April Evans is a supporting character in the novel Dream On, Ramona Riley and the protagonist of Get Over It, April Evans by bi author Ashley Herring Blake. April is a goth tattoo artist from Clover Lake, a small town in New Hampshire, and one of Ramona Riley’s closest friends.
The novel Dream On, Ramona Riley centers around the relationship between Ramona Riley, an ordinary young woman from a small town, and the notorious Hollywood actress Dylan Monroe, who comes to the town to film a rom-com.
Get Over It, April Evans is a novel about April’s unexpected romance with Daphne Love, the woman who “stole” her ex.
As a character, April is portrayed as sharp, sarcastic, emotionally loyal, and deeply connected to queer culture and her local queer community. April is openly pansexual, which places her under the bi umbrella. The author establishes her pansexuality directly in the first chapter of Dream On, Ramona Riley:
Ramona and April — bisexual and pansexual, respectively — shared a look…
April’s sexuality is treated as an important part of her identity throughout the series. She openly discusses bi attraction, relationships, and queer culture with her friends. Unlike many queer characters in romance fiction, April doesn’t struggle with coming out during the story. She’s already confident in her identity before the novels begin.
In Get Over It, April Evans readers discover that April Evans realized she was pansexual when she was in high school:
Of course, April had dated people. Mostly boys, until she realized she was attracted to all genders and came out as pansexual her junior year of high school, mainly with the help of Leigh Reynolds, a friend (with benefits) she often hooked up with even to this day whenever they rolled back into town.
April plays an important role in Dream On, Ramona Riley because she helps create the queer-positive atmosphere of Clover Lake. As Ramona’s longtime best friend, April encourages her emotionally and creatively, especially when Ramona struggles with fear and self-doubt, which highlights the importance of friendship among bi youth.
In Get Over It, April Evans, April becomes the central romantic lead herself. The novel explores her career struggles, financial problems, friendships, and romantic relationship with Daphne Love while continuing to portray her pansexuality as a natural part of her life rather than a source of shame or conflict.
April Evans adds important representation to the Clover Lake series because she’s an openly pansexual character whose identity is obvious, socially accepted, and naturally integrated into her life. She is a meaningful example of bi representation because she is a fully developed bi character in two queer novels.