Reminder/ Caveat/ Disclaimer: This is my (hopefully) monthly list of books I’ve read and enjoyed. These are not reviews, I do not include books I didn’t enjoy because life is too short to speak badly of books!

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading.

If you’re not sure whether you’ll agree with my recommendations, check out my blog post on My Reader Wheels and my podcast, Women With Books . Those should help you decide if you’re going to be into my recommendations.

The best book club recommendations for you and your friends!

We’re all still stuck at home, hopefully healthy or recovering. Because we need books now more than ever, I’m still doing this.

My book recommendations for May….

Untamed - Glennon Doyle
Amazon || Apple Books

I’ll be honest. I bought this book.

Yes, I know I’ve been on a book no buy this year but my book club wanted to read this and what, exactly was I supposed to do in the middle of the pandemic?

WAIT for it to become available on the CloudLibrary app???

Dear reader, I hate to wait for books.

I mean, I do it all the time, but I don’t have to like it.

I recommend this book, a selection of essays mostly written about the last few years of Ms. Doyle’s life, for anyone who’s reached their 40s and are rediscovering who they are supposed to be or wondering why they are the way they are. This book won’t necessarily explain it for you, but you’ll definitely walk away with new insights about how we’re all still growing up even when we’re supposed to be adulted already. I highlighted a bunch of parts that I need to go back and re-read so I’m really glad I bought it.

Say Yes to the Duke - Eloisa James
Amazon || Apple Books

I did NOT buy this book. Instead, it was graciously sent to me by my good friends at Avon/ Netgalley. (Thanks guys!) I’ve read the entire Wilde series now and jumping back into the pages with this fictional family meant this was an extremely comforting read. I felt like I used to feel, back when I could see friends in person. Remember those days???

Manhunting - Jennifer Cruisie
Amazon || Apple Books

I DID buy this book… a long time ago. It’s from my TBR pile! Look at me! I think I bought it a long time ago because a friend told me it was her favorite Jennifer Crusie book. Now, I’ve loved and read Ms. Crusie’s romcom classic, Bet Me, at least five times but I’ve never dug into her other books and let me tell you, I LOVED THIS. Another comforting, funny, easy read during my stay-at-home days. It was published in 1993 (I think) which somehow added to the 2020 comfort. Why? No one had cell phones or internet or email in this book. It’s set at a resort and everyone there has to basically TALK TO EACH OTHER THE WHOLE TIME. What a concept. I can’t even imagine.

I saw some reviews that stated that the book was dated for another reason: The female main character keeps getting grabbed on dates/ in bars. Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can say that this is what dates the book as this kind of behavior does still happen, and often. I will say that it is done for comedic effect and the female main character is in NO WAY a victim. In fact, she handles each of the offenders efficiently and on her own, which is very au courant.

The Forbidden Rose- Joanna Bourne
Amazon || Apple Books

Another one from the TBR pile! This one is a prequel/ sequel to a book I included in my uber popular Swooniest Book List: The Spymaster’s Lady. (I think it’s officially the first book in the series if you go by events but it was published after The Spymaster’s Lady so it’s listed as #2). A Joanna Bourne book is like a box of expensive, dark rich chocolates. Exquisitely crafted. Meant to be savored. Extremely satisfying.

If you’re looking for EVEN MORE comfort read recommendations, I made a separate list (along with everything I’ve ever recommended, practically) here: What To Read During a Pandemic.

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!

And what about you?
I’d love to hear what you’ve read and loved while stuck at home or what you’re looking forward to reading next! If you want these book recommendations (and a sneak peek at my TBR list and advanced reading copies) sent straight to your inbox, remember to sign up for my newsletter where I’ll be including all the best book club recommendations throughout 2020!

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means I could receive a few coins for posting them. As always, thank you for your support and encouragement!

Lindsay Emory

April 28, 2020

Best Books

Best Books to Read Now - April 2020

Lindsay Emory

April 28, 2020

Best Books

Welcome to the Best Books to Read Now Book Club! My (hopefully) monthly blog featuring my reading list, my TBR pile and the books I think you and your best friends should be reading.

We’re all still stuck at home, hopefully healthy or recovering. Because we need books now more than ever, I’m still doing this.

My book recommendations for April….

Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid
Amazon || Apple Books

This was an interesting read for me and I 100% recommend it for book clubs because I think that everyone can pull something different out of it. But it’s not a usual read for me, as it’s not a mystery, romance, etc. It was a page turner because the author did such a good job twisting and turning the characters until you weren’t quite sure how or if you should root for anyone… which is probably the point. So no HEA but definitely worth your time.

Where the Lost Wander - Amy Harmon
Amazon

LOVE.
LOVE.
LOVE.

Already one of my best books of the year. You can hear my full gush on the Women With Books podcast soon but here’s an abbreviated version:

WAGON TRAIL.
HISTORICAL FICTION.
ADVENTURE!

ROMANCE!

CHOLERA!

Okay, that part might not be alluring, but y’all. If you’re part of the Oregon Trail generation especially (See here if you don’t know what that is), you need to pick up this book ASAP.

The Virgin and the Rogue - Sophie Jordan
Amazon || Apple Books

I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw that cover, that deliciously old-school romance cover. I knew the plot involved a love potion trope but here is a content warning for anyone who might want to know about consent issues. The female main character is under the influence of a love potion when she first… ah… puts the moves on the unsuspecting male main character. Trying not to spoil this, but I want to give fair warning that there’s a fine consensual line, on both their parts.

Anyway, I felt that the love potion plot made for a topsy-turvy romance book, one that was very enjoyable and easy to read. It’s mostly in the heroine’s voice, as she untangles what her feelings are, which are due to the love potion, and why she’s never known her true self before.

Feels Like Falling - Kristy Woodson Harvey
Amazon || Apple Books

A great read for your Mother’s Day gifts or just a quiet quarantine day or your book club! I’ve included Kristy Woodson Harvey books multiple times on the blog (and had her on the Women With Books podcast here) and as soon as I saw she had a new release, I requested an early copy. This one is set in a new beach town in North Carolina and has alternating stories of two very different women who soon become best friends. It’s a story of friendship, but it’s also a story of how women can mother each other, their friends, their siblings - which is why I’m recommending this for Mother’s Day! Get this for all your friends who are also willing to set you up on dates/ hold your hair back/ let you come live in their guest house on the beach. (And also I would like to be that person’s friend, thanks).

If you’re looking for EVEN MORE comfort read recommendations, I made a separate list (along with everything I’ve ever recommended, practically) here: What To Read During a Pandemic.

As always, I’ll be talking more about the books I don’t finish and why I think they didn’t connect with me in my newsletter this month.

Do you like books on sale?
Make sure you’re following me on Facebook because that’s where I post great books on sale!