April Wrap-Up | 2023

Welcome to my April Wrap-Up! I'm incredibly happy with how much I read this month, especially considering I had to travel for work and couldn't read in that time. Some of the books I read changed from my original TBR, but I'll be rolling over any books I didn't get to into May instead. However, I did manage to pass every subject in the Orilium Magical Readathon, so I'm happy about that. Overall, I read 16 books which totalled 6067 pages. Here are my reviews and ratings for the month and what prompts they fulfilled in the Magical Readathon! (Note: Because I'm in Order of the Crescent, I was able to start the readathon 2 days early and already fulfilled the Shapeshifting prompt with Grave Mercy last month).

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1. Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta ★★★★

Prompt: Conjuration - Recommended by a friend

I loved Dean Atta's previous YA Contemporary book, The Black Flamingo, so I knew I had to pick this one up. I've really enjoyed all the books I've read that were written in verse and I'm happy to say this was no exception. In this book, we follow fifteen-year-old Mack - a hopeless romantic thanks to the films he's grown up watching. He has liked Karim for as long as he can remember, and is ecstatic when Karim becomes his boyfriend - it feels like love. But when Mack's dad gets a job on a film in Scotland, Mack has to move, and soon he discovers how painful love can be. It's horrible being so far away from Karim, but the worst part is that Karim doesn't make the effort to visit. Love shouldn't be only on the weekends. Then, when Mack meets actor Finlay on a film set, he experiences something powerful, a feeling like love at first sight. How long until he tells Karim - and when will his old life and new life collide?

Firstly, the representation and messages throughout the book were incredible. It was so interesting to hear about and from so many different perspectives of race and gender: Nigerian, Egyptian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, just to name a few. The themes of family, both found and related, and acceptance were so beautiful and heart-warming to read about. The writing was beautiful and seeing Mack's relationship with his Dad grow throughout the book was lovely. I will say that the romance did bring this down from a 5 star for me. I know he's fifteen, but so many of the decisions he made were difficult to read because they felt like mistakes. While it's obvious that he needs more than Karim is willing to give, it really doesn't give the the excuse for emotional cheating. And also just the whole way that is handled didn't feel great. I honestly can't tell if Mack ever felt that bad about it, or if he just felt bad that he lost his friends? I wish his friendship with Fin had been explored a bit more too because it felt like he was pulling away from both relationships so I ended up not feeling particularly attached to either of them. However, I will say that Dean Atta did successfully portray anxiety in relationships and how different people's expectations in relationships can be. I loved seeing Mack's friendships grow, especially when he found his queer group of friends in Scotland. It was also lovely to see how his friends in London grew and changed rather than becoming estranged. Overall, this was a beautifully written book and I'll always pick up Dean Atta's new work.

2. Kill Joy by Holly Jackson ★★★★

Prompt: Art of Illusion - Match clothes to book colour

So, I read A Good Girl's Guide to Murder a few years ago and loved it. This short mystery novella is the prequel to that trilogy and was written as a free book for World Book Day. In this one, Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder. But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind. This was very well done for such a short book. The mystery was fun and interesting and the banter between the group of friends had me so nostalgic for my time at college. Holly Jackson is great at writing teenagers in the UK. I thought the ending was really funny, and the creepy Easter egg at the end reminded me of what happened in the first book. I can't say too much else because the book is so short, but if you enjoyed A Good Girl's Guide to Murder then definitely pick up this short prequel.

3. Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust ★★.5

Prompt: Elemental Studies - Flowers on the cover

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is a YA, own-voices, Persian fantasy with a bi-poc main character and is loosely based on Rapunzel/Beauty and the Beast. There are more stories of a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story. As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison. Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.

While I enjoyed some aspects of this book, overall, it was really for me. I liked the Persian fantasy setting and the mythology that was woven into the world. I also loved the character of Parvaneh - she felt the most fleshed out and interesting of all the characters we meet in this world. I also didn't see the twist coming in the middle of the book, which I liked, and the overall romance was something I could get behind. Unfortunately, the worldbuilding itself was pretty lacking, excluding the mythology; I really struggled to picture the world and how everything fit together. Soraya herself was an extremely frustrating character. None of her decisions were ever explained (even in her own head) and so little of what she did made sense. There's a point in the book where she decides to betray someone, but doesn't even explain to herself whether she meant to do it or not? She also flips between being a monster and being a saviour so much it becomes exhausting. Overall, this was just an okay fantasy for me - I would read more Persian fantasy, but not following these characters. 

4. Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky ★★★★

Prompt: Psionics & Divination - Clouds on the cover or in the title

I have so many Adrian Tchaikovsky books now that it was about time I tried one of them, and this did not disappoint. When I first heard about Elder Race, I wanted to pick it up immediately because it has one of my favourite things to read about: a world where science has been gone for so long that people believe it's magic. Lynesse is the lowly Fourth Daughter of the queen, and always getting in the way. But a demon is terrorising the land, and now she’s an adult (albeit barely) and although she still gets in the way, she understands that the only way to save her people is to invoke the pact between her family and the Elder sorcerer who has inhabited the local tower for as long as her people have lived here (though none in living memory has approached it). But Elder Nyr isn’t a sorcerer, and he is forbidden to help, for his knowledge of science tells him the threat cannot possibly be a demon.

Tchaikovsky seamlessly blends science fiction and fantasy in this short novella. I loved the contrast between Lynesse's and Nyr's chapters where Nyr can explain things that seem like complete mysteries to Lynesse. I also found the translation system really funny, especially when he's trying to explain not being a Sorceror. The worldbuilding was beautifully done for such a short book too; I loved the world that they lived in and how the culture had been created over generations away from Earth. I really liked all of the characters and their relationships too, even though we only got to spend a short time with them. Literally, the only downside to this book was how short it was; I wanted to know what happened to the other anthropologists that went back to earth, and exactly what the Demon was. However, he still did an awful lot with such a short novella, and since all of Tchaikovsky's other books are pretty big, I'm hoping they won't be lacking that regard. I don't want to say much else as I feel that could spoil the experience, but I do highly recommend this to fans of sci-fi or fantasy books! I will just add, trigger warning for body horror though! 

5. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (re-read) ★★★★

Prompt: Inscription - A book from your top/highest shelf

So, as I've said above, this was actually a re-read for me and I loved this YA thriller so much the last time I read it, so I'm not surprised I enjoyed it just as much this time around - especially after reading Kill Joy earlier this month. In this thriller, the case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

Amazingly, even though I read this 3 years ago, I only remembered a couple of the major twists, so being able to experience them again felt incredible and really shows how well Holly Jackson put this book together. I loved the case files and how all the 'red herrings' didn't feel too obvious or absurd, or don't connect to anything at all, as they do in some mysteries. The fact that this is set in the UK is a major plus for me because we don't see enough UK college-aged books where we see characters going through their A-Levels, and Jackson is really good at getting those details right. I wish we'd seen more of Pippa's friend group, as we did in Kill Joy, but she still encapsulates the college and family experience pretty well. Pippa was maybe a bit too quirky, but still an interesting character, and I really liked her banter with Ravi and her father. As I was re-reading this, I spent a lot of the book thinking 'why did I only give this 4 stars??' and then it happened and I remembered. Honestly, I don't want to say what it is since it happens relatively late in the book, but it's something I really can't stand happening in media in general, and it always seems to happen in thrillers. If it's just used to get an emotional response from the reader it just feels a bit icky to me. Anyway, that aside, I still loved this book and I'm very excited to continue and finally finish this trilogy.

6. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (re-read) ★★★★.5

Prompt: Restoration - Cover your eyes, shuffle, and point

This is the sequel to A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and also a re-read for me. This book pretty much follows on from the previous book timeline-wise, but we're following a whole new case. When her friend, Connor, tells her his brother, Jamie, is missing, Pip is back on the case and recording her findings on her new podcast. I can't say much else about the plot for fear of spoiling the first book, but I will say that I loved this one just as much as the first. While I think the mystery and its ending is slightly more compelling in the first book, this one manages to raise the stakes with the ticking clock of how long Jamie has been missing for and what that could mean. I also loved seeing Pip's emotions in this one; she's not the same girl she was, she's had to deal with so much trauma and even more that happens, and it's refreshing to see her not just brush it off. Her anger and frustration is so palpable and you really feel it alongside her as the reader, and I could not agree more with a lot of the decisions that she made. I wish we'd seen more of Ravi in this one, but other than that, I loved it. I highly recommend this series to anyone that's a fan of thrillers. Easily some of the best YA thrillers I've ever read.

7. As Good as Dead by Holly Jackson ★★★

Prompt: Artificery - Start with a snack

And, of course, I then read the third and final book in this trilogy. Oh boy, was this a rollercoaster. This was definitely my least favourite in the series for a lot of reasons, and I wasn't exactly happy with the way the book went plot-wise. However, Jackson's writing was as compelling and thrilling as always and I pretty much read this nearly 600-page-book in one sitting. I won't talk about plot points because it would obviously massively spoil this book, but I will talk about them vaguely. This was like two books in one; the first half dealing with a mystery and Pip's PTSD, and the second dealing with the aftermath of what is revealed during the book. I liked that they actually explored Pip's mental health and how the trauma has affected her. I will say, the first half was a bit slow, but it was also incredibly creepy to read and left me feeling very unsettled (which was definitely the intention). But I definitely saw the whodunnit from very early on, which was pretty disappointing. However, I did really like how this book wove the story from the previous two stories into the narrative. However, there were also a couple of plot points mentioned early on that were never touched on or mentioned again (like when her brother mentions the man outside their house?).

Then the second half of the book then took a turn I never could have predicted and it was from this point onwards that I couldn't stop reading. Despite this, I didn't really like the way the plot ended up going; everything almost felt out of character and like it was slipping into the unreal. There were a lot of pretty unbelievable things that almost changed the genre altogether. The ending itself was so sad with the way it leaves the characters (I especially feel bad for Pip's family), and I feel like it leaves a weird message for YA readers. That's not to say it was bad, as I said above; it was definitely compelling, and I'm sure a lot of people will have enjoyed this ending, but it left me feeling a bit deflated for the characters and disappointed. The first two books are still some of my favourites, but I doubt I'll re-read this book.

8. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas ★★★★

Prompt: Alchemy - A mental in the name

This is the fourth book in ACOTAR series. It's worth saying that I liked the original trilogy; adored ACOMAF and found the the other books enjoyable enough. However, I always hated Nesta in that trilogy and, as you probably already know, she is the main character of this book, so I was dubious if I would enjoy it, even if I love the world. Nesta Archeron has always been prickly-proud, swift to anger, and slow to forgive. And ever since being forced into the Cauldron and becoming High Fae against her will, she's struggled to find a place for herself within the strange, deadly world she inhabits. Worse, she can't seem to move past the horrors of the war with Hybern and all she lost in it. The one person who ignites her temper more than any other is Cassian, the battle-scarred warrior whose position in Rhysand and Feyre's Night Court keeps him constantly in Nesta's orbit. But her temper isn't the only thing Cassian ignites. The fire between them is undeniable, and only burns hotter as they are forced into close quarters with each other.

This definitely got a higher rating than I expected and the main reason was that Maas actually made me like Nesta. I shouldn't be too surprised, she did it with Chaol in her other series, and now she's done it again. It did take a while though; there were so many times when she pushed people away for what felt like no reason and it was incredibly frustrating to read about. However, I love seeing a character train and become stronger; not just in body, but in mind too. I was pleasantly surprised by the female friendships created and I loved seeing the three women together - that was such an unexpected bonus. I will say, there wasn't much plot and it was much more character-driven than anything else. To be honest, I felt very detached from the world politics because there was so much focus on the relationship between Nesta and Cassian and I feel like the book suffered from that. It was also frustrating to see Nesta's moment of triumph slightly overshadowed by Rhys and Feyre (even though this isn't their book). I loved the trial aspect at the end because it reminded me of the Proving in the Horizon: Zero Dawn game, and I always love a competition. So yeah, the plot wasn't the best, but the character arcs really brought the star rating up and I really liked seeing Nesta come into her own. If you were originally put off from this book because of the main character, I would give it a try because it might surprise you.

9. Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab ★★★

Prompt: Astronomy - Two letter Es in the title

So, I decided to pick up this non-fiction book to see if it could help me get better at laying down boundaries in different aspects of my life. Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do healthy boundaries really mean and how can we successfully express our needs, say no, and be assertive without offending others? Licensed counsellor, sought-after relationship expert, Nedra Glover Tawwab demystifies this complex topic for today's world. Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. 

I ended up giving this 3 stars in the end. I will say that the advice was clearly stated and the explanations were all very well done. There are definitely a few parts I'll be taking forward into my life, but a lot of the advice included things I was already doing or was aware of. Some sections became a bit repetitive, and the section I was hoping to help me the most was primarily things I already knew and practised, but with less success with than I hoped, so I was hoping for some more depth. I also found some of the advice too simplistic and it didn't really account for more complex or less privileged situations (e.g., being able to set boundaries at work without the risk of losing your job was something that was never really addressed, and at one point it suggested hiring a housekeeper to help if things at home were too overwhelming). While I feel this all came from a good place, it won't be helpful to everyone. This is definitely a mixed bag of useful advice, and repetitive lists; I would definitely recommend skipping to the more relevant sections for you to see if you feel it can help in that aspect of your life. 

10. 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste by Kathryn Kellogg ★★★.5

Prompt: No prompt fulfilled

I didn't expect to read this this month, but it was chosen for my work's book club so I thought I'd pick it up sooner rather than later. We all know how important it is to reduce our environmental footprint, but it can be daunting to know where to begin. In 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste, Kellogg shares tips, along with DIY recipes for beauty and home; advice for responsible consumption and making better choices for home goods, fashion, and the office; and even secrets for how to go waste free at the airport. “It’s not about perfection,” she says. “It’s about making better choices.”

This is definitely a good book for anyone looking to reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly, which I appreciated as I pretty much knew the bare minimum about the subject. I will say that the title is slightly misleading as she admits in the first few pages that it's pretty much impossible in this day and age to go 100% zero waste, however, we can definitely start making our way towards it. Kellogg has some great, simple advice for reducing, reusing, and recycling and there are definitely some tips that I'll be taking forward. She also includes a lot of facts about how little ends up actually getting recycled that I had no idea about. However, a lot of the advice comes from a places of both wealth-privilege, and also the privilege of having the time to home DIY a lot of things. A lot of the advice surrounding bathroom products, for example, meant creating your own. It also doesn't account for things like medications that people have to take. That being said, she definitely isn't prescribing these methods, nor judging people for not being able to do them. As she says in the final chapter, even if you just start doing one or two of these things, you're already making a big difference. I think this is a great starting point for starting a zero waste journey, but I would definitely recommend just taking the tips that work for you and starting there, otherwise this can end up feeling like you have an overwhelming task ahead!

11. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley ★★

Prompt: Animal Studies - Flip a coin for fiction or non-fiction

Brave New World is a dystopian novel by English author Aldous Huxley, written in 1931 and published in 1932. It is largely set in a futuristic World State, inhabited by genetically modified citizens and an intelligence-based social hierarchy, the novel anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society which is challenged by only a single individual: the story's protagonist.

There is an awful lot to unpack in this book. It is filled with themes and social commentary, all surrounded by the cleverly predicted sci-fi setting. This definitely felt ahead of its time with the dystopian future - a world that appears Utopian on the surface, but scratch that surface just a little and we see the horror beneath. The ideas in here were clever and well-written, and it's a book I would've found fascinating to study at University. I especially found the 'savages' views about how the people in this society change everything they're not happy with rather than adapting to the world as it is particularly poignant in today's world. However, the plot itself wasn't compelling and, similar to other classics of its time, it's very difficult to feel a connection with the main character because the writing is more detached. I will say that the stuff with children and "erotic play" was not good and creeped me out a lot. The whole society has a very casual attitude to sex, but I felt like it was unnecessary to delve into the details as much as it did. Overall, it's an incredibly disturbing book, with an even more disturbing ending and it's worth a read if you're interested in classic sci-fi.

12. The Bridge by Bill Konigsberg ★★★★.5

Prompt: Spells & Incantations - Target book length of 389-415 pages

I didn't have high expectations for this YA contemporary, but it absolutely blew me away. The blurb itself is intriguing enough: two struggling teenagers that don't know each other both go to a bridge with the intention of jumping. At that moment, one of four things could happen: Tillie could jump and Aaron doesn't, Aaron could jump and Tillie doesn't, they both jump, or neither of them jump. Or, what if all of these things happen?

Interesting, right? Bill Konigsberg takes us through four alternate timelines and show us the effects on both the characters, and everyone around them depending on what happens. I love this idea and it felt very much like It's a Wonderful Life, in terms of what the world would be like, or how you affect the people around you. I love Aaron and Tillie in equal measure; they both felt so real as characters - Tillie with her anger, and Aaron with his geeky character. It was great seeing Tillie face everything in her life that was causing her pain, and I really liked that Aaron didn't have a 'reason' for his mental illness because sometimes depression is just depression. The depictions of depression and manic behaviour were incredibly on point and I really think they will make people feel less alone. What was it that Aaron said? It was like someone was listening to his thoughts because the questions on the psychology test were so accurate? - that's what this book is like too. I loved Aaron's dad too, he was just so supportive and sweet and my heart broke for him at times. Considering this was like four books in one, I felt like each story got enough time and was really explored. There were only a couple of things I wish we'd seen more of, but I also think it probably wasn't needed, it's just my own curiosity. It's worth saying that the final story does have some repetition from previous timelines, however, it's definitely not as much as I thought it would be and it didn't detract from the book. I highly recommend this to anyone if you want to understand more about mental health, but do read the trigger warnings if you think the subject matter could affect you negatively!

13. The Sleepover by Keri Beevis ★★.5

Prompt: No prompt fulfilled

When you’re a kid, you imagine monsters to have horns and fangs. That they hide under the bed or in the wardrobe. And you believe they can only come after you when it’s dark. You don’t expect them to look like everyday people or that they may be someone you already know… The summer in question started out with hot, fun-filled days and new friendships. They had just turned thirteen and had their whole lives ahead of them. But that was before her… Before they became known as the Hixton Five and their lives become defined by one night. It’s hard to believe twenty years have passed since she was locked away. But now she’s free and strange things have started to happen.

Trigger warnings for child death, child abuse, and sexual assault. This book was a weird one for me. I generally don't like multi-POV thrillers as it means you have at least one narrator that hides things from the reader and it can feel a bit frustrating. Also, an interesting part of thrillers is usually the tension build-up, but a lot of the tension came from what happened in the past and, to be honest, I didn't find the scenes very tense. Instead I found them grotesque and hard to read. I didn't like many of the characters, but I especially hated Rosie from the very start when she lied to Hannah to get her friend's attention. Then when she called for help and vanished? What the actual hell? There was not one redeeming feature about her and she frustrated me throughout. I feel like Hannah's relationship with Liam was also very rushed and it was the one thing I agreed with Rosie on. I did manage to guess the majority of the twists before they happened; the final twist was close to taking me by surprise, but it became obvious a few chapters beforehand. The writing itself was compelling and the idea behind the plot was interesting, but the amount of child abuse in this book made it so difficult to read and there didn't feel like there was much of a mystery at all until the very end of the book. If it sounds interesting to you, then I recommend trying it, but it was a miss for me sadly.

14. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman ★★★★★

Prompt: Lore - A book with a map

I didn't have high expectations for this fantasy middle-grade because I'm not a huge fan of unicorns; however, this blew me away. Instead of pink rainbow unicorns, we get bloodthirsty creatures that wield elemental magic - yes! Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call. Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined. I close my eyes, the creeping anxiety and fear is overwhelming and all too real. 

As I said above, these are not normal unicorns they are vicious and elemental. I love elemental magic and this book uses it perfectly. I liked that the power of the magic came with the bond to the unicorns too, and it was dependant on their control of their unicorn. This really mixed some of the best elements of Eragon + magic school and it worked so well for me. The world was cleverly created; it was great seeing it set in the UK, but also within a fantasy setting. The school is amazing and my only gripe was that I wanted to see more of it. It made me wish Skandar had an easier time in the school so we as the reader could enjoy it more with him. The descriptions were beautiful and I felt like I could picture everything. I will say that Skandar's decisions weren't always the best, but I love his three friends and I feel like they kept him grounded (no pun intended!). Mitchell, Bobby, and Flo were so sweet and the way their relationships grow and thrive throughout the book is great to see. Skandar's relationship to his sister was one of the most heartwarming sibling dynamics I've seen in a middle-grade and it made my heart happy. I also didn't really see the twist coming at the end, and it's definitely a story I want to continue. Sure, it had a lot of tropes, but I feel like they worked well together and made me really enjoy the story.

15. Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie ★★★★★

Prompt: Demonology - Book compared to your favourite 

This is the final book in The First Law trilogy. I gave the first two books 5 stars and, as you can see, I felt much the same about this final book. I cannot believe how much I ended up loving this trilogy; I didn't have particularly high expectations going in, but now Abercrombie is one of my favourite fantasy authors. I won't say too much about the plot of this book, but I will say that I loved the direction the story went. It was perfectly paced and not once did it feel like I needed more or less. There is so much I didn't see coming at all: Frost & Severard and the Bankers especially. I was so happy to be right when the moment with Quai happened, because I knew something had been different in the previous book. I loved seeing West and Glokta's plans come together; it was the exact sort of genius and intrigue that I felt when I first read Game of Thrones. Logan's storyline and fights were extremely satisfying to see, and it was interesting to see how Jezal changed. I wish we'd had a little more from Ferro's character in this one, but I still loved her. I'm also surprisingly happy with how Ardee's story ended. Bayaz is still my least favourite character, but then, he's kind of meant to be. My absolute favourite chapter was the one where we were constantly switching POV's and each sentence was the same as the next paragraph; it worked so well to build tension and I loved every second of it. Overall, because this is a grim dark fantasy, with extremely morally grey characters, I knew none of them would change much, but it was actually satisfying to see where they all ended up. None of them were good in the end, but I still rooted for them throughout the trilogy, and it's a very good author that can bring his characters full circle, but still leave the reader satisfied. A fantastic series and I'll definitely be continuing on with his other books set in this world.

16. Good Girls Don't by Mara Wilson ★★★★.5

A few years ago, I read Mara Wilson's Where am I Now? and it was one of my favourite books of the year. In this short non-fiction, Mara Wilson navigates the good-girl-versus-bad-girl tropes from early childhood through adolescence and teen life. Good Girls Don’t is a coming-of-age memoir that bravely examines both the friendships Wilson formed as a child actor in Hollywood and the complex family relationships that shaped her. Looking back on her experiences on and off the set of notable family-friendly films including Matilda, Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Simple Wish, Wilson shares the challenges and joys of growing up in the public eye while enduring the very personal grief of losing her mother to cancer when she was just eight. She describes periods of acting out to assuage her own sadness, as her contentious grandmother stepped in and her hardworking, grief-stricken father grappled with raising a young daughter and her four siblings.

This is going to be short review for a short book. Having read her first book, this really builds upon some of the experiences she talked about previously. I love how brutally honest and raw she is when she talks about not just her acting career, but about the experiences she had as both a grieving child and as a girl/woman navigating the world we live in. Since this is so short, I won't say too much, but I will say that this was extremely powerful and I wish I'd had something like this to read as a teenager to help me navigate the world and feel less alone. Overall, a very impactful and quick read.

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And those are all the books I read in April! I'm pretty happy considering how busy I was with work last month. I also read half of The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington and I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get to the whole trilogy this month, so that's my priority for the coming month instead! How did your April go? Have you read any of the books mentioned above?