With these reading wrap-ups I won’t include major spoilers, but it will include my general feelings towards the read, common knowledge about the book, and common tropes and themes within the book so if any of these qualify as spoilers for you then stop here! As always check books for any potential triggers you may have because I will quite literally read ANYTHING.
My April reading was brought to you by Elle Kennedy and Audible because my ADHD can’t comprehend that I’ve officially completed my bachelor’s degree so that means my free time has been spent reorganizing my house while listening to audiobooks. It’s a phase it’ll pass but until then we’re just vibing! I’ve also traded my hockey romance obsession for my ACOTAR obsession so expect to see a post with my wild SJM theories coming soon.
The Goal By Elle Kennedy
I’ve truly loved every single book in the Off-Campus series but if I had to pick a least favorite it would be this one. Again let me emphasize that I loved and enjoyed all of these books! While I appreciated Sabrina’s dedication and understood her motivations my heart hurt for Tucker throughout this book so badly. That being said John Tucker has the patience and support that we all truly deserve from our partners. He always seems to know when to push and when to take a step back for Sabrina. This is another one if you’re not into a pregnancy trope you might want to skip and it’s 100% a slow-burn romance.
The Chase By Elle Kennedy
The moment that Colin Fitzgerald was mentioned in the Off-Campus series I steamrolled my way through so I could start the Briar U series to read his story. I mean he’s a fully tattooed hockey player and also a closeted nerd how could I possibly resist that trifecta? He’s this perfect combo of alpha male and nerd that just works beautifully but I might be even more in love with Summer. She’s this stunning girl that struggles with severe ADHD and I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character more than her. It was so validating to read about her struggles with school and education because while my own struggles with ADHD aren’t identical I instantly connected with her frustration. It’s hard when you try your hardest but your brain holds you back and watching her and Fitz help each other with their own struggles was everything I had hoped for and more.
The Risk By Elle Kennedy
This was another one I was immediately looking forward to when the characters interacted previously in The Chase. Brenna is a girl after my own heart and truly who I want to be when I grow up. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and doesn’t let the fact that she’s attempting to work in a male-dominated industry intimidate her. I love a good forbidden romance and with Brenna being the hockey coach for Briar and Jake being the start of a rival team this is about as forbidden as hockey romance gets! I’m a sucker for tension and I felt the tension between these two in the book that wasn’t even about them so when I tell you their story brings ALL of the tension I mean it. They’re hot and spicy and absolutely swoon-worthy!
The Play By Elle Kennedy
I really loved this one because it was really Demi who was doing the pursuing rather than the typical hockey player pursuing the girl vibe you usually get and that was a refreshing switch-up! I loved watching Hunter slowly open up to her while she pushed him just enough to help him work past his own guilt and insecurities that were preventing them from being together. I do want to warn you that there is a s*icide attempt by a side character so if that is something that is triggering for you this might be one you want to skip!
No Fear Shakespeare: Othello By William Shakespeare
I’m not gonna lie this was a read for school and I’ve probably read Othello twenty times or more throughout my time in school. I’m an absolute Shakespeare nutcase and will always love an opportunity to analyze his writings. I’m an English major so I guess it’s a symptom of that! I know most aren’t seeking out Shakespeare by choice but I do HIGHLY recommend these No Fear Shakespeare books for any reason you have to read Shakespeare! It has the modern translation right beside the Shakespeare version and makes analysis and understanding an absolute breeze. SparkNotes really did it with this one!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire By J.K. Rowling
I am one of the few people who made it to age 27 without reading the Harry Potter series. I mean I completely avoided it and don’t know a single spoiling event and I’ve never seen the movies, but I’ve been watching those as I’ve finished each book. I’m not sure why I avoided them so hard but I did. I absolutely love it (I know shocker). It’s so fun trying to figure out who the ‘ultimate’ bad guy is in each book and I admire the writing and planning that had to go into this series so much. It’s truly a work of art and has already become an obsession.
Butcher & Blackbird By Brynne Weaver
I read this one a while back and this was my first audiobook for the year! I can’t rave enough about this book and Brynne is an idol of mine I literally cannot wait until the second book comes out! I loved that this book utilized a male and female reader for the characters because this is what takes audiobooks to the next level for me. It’s a whole new experience. If you’re nervous but curious about dark romance definitely check this one out as it would be considered more of a dark rom-com in my opinion. It’s got the elements of dark romance without being too heavy and would be a great intro into the sub-genre!
A Court of Thorns and Roses By Sarah J. Maas
Speaking of new experiences if you’re like me and sad that you can’t re-read ACOTAR for the first time again you need to check out the Graphic Audio versions (they’re included with an Audible subscription until 5/31 so jump on that) because I have gotten all the first time read feels over again. I have laughed, cried, swooned, cringed, and felt all of the emotions listening to this series in this format. It’s just incredible. I hold this series dear to my heart because it’s what got me back into reading after years of not picking up a book and ultimately it’s what set me on my path back to my own writing. This series will always mean the world to me and SJM will always be one of my favorite authors. I know some say ACOTAR is overhyped but you’ll never hear that from me I think it deserves every ounce of hype it’s gotten and if you haven’t checked it out you need to get on that like now. Do it. Read it now. Please.
What did you read in April? Have you read/listened to any of these? Please keep the comments free of spoilers or warn that you’re going to include spoilers!
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