I feel like I’ve been so busy the past few months, that I’ve been putting reading on the back-burner!! But, like I’ve said before, my reading habits ebb and flow. They’ve definitely been ebbing lately though, lol.
Here’s what I read in April:
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Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
Okay, y’all. This book was GOOOOD. Like, really, really good. This story is told from two points of view- Nina, a con artist, and Vanessa, an heiress/ influencer. Nina and Vanessa’s paths cross (for a second time) in Lake Tahoe when Nina tries to pull her biggest con yet. This story has SO many twists and turns, and it really kept me on my toes. It was definitely never boring. I don’t want to give anything away because that’s half the fun of this novel, but if you like thrillers/ suspense, I highly recommend Pretty Things!
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn did it again!!!!! For those of you who don’t know, Kate Quinn is also the author of The Alice Network and The Huntress (both amazing books and highly recommend them if you haven’t read). This novel is set in both WWII England and post-war England and tells the tale of three female heroines who couldn’t be a more unlikely trio. Osla, the wealthy debutante dating Prince Philip, tries everything to prove that she’s more than just a pretty face. Mab is a headstrong woman trying to hide parts of her past and find an advantageous marriage after growing up in poverty. Beth is an extremely shy woman gradually breaking free of her overprotective mother. Even though the three are so different, they bond as they become spies at England’s Bletchley Park, and this novel details their journey during and after the war.
If you can’t already tell… I LOVED this novel. First, it’s WWII historical fiction- of course I loved it lol. But, one other reason why I thought this book was so great was because it details a part of history- and a part of WWII- that I honestly (and embarrassingly) knew practically nothing about until reading this. I truly had no idea about what occurred at Bletchley Park until I read this book. If you’re reading this and thinking “what’s Bletchley Park?”- read The Rose Code!!! It was really such a treat.
When We Were Young & Brave by Hazel Gaynor
I know…. another WWII historical fiction novel… lol. I clearly have a type. BUT- this one is different!!! Honestly, this book is unlike any other WWII novel I’ve read. Most of the WWII historical fiction I read occurs in Europe. However, this novel is set in China, and it details the events that surrounded the Japanese’s internment of the students and teachers that were a part of a British missionary school after Japan declared war on England and the US. Up until I read this novel, I hadn’t read any books based in China during the war. I really wasn’t aware of anything that occurred there during that time, so I feel like I learned a lot while reading this book- especially because the story is based on true events. This novel is one of resilience and hope and heartache and perseverance. I can’t recommend it enough!
If you have any book recs for me, please comment below or DM me on Instagram! I hope you enjoyed this post!!
XX, Danielle
