April was a slightly quieter reading month for me, but still a really enjoyable one. I finished seven books and read a total of 1,985 pages, which I’m really happy with considering how busy life has felt.
I had a nice mix of genres again this month — a bit of thriller, some romance, a touch of gothic and a few more reflective reads — which kept things feeling varied and interesting.
This month didn’t bring any five-star reads, which is always a little disappointing, but I still found plenty to enjoy. And I had some very strong 4 star reads that only lost the extra star for minor reasons, and this is purely my opinion obviously.
Shelter Mountain – Robyn Carr
Part of the Virgin River series, this story follows John “Preacher” Middleton as he steps in to help a woman and her young son escape a dangerous situation. Set in a small, close-knit town, it blends romance with heavier themes as trust slowly builds and a sense of safety begins to form.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Small-town romance
- Protective hero
- Woman on the run
- Found family
- Healing journey
My thoughts: 4/5 Stars
This is the second in the Virgin River series of books. I am a big fan of the TV series so thought I would start the books, but they are very different to the series. This was hard to deal with at first, but now just treat them as stand alone books rather than related to the series. I really enjoy the small town life, how the characters all care for each other, become a family. The main characters are really likeable and you route for them to find happiness. This one deals with baby loss and domestic violence, so is heavy in parts.
Burn our Bodies Down – Rory Power
Margot has always known very little about her family, so when she tracks down her estranged grandmother, she hopes for answers. Instead, she finds herself in a rural town filled with unsettling secrets, where something isn’t quite right — and the truth may be far more disturbing than she expected.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Small-town secrets
- Family mystery
- Coming-of-age
- Gothic horror
- Identity & belonging
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
This is a bit of a strange one, I thought it was going to be more of a family drama/murder mystery, but it took a much darker almost supernatural turn. I enjoyed the strange lives and difficult relationships between the characters. The build up to the revelation of the past was really well done and overall really enjoyable.
The Girls Weekend – M.I. Hattersley
>>>>>>>>>>>>A group of women head away for what should be a relaxing weekend break, but tensions quickly begin to surface. As secrets, past issues and hidden dynamics come to light, the trip takes a darker turn, and it becomes clear that not everyone can be trusted.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Friends getaway
- Hidden secrets
- Group tension
- Domestic thriller
- Unreliable characters
My thoughts: 3/5 stars
This was a book club pick of the month. A typical thriller in a creepy isolated location, where you spend half the time wondering why the characters do stupid things and put themselves in danger! I did enjoy the overall idea, but I found it very predictable and I didn’t warm to any of the characters. Part of me wishes it had actually been a little darker, I think the author could have pushed it further and it would have been better.
Heart the Lover – Lily King
This short story follows a young woman navigating desire, connection and emotional uncertainty in her relationships. As she reflects on love and longing, it captures those quiet, in-between moments where nothing is fully defined, but everything feels significant.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Coming-of-age
- Emotional introspection
- Complicated relationships
- Desire & longing
- Open-ended narrative
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
This is actually a lovely but sad story. I found the writing a little blunt in places, but the emotional push and pull between the characters. The want to be with each other, but not being willing to commit or sacrifice for love ultimately leads to a bittersweet end. How the echoes of a first love can stay with you throughout your life, and shape the person you become.
Little Wing – Freya North
Spanning decades from the 1960s through to the present day, this story follows three interconnected lives shaped by love, choices and the pull of place. As their timelines gradually unfold and overlap, secrets, relationships and past decisions begin to surface, revealing how deeply their lives are entwined.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Dual timeline
- Interwoven lives
- Love & loss
- Past resurfaces
- Emotional family saga
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
This was a book club pick and was a really lovely read. The crossing of storylines across 3 time periods and how the characters lives connect. It’s a bittersweet ending in a way, but beautifully written, and seemed just right for the way the story went. I really loved the characters of Florence and Nell (I wish we had had a little more of Florence actually) and the descriptions of the Scottish highlands.
Daisy Darker – Alice Feeney
>>>>>>>>>>>>Daisy returns to her grandmother’s gothic seaside house for a family gathering, but as the tide cuts them off from the mainland, the evening takes a deadly turn. One by one, secrets unravel and tensions rise, as it becomes clear someone in the family has a plan.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Locked-room mystery
- Isolated setting
- Family secrets
- Unreliable narrator
- Twist ending
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
I loved this one!! Having now read a few books by Alice Feeney, I think she is a strong writer and has a way about building to her twists. I did not see this one coming, even though in hindsight there were a number of hints to it, at least in part. I loved how this story came together, my only criticism is that characters kept going off on their own when they already suspected a murderer in the house! It’s a typical horror movie trope, when you yell at the screen for the girl not to go out in the woods on her own, haha!
The Housemaid – Freida McFadden
A woman takes a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy family, hoping for a fresh start. But the house, the rules, and the people inside it quickly begin to feel unsettling. As secrets unravel, she realises she may have stepped into something far more dangerous than she expected.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Unreliable narrator
- Domestic thriller
- Hidden secrets
- Power imbalance
- Twist ending
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
So many people rave about Freida McFadden books, and I had yet to read one, so thought I would start with this one. And I really enjoyed it! I felt that the twist to the story was kind of predictable but that didn’t take away from the story itself. I can’t say that I liked Millie as a character really but I do love that she stood up for herself in the end. And I think I am intrigued enough to carry on reading some of the other books in this series.