Books I read (and other media I consumed) in April
April was a slow month for me reading-wise, something I hope to change in May! Part of it is that I didn’t pick up a single audiobook this month, and an audiobook is great for squeezing in a book while driving around, doing chores, etc. Another part of it is that I have done a little (and I do mean a little) more TV/movie time this month, so I only got a few books read for April. Here they are (plus some of the other good stuff I’ve consumed this month)!
Books
The Deal by Elle Kennedy
New adult is not a genre I pick up often, and sporty jock-dude MMCs aren’t characters I tend to enjoy reading about, but this book is definitely a solid read. There’s something very early 2000s romcom about the cocky hockey player and the hard-working, smart artsy girl pairing up and falling in love, and Kennedy’s writing is snappy, sharp, and fun. I think it’s a fun one if you like seeing a lot of banter between the two main characters, and if you’re looking for a story that has emotional depth to it.
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
This is a short and sweet read, coming in at around 250 pages. I appreciate the magical realism element to Serle’s stories, and the questions this book poses. With a life partner, how important is the spark vs. how they look on paper? How would we live our lives differently if we knew the outcome of our actions? And does fate exist?
Bride by Ali Hazelwood (50% through)
I have never read a paranormal romance before, and it’s never been a genre of interest to me—I’m so glad for other people to love it, it’s just not what I seek out. Having enjoyed previous contemporary romance books by Hazelwood, I figured this could be a great foray into paranormal. It did take me a while to get into it, and I can’t say I totally understand the universe in which everything takes place, but I have officially gotten sucked into the story and am enjoying it so far!
Film & TV
Three Body Problem
I’m not going to pretend that I understood everything in this show, but I did have a good time with it. There were a few things that happened that were just…so, so ridiculous I was laughing out loud. But it’s an ambitious story (adapted from a book) and I was able to suspend disbelief, sit back, and have a good time. Do not go into this one expecting much in the way of romance, but it’s a fun ride nonetheless.
The Greatest Hits
I saw some ads for this on my TikTok FYP and the storyline sounded similar to one of my favorite books of all time, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver, so I had to check it out. It’s definitely a tearjerker—the main character was in an accident with her boyfriend at the time two years prior, and he passes away as a result. The film is about her letting go of her grief and choosing to move on. The ending left me a little unsatisfied—the whole film felt like a metaphor for grief, but the last few minutes seemed to kind of undo a lot of the messaging—but it was worth it for the chemistry between the two leads. They were adorable together!
Shōgun
I just started this show over the weekend and am over halfway through! It’s interesting—dark and pretty gory which I don’t mind, considering the subject matter, but I do wish we got more of a peek at the women’s stories. While their roles in society at this time were quite different, I think it’s quite lazy filmmaking to keep them relegated to minor characters, save for one female character who is a love interest. This does improve as the series goes on, but for much of the series I’ve been wondering why the women have not been treated as fully formed human beings with their own lives! Regardless, it makes me feel like I’m playing Ghost of Tsushima again on the Playstation, so I’ll be finishing the series (which, by the way, is also based on a book).