Book of the Month is a subscription box in which members choose up to 5 hardcover books to receive each month.
You can sign up here to get your first book for $5.
This month, Book of the Month (BOTM) chose 5 main selections and 6 initial add-ons.
Main Picks | Add-Ons | Predictions | My Choices
Main Picks
The Sun Was Electric Light
Rachel Morton
A poignant meditation on friendship, found family, and how to move through the world when you’ve lost your way.
Literary Thriller | Debut
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits
Jennifer Weiner
Life-shattering fame, forbidden love, and a contentious relationship between pop star sisters: what could go wrong?
Contemporary Fiction | Repeat Author
Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter
Samantha Crewson
Thirteen years ago, she almost killed her mother. Now, she’s trying to save her—but is it already too late?
Mystery | Debut
Passion Project
London Sperry
An adventurous romance about finding love when you least expect it, set against the backdrop of bustling Manhattan.
Romance | Debut
Six Days in Bombay
Alka Joshi
A young nurse travels the world in a quest to unravel a series of intertwining mysteries—and clear her own name.
Historical Fiction
Add Ons
Gifted & Talented
Olivie Blake
You can have all the money and magic in the world and still mess things up in this fantastical family drama.
Fantasy
Fun for the Whole Family
Jennifer E. Smith
There’s nothing like a good old family reunion based in a remote location after years of estrangement, am I right?
Contemporary Fiction | Repeat Author
Entrantra
Kaylie Smith
It’s kill demons or get killed in this sadistically fun follow-up to Phantasma, featuring a dark game of hide and seek.
Paranormal Romance | Repeat Author
Water Baby
Chioma Okereke
A young Nigerian woman must choose between her community and her own ambitions in this atmospheric coming-of-age tale.
Contemporary Fiction | Early Release
The Bright Years
Sarah Damoff
In this heart-wrenching story, a family plagued by secrets struggles to reconcile and risks falling apart for good.
Contemporary Fiction | Debut | Early Release
Sky Daddy
Kate Folk
Buckle your seatbelts and expect some turbulence in this zany story about a frequent flyer and her curious obsession.
Literary Fiction | Debut
Predictions & Thoughts
There are five main and six initial add-on Book of the Month (BOTM) selections for April, including five debuts and three books by repeat authors. Of these books, three are labeled as early releases, although these books will be released on April 22nd.
This month, I predicted 5 of the 5 main selections as well as 4 of the 6 add-ons. I wavered whether to include Gifted and Talented by Olivie Blake in my predictions and mentioned that I decided to rule it out. The one book that caught me by surprised is Water Baby by Chioma Okereke. This novel was not at all on my radar and is going to be released by a publisher of which I have never heard.
A majority of the April selections are literary and contemporary fiction, with a few other genres thrown in. I think that members who have been with the service for years may be surprised at the small number of thrillers so far this year. However, there have not been many strong thrillers to choose from so far this year. I except there to be more thriller picks over the summer.
Let’s talk about what books were not among the picks. I assume that some people will be disappointed that a few repeat authors are not among this month’s books, including Abby Jimenez, Chelsea Abdullah, Nita Prose, and Sarah Penner. I am guessing that many will be disappointed to not see The Sirens, despite Weyward being a Book of the Year nominee. Personally, I expected for Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and Heartwood by Amity Gaige to be April selections. I also hoped that The Death of Us by Abigail Dean would make an appearance. However, I am always delighted to see BOTM prioritize debut authors over repeat authors.
My Choices
My main selection choices felt easy this month. Every Sweet Thing Is Bitter is an obvious choice for me. I am super excited about this debut since I know the author and think the synopsis sounds wonderful. I initially planned on ordering Passion Project, but I was able to snag a copy on NetGalley. I previously read Alka Joshi‘s debut novel and loved it. So, I decided to grab a copy of Six Days in Bombay although I read a lot less historical fiction these days.
I have seen no reviews for The Sun Is Electric Light, and the synopsis is super short. For the time being, I am going to skip this book. I also do not have interest in The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits; I am completely over books about famous figures, particularly musical artists. (I have been done with them since Daisy Jones & the Six.)
In terms of add-ons, I decided to only grab one: The Bright Years. This novel has received quite a bit of attention, and I loved some books to which it has been compared. I am lucky to have a gifted copy of Sky Daddy coming from Random House, ruling out my need to buy a BOTM copy. I do plan on reading Enchantra; however, it will be available on Kindle Unlimited. I am curious about Water Baby after seeing that it is nominated for a climate fiction award, but I am going to wait and read reviews about it. I do not particularly enjoy fantasy or family dramas, so I skipped Gifted & Talented and Fun for the Whole Family.
What books did you choose for your April BOTM selections? Let me know in the comments!
