Did April pass by in a blink and a blur for you too or was that just me? 😂 I travelled to Bali at the start of the month and I gotta be honest with you, nothing really stands out to me in April! I can’t recall doing much of anything this month except work, read, sitting by the pool and catching up with one of my besties every now and then. My insomnia hasn’t gotten better and I can count on one hand the number of times I fell asleep before 4AM but I can’t say I’m not used to it by now!
Along with (what seemed) the rest of the world, I devoured and adored Heartstopper. I very rarely watch anything but I couldn’t not watch the show because I loved the books so much. OML, they did such a brilliant job with the adaptation—it made me laugh, cry, squeal with unending delight, and made my heart feel like it was going to burst with ✨ALL THE FEELS✨ it couldn’t contain! They are such a precious bunch and I already can’t wait to re-watch and re-read the series soon. 💜
I read the same amount in April as I did last month: 18 books. While I might not be slaying with the numbers, I’m doing better with the ratings so it’s a win for me! I didn’t DNF anything but I am carrying one book over into May because I haven’t had a chance to come back to it yet.
This was a pretty great month for 5-star reads—I had four in total—although I did shift a few of the ratings up just now because they didn’t feel like 4.5 star reads anymore considering how much they’ve stayed with me! 1 was historical fiction with a heavy touch of magical realism, 1 was a romance, and the other 2 were stunning fantasies (YA + Adult). Out of these, GODS OF JADE AND SHADOW and WE FREE THE STARS were my faves!
**Book covers are linked to Goodreads. If available, the title text is linked to my review!**
5 pandas
Kiss and Don’t Tell
(Tour) This Rebel Heart
Gods of Jade and Shadow
4.5 pandas
(ARC) Those Three Little Words
(Tour) Heartbreak Symphony
(Tour) Sofi and the Bone Song
4 pandas
(ARC) Burning Up
(ARC) *My Mechanical Romance – review scheduled for May release*
Gallant
3.5 pandas
(Tour) An Arrow to the Moon
(ARC) Tanked
3 pandas
2.5 pandas
(ARC) *Josh and Gemma Make a Baby – as it’s below 3-stars I won’t post a review on my blog*
Here are a few posts from the book blogging community that I’ve enjoyed reading this past month:
- Jess prepared a great series of posts for AroAce April. I’m simply highlighting a few but do check out her blog for other posts: International Asexuality Day | Interview w/ Alyssa Lenander | Interview w/ Sarah Bell | Interview w/ Grace Varley
- Circling back to a topic I also posted about last month, 24hr.YABookBlogger shared a great discussion post on the relevance of book bloggers in the era of BookTok.
- N S Ford identified 10 types of reviewers for fun and I can definitely identify with a few of them!
- AJ Sterkel recounts a pretty funny story about the worst thing she’s ever done to a book and it gave me a good laugh!
- BookishBrews is an amazing blog I discovered this month that actively promotes diversifying your reading lists and decolonising your bookshelves—there are so many great posts and recommendations over there!
- Stephen wrote a great review for My Sister, the Serial Killer, a book I sort of liked but his enthusiasm for it made me want to re-read it to see if my feelings have changed! 😂
- April was Arab American Heritage Month and Lila made a list of #OwnVoices books for you to check out and I don’t know about you but I’m keen to read so many of them!
- I read two posts about bookstagram that I majorly related to! Kaya talked about the accessibility of Bookstagram and BookTok for POC creators and Sophie shared why she stopped posting on instagram.
- I know many who started blogging to gain access to more ARCs but do ARCs bring in more blog views? Mint shared a great post about ARCs bringing more traffic to your book blog.
- Wordy & Whimsical celebrated three years of blogging in April and they shared an appreciation post of their favourite book bloggers, many of whom I also love! Happy anniversary, Vera and Sabrina! 🎈
And that’s a wrap for April! I feel like I keep saying this but I can’t believe that it’s already May? 2022 is moving so fast it’ll be like the year never happened! 😂 Did you have a good month in April? Did you enjoy your reads and which one was your favourite? I hope everyone has a wonderful May! 💜
dinipandareads 
I finished Heartstopper last night and I loved it so much. I haven’t read the novels but it’s made me want to pick them up. They were all so cute and precious. I loved them!!
18 books is great and I love that you had higher ratings too! My ratings were so-so this month but I was slumping hard. I hope you have a fabulous May!
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Ah, I’m so glad that you loved it!!! The graphic novels are fantastic but the themes do get a bit more serious/darker as the books go on. That said, still very worth the read. This group is so so precious 💜 I hope you manage to shake off the reading slump in May, Nick! Happy reading to you and I hope you have a fabulous month, too!
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As with most other films/shows, I will be the only person who has not seen it. I am glad to hear the adaptation of Heartstopper was good one. I started those graphic novels, and they were very sweet. Sounds like the show captured the story well. Yeah for better ratings. I am like you, I have rounded up some half-star ratings for the same reason. Insomnia is a terrible thing. I was in treatment for 30+ years. I hope you find something that gets you on some sort of schedule.
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I’m also usually that person who hasn’t watched a show or movie but I knew I had to check out Heartstopper and no regrets! 😍 I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed such a faithful adaptation and I’m so glad they’re doing their story justice. I hope you have a great month ahead, Sam!
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You had some great reads this month! I loved seeing both Quinn books and Madden-Mills’ books on your list with high ratings. I loved those. I hope May is just as good for you!
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I’m glad I finally read my first Madden-Mills. I can’t wait for the next one to come out and I definitely need to be reading more Quinn cos her books just make me so happy! I hope you have a great May, Deanna 🙂
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I think 18 books is phenomenal!! 😉 Insomnia is the worst! And you probably get all kinds of dumb advice, but I’ll throw this out there just in case. We never know what might work, I guess… 😃 My daughter takes Melatonin right before bed and she says that helps her a lot. 🤷♀️ I hope you find something that helps. So with Heartstopper? Would you recommend that all the books are read before watching the adaptation? I only have the first two volumes so far. 🙂 I hope you have a great reading month in May! ❤
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Thanks, Dedra! I think 18 is becoming my average this year and I’m more than okay with that. Insomnia is terrible and I actually have been taking melatonin every day for the last four years? I decided to stop recently because I ran out but also I just wanted to see if I could fall asleep normally but the answer is clearly no 😂 Will have to order more and start taking it again, I think! Hmm, for the best experience with Heartstopper I would recommend reading the graphic novels first but even if you’ve only read the first two volumes, I think it’s already okay (though obviously I’d rec reading them all cos they’re fantastic, haha)! This way you’ll be able to catch all the little references and know what’s going on, etc. I hope you enjoy it whenever you check it out though! 😃 And I hope you have a fabulous May as well, Dedra!
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Thank you so much for linking my post! I didn’t have many reads this April, as I was finishing up the semester and very busy
But I hope that May will be better for reading!
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I really enjoyed your post! I hope things went well with your semester and that May will be a better month of reading for you! 😊
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I think we may have hurt ourselves by starting the year with an insane number of monthly reads. BC I only read 13 last month and I feel like that was an epic failure. haha! 18 is still amazing! In fact, I’m not sure I’ve hit 18 in the last few months. I’m sorry you are having such a rough go with your insomnia. 😦 I say, get back on the Melatonin for a little bit so you can get some much-needed rest! Heartstopper was so GOOD! ❤ Definitely, gives off a lot of sweet and happy feels. I'm pretty pumped that the two reads you loved this past month were two of our buddy reads!!! ❤ Yay!!!
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Hahaha, yeah, I don’t know what we were on at the start of the year to be reading so many books but I look back on January fondly (maybe sort of wistfully too, haha)! 😂 But it’s OK and yes, 18 and even 13 is pretty great! I think I’d rather take higher rating books than higher # of reads and meh ratings. And yeah, definitely gonna get back on the melatonin now. I was too optimistic in thinking that after four years I could stop and my body would somehow get it—it does not (lol, sad). I’m so glad we did these buddy reads so I could discover these 5-star winners and I can’t wait for more buddy reads with youuuu! 💜😍 Hope our birthday month is an awesome one, Leslie!
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Right?!? Sometimes I think back and wonder if it was a dream. haha. I have no idea how we did that and it’s actually not a bad way to start the year off! Maybe we will have another month like that before the year is over. You know, I agree! I’ve had a lot of great reads the last month and I’m liking the quality over quantity aspect too. Oh good!! I’m glad. It will help and then you’ll feel so much better with more sleep, Dini! I can’t imagine how you are still functioning! Yes… too bad our latest BR was a totally downer! haha. Hopefully, the next one will make up for it!!! Absolutely! I’m putting it out into the universe that our bday month will be awesome! ❤
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Great wrap up, I’m planning on watching Heartstopper this month and I’m so excited for it as everyone seems to absolutely love it. Hope you have a wonderful May 💜
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Yeeeeess, do it! You won’t regret it. It’s SO so so SO good! I don’t usually watch shows as I just mostly read but it was so hard to stop myself from bingeing and then immediately re-watching the show. It’s wonderful! 😍 I hope you enjoy it and that you also have a fabulous May!
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I’ll be honest, I saw Arrow to the Moon at 3.5 and went oh nooooooo! I still need to read the book before your full review. XD I’m sorry your insomnia has been so bad. That sleepless brain fog is sucky.
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Yeah, I finished it and immediately rated it 4-stars but then over time I just felt I wanted a bit more from it still especially with such an unresolved ending. It’s still great though and I really enjoyed the reading experience, I just wish the ending had been stronger. So I hope you do enjoy it 😃 Sleepless brain fog is truly THE WORST and that people also just don’t get it makes it even harder to deal lol… But on a more positive note, I hope you have an amazing May!
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Here’s hoping for both our sakes 🤞
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18 is an AMAZING number, congrats!!! we free the stars is so good! i’m sorry you didn’t enjoy an arrow to the moon, it sounds so good. thank you for mentioning my post💜
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Hehe, thanks, I’m pretty chuffed with 18 but especially all the 5-star reads! 😊 I did enjoy An Arrow to the Moon—I really liked the story and it took me through some emotional moments both swoony and sad, but that ending just wasn’t satisfying for me. BUT it’s still a great read and if you’re curious, I’d definitely recommend checking it out. Pan’s writing is ✨magical!✨
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awww, i’m sorry to hear that the ending wasn’t great, a good ending really is important. but i think i will check it out for the reasons that you mentioned!!
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I can’t believe it is May either, like whattt?!?! It sounds like you had a relaxing April apart from your insomnia. I hope it improves this month. Sending you best wishes. I haven’t watched heartstopper yet but I’ve heard all great things. The cast truly looks wonderful. My sister watched the show and is already obsessed with Nick 🤣😍 yayyy, I’m so glad you enjoyed We Free The Stars, the characters in that series are amazing. I truly can’t wait to see what Hafsah does next!! 😍😍 thank you soooo much for sharing my post, I am so glad you enjoyed it and could relate to it!! 💜
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I’m joining in the chorus of all the others who can’t stop gushing about how amazing Heartstopper is cos it really IS. I don’t remember the last time I saw such a faithful adaptation (to be fair I don’t watch a lot of stuff though lol) but it’s done so well from script to cast and everything! I hope you enjoy it 😍 I’m also really excited for Hafsah’s next book and can’t wait until we get more details about it but in the meantime I will gush about the Sands of Arawiya books, lol. I hope you have a fabulous May! 💜
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[…] buddy read with Dini @ Dinipandareads! I thought this was okay but Dini did like it more than I did! It was a little slow-paced for […]
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Looks like you had a great reading month! Yes, April went by quickly – and May is moving even faster for me. 😆 I hope you have a wonderful May, Dini!
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[…] April 2022 Monthly Wrap Up […]
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Great wrap-up, Dini! Thank you for sharing my post. I did really enjoy My Sister, The Serial Killer, but I’m well aware that it isn’t for everyone. Hope you enjoy your reread, and that your month is going well ☺️
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