April Tales

What have you been reading lately, friends? Here’s my list…

–Marissa

Magpie by Elizabeth Day is a subtle psychological thriller, and I’m not sure how to even summarize it without giving away the massive twist that comes midway through the book and turns everything on its head! In short, Jake and Marisa have moved in together in London, and lodger Kate lives there as well… but all is not as it seems when Jake and Marisa get pregnant. I wish the novel had galloped along after the twist, but otherwise, this was a well-written, slow burn character-driven novel.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley is the follow-up to her fantastic The Guest List… but it just wasn’t nearly as good.😕 The sister of journalist Ben has arrived in Paris to stay with him, but when she arrives he has mysteriously disappeared and nothing is as it seems in his luxe apartment building. This wasn’t… bad, it just wasn’t great, and was kinda…. boring at times? I listened to this at 2X speed, and that was good enough for me!

Meant to Be by Emily Giffin is a very thinly veiled reimagining of the romance of John Jr. and Carolyn Bessette with fictionalized characters and while some readers loved it, I thought it was such a SNORE. I don’t need pages of what ring she might like. I don’t need to know every outfit they wore. I’m not invested in their romance at all. This novel took me days to finish because I had to force myself to pick it up. It felt like a rambling YA novel instead of a polished romance novel. Not for me.

Book Lovers by Emily Henry is, I think, my favorite novel of hers so far, which is saying something because I loved them all ooooodles! This one, though, I read so slowly, dragging it out because I literally didn’t want it to end! A small town, a must-do list of two sisters who go on vacation together for a month, and legit the best, zingiest, funniest one-liners and flirting I’ve ever seen in a book between straight laced book agent Nora and complicated book editor Charlie. I smiled every time they interacted – I ship this couple and this novel so much! A must read for romance readers!

The Club by Ellery Lloyd (a Reese Book Club pick) was just good fun if not the most earth-shattering. This suspense novel begins with dead bodies, but we don’t know who or how as this book unfolds during a three-day launch party for the newest ‘Home’, a luxurious club only for the very rich and very famous that have locations all over the world. It was fun to try and figure out who the described celebrity might be “in real life”, and I love a good peek-behind-the-curtain tale. A fun listen!

The No-Show by Beth O’Leary is her follow-up to The Road Trip, which was just a hoot and a treat to read. While still full of heart, this romance definitely has more of a melancholy pall throughout (no spoilers, though!), but the writing is still propulsive and engaging. Three women have all been stood up on Valentine’s Day by the same man, but can they forgive him and move on? This had twists I didn’t see coming, and I enjoyed it (though her lighter fare is my fave)!

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith is a novel I couldn’t have read a decade ago, but am so glad I can read now. Greta – a famous indie rocker – has just lost her mother and her grief is overwhelming. When her brother forces her to join her father on the Alaskan cruise Greta’s parents were going to take for their fortieth anniversary, things get complicated. This has grief, tough relationships with fathers, a romance, amazing Alaskan views, great supporting characters, and so much heart. I loved listening to this story!