My theme for April was based on one thing and one thing only: I will be rereading Pride and Prejudice. I had to. In preparation for watching it on the big screen in theaters for the 2005 film’s 20th anniversary. Which was in one word: magical.
So, with that in mind, I scanned my TBR and shaped the rest of the month around one feeling that Pride and Prejudice does better than almost any other story: longing.
At first, it was going to be the theme “love,” but “longing” just feels way more fitting with all my books this April.
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Love is far too broad of a theme, I needed it more narrowed down to a specific feeling that all these characters shared.
Longing for people, for second chances, for places that feel like home. Some stories were quiet, some intense, some fantastical, but all of them asked: what are we willing to wait for, change for, fight for when it comes to love?
From Alaska to enchanted islands, from 19th-century England to present-day heartbreaks, this month reminded me how deeply stories can pull at that universal desire to be seen and held.
Here’s what I read in April:
The Simple Wild
by K.A. Tucker
Why I Picked It:
My bestie (and fellow book fanatic) loaned me this. When a raccoon started visiting my backyard every night, she insisted I HAD to read it.
My Thoughts:
I loved this so much! I immediately wanted to dive into the next two books in the series (which she also lent me). A slow-burn, small-town romance with so much heart. I expected a love story, but the longing here wasn’t just romantic—it was about home, family, and forgiveness.
Lights Out
by Navessa Allen
Why I Picked It:
TikTok made me do it. The audiobook was heavily recommended.
My Thoughts:
This was a fun and fast read. I had no idea where this was going when I began, and was a tad shocked, but so entertained.
A River Enchanted
by Rebecca Ross
Why I Picked It:
I happened to find a perfect condition at a local thrift store recently. The beautiful cover is what spoke to me and I had only heard great things about Rebecca Ross.
My Thoughts:
This book is so beautifully written! It has a slower pace that works really well for the story’s dreamlike vibe. The romance is quiet but deeply felt—there’s so much unsaid history between Jack and Adaira, and watching them circle back was magical. Longing is everywhere in this book! Between people, between past and present, and even between the land and its people.
One True Loves
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Why I Picked It:
I’ve loved every TJR book I’ve read, and this was one I hadn’t gotten to yet.
My Thoughts:
This one wrecked me. It’s such a raw look at how love evolves as we do. I kept thinking about how we sometimes outgrow even the best love stories, not because they weren’t real, but because we’re no longer the same person. The longing here is deeply layered with grief, what-ifs, and unfinished love.
November 9
by Colleen Hoover
Why I Picked It:
A friend recommended it, and I didn’t want to hang onto her copy for too long. I also wanted something that would read fast, and Colleen Hoover books usually are that for me.
My Thoughts:
This one… I have so many thoughts on this one, and most of them are not great. I began this story and was hooked immediately. I was so confident this was going to be at minimum a four-star read for sheer entertainment. It had so much potential, and then BAM! Around 80% in it took a turn I just couldn’t get behind.
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Why I Picked It:
For the 20th anniversary of the 2005 film, of course.
My Thoughts:
Every reread brings something new to love. There’s so much quiet longing beneath all the restraint. Darcy’s yearning, Lizzy’s gradual realization—it all simmers until it finally breaks through. It’s never showy, but it’s deeply satisfying.
The Naturalist
by Christina Dudley
Why I Picked It:
This was my first NetGalley book to read and review, and it honestly it could not have been any more perfect for this month’s theme!
My Thoughts:
From the first page, I was swept away by that familiar feeling I get when reading Austen. The longing here is built on slow glances, unsaid feelings, and the hope that someone might finally say what’s in their heart.
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