April 2024 Book Releases
an ode to librarians and booksellers, two stellar memoirs, a delicious thrilling trip to Sicily, the final book in a very favorite series and two luscious historical romances
Hello readers! Today’s newsletter brings an ode to amazing friends and music, and then April 2024 Book Releases!
Sometimes, as a 40+ mom of three with a full-time job and pretty intense solitude + sleep needs, I get bummed about the fact that there’s really just not enough time with friends. I mean, there’s TIME, but any time that’s not at work, driving someone somewhere, watching someone do a thing, or doing errands, is precious time at home and there’s just not enough time on TOP of all of that, you know? But then I had the most delightful week so full of friend things and remembered that friends can be combined with other things and making plans with friends is almost as fun as actually being with them!
Here’s to the decades-long friend who came to the 6th grader’s musical with me last Friday and volunteered to be that kid’s VIP for VIP day at school, and the friend who said, “Hell yeah, we’re going!” to an amazing concert opportunity (it’s an investment in our FUTURE and yes I get to go to Red Rocks twice in a month and my bucket list item will be officially be doubly-checked-off ), and of course, that lifetime friend who I got to visit with in her hometown for an amazing 5 hours yesterday (above left). There are also the friends I texted with about books and podcasts all week and they’re precious too!
I may not get to see them all very often for casual hanging out, but I’m so grateful to have people I can text before dawn about that amazing album and virtually spend lunch hours with trying to score concert tickets and just in general have in my sphere. I hope you all have a YES friend and a lifetime friend and a book friend and a music friend and a walk friend and a kid friend and so on! And I didn’t intend this to turn into a book recommendation, but speaking of types of friends, you really need to read The Life Council by Laura Tremaine …….
Before we move on, have you listened yet?
April 2024 Book Releases
Oh, it’s my favorite time of year ~ spring means warmer weather and also the start of the flood of many of the beachy, wedding-themed, and lighter releases for the year! I’m sure you’ve noticed that all the books with “summer” and “wedding” in the title (and those featuring summery stories) start coming out in April and May and continue through July ~ then the heavier, fall reads start coming out in August. Those books are wonderful too, but spring and summer are my happiest release seasons. I’m trying really hard not to read many of these delicious books in the next few months because I want them for poolside reading and to listen to on my long, long summer morning walks with the pups.
My April Release Recommendations
The April 2024 releases that I dove into early include an ode to librarians and booksellers, two stellar memoirs, a delicious thrilling trip to Sicily, the final book in a very favorite series and two luscious historical romance. Like I said above, I’m saving the summery stuff for well, SUMMER!
Paid subscribers: Don’t forget to grab your monthly release download! These downloads are my monthly gift to readers who support this newsletter via a paid subscription. The download also includes this month’s releases I didn’t read yet, but am highly anticipating!
The titles I have already read and recommend for this month are:
The Wives by Simone Gorrindo ~ an exceptionally powerful memoir about the life of a military wife | read my full review | April 9
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians: True Stories of the Magic of Reading by James Patterson and Matt Eversmann ~ a delightful collection of short essays by booksellers and librarians from throughout the United States | read my full review | April 8
The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch ~ a gorgeous memoir about starting and running a cooking school in Paris | read my full review | April 9
The Sicilian Inheritance by
~ a juicy and suspenseful dual timeline story set in Sicily | read my full review | April 2Only and Forever by Chloe Liese (Bergman Brothers #7) ~ the perfect and poignant final book in one of my very favorite romance series | read my full review | April 2
The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour ~ a unique and spicy friends-to-lovers historical romance with a very independent heroine | read my full review | April 2
The Stranger I Wed (The Doves of New York #1) by Harper St. George ~ a delicious and delightfully to-the-point marriage of convenience historical romance | read my full review | April 23
I did also have one highly anticipated read not meet my expectations ~ you can read my full review for my thoughts.
Have you read any of these books? Have any of them on your TBR? Let me know!
And don’t forget that these great March reads are all available now!
If you liked this post and want to support my work, please consider sharing this edition of my newsletter with your reading friends, buy me a coffee, or upgrade your subscription to paid! Just sharing is a huge help, though ~ thank you ☺️
Thanks for reading,
I love to hear from readers, so please do reach out to me with questions or feedback at mindfullibrarian@substack.com . If we aren’t already connected on Goodreads, I would love to see you there as well!
I’m looking forward to reading The French Ingredient in a few months when I can piggyback it with The Paris Novel (Ruth Reichl)!
"pretty intense solitude+sleep needs" is one of the most profound statements I've read in a while. Solitude is not downtime, not "me" time, not self care time. It is true and deep rest for the mind and soul. I value and crave it constantly. Thank you for putting those words together!