the 8 books i read in april 💐 i feel the winds of genre change [cc] 

the way you said you have to build up stamina for a genre before just jumping in is SO true. When I haven't read fantasy in a while I read so slowly just to get used to it again

I've always asked myself how can book influencers read so much having other jobs and things to do, and how do they not get burnt out of how much different storys and characters have they known in such a short time. So I understand how you're feeling but you dont need to talk about 6 or more books in a wrap up to make it interesting!! i would love to see a deeper talk about 3 books sometimes. And its funny because book influencers reading so much makes us - the suscribers - feel pressure or guilty of not reading that much, and it's not your fault obviously but it's a vicious cycle of seeing our reading as a number

a new memoir that has really peaked my interest is called "I'm Glad my Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy. It's release date is in August, but it caught my attention because I grew up watching her. I know you have mentioned reading more memoirs, maybe this one will make the TBR? Anyway, thank you :)

Don’t stress out on how many books you feel you “should” read. I would rather you read a few books that you throughly enjoyed and share those with me. Life has enough stress in it to add “ mandatory “ reading into it when you already have that for school.

if you want to go full on high school english class with Slaughterhouse Five, I would suggest both of the Crash Course Literature videos on the book! I love me some John Green

I always appreciate Noelle’s range of genres! 📚

That’s so cool you found a favorite from a viewer comment - I love how BookTube brings us together and introduces us to new books!

Your nails 🙌 yes. So pretty. I am with you 1000% with romance covers and slow to no spicy time. For me I had a huge reading slump in April. I am currently reading The Book of Cold Cases. It is a page turner. I love short chapters.

just had to pause the video and say omg Noelle youre so gorgeous and it really shows in this video!! i literally cannottt go you bestie

I can't remember if you've read Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, but if not - it is a great piece of historical fiction. I also really really loved The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak.

there's a podcast on all of Vonnegut's books called Kurt Vonneguys (each episode is about a specific book), it's so good, the Slaughterhouse-Five one is 2+ hours long

I don't know if you have read these books but Pachinko and the stationery shop of Tehran are absolute gems

Noelle, your eyes are stunning! Anyhoo, a historical fiction I really enjoyed was The Huntress by Kate Quinn. And Lisa Kleypas is one of my fave historical romance authors, but Devil in Disguise was one of my least favorite of her books. The Hathaway series by her is soo good though.

i actually read a bunch of books this month and it’s really motivated me to read more! my favorite read was the heartstopper series ❤️

Apologies if you had, but are you interested in picking up Pachinko? And watching the series that just came out, it’s something to read if you like multigenerational family sagas. Also for historical fiction, might I recommend The Island of See Women? It’s about the women freedivers in Jeju, cried my eyes out reading it. Love your reccs as always ❤️

Hi Noelle!! If you’re interested in reading more historical fiction i would recommend any Kate Morton book. Some of my favorites from this author are "The lake house" and "The forgotten garden". The good thing about these books is that they are not only historical fiction but also mystery!☺️👏🏻

The way I have been waiting for this video, best part of my month!

Best book this April: Daisy Jones & The Six. I was lucky and didn’t have any disappointments. I’m feeling great about reading, I’m 3 books ahead of my Goodreads goal, and I’m excited to complete it. I’ve been checking a lot of books off my TBR at my library so I’m more motivated than ever.

No highlight or disappointments in April since I didn’t finish a single book. School and work have been super busy so I barely had time to read. Looking forward to maybe finishing one or two books in May.

I'm reading Dave Grohl's memoir "The Storyteller" and it is such a good, well written, beautiful memoir. Im not the biggest Foo Fighters fan but have always had respect for Dave Grohl, after this book though...I love him even more!!

Historical fiction recs: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict; I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira (if you went to the Orsay while in Paris, the characters of this book will be familiar)

Historical fiction recommendation: The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. Set in Norway in 1617, premise is that a remote Norwegian island is hit by a storm that kills all the men, leaving the women to fend for themselves and the story is about them 🌊 the writing is gorgeous and the characters are super engrossing and believable

Historical Fiction Rec: The Book of Lost Names Another one you might like that combines historical elements, romance, Shakespeare, and adventure is Juliet by Anne Fortier.

To answer your questions, best book of the month was "The House of Sleep" by Jonathan Coe which was a really exciting read that really kept me hooked 😍 on the other hand "Aphorisms on Love & Hate" by Nietzsche was a disappointment for me because it felt like something was missing and the author's point of view was really misogynous 🤦‍♀️ I totally get when you talk about reading in terms of numbers because sometimes I also feel some kind of pressure about reading more, achieving goals and it's not right. Whenever I feel anxious, I try to slow down too and really focus on the joy of living inside an adventure through the pages 🌟 Thanks for being a sushine in our lives 🌻💛

Best books this month: The Thursday Murder Club, Conversations with Friends Worst book: The Hating Game I was very disappointed by The Hating Game, surprisingly :( It turned me off the romance genre a little bit for a while as well. But I'm very excited by reading in general, so that's good :) Great video as always, Noelle!

Hi Noelle! Normally I am a silent watcher, but I thought I'd chime in with some hist fic author recs. - Mimi Matthews: She does romance, but her romance is full to the brim of historical elements. She discusses these in blog posts and in her newsletters. I've been following her for years, and her writing has only improved and she continues to be so kind to her readers. She actually has a nonfic titled "The Pug Who Bit Napoleon", which is a fantastic book about famous people's animal companions. - Fiona Davis: I read "The Lions of Fifth Avenue" by her in 2020. Good book- I really want to read "The Magnolia Palace" by her. -Elizabeth Camden! Her "The Spice King" novel is great. Light romance, but really focused on the Spice Trade and the beginnings of the USDA/ FDA. The second book in the series focuses on a main character who works for the First Lady. Hope you are doing well and staying cool ~~

“Lovely war” is a historical fiction I think you would like 👌🏻

Pachinko was my favourite book this month! No book disappointments in April, just disappointed I had 9 exams hahah. Happy with the reading part of my month though :) p.s. love your videos!!

I've recently read Pachinko by Lee Min Jee and IT WAS FREAKING AMAZING. The writing is really subtle but the story really telling and you know the author did a lot of research on this.

My fav book this month: the seven husbands of evelyn hugo my biggest disappointment: the unhoneymooners

You should read The Reading List, it came to me a similar way as to how The Paris Bookseller came to you! It made me remember how important and magical reading is! It’s not the best book ever but definitely recommend!

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres! It can be so incredible when done well! Some of my personal favorites: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart Raphael, Painter in Rome by Stephanie Storey

april was SUCH a rough reading month bc I was sick w hay fever for most of it. didnt LOVE the books I read this month, but I did read holes which is one of my comfort movies so that was nice 😌

My favorite: Heartstopper through all volumes currently release. I haven’t read something so lighthearted and sweet in a while so it was a nice change of pace. My least and probably my 2022 albatross: The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner. I’ve never read Faulkner but felt up to the challenge in March. I then lost that drive so it’s been sitting in my Libby, with me being too stubborn to DNF A memoir recc: High Risk Homosexual. It’s new and I believe the authors debut. I really connected to it as a queer person but I also loved reading a memoir from someone relatively young.

i also felt pretty rejuvenated last month and ended up reading more than i had in a while! my favorite was sea of tranquility by emily st. john mandel, i just got fully immersed in it! and also enjoyed a short story collection called cursed bunny by bora chung. really interested in reading somebody's daughter after the way you talked about it! greetings from argentina, noelle x

I recommand City of Girls as historical fiction (and potentially The Diviners if you're in the mood for a spooky one even in May)♡

Solidarity over here with the over-saturation / struggle with reading this April! For me the stress of life has affected my reading a lot. I'm not a content creator, but I do track my reading too. I've needed to slow down and enjoy the experience more just like you mentioned. Similarly as well, the books I found most joy in aren't the ones I'm enjoying at the moment. I'm proud of you for leaning in to what's working. Awesome work!!

Historical fiction is one of my favorite book genres, so I have some really good books in mind! First, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, wow this is a Western and it focuses on ex-Texas Rangers, but before you read it I STRONGLY suggest reading Empire Of The Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne (which is actually non-fiction but amazing nonetheless because the author is extremely enthusiastic about the subject matter, which is felt through the text). Then I would suggest Shogun by James Clavell, it is a very politically driven story and it is quite long but the payoff in the end is great. Another you may like that I am currently reading is Dragon Springs Road by Janie Chang, kind of a more coming of age story.

Fav book in April: Malibu Rising, Disappointment Book: Didn't really have one

Favorite this month was a reread of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, disappointment was Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan.

Okay I watched and then I went to my bookshelf to get some HF recs for you because that genre is my first love and I love seeing other people love it😄 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemme Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson Happy reading, Noelle!!

Best book this month: The Love Songs of W.E.B Du Bois. Hands down.

The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper is probably one of the best historical fiction books I’ve ever read. It’s set in ancient Pompeii and tells the story of enslaved women who are forced to work in a brothel.

I'm currently preparing a competitive exam (it's next week) so i haven't had any time to watch youtube these past few months, but i really missed you and your videos !! love you 💛I also REALLY relate to your reading fatigue !!!

I read 23 books in April and no one is more shocked than me 😳 had 3 faves of the month- Sleeping Giants, Local Woman Missing, & Ice Plant Barbarians book 2

noelle! the stationery shop is such a beautiful historical fiction with romance in it! it's a little politic heavy in the beginning but the character growth and their lives take over and it was absolutely beautiful, one of my favorites i've read so far this year!

This Crash Course video series (just 2) is one I found helpful for thinking about Slaughterhouse-Five! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F6g7S2W27Kc.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HyKhIiGKq5M.html

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a fabulous historical fiction! 📚♥️ love your videos, Noelle!

If u want to read more historical fiction, u should totally read ‘Lovely War’. It’s a historical romance narrated by Greek gods.

I'm not sure if it's something you'd like, but if you'd like to read historical romances that talk about lesbian relationships, I would recommend Sarah Waters' books. I read Tipping the Velvet a few years ago and it was steamy...... :D

Crash Course genuinely sparked my love for reading again two years ago after finishing nursing school! Check out John Green give us the low down on Slaughterhouse Five with some sick animations 🛸Also, I’d love to hear what you think about Viola Davis’s memoir “Finding Me”. I just finished it and it’s going down as one of the most moving memoirs I’ve read yet. ❤️❤️ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F6g7S2W27Kc.html

“We were up late last night…” “TELL ME MORE!” 😂

Fave book : people we meet on vacation (or the British titel : you and me on vacation) by emily henry! Dissapointing read: twisted love. Just got out of a reading slump! So in love with reading once again ❤️

I read ‘lessons in chemistry’ by Bonnie garmus which was a 5 ⭐️ for me last month. Such a cute historical fiction and highly recommend. I also read ‘the Christie affair’ by Nina de gramont which was also a really interesting historical fiction about Agatha Christie’s disappearance.

I haven't been able to do any reading at all since my exam season started and it's made me very sad. I finish on Monday though so I'll finally be free to read some of the books you've suggested :)

I recently read the the memoir The Glass Castle and loved it. Another favorite memoir of mine is Another Bullshit Night in Suck City. Also, the Ink to Film podcast talks about slaughterhouse five in depth.

Historical fiction: the Gown by Jennifer Robson.

Historical fiction I cannot recommend enough is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah it’s WWII historical fiction and it was OUTSTANDING!! One of my top 5 favorite books of all time!!

Historical fiction rec: The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah!

My favourite book this month was The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and my least favourite book was The Grown Up by Gillian Flynn. :)

I read the romance Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella in April and it was one of the worst romances I’ve ever read 😂 please everyone! Don’t waste your time!

I’ve only given one 5 Star review this year and that was Kristen Hannah’s “The Great Alone.” One coming up for me soon is a new one out “Darling Girl” by Liz Michalski. It’s a Peter Pan story! Looks awesome! It’s also a BOTM!♥️ Love seeing a wrap up from you!

I totally understand what you've said about feeling overwhelmed about the number of book you think you HAVE to read 🥺 I don't create book content but in december I left university to work again because we struggle with money (and life in general) and every month I feel like I have to prove myself that I'm not only a "work/clean/sleep/being costantly exhausted" kind of person, that I'm still able to enjoy a bit of relax and study and read🥺🤍 I always feel lost and defeated so I thought that read a lot would prove me that I'm still loving and intelligent. So april was a total disaster and I've read only two books, worked like a maniac and felt powerless. I hope and I'll try and be more present and less competitive with myself and read as much as my tired head is able to. Love u. Thanks🤍

How The One Armed Sister Sweeps Her House was the bleakest book i read in April. Tough going. Zero silver linings.

Always the best videos!

I really enjoyed the historical fiction city of girls by elizabeth gilbert! If you like theater vibes and nyc i'd recommend!

im excited to hear your thoughts on woman warrior!! i was assigned it in high school and it was probably one of my fave books i had to read for school. i loved the folktale elements i still remember the 'vibe' it curated you know? happy may!

This month The Troop was probably my favourite book - so so so gross, but in the best way possible haha! I thought Crying in H-Mart would be an easy 5* but unfortunately it wasn't 😭 I still enjoyed it but it didn't impact me the way I thought it would

The good wife of bath by Karen brooks is great if you’re wanting new historical fiction. Helps if you’ve read Canterbury tales but it’s not necessary, I haven’t read it 😂 but I did add it to my list of stuff to eventually read

Best books (sorry I can’t choose just one): Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler and transcendent kingdom by Yaa gyasi Biggest disappointment: everything I know about love by Dolly Alderton, not bad but just very meh 🤷🏽‍♀️ Reading was a struggle because my semester began right at the beginning of April and I‘m not used to all my classes being irl anymore 😂

For historical fiction I highly recommend “When The Elephants Dance” and “White Chrysanthemum”

if you wanna read more historical fiction you should read the island by vicoria hislop . heres the good reads description : On the brink of a life-changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother's past. But Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before moving to London. When Alexis decides to visit Crete, however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to take to an old friend, and promises that through her she will learn more. Arriving in Plaka, Alexis is astonished to see that it lies a stone's throw from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga - Greece's former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, and at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daughters and a family rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip.. hope you like it

My favorite reads in April were The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Dare and Wake by Rebecca Hall. My least favorite (though still 3.5 stars) was The No-Show by Beth O'Leary. I had a great reading month!

This may be a bit of a premature recommendation as I haven’t finished it yet. However, I’m reading Still Life by Sarah Winman and it’s hitting the historical fiction sweet spot for me.

I'm not sure if you find it comforting, but I don't think you should worry about how many or what kind of genres you read, because that's not why I'm watching you and probably a lot of other people don't either. :D I rarely like romances and I don't read horror. Like ever. But I enjoy your videos because of how passionate you are about books and because you seem to have a very positive personality. You inspire me to read more and sometimes even to get out of my comfort zone, for some reason. :D So don't worry, just be yourself and show us what you like! :)

For a historical fiction recommendation you should read Last Night at the Telegraph Club! It was FANTASTIC and it has great Asian American and LGBTQ rep. I loved it

Noelle, you would LOVE Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. It represents the short story + translated fiction + dream-like stories + beautiful prose + historical fiction qualities you may be looking for. It's honestly like reading poetry in prose form

I didn’t realize I had a thing with hands as well until I learned that you did. My knuckles and bones in general are smaller than normal, so my knuckles are tiny and give me plump, childlike looking hands. I find myself constantly looking at other people’s hands and comparing mine and theirs and finding things I like or dislike about hands without realizing at first. Glad to know my hand obsession isn’t a one-off lol

My favorite book this month was definitely the Heartstopper series!! I loved it so much! The biggest disappointment of the month was The summer I turned pretty series ugh it was so so bad I have the whole thing a 1.5-2 stars. My reading this month has been okay 😊 I’ve definitely been feeling more meh about reading but I’ve ordered a ton of new reads so I’m super excited about those!

I love Kurt Vonnegut and one of my favorite videos about Slaughterhouse-Five is the 2 part crash course literature video on it! I just love the way John Green talks about books :)) part 1: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F6g7S2W27Kc.html part 2: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HyKhIiGKq5M.html

i recently read 'four treasures of the sky' by jenny tinghui zhang, it's a historical fiction following a girl from china who is smuggled to america - it's set after the chinese exclusiona act i think, so it also tackles a lot of the anti-chinese sentiment at the time. i really liked it and recommend!

Dancing girls is a historical fiction also set in France! Beginning is quite slow but plot really thickens when the focus is shifted onto the older sister. The author basically saw a sculpture and decided to make a backstory for the unnamed girl depicted in it which is quite neat and I think it’ll be a quick read for you

Obviously, this is your channel and you have to do what you feel is best, BUT 😬 I much prefer when my booktubers are savoring and enjoying what they read. Not every book is a great book, but when they take their time and settle into what they are reading (good, bad, DNF, ETC.) I find it much more enjoyable, relatable and believable than when they are just pumping out book after book. Some booktubers listen to audiobooks at a speeds that just seem impossible to process or they rip through a 300 page book in 2 hours. I find it SO hard to believe that they are comprehending ANY of the information they are taking in. There’s no way those books are sticking with them! I feel like they MUST be missing out on so much of what the book has to offer by rushing thought just for the sake of numbers. I’d much rather see a realistic 3-10 book wrap up each month than an overwhelming list of things someone half-ass experienced. Just my 2 cents. Love you, love your channel 💖

BENEATH A SCARLET SKY is my fav historical fiction of all time

Historical fiction recommendation: THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN!!!!!!!!!!!

ah yes, historical fiction is my personal favorite genre! i’d recommend the book of lost names, the lovely war (combines Greek mythology and HF), the henna artist by alka joshi, and the last queen by chitra banerjee divakaruni if you want to dabble into some Indian HF :)

I HIGHLY recommend Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers if you’re in the mood for a historical fiction romance read.

Highly highly recommend the Kurt Vonneguy’s Podcast! Especially if you want to read more of Vonnegut’s work!

So far in 20222, my favorite historical fiction is : Life After Life by Kate Hutchinson. I actually read it twice because I knew that I had missed some things the first go round. The only memoir I have read this year was Beautiful Boy by David Sheff. As a parent, this one gutted me, but it was beautifully excellent.

Historical fiction recs✨ The Nightingale By: Kristin Hannah The Four Winds By: Kristin Hannah The Alice Network By: Kate Quinn

Historical fiction recommendations 1. Beneath A Scarlet Sky - Mark T. Sullivan 2. All The Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doer 3. A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles 4. The Lincoln Highway- Amor Towles 5. Pompeii - Robert Haris 6. The Cicero trilogy by Robert Haris Part 1: Imperium Part 2: Lustrum Part 3: The Dictator

Memoir reccs: - Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey - Sex Power Money by Sara Pascoe (not memoir but a great non fiction) - Karamo Brown and JVN from The Fab 5, both books are amazing! (I need to read Tan’s book still!) - The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer (great audiobook) - Lauren Graham’s Talking as fast as I can (also great audiobook!) His Fic: - The Tattooist of Auschwitz & Cilka’s Journey (I’m reading Three sisters soon!) - The Other Boleyn Girl - the boy who followed his father into auschwitz I haven’t read much HF in a while 😂

Do you ask for recks I have so many for you so I’m just going to create a full list, also going to throw in some fun reads I think you would like. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys ( she has many historical fiction) Jane Goodall: The Woman Who Redefined Man by Dale Peterson The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng French Exit by Patrick deWitt The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs by Stephen Brusatte The Alice Network by Kate Quinn ( also has many historical fiction) Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T Sullivan Finding Everett Ruess by David Roberts ( personal favorite) Ubuntu: One Woman’s Motorcycle Odyssey Across Africa by Heather Ellis The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko The Beantown Girls by Jane Healey Alone on the Ice by David Roberts Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz Gorge: My Life Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds by Kara Richardson A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park The island of Sea Woman by Lisa See ( favorite) All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr ( Life favorite) Master Tung’s Western Chamber Romance by Chieh-Yuan Tung The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook Salt the Snow by Carrie Callaghan The Spitfire Girls by Soraya M. Lane Warlight by Michael Ondaatje The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende ( incredible author) Sourdough by Robin Sloan Flight of Dreams by Ariel lawhon The Taster by V.S. Alexander Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gale Honeyman House of Rougeaux by Jenny Jaeckle Wildbranch by Florence Carlow The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom The Nightengale by Kristin Hannah Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James Learning to See by Elsie Hooper The Winemakers Wife by Kristin Harmel Mr. Floods Last Stand by Jess Kidd The Heart of Everything That Is by Bob Dury All boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson Nick by Michael Farris Smith The Woman with the Blue Star by Pam Jenoff The Farm by Hector Abad Faciolince The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spencer Tell me How to Be by Neel Petel Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia by Jean Sasson Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakening by Manal Al-Sharif

[apologies if you've already read any of these but] historical fiction i recommend: Revelations by Mary Sharratt, Love and Fury by Samantha Silva, Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn, The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White, and three of my personal All-Time Favorites: Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King, The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry, and Corrag by Susan Fletcher!

I started reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson (fantasy)in April just for a switch up and to check out a Sanderson novel. Also not my usual genre. Am still reading Mistborn in May..... Like it so far but don't love it. Was pretty busy in April so didn't have much time to read. Hopefully I will love it by the end like you did with your fantasy experience! Best historical fiction: 1. All the Light We Cannot See (WW II) 2. Mists of Avalon (King Arthur retelling) 3. The Tea Rose (trilogy- light hearted romp set in late 1800's). 4 . Kate Quinn books are all good - fun reads 5. Lilac Girls/Lost Roses by Martha Kelley. Lilac Girls was WWII. Lost Roses is about the Russian revolution. Both great. 6. Phillippa Gregory has a good series for all the wives of Henry VIII. Each wife has her own book. War of the Roses series was a mixed bag but I loved a couple of the books (White Queen) See I can finish a book - lol. Happy May reading

Bestie. Historical fiction is all I want to read right now. I’m reading Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall. It’s a good time to read this book as it’s talking about The Homes for unwed mother run by the church and the underground abortion clinics in Canada and the States. One of my favourite Historical Fictions of All time Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. It follows two half sisters from Ghana and their descendants. It’s a heart breaking book but so beautifully written. I love Kate Quinn’s Writing. She writes about badass women during the world wars. The two I’ve read and loved are The Alice Network & The Huntress. Ruta Sepetys always writes about lesser known historical events. She is YA so it’s not as graphic. The Fountains of Silence (Spanish Dictatorship during the 1950-60s), Between Shades of Gray (Lithuanians in Siberian work camps), Salt To The Sea ( World War Two in East Prussia) I love Kristin Hannah and these are my favs of hers(in order) : The Great Alone (70s rural Alaska), The Nightingale (France World War Two) , The Winter Garden (Russia World War Two)& The Four Winds (The Great Depression US) Just to name a few ! I have a lot I want to read this year

I'm not sure if you've read these before but these are some of my favourite historical fiction reads that I recommend with my whole heart: Burial Rites by Hannah Kent (imagines the story around a famous event in Icelandic history, the murder conviction and execution of Agnes Magnúsdóttir in 1829), Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín (tender tale of a young Irish woman in 1950s Brooklyn) Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (moving generational saga) and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (unique perspectives on WW2)

I know it's not your typical genre, but hear me out on this book rec--The Poppy War by RF Kuang. (1) Beautifully written fantasy (2) historical elements of 20th century China (3) AAPI rep for May (4) Complete and utter devastation your reader's soul (please check the TW's)

I appreciate your honesty re: reading burnout and I look forward to seeing you follow your bliss with books! If/when you decide to swing back towards romance, have you ever read the Captive Prince trilogy by C.S. Pacat? I'm recommending it in part because it has a really fleshed out world and story beyond romance. It reads like historical fiction with complex political intrigue, war, succession, and themes of power, cruelty, revenge, and peacemaking. That being said, it revolves around one of the most epic slow burn m/m romances I've ever read, borderline unendurable (in the best way) with twists that kept surprising me and an ending that feels so satisfying and earned 💗💖💕 Lol ever since I read it I've been recommending it to everyone who reads romance ⚔🏰🐎👑 **CW: Violence, slavery, r*pe, mentions of child SA (not directly shown)

Favorite book in April that I read was My Body by Emily Ratajkowski. It's a memoir! Biggest disappointment was Where the Crawdads Sing... I just couldn't stomach them talking in dialect, for some reason. And I just didn't feel compelled by the plot. What you say is so true though. In January I read 7 books and in April I only read 3.5... so, yeah. Lol.