April 2026 reading wrap up

I don’t know why I ever think I’m going to get through a Beth O’Leary book without crying.

This absolutely wrecked me.

Her writing just has this way of building emotional connection so naturally that by the time everything hits, you’re already too invested to come out of it unscathed. The relationship development feels real, the stakes feel grounded, and the emotional moments land exactly where they should. There’s a quietness to her storytelling in some parts that make the bigger moments hit even harder.

I was bawling like a baby through the last quarter. No notes.

But more than that, it’s the kind of book that lingers in a softer way afterwards. Not overwhelming, not heavy, just present. The kind you find yourself thinking about randomly a few days later.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5 stars)

This one completely surprised me. But in the best way possible since it’s about a hockey player and a librarian.

The Toronto Terrors has been a series full of three and four star reads, so I went in expecting to enjoy it… And then Connor and Dred’s story absolutely destroyed me. It’s always such a specific kind of delight when a series suddenly delivers that book. You know, the one that elevates everything that came before it (and hopefully those that come after it). This book reminded me of Wild Side or Heartless from Elsie Silver’s books. Not that they are similar in story, but they were also that singluar book in the series I loved.

The found family themes in this book are so strong, and they’re handled in a way that feels genuinely emotional rather than just trope-driven. The relationships, not just romantic, but across the whole cast, really shine here and you can feel the weight of those connections throughout the story.

This was an ugly cry kind of book. The kind where you have to stop reading for a second and just sit because you’re hiccupping and can’t see the page any more. Again, no notes.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5 stars)

This was good… but also very firmly in “white knight” territory.

Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just depends on your tolerance for that dynamic. The writing is solid, and the story is engaging enough to keep you reading, but it didn’t quite push beyond the expectations of the trope. It plays things relatively safe in a way that makes it easy to consume, but not particularly memorable. Which honestly hurts, becasue this book could have caused similar angst to If You Claim Me.

There were moments where I wanted it to dig just a little deeper into the characters or take a slightly different angle, but it never quite got there.

I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t surprised by it. It was good, but it didn’t grab me emotionally. (I will probably read the next one though.)

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)

A new-to-me author, and I’m very glad I picked this up.

This is definitely a trope-forward romance (fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, enforced proximity, billionaire romance), and it leans into that with both arms (and legs), but it does it in a way that feels fun rather than predictable. The chemistry works, the pacing is solid, and it’s just very easy to read. It knows exactly what it’s trying to deliver and doesn’t overcomplicate it.

There’s also something to be said for a book that just flows. I picked this up and didn’t have to think about it too much (in the best way) and it just kept me engaged from start to finish.

Sometimes you just want a book that executes well and gives you exactly what you came for, and this absolutely delivered on that.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

This was such a soft, gentle read. (Thank you to Ruby for picking The Honey Witch from my shelf!)

The atmosphere of the story really carries this book. It has that cosy, slightly whimsical fantasy feel that makes it very easy to sink into, and the magic system is delightful. The romance is sweet (like honey), the setting is warm, and overall it’s just a really comforting reading experience. It’s the kind of book that feels like it’s wrapping you up in a blanket rather than trying to challenge you.

That said, I did feel the pacing dip a bit in the middle. It slows down enough that I found myself wanting just a little more momentum to keep things moving, particularly when the emotional threads were already in place and just needed to be pushed forward.

But the emotional payoff is there, and it left me with that quiet, content feeling at the end, which honestly counts for a lot. Not a book I’ll necessarily think about constantly, but one I’m very glad I read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

This is one of those books where I completely get the hype… while also being somewhat frustrated by it.

The central relationship is compelling and the tension is strong, but there were moments where I found myself wanting just a bit more. Not necessarily from Shane and Ilya, but from their dynamic. It’s not that anything was missing exactly, just that it didn’t always land as strongly as I expected it to.

I think part of that is expectation. This book comes with a world of hype, and while I enjoyed it, I didn’t quite connect with it in the same way others clearly do. Also, once I determined that it covers EIGHT YEARS, I really just wanted to smack these loveable idiots upside their heads. Four years? Fine. Eight years? Are you freaking kidding me??!

Don’t get me wrong (and please don’t come for me!), I still really liked it. I just didn’t love it in the way I thought I would. And honestly, I preferred Game Changer, the first book in the series. #sorrynotsorry

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

(The Game Changer series is a monthly side quest for The Romance Revelry Society’s book club where we read one book per month)