What I Read ♥ April 2026
April was not my best reading month. I was in a bit of a reading slump, which is why I was only able to read and complete two books. It’s not that I wasn’t in the mood to read. In fact, it’s just that nothing satisfied the bookish itch that I was seeking. I tried, and DNF’d a lot of books, some that I didn’t even bother including in my Goodreads because I only read a chapter or so, and didn’t think it was worth documenting. I was also in the middle of The Lamb by Lucy Rose when I suddenly lost access to it via Libby. It was my fault for forgetting to finish it within the two-week timeframe.
For May, I’m going to try to change up my strategy and try to focus on reading physical books more, which is one of my reading goals for the year. I realize when I listen to an audiobook, I don’t pay attention as much as I should, and have to replay certain sections because I was trying to multitask as I was listening to an audiobook. Part of my reading slump also comes from having a wandering mind. Hopefully, by locking in and focusing on some physical media, I can get back into the reading groove.
Make sure to follow me on Goodreads to be updated on what I’m reading and on StoryGraph if you’re curious about my book statistics.
My Star Rating Scale
★★★★★/5 – Loved it! I would reread and recommend this book to others.
★★★★/5 – Kept me entertained. There were a few things that bothered me. I would reread.
★★★/5 – Didn’t love or hate and would recommend to others.
★★/5 – Did not enjoy it and probably skimmed through most of it to get to the end.
★/5 – I hated it and regret wasting my time!
DNF – Did not finish.
N/A – Not Available. Meant for memoirs or books I prefer not to rate.
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The Spiritual Magic of Dolls by Najah Lightfoot ★★★/5
Dolls have been both beloved companions and instruments of magic for millennia. In The Spiritual Magic of Dolls, author Najah Lightfoot bridges these two uses—companionship and magic—to enable readers to develop profound magical and spiritual relationships with their own dolls. Many have beloved dolls displayed on shelves or sitting in boxes. Perhaps you still have favorite childhood dolls or have been gifted with a doll or inherited one from a relative or friend. What if you could do more with them? Najah shows you how.
I was really excited for this book because, you know, I have a love for dolls and woo-woo spiritual stuff. I even heard the audiobook preview and was instantly hooked! However, halfway through this book, I felt disappointed. The first half of the book was strong, but the second half wasn’t as doll-focused as I would’ve liked. I plan on reviewing this book, both on here and my doll blog, so I won’t go too in-depth in this post about everything. But, yeah, I would say this is a book about dolls written by a doll collector who also happens to be a spiritual practitioner.
You can purchase The Spiritual Magic of Dolls here
Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom ★★★★★/5
Connecticut, 1666: An ancient spirit awakens in a dark wood. The wildfolk call him Father, slayer, protector. The colonists call him Slewfoot, demon, devil. To Abitha, a recently widowed outcast, alone and vulnerable in her pious village, he is the only one she can turn to for help.
Together, they ignite a battle between pagan and Puritan – one that threatens to destroy the entire village, leaving nothing but ashes and bloodshed in their wake.
Slewfoot has been on my TBR for so long! It’s been a book that I’ve been wanting to read since I saw the eerie book cover and stunning illustrations online. I am kind of bummed that I read this via audiobook, but now that I’ve read and loved this book, I won’t feel guilty picking up a physical copy. I enjoyed the story and was captivated the entire time! I did feel that the ending felt a bit rushed as compared to the first two sections, but all in all, I was satisfied with the ending as it felt rewarding and exactly what I needed to read at this time. If you love books about badass resilient women “losing their minds” and getting revenge, you’ll love Slewfoot!
You can purchase Slewfoot here
Have you read any of these books? What did you read in April?
