  An easy read that I breezed through.  Read book 1 first!!! . 
A Bad Day for Sunshine by Darynda Jones

Go to review page

adventurous funny mysterious relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This great little pallet cleanser. Gilmore girls meets Veronica Mars.

It’s funny with a bit of mystery and a fun cast of characters.  An easy read that I breezed through. 
After That Night by Karin Slaughter

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Karin Slaughter never misses, and After That Night is no exception.

While in medical school, Sara’s life was changed forever by a brutal assault. Years later, she’s picked up the pieces, becoming a successful doctor and engaged to the man of her dreams. She believes she’s finally put the past behind her. However, when a car crash brings in a young victim who had been assaulted before the crash, it becomes clear that, against all odds, Sara’s assault and this new one are connected. Perhaps it’s time for Sara to learn the truth about what happened after that night.

It’s a gripping read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I read The Prince of Tides as part of a book club. Although I had seen the movie years ago, I didn't remember much of it.

The only way I can sum this up is: perfection. This is the perfect book. From start to finish, it is outstanding. The way the story alternates between modern day and the past is seamless—it's the best execution of this storytelling technique I've ever seen.

I’ll be recommending this book for the rest of my life.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I may never emotionally recover from this book. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

 
I was really looking forward to reading Kill for You, Kill for Me by Steve Cavanagh, especially given all the hype on book forums and TikTok. However, I found myself a little disappointed—perhaps because my expectations were too high? 

The story begins with Amanda, whose daughter was kidnapped and murdered while in the care of her father. Overcome with guilt, Amanda’s husband takes his own life, leaving her to pick up the pieces. To make matters worse, the police claim to know who the murderer is but have been unable to bring him to justice. In a cruel twist, this very man has filed a restraining order against Amanda, accusing her of stalking and harassment. 

Struggling to move forward, Amanda joins a support group for parents of murdered and missing children. One night, while having a drink at a bar, she meets Wendy, a fellow group member who has a hauntingly similar story—she, too, knows who murdered her child but has been unable to get justice. Together, they make a pact: each will kill the other's nemesis, eliminating any suspicion of personal motive. 

Wendy soon contacts Amanda, claiming she has fulfilled her part of the deal. Now, it’s Amanda’s turn. But when Amanda botches her attempt, she finds herself unable to reach Wendy and suddenly the target of a police investigation. 

Meanwhile, we have a parallel storyline involving Ruth, a woman who is brutally attacked in her home and left for dead. When she wakes up in the hospital, she learns she will never be able to have children. The only detail she remembers about her attacker? His piercing blue eyes. 

How do these three women’s lives intertwine? You’ll have to read to find out. 

While the plot twist was solid, I found the ending a bit cheesy. Some of the details surrounding the murders and attacks felt far-fetched, making it difficult to fully buy into the story. Overall, while it had its moments, this one didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult

Go to review page

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult is a fascinating exploration of how life can take two different paths that ultimately converge into one. 

The novel begins with our main character, Dawn, surviving a plane crash in which most of the passengers perish. While being evaluated at the airport, she’s asked where she wants to go. Instead of returning home to her husband and child, she impulsively chooses Egypt. After such a traumatic event, all she can think about is the career she left behind as an archaeologist and the man she once loved. Determined to finish what she started, she embarks on a journey back to her past. 

At the same time, we see an alternate version of Dawn’s life, where she returns home to her husband and child. Her marriage is in a dark, fragile state, and she struggles with the choices that led her to this point. In this life, she works as a death doula, guiding families through terminal illness and advocating for those at the end of their lives. Surrounded by death, she finds herself questioning the life she has built and the paths she didn’t take. 

By the end of the book, I wanted to throw it across the room—but I also understood that this frustration is part of its brilliance. We all make choices without knowing what dominoes will fall. 

This is a superbly written story, though it leans heavily on discussions of archaeology and Egyptian history, which some readers may find dense. However, I truly enjoyed it and will forever wonder about that ending. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

 
I went into I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai not knowing what to expect or much about the plot. This novel is a compelling mystery centered around Bodie, a former student of Granby Boarding School who has since become a film and podcast professor. She returns to Granby to teach a class for a semester, only to find herself revisiting a tragic event from her past. 

During Bodie’s time as a student, one of her friends was murdered on campus, and the gym teacher was convicted for the crime. However, Bodie always had doubts about his guilt. When one of her students chooses to focus her podcast project on the case, old memories and wounds resurface, leading Bodie to reexamine everything she thought she knew.
 
The mystery itself was engaging, though the culprit was fairly obvious. The book also weaves in themes of sexual assault and the #MeToo movement, which, at times, felt somewhat forced. 
Overall, I enjoyed this book, though it wasn’t a standout favorite for me. It had an intriguing premise and solid execution, but some elements didn’t fully click. Still, it’s worth a read if you enjoy literary mysteries with a reflective, investigative angle. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings
The Marriage Act by John Marrs

Go to review page

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Marriage Act by John Marrs is a fascinating look at where society could be headed if we continue to embrace AI, invasive technology, and the stigmatization of staying unmarried.

Set in a near-future England, self-driving cars are mandatory, DNA determines your perfect soulmate, and the government has elevated the status of marriage to extreme levels. Everything—from taxes and housing to job opportunities—is tied to your marital status, encouraging citizens to wed. But, in true dystopian fashion, the government is always watching. At any moment, officials can decide your marriage is failing, force a divorce, and demote you to a lower social class.

This book really gets you thinking, as the world it imagines doesn’t feel too far off from our own. While a bit long-winded at times, it masterfully blends elements from classic dystopian fiction with fresh, thought-provoking ideas. Definitely worth a read!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings