WHAT I READ IN APRIL

I can’t believe another month has come and gone! This month I read three books (that seems to be my average — what about you?) and remembered how enjoyable it is to read a novel that doesn’t keep me up at night. I often switch between business/self-improvement books and psychological thrillers and this month I delighted in two fiction reads that held my interest without making me jump at sudden noises. Scroll down to see what I read this month, check out all my past reads here, and let me know the last book you read in the comments!

the hopefuls book review

The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close

Rating: 4/5

This would be a great beach read. The book follows newlyweds Beth and Matt as they move from New York to Washington, D.C., to chase his dream of running for office. Inspired by the author’s own move for her husband’s role on the Obama campaign, the book chronicles Beth’s life as an outsider with little interest in politics and the stress in their marriage as a result of Matt’s political ambitions. Their close friendship with fellow newcomers Jimmy and Ashleigh kept me intrigued as to where each couple would end up and I found myself rooting for Beth to find her voice and sense of purpose. I found the ending a little underwhelming, but it was an enjoyable and occasionally juicy glimpse into a world totally different from my own. 

crushing it gary vaynerchuk book review

Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk

Rating: 5/5

A follow-up to the 2009 book Crush It (which I read last month), Crushing It is a must-read for anyone interested or employed in social media. Vaynerchuk used several early social platforms to transform his family’s wine business and launch his own media empire, so his predictions on what’s next for platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube are worth paying attention to. I finished the book feeling excited to share more on Instagram stories (you can follow me here!) and motivated to brainstorm more ways to diversify my content going forward.

fitness junkie book review

Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza

Rating: 5/5

I picked this up on my friend Jen’s recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book tells the story of Janey Sweet, a 40-year-old recent divorcée and CEO of a bridal company who’s told she needs to lose weight to better suit the brand she built herself. What could have ventured into dangerous territory on body image and fat-shaming (particularly as it’s written by two veterans of the fashion and magazine industries) was instead a laugh-out-loud satire on boutique fitness culture and wellness fads, parodying the likes of boot camp workouts and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop. It’s clever, culturally relevant, and particularly funny if you’ve ever lived in New York or found yourself in an exorbitantly expensive group workout. If you’re looking for a fun and fluffy beach read, this is it!

Have you read any of these? What did you think? Don’t forget to tell me the last book you read in the comments — always appreciate your recommendations!

P.S. Find more book recommendations here.

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