Everything I Read in March 2026

This was a great month of reading. I got to read Becca Freeman’s newest (it is so good!), I adored The Storm (this one surprised me as reading about a bad storm sounded too stressful), Yesteryear stopped me in my tracks with its tradwife influencer angle (and wild ending — can’t stop thinking about it), and I still can’t stop thinking about Into the Blue. And of course, Strangers. It’s all anyone can talk about, for good reason. 

Everything i read in March 2026

I would really love to hear what you’re reading in the comments! And if you are new here, check out The Library. I have kept this page meticulously updated for the past ten+ years. It has every book I’ve read, and you can search, filter by genre, and rank from best to worst. 

PS – Everything I read in February 2026

Thrillers

The Storm, by Rachel Hawkins

I was surprised by how much I loved this. I couldn’t put it down, and I think that it might be my favorite of all of Rachel Hawkins’ books. St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, is famous for its beautiful beaches, its deadly hurricanes, and Lo Bailey–the nineteen-year-old accused of murdering her much older lover, Landon Fitzroy, during a 1984 hurricane. Now in modern day, Geneva Corliss owns the Rosalie Inn and learns that a writer (and Lo) is returning to St. Medard’s to tell Lo’s story; she recognizes the financial opportunity for the hotel. Lo claims she’s here to set the record straight, but as time goes on, it becomes clear that Lo’s intentions might be more sinister than they seem. Secrets come out about Lo (some of which affect Geneva), and no one seems to be who they say they are. It’s super twisty and, at times, felt impossible to put down. I really loved it. Overall Score A // Order on Bookshop or Amazon

Yesteryear, by Cairo Claire Burke (out 4/7/26)

This book is a wild ride in the best sense of the word. Natalie Heller Mills is a tradwife (think of Ballerina Farm, pretty much to a tee), living on an idyllic farmhouse ranch with her handsome cowboy husband. Behind the scenes, there are nannies, producers, and industrial-grade appliances . . . but no one needs to know about that! Natalie has the perfect life. She is, in her words, “perfect at being alive.” But one day, she wakes up, and it is the 1800s. Her home and children feel familiar, but her kitchen is warmed by a fire rather than electricity. Rather than snap pretty photos, she’s expected to lug firewood and do the laundry (without a machine) and make bread from scratch. Is this time-travel? A test from God? Has she been abducted? What happened? We go back and forth between past (and… past?) as we get to know Natalie’s childhood, her time at Harvard, and what made her like this. We meet the Angry Women (privileged coastal elites) who hate her, and we meet her husband Caleb’s politician father. Meanwhile, this is not Natalie’s beautiful life. How will she escape and get back to the world she worked so hard to create? I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I am still thinking about the end. It is a fantastic twist that kept me thinking for weeks. I had a book hangover afterward.. Overall Score A // Order on Bookshop or Amazon

Romance

Back Where We Started, by Becca Freeman (Out 10/13/26)

Obviously, it is hard to review one of your closest friends’ books in an unbiased way, but this was an absolute home run for me. It was so well-written and fun to read! Katie and her high school boyfriend Drew were once inseparable, but now they’re more or less strangers. When they were younger, Katie dreamed of being an actress, while Drew wanted to go into politics. They spent hours planning the future, planning to be together always. Things didn’t exactly go as planned. Katie is now Blair Banks, a famous Hollywood actress. Drew has moved back home, where he is the local mayor. Katie has done all she can to avoid going home, but when her sister is put on bed rest, she has no choice but to go home for Christmas. And who is the first person she runs into but Drew? The two eventually find their way back to each other, but don’t know how to make room for each other in their lives. Too much has happened; they’ve moved too far apart. (Or have they?) Famous person/non-famous person is my favorite romantic trope, plus this has plenty of insider-feeling Hollywood moments and glamour. I also adore a second-chance romance where childhood sweethearts find each other again. The characters are endearing, the banter is (much like Becca) witty and clever, and it’s just a joy to read. A big, warm, happy hug. I loved it so so much, even more than her first book! Overall Score A+ // Order on Bookshop or Amazon

Into the Blue, by Emma Brodie (out 4/7/26)

This was such a special book; I could not put it down. I cried multiple times throughout and loved the ending. It’s so unique and different (and while the books are very, very different, I think fans of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow will adore this. It’s a romance (not usually my thing), but it’s also got a Hollywood element, a sci-fi element, and some pretty weighty topics around the choices we make and how we hurt others when we try to protect them. That probably sounds vague, but I really don’t want to give anything away. The less you know, the better! Noah and AJ are the very best of friends (on their way to being more), working at a video store and studying acting together. They’ve just had their first kiss when Noah disappears from AJ’s life altogether. Years later, they find themselves on set, working on a new sci-fi show. All of the old feelings are still there, but Noah’s choices haunt them. I’ll say no more. Just read it, you will love it! The only reason I gave it an A- was that I felt like it got a little too long in parts. Otherwise, it was perfect. Overall Score: A- // Order on Bookshop or Amazon

Contemporary Fiction

Lost Lambs, by Madeline Cash

People are fanatical about this book, but it was a “like” and not a “love” for me. The first 60-70% were a weird slog, and then it all came together. It’s a family story that I usually love, but it’s just so strange. Bud and Catherine have opened their marriage, and Catherine is dating their neighbor. Meanwhile, their three children all have a lot going on. The eldest daughter (Abigail) is dating a man in his twenties named War Crimes Wes, the middle daughter (Louise) is corresponding online with a terrorist, and the youngest (Harper) is being sent to wilderness camp after becoming a conspiracy theorist. Proceed with caution. The last 10% of the book makes it worthwhile. Ultimately, it goes off the rails (in a really good way) and turns into a little bit of a thriller. If you have the patience and/or like weird and literary, you’ll really enjoy this. Overall Score B+ // Order on Bookshop or Amazon

Non-fiction

Strangers, by Belle Burden

This has been the book that absolutely everyone is talking about and reading, but I put it off as I worried it would be too sad or upsetting. It’s totally manageable, thanks to truly great writing and storytelling. The book opens at the beginning of the pandemic. Belle Burden and her family (her husband and two daughters — their oldest son is away) are quarantining at their vacation home on Martha’s Vineyard. Belle receives a phone call: “Your husband is having an affair with my wife.” At first, Belle’s husband, “James,” says that the affair meant nothing and apologizes. The next day, he announces he is leaving her. And overnight, just like that, the man she thought was so steady and caring becomes a total stranger. We go back and forth between past and present to learn about Burden’s family lore (she’s Babe Paley’s granddaughter!) and how their relationship began. The book is raw and heartfelt, with beautiful writing. But for me it didn’t feel that sad. Shocking, yes. Sad, less so. I appreciated all of the observations (for example, no longer being invited to dinner parties as she wasn’t partnered up), and some of the wild things that people said to her. It’s unflinchingly honest but (IMO) actually quite kind to her husband. You won’t be able to put it down. I read it in two evenings (both of which I stayed up way too late because I felt like I could not stop reading!!!). I really loved it. Overall Score A+ // Order on Bookshop or Amazon

Empire of the Elite, by Michael M. Grynbaum

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