Hello Reader,

We know you’re always looking for your next good read, so we have some great recommendations.

Every month, you’ll receive team CGF’s top picks of books to help you improve your finances, advance your career, practice self-care, or get lost in a fantasy world.

Here is our list of April book recommendations!

• Note: This book list contains affiliate links from Amazon. Clever Girl Finance is an Amazon Associate which means we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Your support helps us continue providing free financial education.
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• We also encourage you to support your local independent booksellers! You can search by your location here.​

Finance pick: How to Invest $50-$5,000: The Small Investor’s Step-by-Step Low Risk Investing in Today’s Economy

Investing in today’s economy can feel like driving with your eyes closed. There is so much happening in the world. On one hand, you're hesitant to put your hard-earned money into the market. On the other hand, you know investing can help you build the wealth you desire.

Investment fears are valid, but they shouldn’t stop you from building your future. Fortunately, Nancy Dunnan’s updated edition of her book, How to Invest $50–$5,000, is designed to help you make smart investment decisions in today’s turbulent climate.

This book offers practical guidance on making small investments that can have a big impact. Rather than confusing you with technical jargon, the book delivers clear bullet points and step-by-step instructions to help you navigate stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and more.

Don’t let fear keep you from creating a strong financial future. Use this book as a guide to protect and grow your money—no matter what’s happening in the economy.

Finance pick: Dump Debt & Build Bank: The Everyday Chick’s Guide to Money

Does the name “Fo” Alexander ring a bell? You’ve probably read one of her many articles on Clever Girl Finance, or maybe you’ve tuned into the Clever Girls Know podcast episode where FO shared how she paid off $78,000 in debt.

Faneisha “Fo” Alexander was once a driven, ambitious 20-year-old who earned two degrees, landed a great job, and did everything the “right way.” But her success came with a price—an overwhelming amount of debt.

Because of that debt, Fo struggled and lived paycheck to paycheck. Determined to turn her life around, she immersed herself in learning about personal finance. With that knowledge, she completely paid off her debt and even bought her dream home with her husband. Fo wrote this book to help other women—skilled professionals who feel held back by their finances.

​The Everyday Chick’s Guide to Money is exactly what it sounds like: a book for everyday women who want to get out of debt and take control of their money. She offers simplified, actionable tips to help you reduce debt, invest, negotiate your salary, manage your finances better, and build a thriving bank account.

No fancy tricks. No complex schemes. Just straightforward, practical ways to get out of debt and live a life of true financial freedom.

Self-help pick: I Love Me More: How To Find Happiness And Success Through Self-Love

When women are only taught to give and seek love, they often run into a problem. The love they give isn’t always reciprocated. As a result, many women find themselves stuck in a cycle of constantly searching, only to find heartbreak and disappointment. Author Jenna Banks rebukes this pattern, encouraging women to stop seeking love externally and instead nurture self-love from within.

Challenging the belief that focusing on yourself is selfish, Jenna shares relatable stories from her own life to show how embracing your value and power can lead to a fuller, more joyful life. I Love Me More is packed with lessons on:

• The importance of saying no
• Releasing the need for others’ approval and valuing your own feelings
• Trusting your intuition
• Loving yourself more than anyone else

Through honest reflections and practical guidance, Jenna reveals how you might be sabotaging your own self-love—and how to find balance between caring for yourself and others. She shows that self-love isn’t just an abstract idea but a powerful tool for becoming more valued and fulfilled, both personally and professionally.

Embrace your self-love journey by picking up a copy of this inspiring book today.

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Business/Career pick: Power Moves - Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free

This book is a must-have whether you’re a business owner, leader, or artist. Success—no matter your path—comes down to one crucial thing: staying true to yourself.

Yet in the pursuit of a career or lifelong dream, many of us forget how to show up authentically. Author Susie deVille understands this struggle and believes that reconnecting with who you are is the key to creating the life and success you truly desire.

​Buoyant is your guide to doing just that, not only achieving your goals but also living a life of freedom and fulfillment.

Reading this book will teach you how to tap into your unique genius and unlock a steady flow of creativity. No more wrestling with perfectionism—this is about becoming confident in the act of experimenting. And one of the biggest takeaways from Buoyant is learning how to work smarter, not harder, so you can build a profitable business without sacrificing your quality of life.

If you’re ready to create the career and life you’ve always wanted, this book is for you.

Fiction Pick: The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson

​The House of Eve is a historical fiction novel set in the 1950s, centering on the romance between Ruby Peasall and William Pride. Ruby, the first in her family to attend college, meets William while at Howard University. He comes from one of Washington, DC’s most prominent Black families. Despite their deep affection for each other, the divide between their social backgrounds threatens to pull them apart.

Their love story unfolds with both tenderness and tension, revealing unexpected twists along the way. Can their relationship withstand the weight of societal expectations, or will they be forced to part ways? In the end, each must make choices that will alter the course of their lives forever.

Personal development pick: Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships

The Cosby Show, Full House, and Family Matters—these famous sitcoms painted a picture of the ideal family. But in reality, family dynamics can be complicated. Maybe your uncle has opposite political beliefs, or your mom never hesitates to point out a flaw. Most of us have experienced some family drama. And while we love our families, certain relationships can still take a toll on our mental and emotional health.

For those families that look perfect on the outside but struggle underneath, expert Nedra Glover Tawwab wrote Drama Free to help readers break free from dysfunctional family patterns. Whether you’ve faced emotional neglect, absent parents, or mental health challenges within your family, this compassionate guide offers strategies to maintain respect for loved ones while staying true to yourself.

No matter how chaotic your family feels, you deserve a peaceful life—one not weighed down by family trauma.

Which book will you choose for this month?

With the start of the new quarter and the new season, now is the perfect time to start a new book.

Which book are you curious about? Let us know!

Don’t forget, you can stay motivated and learn other financial tips and tricks from our completely free financial courses.​

Happy reading! ❤️
Team CGF

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