April was a good reading month for me — four books finished, one series completely taken over my life, and one thriller that left me with a lot of thoughts. Here’s everything I read, what I actually thought, and what’s on my nightstand right now.
The Guest List — Lucy Foley ⭐⭐
I wanted to love this one more than I did. The premise is great — a wedding on a remote Irish island, a body discovered, and a cast of characters who all have secrets. It has all the ingredients of a thriller I’d be obsessed with.
But honestly? I found it a little slow to get going, and by the time the “big reveal” came I was not surprised in the slightest, I guessed it the second the character was introduced. The multiple POV structure felt like it worked against the tension for me rather than building it. This was my second book by Lucy Foley (first The Paris Apartment) and I liked it so I’m not writing her off — I think this one just wasn’t my favorite of hers.
Read it if: You love atmospheric, slow-burn thrillers set in moody locations and don’t mind a slower pace.
A Court of Thorns and Roses — Sarah J. Maas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Okay. I need to talk about this one.
ACOTAR pulled me in from the first chapter and didn’t let go. Feyre’s world, the lore, the slow build of tension — I finished it and immediately picked up reserved the second book. No break, no pause. Straight through.
I genuinely don’t know how I waited this long to read ACOTAR. I’d seen it everywhere for years — the BookTok edits, the aesthetic posts, the people crying over fictional characters — and I always thought “that’s not really my thing.” Let me tell you, clearly it is absolutely my thing.
I’m not going to say too much because I genuinely think you should go in as blind as possible, but if you’ve been on the fence about starting this series the way I was — just start it. Trust me.
Read it if: You love fantasy, slow burn romance, rich world-building, and don’t mind becoming completely obsessed with a book series.
Good Girl Bad Blood — Holly Jackson ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the second book in the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series and it did not disappoint. Pip is back, and this time the case hits closer to home in a way that felt really emotionally grounded compared to the first book.
What I love about Holly Jackson’s writing is that it genuinely feels like you’re solving the mystery alongside Pip — the format with the evidence logs and interview transcripts makes it so immersive. The stakes felt higher in this one and I was completely hooked by the halfway point.
If you haven’t started this series yet, go back and read A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder first — you absolutely need the context. But if you’re already a Pip Fitz-Amobi fan, this one delivers.
Read it if: You love YA thrillers, unreliable timelines, and a main character who refuses to let things go.
A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J. Maas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
And then there’s this one. ACOMAF. The one that broke me in the best possible way.
I don’t even know how to talk about this book without giving things away, so I’ll just say this — it is better than the first one. Significantly. The character development, the new characters introduced, the world expanding in ways I didn’t expect — I finished it in a matter of days and immediately understood why this fandom is the way it is.
This is the book that turned ACOTAR from a series I was enjoying into a series I am fully, completely obsessed with. I think about it constantly. That’s all I’ll say.
Read it if: You survived book one and are ready to have your whole world rocked.
What I’m Reading Now
I’m currently deep in A Court of Wings and Ruin — book three in the series — and I am not okay. If you know, you know. I’ll report back when I surface.
May TBR
Still figuring out what comes after ACOTAR (send help and recommendations), but I’m thinking I need a palette cleanser thriller in between. Drop your recommendations in the comments — I’m especially looking for anything with that same “can’t put it down” energy.
Much love from the coast, Haley
Want to see what else I’ve been up to this spring? Check out my April fitness goals recap or come follow me on Goodreads to keep up with everything I’m reading in real time. You can also find me on Instagram @_haleyhthomas where I share my current reads in stories.
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