My April Reading Wrap-Up

It’s time for my April reading wrap-up! I read 10 books last month & here are my thoughts:

Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler by Ibi Zoboi

Star Child is a fantastic genre-bending book for introducing young people to Octavia E. Butler’s life & works! I loved reading Butler’s quotes and seeing copies of her actual writing in these pages. In between the stories & quotes, Zoboi brought creativity, flow, & imagination to Butler’s life with poetry. Every time I read one of her books, I’m inspired to learn more about her life and understand her mind. Yes, I could just read her Wikipedia page but this was so much better. This book would be an amazing addition to every library and school!

The Windweaver’s Storm (TJ Young & The Orisha #2) by Antoine Bandele

The 2nd book in the TJ Young & The Orishas series is action-packed! TJ has a lot to handle between trying to uphold the promise he made to a god, grieving his sister, starting a new school, & his growing feelings for his best friend. You know, normal teen stuff! I loved getting to know TJ and his friends better while exploring this magical school in Lagos. It was an entertaining continuation of the series, for sure. The only thing that bothered me a bit was how the only disabled character in the book was treated. Aside from that, I think this is a great book and look forward to seeing how TJ processes the final events of it in the next book.

The Cowboys of California series by Rebekah Weatherspoon

The Cowboys of California series is the perfect palate cleanser! Book 1 was slightly ridiculous in the best way. Evie’s amnesia gave us a chance to get to know her w/out the pain she carried w/ her everyday so that we would see how much that burden has blocked her from living a full life. The 2nd Pleasant brother is a certified gentleman who knows how to make Amanda feel like the queen she is. He’s in deep & won’t let anyone ruin this chance at happiness! I appreciated getting into Jesse Pleasant’s head in book 3. He’s so sweet & earnest. I also loved Lily-Grace’s personality, patience, & unabashed attitude about sex. If you love romance that champions accountability, sex-positivity, & queen treatment, this series is for you!

It was really fun to read this series around the same time as hopping into a historical romance series that also features cowboys in California...

Destiny’s Embrace by Beverly Jenkins

With the backdrop of Mariah’s dismal life w/ her mother in Philadelphia, I loved that we got to see Mariah assert herself and find community. Logan is hard-headed, which I think is a shared trait for the Yates men. Despite that, he knows when he’s fighting a losing game & I appreciated that!

Destiny’s Surrender by Beverly Jenkins

Even better than the 1st book in the series! The Marriage of Convenience trope is really well done as Billie & Drew have cared about each other for a while & their sexual chemistry is off-the-charts. I love that Billie is a former sex worker! This inclusion humanizes folks in this work & also shows that they are also deserving of love & care.

Lore of the Tides by Analeigh Sbrana

Lore of the Tides is an amazing end to this duology! The plot was original, fascinating, & addictive. Lores adventures almost give me Lord of the Rings vibes because it’s an epic journey. I loved the power Lore holds & how she chooses to use it, from beginning to the end. She is strong-willed, clever, & passionate which makes her super easy to root for. The sexual tension & scenes were swoon-worthy, but it’s the respect between the characters that makes it hot as hell. 

PRE-ORDER NOW! OUT July 8, 2025

The Queen’s Spade by Sarah Raughley

I love a good Historical Fiction with a revenge plot & a morally grey lead! Raughley had me rooting for Aina aka Sarah Forbes Bonetta as she plotted against every person involved in forcing her to assimilate in England. The Queen’s Spade is a cathartic novel for anyone who has ever been told that they should be grateful for basic decency & European theft. I hope that it will inspire folks to look into the true story of Aina, the former princess of the Egbado Clan in present-day Nigeria.

An Abolitionist’s Handbook: 12 Steps to Changing Yourself and the World by Patrisse Cullors

A great primer for folks wanting to learn about abolition like me! Cullors includes advice, stories, book recommendations, and prompts to help readers expand their minds and practice abolitionist thinking. I feel like this made the book relatable but also aspirational. Although I think this is a foundational text, I also think those who pick it up should learn about the prison industrial complex and actively look up concepts or terms they are unfamiliar with as they read. Like the title suggests, this is a handbook so Cullors doesn't include all of the footnotes that would be needed to catch folks up on those topics and terminology.

Have you read any of these books? Did this post inspire you to check one out? Let me know in the comments below!