🌼April roundup🌼

book/movie/ song recommendations

My April was so busy, but full of some lovely experiences. I was able to go on a girls’ trip, attend a local conference, meet a favorite author, host some friends from school, celebrate birthdays with my family, and attend a local musical production of Hadestown.

What were some of your favorite parts of April?

In addition to the memories mentioned above, I also read books, watched movies, and listened to music. Today’s article is going to be a roundup of some of my favorites from this month!

Books:

1. Just Friends by Haley Pham

learn more about it here!

• 4.5 stars

• No spice

• I had heard some mixed reviews for this book, and I honestly really enjoyed it. The setting was a coastal town, which was fun, and it had a second-chance/friends-to-lovers romance, which I LOVE. Just Friends also touched on themes of grief, which added a layer of depth to this book that I don’t always see in rom-coms, and I really appreciated that!

2. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 8 By Beth Brower

learn more about it here!

• This is Emma M. Lion, so it automatically gets 5 stars

• No spice

• I have been listening to this series on Audible basically all year, and now I am waiting for vol. 9 to release. If you are looking for a book that contains humor, heart, and unforgettable characters, then definitely check out this series!

3. Mind the Gap By Erynn Mangum

learn more about it here

• 1 star?

• No spice

• This book had been on my TBR list for a while, but it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t really feel like there was much of a plot. And other things about it that just didn’t make it a favorite for me!

What were some of your favorite books read in April?

Movies/shows:

1. Black Widow

Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises.

summary source

Rating: PG-13

Why you should consider watching this movie:

• Sisterhood rep (and in a Marvel movie?!!)

• You get to see what Natasha was up to between Civil War and Infinity War

• Even though it does deal with some heavy themes, good wins over evil

2. I can only imagine 2

Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe, faces a personal crisis at the peak of his success. As his world unravels, he struggles with his beliefs and inner demons while seeking a path through adversity. summary source

Rating: PG

Why you should consider watching this movie:

• This movie grapples with the question of ‘what happens after the dreams come true?’

• This movie also shows us how grief and gratitude can be held together.

3. Princess Diaries

Mia Thermopolis has just found out that she is the heir apparent to the throne of Genovia. With her friends Lilly and Michael Moscovitz in tow, she tries to navigate through the rest of her fifteenth year. summary source

Rating: G

Why you should consider watching this movie:

• It’s just iconic. Enough said

4. The Other Bennet Sister (mini series)

Mary leaves her sisters' shadows to find herself, embarking on a journey from Meryton to London and the Lake District. Her quest for independence leads to an unexpected love story in Regency-era England. 4

Why you should consider watching this:

• You get to see the Bennet family through the eyes of Mary

• Mary is a different protagonist than any of Jane Austen’s heroines, and I love that this show highlights Mary’s strengths and uniqueness in such a beautiful way

• Tom Hayward

• Just a visually pleasing and well-done show

5. Thunderbolts*

After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must go on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts. /source/

Rating: PG-13

Why you should consider watching this:

• This movie is unexpectedly powerful. It is a superhero movie, yes, but it is so much more than that.

• This movie deals with some heavy topics related to mental health and shows the importance of community and family while battling depression

• Found family trope

• Unlikely hero’s

• Bucky Barnes on a motorcycle (if I haven’t convinced you yet to watch this, then this last point should do it for you)

What were some of your favorite movies/shows read in April?

Music:

1. Hadestown

• As I mentioned earlier, a local college performed this show, and the songs have basically been in my head since. I do not know a lot about Greek mythology, so it’s been fun to learn about it more through this musical

  What was some of your favorite music listened to in April?

I hope that despite whatever you had going on in April you were able to enjoy good books, movies and music! I would love to hear any recommendation you might have!!