ShortBookandScribes April 2025 Reads, Book Post and Stats
Hello May, goodbye April! Glorious sunshine here in Sheffield at the moment although I am not the biggest fan of this kind of weather.
I don’t think I’ve watched anything particularly outstanding this month. I enjoyed The Feud on Channel 5 but it was a bit farcical so it made me laugh quite a bit. I’ve just started watching the second series of Annika on U – Nicola Walker always puts on a good show.
In terms of reading, I’ve managed seven again this month. I think I have to come to terms with the fact that I am a complete snail these days.
Here’s what I read in April:
The Death of Us by Abigail Dean
An intelligent and thought-provoking story of a couple and their relationship before and after a shocking and terrible attack.
A lovely story about Lily whose childhood traumas have affected her adult life, her friendship with Inga, and her relationship with Alex. Emotional and ultimately uplifting.
An intriguing and amusing book about a refugee lawyer who wants to make a difference. He tries to highlight the problems in the system by claiming asylum in his own country.
Helen Matthews has become a favourite of mine. I really enjoyed this story of Imogen and Rachel and a lifetime of rivalry and jealousy.
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
A character study of four siblings and their rose-tinted view of their artist father. I enjoyed this intricate examination of a dysfunctional family which demonstrated that all is not always as it seems.
The Black Pearl by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Book five of what has quickly become my favourite series of books. We see all that happens in Yorkshire at Morland Place along with following Annunciata to the court of King Charles II.
The Long Shadow by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Book six of this brilliant series. Annunciata, again takes centre stage amidst political and royal intrigue and family drama at home with the Morlands. The Long Shadow is set towards the end of the reign of Charles II and the beginning of the reign of James II.
Book post received this month with thanks to the named publishers:
The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Story (sent by Avon)
Room 706 by Elle Levenson (sent by Headline and my first 2026 proof!)
A New Home at the Wartime Hotel by Maisie Thomas (sent by the author)
No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done by Sophie Hannah (sent by Bedford Square)
Human Remains by Jo Callaghan (sent by The Likely Suspects/Simon & Schuster)
Dead as Gold by Bonnie Burke-Patel (author giveaway prize)
Sanctuary by Tom Gaisford (sent by Read Maxwell)
Attention All Shipping by Kathy Biggs (sent by Borough Press)
It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara (sent by Bantam)
The Treasures by Harriet Evans (sent by Penguin Viking) – just sneaked in at the last minute
I also bought:
Jobs for the Girls by Ysenda Maxtone Graham
The Excitements by CJ Wray
Bad Relations by Cressida Connolly
Levitation for Beginners by Suzannah Dunn
The Start of Something by Holly Williams
and another blogger passed on Rooms for Vanishing by Stuart Nadler
Plus I bought a 40th anniversary edition of A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I have the idea that I will reread it before the new adaptation is aired (later this year I believe, although whether it will be as good as the original remains to be seen). I do still have my original copy but it’s very old and I don’t want to ruin it. I’m not sure how this π is going to fit in a book this size but I shall do my best!
Finally, my Storygraph stats for April:
Please do let me know in the comments if you like the sound of any of the books I’ve read or received.
Oh! You are suffering from the same 6-7 books per month syndrome as I am! π
I am and I hate it! I used to read 10 per month which felt a bit more like I was getting through my review pile.