Heyyyyyy bookish besties!

So.

About April.

You may have noticed I didn’t post much.

Honestly?

I got lazy.

However, the blog may have been quiet, but April itself was not quiet. April was actually kind of packed. Reading. Writing. Gaming. Broadway. Side quests I didn’t have on my April BINGO card.

Before I sprint into May, let’s recap April.

Sip of the Month

Strawberry margarita.

Do I even need to say more?

Books Read in April

April was a much better reading month than March, which was not hard because in March, I only read one book.

But last month, I finished rereading and annotating A Court of Mist and Fury, aka my favorite book of all time, aka my emotional support fantasy romance.

Annotating it was so much fun and I actually can’t wait until the next time I read it and read all of my unhinged notes that I wrote down this read through. (Yes, I became the annotator who writes in her books…sue me.)

Then because balance is important, I reentered my dark romance era.

I read Hide and Seek and Ready or Not by Sheridan Anne.

And yes.

The FMC x her step-uncle situation might throw some people.

I get it.

Some readers will see that and immediately launch themselves into the air.

But thanks to the stalker plotline, the twists, the tension, and the overall “what is even happening right now?” energy, you barely even notice.

I’m not saying these books are for everyone, because you should probably get very comfortable with certain things very quickly…but I was seated.

Writing Update

I kept working on The Saints of Mercy Street, my current magical disaster child.

A bunch of disasters solving magical crimes in a small town in New Jersey.

Yes, I believe New Jersey deserves more urban fantasy. We have weird local history, diners, and in some places, enough town gossip to power a supernatural conspiracy for at least 12 books.

Which…I do have 12 books planned.

Normal people pick up a hobby.

Me?

I build fictional municipalities with magical infrastructure and emotionally unstable ensemble casts.

As a fun side project, I’m also currently working on a rom-com that may or may not be based on The Amazing Race.

I love the competitive travel, forced proximity, emotional baggage, airport stress, culture adventures, and two people trying very hard not to fall in love while absolutely falling in love in 4K.

Gaming News

I’m still doing my slow playthrough of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

And by slow, I’m taking my sweet time because I’m actually paying attention instead of sprinting through plot points.

I’m noticing the themes more, especially the different types of grief running through the games.

Not just obvious grief either. Not just “someone died and now everyone is sad” grief. I mean grief over lost identity. Grief over choices. Grief over what could have been. Grief over the version of yourself you thought you’d become before life got in the way.

I totally want to do a full video game review of this one because I have Thoughts.

I’ve also been seriously wanting South of Midnight because it just came out on PS5. The graphics are gorgeous and hello? Black Girl Magic in the form of Hazel, the main protagonist? Southern Gothic adventures?

Yes, please.

Favorite Moments from April

April was actually social.

I did karaoke. Multiple times.

Like actually getting up and singing in front of people…

Who even am I?

I volunteered with a sports organization for visually impaired kids, which was genuinely cool.

First of all, the amount of skill involved? Incredible.

I love getting to see how people make activities more accessible, because it’s such a good reminder that inclusion isn’t just a cute word put on flyers.

I seriously hope to volunteer with them again.

Another April event?

I went to NYC with my best friend to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway.

The plot?

Had more holes than a second graders trying to stab open their juice carton.

But the special effects?

Insane.

The stage magic was so good that my brain kept going, “I know this is theater, but also…are we sure? Did someone here get their Hogwarts letter and fail to disclose it?” I don’t even want to write about the effects because I don’t want to spoil anything. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

And…Tom Felton reprised his role of Draco Malfoy on stage…that was an experience.

When he said, “Scared, Potter?”

The whole audience lost its mind.

As we should have.

Some things are simply sacred to a generation. That line is one of them. The collective scream we all scrumpt could have powered Times Square for a week.

We also went to the Harry Potter store, which was adorable and dangerous.

Also wanted to The Strand but didn’t get time.

Ugh.

I would live in NYC in a heartbeat if I could afford it.

What I’m Resetting in May

So my May reset is realistic and a little desperate.

First, I’m resetting my classroom expectations.

And by resetting, I mean lowering them to survival mode.

I love my kiddos, but at this point in the school year, I’m not expecting perfection. I’m just expecting us to get through the day with minimal chaos, reasonable volume levels, and everyone’s shoes still out their feet.

Second, I want to do a lot of spring cleaning.

Third, I desperately want – no, need – a blender.

I have got to stop spending approximately $50 a week at Wawa on smoothies.

Do I love Wawa?

Obviously. I live in New Jersey.

Do Wawa smoothies bring me joy?

Yes.

But my bank account is starting to look at me like, “Girl. At this point, make the damn smoothies yourself.”

May Intentions

In May, I want to:

• post on this blog regularly
• keep reading consistently
• organize my bookshelves
• get a blender
• survive the end of the school year
• work on Saints of Mercy Street
• make time to play the piano again
• go into summer feeling more grounded

May, please come correct.