Welcome to my April 2025 Favorite Books post! This monthly post is where I share the 5 star books I’ve read so far each month. You can see the first half of my April reading here and I will share the rest of my April reads next week. There is still time left this month so if I have any additional 5 star reads they will be shared in next week’s post as well. The Amazon links to the books I’ve read are affiliate links and if you use them and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.
Title: 10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College
Author: Emily Schrader & Blake Flayton, illustrated by Kimberly Brooks
Genre: Non Fiction
Publisher: Griffith Moon Publishing, 2/25/25
Source: I am not sure!
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
10 Things Every Jew Should Know arrived in my mailbox and I was surprised and excited to read it. I feel like this book would make a great graduation gift for my son’s classmates. In fact, he stole this book from me and I had to steal it back to read it! There are way more than 10 things explained in this book, but it is divided into 10 sections, from Jewish history to Israel, the Middle East, the current and past situations, and obstacles to peace.
“10 Things Every Jew Should Know Before They Go to College is an essential reference guide for Jewish students navigating today’s college campuses. This book presents concise, easy-to-reference insights on Jewish history, Israel, and geopolitics, helping students engage confidently in complex discussions about their identity and heritage.
This illustrated guide covers key topics, including:
I thought this book was very balanced and shared a great variety of things Jewish kids should know before (or while) they confront life on college campuses now. I’m a grown up Jewish adult and I even learned from this book!
Title: Promise Me Sunshine
Author: Cara Bastone
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Dial Press, 3/4/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review.
My Rating: 5 Stars
I loved Ready or Not by Cara Bastone and just knew I’d love Promise Me Sunshine too. This is about Lenny, who is grieving the loss of her best friend. You should know from the start that Lou died of cancer. Lenny takes a babysitting job for Ainsley and meets Ainsley’s uncle Miles. Since Miles has also experienced loss, he wants to help Lenny, and in exchange he asks her to help him to connect with Ainsley and her mom. Lenny has a list of things to do to start living again and she and Miles start to check items off the list together.
“Lenny’s a bit of a mess at the moment. Ever since cancer stole away her best friend, she has been completely lost. She’s avoiding her concerned parents, the apartment she shared with her best friend, and the ever-laminated “live again” list of things she’s promised to do to survive her grief. But maybe if she acts like she has it all together, no one will notice she’s falling apart. The only gigs she can handle right now are temporary babysitting jobs, and she just landed a great one, helping overworked, single mom Reese and her precocious daughter, Ainsley. The only catch: Ainsley’s uncle, Miles, always seems to be around, and is kind of. . . a walking version of the grumpy cat meme. Worse – he seems to be able to see right through her. Surprisingly, Miles knows a lot about grief and he offers Lenny a proposition. He’ll help her complete everything on her “live again” list if she’ll help him connect with Ainsley and overcome his complicated relationship with Reese. Lenny doubts anything can fill the void her best friend has left behind, but between late night ferry rides, midnight ramen, and a well-placed shoulder whenever she needs it, Miles just won’t stop showing up for her. Turns out, sometimes your life has to end to find your new beginning.”
Although Miles appeared to be grumpy at first, he soon steps up as a perfect friend to Lenny. When they fall for each other, Miles makes sure Lenny is able to take care of herself before they dive into a relationship. This makes for a very slow burn, but I loved the friends to lovers relationship here. There were a lot of funny parts even with the overall grief Lenny was experiencing. My one gripe is that no, you can’t ride the Staten Island ferry back and forth, they do make you get off and board again, but I won’t hold that against the author.
Title: Say You’ll Remember Me
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: Forever, 4/1/25
Source: Bought
Why I Read It: Favorite author
My Rating: 5 Stars
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez has drawn some mixed reviews based on the hard times that both main characters have experienced. I did find it sad, but I still loved it. It is about Samantha, who meets veterinarian Xavier just before she moves back to CA to be with her family as her mother is experiencing dementia (not Alzheimer’s, although I’ve seen reviews say that it is…). Because Xavier has a vet practice in MN, a long distance relationship ensues.
“There’s no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date, Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moment, as crushing as that may be. Only no amount of distance or time is enough to forget what’s between them. And the only thing better than one single perfect memory is to make a life—and even a love—worth remembering.”
I thought that while a lot of this was sad, especially the parts about Xavier’s childhood, there were still funny parts and I enjoyed Samantha’s family a lot. With the support of a strong family, so much is less difficult. I liked how the theme of the story was memories – making them and holding on to them.
Title: The Love Haters
Author: Katherine Center
Genre: Rom Com
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, 5/20/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I usually don’t read new books so far ahead of their release dates, but Katherine Center is an exception, especially when the publisher sends me the physical book! I was so happy to read this one on my recent flight to NY. It is about Katie, who goes to Key West to film a promo about the coast guard, featuring Hutch. She gets entangled in a sibling rivalry between her co-worker Cole and Hutch while falling for Hutch and getting to know his life, his dog, and his aunt Rue. Meanwhile, Katie deals with body image issues and must learn to love herself.
“Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom ‘Hutch’ Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but pretends that she can. Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.”
As I do with all of Katherine Center’s books, I loved this one. It does deal with grief, as Hutch and Cole lost their parents in the past. There is a hurricane and the depiction of seasickness. I really loved Katie and her personal journey, plus her relationship with Hutch made for a love story I didn’t hate at all!
Title: Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man)
Author: Jesse Q Sutanto
Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Berkley, 4/1/25
Source: Publisher
Why I Read It: Sent to me for my review
My Rating: 5 Stars
I finally found a sequel I enjoyed even more than the original! Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) is technically a cozy mystery, but it did have more serious subjects that are more often found in a thriller. I love Jesse Q Sutanto’s thrillers and I loved this one too. It is about Vera, who loves investigating mysteries. She meets Millie and finds out about a missing man, who she soon discovers is actually dead.
“Ever since a man was found dead in Vera’s teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly’s girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn’t be ungrateful, even if one is slightly…bored. Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena’s, Vera finds a treasure trove: Selena’s briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for. Online, Xander had it all: a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can’t seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents. Vera is determined to solve Xander’s murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her future daughter-in-law.”
Vera gathers people and takes care of them, especially with food, but also by adopting them as honorary family members. I love that about her! I thought the scene where she confronts Robin’s principal to be hilarious and also so sweet. I enjoyed all of the new characters in this one. I am also excited that the ending left hints about another installment in Vera’s series!
Come back next week for the rest of my April reads!
Do you have a favorite book you’ve read this month?
