March 2020 Book Recommendations
March Book Recommendations: What to Read & What to Skip
Today we’re rounding up my March 2020 book recommendations! I got the chance to read two new releases coming out in March, so keep an eye out for those. I also reread an old old favorite and tried a few big hits from last year.
Most of my March book recommendations I’m happy to pass along as books you should try! There’s only one I’m a bit more on the fence about, but I still love the authors.
If you’ve read any of the books in my mini book reviews below, let me know in the comments if you agree with my rating!
I’m linking up with Jana Says /Life According to Steph and Modern Mrs Darcy as usual to share what we read this month!
*Disclosure – I earn a small commission for any items purchased through the links above at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my book blog!!
Physical Books:
Recursion by Blake Crouch
If you don’t usually read sci-fi but would like to give it a shot, this is a great intro option. The sci-fi element is the discovery of a machine can transport a person back into their memories. So, you’re only dealing with time travel rather than deep space, aliens, or something else real crazy. This kept me on the edge of my seat and introduced interesting ethical questions about changing the past if given the opportunity. 4.5 Stars | Amazon | Book Depository
Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey
It doesn’t get any cuter than this for a contemporary romance! If you enjoy a good rom-com, you’ll undoubtedly fall for this novel. Annie is every girl who’s waited for her own perfect “meet cute” moment. When a movie starts filming in her town, she accidentally runs into the star. However, he’s immediately ruled out as her potential Tom Hanks. In true rom-com fashion, the two dance around each other trying to figure out what they want. I ate it up in just two days! 4.5 Stars | Amazon | Book Depository
eBooks (reading on Netgalley / Kindle Unlimited):
The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren
I’m a Christina Lauren superfan, but I have to admit their latest two releases aren’t my favorites. The Honey-Don’t List plays with a Chip and Joanna Gaines type relationship/stardom. But all is not happy in paradise. The two stars of a home improvement empire are on the verge of divorce and their assistants have to keep it all together for one last book tour.
Carey and James got off to a rough start, but they start to rely on each other to make it through their ridiculous work environment. Stronger feelings start to develop, but Carey’s twisted relationship with the couple holds her back. I like the premise of this romance, but just didn’t connect with the characters. I have to be wholeheartedly rooting for the characters when I read contemporary romance, but never got to that point. I’d suggest My Favorite Half Night Stand or Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren instead! 3.5 Stars | Amazon
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
Josey has been living under her mother’s strict rules her entire life, but everything starts to change when a woman shows up in her closet. With Della Lee’s encouragement, Josey starts to branch out in the community, including befriending another young woman and actually talking to her crush.
There’s a bit of magical realism at play here, which Sarah Addison Allen is known for including. However, if you’re going to read one of her novels, go give Garden Spells a shot first! I still liked this one a lot and would definitely recommend it, but Garden Spells was a 5 star read 🙂 3.5 Stars | Amazon | Book Depository
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
I’ll admit I wasn’t the biggest fan of Josie Silver’s last smash hit, One Day in December. I couldn’t resist the concept of her new release though. Lydia’s devastated when her soulmate and fiance is killed in a crash. The grief is all-encompassing, until she discovers her sleeping pills allow her to be with Freddy when she’s asleep.
She has to decide whether to work through her grief in her real life or continue visiting the alternate reality where Freddy still lives. Doing both takes too much of a physical and mental toll. This isn’t an easy rom-com type read, but I thought it dealt with grief really well. Thankfully I’ve never had to go through anything similar, but it’s still devastating to read. 4.5 Stars | Amazon
Pin this for later!
Audio Books (listening on Kindle Unlimited / Audible):
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
I’ve read Harry Potter close to ten times, but this is my first time ever listening! Jim Dale is a master narrator who perfectly adopts various voices and accents for the characters. It’s a cliche, but he truly brings the story to life. The hardest part is changing the CD mid drive when I can’t wait to find out what happens! 5 Stars | Amazon
Reading Tracker Analysis (Data: Jan – Present)
Since I created my Reading Tracker, I thought it’d be fun to showcase a few of the graphs each month. I’m an accountant, so books + Excel is my dream combo 🙂
Up first this month are some of the basics I’m tracking. 6,780 pages read already this year?? I don’t really have anything to compare to, but it seems like a lot? Haha. It’s crazy to see I’ve only spent $5 on these books too. My book budget is shockingly low since I really only buy from used book sales / stores or cheap ebooks on Amazon.
Next, I’m taking a look at how long it takes me to read. This handy graph breaks it down by genre. As you can see, the longest genres are both Fantasy. Those books tend to be longer, so that fits in with what I’d expect.
If you’d like to analyze your reading or you’re tired of tracking books with Goodreads, check out my Reading Tracker!
For more mini book reviews, check out What I Read in February 2020!
Whoah, Recursion was quite a ride. With my current anxiety about the world though, I must say that it caused me some stress to read – so I’m all about ones like Waiting for Tom Hanks right now. I was surprised how much I loved that book – read it in just a couple of sittings as well, even though it was pretty darn predictable. Or maybe that’s exactly why I loved it?! Hmmmmm. Book therapy. In any case, I’m excited to see what the sequel to it is like!
I could see that being a difficult book to read now! That’s an excellent call-out. Tom Hanks was definitely predictable, but I agree I can still love a book for that reason 🙂
I think I’m reading Recursion next month. I liked Lydia Bird better than One Day in December too.
Glad it wasn’t just me!
What a nice reading month! I have Waiting for Tom Hanks – need to read that soon.
-Lauren
It’s sooooo cute. Perfect for this time of year!
Recursion broke my brain but in a good way. Blake Crouch is only one of two sci-fi writers I will read (Andy Weir is the other).
I recommend The Martian to literally everyone I know haha! I still have to read Artemis though.
I’ve got a lot of these on my tbr list. Glad to hear they were good!
I love a dose of SAA every once in a while. Garden Spells is the absolute top for sure.
Looks like it was a successful book month! Recursion is on my someday list. The again, aren’t they all?
Ha oh yes they are. It’s so tough.
I also didn’t love One Day in December. But The Two Lives of Lydia Bird sounds more interesting!
Yes, absolutely give Lydia Bird a shot. It felt like it was from a completely different writer.
Good review on Josie! I don’t think I’m in the mood for a grief novel right now (I put aside You Were There Too for a similar reason), but I’m glad to hear you thought it was well done!
I loved Recursion but I’m a huge fan of Blake Crouch, particularly his later books. I like how accessible he makes them. 😀 Plus, I always enjoy the fact that he always raising some murky, ethical questions too.
I love the charts! I’ve only read Josh and Hazel by Christina Lauren, and I adored it. The Honey Don’t List is on my TBR, but I had no idea it was available on Kindle Unlimited! I saw mixed reviews of Silver’s last one, but Lydia Bird definitely caught my eye!
Thank you! I get so excited when someone else appreciates the charts 🙂 I should have clarified – The Honey-Don’t List actually isn’t on Kindle Unlimited, I just sometimes read ebooks from that service. So sorry!!
I have Recursion and Waiting for Tom Hanks, but haven’t read either of them yet. I definitely need to pick them up!
The reading tracker looks super cool! I won Honey Don’t List from another blog last month but haven’t read it yet. Recursion and Waiting for Tom Hanks both sound like great reads. Thanks for sharing!
I loved Waiting for Tom Hanks too – so fun!
I absolutely loved that you included books to skip!! I think more blogs need to do this for sure! I am so happy I came across your blog and I will definitely be following your recommendations. I recently finished a super fun and addictive read from Lori Matthews called “Break and Enter” (Book #1 in the Callahan Security Series) and the author’s debut novel. It was SO GOOD and I thought it was a really clever and unique twist on the whole “will they won’t they?” focus. Alex is a modern day Robin Hood ( An Asset Repossession Specialist Extraordinaire), she “steals” from people who kept something that rightfully belongs to her clients. Her most recent target is her ex who kept a painting that belongs to her. Little does she know that he’s hired a private security firm with a very charming and handsome team leader, Mitch. Their initial interactions are full of humor and sarcasm and I couldn’t put the book down because I had to see their relationship develop. I cannot recommend this enough and I can’t wait to read book 2! (https://lorimatthewsbooks.com/)
Thank you so much for your comment!! It makes me so happy to hear readers like my recommendations (or things to avoid haha)! Your book sounds super interesting. I love the idea of a modern, female Robin Hood. That’s definitely a classic fairy tale that doesn’t get as much attention as it should!!