April 2021 Book Club Roundup
You know what time it is! A new month brings a new roundup of books selected by tastemakers hoping to encourage reading. April’s posting is a little later than normal, because some clubs (I’m looking at you, Reese & Jenna) didn’t announce their picks until this week.
The good news is that Belletrist (Emma Roberts) is back on the list, and Oprah’s Book Club finally named a new book! (Well, four of them really.) PBS NewsHour’s Now Read This won’t share a new pick until next month, but in their place I’ve added the Investigation Discovery Book Club.
So far I’ve read Jenna’s choice, Good Company. Actually, I reviewed an early copy of it in January and predicted it would find its way onto April’s roundup (wink, wink). I also read Pretty Things (the Target pick) last summer but didn’t review it.
Any of these pique your interest?
REESE’S BOOK CLUB
What Reese said:
“Can you keep a secret? Our April book pick is a heart-pounding thriller, centering on two secret agent sisters in Northern Ireland. With all the tension, top secrets, and tangled webs, it has all the appearances of a frighteningly quick read.
I loved this thrill ride, especially the twist that I did not see coming. Sisterhood, motherhood and espionage all in one book.”
READ WITH JENNA
What Jenna said:
“Good Company by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney is filled with charm, humor and grace. I was captivated by the way the author writes intimately about human connection, including the ties between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and friends."
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB
What Oprah said…
“The latest pick is not one, but four books, by Marilynne Robinson. Together, this quartet is known as the Gilead novels: 2004's Gilead, 2008's Home, 2014's Lila and 2020's Jack.
Marilynne Robinson is one of our greatest living authors, and in the Gilead novels she's written a quartet of masterpieces. The more closely I read them, the more I find to appreciate, and the more they show the way in seeing the beauty in the ordinary. I'm thrilled to share them all with you."
GMA BOOK CLUB
What they said:
“‘This is a book that centers women, particularly mothers and daughters,’ Gabriela Garcia told ‘Good Morning America.’ ‘Women have carried me, made me who I am, and I really wanted to write against tropes that reduce women, in particular, immigrant mothers - to their suffering or their sacrifice - and to really portray the depths and the multitudes that exist within every woman. It's a book that really looks at the echoes and the effects of histories and of stories throughout many generations,’ she added. ‘And it might inspire you to think about how your own choices and desires are shaped by historical forces and by the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.’”
BELLETRIST (Emma Roberts & Karah Preiss)
What they said:
“A deeply moving novel about a woman who thought she never wanted to be a mother - and the many ways that life can surprise us.”
#READWITHMC (Marie Claire)
What they said:
“In April, we're reading Sara Desai's The Dating Plan, a story about two people who plot a fake engagement and may or may not end up falling for each other.”
GOOP BOOK CLUB
What they said:
“The Secret Lives of Church Ladies is a deeply moving, seductive, and surprising collection of stories about longing, desire, faith, and love. It introduces four generations of Black girls and women as they navigate their lives outside of the churches their families have been raised in. Each character carries a different secret that draws you to her.”
STEPHEN CURRY’S UNDERRATED BOOK CLUB
What Stephen said:
“Whether colorism and tokenism are struggles that hit home, or concepts you’re just discovering, the battle for identity in Greyboy is undeniable. The fight to truly find who you are and where you fit in in this BIG world is something close to my heart and a big part of my personal journey. This is a story about empathy. And I know it will reach your core.”
A.B.A INDIE NEXT #1 PICK
What they said:
“Libertie is a beautifully written, immersive historical novel inspired by the story of a Black doctor and her daughter who lived in a free Black community in Brooklyn during the Reconstruction era. It is also a profound meditation on what it means to be truly free — whether born free or formerly enslaved, whether in America, Haiti, or Liberia — while struggling against grief, sexism, racism, colorism, or classism. Libertie’s quest to forge her own path is a much-needed inspiration!”
LIBRARYREADS TOP PICK
What they said:
“Having built the Shameless platform to teach people how to find their own pleasure, Naomi wants to take that sex positivity to a lecture circuit, but no one will hire her. Enter Ethan, a young, handsome rabbi with a struggling synagogue. A seminar series on modern intimacy seems like a good way to build a sense of community and attract a younger congregation. What happens is their own lesson in intimacy, as two people passionate about their work and trying to make the world a better place sizzle with chemistry. Give to fans of The Roommate, The Kiss Quotient, and Meet Cute.”
BARNES & NOBLE BOOK CLUB
What they said:
“From an award-winning storyteller comes a stunning debut novel following a New Mexican family’s extraordinary year of love and sacrifice. The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade is all the irresistible drama of getting together with your dysfunctional family without the drawback of actually doing it.”
TARGET CLUB PICK
What they said:
“This dazzling, twisty, mesmerizing novel showcases acclaimed author Janelle Brown at her best, as two brilliant, damaged women try to survive the greatest game of deceit and destruction they will ever play.”
ID BOOK CLUB (Investigation Discovery)
What they said:
“The gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon. This gripping true-crime narrative tells the story of the decades-long chase to find him. And at the same time, it paints a portrait of his victims and a vibrant community navigating threat and resilience.”
And that’s a wrap on yet another roundup!
Are there any clubs I missed you’d like to see on the list next month? Let me know in the comments!