The Second Annual No Quit April!

Honestly, I don’t know the difference or why April is a lucky reading month, but I might try to make this an annual event. Per usual, we have a weird, random, disturbing, and delightful variety of reading material this month.

Total Books: 12
Physical: 5
Audio: 4
Mix: 3
DNF: 0!

Genre: Fiction
Format: Physical
Rating: 4.75/5

By the author of The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise comes a quirky and silly book about marriage and motherhood and getting caught up in a hostage situation that just happens to be the plot of your failed novel. Last month, I complained about books that smothered me in issues and took away the fun. This story still had heart and issues, but it was a dumb, wild ride and FUN….the way I like my issues.

Genre: YA Dystopian
Format: Audio/Physical Mix
Rating: 5/5 (probably overrated but I don’t care.)

Look, I knew I was going to get my heart stomped on, but SERIOUSLY SUZANNE COLLINS. This was horrendous torture while being an amazing addition to the Hunger Games series. I was so mad at The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes because it was a vague ending that lacked enough connection to the originals (for me). Well, BOOM. This book solves everything and connects the books and I need some time to recover from the emotional spiral of this mess. For future readers: Make sure you have read Songbird and Snakes (even though I didn’t like it) and reread Catching Fire. It will be worth it.

Genre: Romance/Fairy Tale Retelling
Format: Audio/Physical Mix
Rating: 2.5/5

The Meant to Be series has given me one favorite (Tangled Up in You) and a whole lot of misses. There were things I loved about this and things that I hated. How do you make the dad character in a Little Mermaid retelling as the irredeemable villain when the band manager “Ursula” is right there?!? Overall, it was fine, but definitely not anything to recommend.

Genre: Memoir
Format: Audio
Rating: 3.75/5

Oof. All the trigger warnings. (Seriously, be careful….several types of abuse in detail mixed with religious trauma) This is a cross between Educated and Counting the Costs. It’s a captivating book but very troubling. I’ve deleted multiple sentences multiple times trying to write commentary/explanations. It’s just….a lot…..and very depressing to remember how easily culture and religion can become weaponized.

Genre: Nonfiction
Format: Audio
Rating: 3/5

In their second book, Sara and Beth continue to provide common sense, optimism, and compassion about the state of the world and overcoming differences. However, even though this book came out in 2022, it already feels dated. I need a new edition called “2025 NOW WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!?? NO, SERIOUSLY, NOW WHAT!?”

Genre: Fiction
Format: Physical
Rating: 3/5

It’s weird and funny and thoughtful and boring. Scalzi says this is loosely grouped together with Starter Villain and The Kaiju Preservation Society, but I did not like this one nearly as much as the others. The short story vibes made pacing a challenge. I laughed out loud and loved the premise, but the random tangents were frustrating. If you need a real CHEESY story, this is it.

Genre: YA Fiction
Format: Physical
Rating: 3/5

I read this with my sixth grader for his reading group. I can sum up my feelings with: “Eh, I’ve read worse…” This is definitely more YA than middle grade, dealing with romantic feelings and the afterlife. A teen dies, discovers that you then age backwards in a second-half-of-your-life situation, and then gets reborn. It was not great and sometimes questionable (spying on Earth and aging backwards are sketchy elements when it comes to relationships/romance), but I didn’t completely hate it.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Physical
Rating: 4.75/5

I hate miscommunication as a romance trope, which is why I loved this book. Ha! They were VERY clear about their feelings toward each other, but they needed to figure out logistics and a heap ton of traumatic family issues to find their happily ever after. Like her other books, Abby Jimenez uses humor and banter to pull you in and then stomps on your heart with stupid feelings. She wrote in a way where I devoured this book in two days and could picture scenes like a movie in my head. How’s that for high praise? I couldn’t give it a full 5 (a couple pet peeves hit me) but it was very, very close.

Genre: Fiction
Format: Audio
Rating: 3/5

What a weird little critics’ darling. On a quest to branch out, I picked up this retelling of Greek mythology from the female perspective. And, ooh, lady, it was weird. Did I almost quit during the God-birthing-a-monster c-section event? Yes. Did I almost quit later during the Goddess-c-sectioning-herself scene? Absolutely. But I didn’t! If you like short stories and a million characters and poetic writing and monsters and murder and no plot but also too much plot, this will be a TREAT. Summary: Lots of people come to an island. Then they leave the island. And then that happens 18,000 more times.

Genre: Memoir-ish Word Art
Format: Audio (the only way to go here)
Rating: 3.25/5

I may not have much experience with drugs, but I have read two Jenny Slate books. I’m pretty sure it’s the same feeling. The second book should be called Jenny 2: Slate Harder. It’s over-the-top and wonderful and bonkers and uncomfortable and a treat but also strange and awful but good. It’s a Jenny Slate book of wordy fun.

Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Format: Physical
Rating: 3.5/5

Even though graphic novels can be just as challenging as chapter books, I normally wouldn’t “count” this toward my reading goal. However, I had an eager 12 year old reading every single word out loud while making sure my eyeballs paid attention to every single illustrated frame. It counts. This was an adorable story with undercover superheroes and lots of cats. What’s not to like?!

Genre: Thriller
Format: Audio/Physical Mix
Rating: 2.25/5

I have come to terms with the fact I need to break up with Freida McFadden books. I’ve tried. I want to like them. But this April Fools’ birthday girl does not like investing hours into a book with nothing to do but await trickery. This was an over-the-top doozy of UGH. Do you remember the scene from The Office where Michael lists all of the pros and cons of being with Jan and sneaks in “I’m unhappy when I’m with her”? Hahahaha. There are many fun things about these stupid twists (and they are fast page-turners), but I’m unhappy when I’m reading them. Bwahaha! (I’m sure I’ll pick one up again someday…)

May is looking promising with a new Emily Henry book, a local visit from Abby Jimenez, and the end of the school year. Go team!!