The Most Read Books on Goodreads in April

The author of Maame is back with an exploration of friendship, a trend I’ve been seeing (and loving) lately. Let’s start with Remy, whose debut novel about her three besties was instantly successful upon release. She’s lucky in that way, but on the other hand, now that she’s looking for inspiration for her next book, she can’t seem to find any…nor can she seem to find her friends, who have each drifted away from her. Then there’s Simone, a successful kindergarten teacher who is so busy with her main job and side hustle that she doesn’t have much in her left for a social life. Once the two literally bump into each other in a bookstore, they each might be just what the other needs. If they can get over their secrets, that is. —Erica Ezeifedi

From the author of Only for One Week comes the second book in the Forever Falling series. Model-turned-influencer Dani Jenkins wants nothing to do with her ex, Micah, the artist who broke her heart. But then her mentor Tanya dies, and Tanya’s will requires Dani and Micah to join forces and complete a cross-country scavenger hunt. Did Tanya know what she was doing? Could this be their second chance at finding a happily ever after with each other? —Emily Martin

It’s 2026, and Lee Turner doesn’t know why he killed his college roommate. What he does know is that he needs to get out of New York, and that his father’s new house in Japan might make the perfect hideout. But there’s something wrong with the place— the bedroom window isn’t always a window, and a sword-wielding woman appears at night. Then there’s Sen, who, in 1877, is also in exile. She hides from the imperial soldiers in her family’s house, and, on top of everything else, there’s now a young foreign man who appears outside her window. And the gag is? “One of these people is a ghost, and one of these stories is a lie.” —Erica Ezeifedi

Shield of Sparrows is a popular enemies-to-lovers romantasy book, and this is the second book in the trilogy. It follows a princess who has to team up with a warrior she hates to save the kingdom. The Shield of Sparrows series is currently being adapted as a feature film, and the final book is scheduled to come out in March 2027. This was read by 66,000 Goodreads users in April and has a 4.5 average rating.

The latest McFadden thriller is about an advice columnist who has been guiding the women who write to her through dealing with their lackluster or even abusive husbands. When she loses her job and realizes her husband is keeping secrets from her, she decides it’s time for her to take her own advice and get revenge. 81,000 Goodreads users read it in April, and it has a 4.0 average rating.

This turned out to be the sleeper hit of 2025: it has kept growing in popularity, seemingly just from word-of-mouth recommendations. Recently, Katie Couric named it the first pick for her new book club. It’s about a woman who has written letters daily her whole life. When someone from her past writes back, she has to reevaluate a painful period in her life and find a way to forgive. This was read by 86,000 users in April and has a 4.5 average rating.

Abby Jimenez is a bestselling romance author whose 2024 novel, Just for the Summer, was a breakout hit. Her newest is the second book in the Say You’ll Remember Me series. It follows Larissa, who is in a rocky relationship with Mike. Meanwhile, Mike’s best friend, Chris, is falling for Larissa, but he’s determined not to blow up their friend group by making a move. The Night We Met was read by almost 106,000 Goodreads users in April, and it has a 4.1 average rating.

This 2021 sci-fi novel from the author of The Martian is getting renewed interest thanks to the movie adaptation starring Ryan Gosling, out now. Like The Martian, Project Hail Mary is hard sci-fi about an isolated man in space. Ryland Grace is a junior high teacher and former molecular biologist who becomes the unlikely last hope of life on Earth. It was read by 147,000 Goodreads users in April and has a 4.5 average rating.