March Reading Wrap Up
Overall, it was a good reading month for me. I finished 7 books — 2 physical books, 1 ebook, and 4 audiobooks. I also DNF’d 1 book because life’s too short to read books you don’t enjoy. Let’s recap!
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
Book thoughts — I’ll start with a disclaimer. Please read the synopsis and understand the trigger warnings if you plan to read this book. Packed with inconsolable grief from beginning to end, Someday, Maybe was a tough read. The pages were filled with so much sadness, there were times it was hard to push through. My heart hurt for Eve’s character who discovered, without warning, that her seemingly happy husband took his own life. From the time I hit play on the audiobook (walking the aisles of a downtown Chicago Target), something about Eve’s story drew me in. The depiction of what it means to grieve an unexpected loss was so well done, it felt like a true story.
My rating — 4 stars. I really enjoyed this one despite the heavy content.
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Book thoughts — I don’t know what I was expecting, but blow-your-brains-out violence wasn’t what I had in mind. I have many comments, but for one, I didn’t love the main characters Ike and Buddy Lee and didn’t buy their redemption story. Homophobic, guilt-stricken, crappy fathers trying to solve the double murder of their gay sons… I wasn’t feeling it. That, coupled with the literal bloodshed on every page, made this a difficult read for me.
My rating — 3 stars. Action-packed and (at times) entertaining, but… messy. This book wasn’t my cuppa, but many others loved it and that’s the beauty of a book.
The Reunion by Kayla Olson
Book thoughts — Fine while reading, but not memorable in any way whatsoever. The 14-year rekindled romance between former teenage television heartthrobs Liv and Ransom was not impactful or believable at all. I wanted passion and emotional depth, but felt their relationship had neither. There was a point in the book where the gossip channels were wondering if Liv and Ransom’s relationship was a PR relationship and honestly, I felt that.
My rating — 3 stars. It was fine, but not something that’s going to stick with me. When I think about The Reunion, a hybrid between Funny You Should Ask (3 stars) and Birds of California (4 stars) comes to mind.
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica
Book thoughts — As far as thrillers are concerned, Just the Nicest Couple did exactly what it needed to do. There was a mystery to solve, lots of little details to take in, and many red herrings to parse through. There were alternating perspectives, interesting side characters, and a few really good moments of suspense. While I didn’t love the way the pieces came together in the end, there was one particular scene that enthralled me so much I’m still shook thinking about it. If you’ve read the book, you know I’m talking about the bloody bag incident. Here I was reading a slow-burn thriller and out of nowhere, Mary Kubica hit the gas REAL hard… then pulled the emergency brake 2 pages later. Had this been the final plot twist and ending, I would have loved this book.
My rating — 3 stars. Similar to the last Mary Kubica book I read — Local Woman Missing (4 stars), everything ties up a little too convenient in the end.
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bart
Book Thoughts — I was all in… until I wasn’t. I loved the premise: five writers get selected for a monthlong writing retreat at a famous author’s remote estate; as soon as they arrive, they realize the rules of the game aren’t what they signed up for, but it’s too late to pull out. When I think about The Writing Retreat, I think of two versions. The first — the story I thought was unfolding; the second — what actually happened. I love a good twist, but this one went dark and extreme real fast. The beginning was solid, but the book lost me somewhere towards the middle and I was never able to fully reengage. I was hoping for a locked room cutthroat writing competition, but this wasn’t at all what The Writing Retreat delivered.
My rating — 2 stars. The vibes were there, it was twisty, but things inevitably got weird. If you liked Daisy Darker (2 stars) or The Hunting Party (2 stars), you very well might enjoy this one.
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
Book thoughts — I loved The Cartographers! Such an immersive reading experience beginning to end. So many elements I thoroughly enjoyed: the magical world of maps, the drama, the murder mystery, everything! The plot was unique and kept me engaged throughout the entire reading process. The magical realism aspect gave it so much unexpected flare as well (I’m not much of a fantasy reader, but I enjoy magical realism sprinkled into stories here and there). I thought it was creatively developed and well executed in the end. I’ve seen many reviews talking about plot holes (there were some), but I thought The Cartographers did exactly what it needed to do.
My rating — 5 stars. A book about cartography — who’d have thought! I listened on audio and had a great experience with the full cast of narrators as well.
Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book thoughts — While Taylor Jenkins Reid is more widely known for her historical fiction books — Daisy Jones & The Six (5 stars), The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (5 stars), Malibu Rising (5 stars), and Carrie Soto is Back (TBR) — I’m here to say: don’t sleep on her backlist! Maybe in Another Life hooked me from the start; I couldn’t put it down. After a night out with friends, Hannah must make a quick decision. Does she leave with her best friend Gabby or her former boyfriend and lifelong crush Ethan? What she doesn’t realize is each decision will lead her life down a completely different path. The consequence of each decision plays out in parallel timelines, each version of the story told in alternating chapters. It really makes you think about the choices you make and how one decision can greatly change the trajectory of your life, for better and for worse. The way both endings wrapped up left me with a big old smile. I loved how both worlds converged in each of the endings.
My rating — 5 stars. Simply put, I loved it!
The book I DNF’d was… Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Rayborn. Couldn’t get into it, especially after the ladies got off the cruise ship. You win some, you lose some!
That’s a wrap on what I read in March. My favorite book was The Cartographers (close second on Maybe in Another Life), my least favorite was The Writing Retreat. As always, much respect to the authors of each book. Whether I loved, liked, or disliked a book, it’s important to acknowledge that writing and publishing a book is an incredible feat in and of itself.
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Enjoy!
JB