April is quite light for new releases that I am interested in checking out, which leaves plenty of room for me to catch up on reading which I am in desperate need of. I also need to do some spring cleaning on my book TBR (to be read) list. There are some books that I just know deep down that I am never going to read. There are books that I know I’m simply not interested in anymore. There are books that I need to read the first chapter to see if I gel with the writing and want to keep them on my TBR list. I love cleaning up my TBR list. I have almost 3k books logged on Goodreads as To Read and many more logged in my head. I need to realistically bring that list down as well as get a better idea of what books I want to get to first. I’m looking forward to April being a high reading month! But wait! There’s more…
Books
Because I didn’t do an On My Radar post, last month, I do want to mention a few authors who released titles in March and you should make yourself familiar with what they’ve got out. Holly Black (YA), Amanda Foody (middle grade), and for adult, Seanan McGuire and Amy Tintera. My most anticipated March releases though include the novel in verse, Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia A. Cole, the sci-fi novel translated by the magnificent Ken Liu which is Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang, a YA horror, Dead Girls Walking by Sami Ellis, as well as Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle and Under This Red Rock by Mindy McGinnis.
As for this month? I don’t necessarily have a most anticipated but I am excited to read The Black Girl Survives in This One Edited by Desiree S. Evans & Saraciea J. Fennell as well as One Last Word by Suzanne Park. I am also intrigued by the nonfiction titles, Music and Mind Edited by Renée Fleming and City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways by Megan Kimble. How many of these I will get to this month is a mystery but it will definitely be a low number since due to budgeting, I’m on a book buying ban and will be depending on the library. So I might be waiting in the queue for a hot minute to read these bad boys.
Returning TV:
My most anticipated of the returning shows this month that I watch include the final season of Star Trek: Discovery which I am totally not emotionally ready for and the second season of The Big Door Prize which I am highly anticipating. That show was such a pleasant surprise and I still need to read the book it’s based on, so this is a reminder to myself to put the book on hold at the library. I am really looking forward to seeing what they explore in the sophomore season and I am really curious about the show’s longevity overall….is the show mapped out for a limited amount of seasons or is this something that can go on for many seasons? Personally, I think less is more for a story like this but I wonder what the showrunner has in mind. Anyway, I’m excited.
New TV:
The only new show this month that I’m familiar with at the moment & I want to watch is THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Roku). I wonder if this is going to be Roku’s breakout hit of the year or if people even know the show made the move to Roku after Disney+ dropped it before it even aired. Time will tell!
Movies
My most anticipated movies this month are Monkey Man, Civil War, and Arcadian. I am so excited to see Dev Patel’s directorial debut. Monkey Man has gotten rave reviews across the board which also makes me happy. Civil War, on the other hand, has not received stellar reviews but I’m still intrigued by the concept so I’m down to check it out. Finally, there’s Arcadian which stars Nicolas Cage, so need I say more? There’s nothing this man is in that I won’t watch. The way he just takes those risks and says yes. I mean, yeah, paycheck but also, I stan.
What are you anticipating this month?
April 2, 2024
Books
* Something Kindred by Ciera Burch (YA)
* The Black Girl Survives in This One Edited by Desiree S. Evans & Saraciea J. Fennell (YA)
* City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways by Megan Kimble (N)
* Darker by Four by June C.L. Tan (YA)
April 5, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Monkey Man
The People’s Joker
*******
April 9, 2024
Books
* Blood City Rollers by V.P. Anderson, Illustrated by Tatiana Hill (G)
* The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (A)
* Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes (A)
* Music and Mind Edited by Renée Fleming (N)
Movies & TV on Blu-ray/DVD
Doom Patrol: The Complete Fourth Season
April 12, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Civil War
Arcadian
*******
April 16, 2024
Books
* One of Us Knows by Alyssa Cole (A)
* One Last Word by Suzanne Park (A)
Movies & TV on Blu-ray/DVD
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Season 4
April 19, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Little Empty Boxes
*******
April 23, 2024
Books
* Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee (YA)
* Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin (YA)
* The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan (N)
*******
April 30, 2024
Books
* Sound the Gong by Joan He (YA)
* Where Was Goodbye? by Janice Lynn Mather (YA)
Movies & TV on Blu-ray/DVD
Andor: Season 1
Mean Girls
Moon Knight: Season 1
TV Premieres On My Radar
Note: Like above, the titles listed below are only of shows that I enjoy or am looking forward to checking out (new series are in CAPS), it’s not a definitive list of all of the premieres this month.
All American (The CW, April 1)
Star Trek: Discovery: The Final Season (Paramount+, April 4)
Beacon 23 (MGM+, April 7)
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES (Roku, April 19)
The Big Door Prize (Apple TV+, April 24)