Some months, reading feels like a pure escape. Other months, it feels like a mirror, helping me reflect on my own life while walking through someone else’s story. April was a mirror month. Each novel I read touched on something big: family, identity, loss, or resilience. It’s tough to rank them because I enjoyed each for entirely different reasons.
But if I had to choose (and clearly, I did), here’s how I’d order them, with love and admiration for each story and the space it held for me this month. Audible for the win again in April!
🥇 This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
This one had to take the top spot — not because the others weren’t wonderful, but because the writing here felt a little extraordinary. The way the parents in this novel — Rosie and Penn — speak to one another is witty, deeply mature, and refreshingly honest. I thought, “I can’t imagine most parents navigating something this complicated with so much grace.” It’s a story about a family supporting their transgender child, and it doesn’t try to make anything simple. But it does make it clear: love your kids for who they are. Period. This one will stay with me for a long, long time.
🥈 The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
This book surprised me in the best way. It started quietly, a bit slow, but it slowly wove its magic with themes of family, fate, and the quiet power of kindness. I loved the found-family vibe and the gentle, cozy feel surrounding the more challenging moments. It’s whimsical but grounded — and the way everything tied together really left an impression. If you love stories that feel comforting and thoughtful, this might also be a new favorite for you.
🥉 Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
This one made a tough subject human, heartbreaking, and important. The novel explores the U.S. eugenics movement and the forced sterilization of people who were seen as “different” — a part of history that’s often glossed over. I appreciated the reminder that stories like Rosanne’s aren’t just fiction; they reflect real injustice. It’s sad, but it’s also beautifully written and grounded in resilience.
Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and Chasing Shadows stood out in part because of where it’s set — the Netherlands during Nazi occupation. I think a lot of people (especially in the U.S.) forget how WWII impacted places beyond Germany, France, or England. This book is a powerful reminder of that. It follows three women navigating war, resistance, and survival with faith and determination. Their courage feels real and relatable, and the storytelling kept me engaged.
The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck
This one felt like the warmest nostalgia trip. It follows four friends — Summer, Spring, Autumn, and Snow (yes, as in all four seasons!) — during their last summer together in 1977 and again twenty years later as adults. Once you catch up on who’s who (and realize their names aren’t just poetic nods), it becomes an enjoyable story about growing up, drifting apart, and reconnecting. The book is heartfelt and breezy, a great listen when you’re in the mood for a story about enduring friendships.
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
This book is quietly beautiful and deeply reflective. Set between Cyprus and London, it weaves a love story, a family legacy, and even a narrative told from the perspective of a fig tree. I know that sounds unusual, but I loved that. I’ve always liked the idea that plants and animals have voices — and wisdom — worth listening to. The fig tree becomes a surprisingly emotional narrator, tying together memory, loss, and healing in an incredibly poetic way. It’s a slower read but rich with meaning.
A Month of Summer by Lisa Wingate
Last on the list, but still worth the read. A Month of Summer tells the story of Rebecca, who returns home to care for her aging father and navigate old emotional wounds. Lisa Wingate always brings heartfelt emotion to her characters, and this one offered a tender look at forgiveness, aging, and family dynamics. It just didn’t resonate with me quite as deeply as the others this time — but maybe that’s less about the book and more about the timing.
Final Thoughts
I honestly loved every one of these stories, which made ranking them feel almost impossible. But what made this reading month even more meaningful was how accessible it all felt thanks to Audible. I could listen while living my life — and still get pulled into these beautiful, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking worlds.
If you’re looking for stories to fill your heart, spark reflection, or just keep you company in the everyday, these books—and Audible—are a great place to start.