Happy Tuesday! It’s almost the end of the month, so I am sharing the books I read this month and what I am currently reading. I am linking up with Joanne and Dara for Share Your Shelf so be sure to check it out on the first Thursday of next month for other great bookish posts. I had a good month of reading and I hope you find one that might be good for you!

The Favorites by Layne Fargo ☀️☀️☀️☀️

This was a perfect book for the winter Olympics. I didn’t realize this was a retelling of Wuthering Heights and I’ve never read it so it wasn’t a big deal. I really liked this book even though some of the characters were hard to like.  Katarina Shaw has been working towards an Olympic appearance since she stepped on the ice. Her partner, Heath Rocha, was in an ice skating program for underprivleged kids. They ended up at the same rink and lived through a lot of hard things – Kat’s mom died, Kat’s dad died, her brother got custody and became an abusive alchololic and drug addict. They survived together and talked their way into training at a famous ice dancing academy. Their story is told in a mock documentary and interview style (similar to Daisy Jones and the Six) and you see every side of this story. I was happy to read it during the Olympics, and would probably enjoy it outside of Olympic times too.

All Ears by Stuart Gibbs (kids audio)

Luke and I enjoyed the ninth book in this series. Teddy was faced with two more crimes to solve. I love how Stuart Gibbs makes the books a little suspenseful but not scary.

The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

Lexi is a second year resident in Australia. She is enjoying her traditional New Year’s Day sunrise when a helicopter lands nearby. She is approached by a familiar person, her grandmother’s closest assistant. Lexi’s grandmother is the Queen of England and her father and brother have been in a terrible accident. Her father is dead and her brother’s prognosis is not good. Lexi has to go back to the British monarchy and all that comes with being the heir to the throne. She loves her quiet life in Australia and isn’t sure that she wants to go back to all that a royal life includes. Ultimately, Lexi chooses the life that she is drawn to and as the reader, I was happy with her choice. I can see why Reese chose it for her book club, and I thought it was great, too!

And Then There Was You by Sophie Cousens ☀️☀️☀️☀️

I was not prepared for this topic and it really made me think. Chloe graduated from Oxford with the hopes of being an incredible writer or actor. Ten years later as she gets ready for her college reunion, she is neither of them. She’s a production assistant doing more coffee making than movie making. She decides to sign up for a matchmaker to have the perfect date for her reunion. She definitely finds the perfect date, but he might be a little too perfect. I realize that doesn’t say too much, but I don’t want to give away the main point of the book. This was good but it wasn’t my favorite by Sophie Cousens.

The Chelsea Girls by Fiona Davis ☀️☀️☀️☀️

Fiona Davis is an incredible historical fiction novelist. I love all of her books and this is no exception. The Chelsea Hotel has long been a haven for the creative folk of New York City. Artists, actors and actresses, poets, writers, and musicians have called it home. This is where Hazel, a playwright, and Maxine, an actress land for a while. Hazel and Maxine actually meet when they are performing with USO in Italy in WW2. They come home and reunite at the Chelsea. Hazel writes an incredible play and Maxine talks the producer into letting her, a woman, direct it. While the US is going through McCarthyism and investigation by the HUAC, Hazel and Maxine stick together and continue to act. They are the best of friends until opening night of Hazel’s play when Maxine does something that cuts Hazel to the core. As Hazel spends the rest of her life trying to recover and continue her art, we learn surprising things about Maxine and the reasons behind her actions. There is suspense, old NYC, fun and friendship in this fabulous book!

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
**2025 Sunshine & Books Summer Beach Read**

OH. MY. GOODNESS!! This was one of those books with that amazing book feelings. You know the one where you want to read so quickly because you can’t wait to see what happens to these fabulous characters, but you want to slow way down because you don’t want the book to end. It was just that good! First of all, we are back in Cape Carolina and I think it sounds like the best small coastal town. Mason is back in town as the high school baseball coach after an injury ended his dream of major league ball. Daisy moves to Cape Carolina for a change after a terrible event in the NICU in her big city hospital. They meet when Mason finds a newborn in a dumpster near school and brings her to the hospital. Daisy nurses this baby and ends up fostering her with the hope of adopting her. Mason helps Daisy every step of the way until the truth gets in their way. Even though the story doesn’t end the way that Daisy dreamed it would, there is a happy ending and everyone (Daisy, Mason, and baby) are in a place that is just right for them. Aunt Tilly, from Feels Like Falling, is back and so are Greer and Parker. Parker is actually Mason’s brother. I love when authors bring back characters! The book comes out on May 5, 2026. Do yourself a favor and pre-order it or get on your library’s hold list now, like right now. Go, then come back and read about the other books I read this month.

Radically Content: Being Satisfied in an Endlessly Dissatisfied World by Jamie Varon (audio)

This book was definitely not what I thought it would be. The first half To Unlearn was not my favorite. Fortunately, I do not feel like I had to unlearn many of the things Varon was referring to. I actually skipped the last two chapters of this section. When I was reading the publisher’s description, it talked about getting away from hustle culture that has taken over and it had me second guessing my need to unlearn. Maybe I did. Oh well. The second half To Learn felt more like what I was hoping to read. The parts on consistency and releasing the need for control gave me good reminders and I am already feeling the positive impact on my days. I would advise any reader to look carefully at the table of contents to make sure it is what you are looking for before reading. The author narrates the book and she did a great job as a narrator.

Currently Reading: Mona’s Eyes by Thomas Schlesser

Currently Listening: Ape Escape by Stuart Gibbs (kids)

You can always checkout what I’ve been reading on my Books 2026 page. I have all of my yearly reading pages linked here if you want to see what I’ve been reading for the last 8 years.

This was a good reading month with seven books. I am hoping to get into some fun summer books in April as I prepare for my Summer Beach Reads list. April is also the month that I sprint read 20 middle grade chapter books and graphic novels, so I don’t know what my next reading update will bring. I hope you had a great reading month! Have a great day full of sunshine and books!

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links.
Thank you for reading and supporting Sunshine & Books.