As the weather heats up, April’s reading wrap-up comes to a close. Happily, I’ve been reaching my general reading goals each month so far.
When I first started my reading journey in January, I told myself I wanted to read three to five books at minimum every month. With the stellar numbers I was reaching the first three months, it was a little hard to reconcile when a slower month hit like April. At least, that’s what I thought was happening, until I entered my work’s spring break. I was able to knock out two more books to bring my total to seven.
Are we surprised at this point to see more Haley Cass books this month? You shouldn’t be; I’m determined to read all her available books until I’m done. Even after that, expect more sapphic romance to pop up every once in a while. How else am I going to fill the void that Cass left behind?
7. Better Than Expected by Haley Cass
Published October 31, 2022
Rating: 4 stars
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends to Lovers, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Sapphic, Adult
Summary: A When You Least Expect It continuation, this novella is in the point of view of Hannah. Readers get to learn about her history with Michael and what drove her to stay in that marriage. Her past with her mom and her previous hopes for the future complicate that decade long marriage. This past continues to follow her into her next relationship with Caroline, where she must heal to move forward.
Repetitive at first, it’s a cute follow-up. It takes about 40% of the way through to get new content in this novella (meaning the first chapters were reliving When You Least Expect It from Hannah’s perspective). Once it gets to the new stuff, it hits the ground running. I loved getting to deep dive into Hannah, to better understand her character and what she went through. The problems they faced were very real, with that particular brand of homophobia and Hannah’s fears about the future. Reading even more about mischievous, intelligent, and sweet Abbie was also a big plus. I’m still left wanting more, even if I can guess where their lives are headed.
6. When You Least Expect It by Haley Cass
Published November 20, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends to Lovers, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Sapphic, Adult
Summary: Caroline Parker is determined to be the best divorce attorney of Boston while her love life has gotten her nowhere. It isn’t until she runs into Hannah Dalton, ex-wife of Caroline’s previous nemesis at her old law firm, on Christmas Eve, that her holiday luck might be turning. As she works to snub her ex-colleague by getting Hannah out of a messy divorce, the two grow closer. The lines between “attorney and client” blurb quickly, but it isn’t until later that they develop into romance from both ends.
With how much I love Cass’s books, I debated whether this one should be four stars or four and a half stars, yet, I wanted to stay true to my first feelings. The connection and careful set-up I usually expect from this author’s writing is a bit lost. The characters didn’t feel real and separate until about halfway through, when I could finally picture them under their names. Still, Caroline and Hannah are so damn sweet. I was completely swept by their romance. The last third of the book was the perfect balance of tension and want. I adored Abbie, too. Even though the “straight but not” trope is a little tired for me now, as I’ve binged Cass books, I still love it. Getting to know someone so personally as a friend is an amazing start to a relationship. As for this and its companion novel’s placement at the bottom of the list, I have nothing else to say other than it was a great book month. Nothing was below four stars!
5. A Hunger Soft and Wild by Moira Darling
Publishing May 5, 2025
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genres: Vampire, Romance, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Sapphic, Adult
Summary: Aria Valienne is a vampire running from her Clan with its disregard for human life and iron will. Wounded and starving, her desperation for freedom has her involved with a hardened mercenary, Roan Talrik. Roan tries to keep her past buried and her future uncomplicated, but she can’t stop herself from helping Aria. What develops is hungry and needing as the two of them try to survive the hunt.
I received an eARC for Darling’s debut novel and found myself loving her writing style and imagery. It was descriptive in all the best ways, from emotions to surroundings to touch and feel. The chemistry between Aria and Roan was fun to read, with a lot of tropes I love as a romance reader. The world-building and characters could’ve been more in depth for me. Some of their backgrounds were more “tell” instead of show. I prefer a balance between character and plot, but this book is perfect for anybody that wants to focus more on the romance between two women than anything. A big reason I rated it high despite that is because I love vampire fiction. For a debut novel, it has great bones, too. I’ll be excited to see more of Darling’s work in the future.
4. Down to a Science by Haley Cass
Published June 1, 2022
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends to Lovers, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Adult
Summary: Ellie Beckett doesn’t love people, but she does love her work and routine, including the pub she spends time in multiple times a week. She’s never thought about how lonely life might be until she meets Mia Sharpe. But Mia has her own anxieties and past experiences that could get in the way of romance. A short slow-burn, friends to lovers with plenty of character development.
Although this is a standalone, this short Cass book explains how the background characters from On the Same Page, Ellie and Mia, got together. Considering I loved Riley and Gianna’s story from that and their novella, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about Ellie and Mia. I didn’t pay them much mind when they were characters before; however, I found myself loving their backstory. It made their characters more deep and satisfying and will likely make my future re-read of On the Same Page sweeter, too. Ellie’s thought processes were interesting to read and unlike most romances I’ve read before. My favorite part was the mystery around Mia and how the explanation was executed. Ellie’s love profession was also perfect.
3. Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen
Published October 18, 2022
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ+, Gay, Sapphic
Summary: It’s 1952 and the queer community only has safety in bars and clubs if they don’t get caught. Some, though, make their own small families, like Lavender House. After the matriarch, Irene Lamontaine, head of the Lamontaine soap empire, mysteriously dies, her widow hires an investigator just like them. Evander Mills, who goes by Andy, was a San Francisco cop before he got caught in a raid. Life seems hopeless before he tangles with the Lavender House, but it grows more complicated still as he uncovers a murderer and discovers himself.
When a friend gifted me this book for my birthday in March, I was excited to dive into the mystery. The book was full of endearing characters that I was happy to pick up little kernels of truth throughout. The “who-dun-it” snared me in its trap and made me second guess who it could be. I did love who ended up being the murderer, though the reveal fell the tiniest bit flat. It wasn’t as dramatic as I was hoping, but then again, that’s hard to pull off. I think the ending was sweet too, optimistic mostly, yet tinged with that realism that plagues gay peoples’ lives (especially back then). Some parts were hard to get through, like the vicious homophobia from the outside world (huge trigger warning for that), but other parts felt safe and warm. I’d happily spend more time with these characters if I could.
2. Warriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #2 by Erin Hunter (author), Natalie Riess and Sarah Goetter (illustrators)
Published April 8, 2025
Rating: 5 stars
Genres: Fantasy, Cats, Children’s
Summary: Covering the events from Warriors: The Prophecies Begin books three and four (Forest of Secrets and Rising Storm), this full-color graphic novel explores the shifting allegiances and rising tensions between the four Clans. Fireheart is determined to unveil the truth about Tigerclaw, exposing him as a power-hungry murderer. Along the way, he struggles with his new apprentice, a devastated forest, and a shell of a leader.
A better adaptation than the first one, I enjoyed absorbing every page of this Warriors graphic novel. The art is stunning, bringing to life the environments and characters of the universe. My emotions flew all over the place as I looked at events that I only previously read about. As an adaptation, some changes were made, both positive and negative, yet the overall was great. To read a more in-depth review, check out my article “Warriors Graphic Novel #2: Claws Out!”.
1. If We Survive This by Racquel Marie
Publishing June 17, 2025
Rating: 5 stars
Genres: Horror, Thriller, Zombies, LGBTQ+, Lesbian, Young Adult
Summary: A creative young adult named Flora Braddock Paz has always feared death in many ways, for herself and her loved ones, and always considered herself to be weak because of it. With OCD and anxiety, it’s a miracle that Flora and her brother Cain are still alive half way into the “rabid” apocalypse. Their mom is dead, the father missing, and their LA neighborhood destroyed. Their only hope keeping them going is to travel to northern California to their childhood cabin, where they might reunite with their dad. Yet, this journey is complicated by “familiar faces, new allies, hidden truths, and painful memories of the family’s final time making this trip last year.” Flora’s changed to survive, but so has the people around her.
Racquel Marie’s book was the first ARC I ever received on the website NetGalley, and man, am I glad I did. I have genuinely not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it; so much so that I keep thinking I’m still reading it. It’s character-driven with some death, danger, and monsters. The representation is fantastic, with OCD and anxiety, but also LGBTQ+ (lesbian, bisexual, transgender). Marie’s book hits the nail right on the head of exploring the complexities of humanity when survival is the crux. The emotions were raw and intense enough to hurt my chest as I read, with poetic words and language. The plot twists were executed beautifully, humor is included, and the rabids (to my benefit) were scary but not super triggering. I simply have too much to say, so if you want to know more, read my Goodreads review!
Do I find it super ironic that I read another zombie book this year even though I have a zombie phobia? And that I specifically requested an advanced copy of this one AND love it?? Yes… Do I think that maybe reading this type of literature is helping my phobia? Maybe. To be seen.
Check out my other monthly wrap-ups: January, February, March
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