I saw the solar eclipse.
Books I Read This Month & What I Thought of Them
April was a bit of a whirlwind — between a bit of traveling, yardwork, and trying to soak up every bit of spring, reading became my cozy end-of-day routine. I didn’t read a ton this month, but every book I finished packed an emotional punch. From tearjerkers to deeply personal stories, this month’s reading list was full of heart.
Here’s a look at the books I read in April 2025:
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Abby has done it again. I laughed, I cried, I highlighted half the book. Xavier might be one of my favorite Abby love interests — and his story hit me hard. Samantha’s caregiving role was incredibly relatable, especially with my own experience supporting a loved one with dementia. Abby captured that mix of exhaustion, love, and loneliness so perfectly. This book felt deeply personal to me, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. A full 5 stars.
Check out my Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez review on Simply Stine!
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
This book was stunning. It’s filled with tension, emotion, and a slow-building sense of dread that kept me turning the pages. It had romance. It had mystery. It had twists I didn’t see coming. I was totally pulled into this world and couldn’t put it down once I started. Easily one of my standout reads this year so far.
The fancast on this book is dead on imo! Check out my Broken Country review by Clare Leslie Hall on IG.
Believe Me by Tahereh Mafi
A short but powerful read. This was emotional and quick, and it reminded me just how much I love Mafi’s writing style — so vulnerable. It left me ready to dive into Watch Me, which is already at the top of my TBR. Also, Aaron Warner is just 
This is considered YA, but Mr. Warner is NOT YA, ha.
A Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
I know the reviews have been mixed on Emily Henry’s latest release, but I genuinely enjoyed it. Emily Henry stepped outside her usual lane with this story, and I really appreciated the risk she took. It leans heavier on fiction, with the romance playing more of a supporting role — and I was okay with that.
She’s so good at weaving characters together, and this still had that classic Emily Henry feel to it. What I didn’t love, love? The ending. I won’t spoil anything… but let’s just say I had some thoughts.
April Standout:
Best books I read this month:
Broken Country really blew me away. I’m still thinking about it — and already recommending it to everyone.
Also, Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez really hit home. As a caregiver for my father-in-law, reading about dementia and everything that comes with it — for everyone involved — was tough. But Abby captured that experience so well. The exhaustion, the emotional weight, the quiet heartbreak of caregiving… she really got it right.
What I’m Reading Next:
I’m wrapping up Cash by Jessica Peterson and it was exactly what I needed right now: an easy read and a good time.
Up next? Watch Me by Tahereh Mafi which I’ve been dying to start after finishing Believe Me.
I’ve also got a few library holds that just came through (Travelers to Unimaginable Lands) is high on my list after it was recommended during a webinar I watched.
And finally… FINISH KINGDOM OF ASH — 
Your Turn
Did you read anything this month you couldn’t stop thinking about? Drop your favorites in the comments — I’m always looking for my next obsession and to add to my bookshelf!
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