Your Next Read | April 2023

Here’s everything I read in April. I’m including a note in each summary that says CW (content warning). This will note any themes that may be triggering or people may be sensitive to.

The Lost Apothecary

We read this for our school book club, and we all loved it. This is author Sarah Penner’s debut novel – her second book was just released in March (The London Seance Society). Nella is a mysterious 18th century apothecary owner who sells poisons for women to use on the oppressive men in their lives. But her fate changes when a twelve year old girl walks into her shop and makes a mistake.

In present-day London, Caroline stumbles across a piece of history that leads to her investigating a string of murders that occurred two hundred years ago. Could this be what she needs to change the course of her life?

CW: child sexual assault, abusive relationship, suicide, pregnancy & miscarriage, murder, poisoning

The Writing Retreat

This book was twisty and wild. It’s a little sexually charged, so if that’s not your thing then I wouldn’t recommend it.

Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement. When the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate. 

CW: Murder, alcohol, drugs, kidnapping, abuse, homophobia, gun violence, demons, occult, racism

The Lions of Fifth Avenue

This piece of historical fiction, written by Fiona Davis, takes you to New York in another time. I love books that reveal an interesting aspect of life at a certain point in history, and this one did that!

In 1913, Laura Lyons’s husband becomes the superintendent for the New York Public Library. The job comes with an apartment inside of the palatial library building, where they reside with their children. But Laura wants more, so she applies to the Columbia School of Journalism. There, a new world is completely opened up to her. She makes the company of progressive, bohemian women, and begins to question her traditional role as wife and mother. But when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and institution she loves, she’s forced to confront her shifting priorities head on.

Eighty years later, Sadie Donovan has been named the curator for the Berg Collection, the New York Public Library’s famous collection. But when things start disappearing from the collection, Sadie’s connection to Laura Lyons jeopardizes everything she’s worked for.

CW: suicide, violence against a child, homophobia

I’ll Stop the World

A coming of age story that involves time travel and life in a small town. I enjoyed this book but it did feel a little young for me.

Justin Warren has had his life defined by the suspicious deaths of his grandparents. The unsolved crime happened long before Justin was born, but the ripple effects are still felt after thirty-eight years. In a strange twist of fate, Justin’s choices send him crashing into the path of determined optimist Rose Yin. Justin and Rose live in the same town and attend the same school, but have never met―because Rose lives in 1985. Justin won’t be born for another twenty years. And his grandparents are still alive―for now.

In a series of events that cross through multiple lifetimes, Justin and Rose have a week to get Justin unstuck in time and put each of them in control of their futures―by solving a murder that hasn’t even happened yet.

CW: depictions of emotional abuse, alcoholism and excessive drinking, underage drinking, smoking, racism, discussions of homophobia, and violent bullying.

Happy Place

I’ve loved all of Emily Henry’s books – they’re easy, fun reads. Perfect for the beach or when you need something with a happy ending.

Harriet and Wyn have been the perfect couple since they met in college. Until now. They broke up five months ago, but they still haven’t told their best friends. Which is how they end up sharing a bedroom at the Maine cottage where they have stayed every year for the last decade.

This year, they have to lie their way through the week, pretending they are still together – while desperately trying to ignore how much they actually want each other. After years of being in love, how hard can it be to fake it for a week?

CW: depression, drug use, homophobia, sex, death of parents

Hope this helps you find your next read!

xoxo