April has been super busy and that's why this blog is late. I felt like I was constantly having to get something done. On top of that, there are three birthdays in my immediate family this month, including my own. It was my sister's birthday on Monday, so I didn't have the time (or energy) to start this until Tuesday. I don't know why it took this long to write, but it did.

Rant out of the way, welcome to another Love Your Library blog post, I almost didn't write this one, but I haven't missed a Love Your Library blog since March of last year, so I didn't want to lose momentum. This month I have read or listened to 11 books in total. Six of those were library books. All of these were either read as eBooks or listened to as audiobooks.

READ

Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours by Jim Butcher, narrated by Jackie Meloche - Peter Parker is now a teacher Midtown High, and when he's asked to coach the basketball team, he also as Spider-Man get a lesson in teamwork. Monsters that feast on animal abilities want Spider-Man for their next meal. This story is packed with cameos and has lots of action and danger. I enjoy that Spider-Man is an adult, and the romance between MJ and Peter is a highlight. As an audiobook, it is fun and an easy listen. ★★★★☆ Listened to on Hoopla CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, language and kissing.
Story Thieves by James Riley, narrated by Kirby Hayborne - Owen loves books, especially the Kiel Gnomenfoot series, however he did not like that the author killed off one of the main characters at the end of the pervious book. Then he learns his classmate Bethany has the ability to jump into books and interact with the book's world. Bethany is half-fictional and her father who also fictional, has been missing since her ninth birthday party. He tells her of a spellbook in the Kiel Gnomenfoot series that would give her the power to find her father. However, Owen takes advantage of her to save the main character and change the story. The result is Bethany and Owen get split up, so that Bethany has to protect the real world from a dangerous fictional character, while Owen fills in for Kiel in the next book's story. This middle grade fantasy was complex, and actions packed with ever growing stakes. While it wrapped up the main story, it had enough cliffhangers to leave me excited for the next book in the series. ★★★★★ Listened to on Libby CONTENT WARNINGS: Mild language, fantasy violence, and peril. Reb's Recs 2026
There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones - Ever since her brother's death, Finlay has struggled with her mental health, but she hasn't given up on her dream of steadying music composition in New York. Deciding the best way to heal is to follow her brother's adventure book, she travels Ireland to spend senior year studying abroad. On the plane she meets, teen vampire (actor) heartthrob, Becket Rush. She's not falling for the Hollywood bad boy, especially since this trip is about staying out of trouble and rediscovering her faith. Only, he's staying at the inn her host family runs. Although she will never life up to Hollywood's standards, she finds herself attracted to the boy who love his dog, Ireland, and God. I tried reading this one shortly after watching the movie on Amazon Prime a year ago, but the movie is an imitation Disney Channel romance. The book is so much better. Her struggles feel real; and I laughed, cried, and hoped for her as I could relate to her struggles ★★★★★ Read on Libby CONTENT WARNINGS: Language, kissing, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and Christian views.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach, narrated by Helen Laser - Phoebe has been depressed since her before she husband left her for another woman, so after her cat's death, she decides she's going spend her final night in a resort hotel before she ends her life. When she arrives at the hotel everyone else is there for an extravagant weekend wedding. Without explanation, the bride bursts into her hotel room complaining about everything wrong with the wedding and asks Pheobe to take the job of maid of honor. As Phoebe spends time with the wedding people, she begins to find to reasons to live including, Gary who happens to be the groom. This is a comical look at the serious issues of life, middle age, and mental health. However, check the content list on this one, I found it was a story that tread gently with mental health, but very explicitly with car s*x. ★★★★☆ Listened to on Hoopla CONTENT WARNINGS: Adult language, mentions of S*x, including with a car (this scene is described), depression and attempted S*icide (described on page), and LGBTQ+ Characters. 12 Recs From 12 Friends 2026 IG Post
Spy X Family, Vol. 12 by Tatsuya Endo, translated by Casey Loe - After the bus hijacking Anya and her friends are heroes to their classmates, but earning another Stella starts to go to her head. A night out with Yor's co-workers makes her consider the health of her fake marriage. A traitorous double agent puts Loid and Yuri on opposite side of a dangerous mission to capture him. This volume was even more exciting than the bus hijacking, and the ending cliffhanger(s) ensured that I picked up the next volume as soon as I finished vol. 12. ★★★★★ Read on Libby CONTENT WARNINGS: Language, graphic violence, characters getting injured.
Spy X Family, Vol. 13 by Tatsuya Endo - When Twilight is injured on a mission, the stakes are raised and his cover as Loid Forger is in danger. Anya furthers friendship plan B, with a surprise gift from Daiman! As term finals near, Yor and Anya meet their new neighbors who might be able to help Anya ace her language exam and earn another Stella. This volume was a mix of trilling and cozy, as it covers the end of the previous story and then shows the characters returning to domestic life. ★★★★★ Read on Libby CONTENT WARNINGS: language, graphic violence, and characters getting injured.

Currently Reading

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins IG Post
Climbing Rejection Mountain: An Actor's Path to Success, Stability, and Self-Esteem by Nick Wyman, Michael X. Martin
Mighty Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men, Vol. 1: The Strangest Superheroes of All by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby
Famous Anonymous by Morgan Baden
Love Unmasked by Becky Deam

Checked Out, To Be Read

Batman: Resurrection by John Jackson Miller
Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie by Anthony Del Col
Love Unmasked by Becky Dean IG Post
All for the Game by Heather Buchta
Styling for Instagram by Leela Cyd
Taste of Home: Spring 26 (Magazine)
Rogue Princess by B. R. Myers
The Homeschool Bible: Everything you need to build a thriving home education by Mandy Davis

In The Reservation Queue

Star Splitter by Matthew J. Kirby
Flirting with Murder by Amanda Sellet
Enchanted to Meet You by Cara Stout
One Plate at a Time: Recipes for Finding Freedom with Food by Demi Lovato

On Hold, To Be Picked Up

None at this time.

Returned Unread

The Cupcake Cookbook: 30+ Quick and Easy Recipes for Cupcakes - this cupcake cookbook has a unique almost cupcake shape that make it eye catching. I checked it out, and flipped through it, but I didn't make any of the recipes. Ironically, last week I made cupcakes from a different recipe book for a birthday party.
Write a Romantasy 99 Writing Prompts to Craft a Tale of heart and heroism by Erik Patterson - This is a book of romantasy writing prompts. I read a couple of them but forgot about the book before I could try any of them.
When It's Real by Erin Watt - I saw this title while I was wondering through a bookstore, but I didn't want to buy it, so I got it from my local library. I can't seem to finish a physical book, so I didn't want to start another one.
Styling for Instagram by Leela Cyd - This looked like a good book, especially since I do so much photography for Instagram, but I only flipped through it before returning it.
Get Clear Career Assessment: Find the Work You Are Wired to Do by Ken Coleman - This past winter I was burned out and trying to decide what would be best for me in the long run. I saw this book at the library and I started reading it. I decided I should take the assessment. I returned the library copy and purchased my own, so I could get a code for the assessment.
Rogue Princess by B. R. Myers - I don't remember how I found this book, but it looked a like a fun YA science fiction book. I forgot to read it, until I had to return it, so I immediately checked it back out.

Thank you for reading this very late edition of Love Your Library. I promise to try harder to get it done earlier next month. The past few months, I have been focused on finishing more of the books from my currently reading list. The Goodreads list, got up to 27 as one point, I've made a lot of headway to get it down to 21 now. The goal is to get it below double digits, but I am too easily enticed by "new" books to only read one or two at a time. I also hope to soon finish some of those physical books that I've been reading from my library. I have one that I'm eight pages from the end, but I've been reading it before bed and only read a page or two before I fall asleep. Thank you again for reading. Below are quick updates on Insgram and my writing.

This month, I struggled to write reviews. I think I've been writing the same review since March. It's almost done, but since it hasn't been posted yet, I'm including a special bookstack for Nation Pet's Day staring my favorite leading cat, Daisy. I spelled out her name in books. I also did a few other spellstacks this month. Spellstacks also include: spell the month (April), Easter, and ROYGBIV/rainbow stack. One of my goals for next month is to write more reviews.

I finished a line edit for a Fan fiction piece, but I haven't updated the electronic document yet, so it's not ready to post yet. I must have a had a major case of writer's block this month because all these updates have been about what I didn't write. I might have already shared this blog, but here are some tips to start writing. I should probably refresh and implement some of these for myself.

#LoveYourLibrary

Thank you, Rebecca for coming up with this blog challenge that encourages me to read and write every month. Check out her blog, Bookish Beck

I love making Bookish Friends! Follow me on Instagram Skai_BooksAndBracelets

Stay up to date on all reading and reviews by following on Goodreads.

Inspirational Skai

Thursday, April 30, 2026