The April Book(s) of the month included two books I grabbed off my “to be read” pile. One is a book that’s been recommended to me multiple times and focuses on financial literacy. The other is a popular Colleen Hoover book I never got around to reading while everyone else was reading it.

Book #1 – Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

This book has been recommended to me for years by multiple people I look up to, which may have built a level of expectation that was unachievable, but nonetheless, I found this book to be average.

It’s a ‘change your mindset’ type book in which Robert Kiyosaki, the author, shares that his whole life changed and he has been able to build incredible wealth by just learning financial literacy and putting into practice his learnings. The main lesson here is to save as much as you can, invest as much as you can, take risks, compound, and rollover earnings, and eventually you’ll have enough money coming in passively that you won’t have to work “for the man” anymore, you can just live your life which is what most of us want.

Although that is great advice, I didn’t find the book helpful on any other front. We all know we want to make money and to do so we’re going to need to do more than just work and pay bills, we have to educate ourselves about finances and opportunities to build wealth outside of our jobs, but I was hoping for more advise on HOW to do that, and this book just didn’t have it.

Rich Dad Poor Dad isn’t a long book, I feel the whole thing could have been summed up in a 3-minute video clip without leaving anything out.

The main takeaway for me was to keep my eye on the prize. If I want to retire early or create passive income, I may have to sacrifice some pleasures now to learn more about financial literacy and investing and then just do it!

The way the book is written is very “everyone can do this” and Kiyosaki makes it sound like it’s relatively easy to achieve if we just change our mindset, which I don’t necessarily agree with.

I wouldn’t say reading the book gave me any negative feelings, but it wasn’t a life-changing experience either.

Book #2 – Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

At this point, I’ve read multiple Colleen Hoover books so I’m happy to start a new one whenever I’m able. I want to first state that my review may be a little biased from the start because I do not typically like romance novels and that’s exactly what this book is.

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Colleen Hoover’s “Ugly Love” presents readers with a narrative that navigates the intricacies of love and loss. While it didn’t make my list of “must-read books”, I didn’t find it a total waste of my time either.

The novel follows Tate Collins and Miles Archer as they entangle themselves in love, heartache, and healing. Hoover’s writing style is engaging, effortlessly pulling readers into the lives of her characters. The alternating perspectives between Tate and Miles provide insight into their emotions and motivations, allowing readers to connect with them on a deeper level. I enjoyed the back-and-forth chapters from the different perspectives.

A note on the audiobook:

Although I loved the back-and-forth perspectives, I HATED Miles’s voice in the audiobook. It was so cold, unemotional, and honestly…creepy. I couldn’t finish it listening to him. I DO NOT RECOMMEND the audiobook.

One of the book’s strengths is the deep dive into the complexities of love. Hoover delves into the messy aspects of relationships, portraying both the euphoria of falling in love and the pain of heartbreak with authenticity. The emotional rollercoaster that Tate and Miles ride throughout the story feels raw and genuine, eliciting empathy from readers who have experienced similar struggles in their own lives.

Additionally, the novel’s pacing keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The alternating timeline between past and present adds depth to the storyline, gradually revealing the secrets that haunt Miles and shape his relationships. While some may find the nonlinear narrative confusing at times, it ultimately adds an element of suspense that enhances the reading experience.

However, “Ugly Love” is not without its flaws. Some readers may find certain aspects of the plot predictable or clichéd, particularly in its portrayal of romance tropes. (Me, I am that reader which is also why I don’t typically like the romance genre in general).

Additionally, the characters, while well-developed, may annoy or even disappoint certain readers with their seemingly illogical decisions. As a feminist, I was somewhat disappointed in how desperate Tate’s character was and her lack of self-respect. However, I also know Hoover’s goal here is to voice the complexities of love and the emotions that are elicited when in love.

If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt romance with a touch of realism, “Ugly Love” may just be the book for you.

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*You can check out my Book Reviews page or my goodreads page to see what else I’ve been reading this year if you missed any of my previous posts*