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April reading + May releases

May 05, 2025

It’s been a while, and I miss this space, so I’m back!

My reading so far this year has been pretty mediocre, but thankfully I’ve read some great books in the past few weeks, with a lot of good ones coming up.

Tell me, what have you read and loved recently?

What I read in April

(Plus one I read in March)

Thank you to Netgalley, PRH Audio, Simon Audio, Forever, Riverhead Books, Avid Reader Press, Gallery Books, Atria Books, and Viking Books for providing copies in exchange for my honest review.

Say You’ll Remember Me

By Abby Jimenez

Abby Jimenez is one of my favorite romance authors, so I was really looking forward to her newest. Unfortunately, it ended up being a disappointment. I was on board for the first quarter, but it quickly turned into a book I just wanted to finish and be done with. The forced banter, constant pop culture references, and insta-love that teetered into stalker territory gave me the ick. There were moments I enjoyed, but by the halfway point everything felt repetitive, and both characters frustrated me enough that I wanted to throw the book across the room. Abby is still an auto-buy author for me, but this one was my least favorite of hers so far.

Bookshop | LibroFM

Audition

By Katie Kitamura

Audition was my first Katie Kitamura novel, and I truly had no idea what to expect—just that several trusted readers had called it a “brain-melter.” And they weren’t wrong. I thought this would be well outside my usual wheelhouse, but it turns out it might be exactly my kind of book. I already had Intimacies on my shelf, and after seeing Kitamura in person, I picked up A Separation too—I can’t wait to dive into both.

There’s not much I can share without spoiling things, so I’ll just say this: go in knowing as little as possible. I devoured this in under 24 hours because I was hooked from the first page. It left me with nothing but questions—especially “What did I just read?!”—in the best possible way. It won’t be for everyone, but if you love books that mess with your head and leave you unsure what to think, this one’s for you.

Bookshop | LibroFM

We Would Never

By Tova Mirvis

I listened to We Would Never on audio and really enjoyed the narration—it kept me engaged even as the story shifted away from what I expected. What starts out feeling like a psychological thriller gradually becomes a character-driven exploration of a family in quiet crisis. While the writing is solid, the mismatch between how it was marketed and what it actually delivered made it harder for me to stay fully immersed. Still, readers who love layered, introspective family dramas may find a lot to appreciate here.

Bookshop | LibroFM

All three of these books release on May 6, so get your library holds and preorders in now—you’ll want to have them on your TBR.

Home of the American Circus

By Allison Larkin

After putting down a handful of books and finishing a few that left me feeling very meh, I was a bit worried that my reading was broken. And then I picked up Allison Larkin’s newest novel, Home of the American Circus. From the very first page, it had me and I quickly knew it would be a favorite. I devoured it in less than 48 hours—though part of me wishes I had slowed down, because now I’m genuinely sad I can’t read it again for the first time. (Yes, I hugged it when I finished because I wasn’t ready to let go.)

At the center of the story is Freya, a woman whose flaws and vulnerabilities make her feel incredibly human. When she’s forced to return to her hometown after a financial crisis, she comes face to face not just with her past, but with her teenage niece, Aubrey, who’s been secretly living in the crumbling house Freya inherited. What follows is both tender and painful—a quiet, powerful unfolding of connection, trust, and the kind of healing that doesn't happen all at once.

Told in dual timelines, the novel reveals its characters’ histories in a way that feels natural and emotionally resonant. There’s a steady emotional undercurrent that explores what it means to belong, to forgive, and to open yourself up to second chances. It’s a story that embraces the messy, beautiful realities of family—both the one you’re born into and the one you choose.

Allison has a way of creating people you want to be friends with, towns that you wish you could move to, and stories that stick with you. I still think about April from The People We Keep, and I know Freya, Aubrey, Jam, Bee, Eddie, and the rest of this unforgettable cast will stay with me just as long.

Bookshop | LibroFM

My Friends

By Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is one of my all-time favorite authors, and anyone who’s heard me gush about Beartown knows just how high my expectations were going into My Friends. I’ll admit it: for the first half, I worried. The pace was a little slow, it felt overwritten at times, and I found myself wondering if this one would land the way his others have for me.

But Backman has this particular magic—one I really should stop doubting by now. His stories unfold quietly, gradually, until you realize you’ve been completely charmed. And just like that, you care deeply about a cast of characters you didn’t even know you were growing attached to.

Louisa, Ted, Joar, Ali, and the artist—these characters got under my skin in that signature Backman way. The structure is a little meandering at times, and the book could probably have been 50-75 pages shorter, but I ended up feeling everything I hope to feel when I pick up a Backman novel: connection, ache, tenderness, and that gut-punch mix of sorrow and hope that lingers after the final page.

My Friends isn’t Beartown—but that’s okay. It’s quieter, a little slower, and still very much worth reading, especially for fans of his character-driven storytelling. Backman reminds us, once again, that stories about ordinary people are never really ordinary. You just have to give them the space to unfold.

Bookshop | LibroFM

The Names

By Florence Knapp

The Names is a stunning, quietly powerful debut that will stay with me for a long time. It begins with a seemingly simple moment—a young mother, Cora, going to register her newborn son’s name—and unspools into three possible versions of his life, each one shaped by the name she chooses. From that point on, the novel follows the boy and his family at seven-year intervals, showing us how a single decision can echo across decades.

I’ve always loved a “sliding doors” narrative, but what impressed me most here was how balanced and emotionally rich each timeline felt. I didn’t favor one over another—each had its own heartbreaks and triumphs, its own moments that took my breath away. Knapp explores domestic violence, generational trauma, and the complexities of family love and obligation with incredible nuance. There’s so much emotional weight packed into these pages, but it never feels heavy-handed or sentimental.

The characters are so vivid, so fully realized, that I found myself caring deeply about all of them—across every timeline. Knapp writes with a quiet clarity that cuts straight to the heart, and her insights into identity, choice, and what we carry from our families are sharp and resonant.

This is one of those books that makes you sit with yourself after turning the final page. It’s thoughtful, layered, and deeply human. The Names will undoubtedly be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Bookshop | LibroFM

May releases on my radar

May 6

The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei – This is my current print read. I’m only 10% in but am liking it so far.
My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende – I’m currently listening to this on audio and enjoying it. It’s my first Allende and I’m already excited to read more from her.
Set Piece by Lana Schwartz – From the publisher: “For fans of Romantic Comedy and Notting Hill, a second-chance celebrity/normal person romance.” Say less.
The Words of Dr. L by Karen E. Bender – Her previous short story collection, The New Order, was a five-star read for me so I’m eager to read this new collection.

May 13

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein – The publisher calls this “the Parent Trap for adults” and given that was my favorite movie growing up (the original, not the Lindsay Lohan version), this will be on my summer TBR.
32 Days in May by Betty Corrello – Another celebrity/normal person romance where a woman recently diagnosed with Lupus has a fling with a former television star.
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan – Talia Hibbert called this “Ryan’s best work yet” and I trust her recommendation.
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan – This takes place in a flooding San Francisco of the future and Liz Hein (of @lizisreading_) thinks it will be in her best of 2025 stack. Say no more!

May 20

The True Happiness Company by Veena Dinavahi – From the publisher: an “exploration of what it means to lose and reclaim your identity, rethink mental illness, and learn to trust your intuition in a world determined to annihilate it.”
The Second Chance by Charlotte Butterfield – Twenty years ago a psychic predicted she wouldn’t live to see 40. But when she wakes up on her 40th birthday, she has to learn how to seize this second chance at life.

May 27

Consider Yourself Kissed by Jessica Stanley – Annabel Monaghan calls it“a beautiful, harrowing, wild ride through everyday life. A love song to women everywhere.” This is at the top of my TBR.
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan – Speaking of Annabel Monaghan, her three previous books have been big wins for me so I’ll be gobbling this one up very soon.
Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald – It’s the cover that caught my attention but I’m also a sucker for books about books. Beth O’Leary says it’s “the perfect balance of coziness and originality.”

Did any of these pique your interest?

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That’s all for now but I’ll be back soon! In the meantime, comment with what you’ve read and loved recently or what you’re looking forward to reading soon.