What I Read in April 2025

April was a fine reading month – not great, not terrible. I read some good things, but, aside from Margo’s Got Money Troubles which is my favorite audiobook of the year so far, I don’t think I’ll remember much about most of the books I read this month.

Almost half of what I read in April was non-fiction. One weekend I binged WeCrashed, the AppleTV miniseries about WeWork, and it put me in a mood to read about WeWork and Theranos, two unicorn startups that spectacularly crashed and burned. I also tortured myself by reading about the 2024 election. Sigh.

Fiction

Contemporary Fiction

Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

I’m stubborn and don’t always like to read what’s popular—or what people tell me I should read. That’s the only reason I waited so long to pick up Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Dakota Fanning. It follows Margo, a teenage college student who gets pregnant by her professor and decides to raise the baby alone. Things spiral financially until she starts an OnlyFans account—with help from her dad, a retired pro wrestler. That premise sounded too wild for me. I couldn’t imagine it working. But it does. Somehow, it really does.

The book handles sensitive topics with humor and grace. Every twist brought something new. Margo is a totally original character. And the audio version? Fantastic. I can’t wait to see Elle Fanning bring Margo to life on screen.

Note: Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with an Advanced Listening Copy.

Early Thirties by Josh Duboff

Early Thirties centers on best friends Vincent and Zoey, former college classmates now living in New York. We also hear from other people who orbit their lives.

The story is character-driven, and the timeline is slippery. Does it span three years or six? The characters aren’t likable. But oddly, that didn’t bother me. I flew through it in one night.

Comparisons to Rebecca Serle, Gabrielle Zevin, and Dolly Alderton don’t quite track—maybe a hint of Alderton, at best. I enjoyed the book, but I don’t think it’ll stick with me. And I’m not sure who I’d recommend it to. It’s a bit of a mystery.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein

Vivian and Lucy are half-sisters who don’t meet until their father dies—he hid Lucy’s existence for over 30 years. They’re forced to spend the summer together at his Maine lake house, trying to figure out if they can become family.

The pacing of Maine Characters felt off. Some reveals came too late, and the emotional tone stayed pretty surface-level. Still, there’s strong character development and a great sense of place.

It’s not my favorite by Hannah Orenstein (Meant to Be Mine wins that title), but fans of The Parent Trap or Maine or lakeside getaways will find this a cozy summer weekend read.

Note: Thank you to Dutton Books for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.

Honey by Isabel Banta

Honey follows a ’90s-era pop star with Christina Aguilera vibes. It explores her career, her friends, and the people who shaped her along the way.

This book wants to be a literary version of The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes (review here) or Hayley Aldridge Is Still Here, both by Elissa Sloan. I’d recommend either of Sloan’s books before this one.

Still, I liked the character development and enjoyed the final third. The ending landed well.

Romance

The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan

In The High Dive, seven friends from Columbia reunite a decade after graduation for a European yacht getaway to celebrate a wedding.

The main focus is on Alex and Danial, children of middle-class immigrants who took opposite paths. Alex works in progressive politics. Danial chases wealth to support his family. They clash constantly, haunted by a falling-out during college.

The conflict was intense—almost too intense. Alex’s anxiety made me anxious. Her financial stress stressed me out. And the fighting between Alex and Daniel was pretty vicious at times! But around the halfway point, things began to settle. It wasn’t the breezy escape I’d expected, but the characters felt real. Paul’s arc especially touched me, even if it wrapped up fast.

Great for readers who want vacation drama with depth and who enjoyed Fagan’s A Perfect Vintage.

Note: Thank you to Orsay Press for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.

MYSTERY/THRILLER/SUSPENSE

Blood on the Vine by J.T. Falco

J.T. Falco’s debut Blood on the Vine follows FBI Agent Lana Burrell as she investigates two murders in Napa Valley while also trying to prove her father’s innocence in an old case, the murder of her childhood best friend. It’s a lot, I know.

The book starts slow, and Lana was hard to pin down. But around the 20% mark, I was hooked. The cast is sharp and full of surprises. I especially loved Sherrif’s Deputy Essie Leroux, Lana’s senior citizen sidekick. There’s a cult subplot, a dash of romance, and fascinating wine-making tidbits that give it flavor. And did I see the ending coming? Not even close.

A great choice for mystery lovers and wine fans alike—perfect for a summer getaway read.

Note: Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.

Historical Fiction

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick

In The Book Club for Troublesome Women, four women in Northern Virginia form a book club and start with The Feminine Mystique. Each woman faces her own private struggle, and together they help each other grow.

It’s a familiar setup, similar to other historical fiction I’ve read that’s set in this era (All You Have to Do Is Call comes to mind), but these characters felt more alive. Yes, there are lessons, but the book doesn’t beat you over the head with them. And the ending delivers.

The timing of this read feels right. So many older friends have reminded me recently that today’s chaos echoes the 1960s. Reading this reminded me that we’ve survived worse—and we’ll survive this, too.

Note: Thank you to Harper Muse for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.

Short Stories

You Think It I’ll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld

Curtis Sittenfeld’s first short story collection, You Think It, I’ll Say It, hits hard. I discovered her through her novels and usually avoid short stories, but she nails the form.

I slightly prefer her second book of short stories, Show Don’t Tell which I read last month (review here), but this one still lingers with me. She’s great at portraying complicated, flawed people and making their messiness relatable. I’m usually a black-and-white thinker, but these stories nudged me into the grey.

Quick, sharp, and thought-provoking—I’d recommend it to almost anyone.

Non-Fiction

Self improvement

Ask a Matchmaker by Maria Avgitidis

Maria Avgitidis (aka @MatchmakerMaria on Instagram) brings her no-nonsense dating advice to the page in this debut dating how-to, Ask a Matchmaker. She covers everything from second-date etiquette (in heterosexual relationships, men should always ask the women on the second date), to manifesting love, to when to introduce your partner to your parents.

If you’re new to her content and struggle with modern dating, this book is a must. It’s funny, practical, and full of stories from her life and clients.

If you already follow her on Instagram and scroll through her weekly ‘Ask a Matchmaker’ Q&As, or if you know all about attachment theory, some of it may feel familiar. But you’ll still take away something new and learn more about Maria’s personal journey.

Note: Thank you to St. Martin’s Essentials for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.

Memoir

Hunger Like a Thirst by Besha Rodell

I hadn’t heard of Besha Rodell before this, but I love books about food and people who love food so I gave her memoir, Hunger Like a Thirst, a shot. It’s excellent.

Rodell, a James Beard Award winner, writes about her life as a critic and journalist, including stints in Atlanta, North Carolina, LA, and Australia. She talks about complex family dynamics and relationships. And she talks about her own relationship with her work. What I found most relatable was her writing about her struggle between her personal identity and her professional identity and the ways in which those do and don’t overlap. The struggles of maintaining work-life balance when so much of your life and ambition and ego is tied up in your work. 

Rodell is not Anthony Bourdain or Ruth Reichl or Jonathan Gold, but you can tell her work has been shaped by them. Pick this up if you love food writing or great memoirs. You’re in for a delicious meal!

Note: Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with an Advanced Reading Copy.

The House of My Mother by Shari Franke

This memoir by Shari Franke, eldest child of vlogger Ruby Franke, offers a first-person account of life in a deeply troubled family.

I hadn’t watched Ruby’s videos or followed her trial. I don’t even like true crime. So I’m not the target reader. But I’d heard this book was better than the docuseries on the subject that recently came out, so I gave it a shot.

It’s heartbreaking. And at just 22, Shari feels too close to the events to fully process them. I’d be more interested in her perspective ten years from now. I’ll be curious to see how her relationship with her dad and siblings evolve and what path her faith journey takes her on.

I’d only recommend The House of My Mother if you’re already invested in the Franke family story.

Miscellaneous Non-fiction

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou

John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood tells the jaw-dropping true story of Elizabeth Holmes and her failed blood testing company, Theranos.

I’ve read it twice, and both times I was stunned. The HBO doc The Inventor covers similar ground, but the book adds insider details and new info from Holmes’s 2021 trial.

If you’re interested in investigative journalism or Silicon Valley scandals, don’t miss this one.

The Cult of We by Eliot Brown and Maureen Farrell

After watching WeCrashed, the AppleTV miniseries about WeWork CEO and co-founder Adam Neumann and his wife Rebekah, I read The Cult of We to dig deeper into the WeWork saga. Unfortunately, the show was better.

The book focuses heavily on financial details, while the series spotlighted the interpersonal chaos. For me, the human drama was more compelling. If you’re curious about startup economics, the book delivers. If you’re here for the soap opera, stick to the show.

political

Fight by Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes

Fight covers the 2024 election. If you’re still emotionally recovering, proceed with caution.

I’ve read all of Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen’s books. They’re strong reporters, even if they’re no John Heilemann and Mark Halperin at their peak.

Maybe the story unfolded exactly as they tell it. Maybe not. And there are definitely important lessons to be learned from the election. But I’m not quite ready to revisit it all. (Did I still read Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s take? Yes. Of course.)

If you’re brave enough to dive in, pour a drink or toss back a Xanax first. You’ll need it.

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In these turbulent and depressing times, I am so grateful for books. Even in a ‘bad’ reading months, reading keeps me from spending all my waking hours doomscrolling and brings me joy. What are you doing these days to avoid the doomscroll?