Well this is rather later than intended, but sometimes life gets in the way of even the best of intentions… I was going to combine my April and May wrap-ups, but that would have a ridiculously long post, so, for the sake of continuity, here are the books I read in April!
The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
This book combines all the tropes of classic murder mystery (serious Agatha Christie vibes here) with a little bit of time travel/magic. It sounds bonkers, but I found it really gripping and completely original. You can read my full review here.
NW by Zadie Smith
NW follows Leah, Felix, Natalie and Nathan as they navigate adult life in, around and away from the northwest London council estate where they grew up. I read this for book club, and there were parts that I found vivid, immersive and familiar, but I found the shifts in style and form quite jarring.
Swallowing Mercury by Wioletta Greg
A curious and charming coming-of-age tale set in rural Poland in the 1970s and ’80s. Wiola’s journey through childhood and adolescence is told through a series of vignettes. It’s peppered with little nods to folklore, and describes the tensions between communism, Catholicism and pagan traditions. Unusual, but I really enjoyed it.
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
I had really high expectations going into this book, having enjoyed the film so much, and it didn’t disappoint. It captures such a wide range of emotions and sensory experiences, from the scents of a heavy summer’s day to crushing, desperate need to the acute melancholy of a love that can only exist in the past. As with the film, there were a few wobbly moments that took me out of the narrative a bit, but I’m happy to overlook them because it was such a joy to be so wrapped up in a book.
The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale
I so wanted to like this, having seen it compared to Erin Morgernstern’s The Night Circus, but I really didn’t get on with it. The synopsis promised a really imaginative, perhaps magical, world, but I didn’t connect with the story or the characters and it honestly felt like a chore to finish. 
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Another book club read, and one I loved! Into Thin Air is a moving and considered account of the 1996 Everest disaster, told by a survivor: journalist and climber Jon Krakauer. The author is a gifted storyteller and the narrative is well constructed (difficult given how many names, backstories and parallel timelines needed to be woven together). I learnt a lot about the realities of climbing at altitude: Krakauer’s frank account is harrowing, gripping and profoundly reflective.
Home by Amanda Berriman
I want everyone to read this! Please read this!
Told entirely from the perspective of four-year-old Jesika, this is a novel about family, friendship, trust and what it means to have a home. It’s equally heartwarming and horrible to read: Amanda Berriman perfectly captures the innocence of childhood, even in situations that would try to corrupt it. Jesika is brave, curious, perceptive, and you just can’t help rooting for her.
The Imogenarium 