Read With Keri: Books I Read in April

We are already one week into May but I wanted to take a second to recap the books I read in April. I went into the month unsure how many books I’d be able to finish. With grad school and a lot on my plate work-wise, my days were very screen-heavy. If I finished homework at a decent hour and wasn’t too overwhelmed from consuming content throughout the day, I’d read a few pages, but reading wasn’t the biggest priority this month.

However, I was surprised to realize I finished six books in April! There were definitely some great reads. Check them out below.

Prince Caspian — C.S. Lewis (5/5 stars)

I love The Chronicles of Narnia series and like to re-read them when I can. When I saw Prince Caspian as an option on Libby, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. There’s something about re-reading childhood favorites that is very comforting at the end of the day.

Memories of Our Life Together — William and Barbara Carey (5+/5 stars)

My grandfather wrote a memoir and gave me my very own copy of it over Easter weekend. I could not WAIT to read it and I loved learning more about his life. It was a very “proud granddaughter” moment since I know he took so much time to write it in 2020. I loved learning more about his childhood and how he met Mom Mom. Their love story is one of my favorites. Congratulations, Pop Pop!!

The Overdue Life of Amy Byler — Kelly Harms (3/5 stars)

My first e-book! Are you an e-book or a physical book person? Personally, I don’t think anything can beat a physical but but I’m willing to try other formats once in a while. I saw this for free on Amazon Prime so I decided to give it a shot. This is definitely a “beach read.” The concept is light and fun with a bit of a twist at the end.

Everything Beautiful In Its Time: Seasons of Love and Loss — Jenna Bush Hager (3.5/5 stars)

Jenna Bush Hager, one of President George W. Bush’s daughters, wrote this memoir to reflect on memories of her grandparents. It’s a sweet and thoughtful story that shows just how big of an impact all of her grandparents had on her. I enjoyed learning more about the Bush family and did not realize that both Jenna and her twin sister Barbara are named after their grandmothers! So sweet.

Organizational Behavior: A Practical, Problem-Solving Approach — Angelo Kinicki (5/5 stars)

Am I including my textbook in the list of books read in April? Why yes, yes I am. Why? Because I read the entire textbook so it counts! Plus, it’s listed on Goodreads and I have a personal rule that if it’s included in Goodreads, then it counts toward my reading goal. In all seriousness, as far as textbooks go, I really enjoyed this one. It was helpful, relatable, and I learned a lot. (Also no, I did not buy it. I rented it from Chegg — pro tip!)

Redefining Anxiety: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How to Get Your Life Back — Dr. John Delony (5/5 stars)

I picked up this book towards the end of April because I’ve struggled with anxiety in the past and knew this would be a necessary, helpful, and encouraging read. I was right. It’s a quick read and I highly recommend it. Whether you struggle with anxiety or not, I think this is a great resource in communicating what anxiety is, is not, and how to handle it.