Must Read New Books By Genre: April 2025
Discover which books you should add to your reading list that are being published in April 2025!
This month has some absolute bombshells from the most popular romance authors! We’re starting to gear up for summer reading, so it’s romance’s time to shine!
I sorted my list by genre so you can easily find a new book you’ll love. There are options in romance, mysteries/thrillers, and fantasy this month.
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April Romance New Releases
Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
This is not only one of the must read new books of April, it’s one of the most anticipated books of the entire year! Always a summer staple, we’ve got another new Abby Jimenez book to bring along on vacation! I think this may be one of Abby’s best book boyfriends – Xavier, a Greek God-esque veterinarian who meets our main character while cuddling a tiny kitten? Love it! Except him and Samantha get off on the wrong foot after their first conversation. In an effort to prove him wrong, she agrees to a date and what happens next shocks them both.
The best date in living history – one that never seems to end because their chemistry is insane! Once again though, things go wrong. Samantha is dealing with a family crises and absolutely cannot seriously date someone right now, no matter how perfect they are together. She begs him to forget everything that happened. The question is though, can anyone truly forget a life changing moment like theirs. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Right on the heels of Abby is another massively popular romance author, Emily Henry. Two writers are competing for the job of a lifetime, telling the story of the infamous Margaret Ives. This heiress, publicity hound, and member of one of the most scandalous families of the decade invites Hayden and Alice to visit for a one month trial period.
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary
Beth O’Leary is a bit of a hit or miss author for me, but I’m still hoping she’ll recreate the magic of The Flatshare so I’m always willing to give her a try. I’ve seen a few early reviews of this that were glowing, so that’s always a good sign!
After Zeke and Lexi spend a night of fun together, they think it’ll be a one-time thing and move on. Zeke won’t be around long, since he’s just there to buy back his father’s boat and Lexi is not interested in dating since she’ll be taking care of her friend’s daughter.
Unfortunately, when they wake up the next morning they realize disaster has occurred. Neither of them actually tied the boat to the dock and they’ve drifted miles away out to sea. With none of the normal preparations, they are not at all stocked for days away from land and must try to get back before the supplies run out. However, long days with nothing else to do mean lots of time to get to know another person…and possibly fall in love. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series continues with Book 4 coming out in April! This series of cowboy romances has blown me away – I cannot pick a favorite because I’ve fallen in love with them all. In this book we get to discover the second chance love story between two side characters from the previous books, Riley’s mom, Cam and Dusty Tucker, who has been pining after her for ages.
Cam was on the verge of getting married (for complicated reasons that didn’t involve love) but her groom never showed up. With her life in disarray, she returns home to regroup and discovers the only house available to rent comes with Dusty Tucker as a neighbor.
Dusty never had the right moment to pursue anything serious with Cam, but now she’s back and she’s unattached. He’s determined to show her that he can be everything she needs, whether as friends or hopefully something more. Cam wants to stay far away from him, but he’s slowly winning her over and it feels like the easiest change in the world. I’ve been rooting for these two for ages, so it’s going to be so fun to read their whole story!
I think this is supposed to be the last book in the series, so I’m already sad about saying goodbye to Rebel Blue! I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next, though. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Mystery/Thriller New Releases
One Death At A Time by Abby Waxman
I’ve read a few of Abby Waxman’s romance / women’s fiction novels but this is her first foray into the mystery genre! She’s excellent at crafting tales, so I think she’ll knock this unlikely duo mystery out of the park.
A miserable actress who’s under investigation for murder teams up with a perky millennial to try to clear her name. Mason is thrilled with the opportunity to help keep Julia sober and out of jail, so she tackles this task with a gusto that Julia detests.
Together, this reluctant duo travel from Hollywood Hills to Palm Springs and beyond to try to uncover the truth behind the dead body. Somehow along the way, they find common ground and develop an unlikely bond. However, the danger stays one step ahead and they need to find out who’s at fault before the murderer can kill again. | Buy From Amazon
The Last Session by Julia Bartz
I’m always a fan of locked room thrillers where the characters are stuck somewhere with no hope of getting away. That’s exactly what we get set against the backdrop of a remote wellness center in The Last Session!
When a catatonic woman shows up at the psychiatric unit, social worker Thea swears she knows her from somewhere. She’s shocked to discover the patient holds a link to a traumatic time in her past. When the patient eventually comes around, she claims she can’t remember anything that happened recently or what caused her brain to shut down. Thea isn’t sure what to do, but the decision is taken out of her hands when the patient mysteriously disappears from her care.
In the hopes of tracking her down, Thea eventually discovers she has been taken to a controversial wellness retreat in New Mexico. The retreat is led by a couple who claim they can help uncover romantic and sexual issues during your stay and solve any problems that arise. However, Thea quickly realizes that something is off about this place, even as she goes through the program and starts to find answers about her own traumatic past. Should she stay until the end and possibly find the key to unlock her past at the risk of her life? | Buy From Amazon
Fantasy New Releases
The Sirens by Emilia Hart
This was just selected as the Good Morning America book club pick for April 2025, so you may start seeing this everywhere! The story takes place over three different timelines: In 2019, Lucy awakens to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. She only remembers a horrific nightmare and flees to her sister’s house, but Jess is nowhere to be found. While Lucy waits for her return, she starts to hear the rumors and strange happenings that have gone on her sister’s small town. Tales of men gone missing at sea and sailors hearing voices in caves. Hoping to find answers, Lucy starts to read her sister’s diary from when she was young.
Meanwhile, twenty years earlier, we meet Jess as a teenager. She has a strange allergy to water and has always felt different and separate from the other kids her age. When an art teacher takes an interest in her drawings, and in her, she starts to see the hope for a different life. The final timeline is centuries earlier in 1800 when two twins are separated from their father in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship headed for Australia. They’re terrified of the sea, but as their journey continues they notice changes in their bodies and feel the sea start calling to them…
These three narratives are woven together throughout the novel, showcasing the unique bonds of sisterhood even across time and the allure of the sea. This has a bit of a magical element, but not enough to deter readers who don’t normally read that genre. | Buy From Amazon
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith
This is technically the second book in the Wicked Games series, but it apparently can be read completely as a standalove. I adored Book 1, so I’m eager to hear more about Genevieve and her own experience in a different paranormal contest.
Genevieve is left with unanswered questions after her mother’s sudden death, and she might have the opportunity to get some answers when she receives an invitation to Enchantra, a cursed palace in Italy that contains a deadly labyrinth. Only one occupant of the house can survive to win the game.
She’s initially denied entrance by Rowin, one of seven siblings forever trapped in the game, but sneaks inside and finds herself with only one option to get out – win the whole thing. Once he realizes she’s inside, Rowin convinces her to team up and the two form an unlikely alliance, but dangers still lurk everywhere and the most important rule is to never trust your heart. | Buy From Amazon | Buy From Target
Let me know in the comments which one you’re most looking forward to reading!