I covered my audiobook wrap-up in another post, so here’s a review of the books I read with my eyes. 😉 It was a very good month!

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Likely to be one of my favorite reads of 2025, Yellowface looks at racism, stereotypes, social media, and power under the guise of the publishing world. Juniper Song is a deeply unlikeable main character who rationalizes every unethical action and tells the story of how far she was willing to go for a few weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. This is a mind-bending look at social media’s dark side with an aptly critical lens on whitewashing in book publishing. My full review post is here. Five stars.

Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin studies happiness, habits, human nature, and creativity. I’ve been a fan of her work since reading The Happiness Project well-over a decade ago. Her new book, Secrets of Adulthood, is full of aphorisms: concise statements of principles similar to proverbs that can be attributed to a person. I love quotes that make me think, so my copy is tabbed and highlighted to the max. Five stars.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

I love a dark academia book. For Your Own Good hit all the marks for that and added in some twisty moments. Teddy Crutcher is immensely proud of his Teacher of the Year Award, but he’s more determined to set up his students for success at their elite private school and for the future. Is he a constant source of wisdom and support? I wouldn’t say so. His methods are darker and what only he deems as for their own good. With great points of view from a variety of characters, this book was a bingeable thriller for me. Five stars.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

TJ Klune continues to uphold his reputation of a strong voice, immense creativity, and memorable characters in The Bones Beneath My Skin, which is ultimately a story of found family, second chances, and humanity. When Nate Cartwright tries to escape to the remote family cabin in the Oregon woods, he plans on licking his wounds and re-setting himself for the future. What he didn’t expect were two strangers who’ve already invaded the cabin and greet him with a gun to his head. Nate, who is conflicted in the loss of his parents and embarrassed by how he ruined his journalism career, complies with Alex, the man with a gun and few words, and Artemis Darth Vader, the girl who Nate soon learns is more than what she appears to be. The three are thrown on an adventure quickly, one that will forever change them. This is a slow read but with action and endearments throughout. Read my full review here. Five stars.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

January Andrews did not expect this version of her life story: her dad died last year, she’s grappling with the discovery of his second life in Michigan, her long-term boyfriend left, and she’s lost any hope of writing another rom-com novel. Add to that, her new next door neighbor is literary favorite—and her former college crush—Augustus “Gus” Everett. When the two meet up and banter about the value of their writing genres, a competition is set, and so is an inevitable romance. This was a slow burn, but high-quality romance story with a great couple and entertaining side characters. Four stars.

Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

I enjoyed the story of Xavier and Samantha, but it was more heavy-handed than other Abby Jimenez books that I’ve loved. The theme of memory was nearly too much, almost like an allegory hitting me over the head. And the angst of the two lovers being kept apart? I got it. I really did. However, 275 pages of it was enough. Still, both Xavier and Samantha are adorable, and I was satisfied with the ending. My full review is here. Four stars.

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

While I wasn’t a One Tree Hill fan when it was on the WB, I plan on binge-watching the series soon because of Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir. But OTH is really the backdrop for her story, which centers on her affiliation with an unnamed cult in Idaho. Her initiation starts as she’s beginning her Hollywood career and seeking solace in a Bible study that is soon overtaken by a man who seems to have good intentions, but is really a grifter and a cult leader. Lenz details her conflicting lives between Hollywood and Idaho, ultimately choosing safety for her daughter above all else. This was a good look at how cults excel at brainwashing and gaslighting, and I appreciated Lenz’s honest writing, although it sometimes lacked in style. You can find my full review here. Four stars.

Have you read any of these? What was your favorite book in April?