Well, I can’t believe that April is over already! I really don’t know where the time is going these days. April was an okay month here. It was my husband’s birthday so we had a lovely day for that – we had a takeaway from our favourite Indian restaurant (our first takeaway in 14 months!) so that was a fabulous treat!
My weight loss is continuing, which I’m very happy about. I’ve now lost a total of 4 stone 8lb since September last year. It’s been pretty consistent although it’s now closer to 1lb a week rather than the 2lb it was in the first few months but I’m just happy that it’s still coming off. I’m calorie counting and while I never thought I’d be someone who calorie counted, it’s working perfectly for me so I’m sticking with it.
The main thing that happened in April was my reading mojo finally came back! It’s been a bumpy time with my reading ever since the first lockdown happened last year and I really miss books when I can’t read at my normal level. It’s been wonderful to finally get lost in one book after another. I’ve also discovered that having a set TBR seems to be the way to go at the moment, which is bizarre for me having always been a mood reader but I don’t care as long as I’m reading again! My plan at the moment is to read my way through my NetGalley shelf and it’s working. I now have twelve books on there (I got approved for a couple this week so had been down to ten) and my ratio is 98%. All of the books still to be read are published this year so I’m almost up to date!
Here are the books that I read in April:
Like a House on Fire by Caroline Hulse
Her Last Holiday by C. L. Taylor
The Gin O’Clock Club by Rosie Blake
The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Mountain Road, Late at Night by Alan Rossi
Five Hundred Miles from You by Jenny Colgan
When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins
Hush Little Baby by Jane Isaac
Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth
The Ends of the Earth by Abbie Greaves
That Night by Gillian McAllister
West of Jim Crow by Lynn M. Hudson
The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird
How was your April? I’d love to know what you’ve been reading over the last month or so. 🙂
RatherTooFondofBooks 
It seems like you had a great month! I’m so happy your weight loss is working so well! And also, you read so much! I wish i had that strength too! Keep going you are doing AMAZING!
Thank you so much! April was a much better month for me. I’m really happy about my weight loss, it’s been something I needed to do and I’m feeling so much better in myself. My reading mojo has been missing for a while but it seems to have fully come back in April so I was reading every spare minute that I had. I think it’ll slow down but it was lovely to be reading so much again and enjoying it. 🙂
Wow! That looks like a great reading month! I hope May turns out as great, too! Happy reading!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a great May too. 🙂
So pleased you’re out of your reading slump! I’ve been in one for the past few months, do you have any tips? x
Thank you, it’s such a relief as it’s been a while since I was reading at my normal pace. I’m sorry that you’re in the middle of a slump too, it’s horrible so I feel for you. My tip is to try books in a different format and also to do other things. I watched some boxsets and started playing board games with my husband. I kept picking up books and then one day I found one I couldn’t put down and it seemed to bring back my ability to concentrate and just read. I hope your slump ends soon. x
Trying books in different formats sounds like a good idea! I’m just waiting for that book that I can’t put down. Fingers crossed I’ll be out of this soon because reading normally brings me so much happiness x
I know what you mean – I really struggled when I was in my reading slump. I hope you find the perfect book soon that brings you out of it. x
Great news Hayley, sounds like April was a fabulous month for you! x
Thank you, it really was – I’m so happy to have my reading mojo back again 🙂 x
I just finished The Good Sister…
Did you enjoy it? I hope you did. I thought it was really good and want to read more by the author.
I thought it was quite well done. I like the way she did the alternate voices of the characters. Worth the read
What a list! That’s good reading. And good for you on your weight-loss programme. I’m having a go myself – it’s difficult.
Thank you. It’s not easy to lose weight but I’ve found that once I’ve got to grips with calorie counting that I’m staying focused. I hope you’re making progress with your weight loss too.
Sounds like you had a great April Hayley. Congratulations on your continued weight loss. It must feel wonderful to get healthier.
Thank you, Carla. It does feel really good to be getting healthier and feeling stronger again. I still have a way to go with my weight loss journey but I’m getting there.
Baby steps forward are good for us. Easier to stick to a plan that way.
Yes, that’s very true. 🙂
Looks like a great list!
Thank you, I did read some great books in April. 🙂
Wow, well you’ve certainly bounced back in style. So three reasons to celebrate the month – weight loss (what a great achievement), birthday and return of reading love.
Thank you! April was a good month overall. It feels great to be getting there with my weight loss, I just need to keep going with it now.
Congratz on your partners birthday! Indian food is delicious, and after 14 months of no take-out it truly sounds like a party.
Your book list looks great too! I’m glad you found a way to get into your reading mojo again. Not being able to read is sure something to miss!
Thank you 🙂 The Indian food was delicious, especially so after so long. Yes it’s been a huge relief to be reading again, I seem to be picking up some great books so I’m happy. 🙂
Well done on your weight loss and I love that long list of books!
Thank you! I’m feeling very happy about my weight loss as it’s not easy when I can’t really exercise in any meaningful way. I still have some more weight to lose but I’m definitely getting there now.