It seems like I just posted my books of April! This month has sped by, and I have nine finished books to show for it. Lots of happy things distracting me: house guests, graduation, my kids' birthdays, a family wedding and more. Fun for sure, but they didn't leave me quite as much time to read. I finished nine books, six of them on my Kindle and three of them in print copies. 

The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar was a book club selection. We haven't yet had our discussion on the book, but it should be interesting when we do. The book is a fictionalized novel based on a real-life person: Johanna Bonger, Vincent Van Gogh's sister-in-law. Johanna inherited all of Vincent's paintings, which were worth nothing at the time of his death. Through her vigorous promotion of his work, he gained fame posthumously, and the paintings are now valued at millions of dollars. It was a fascinating story! 4 stars

The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. This book is set in the 1960's in a planned community in Concordia, Virginia, and offers a glimpse into the life of affluent suburban housewives. These women are beginning to feel the stirrings of interest in the tide of feminism that is rising in the US. The premise is that supportive female friendships can form a haven for self-discovery and quiet rebellion. The book club focuses on feminist writings (think The Feminine Mystique, etc.) and explores marriage, identity, and personal growth beyond homemaking. It was an interesting look back at our feminist awakenings, but came off as a bit preachy at times. 2.75 stars

The House at Silvermoor by Tracy Rees. This work of historical fiction is set in South Yorkshire from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Josie and Tommy are working-class teens from rival mining towns when they form a close friendship and share their dreams. Tommy is the smartest boy in school, but must drop out and accept his destiny of spending his life down in the mines. Josie has dreams for a better life for herself as well, but her neglectful and unloving parents have other plans. Tommy and Josie become intrigued by the nearby abandoned Silvermoor estate and begin to investigate its secrets. The two young people uncover buried truths about their families, the mining community, and the powerful Whitaker family. Their shared discoveries strengthen their bond and ignite hope for change. This sweeping historical novel explores friendship, courage, and the pursuit of freedom against the backdrop of class struggles and hidden legacies. This author always writes a gripping novel that never disappoints. 5 stars

All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett. Anna Byrne, a working‑class American phD student from Massachusetts, secures a scholarship to Smith College and moves to London for graduate school after her mother's death. Struggling to make ends meet, she tutors wealthy teens and is invited to Saint‑Tropez by the enigmatic Wilder family. Amid glamorous parties and jet‑set luxury, she meets two men—one lavishly charming, the other quietly perceptive—all the while concealing her background and presenting as someone wealthy herself. Anna makes some terrible choices that will make the reader pull their hair and want to shout at her. Torn between authentic connection and presenting herself as something she is not, Anna grapples with class divides, identity, and the cost of belonging. 4 stars

The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff. This is a moving family drama spanning four generations in Texas, from the 1950's to the present. Our main characters are Ryan and Lillian Bright, a young couple who are deeply in love. The first years of their marriage are idyllic, and then they welcome a baby daughter, Georgette. Both of them harbor heartbreaking secrets: Lillian gave up a son for adoption, and Ryan hides a spiraling alcohol addiction. As their marriage frays, a tragic blow pulls the family apart, and Georgette grows up distanced from her fractured roots. Years later, Lillian’s long-lost son arrives, reconnecting the Bright family. With moving, alternating perspectives from Lillian, Ryan, and Georgette, the novel reveals how unspoken truths ripple across the generations. Through grief, addiction, secrecy, and eventual reconciliation, The Bright Years is a tender family saga about love’s capacity to heal and the courage needed to confront one’s past. It is a powerful story. Have tissues handy. 4.75 stars

The Caretaker by Ron Rash. I enjoyed this book enormously. Set in the early 1950s in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Blackburn Gant—a hauntingly disfigured cemetery caretaker—leads a lonely life shaped by childhood polio and isolation. His only friend, Jacob Hampton, defies his wealthy family by eloping with Naomi Clarke, a young hotel maid, and soon is drafted to fight in the Korean War. With Jacob overseas and Naomi pregnant, Blackburn becomes her caretaker, shielding her from a judgmental community and the manipulations of Jacob’s parents, who plot to separate the couple. As Blackburn and Naomi form a bond rooted in compassion and moral duty, secrets, class tensions, and hidden rivalries emerge. The book is so well written, and is a gripping exploration of love, loyalty, prejudice, and what it means to truly care. I loved this one. 5 stars

Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau. I had high hopes for this book, as I adored the author's first book, Mary Jane, a coming-of-age story about a young girl with repressive parents. I was hooked by Shopgirls' setting and time period, as it was my own stomping ground. In the early 1980's our main character, 19-year-old Zippy, has snagged a job working at I. Magnin in San Francisco's Union Square. Zippy is full of quirky energy and may not be in college, but she sure is getting an education from her co-workers at "San Francisco's Finest Department Store". Though she excels with customers, anonymous complaint cards accuse her of being pushy, unraveling her fragile confidence. As unexpected events threaten her place at I. Magnin, Zippy must decide who she really is—beyond sales quotas and expensive dresses. Ultimately, I found the story repetitive and found myself wondering if it was ever going to get somewhere. A let down for me. 2.5 stars

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. This book hasn't gotten great reviews, but I bought it and felt I should give it a try. When struggling writer Alex is unexpectedly invited to an exclusive, month-long writing retreat hosted by feminist horror icon Roza Vallo, it feels like a dream come true. Held at Roza’s remote, snowbound estate, the retreat offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance: write an entire novel in 30 days, with a seven-figure publishing deal at stake. But tensions rise when Alex discovers her former best friend, Wren, is also attending. As the retreat progresses, strange events, cryptic rules, and psychological games turn the experience into a chilling nightmare. When one of the writers vanishes during a storm, Alex realizes something sinister is unfolding. I enjoyed this book more than many readers and recommend it to those of you who enjoy a sinister locked room type mystery. It was an ok 3 stars for me. 

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. Sixty‑three‑year‑old PJ Halliday, a small‑town Massachusetts man and recent lottery winner, is haunted by tragedy: his eldest daughter's death, a failed marriage, and three heart attacks. One day, he reads an obituary noting his high‑school crush, Michelle Cobb, is widowed—igniting a bold plan: a solo road trip to Arizona’s Tender Hearts Retirement Community to win her back. But fate intervenes when his late brother’s two grandchildren become orphans and PJ is named their guardian. Too late to change course, he insists his grown daughter Sophie drive them all across the country, joined by Pancakes—the quirky cat with a knack for sensing death. Along the emotionally unpredictable, darkly comic journey, the rag‑tag family confronts grief, loyalty, parenting, and second chances. Through eccentric detours and tender reconciliations, PJ discovers that love and family can arrive in the most unexpected ways. This book was a complete hoot. The premise was completely ridiculous and unbelievable, but I found myself suspending belief and going along for the ride. 4.5 laugh out loud stars

Let me know if you read any of these books and what you thought of them. In particular, I'd love to hear from anyone who has read The Caretaker. I thought it was a real standout.