April is ending and it feels like the start of something new. The beginning of May is usually a time for those graduations and the end of the school year. We’re starting off with what I read the past month and there were a LOT of books, y’all. There were surprises and just really good stories being told. Allllll the recs in this post! Not a bad book was read. We call that WINNING.

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The Billionaire Benefactor by Emma St Clair

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I loved this story so much. I didn’t realize that Emma’s earlier work was more faith based. So that was a nice, welcome surprise.

I enjoyed their story so much. Jenny was used to handling things on her own, even when she really couldn’t (like the lawn and keeping up with the big house), so seeing her finally lean on Roman (it took a while) was good. They were so right for each other.

• Roman Bennett is 6’3″ and 26
• Jenny is a few years older than him
• Roman is her secret celebrity crush
• Jenny’s son has two posters of Roman in his room on his walls
• Difficult marriage / death of spouse
• Jenny has two kids: Matt (3rd grade) and Lucy (K)
• He calls her a pixie

This is the second book in the Billionaire Surprise series. I read book one as an ebook many moons ago (read: 2 years ago). Looking forward to the next ones! I just didn’t get to them this month with all my other “priority reads.”

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Spirits in Bondage by C S Lewis

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

A small book of poems by Lewis when he was at Oxford reflecting on the deep thoughts of a young man during war and the wrestling with God over faith.

Can’t go wrong with a C S Lewis book, in my opinion.

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Perfectly Faked by Grace Worthington

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

High 4 rounded up.

Oh my goodness. The chemistry with these two, LOL. Also, who doesn’t like to see a hockey player do figure skating? 🙂

I would if I could! I didn’t see it. I only imagined it.

Leo and Victoria dated years ago but she broke up with him, and he hadn’t been the same since. She was it for him. Now she’s back in town and his coach is fed up with him so he punishes him with “community service” which is being paired with his daughter for figure skating practice to prep for nationals.

• Leo “the ego” Anderson
• Victoria Jenkins
• Foster kid rep
• Coach’s daughter
• Big Bertha the parrot 😂
• She has a sister, but they must not be close because it was mentioned once but she never talked to her during the story either. Kind of vague there

This is book two in the Perfect Crush series.

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Pardon My French Press by J.P. Sterling

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

This was really cute! Scored as a free ebook a few months ago.

He’s opening up the coffee shop under new management. She’s been keeping the place afloat til he gets there. The shenanigans between these two were HILAROUS.

Portia’s dedicated dad was literally the sweetest part of this story I think. He reminded me of my dad – he’d do just about anything for his girls.

• Christian Hanson
• Portia Grant – 29
• Her matchmaking business
• Christian’s sister
• Portia’s sweet dad – loved him.

This is part of a multi-author series!

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Perfectly Grumpy by Grace Worthington

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I know I gave this 4 stars, but I really liked Tate. He’s not really what you’d imagine a hockey player to be, but I’m sure they’re out there. The serious and studious types. So basically, he’s what I imagine.

Lauren has dated an athlete or two before and it didn’t go well. They have to fake a relationship but it soon turns pretty real and we know how that goes. It kind of freaks em out, especially in the close quarters they’re in.

• Tate “Sheriff” Foster
• Lauren Williamson
• He’s a hockey player
• He’s a rule follower, smart and serious
• She’s the PR manager
• Nicknames
• His secret project 📚
• The elevator

This is book three in the Perfect Crush series.

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Hate You, Maybe by Julie Christianson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

A visit to Harvest Hollow! Remember Harvest Hollow from the multi-author series?

Faking the Fall was book one of Julie’s spin-off series which was one of my favorites from that series. This one was great, too! Anytime there’s an enemies to lovers romance, sometimes the hate or dislike comes off too strong. I felt like Sayla didn’t give Dexter the benefit of the doubt for most of the book and was solely focused on her own success. This book did set the stage for book three (that’s on my shelf waiting for me!) and I’m really excited about that.

• Dexter Michaels – 32
• Sayla Kroft – 28
• He’s director of athletics
• She’s director of the arts (theater)
• he has 3 sisters! so much fun to be in their conversations
• Some Michael Scott references (innuendo)

This is book two in the Harvest Hollow romance series by Julie Christianson.

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Planes, Reins, and Automobiles by Kate Watson

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Well, be sure to bring tissues.

This was just… so deep and sweet and heartbreaking.

There was so many funny things that happened in their story, but the depth of the book is mindblowing. Like don’t read this if you’re looking for purely a romcom. They’re both hurt in different ways and they have some hard talks with each other and in their families. Do we see reconciliation on all fronts? No. Sometimes we just don’t get those in real life.

• Oliver “Ollie” or “Fletch” Fletcher – 6’4″ – unknown age
• Poppy Grace Lewis – 26?
• Lucas Fischer (he’s gonna be in the next book!) – 6’2″
• Online friendship
• Traveling home
• Oliver and Poppy’s meet conversation ????? 😂😂
• He literally says she’s too accommodating but he cares about her and accommodates her 😂
• The fall out and the reconcliation was everything I wasn’t prepared for so be prepared

I don’t know why I saved this quote, but I thought it was funny at the time.

He’s the kind of tall, hot, and brooding I would have had an embarrassing crush on in high school. Good thing his personality is about as attractive as a root canal.

This is book two in the Catching Feelings series. I have book three on my shelf as well, LOL.

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Perfectly Complicated by Grace Worthington

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

Another single parent trope I’m all stars for.

Is there anything quite like seeing a big strong man hold a baby? 🙂 Let’s be real. Cutest thing since dippin dots! PLUS, at Christmas time? Let’s go.

Rourke (cool name I guess) signs up to help with an elementary theater project not knowing it was a pageant and Janie would be producing it so he’d have to work with her. They have some stellar chemistry. I loved so much of this – especially her love of Christmas and his dislike of it, LOL.

He has some reasons for disliking Christmas which I can understand. I appreciated how even though he didn’t like the overall holiday, he enjoyed watching her enjoy them and still did nice little things for her. So sweet!

• Janie Bennett – 27
• Rourke Riley – ??
• he’s a hockey player
• she’s a teacher
• he’s had a thing for her since he met her a couple books back!
• she doesn’t give him the time of day despite her attraction
• Infidelity
• single mom
• forced proximity

“For what it’s worth, Bennett, you’re wrong about me.” I keep my face neutral. “Oh, really? How?”

He takes a step toward me, his eyes locked on mine with an intensity that makes me quake inside. “You think I want a fling? I don’t. I was just waiting.”

“For what?”

His gaze never leaves mine as he delivers the final blow. “For a woman who would make me want to come home every night instead of avoiding it.”

My heart trips in my chest.

“You want to know what type of man I am? The type who would choose the woman I love every single day. Who would put my family first, always. I wouldn’t just stay. I’d never want to leave.”

This is book four in the Perfect Crush series!

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More Than Friends by Denise Hunter

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

I enjoyed this one – though wasn’t my favorite. I felt like it was too easy for them? And then they just BROKE UP.

Jenna moves back home and stays with her mom when she’s suddenly single, without a job and also finds out her mom brought a man home from a cruise???? Talk about going fishing. Tyson, her best friend since preteen years, helps her investigate this guy and spending a little extra time together builds into something neither expected.

I was kind of shook up about her reluctance to be in a relationship but maybe that’s just the pot calling the kettle? But then when her boyfriend just left her at the restaurant and said find her own way home? HUH UH. I was livid. 🙂 And that was chapter ONE, LOL.

Tyson seemed like he spiraled and this crazy girl he went out with like what? Once? What in the world. She went OFF. I was glad to see that resolved in the book as well.

This book highlights the importance of getting all the facts, giving people the benefit of the doubt and you can’t find love without a little risk.

This is a standalone novel.

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I’m Only Me When I’m With Him by Amanda Schimmoeller

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

When am I not going to enjoy a firefighter romance? 🙂

We didn’t hear a whole lot of Connor in the other books, but he’s the brother to Mallory in book two. Shayna is Mallory’s best friend.

He moves back to town after time living in Seattle but had a rough breakup and needed a change. She’s about to have a flower shop left to her by her boss, but then it goes up in smoke! Hero trope.

Connor helps her (he was volun-told really at first) and all the time they spend together only reminds her how much she’s always loved him and it shows him he’s always been able to be himself with her. It was so sweet!!!!!

• Connor Porter – 26ish
• Shayna Monroe – 24, turns 25 in the story
• She’s had a crush on him since they met and she was 11/he was 13
• nicknames

I’d have to be blind not to notice how beautiful she is, but she’s more than that. She’s radiant and magnetic, pulling everyone around her into her orbit.

I’m just the guy who’s lucky enough to witness it.

This is book three in the Sweeter than Fiction series.

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Compared by Kortney Keisel

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating explained:

WHAT IS IT WITH ME AND THESE SINGLE PARENT NOVELS LATELY????

But yeah, I really enjoyed the single parent who absolutely put his son first and the son felt loved. We love a good dad character.

This was hilarious and there was SO MUCH FLIRTING. Like every chapter until nearly the end. The ending was actually emotional and made me teary, but we’re good!!

Back to the flirting. The book was mostly dialogue driven, which honestly sped up a lot of the reading, in my opinion.

• Meg – 28 – teacher
• Tyler – 33 – owns a landscaping and property management business
• Meg has two younger sisters: Brooke and Tessa (23), and older bro: Matt
• Her mom just died a few months before book starts
• The first chapter is the breakup with her loser boyfriend, Zak
• Tyler meeting Meg’s dad at the cemetery before he knows of or meets Meg

This is book one (I’m pretty sure – I had to message the author about Commit‘s place in the order of the series) in the Rom “Com” series.

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Book read in April: 11

Books read in 2026: 53

Book goal for 2026: 96

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I’ve sold a few books! I’m thinking about purging some more but I’m undecided. It’s hard to part with all this paper in my room right now.

https://pangobooks.com/bookstore/notyourseason

I talk books and stuff in my stories online:

https://www.instagram.com/notyourseason?igsh=MW5kMnltOXJocTEyOQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Follow my updates on GoodReads to make your head spin:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131896341-summer

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Looking forward to what’s to come in May! I have sooooo many books in my plans to read. It’s gonna be good.

What did you read in April? If you want to share, drop your book thoughts in the comments!

Have a great weekend and happy reading!