April Wrap Up — All the Books I Read In April 2020

So For the month of April, I believed I participated in two readathons and I basically failed both of them, only because of so much that is going on but I did manage to somethings which I shared in a youtube video that I filmed for booktube and my blog. Down below is a video I did for my booktube channel as well as the stats or star ratings and links to the reviews. Hope you all enjoy it. 

Here are my stats for the month of April:
36601937. sy475  Rated 3 Stars — link to review Ghost Squad Review
30075802   Rated 4 Stars — link to review The Princess Saves Herself in This One
27233119. sx318   Rated 4 Stars — link to review Small Ghost
34140219. sy475  Rated 4 Stars — link to review Nectar
32076617. sy475 Rated 4 Stars — link to review The City Born Great

May 2020 TBR — What I Want To Read For the Month

 I will be participating in a readathon hosted by booktuber Mande Garrett [Link to Mande’s video] it’s called the Fire readathon and there are 3 prompts. This readathon runs the whole month of May.

1. The book that has orange, red, or yellow or all of the colors on the cover. — City Born Great by NK Jemisin [already read and rated]
2.Have the word ‘FIRE’ in the title or spelled out somewhere on the book or has a fire on the cover– With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo
3. Read a book that has anything related to fire example Kingdom of Ash— A Phoenix Must Burn by Patrice Caldwell

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Synopsis: With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.

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Synopsis: Sixteen tales by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the Black experience through fantasy, science fiction, and magic.

Evoking Beyoncé’s Lemonade for a teen audience, these authors who are truly Octavia Butler’s heirs, have woven worlds to create a stunning narrative that centers Black women and gender nonconforming individuals. A Phoenix First Must Burn will take you on a journey from folktales retold to futuristic societies and everything in between. Filled with stories of love and betrayal, strength and resistance, this collection contains an array of complex and true-to-life characters in which you cannot help but see yourself reflected. Witches and scientists, sisters and lovers, priestesses and rebels: the heroines of A Phoenix First Must Burn shine brightly. You will never forget them.

Authors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Amerie, Dhonielle Clayton, Jalissa Corrie, Somaiya Daud, Charlotte Davis, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Justina Ireland, Danny Lore, L.L. McKinney, Danielle Paige, Rebecca Roanhorse, Karen Strong, Ashley Woodfolk, and Ibi Zoboi.



These next books I want to read if have more time in the month (but won’t make any promises if I’ll get to all of them)–

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Synopsis:
With a bootylicious body like Beyonc� and a face that would put any top model to shame, Toi McKnight has all the cuties coming her way. Who could blame them? She was always rocking the latest fashion trends and hanging at every bangin’ party in the city. But all that came at a price, and now Toi McKnight is the seventeen-year-old mother of a baby boy.



Between bills to pay and adult responsibilities to meet, she’s got zero time for sizzling gossip, chilling with her friends or doing the things she used to. So when unexpected sparks start flying between her and six-foot-two, deliciously fine Harlem, Toi knows she’s got to dead any chance of a relationship fast since he doesn’t date teenage mothers–and she’s vowed to never love again. But every time Toi tries to cut Harlem loose, she falls harder for him. And all the other drama in her life doesn’t help the situation any, especially when her son’s father comes back around. Toi tries to do the right thing, but doing the right thing just may put her on heartbreak express for good.

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Synopsis: 
Will their romance fade with the music?

Bailey’s settled for working in her mother’s salon instead of pursuing her dream. Music. She has the soul of a singer. Melodies speak to her heart. She could face her fear, but that would take courage and ignoring the disapproval of those close to her. When an incredible opportunity comes her way, she must decide whether to take the risk or live in regret.

Jackson’s a musician determined to make it into the business with his band. After years of hard work, his dreams may come true. He can make amends for the past. He can let go of his guilt.

When Jackson and Bailey meet online, their love for music forms an extraordinary bond. Once they both pursue their passions, including the one between them, there’s no going back. But there’s a secret. A secret that will make Bailey question everything. 


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Synopsis:
Fall in love, break the curse.

Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year, Prince Rhen, the heir of Emberfall, thought he could be saved easily if a girl fell for him. But that was before he turned into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. Before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, Harper learned to be tough enough to survive. When she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s pulled into a magical world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. A prince? A curse? A monster? As she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

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Synopsis:

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.


Nectar By Upile Chisala | Book Review

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Synopsis:

Nectar is the second collection of poetry and prose by Malawian storyteller Upile Chisala. In this book, Upile guides through a beautiful process of blooming starting with some poems on self love then words on our roots followed by acknowledging all the fruit of these experiences. The storyteller’s hope is that these poems on growth encourage the reader to sow and to make changes in the lives of others. Born in 1994 and raised in Zomba, Upile’s hope is to tell stories from the margins and through her work help others and herself come to terms with pasts, celebrate presents and confidently dream beautiful futures.

Book Review:




NectarNectar by Upile Chisala
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nectar was written very well. I listened to this on audiobook and to hear the author speak her poems, so beautifully. She talked about letting go of your anger yet having forgiveness. The author also mentioned it’s okay to show pride for being black,  love yourself. Love your black skin!

She touched on relationships and love and staying strong. Although short and I wanted more, it still packed a punch great writing, beautiful poetry! I will be reading more from this author soon.

Small Ghost By Trista Mateer | Book Review

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Synopsis:

Small Ghost is a brief narrative collection of poetry about depression and anxiety with a central focus on coping mechanisms.

Book Review: 


Small GhostSmall Ghost by Trista Mateer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The one thing I can mention about Small Ghost is the writing style it’s not something I’m naturally use to. But I guess you get use to it while you are reading through it. These poems talked mainly about anxiety and depression and how it has affected the author (or anyone for that matter) for someone who actually deals with anxiety on the daily basis — the author did depict anxiety and depression correctly without being triggering (at least for me)

I liked the art work, and I loved that there was a happy ending (a dog to help ease and bring happiness to the author) in the end she took off the sheet and was able to live life. It’s very hard to live with a mental illness (I should know) but knowing you can live and still be happy while getting help. So I enjoyed Small Ghost I wanted most artwork though.