Confession time: I didn’t do so well with my March TBR, BUT I have excuses good reasons. I blame this on the fact that many of the library books I requested for my upcoming book festivals started coming in… My hands were tied. Not to mention that one of the SOKY book festival authors, Cinda Chima, canceled and will no longer be attending the festival, so I had to jump ship on the book I planned on reading (The Demon King) to make time for other reads… Nothing personal Cinda Chima, but if you can no longer come to the festival, your book gets put on hold. These are all legit excuses right? (The correct response is “right!”)
Anyways! Since most of my April TBR will be books for my upcoming festivals, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that the majority of these books WILL get read.
Let’s see what’s on the agenda for April shall we?
*Book titles link to Goodreads
Ohioana Book Fest TBR:
The Ohioana Book Fest takes place in Columbus Ohio on Saturday April 8th. I haven’t really read many of the books by confirmed authors because either I’ve already read them, they don’t interest me, or they are not available at my library. The books below were available at my library, so I decided to go ahead and attempt to read them this week.
» Every Single Second by Tricia Springstubb
» The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall
» Fates and Traitors: A Novel of John Wilkes Booth by Jennifer Chiaverini
Reading 3 books this week may be a little ambitious, but Every Single Second and The Seventh Most Important Thing are both middle grade books, so at the very least I can get them read and start Fates and Traitors. Plus this week is spring break for my kids, so I’ll have more time in the evenings that I normal spend running my kids around to their extracurricular activities.
I am very interested in Fate and Traitors. For one, just look at that stunning cover? Cover aside, you all know historical fiction is my jam. I actually read a HF book about John Wilkes Booth in 2016 called Hanging Mary, but it came up a little short for me. You can read my review here → Book Review: Hanging Mary by Susan Higginbotham. I have high hopes for Fates and Traitors.
SOKY Book Fest TBR:
I will be attending the SOKY Book Fest that takes place in Bowling Green KY on Friday April 21st – Saturday 22nd. In order to prepare for this event, I will be adding books by confirmed authors to my monthly TBRs until the event.
» Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
»The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron
» Pillage by Obert Skye
After I complete my Ohioana Book Fest TBR, I will have two weeks to get through these books before the SOKY Book Fest on April 22nd.
April Book Club Selection:
» Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Not going to lie. When someone suggested this book as our April book of the month, I jumped right on it and threatened gentled encouraged the other members in my book club to pick it. Why? I was approved for an ARC via NetGalley. Two birds with one stone 🙂
Blogging for Books:
» The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel
I was lucky enough to receive The Roanoke Girls through Blogging for Books this past month. This is a long shot, but I would like to get it read in April. Will it happen? Eh probably not, but here’s to wishful thinking.
Which books are you planning on reading in April?
Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think?
Comment below and let me know
I love the sound of these! I will be looking forward to your thoughts on them. 🙂
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Well I already got two down! I’m on a roll 😉 I’ll keep you posted!
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I seriously need to get up-to-date on festivals around here! I need a passive tri-state event list.
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Right?! I really have to search for book events because I don’t think they get the marketing they deserve. I think I told you that Cincinnati has a great book festival in October called “Books by the Banks”? It was AMAZING last year!
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Yes you did! I will have to go this year!
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I was thinking about Before the fall earlier today! I am desperately trying to get my reading schedules and Library Card a bit more organised. And that book has been on my list for ones I REALLY REALLY want to read now. Soon. Hope you will get all your reading done this month!
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Thank you! While I am happy when a book I requested coming in at the library, it also throws my whole reading month off schedule lol It’s a love-hate thing I guess.
I’m very excited about Before the Fall! I will be reading it towards the end of the month because our book club meeting isn’t until the last week of April. I’ve heard it’s a wonderful book club read!
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Lots of good picks for your April TBR! I’m not very good with handling a monthly TBR, but The Hate U Give for Angie Thomas is my top read to get to for this month! I can’t wait! I feel like I’m falling behind on all of the new releases, so I’m trying to read them one at a time. 😦
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Oh man. The Hate U Give is sitting on my bookcase right now and I want to read it so bad! It probably won’t happen until after these festivals though 😭 Can’t wait to see what you think of it!
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All of your book choices have such beautiful covers! 🙂
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Right? The covers may or may not have influenced my decision a tiny bit 😇
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Good review but I didn’t really care for “The Roanoke Girls” always fun to read different views on the same book. If interested here is my review: https://books6259.wordpress.com/2017/01/28/the-roanoke-girls-by-amy-engel/
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I’ve seen some pretty mixed reviews for it! We shall see how it goes for me… thanks for the link, I’ll check it out!
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Oh I hope you get to read the Roanoke Girls! I am dying to see your thoughts. I really enjoyed it!
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That stinks that Cinda Chima cancelled! Ah, well, I guess. I’m still going to try to come to the event in Bowling Green. I actually read Before the Fall last year. It was the BOM for one of my Goodreads groups, and I wasn’t a huge fan of it. It wasn’t terrible, either. I rated it three stars, which is ok, I guess 😉 I can’t wait to see what you think about The Roanoke Girls! I’ve been wanting to read that one!
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I was so bummed she canceled 😭 It sucks!
I hope I enjoy Before the Fall a little more. Was it at least a good book club selection? I like books that spark lots of discussion…
I’m going to really try and get to TRG this month! Wish me luck 🤞🏻
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Yeah, I think it worked pretty well for the book club, as far as discussion-wise. It just wasn’t for me, really. Hope you like it, though!! And your book club peeps, too! 🙂
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I’ve not read any of them, but I look forward to reading your thoughts!
I don’t plant a monthly TBR – too much of a mood reader and I’m often at the whim of my library holds! But I have a loose idea of what I’ll be reading a week or two ahead of time, based on what I’ve got checked out and things I own. I recently bought both The Hate U Give and American Street, so I hope to read those soon!
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Those are both on my TBR and I already own a copy of The Hate U Give! Can’t wait to see what you think!
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I’m curious about your thoughts about Before the fall. I think my issue is that I expected something way different. It’s not a thriller or a mystery, keep that in mind. If I had known that, I think I would’ve liked it more
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Isn’t it a survival story?! I don’t exactly have any expectations with it, so hopefully I will enjoy it a little more.
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You will! Sure! Maybe I dont know what a survival story is exactly 😂😂😂
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Like where a person or group is thrown into a situation where they have to “survive” like people who get stranded on a island?
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Haha then it’s definitely not a survival story. Maybe the first 5% 😛
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I have heard Commonwealth is amazing. The title Fates and Traitors reminds me so much of Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
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I seriously love these posts, the ones where you’re getting ready to go to a festival and have X amount of books to read & you get it DONE! I seriously admire you my friend 😉 Commonwealth caught my attention a bit & I had totally forgotten about it, ty for bringing it back to my attention. LOL @ Before the Fall smh that Netgalley ratio can benefit from that pick haha! I’ll be on the lookout for your thoughts, bought this one for $5 @ B&N last year. Roanoke Girls was dark & the writing on point! Hope you have fun @ the festivals 🙂
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Book festival sounds super fun! I have 2 books to read before the con I’m going to at the end of the month luckily I’ve read the other Authors that will be there but I’ll need to buy some of there books in physical form coz I want to get them signed 😀 Hope you have an awesome time at the festivals!
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So at some festivals here you are allowed to bring in your own books, but at others you have to purchase all books you want signed through the festival. Unfortunately both my festivals this month I have to purchase the books at the festival… while I’m happy to support the festival, I hate paying full price for books I can get off Amazon for much cheaper 😭
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REALLY! We have book signings/launches where its suggested you buy the book but it’s always a new release so it’s not that bad but to HAVE to buy the book is a bit rough! I mean your going to a festival to get things signed by an author, its assumed you’ve read and brought a book to be signed! I mean what if you have a fancy first edition or something?
Paying full price (sometimes more at a festival) has got to suck!
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It does stink. Especially since I do own some of the books I want to get signed 😭 But what are you going to do? NOT getting my favorite books signed isn’t an option lol
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hahahah that is definitely not an option! It’s still sucky though but it’s not the Authors fault I’m sure it’s just festival regulations 😦
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I loooved the cover for every single second!! I admit I don’t know any of the books listed on yout TBR, so I can’t wait to read your reviews, Amanda!! *–* I bet you’ll do more than wonderful this month and you kicked ass in March!!!
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Historical fiction is my jam too! Hahaha. This is a GREAT list of recommendations. Thank you! A really awesome historical fiction series that I recently got into is called the Empire Baron series and the first book is “Robbing the Pillars” by Kalen Vaughan Johnson
(http://kalenvaughanjohnson.com/). The book follows a Scottish family that moves to California during the gold rush in hopes of wealth and a better life (not to mention the father is fleeing from the law!). I like it because the book focuses on this family and their hopes and dreams but also gives a real feel for the greed and corruption during this time period and it shows what the poor miners were faced with; it was such a dangerous job! It is a fantastic book and I can’t wait to see what else this series has to offer. Would love to know what you think. Happy Reading!
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Thank you for the recommendation! I’ve never heard of Robbing the Pillars, but from what I see on Goodreads, it’s a new release?
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Hi Amanda,
Yes, it came out in February! I am not sure when the next book in the series comes out but I can’t wait.
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I would love to read more of Kristy Cambron’s books–The Illusionist’s Apprentice sounds so good! Looking forward to your review. And hearing more about the awesome book festivals you are attending this month!
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