I’M GOING SO SLOW this month! I’m still only like halfway through Women of Sand and Myrrh which isn’t bad but I’m not in love with it and it’s moving a lil slow so yeah. That’s the reason I never got around to writing my April Reading List! So we’re going to combine my list for both April and May because I have a quite a few books lined up right now and I’m EXCITED about them.

My book list just keeps getting longer and longer guys… and I’m only trying to read books that fit into my reading challenge so I can get it out of the way and start Game of Thrones, but there are lots of good ones that DON’T fit in there that I really want to read as well so we might get a little side tracked. But you know what, it’s ok because I’ve got my whole life to read all the amazing books out there.

Also, I’m very happy with how I’ve developed as a reader because even just a couple of years ago I was reading all fantasy all the time, and I’ve branched out so much! And sometimes when I go back and read some YA fantasy I find that I’m actually not that into it- unless it’s really really good. With YA fantasy though I think it’s good to take a bit of a break sometimes because after a while the backs of all of the books were starting to sound the same. I’m excited for Game of Thrones though because I do love me some good magic and kingdoms and battles and politics, and I feel like Game of Thrones will definitely deliver all that.

There’s no fantasy on this list again though; we’ve got a mix of adult historical fiction (I also love this genre) and straight up teen fiction. All of these books are highly acclaimed, and I love their descriptions. Two of them fit into my challenge and one of them doesn’t, but I really want to read it so I’m going to read it. I’ll be speedy so I an get back on track, I promise.

Here’s my reading list for April and May!

The Rose Code

I need to read one book that was published in 2021, and this is it. The Rose Code came out in March and is a historical fiction novel that follows three very different women working as code breakers at Bletchley Park in England during World War II. I think it goes on for a while about what happens as they’re breaking codes, and then at the end of the war they’re split up, only to be reunited seven years later by a mysterious letter that has them cracking one last code to find a traitor from their past. This is kind of a thick book- over 500 pages- but I feel like I’ll blast through it because like I said I love historical fiction, and the plot summary sounds super interesting to me! It’s kind of giving me Dear Mrs. Bird vibes, which is another novel set in WWII Britain but without the code breaking. Anyways if you’re into historical fiction definitely give this one and Dear Mrs. Bird a shot!

Thirteen Reasons Why

Next up we’ve got Thirteen Reasons Why, which is the book that was turned into a TV show I need for my challenge. I haven’t watched the series on Netflix but I’ve heard great things, so after I read this I might have to check it out! Clay Jensen returns home one day to find a package full of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, a classmate who has recently committed suicide. Hannah says that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life, and that Clay is one of them. Clay follows Hannah’s tapes as the lead him all throughout the town and lead him to discover things he never knew. It sounds really good, kind of a thriller/mystery, and I’m really excited to get into it!

The Henna Artist

Sadly this is not in my challenge but it’s been on my list for a while so we’re going to get her done! Lakshmi is a seventeen year old girl who escapes an abusive marriage and becomes a henna artist in Jaipur during the 1950s. There is a high demand for her work from the wealthy upper class, and she becomes not only their henna artist but also their confidante. Her husband tracks her down and introduces her to a sister she never knew she had, threatening the cautious life she has led to protect her reputation. This book has great reviews as well, and I love reading books set in interesting places. Can’t wait!

Hop you got a little inspiration from my list! I think i should be finished by the end of May- if not before then- because these look like such great reads. So if I start reading other books I will definitely let you know. Happy reading!

Yours Truly,

Olivia:))