Here’s what I read in March:
The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Romance: 3/5
Throuple Vibes: 4/5
My Understanding: 3/5
I read The War of Two Queens because the From Blood and Ash is one of my favorite series. Is it super high-quality literature? No. But I will continue to read this series because I usually have a good time, even when things aren’t great. This book picks up where the last one left off, but I don’t think I can get into plot specifics without spoilers. I had heard a lot of really negative things, but I actually enjoyed it more than book 3. I’m still very bothered by the abundance of modern slang in their conversations (it doesn’t make sense, feels dated, and wasn’t really in the first two books), but I enjoyed the plot in this one. Did I understand what was happening with the gods? No, absolutely not. I’m sure I’ll figure it out later.
Who would I recommend this to? Fantasy-romance readers who can look past a little messiness
Everyone in This Room Will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin
Weirdness: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Heart-Warming: 4 /5
This is a literary fiction novel about a woman who accidentally gets a job as a Catholic church secretary when she was really just looking for free counseling. She’s a hot mess and also not Catholic. It’s a really sweet story about her figuring out what’s important in her life. And I really enjoyed it.
Who would I recommend this to? Twenty-seven-year-olds whose silverware doesn’t all match
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Confusion: 4/5
Boredom: 4/5
Joy: 3/5
What happened in this book? IDK. This book gave me House of Leaves flashbacks with its ramblings about a weird house situation. It’s a very short book, but it takes a long while to get where it’s going. The first 50+ pages are just seemingly random observations about this house? I know so many people loved it, but I feel like I missed the message. I didn’t hate it but didn’t fall in love with it either. It won the Woman's Prize last year, so certainly don't take my review as gospel.
Who would I recommend this to? People who think a lot about the meaning of life
Too Good To Be True by Carola Lovering
Twists: 3/5
Believability: 2/5
Confusion: 1/5
Too Good to Be True is a thriller(ish) about a woman who is getting married, but we quickly find out that her fiance has some big secrets. We follow three timelines, the main woman, Skye, her fiance, Burke, and a teenager, Heather. It's a lower-stakes thriller (no one’s lives are really at risk), but the plot is engaging nonetheless. Sometimes it felt a little slow, but overall a good ride!
Who would I recommend this to? People who want a thriller without too much blood
Memorial by Bryan Washington
Quotation Marks: 0/5
Tears: 1/5
Ennui: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
This book follows two men who have been dating for a while as they face a rough patch in their relationship while one of them is dealing with family issues. Mike’s mother is visiting from Japan, but at the same time, Mike goes to Japan to visit his dying dad. Benson (his boyfriend) is left back home with his mother. I really enjoyed it! It’s a great exploration of all these strange relationships between unlikely people and it’s beautiful.
Who would I recommend this to? Sally Rooney girlies
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Sweetness: 4/5
Mystery: 4/5
Tears: 2/5
This story was an unexpected favorite. I read it for a video and I had heard really mixed things. One of the big complaints I heard that was it wasn’t a thriller, but instead a slow-paced mystery. I’m glad I heard that before I started reading because I think my expectations were appropriate and I ended up loving it! It’s the story of a woman whose husband goes missing one afternoon leaving her with his teenage daughter. The book was equal parts heart-warming and engaging and I loved all the characters. It felt like a really fresh story!
Who would I recommend this to? A Mariana Zapata romance reader who’s looking for a good mystery
The Ex-Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Swoons: 4/5
Tears: 1/5
Spice:2/5
This romance was a delight! It fellows a public radio producer whose forced into a radio show with the new guy (who she despises). It’s a pretty classic rivals to lovers story, but I had a great time.
Who would I recommend this to? A cartoon-cover romance lover (you know who you are and you’ve probably already read this book)