april_reads's reviews
270 reviews

Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller is my favorite read of the year so far.

Lula Dean is on a mission—she wants to make Troy great again. After discovering a pornographic book in the baking section of the library (which she’s told was just a prank by kids), she launches a crusade to ban books she deems inappropriate. She rallies many of Troy’s residents to her cause and even sets up a Little Free Library in front of her home, stocked with "wholesome" books promoting traditional gender roles, patriotism, and Southern pride.

But someone has other ideas. Secretly, they begin replacing Lula’s curated books with the very banned books she despises—disguising them with wholesome book jackets. As the townspeople unknowingly read these titles, they are exposed to new, progressive ideas, while Lula remains blissfully unaware of the switch.

Mirroring much of what’s happening in America today, this book brilliantly highlights the hypocrisy, racism, and misogyny promoted by the MAGA movement—and how we can push back against these archaic beliefs.

Hilarious yet deeply insightful, this one delivers a powerful message. Highly recommend. And if you voted MAGA? I double recommend—you just might see a bit of yourself in these pages.

Content Warnings

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

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dark emotional mysterious 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

5.0

The Long River by Liz Moore has been on my radar ever since God of the Woods, and it did not disappoint.

This story follows two sisters who shared the same childhood but ended up on very different paths—one a cop, the other a drug addict.

With the rich character development I’ve come to expect from Liz Moore, the novel beautifully weaves together family dynamics, deep emotions, and a compelling mystery at its core. This was a five-star read for me. It’s long, but absolutely worth it!

Content Warnings

The Summer of Yes by Courtney Walsh

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Summer of Yes is an adorable book about taking chances and throwing caution to the wind.

Kelsey wakes up in the hospital, confused, only to learn she was hit by a car while buying coffee. She’s always been a worrier, but this? This was never on her radar. As she recovers, she finds herself sharing a room with an irritable elderly woman—who just happens to be Georgina, a famous but notoriously reclusive cosmetics mogul.

When Kelsey is discharged, a lawyer arrives with an NDA, asking her to keep quiet about Georgina’s presence. She agrees—but only on one condition: Georgina must answer one question. Was it worth it? Everyone knows Georgina is estranged from her husband and child, and Kelsey wonders if she has any regrets.

An aspiring writer, Kelsey persistently pushes Georgina until she finally agrees to embark on a "Summer of Yes" adventure together. Can this journey lead both women to lives they truly find fulfilling? You’ll have to read to find out!

This story is charming, with Georgina often stealing the show. While it’s not strictly a romance, it blends elements of friendship, self-discovery, and a strong plot—making it one of the rare romance-adjacent books I genuinely enjoyed.

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan is an adorable rom-com about second chances.

As summer begins, Ali finds herself at a crossroads. Her separation from her husband has reached the one-year mark, and they’ve decided to divorce. Her mother passed away the year before, leaving her in her small hometown with just her kids, her high school best friend, and—of course—her dog, who turns out to be the real hero of the story.

At the dog park, Ali’s normally well-mannered pup suddenly takes off toward a gorgeous man and his dog. Their conversation is brief, but there’s definitely a spark. When she later runs into him again at the skate park, he asks her out.

What she doesn’t realize? He’s the little brother of her high school friend—now all grown up and looking very fine. Since "Scooter" lives two hours away and is just visiting, Ali figures a summer fling is the perfect plan.

I’m not usually a romance girlie, so if I loved this one, you know it’s good! I highly recommend it—but don’t go in expecting a lot of steam. It’s light on spice but heavy on heart.

Content Warnings

The Change by Kirsten Miller

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dark mysterious slow-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? It's complicated

3.0

The Change by Kirsten Miller had an intriguing premise: women descended from witches discover they are drawn to murder victims, with a purpose to find, solve, and punish. While they become aware of this around puberty, their abilities don’t fully develop until they go through “The Change.”

I wanted to love this book, but while it wasn’t terrible, it fell flat for me. I didn’t feel particularly drawn to any of the women, and the mystery itself wasn’t all that compelling.

Overall, it was just okay. Maybe if I’d gone in with lower expectations, I would have enjoyed it more—but ultimately, this one left me disappointed.

Content Warnings

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The Connolleys of County Down has been on my TBR for quite some time, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up.

The story begins with Tara’s release from prison after serving time for drug running. She moves in with her sister, who struggles with a hoarding problem; her brother, who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a child; and her beloved nephew.

This book explores the challenges faced by convicted felons and their families, but at its core, it’s about the unbreakable bonds of family—even in dysfunction—and the lengths we go to for the people we love.

I really enjoyed this one!

Content Warnings

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Jackpot Summer is a heartwarming story about life changes, money, and the importance of family.

The Jacobsons have always been a close-knit family, but after their mother’s passing, everyone is struggling to find their footing. When three of the four siblings go in on a lottery ticket—and win—they think their problems are finally solved.But as the saying goes, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems,” and that certainly proves true for this family.

I absolutely fell in love with these characters and was genuinely sad to reach the last page. A sweet, feel-good read that’s both touching and uplifting!

Content Warnings

Summer Fridays by Suzanne Rindell

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Summer Fridays is my favorite romance of 2025 so far.

Picture it—New York City, 1999. Twenty-something Sawyer has just landed her first job as a publishing assistant and is living in the city with her fiancé, a rising star at a top law firm. One night at a work event, she’s introduced to Nick, the boyfriend of her fiancé’s close colleague.

Shortly after, Nick reaches out to Sawyer with a shocking suspicion: he thinks their significant others are having an affair. As they navigate their heartbreak and uncertainty, a beautiful friendship blossoms between them over the course of the summer. With their partners constantly working, Sawyer and Nick find solace in each other, spending their “Summer Fridays” together.

This story took me back to my own post-college days—when you weren’t quite sure who you were or what you wanted but still threw yourself into life with full-hearted enthusiasm. A modern take on You’ve Got Mail, this one was incredibly sweet.

Content Warnings

The Villain Edit by Laurie Devore

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funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Villain Edit is a fun, easy read with plenty of humor.

When failed romance novelist Jack joins a popular reality dating show (think The Bachelor) to revive her struggling career, she never expects to be cast as the season’s villain. To make matters worse, one of the show’s producers turns out to be the hot guy she had a one-night stand with the night before filming began.

This book delivers plenty of laughs and isn’t just about romance—it has a solid plot, too. Fans of The Bachelor and other reality dating shows are sure to enjoy it!

Content Warnings

The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The Woman Who Lied is a thriller with a clever twist.

Amelia, a bestselling crime writer, is living with her daughter from a previous marriage and her new husband when, out of the blue, a series of murders begins. The chilling part? The killings are exact copies of the crimes in her latest book—except the book hasn’t been published yet. That means the murderer must be someone in her close circle.

As the police investigate, an even more terrifying realization emerges: in Amelia’s novel, the main character dies at the end. Is her own murder the killer’s ultimate plan?

Packed with suspects and twists, this was a gripping read that I really enjoyed!

Content Warnings

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april_reads's reviews 270 reviews

april_reads's reviews
270 reviews