March Reads
Spring arriving + a full bookshelf = a happy heart. 🩷
We’ve almost reached the end of March. In the Midwest, we’ve had some snow and temps bouncing anywhere between 28-74 degrees (F). But now, the sun sets later. The flowers emerge from Earth’s thawing crust. I’m more than ready for bright days.
I continue my trend of six books per month. I can’t even believe it, if I’m being honest. I’ve fallen back into reading in such a lovely way. I was speaking with a friend of mine (an avid reader who always has a wonderful stack) about how happy I am to be sailing through books again. It’s something I haven’t done in years. She responded:
Doesn’t it feel like it completely quiets the voice in your head that says
“you should be __”
It really does. It quiets my mind. It quells the anxiety and dread I feel as I continue to grieve. It provides a lovely escape for a few hours at a time. I’ve been doing a lot of reading on the weekends, too, and have found I can still smash a book within a day. Ya girl’s still got it!
We should all read more. Just like, at least a little a day. Whether you can do it for fifteen minutes or a few hours, I think your brain will thank you. If not for that, but for the escape. The real world is bleak AF. I almost said “lately” but the truth is, it’s been bleak for a bit. Let’s dive into a world away from our own. Solve mysteries. Hang out with dragons. Have a book boyfriend/girlfriend. Go ahead — get lost in a sea of pages and words. You’ll be glad you did!
We should also lean on our bookish friends to help us fill our shelves. My bestie, D, and I toss suggestions back and forth literally all day, everyday. We created a collection in our Insta DM to capture all the book reels/suggestions we find so we can add things to Goodreads quicker. Our TBRs (to be read lists) — especially hers (sorry to out you like this, D, jajaja) — are a mile long. But hey, it’s something to look forward to. We all need a bit more of that, don’t you think? Brighter days and more books. 📚
Anyway, it’s time for me to finally share with you everything I read in March. If you have recs for something I can’t miss, please share. Comment with your suggestions and let me know what’s on your shelf, too!
See what else I’ve read this year:
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FICTION
THE CLUB, by Ellery Lloyd
I had this on my list for a long time, and even accidentally bought two paperback copies at one point (gifting one to my bestie). Oops! It was a decent story but overly descriptive, which led me to race through the pages with a “let’s get to it, already” attitude. That doesn’t mean it isn’t well-written, or that you won’t like it. I don’t agree with the subtitle (“everyone’s dying to join”) but it is about an exclusive resort club for the stars. The story centers on a new location’s grand opening and the special celebrity garbage that is littered throughout the weekend. Lots of layers and unlikeable characters, which I’m always into. So, if you’re also into that sort of thing, you’ll like this one!
THE CHATEAU, by Jaclyn Goldis
This was a delicious read I devoured basically in a day. A group of long-time friends are invited to join one of the women’s grandmother at her chateau in Southern France, where they spent time while studying abroad in college. Some of them have underlying motives for visiting, others have secrets they are trying to keep. Before they can find out why the grandmother summoned them all to the chateau, a devastating crime takes place. The cracks in the foundation of their relationships begin to deepen as they try to figure out who is responsible. A very fun read — I would love to see this as a movie. Highly recommend!
ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS, by Araminta Hall
This one had me in the first half. Great premise, great writing. You’re following Cole, a sad fella whose marriage recently ended and he’s trying to start over. You actually start to feel for the guy. He moves to a remote seaside town and meets Lennie, an artist working on her next project. She’s a whole vibe. Add in a couple of girls who go missing after stopping in their town for the night and you’ve got quite the compelling story to unravel. And whewww — I won’t spoil this for ya, but… nothing is as it seems. It’s a breezy read that you won’t be able to put down.
NONFICTION
LOVE, PAMELA, by Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson. An icon for the ages! I loved listening to her story and enjoyed learning things about her I never knew — her childhood, how she actually started in the business, her love of reading poetry and writing, and how becoming a mother brought her immense joy. Pam is thoughtful, kind, and good to the core — these attributes shine brightly within her memoir.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME, by John Stamos
This memoir was great. I spent a lot of time with John Stamos, as Uncle Jesse, during my childhood. And even after in the various roles he’s played throughout his career. There were a few tear-inducing moments when he spoke about the loss of his dear friend, Bob Saget — aptly nicknamed “America’s Dad”. I enjoyed hearing about John’s childhood, the closeness with his family, and learning that he’s a huge Disneyland guy. If you would have told me!! Such a great title for his life story. A breezy listen!
THICKER THAN WATER, by Kerry Washington
I really enjoyed listening to Kerry Washington share intimate details of her life and career, especially given she’s a notoriously private person. The audiobook was fantastic — her words became animated with emotion and I do wonder if people got the same impression via words on the page. I did listen at 1.15x speed, because the default was a touch too slow for me. If you’re a fan of Kerry’s, you’ll enjoy hearing about her life in memoir form.
All the links for the books reviewed go to Bookshop.org, a wonderful site where you can purchase your books and support your local independent bookstore(s). 📚