Most Anticipated: April 2022
I can’t believe it’s April already! Well, I guess I can – this year has been a LOT – and to be honest I’m looking forward to the end of the school year! It’s a little bit of a slower month, book-wise, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of good books!
Here’s my whopping list of 10 books I’m looking forward in April!
The Blood Trials – N.A. Davenport (April 5)
Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.
It’s all about blood.
The blood spilled between the Republic of Mareen and the armies of the Blood Emperor long ago. The blood gifts of Mareen’s deadliest enemies. The blood that runs through the elite War Houses of Mareen, the rulers of the Tribunal dedicated to keeping the republic alive.
The blood of the former Legatus, Verne Amari, murdered.
For his granddaughter, Ikenna, the only thing steady in her life was the man who had saved Mareen. The man who had trained her in secret, not just in martial skills, but in harnessing the blood gift that coursed through her.
Who trained her to keep that a secret.
But now there are too many secrets, and with her grandfather assassinated, Ikenna knows two things: that only someone on the Tribunal could have ordered his death, and that only a Praetorian Guard could have carried out that order.
Bent on revenge as much as discovering the truth, Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials–a brutal initiation that only a quarter of the aspirants survive. She subjects herself to the racism directed against her half-Khanaian heritage and the misogyny of a society that cherishes progeny over prodigy, all while hiding a power that–if found out–would subject her to execution…or worse. Ikenna is willing to risk it all because she needs to find out who murdered her grandfather…and then she needs to kill them.
Mareen has been at peace for a long time…
Ikenna joining the Praetorians is about to change all that.
Magic and technology converge in the first part of this stunning debut duology, where loyalty to oneself–and one’s blood–is more important than anything.
WHY?: I am an absolute fool for hot women with sharp pointy things on covers. (shh, I actually already reviewed this one!)
Boss Witch – Ann Aguirre (April 5)
The second in an adorable witchy rom-com series by New York Times bestselling author Ann Aguirre, perfect for fans of:
Ride-or-die female friendships
A bisexual heroine who stubbornly refuses to accept help
A hero with an incredibly pesky moral conscience
A mouse named Benson who may or may not have all the answers to life, magic, and love (Spoiler: he does!)Clementine Waterhouse is a perfectly logical witch. She doesn’t tumble headlong into love. Rather she weighs the pros and cons and decides if a relationship is worth pursuing. At least that’s always been her modus operandi before. Clem prefers being the one in charge, always the first to walk away when the time is right. Attraction has never struck her like lightning.
Until the witch hunter comes to town.
Gavin Rhys hates being a witch hunter, but his family honor is on the line, and he needs to prove he’s nothing like his grandfather, a traitor who let everyone down. But things in St. Claire aren’t what they seem, and Gavin is distracted from the job immediately by a bewitching brunette with a sexy smile and haunting secrets in her eyes.
Can the bossiest witch in town find a happy ending with the last person she should ever love?
WHY?: I’ve loved pretty much everything Ann Aguirre has written, so even though I didn’t particularly like Clem from the last book, I’m willing to give it a try! Plus, that cover is wow!
She Gets the Girl – Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick (April 5)
She’s All That meets What If It’s Us in this swoon-worthy hate-to-love YA romantic comedy from #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Feet Apart Rachael Lippincott and debut writer Alyson Derrick.
Alex Blackwood is a little bit headstrong, with a dash of chaos and a whole lot of flirt. She knows how to get the girl. Keeping her on the other hand…not so much. Molly Parker has everything in her life totally in control, except for her complete awkwardness with just about anyone besides her mom. She knows she’s in love with the impossibly cool Cora Myers. She just…hasn’t actually talked to her yet.
Alex and Molly don’t belong on the same planet, let alone the same college campus. But when Alex, fresh off a bad (but hopefully not permanent) breakup, discovers Molly’s hidden crush as their paths cross the night before classes start, they realize they might have a common interest after all. Because maybe if Alex volunteers to help Molly learn how to get her dream girl to fall for her, she can prove to her ex that she’s not a selfish flirt. That she’s ready for an actual commitment. And while Alex is the last person Molly would ever think she could trust, she can’t deny Alex knows what she’s doing with girls, unlike her.
As the two embark on their five-step plans to get their girls to fall for them, though, they both begin to wonder if maybe they’re the ones falling…for each other.
WHY?: That cover is adorable, for one! Plus, two disaster lesbians who fall in love while one tries to help the other one land a completely different girl? Sounds adorable!
Angling for You – Adele Buck (April 8)
When you’ve lost nearly everything, can you trust enough to put your heart on the line?
As a fly fishing guide, Sam Halvorsen is a woman in a man’s world and she’s heard enough bad jokes about rods to last a lifetime. When she takes Graham Evans out on the water, her goal is to get her payday and deposit the handsome librarian back on dry land.
Yet not only does Graham have an adorable dog, he respects her skills and knowledge. Sam finds herself confiding in him about her grief and fear of abandonment following the death of the grandmother who raised her. Even more surprising, she finds herself giving into the attraction and passion between them.
Sam never expected to find the love of a man who sees her for exactly who she is. But just as she’s starting to trust her feelings for Graham, a letter arrives, bringing with it a torrent of family secrets and lies that could ruin everything.
WHY?: An adorable dog, an unusual job, and no mansplaining sounds pretty adorable to me!
Through the Rain – Shannon Stacey (April 12)
They thought their marriage was over, but being stranded together for a weekend may change everything.
Emily Ferguson needs a break from navigating the divorce process. On a whim, she heads to the family’s lakeside cabin to say goodbye before selling it becomes yet another painful step in starting over.
Scott Ferguson couldn’t repair his marriage, but he can fix up the cabin before they have to put it on the market. Maybe physical labor will help him sweat out the emotions he can’t seem to express. He never expects to find Emily there by herself.
When a spring storm rolls across the lake, taking down trees that block the road, Emily and Scott have no way out. Isolated from the rest of the world, with only each other for company, they can’t escape the feelings still simmering between them.
WHY?: I don’t normally read a lot of marriage in trouble books, but this was recommended by someone I trust, plus forced proximity? Sounds pretty good!
Fevered Star – Rebecca Roanhorse (April 19)
Return to The Meridian with New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s sequel to the most critically hailed epic fantasy of 2020 Black Sun—finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Lambda, and Locus awards.
There are no tides more treacherous than those of the heart. —Teek saying
The great city of Tova is shattered. The sun is held within the smothering grip of the Crow God’s eclipse, but a comet that marks the death of a ruler and heralds the rise of a new order is imminent.
The Meridian: a land where magic has been codified and the worship of gods suppressed. How do you live when legends come to life, and the faith you had is rewarded?
As sea captain Xiala is swept up in the chaos and currents of change, she finds an unexpected ally in the former Priest of Knives. For the Clan Matriarchs of Tova, tense alliances form as far-flung enemies gather and the war in the heavens is reflected upon the earth.
And for Serapio and Naranpa, both now living avatars, the struggle for free will and personhood in the face of destiny rages. How will Serapio stay human when he is steeped in prophecy and surrounded by those who desire only his power? Is there a future for Naranpa in a transformed Tova without her total destruction?
WHY?: Let’s just pretend that cover doesn’t exist. Other than that, SERAPIO! NARANPA! XIALA!! After the cliffhanger of the last book, I cannot wait to find out what happens next!
Book Boyfriend – Kris Ripper (April 26)
A secret crush leads to not-so-secret romance in this delightful romantic comedy from Kris Ripper
There are three things you need to know about Preston “PK” Kingsley:
1) He’s a writer, toiling in obscurity as an editorial assistant at a New York City publishing house.
2) He is not a cliché. No, really.
3) He’s been secretly in love with his best friend, Art, since they once drunkenly kissed in college.When Art moves in with PK following a bad breakup, PK hopes this will be the moment when Art finally sees him as more than a friend. But Art seems to laugh off the very idea of them in a relationship, so PK returns to his writing roots—in fiction, he can say all the things he can’t say out loud.
In his book, PK can be the perfect boyfriend.
Before long, it seems like the whole world has a crush on the fictionalized version of him, including Art, who has no idea that the hot new book everyone’s talking about is PK’s story. But when his brilliant plan to win Art over backfires, PK might lose not just his fantasy book boyfriend, but his best friend.
WHY?: “Dude has an unrequited crush on his best friend so he writes fanfic about them” is so up my alley I cannot even.
Nettle & Bone – T. Kingfisher (April 26)
After years of seeing her sisters suffer at the hands of an abusive prince, Marra—the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter—has finally realized that no one is coming to their rescue. No one, except for Marra herself.
Seeking help from a powerful gravewitch, Marra is offered the tools to kill a prince—if she can complete three impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes, witches, and daughters, the impossible is only the beginning.
On her quest, Marra is joined by the gravewitch, a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon. Together, the five of them intend to be the hand that closes around the throat of the prince and frees Marra’s family and their kingdom from its tyrannous ruler at last.
WHY?: You had me at “chicken possessed by a demon.” Plus T. Kingfisher is amazing!
The Other Half of the Grave – Jeaniene Frost (April 26)
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Night Huntress series comes a thrilling new look at the iconic origin story of Cat and Bones, as experienced by Bones…from the other half of the grave.
There are two sides to every story–and the sizzling British alpha vampire, Bones, has a lot to say…
Ever wondered what Bones was thinking and feeling when he and half-vampire Cat Crawfield first met? Or how their story might differ if he were the one telling it? Now, relive the beginning of Cat and Bones’ bestselling love story through Bones’ point of view, which reveals a darker, sexier take on their early days, as well as a deeper dive into Bones’ past, the vampire world, and other things that Cat didn’t see when their story was told only through her eyes in Halfway to the Grave.
Cat had her say. Now, it’s Bones’ turn.
WHY?: Cat & Bones’ series was a huge favorite of mine when they first came out and pretty much solidified my love of vampire urban fantasy. I’ve been reading the bits of this book released on the author’s blog and can’t wait to see the rest!
Summoning Up Love – Synithia Williams (April 26)
A fraud?
Or the find of her lifetime?
Vanessa Steele retreats to her grandmother’s beach house to heal after she loses her job and her fiancé. When she finds that Grandma’s enlisted hunky Dion Livingston and his brothers to investigate suspicious paranormal activity, the intrepid reporter’s skeptical of their motives. But her own investigation discovers that Dion’s the real deal. And any supernatural energy? Pales compared to the electricity that erupts when the two of them are together…
WHY?: It’s a category! With ghosts! I’ve loved this author’s previous work, and this premise sounds like the right mix of bonkers and adorable.
And that’s my list for the month. What books are you looking forward to?