What I Read in March 2025

I'm calling it early. Four of my favorite romances of the year.

Apr 01, 2025

Love was in the air this month! I read 10 romances (one of the a fanfic), and I’m calling it early: four of them will make my favorite romances of the year list. They just so happen to be the first four books I read in March and the first four books I’m sharing reviews of below! I started but did not finish Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The language is beautiful and flowery, and I could tell the story was unique, but the pacing was too slow for my liking, and I’m trying not to spend too much time on books I’m not enjoying. It’s a work in progress, that’s for sure.

March Book Reviews

Change of Heart by Falon Ballard
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 336
Format Read: Physical Copy (owned)

Potty-mouthed attorney Cam is reluctantly going on blind dates set up by her grandma when she meets a charming doctor named Ben. After immediately writing him off during their date, she wakes up in a picturesque small town, where she’s given 3 tasks by their waitress from the night before. The story features the perfect lighthearted blend of magical realism and slow-burn romance. Ben's dedication to Cam is so sweet and he’s so patient with her as she works through some issues in her personal life. There’s a good amount of open-door romance in this book. It might just be my favorite Falon Ballard book yet! I flew through it in two sittings.

First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Listening Time: 11 h 54 m
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the library)

I haven’t read a romance in a long time that captures true intimacy the way that First-Time Caller does. I loved the main characters! The chemistry between Lucie and Aiden is electric. The way their banter is written is sharp, witty, and translates perfectly to their roles as radio show hosts. I also appreciated the interactions between Lucie, her daughter, and her daughter’s father. It added a lot of depth to the story to see them co-parent so well. The 90s rom-com vibes were spot-on in this version of Sleepless in Seattle. I’m so excited to read more of the Heartstrings series. This book was *almost* perfect. I love to hate a 3rd act breakup and it could have been a smidge shorter in the middle.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Pages: 368
Format Read: Kindle (owned)

The When in Rome Series gets better and better with each Walker sibling, I swear! Two feuding second-grade teachers find themselves as neighbors in the small town of Rome, Kentucky. After calling off his engagement, Jack is glad to be back in town and is eager to renovate his house and work on the next mystery novel under his pen name. When Emily accidentally sends an email to their school’s principal that could reveal her secret raunchy romance novelist aspirations, Jack is the only person she can turn to for help. Like many eldest daughters, I related so much to Emily. She’s a perfectionist, protective over her siblings, craves routine, struggles to feel difficult emotions, and prefers to process things alone (at home with her cat). Though they start as rivals, I loved the constant witty banter between Emily and Jack. Their wit is perfectly matched and I was entertained the entire time! This book had more steam than Adams’ previous novels but it was still tasteful. There was one scene that left me blushing that I can’t wait for everyone to read. The end of the book perfectly sets up a love story between Maddie and James. I’m looking forward to their story and the next book in the series.

Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Listening Time: 9 h 47 m
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the library)

When Gwen is presented with the opportunity to become the First Chair—a position Xander has secretly desired for years—the tension between them intensifies. Their mutual respect for each other's musical talent is unmistakable and their chemistry on stage is extraordinary. As they start to explore their feelings for one another, they unexpectedly become a box office sensation. However, the delicate romance blossoming between them risks being overshadowed by a publicity stunt… orchestrated by Xander’s parents. This book feels like it was written for me. THIS is how you write a love story. Addictive. The angst, tension, mutual pining, and chemistry is off the charts. The characters are flawed, relatable, and loveable. The NYC scenery is the perfect backdrop.

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Non-Fiction/Self-Help
Pages: 256
Format Read: Physical Copy (owned)

I don’t annotate many books these days but I found myself frequently reaching for my pen and highlighter as I read through The Antidote. I resonated with Burkeman’s permission to allow yourself a realistic amount of pessimism. He relies heavily on the teachings of the Stoics and Buddhists, especially the approach of accepting one's moods as they are, and that these feelings are fleeting. He touts meditation alongside a decent dose of detachment, acceptance, and contentment over falling into the self-help trap that happiness is a goal to be achieved through the sheer act of positive thinking. My main takeaway is that I have to become comfortable with a certain amount of uncertainty.

Mr. Heartbreaker, Mr. Broody, and Mr. Swoony (The Nest Series) by Piper Rayne
⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Romance
Format Read: Audiobook (borrowed from the library)

The Nest Series is a sports romance about the Chicago Falcons, and each book focuses on a different couple within the same hockey team and their intertwined lives. Mr. Heartbreaker is about Rowan Landry, known for his "heartbreaker" reputation, and Kyleigh, the new goalie’s little sister. Mr. Broody is about Jade, a substitute teacher who finds herself in the same classroom as Bodhi, the adopted son of a star hockey player and single dad named Henry. Mr. Swoony is about Kyleigh’s brother, Connor Nilsen, who helps Eloise walk away from a doomed engagement. These books were easy reads on audiobook and I’m looking forward to being back in The Nest with Mr. Charming in April.

The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Mystery/Romance
Listening Time: 9 h 24 m
Format Read: Audiobook (free review copy courtesy of Libro.fm)

This cozy mystery is perfect for fans of The Maid or Finlay Donovan series (especially the most recent book, Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave). If you read The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year this past December, you’ll find the mix of mystery and romance familiar. Kacey impulsively pitches her grandma’s pie business, Mags’ Desserts, to save her career. When she goes home to NC, she discovers locked cabinets, cryptic conversations, and unexpected notations on business records. TAs reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram may gone into the poison pie business. Luckily, her long-time crush comes around to save the day. This was a fun, lighthearted mystery with just the right mix of romance to keep me entertained. I enjoy novels with older characters so this was a good break from my other March reading selections.

Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Cowboy Romance
Listening Time: 8 h 48 m
Format Read: Audiobook (free review copy courtesy of Libro.fm)

This is the 3rd book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. It’s a small-town cowboy romance with lots of fun tropes like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, nanny/single dad, and a slight age gap. I enjoyed Done and Dusted last year but Teddy and Gus’ story really captured my attention! While the romance is really a slow burn, there’s a realistic amount of tension and a sentimental side of their friendship and relationship that needs to grow to make Teddy’s transition into Gus and Riley’s life believable. I loved how Gus and Teddy were able to ride life’s waves. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite (tame) quotes: “We balanced each other out in a weird way. And the truth was, I’d rather fight with Teddy than be happy with anyone else.”

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Cowboy Romance
Pages: 320
Format Read: Kindle (owned)

Swift and Saddled is the 2nd book in the Rebel Blue Ranch series. The book is about Ada Hart, a fiercely independent interior designer from the city who is determined to succeed on her own after a failed marriage and a setback in her career. She takes on a major reno project at the Rebel Blue Ranch in Wyoming. There, she met Weston Ryder, a cowboy who is part of the family that owns the ranch and her new boss. This small-town romance is my favorite in the series so far! If you’re a fan of forced proximity and opposite-attract tropes in romances, this one’s for you. I loved how Wes made Ada feel seen and appreciated. There is some great male mental health representation in this book and Wes’ openness broke the personal/professional barrier and allowed the duo to grow closer together.

What’s up next in April

I didn’t quite finish up Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins or The Love Haters by Katherine Center so that’s first on my to-do list for April. I have quite a few NetGalley DRCs to work through so I keep pushing off starting my reread of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. What can I say? I’m a mood reader. My library hold for Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn came in and I’m making good progress on it to be able to turn it back in before it’s due in less than two weeks!

Spring is here, and it’s always my favorite season for publishing. Here are just a few books publishing in April that I’m looking forward to:

Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake 4/1
Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine 4/1
Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jiminez 4/1
The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose 4/8
Swept Away by Beth O’Leary 4/10
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage 4/15
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry 4/22

You can keep up with my reading journey in real time on Goodreads or The Storygraph!

Happy reading,

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