What I Read in March 2024
a much slower reading month
March Book Reviews
I read a decent amount in March thanks to audiobooks but nothing was a true stand-out. The second half of this month I really struggled to read anything at night so I’m still working through Ender’s Game. I’ve prioritized rest, family, and TV in the evenings and I’m not terribly upset about the hit my reading life has taken.
Psst… if you find your next great read in this newsletter, consider supporting my work and keeping me caffeinated while I write.
Kilt Trip by Alexandra Kiley
Genre: Romance
Pages: 336
Format Read: Audiobook
I first read this book on my Kindle back in November but wanted to listen to the audiobook during publication week. I really enjoyed the narrators. I’m a sucker for a Scottish accent. My original review is below.
Synopsis: Addie Macrae feeds her wanderlust by working as a travel consultant. She’s always avoided one place that holds family memories she’s not ready to face— Scotland. While on assignment to help revive a struggling family business, Addie butts heads with the stubborn, but braw, kilt-wearing tour guide, Logan Sutherland.
Thoughts: In this whirlwind rivals-to-lovers workplace romance set around Hogmanay in Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands, Addie and Logan’s attraction is electric. There are so many tender moments between the duo that kept me reading chapter after chapter. There’s just the right amount of heat and it’s balanced by a bit of family drama and of course the gorgeous Scottish setting. You can tell this book is incredibly well-researched. It’s informative about popular tourist sites without feeling cheesy. Logan’s accent and Scottish slang had me melting. He falls 1st and works hard to earn Addie’s trust by making her feel seen. This book swept me off my feet!
Content warnings: grief, specifically loss of a parent; Just a heads up, there is a bit of miscommunication and a 3rd act breakup.
Mother Brain: How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood by Chelsea Conaboy
Genre: Parenting/Non-fiction
Pages: 368
Format Read: Audiobook
"Your self is extended, and you are not entirely your own anymore."
Mother Brain by Chelsea Conaboy feels like very early research into the changes that happen in a mother's brain during the postpartum period. It's an interesting look at how those neurological changes help parents adapt to their children's needs. I think this book is best for expectant parents or new mothers to help them prepare for the reality of the first few months with a new baby. There are so many things that happen in that short time beyond just having to care for a newborn and the author's personal anecdotes shed light onto some of those changes. I would recommend this to fans of Emily Oster and Dr. Becky Kennedy. I'm hoping this book will encourage other scientists to research this more thoroughly.
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
Genre: Romance
Pages: 304
Format Read: Audiobook
Max is a charming objector hired to interrupt weddings before the couple makes the biggest mistake of their lives by saying “I do”. He’s a modern-day hero to Sophie and she wants in on his business. The duo start a fake dating / friends-with-benefits type arrangement and begin frequenting weddings together as objectors. In true Lynn Painter style, there’s lots of chemistry and playful banter between the two of them. The story is also told from a dual POV so you see both sides of the mutual pining. I loved the two main side characters— Larry and Rose, Sophie’s elderly roommates. This one lulled in the middle a little bit for me and ultimately I thought it was cute but fairly forgettable. Lynn Painter’s novels work so well on audio so I highly recommend that format if you give this romance a shot!
The Atlas Paradox (The Atlas Six #2) by Olivie Blake
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 397
Format Read: Kindle
This book falls in the category of books I shouldn’t have finished but just couldn’t make myself stop reading because I wanted to find out how it ended. I literally had to make myself a cheat sheet of the six main characters because most of them aren’t written in a way that is distinct enough for the differences in magic and personality to really stick. I thought Belen was the most interesting character in this second novel. Nothing really happens in The Atlas Paradox beyond the six working on their independent studies and unraveling the mystery of Libby Rhodes’ disappearance. A few new alliances are made. It was very tedious to get through and towards the end I switched from reading on my Kindle to listening to it through the Kindle accessibility feature just to get to the end. If I choose to continue with the 3rd book it will be purely out of curiosity, not on the value of the writing. I hate to rip this book apart because people seem to either LOVE it or think it was mediocre. The ending (last page) was redemptive of an otherwise boring book.
The Breakup Vacation by Anna Gracia
Genre: New Adult Romance
Pages: 320
Format Read: Audiobook
This book has scathing reviews and I'm not sure I understand why. It was fine! For a book published by MTV Books, it makes sense that the Spring Break vibes were immaculate. The characters were immature but they embodied the stereotypical college experience. I found the partying, lavish destination vacation with friends, and hookups to be pretty representative of that age group and their priorities. I enjoyed the friend group more than the romance aspect. I think most readers can relate to the grief and denial that come at the end of a relationship. There's not a ton of character growth but by the end of the book, Daniel helped Grace navigate some tricky feelings about her mixed-race identity and see her self-worth. The Breakup Vacation probably isn't a book I'll recommend to many readers but I certainly didn't hate it.
Thank you to the publisher and Libro.fm for the ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Hedging Your Bets by Jayne Denker
Genre: Romance
Pages: 320
Format Read: Audiobook
Hedging Your Bets was a cute low-spice, closed-door romance. I loved the premise of the garden competition and thought that was a unique story to bring to the romance genre. All of the neighbors in the small town felt believable with how much they tried to meddle in Gillian and Noah's yards and personal lives. I wish there was a little more description of the town because I had a hard time picturing the setting. The enemies-to-lovers progression of Gillian and Noah's relationship was sweet. They were able to confide in each other about some big life issues and open up enough to heal and move on from bad relationships. Ultimately, this lacked some of the banter that I look for in a rom-com. I’d still like to go back and read The Rom-Com Agenda.
The Rereading Project Update
The Baby-Sitters Club
Kristy and the Snobs: A Graphic Novel by Ann M. Martin
Synopsis: Kristy's mom got remarried and their family moved to the ritzy neighborhood across town. The other members of The Baby-sitters Club think it's a good opportunity to get some new business, but the kids who live nearby aren't very friendly. They criticize Kristy's clothes and make fun of the BSC. And, worst of all, they laugh at Louie, Kristy's pet collie, who's getting old and not feeling well. These kids are total snobs! But if anyone can put them in their place, it's The Baby-sitters Club!
My thoughts: I liked this one! The storyline with Louie, Kristy’s aging dog, was really tender and set a good example for being compassionate towards animals. My daughter has a soft spot for dogs and this seemed to be the element she picked up on the most. The book also has several other notable themes that I think are hallmark to the original series: jealousy, moving to a new place, grief in various forms, and navigating tricky friendships.
Karen's Haircut: A Graphic Novel by Ann M. Martin
Synopsis: Karen feels like an ugly duckling. She already has to wear glasses, and now her baby teeth are starting to come out, too. Fortunately, she knows exactly what will make her look glamorous -- a new haircut. But the beauty parlor lady cuts Karen's hair all wrong! Karen is devastated and worried about what the kids at school will say. Can Karen get back to feeling like her usual confident self?
My Thoughts: I’m torn on this one. Karen is struggling with her looks partly because of a bad haircut and partly because of losing her baby teeth and that hit a little too close to home with my Kindergartener. I’m scared after reading this book she’s going to be more self-conscious about her teeth even though losing them is a totally normal part of life. On the other hand, it was a good opportunity to discuss why we shouldn’t make fun of people about their looks. Like some other reviewers, I don’t get the appeal of the pretend wedding that takes place between elementary school kids in this book and why it is an entire production.
What’s up next in April:
I’ll be continuing Ender’s Game before I pick up another book!
Charlotte’s Web is my April re-reading project pick.
I need to put a dent in some eARCs I have on my NetGalley shelf. First up is The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center. I’ve heard good things about it.
I’m also SO EXCITED about the Libro.fm Influencer picks for April. I’ll be jumping into those ASAP.
You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or The Storygraph!
Happy reading,
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I was inspired to embrace my inner child through reading so now I am going to add Charolette’s Web to the list of books I read as a child to reread
I listened to Happily Never After too and had similar feelings, the premise was entertaining and Larry and Rose were cute, the dual narration was so key!