April Wrap-Up

Much like March, I didn't have a great reading month compared to January and February, but three of these books I read in the last two weeks of the month. I think I'm feeling slumpy from starting Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor which I'm just not feeling (I have struggled with her books in the past as her writing is quite complex to me) so once I put that book to the side and moved past that slumpy feeling, I was onboard with this month's reads. Let's take a look at what I read!

• City of Bones by Cassandra Clare ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm keeping this brief as I've gone into my review for this book a few times now (look out for a post coming soon on a series review) but this was a re-read for me. I decided to do a series reread as I haven't read them in years, and I still absolutely loved it this time. If anything, I loved it a hell of a lot more this time than some of the other times because of all the nostalgia. There are flaws but all the feels came flooding back so I could look past them.

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Again, this is something I'll keep brief as I've done an entire book review on, but I loved this way more than I thought I would. After seeing one of my favourite booktubers raving about this, I spontaneously picked it up and couldn't put it back down. I think attending her book event in Bristol added to my enjoyment of this book as I was going into it with some behind-the-scenes access, shall we say, which made the book that much more enjoyable for me. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!

• City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another brief review as I'm coming out with a series review for The Mortal Instruments when I'm done, but I really enjoyed this. I've proclaimed this as my favourite book of the series (I tend to favourite middle books but not remember what happened in them... don't ask me why), but upon my re-read, I've downgraded it. It didn't have all the feels for me (as much as City of Bones did) and it played out differently to what I remembered. I really enjoyed it but fell a little flat against my memories.

• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas ⭐⭐⭐

Lastly, ACOTAR. I went in with reserved expectations which I was right to do. I knew I wouldn't enjoy this like I'm supposed to, but I was essentially reading it to get to the second book which is why I was starting this series at all. The hype is real. Her writing, however, was poor. The Beauty and the Beast retelling was more of a scapegoat than anything, and I just don't care. I don't have the energy to not care about this book. It wasn't great and I think I was generous with the rating (but I don't do half ratings otherwise it'd sit just below three stars), but I'm excited for ACOMAF.