Books Read in April

In this post, I will share the books I read in April.

Last month I was slightly appalled at how few books I managed to read. This month, I am happy to report, everything is back to normal and I have stormed through some excellent books.

I love finding new (to me) authors that I enjoy. Sally Page is definitely one I shall be reading more from. Her book, The Keeper of Stories, had so much heart. Anyway, without further ado, here are the books I read in April.

Books I Read in April: Fiction

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

The Travelling Cat Chronicles follows Satoru, a gentle and kind-hearted man, and his adopted stray cat Nana, who narrates much of the story.

After rescuing Nana from a car accident, Satoru and the cat live happily together for several years. Then, unexpectedly, Satoru announces they must go on a journey across Japan. He wants to visit his old friends, seemingly to find someone to take Nana in.

As they travel, Nana observes Satoru’s past through reunions with childhood friends. Each visit reveals pieces of Satoru’s life: his loneliness, his quiet generosity, and the hardships he has endured. Gradually, it becomes clear that Satoru’s reasons for rehoming Nana are deeply personal and tragic.

The novel builds toward an emotional revelation about Satoru’s condition. And it culminates in a bittersweet ending that emphasizes love, loyalty, and letting go.

Ultimately, it’s a road-trip story that evolves into a powerful meditation on friendship, memory, and mortality.

The Keeper of Stories by Sally Page

The Keeper of Stories follows Janice, a middle-aged cleaner living in Cambridge. Janice has an unusual habit of quietly collecting other people’s stories. As she moves between clients’ homes, she listens to the lives of those around her. From a grieving widow and her son to an eccentric opera singer. Then there is a sharp-tongued older woman known as Mrs. B. Janice gathers their stories while believing her own story is insignificant.

This changes when she begins working for Mrs. B, who insists that Janice share her own story in return. Reluctantly, Janice is forced to confront a painful, guilt-laden past she has long avoided. As the narrative unfolds, she begins to face her trauma, form deeper connections with others. There is even the possibility of romance. And these relationships help her to gradually reassess her sense of self-worth.

Ultimately, the novel is a gentle, character-driven exploration of voice, healing, and identity. It demonstrates how recognising the value of your own story can be just as important as honouring the stories of others.

Books Read in April: Non-Fiction

Big Ideas… for Small Businesses by John Lamerton

Big Ideas… for Small Businesses by John Lamerton is a practical, no-nonsense guide to building a profitable small business. At its heart is a simple idea. Success doesn’t come from working harder, but from working smarter. And then you can design your business to support the life you actually want.

Drawing on his experience of running more than 60 businesses, Lamerton shares a mix of real-life lessons, alongside simple systems for growth. He offers strategies that can be applied straight away. Rather than promoting hustle culture, he advocates for creating an “ambitious lifestyle business”. This is one that delivers consistent income, requires fewer working hours, and aligns with personal goals.

The book emphasises focusing on high-impact activities that drive the majority of results. He focuses on building multiple income streams, and making small, continuous improvements over time. It also encourages prioritising profit and personal freedom over business size or status.

Overall, it presents a grounded approach to entrepreneurship, centred on building a business that is not just bigger, but more sustainable and enjoyable to run.

Simple Marketing for Smart People by Billy Broas, Tiago Forte, and Ali Abdaal

Simple Marketing for Smart People presents marketing as a straightforward, principle-driven discipline rather than something dependent on hype, gimmicks, or aggressive selling. At its core is a single guiding question: what do you want to be known for? From this starting point, the book shifts the focus away from tactics like ads, funnels, and growth hacks. Instead it reframes marketing as the process of building a clear reputation and educating your audience. This helps potential customers access the value you offer.

The authors argue that modern marketing has become unnecessarily complicated. It is overloaded with tools and strategies that often distract from what actually matters. In response, they propose a simpler, more sustainable approach. This involves defining a clear core promise, consistently building trust through useful and relevant content, and supporting customers in developing the understanding and confidence they need to make a purchase.

Ultimately, the book makes the case that marketing works best when it is clear and honest. Oh, and it should be focused on helping people rather than persuading them.

Evergreen Assets by John Lamerton

Evergreen Assets argues that many entrepreneurs focus too much on short-term marketing efforts. Instead they should be building long-lasting systems that keep delivering value over time. The book introduces the concept of “evergreen assets”. These are things like content, emails, and processes that continue to attract leads, nurture relationships, and generate sales long after they’re created.

Lamerton breaks these assets into six key categories, including lead generation, nurturing, sales, fulfilment, admin, and word-of-mouth growth. The central idea is to create resources once and reuse them repeatedly. This allows business owners to move away from constant hustle and toward a more sustainable, scalable approach.

If you are feeling stuck in the cycle of constant content creation and short-term marketing tactics this is for you. It stands out for its straightforward frameworks and focus on long-term efficiency. However, it leans more heavily toward small business and marketing contexts. And it is primarily from the point of view of an English business man.

Overall, it’s a useful read for those wanting to build a more stable and less reactive business model.

No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering by Thich Nhat Hanh

No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Hanh is a short yet deeply reflective guide to mindfulness and compassion. It draws on Buddhist philosophy. At its core is a simple but powerful idea. Suffering is not something to be avoided, but an essential part of cultivating happiness. Like a lotus flower that can only grow in mud, the book suggests that pain is a natural and necessary condition for growth.

Rather than encouraging readers to suppress or escape discomfort, it teaches a different approach, one rooted in awareness and acceptance. Thich Nhat Hanh invites readers to recognise their suffering and sit with it mindfully. It will gradually transform it into understanding, compassion, and even joy. He emphasises that while pain itself may be unavoidable, much of our suffering comes from how we react to it.

Blending philosophy with practice, the book introduces simple yet powerful techniques. These include mindful breathing, pausing to become fully present, and observing emotions without judgment. Concepts like the “two arrows” help make these ideas accessible and practical.

Overall, it serves as both a gentle philosophical reflection and a practical guide for turning life’s difficulties into opportunities for growth.

Books Read in April: Memoirs

Enchantment: Reawakening Wonder in an Exhausted Age by Katherine May

Enchantment: Reawakening Wonder in an Exhausted Age explores how modern life, marked by burnout, distraction, and disconnection, has dulled our sense of awe and meaning. Katherine May reflects on everyday moments, nature, ritual, and attention as pathways back to a more enchanted way of living. Drawing on personal experience and cultural observation, she argues that wonder isn’t something rare or mystical, but something we can consciously cultivate by slowing down, noticing more, and reconnecting with the world around us.

A gentle, reflective invitation to rediscover beauty and meaning in ordinary life, written with quiet insight and sincerity.

The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman’s Walk in the Wild to Find Her Way Home by Katherine May

The Electricity of Every Living Thing follows Katherine May over the course of a year as she walks a long coastal path in England while dealing with burnout, family pressures, and a lingering sense of being out of place. Along the way, she comes to understand that she is autistic, and the journey becomes as much about self-acceptance as it is about the physical challenge of the walk.

This is a thoughtful and gently written book that blends nature, personal struggle, and self-discovery. The honesty of her experience makes it relatable, even as it tells a very individual story.

Concluding Thoughts

I love reading so much! This month has been an excellent month for some great books and new-to-me authors.

Click here if you’d like to see all the books I’ve read over the last few years.