Man, somehow this week got away from me. But it’s the first Friday in April, which means The Chance You Won’t Return is released in a few weeks, and it’s finally starting to feel like spring. Woohoo! Onto the b ook reviews in fifteen words or fewer:

1. Echo by Francesca Lia Block
Connected to some stories more than others, but stayed with me more than I expected.

2. The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #3) by Lemony Snicket
The same plot as the first two, but the dark humor makes it worth it.

3. The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser
I think reading YA fantasy gave me unrealistic expectations for this one.

4. More by I. C. Springman
Love the spare text, beautiful art. Also, yay magpies!

5. How to Love by Katie Cotugno
First Fourteenery release has a special place in my heart. Plus the book is so amazing.

So glad it’s Friday! Here are this week’s micro book reviews:

1. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Quiet and charming; I remember the vibe more than the plot details.

2. Kirsten Learns a Lesson (American Girls: Kirsten #2) by Janet Beeler Shaw
Not my favorite growing up, but looking back themes of language/communication were handled really nicely.

3. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Read it for class and ended up devouring it like I was reading for fun.

4. Florence and Eric Take the Cake by Jocelyn Wild
Maybe if they were goats, not lambs, this hat/cake mix-up wouldn’t have been a problem.

5. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L’Engle
Last of the Time books, and the one I remember least.

We made it to Friday! Time for some micro-book reviews.

1. How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Kept thinking how this could easily have been published under literary fiction.

2. Aloft by Chang-rae Lee
Hard to relate to middle-aged Jerry when you’re a college student.

3. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Damnit, White, you win forever. Includes maybe my favorite line in all of literature.

4. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Maybe not as laugh-out-loud as Me Talk Pretty, but lots of good Sedaris-ness here.

5. A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards
Nice intro to plant science, and one of my favorite adorable titles.

Hooray for Friday! Onto this week’s book reviews in fifteen words or under.

1. Lioness Rampant (Song of the Lioness, #4) by Tamora Pierce
A little slow to start, but lots of battle awesomeness at the end. All the feels.

2. Karen’s New Friend (Baby-Sitters Little Sister #36) by Ann M. Martin
Way to be disablist, Karen. Can’t remember if Addie showed up in future Karen books.

3. Lost in the Funhouse by John Barth
Can see why its “metafiction” stories were a big deal, but didn’t stay with me.

4. Dirty Little Secrets by C.J. Omololu
While shows like “Hoarders” sensationalize, Omololu looks at the families behind hoarding. Sensitively done.

5. Titanic: an Illustrated History by Donald Lynch
Lots of cool info and illustrations. Had this before the movie came out–history hipsters.

Happy Friday, everyone! It’s also the end of February, and I for one am ready to end the month and end winter. (Or at least to know that we’re that much closer to spring.)

1. The Stanislavski System: The Professional Training of an Actor by Sonia Moore
Didn’t make me an actor, but want to revisit with an eye to writing character.

2. Gallows Hill by Lois Duncan
Saw a TV movie loosely based on this; went into the book with skewed expectations.

3. A Kiss for Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
Everybody’s kissing everybody. Hen puts a stop to that.

4. The Year of Secret Assignments by Jaclyn Moriarty
Feeling Sorry for Celia‘s a tough act to follow, but Moriarty always delivers fun.

5. Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes by Giada De Laurentiis
I kind of want to be Giada.