This was a huge reading month for me. Below are the books I read that challenged and inspired me.
- A Sky Beyond the Storm by Sabaa Tahir
In A Sky Beyond the Storm, Sabaa Tahir brings her An Ember in the Ashes series to an emotional and gut-wrenching conclusion. Picking up just months after A Reaper at the Gates, the fourth and final installment throws Laia, Elias, and Helene into a storm of escalating violence, supernatural threats, and soul-shattering choices. The long-imprisoned Jinn, led by the Nightbringer, wreaks havoc across the empire, and as Commandant Keris Veturia crowns herself Empress, the stakes for the Blood Shrike (Helene) and her family reach deadly heights. Laia, still grieving personal losses, becomes a fierce force against the Nightbringer, awakening ancient powers and risking everything. Meanwhile, Elias, now the Soul Catcher, wrestles with his fading humanity as he’s drawn back into a battle he swore to leave behind.
Tahir’s world-building remains dark, and the emotional stakes soar as the characters face betrayal and a lot of sacrifice. Laia’s resilience, Helene’s unyielding loyalty, and Elias’s heartbreaking journey toward (and away from) love make for deeply compelling arcs. The way Tahir writes her action sequences is intense, the twists are brutal, and the moments of tenderness are few but devastatingly impactful. As I listened to the book, the voice actors put all their emotions into their voices. I was hooked throughout the whole story…heck, through the entire series. Tahir’s prose captures the brutal cost of war and the fragile hope that keeps people fighting.
Final Verdict:
A Sky Beyond the Storm is a bittersweet, action-packed finale that delivers both heartbreak and catharsis. I was truly sad when this series came to an end. I went through all the different emotions, and when the last word was spoken, I was sad. This quote was loudest for me: “The world had ended, but it hadn’t ended for me.” That is how I feel about this entire series.
Started: 25 April 2025
Completed: 30 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 516
Total Listening Time: 17 Hours:09 Minutes
Format: Libby (own the series)
Rating: 5 stars
2. The Spy in 3B by Nana Malone – Book 1
In The Spy in 3B, Nana Malone combines sexy romance and espionage in a story that’s as full of tension as it is of heat. Lyra, an undercover operative pretending to be a marketing consultant, is on the hunt for a dangerous double agent. But she’s not the only one — Marcus, a spy posing as a videogame designer, is also closing in on the same target. Neither knows the other’s true identity, but when their paths collide, the sparks fly. What begins as a game of cat and mouse soon turns into a tangled web of chemistry, secrets, and high-stakes deception. The attraction between Lyra and Marcus is undeniable, but Lyra’s deep-rooted trust issues and Marcus’s internal struggle between duty and desire are evident. Both characters are strong, flawed, and human, raising the stakes as the mission heats up and their walls crack. Each falling for each other, but hiding who they are from one another, they did not realize it till later. While it can technically stand alone, readers will get the most out of it if they’ve followed the series from the start, as there are character dynamics and plot threads that build on previous installments.
Final Verdict:
This book contains espionage, sharp banter, sizzling chemistry, and pulse-pounding twists. The Spy in 3B is a fun, sexy, high-stakes romance perfect for readers who love their love stories with a side of danger. Malone continues to deliver romantic suspense with characters you can’t help but root for. This and book two were a palate cleanser for me. Many of the books I read this month were pretty heavy and long. I wanted to add some mindless, easy, ready, no world-building books.
Started: 01 April 2025
Completed: 13 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 200
Total Listening Time:
Format: Kobo (own the eBook series) Rating: 3.5 stars
3. The Assassin in 5F by Nana Malone – Book 2
The Assassin in 5F picks up where The Spy in 3B leaves off. Lyra has never been known for her impulse control, but shooting her boyfriend is an all-time low. Marcus isn’t the type of agent to disobey orders, but he can’t seem to keep his eyes–or hands off Lyra. Lyra learns that there is more to her life and her parents, which throws her for a loop, including the possibility of a double agent within her Firm. Danger is closing in from all sides, forcing them to team up to solve their mutual problem… but the enemy is already closer than either of them knows.
Malone’s signature style is in full force: fast pacing, sharp dialogue, and a romance that simmers with tension and vulnerability. What makes this book shine is the emotional depth layered beneath the action. For readers familiar with Malone’s Spies series, The Assassin in 5F offers satisfying connections and expansions, but it’s also an engaging entry point for newcomers. The mix of romantic suspense, steamy encounters, and high stakes plotting makes this a page-turner from start to finish.
Final Verdict:
The Assassin in 5F blends romance and espionage, with a heroine you’ll cheer for and a brooding spy hero you won’t resist. Malone knows how to keep the heat and tension rising, making this a must-read for fans of romantic suspense. I will say that I did enjoy reading this book. The only issue I had was how quickly it abruptly ended or wrapped up. I sorta felt cheated. I do feel like some of these palette cleansers are meant to be wrapped up in under 300 pages.
Started: 20 April 2025
Completed: 30 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 208
Total Listening Time: N/A
Format: Kobo (own the eBook series)
Rating: 3.5 stars
4. Love Surfaced by Michelle Lynn – Book 1
Piper Ashby + Brad Ashby = Twin Siblings
Brad Ashby + Tanner McCain = Best Friends
Piper Ashby + Tanner McCain = Off limits
Love Surfaced is a three-book series. Book 1 dives into the emotional depths of love, friendship, betrayal, and second chances, all set against the backdrop of competitive swimming. Piper Ashby and Tanner McCain have known each other since childhood. They are bound by their connection to Piper’s twin brother, Brad, and by an unspoken rule that kept their attraction off-limits. But once that invisible boundary was crossed, everything changed. Piper and Tanner abided by their brother Brad’s rules well until college. There was an incident that happened at the end of Tanner’s senior college year that pushed him and Piper apart.
It had been two years since Piper and Tanner had seen each other. Brad’s wedding brings them face-to-face, bringing immediate tension, undeniable chemistry, and emotional wounds. Lynn portrays the layered feelings of betrayal, regret, and longing that make Piper and Tanner’s reunion so compelling.
The competitive swimming element adds authenticity and stakes to their world, capturing both elite athletes’ physical intensity and emotional pressures. However, some readers may feel that the pacing occasionally wavers, lingering too long on specific internal conflicts while leaving some secondary characters underdeveloped. Still, Piper and Tanner’s push-pull dynamic keeps the story moving, and their journey toward forgiveness and healing feels genuine.
Final Verdict:
In Love Surfaced, Piper and Tanner’s emotional journey is about overcoming past hurts and believing in love again. Fans of emotional, character-driven stories with an athletic twist will find plenty to enjoy here. Love Surfaced offers a blend of heartfelt romance, redemption, and the painful yet necessary healing of old wounds. Their arcs are a testament to the importance of second chances and the complexity of love in the face of betrayal. This book will resonate with sports romance fans looking for something more intimate and personal.
Started: 20 April 2025
Completed: 27 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 292
Total Listening Time: N/A
Format: Apple Books (own the eBook) Rating: 3.5 stars
5. Powerless by Lauren Roberts – Book 1
Content Warning: The source text and this guide refer to physical and psychological abuse, graphic violence, murder, genocide, discrimination, and panic attacks.
Powerless by Lauren Roberts is a dystopian world where power is everything, and the helpless are nothing. Set in the kingdom of Ilya, the story centers around Paedyn Gray, an “Ordinary” forced to blend in with the “Elites,” a class of individuals gifted with powers bestowed upon them by a deadly plague. Paedyn, however, is just like the millions of other ordinary citizens with no abilities — a crime in a society that prizes exceptionalism above all.
The plot begins with a twist of fate as Paedyn saves one of Ilya’s princes (Malakai “Kai” Azer, the Enforcer), and, as a result, is thrown into the dangerous Purging Trials — a brutal competition designed to showcase the powers of the Elites. Here, Paedyn’s survival depends on keeping her secret: she’s powerless in a world where power means everything. Kai, one of the princes of a kingdom where people without supernatural powers are hunted and killed, and Paedyn, a young woman without powers who hides her secret by pretending to be psychic. Despite their opposite upbringings, the two protagonists develop a relationship that challenges their worldviews.
The political landscape of Ilya is well-developed, highlighting the stark divide between the Elites and the Ordinaries, a divide that fuels both personal and societal conflict. Paedyn is a gritty, resourceful protagonist, and her struggle to survive in a world stacked against her will resonate with fans of dystopian fiction. Her courage, wit, and vulnerability make her a complex, relatable character as she navigates the deadly Trials and her growing feelings for the prince, all while facing the constant threat of exposure.
While Paedyn is a strong heroine, the romance between her and the prince, while steamy and emotionally charged, does fall into some familiar tropes. The forbidden love angle, with the prince unaware of Paedyn’s true identity, is a compelling aspect of the plot, but might feel a bit predictable to those familiar with similar dystopian romances like The Hunger Games.
The Trials are well-executed, full of tension and high-risk action, but the plot can sometimes lean too heavily into genre clichés. The divide between the oppressed “Ordinaries” and the privileged “Elites” is familiar, as is the idea of a young woman rising to challenge an unjust system. While reading this book, I often thought of Hunger Games and the Divergent series. Besides all of that, I still enjoyed listening to the book. The voice actor who voices Kai was incredible and intense, and had me in every moment.
Final Verdict:
Powerless delivers a gritty, action-packed dystopian adventure with a morally complex romance and a strong-willed heroine. While the plot borrows elements from other dystopian favorites, it’s an engaging and emotional ride, especially for readers who enjoy forbidden love and political intrigue.
Started: 19 April 2025
Completed: 25 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 497
Total Listening Time: 17 Hours:56 minutes
Format: Libby (own the series) Rating: 4.0 stars
6. Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez – Book 2
Yours Truly is a heartwarming romance that best blends humor, vulnerability, and emotional healing. Abby Jimenez crafts a slow-burn love story between two flawed but lovable doctors — Briana Ortiz and Jacob Maddox — who start as workplace rivals and evolve into something much deeper through a series of funny, tender, and quietly powerful moments.
Briana’s life is in crisis: her marriage is ending, her brother desperately needs a kidney donor, and her shot at a long-awaited promotion seems threatened by the arrival of the awkward, seemingly standoffish Jacob. But just when she’s ready to write him off, Jacob surprises her with a heartfelt letter that sparks an unexpected connection. What follows is a charming exchange of notes, stolen lunch breaks in the hospital “sob closet,” and quirky conversations that include tiny horses.
How Jacob handled the portrayal he suffered and how he overcame his anxiety and fear to let Briana in fully, but also to be there fully for Briana, she walked her emotional journey.
Many quotes in this book had me in my feelings, head, and heart…
“Sometimes the best things in life come when you stop expecting them and start letting them in.”
“When I’m with you, the world quiets down — like you’re the one place I can finally breathe.”
“We’re all a little broken, Briana. We are a mosaic. We’re made up of all those we’ve met and all the things we’ve been through. There are parts of us that are colorful and dark and jagged and beautiful. And I love every piece of you. Even the ones you wish didn’t exist.”
“Love me. Just love me instead. I’d take care of you. I’d protect you and shield you and be anything you needed. I’d be harmless to you…”
“I agree to be harmless to you.”
Final Thoughts:
I really enjoyed (and cried) listening to Yours Truly. This book leaned more toward emotional and introspective. Both deliver Jimenez’s signature blend of heart, humor, and romance, making them standout reads in contemporary romance. Yours Truly is a funny, touching, and beautifully crafted romance about second chances, kindness, and finding love when you least expect it. Jimenez’s writing shines with wit and heart, and her characters feel so real you’ll root for them every step of the way. This is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance that mixes humor with emotional depth.
Started: 16 April 2025
Completed: 17 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 387
Total Listening Time: 11 Hours:23 minutes
Format: Libby (own the series) Rating: 4.5 stars
7. The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
The Woman in Me is a raw, courageous, and profoundly emotional memoir that lays bare the highs and devastating lows of Britney Spears’s life in the spotlight. From her meteoric rise as a teen pop sensation to her painful legal battles and eventual fight for freedom, Spears delivers her story with striking honesty and vulnerability.
The memoir traces Spears’s early years, shaped by ambition and talent, but also by family pressures and an entertainment industry quick to exploit. As she becomes a global superstar, Spears faces intense public scrutiny, particularly around her image, relationships, and motherhood, all while privately struggling with mental health and the suffocating control of her now-infamous conservatorship.
Spears’s writing voice is unfiltered and sometimes uneven, but that’s part of what gives the memoir its power: it feels like she is speaking directly, and finally, for herself. Her recounting of the conservatorship, which she describes as a loss of personal freedom and dignity, is both heartbreaking and enraging. Yet, alongside the pain, Spears’s resilience shines through. There are moments of humor, love, and fierce determination, particularly when she reflects on motherhood, music, and her hard-won journey back to personal agency.
Final Verdict:
The Woman in Me is more than a celebrity memoir: a reclamation of voice and identity. Spears’s account of fame, family betrayal, survival, and healing offers readers a searing look behind the pop-culture headlines and into the heart of a woman who has endured extraordinary challenges. Fans will find it essential, but even those only casually familiar with her story will be moved by its emotional honesty and cultural significance.
Started: 12 April 2025
Completed: 15 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 288
Total Listening Time: 5 Hours:32 Minutes
Format: Libby (do not own the book – borrowed) Rating: 5 stars
8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo – Book 1
Shadow and Bone marks the atmospheric beginning of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, pulling readers into a darkly enchanting world of magic, war, and dangerous ambition. Set in the divided land of Ravka, where the monstrous Shadow Fold cuts the nation in two, the novel follows Alina Starkov, a seemingly unremarkable mapmaker who discovers an extraordinary hidden power — one that might be the key to saving her homeland.
When Alina’s latent magic emerges during a deadly attack, she’s swept into the glittering and treacherous world of the Grisha, the kingdom’s magical elite led by the powerful and enigmatic Darkling. Suddenly, Alina goes from a nameless orphan to the most crucial figure in Ravka’s political and military struggles — but power comes with a price, and nothing in the Grisha’s world is as simple as it seems.
Bardugo’s strength lies in her lush world-building. Ravka feels fully realized, shaped by Eastern European influences, layered with political tension, war-torn borders, and a sharp divide between the magical and non-magical classes. The Shadow Fold is a haunting and original creation, a landscape of creeping darkness and nightmare creatures.
Alina is a classic reluctant heroine, grappling with self-doubt, loneliness, and the burden of sudden responsibility. Her journey of self-discovery is compelling, though some readers may find the romantic dynamics, particularly the love triangle involving Alina, her childhood friend Mal, and the magnetic Darkling, underdeveloped in this first installment. The Darkling is one of the book’s standout characters: a charismatic, morally complex villain who adds tension and intrigue to every scene.
Final Verdict:
Shadow and Bone is a strong, engaging start to the Grishaverse series, offering atmospheric fantasy, political intrigue, and a coming-of-age journey centered on power and identity. While the pacing and romance may feel uneven at times, Bardugo’s immersive world and memorable characters make it easy to see why this series has become a fan favorite. Readers looking for a fantasy adventure with dark twists and rich magic will find plenty to enjoy here — and the later books only deepen and expand the stakes.
Started: 01 April 2025
Completed: 14 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 358
Total Listening Time: 9 Hours: 21 Minutes
Format: Kobo (own the eBook series) Rating: 3.5 stars
9. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died is not your typical celebrity memoir — it’s a raw, sharp, and emotionally charged account of a former child star’s journey through trauma, fame, and ultimately, self-liberation.
McCurdy takes readers behind the scenes of her early life, beginning with her mother’s obsession with making Jennette a star. From as young as six, Jennette was pushed into acting, enduring invasive “makeovers,” extreme calorie restrictions, and suffocating control, including being showered by her mother into her teens. Her prose doesn’t shy away from the grim details, capturing her intense pressure and isolation, even as she rose to fame on Nickelodeon’s iCarly and later Sam & Cat.
McCurdy’s striking balance of heartbreak and biting humor makes this memoir so powerful. She recounts moments of deep pain — eating disorders, addiction, anxiety, and toxic relationships — with a wry, darkly funny voice that pulls no punches. The memoir doesn’t glorify or sugarcoat; instead, it exposes the harsh realities of child stardom and the devastating impact of an overbearing, controlling parent.
Perhaps most moving is the story’s second act, when Jennette’s mother dies of cancer. Rather than bringing peace, the loss forces Jennette to confront years of emotional damage and face the hard work of recovery. Through therapy and ultimately walking away from acting, she reclaims her identity, not as the girl her mother molded, but as the woman she chooses to become.
Key Themes
✅ Mother-Daughter Trauma
At the heart of the memoir is Jennette’s complicated, often toxic relationship with her mother. Her mom’s obsessive control over Jennette’s appearance, diet, career, and even personal thoughts leaves deep emotional scars. The memoir explores how love and abuse can tragically coexist — how Jennette, as a child, both craved her mother’s approval and felt crushed by her demands.
✅ The Cost of Child Stardom
Jennette pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to grow up on camera. Beneath the glitter of iCarly and Sam & Cat lies a world of exhaustion, exploitation, and the constant fear of disappointing producers, fans, or her mother. The industry’s pressures magnify her personal struggles, showing the hidden cost of fame, especially for children.
✅ Eating Disorders and Addiction
McCurdy writes candidly about the eating disorders she developed under her mother’s influence and how they spiraled into self-destruction after her mother’s death. These raw sections stand out for their honesty, tracing how pain and self-loathing often translate into harmful behaviors — and how recovery is neither easy nor linear.
✅ Humor as a Survival Mechanism
Despite the heavy subject matter, Jennette’s voice is laced with dark humor. She uses wit and sharp observations to survive and retell her story, making even the bleakest moments readable. It’s a testament to resilience — that humor can be both a defense mechanism and a path toward healing.
✅ Identity and Autonomy
The memoir ultimately becomes a story of reclaiming identity. Jennette’s journey away from acting and toward self-discovery is about learning to live for herself, not for others. Her title — provocative and blunt — is a powerful symbol of breaking free from years of control.
💬 Powerful Quotes
“I’m glad my mom died. It was a relief.”
This stark opening sets the tone. It’s not said lightly — it’s the raw truth of someone who spent years trapped and finally feels free, though the freedom comes with guilt and grief.
“Mom didn’t get better. She just got worse.”
Jennette doesn’t romanticize her mother’s decline; instead, she shows how the abusive patterns only intensified, even under the shadow of illness.
“I want my own life.”
A pivotal realization: she no longer wants to perform — not on stage, not for TV, not for her family.
“My entire identity — all I knew, all I was — revolved around Mom.”
This underscores the heart of the memoir: losing her mother forces Jennette to confront how much she’s lost herself.
Final Verdict:
I’m Glad My Mom Died is a fearless and unflinchingly honest exploration of trauma, grief, and survival. It’s funny, heartbreaking, and deeply human. Whether or not you’re familiar with McCurdy’s work on screen, her memoir stands out as one of the most candid and compelling celebrity accounts in recent years — a story of breaking free and learning to live for oneself.
Started: 10 April 2025
Completed: 12 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 320
Total Listening Time: 6 Hours: 26 Minutes
Format: Audible (own the eBook) Rating: 5 stars
10. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Book 1
A Maiden…
Poppy has been chosen from birth to fulfill a sacred, restrictive role as the Maiden — set apart from the world, unseen, untouched, and expected to uphold the kingdom’s future. But Poppy’s spirit is anything but submissive. Behind the veil of duty, she yearns for freedom, for experience, and a life of her choosing. Her longing to fight the evil that tore apart her family makes her question everything the gods and her people expect of her.
A Duty…
As Poppy approaches her Ascension, the weight of her kingdom’s hopes grows heavier. She struggles with the role forced upon her, torn between obligation and her desires. Enter Hawke, a golden-eyed guard whose presence ignites her fury and longing. He challenges her beliefs, tempts her to cross forbidden lines, and awakens desires she’s never allowed herself to feel. Their chemistry crackles on the page, making every interaction a deliciously slow-burning temptation.
A Kingdom…
Meanwhile, a fallen kingdom rises in the shadows, hungry to reclaim what it believes has been stolen. Poppy’s carefully controlled world starts to crumble as violence and vengeance sweep closer. Her heart, duty, and life hang in the balance as she faces betrayals, unravels dangerous truths, and discovers her own buried strength.
Jennifer L. Armentrout crafts a steamy fantasy romance full of political intrigue, action, and sharp banter. The story leans into familiar genre elements — the fierce heroine, the forbidden love, the looming war — but Armentrout’s addictive writing makes the pages fly. While some readers might find the pacing uneven in spots, the plot twists and betrayals keep the tension high. Poppy is a heroine you root for, and Hawke’s magnetic presence ensures their romance is unforgettable.
Final Verdict:
If you’re a fan of slow-burn fantasy romance with sizzling chemistry, court intrigue, and a heroine pushing against the chains of her fate, From Blood and Ash will pull you in and keep you hooked.
Started: 5 April 2025
Completed: 9 April 2025
Total Pages Read: 622
Total Listening Time: 15 Hours: 28 Minutes
Format: Libby (own the series)
Rating: 4 stars
The Chosen Book of May…..
It was such a good but and I was so sad to end this series. I think that is why I took so long to read the last book.
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