Five Star Friday: April 2020

On the first Friday of each month, I will share my five-star reads from the previous month. Fingers crossed, I have lots of books to tell you about.

April has been very, very, VERY good to me! I think this is the most 5-star books I have had yet in a single month. Maybe it's the universe trying to atone a bit for our situation. Whatever it is, I am happy to have found all these wonderful books. I read a total of 35 books and had 8 that earned a 5-star rating.

Four Days of You and Me
Miranda Kenneally

It's always such a treat, when I get to watch a relationship grow and change over so many years, and Kenneally did an amazing job showing me the evolution of Lulu and Alex's romance. It was fun bringing me back to the same day every year, the day of the school trip. The change in setting and circumstance kept me on my toes, as I waited to see what had happened in the past year. I loved spending those four May 7ths with these two, and am greedy and want a follow up novella, because I loved them so much.

By the Book
Amanda Sellet

If I had to pick one word to describe this book, it would be delightful! If anyone had seen me as I read this book, they would probably wonder why I was smiling so much. It was because I was so taken by this story and these characters. I am not even a fan of 19th-century literature, but I loved the way Sellet worked it into the story. So fun, so cute, so charming. I am sort of hoping Sellet considers revisiting this world and its inhabitants, because I am so there, if she does.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
Dusti Bowling

I dare anyone to read this book, and not fall in love with Aven Green. I loved her spunk and sense of humor, but she was also so kind. I think it was the kindness and grace she showed to others, which endeared her to me. I really needed a dose of people being better humans, and she gave me that. She was very lovely, very much so like Auggie in Wonder. There was also so many winning moments of family and friendship, and gosh darn it! I am shedding happy tears again.

Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
Dusti Bowling

It was such a treat being back with Aven, and this time she has to endure high school. The transition was not easy for Aven. She experienced some ups and downs, but also discovered what incredible people she had in her corner. My heart exploded again, and that's why I came back for more of Aven and her gang.

What I Carry
Jennifer Longo

This book was exquisite. I was so invested in Muir's future, and the more time I spent with her, the more I hoped and prayed, that she would allow others to give her the love she deserved. So. Many. Feels. I would definitely say my favorite thing about this book was watching Muir form some meaningful attachments, but I also loved the environmental ethics stuff, which is something you don't normally find in a YA story.

The How & the Why
Cynthia Hand

This was another book, which gave me all the feels. The format was perfect for this story, and Hand navigated the two timelines with expertise. I loved, that she allowed us to really get to know both Cassandra and her bio mom. I had such a good understanding of both of them, and cared for both deeply. I CANNOT stop thinking about the ending. It's definitely in my top ten best endings list, because it just filled me with so much joy.

Up to This Pointe
Jennifer Longo

Everyone knows I am sucker for a grief and loss book, and this is about grieving the loss of a dream. Harper takes quite an extreme route during her healing process, but her extremism was to my benefit, because it was pretty cool getting to go to Antartica with her. I loved seeing her find her new dream too. It's encouraging to see the whole one-door-closes-another-one-opens thing play out, and it was quite a beautiful new beginning too.

The Happy Ever After Playlist
Abby Jimenez

I U-G-L-Y cried as I read The Friend Zone. It broke me, so to get to be with this character again was a gift. I saw her at her worst, and now I got to see her get into a better place, move forward, and find her HEA. I loved the set up, and the way these two first started to fall for each other. It was so sweet. And, the ending was perfect. I loved the way Jimenez let it all fall into place.

Did you have any five-star reads last month? 
Let us know in the comments!