What I Read and Loved | April 2024
Seven books, a travel doc, the perfect lipstick, and more
Welcome to my April recap! Last month had some high highs (spring break!) and low lows (Covid!). Despite the ups and downs, I read seven books, three of which are new five-star reads. I’m excited to share them with you, so let’s get to it.
What I Read
For the past few years, Lucy has lived in California, trying to build a new life. She fled the small town of Plumpton, Texas, after her best friend, Savvy, was murdered. Everyone believed Lucy was the killer, but she was hurt that night, too, and suffered a head injury. She can't remember what happened to her friend, and sometimes she wonders if she really is guilty.
Things are going okay until a podcaster named Ben shows up in Plumpton. He's doing a series on Savvy's death and starts asking questions. After some convincing from her wiley grandmother, Lucy returns to her hometown and finally starts to face everything that's been haunting her.
Listen for the Lie is a fast-paced thriller with an exciting plot. Lucy is an unreliable but enjoyable narrator whose bluntness makes for some interesting scenes. I loved learning about her relationships with her grandmother, parents, former friends, and ex-husband. Seeing how everybody connected and who might be a suspect was fun and kept me turning the pages. Jamie B. Golden of The Popcast recommended this book in a recent episode, and I'm so glad I listened to her enthusiastic praise.
I've worked in education for nearly 13 years, and during that time, I've seen kids become increasingly glued to their phones. (I've seen the same behavior from myself.) I hear from my teacher friends about the challenges of managing phones during class, and I see kids walking down the hallway staring at their screens instead of where they're going. I assumed too much technology and social media usage was harmful, but now I understand how complicated things have gotten.
In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt presents data that reveals teens all around the world experienced mental health crises as smartphones and social media became more common. He refers to the years between 2010 - 2015 as the "Great Rewiring," a time when mental illness spiked in young people. Haidt makes a persuasive argument that smartphone and social media use should be delayed and advocates for phone-free schools. I was fascinated by each page of this book, and I highly recommend it to all educators and parents.
Usually, I'm not too fond of long, epic poems. I don't care much about basketball, and I didn't know anything about Julius Erving. Despite that, I read and enjoyed Be Holding by Ross Gay, a book-length poem dedicated to Erving's impressive slam dunk skills. (A friend who knows my taste well recommended it to me.) Like any good poetry, Be Holding is about basketball but also a lot more, including race, joy, and triumph. Gay writes with a smooth rhythm, making for a pleasant reading experience. I’m glad I stretched myself with this poem.
When this book begins, Piglet, our memorable protagonist who goes by a nickname from her father, is happy. She's engaged, just moved into a beautiful home, and works as a cookbook editor. When her fiancé betrays her days before their wedding, she starts spiraling. (We're never told what the fiancé did.) Hunger overwhelms Piglet, so she goes into restaurants and orders one of everything. She's consumed with rage toward her fiancé but stays by his side, determined to marry him and keep the life she worked hard to build.
Piglet is funny and heartbreaking, full of cringe-worthy but also relatable moments. Lottie Hazell has written a character-driven novel that beautifully examines women's rage, hunger, and desire to please. I ended up reading this book in one sitting and felt like I could reread it immediately upon finishing. It's undoubtedly one of my favorites of the year so far. Please read it and talk to me about it, okay? Okay.
This quiet Dutch novel is a collection of vignettes about a woman mourning the suicide of her twin brother. The two were inseparable as children and in early adulthood, but her brother began pulling away when the two were in their 20s. Despite the heavy subject matter, there were some funny moments and sweet scenes of familial love. Fans of character-driven stories and those wanting to read more translated fiction should give this book a try.
Daphne is a librarian who recently moved with her fiancé back to his hometown, a small but charming lakeside town in Michigan. The ideal life she was building falls apart when her fiancé leaves her for Petra, his childhood best friend. Daphne suddenly has nowhere to live, so she asks if she can move in with Miles, Petra's jilted boyfriend. The two roommates are wildly different, but they find themselves drawn to one another as they explore their town and learn each other's stories.
I can always count on Emily Henry to deliver a feel-good romance with excellent character development. I loved Daphne and Miles, but I also loved the supporting cast, including Daphne's coworkers, Miles' sister, and Daphne's absent father. Funny Story is a love story, but it's also about female friendship, complicated parent-child relationships, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we want. The tension in this story felt believable, and the hurdles to the happily ever after made sense. I read this book a couple of weeks ago when I was sick, and I think it helped cure me. (Don't look up the science on that.) I think this is Henry's best book. I wanted to give it a hug when I finished it.
In 2019, Jules lives alone in her Brooklyn apartment, halfheartedly working for a Sparknotes-like website, and navigating the early days of a new relationship. Life suddenly changes when Poppy, her younger sister, comes up from Florida. Poppy claims she'll only stay with Jules for a little while, but Jules knows better and is certain Poppy is there for the long haul. Poppy has experienced a mental breakdown and breaks out in hives that no doctor can explain. Jules obsessively follows women on Instagram she calls her "mommies," housewives prone to conspiracy theories and pyramid schemes. As the two sisters get used to living together again, they learn they can't avoid each other's neuroses and weaknesses.
If I were to describe my relationship with this book, I'd say, "It's complicated." I enjoyed pieces of this story, including some of the sibling dynamics, their three-legged pet dog named Amy Klobuchar, and the awkward but funny interactions with the sisters' parents when the family is together for Thanksgiving in Florida. The two main things I disliked about this book are things I typically don't mind: lack of plot and unlikable characters.
Even though I felt pretty "meh" about this book when I finished it, I'm still thinking about it. I'm trying to figure out exactly what about Worry left me wanting, and I think it's just that the characters felt flat in the end. When I got to the abrupt ending, I wondered what the point had been. Jules and Poppy experienced little, if any, growth. Despite some funny lines, their bickering annoyed me more than it drew me into their drama. I've read several reviews of Worry that praised it, so I know the book has its merits. It just isn't one I see myself recommending unless I'm sure a reader has a soft spot for sister stories.
What I Loved
TELEVISION: Conan O’Brien Must Go (Max)
I’ve loved Conan O’Brien for a long time, so I was thrilled to hear he was getting a show on HBO after he ended his TBS run. It took several years, but the show is here! Conan O’Brien Must Go is a four-part series in which Conan travels to Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland to meet up with people he talked to on his podcast. One of the things I love about Conan is his ability to connect with people of all different ages, races, and personalities. Each episode is hilarious, and I enjoyed the look at the four beautiful countries. I can see myself rewatching this series any time I need a good laugh.
BEAUTY: Merit Signature Lip Lightweight Matte Lipstick in Sunday
In the fall, I raved about a Merit lipstick in the shade L’avenue. Allow me to rave about a beautiful spring and summer lipstick, this time in the shade Sunday. Sunday is the perfect pink; it’s not too dark or too bright. It’s part of Merit’s new matte range, and the staying power is fantastic. Even though it’s a matte formula, the lipstick doesn’t feel too dry. It’s great alone, but it also looks nice with a gloss over the top. I want all of the Merit lipsticks. I’ll make a little lipstick bouquet and walk around with it like it’s my baby.
What I Wrote
Have you read any of my April books? What were your reads and loves last month? I’d love to hear!
Be Holding is on my to-read list! Anything by Ross Gay. Anything.
I have been meaning to read The anxious generation, after hearing a bunch of interviews with Jonathan Haidt! Very much saw what you observed too, during my 8 years of teaching. Thanks for the recc!