Racking up the Reads: April
My dearest readies,
How is it almost May? Is it just me, or is this year speeding by! Personal update, I’m up to roughly 19 books read for good ol’ 2024, so chugging right along to my goal of 40, and I have some new good ones to share with you! And since I’ve been so absent for 2 months (I’m so sorry, but it’s events, events, events season) hopefully doing five books this go round makes up for it!
We’re moving into Spring, which as much as I hate for my allergies, I love for myself, because it’s time to feel the sun a little, freshen up, and work up to summers spent by the pool, at festivals, and with my best friends. Which is why it’s so perfect that my favorite beer is about to roll off the line, and into your lives. Let me introduce you to The Cruelest Summer. Are you ready for it?
This Juicy Hazy IPA, with a gorgeous dry hop schedule that provides tremendous citrus, berry, and peach flavor and aroma, is the perfect representation of this style, using loads of hops for flavor and aroma without reflecting any bitterness- a delicate balance. And with the sun staying out longer…. ‘tis the damn season, am I right?
So you guessed it, lets get into books that left me feeling, just happy- no bitterness on the end. Sorry in advance to those non-romance lovers, but this list is gonna leave you in your so high school feels, or make you cheer for your favorite endgame. I promise we’ll do a list dedicated to murder and darkness soon (there’s gotta be a stout that leaves you feeling… moody, we’ll work on that) but in the meantime, let’s feel happy this spring!
#1: The Truth About Forever: Sarah Dessen
This book has literally been one of my favorites since I was sixteen, and honestly, makes me so nostalgic for the days of waking up late, working fun jobs with my friends, and falling in love for the first time. This story follows the life of Macy, who just recently lost her father, and what feels like, her identity. She’s the good girl, the brains, and she only makes choices that will reflect properly on her college applications. However, over the course of a summer, she finds herself working a job she never wanted, with friends she didn’t know existed, and making decisions that help her realize life is much more enjoyable when we embrace the beauty of imperfection. Much like The Cruelest Summer, this book has moments of intensity, but such a good finish- that has kept me coming back time and time again over the past 20 years.
#2: The Last Flight: Julie Clark
Some of you are probably thinking- weird pick, but I think a good thriller can leave you feeling so perfect, if done correctly. Meet Claire and Eva, two women each looking to escape problems in their own personal lives. They decide to trade tickets at the airport to run away from their personal problems, but when Eva’s plane crashes, Claire realizes she is finally free from her abusive husband, as everyone thinks she died on the plane. But will taking over Eva’s life be better or worse than her old one? I love a good thriller with twists and turns, especially paired with a beer delicately packed with as much flavor.
#3: Party of Two: Jasmine Guillory
The only thing I have to say about this book is YES. We love a chance meeting, we love a slow chase, and we love the will they or won’t they for our main couple. When Olivia meets Max, he’s just a handsome stranger in a bar, but once she realizes he’s an up and coming hotshot junior senator, she has to consider if she wants to be in the spotlight. When they go public, will the public critique of their relationship push them to break? Much like The Cruelest Summer, this book is the perfect representation of its style with romantic, steamy scenes, likable characters, and a true question of what, if anything, we should risk for love.
#4: From the Jump: Lacie Waldon
In full disclosure, I’m about to start Lacie’s new book, and I’m worried I will never love it as much as I loved From the Jump, or even her first book, The Layover. This author is a Lacie stan.
From the Jump is a classic story of a woman finding her voice, and asking for what she wants. Liv lives her life in the safe zones…
A job she doesn’t love but is stable - ✅
A budget that accounts for some savings but no fun in the time being - ✅
Jealousy of her friends who still play and have adventures - ✅
When she doesn’t want to risk missing out on any more times with her college besties, she takes a look at her life and changes she could make. While her friends all gear up to leave on an African safari, Liv… quits her job and goes too, and finds so much more than she bargained for, including a little romance with her longtime crush. But will Liv find that throwing caution to the wind and going after what she wants, while risking what is safe and stable something she should do? Or does being meticulous and planned lead to better results? Talk about a delicate balance…
#5: Cover Story: Susan Rigetti
Say what you want, but I love a con-artist. I love the lies, the lavish stories, the wild lifestyles, and I love the story Susan gives us in Cover Story. Lora is a struggling college student, just ready to be out in the world and working her dream job. When she gets an internship with ELLE magazine, she thinks this is the start to her dream life. At the magazine, she meets Cat, who seems to have all the things Lora wants- contributing editor, great fashion, and rich, and as a friendship emerges between the two, Cat gives her a way out of the life she’s currently living. But, how well do we really know anyone? The twists and turns in the book, pieces together through FBI correspondence, Lora’s diary entries, and friendly emails will leave you asking who can you trust, what is real, and what we would all risk to live the life we dream.
Whew- a lot to unpack there. But if the whole, super rich story with good flavors, strong notes of swoon-worthy romance, and a little kick of excitement sounds like your vibe, then you should really come celebrate with us as we release The Cruelest Summer in the taprooms. We’ll be hosting a very T.S. inspired party on May 4th at the downtown location! We’ll be celebrating all the eras with glitter tattoos, permanent jewelry, and music dedicated to our girl, Tay.
If you can’t make it out for that, see you next month for a whole new round of books…
Paige Kinder is Hardywood’s Event Manager and handles all private events - large and small! She’s a graduate of Christopher Newport University with a degree in History. She loves a good Pils and her dog son Ben.