I will be honest, this was a slowwww month of reading and I am feeling a little ashamed about how little I read. I just wasn’t into reading in the way that I usually am. And that is okay, sometimes I have months like that where I tend to watch more TV/movies or just have other stuff going on. In this case, it was definitely this move. I will say that I really enjoyed the three books that I did read, but I’m definitely in a bit of a reading rut. As I write this, I am about 70% through Delicious (Ruth Reichl’s fiction book!) and am really enjoying it… plus very excited to talk about it on the podcast a little later this month!
IF YOU’RE NEW HERE AND ARE LOOKING FOR A BOOK, DON’T FORGET THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS CHECK OUT MY BEAUTIFUL BOOK CLUB PAGE.
Every month I update it with everything I read – it includes every book I’ve read in the past six years. The best part is that now you can filter + search by genre (memoir, light read, historical fiction, thriller, books by Black authors, etc!) Now you can also filter by GRADE to find exactly what you’re looking for or just peruse my top picks. If you’re feeling like you need even more book recs, check out last month’s list! And, just in case you missed it… everything I read in 2020, ranked by genre.
Everything I Read in March 2021
A Thriller I enjoyed…
Her Three Lives, by Cate Holahan (out 4/20/21)
(CW: violence, miscarriage) I was conflicted on this one! I was really excited about it but struggled through the first 2/3 of the book. But I will tell you, the ending was really good. I’d describe this more as a suspense read vs. a thriller, but still enjoyed it.
Jade Thompson is a successful influencer with a sexy (older!) architect fiance, Greg. It’s not without problems, though: Jade’s family has a past and Greg’s ex-wife and children hate her and are convinced that Jade just wants his money. One day, they are horribly attacked. Greg ends up in a coma with a horrible brain injury and Jade loses the baby. They are both deeply affected by this and Greg begins to wonder if perhaps he is worth more to Jade dead vs. alive. Should he listen to his family’s concerns? Is Jade just a mid-life crisis mistake? Meanwhile, Jade has her own issues and concerns. Neither of them knows whether to trust the other. This one takes several twists and turns and it definitely drags a bit in the beginning but the ending makes up for it, in my opinion! Keep with it!!!! Order it on Amazon or Bookshop.org
- Overall Score: B+
The one everyone is buzzing about…
Yolk, by Mary H.K. Choi
(CW: Eating disorder, cancer) This is a book that will make you FEEL. I started out only medium on it (but to be honest I think this may be because I was just in a little reading rut this month!!!) but ended up really, really enjoying it.
This is the story of two sisters who could not be more different: June and Jayne. They’re living in New York but estranged. Jayne is 19 and in art school, June is three years older and has a plush job in finance. When June is diagnosed with uterine cancer, the two reunite under unlikely circumstances – Jayne is the only one to help her. What follows is an incredibly emotional and heartfelt story about the importance of family. I cried at the end. I initially found Jayne to be deeply immature and unlikeable: self-obsessed and just a complete mess. That being said, she’s 19. I will say that I found the eating disorder scenes (bulimia) to be pretty graphic so if that is a trigger for you, definitely skip this book. Order it on Amazon or Bookshop.org
- Overall Score: A-
Coming Soon!
A Special Place for Women
, by Laura Hankin (out 5/11/21)
I was beyond excited for this one as I absolutely love this author (she also wrote Happy And You Know It) and I had heard it was (very loosely!) based on The Wing. This book is a wild ride. It goes a little off the rails, in the best way possible. I don’t want to give you any hints about how or why it goes off the rails, as it will spoil it.
Jillian Beckley is a journalist who has lost her job. Her life is a mess. Her mother has passed away and she has to sell her childhood home to pay off medical bills. She has nowhere to live, she’s a little bit in love with her (married) ex-boss, and she’s just floundering. Meanwhile, for years there have been rumors of a secret club called Nevertheless: an invitation-only members’ club for important, (generally) wealthy women. Almost like a secret society. After a chance encounter with beautiful, wealthy Margot (rumored to be one of the founders), Jillian sees an opportunity: finagle an invitation and write an expose, taking down the club. What follows is an absolutely wild ride. I loved this book and think you will too.. highly recommend pre-ordering it!!!! Order it on Amazon or Bookshop.org
- Overall Score: A-
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photo by Allie Provost.
I want to read all of those books! My favorite book from March was The Midnight Library. I loved the podcast episode about it. It really made me feel like there’s always hope for change in life. Another favorite from March was the Ex Talk, so cute!
3 books is nothing to be ashamed of 🙂 we all have slow months with our passion and you had a lot of change occurring this month! I am still working my way through A Promised Land which I started in February 😉 Thanks for adding in the triggers I didn’t realize certain topics affected me until I looked at all of the books I was putting to the side!
I highly recommend Anxious People by Frederik Backman!
3 books is great—especially with everything you had going on this month. My favorite March read was A Knock At Midnight. Such an amazing memoir and commentary about America’s crime laws/justice system.
I have heard rave reviews for A Special Place for Women and cannot WAIT for it to come out! Your summary made me want to read it anymore, can’t believe May will be here so soon. Hope you’re settling nicely in your new city!
My favorite book from March and the year so far was The House on the Cerulean Sea. It’s just so happy! I also enjoyed Demi Moore’s autobiography, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and The Four Winds.
I would love to see your review on The house of G too! I’ve heard great things.
I read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah last month and I absolutely adored it. It was so beautifully written and almost haunting. I’ve recommended it to at least three other people!
I second this recommendation. It’s easy to read and transported me to another time and place while making me truly thankful to have a hot shower and clean bed to climb into every night.
This month was also slow for me! I blame it on the warm weather and the ache for normalcy.
Here are a few good reads that took me away- I love a crime/murder/investigation and am always down for a different time period.
The Widows of Malabar Hill, Sujata Massey- highly recommend
The Anatomist’s Wife, Anna Lee Huber- love a murder!
Goodnight Beautiful, Aimee Molloy- I could NOT put this down
Juror #3, James Patterson- crime investigation, murder, legal battle- the trifecta!
Oooh that last one sounds interesting! I’m trying to get back into reading. I keep remembering how much I like it after forgetting for far too long. Terrible hamster wheel I’m on.
xo Jessica
an indigo day
I always love your recommendations, Grace! I am so looking forward to getting my hands on A Special Place for Women!
This month I read and enjoyed Recipe For a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown – really good, kind of Why Women Kill Vibes! How to Fail At Flirting by Denise Williams – I think you’d like this one, its a grown up rom-com. I also read several of your recommendations and my favourite was All These Beautiful Strangers, so thank you for that one!!
Currently I’m reading an ADR of That Summer by Jennifer Weiner.
Quality over quantity!
If you enjoyed those three books this month, that’s what matters – at least that’s what I think. I’ve actually been barreling through books lately — I’ve had a string of ones that I have looooooved (A / A+ style), but am almost feeling like I’m going too fast. Not savoring or taking time in between because I have so many books I want to read.
I’ve also gotten much better about DNFing books that are a slog for me – so I haven’t been pushing myself through anything that I don’t enjoy or would rank lower than a B+ in my eyes. I’d like to think that’s a good thing –
I wonder if maybe we’ve gotten too caught up in numbers – how many books we read versus the quality and our enjoyment of them…
Thinking out loud here 🙂
Oh! Recommendations (caveat that none are thrillers so I’m not sure they’re up your alley…):
– How to find love in a bookshop by Veronica Henry (LOVED, I mean, LOVED this book. I know it sounds like another cliché – but the writing, relationships and characters are fall-in-love quality). As GGE girls say, can’t recommend it enough.
– The book of two ways by Jodi Picoult (definitely more literary and took me a while – there’s a lot about Egyptology in it – but oh man, what a wonderfully written and unique story)
– The dream daughter by Diane Chamberlain (so fun!)
– Qualityland (oof, author name escapes me). This one is SO far out of my comfort zone and was definitely odd – however, the deeper you get into it, the more you realize it can almost be a parody of our world, and tells a dystopian story of what our future could look like. I recommended this to several people because of how thought-provoking it is. So many good discussions!
Thank you for the reviews, Grace! I need to read these! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
I’m currently reading The Herd (partially through), and it sounds VERY MUCH like A Special Place for Women.
Have you read the invisible life of Addie larue?
I loved it.
highly recommend Pachinko if you haven’t read it!
I have three I recently read that I recommend: We Begin at the End (amazing read…best book I’ve read in a long time), Infinite Country, and What’s Mine and Yours.
Ooh thank you for the recs! I really enjoyed Infinite Country!
Nothing to be ashamed of! I’ve also been watching tons of TV shows and movies. Almost done Schitt’s Creek and I’m trying to drag it out cause I don’t want it to end. Also, halfway through Ginny and Georgia. Loving it!
I’ve been reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller since February and just bought Too Good To Be True by Carola Lovering today. Definitely adding these to my list!
Love that! Know My Name was amazing.
Stop everything you’re doing and please go read Beach Read by Emily Henry. It is perfection as summertime creeps up and actually had me laughing out loud. Very light hearted and such a good read! You won’t be disappointed! 🙂
Love these lists and ALWAYS refer back to them. Just read Beach Read and really enjoyed. Now I’m 75% through “Before We Were Strangers” and it is a page turner — I was surprised to not see it on any of your lists!!
Oh yay, I’m so glad to hear that! And thanks for the recs!!!