Last month I had a very good reading month, and I wanted to continue that in April. Uni is starting to calm down as I approach my last few weeks as a student (yes, that’s right, last few weeks as a student) and it means that I have quite a bit more time to read. It also helps that over the last month I’ve read books that I’ve actually been obsessed with. In fact my new favourite contemporary novel has been read in April!
The first book that I got to in April was Unbecoming by Jenny Downham. This story follows Katie and her family as their lives have been turned upside down with the arrival of her sick grandmother. Katie’s grandmother walked out on her mum when she was little, leaving quite a feud in the family. Katie takes it upon herself to try and fix her family back together again and find out what happened in the past. The story is about family, all kinds of love and the connections that can be made through the generations. I absolutely loved this story. It was everything that I’d hoped it to be after wanting to read it for quite a few months. You can read my full thoughts HERE.
The second books that I read this month was I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzia. Malala has become the face of feminism and education over the last few years, and I Am Malala tells the story of what she has gone through to get to the point she is now. This was an incredible and inspiring read. It told the story of what happened in order for Malala to gain the status she has done and highlights what really is important in the world. Whoever you are, you should read the story of this incredibly brave girl, I am in awe of her.
The Mist by Stephen King was the first Stephen King novel I’ve ever read. The story follows Daniel and his family after a storm hits their village. After the storm clears and the wreckage is left, a strange mist falls over the town. Daniel and his son Billy are trapped inside the store when the mist falls with another hundred people with no way to get out. Out in the mist something is moving, something is ready to strike at anyone who invades their territory. Daniel has to decide if he should stay in the safety or risk his and his child’s life at the chance of getting out. I also have my full thoughts HERE if you want to look at them, however I can say that I didn’t overly enjoy this novel. It’s not put me off Stephen King though thankfully.
I finally got round to reading Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon this month. There was so much hype around this YA contemporary read at the end of last year and I kept forgetting about it sat up on my shelf. Everything Everything is the story of Maddy, an eighteen year old girl who just wants to be a regular eighteen year old girl. However she can’t leave her house. Maddy is trapped by a disease which means she’s allergic to the world and she is restricted to her home until she meets Olly who moves in next door. My review of this will be up very very soon, but I must say this is one of my new favourite books. I absolutely devoured it and read it in no time. Keep an eye out for my full review.
The next book that I got to reading was Flawed by Cecelia Ahern. I was sent a copy of this for review a few months ago and only just got around to reading the full thing. Celestine is perfect, and being perfect is good. Being Flawed is practically a crime in the US. Celestine’s life takes a turn when she acts in the nature of a Flawed. I will have my full review up of this very soon, but I really did enjoy it. It was my first time reading a full Cecelia Ahern novel and it was definitely one of my favourite books of the year, the premise was great.
As a part of World Book Night this year I was giving out copies of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Shadow and Bone was my first Leigh Bardugo book and I absolutely loved it. Going in I was skeptical of the high fantasy elements, but it turned out to be a really nice change from everything else I’d been reading. Alina is just a normal girl, going about her normal life in awe of the Grishas. That is until she is found to be one of the most powerful people in the country. Once again my review will be up very soon of this but again I really enjoyed it!
When i finished Shadow and Bone, i was looking to read something a little lighter. So my interest was drawn to The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories by Tim Burton. I picked this short story collection up a few months ago for very cheap, knowing it was popular. It really did not disappoint. The prose explore unique people and their unique lives which are very out of the ordinary, just what you’d expect from Tim Burton. My full review will be up on this soon, but i really did love it. Another successful read in April!
The Little Contemporary Corner 