March in the books

I read a lot of books this month because I found myself at home with a lot of time on my hands. There were a lot of different genres including nonfiction, detective fiction, mystery, historical fiction, thriller, romance, and fantasy.

Here’s a look at what I read:

15) Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo – 3.5/5 stars

I thought there were several good takeaways. I didn’t know about Marie before reading this book, but I liked her tone and personal anecdotes throughout it.

16) The Silkworm (Cormoran Strike #2) by Robert Galbraith – 3.5/5 stars

I enjoyed the second book in the series by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). I think I still liked the first book better, but I’ll definitely continue reading the series. I can’t help but cheer on Cormoran Strike. I like that he has a lot of flaws but is trying to do good and help people out.  

17) The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James – 5/5 stars

I loved this book! It’s the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. I don’t read a lot of books involving ghosts, so I didn’t know if I’d like this, but I definitely did. I enjoyed the different timelines and thought the author did a great job because at times it seemed like the timelines were merging together.  Also, who doesn’t love strong female characters solving mysteries (I’m talking to you, Nancy Drew fans).

18) The Hearts Invisible Furies by John Boyne – 4.5/5 stars

“I realized I was finally happy.” This was not a quick or easy read, but my heart sure exploded while reading it. It was sad and maddening but also heartfelt. It’s hard to do the book justice in a brief review, but I’ll say I just really wanted good things to happen to Cyril and rooted for him the whole time. I enjoyed how the book was told throughout the timeline of his life.

19) Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb – 4.5/5 stars

I would suggest this book, especially right now. The book is about a therapist, her therapist, and the human condition. Something I took away: From the devastating to the difficult, people do better than they think they will because of our psychological immune systems. Feelings are more like weather systems they blow in and out and are not permanent.  

20) The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – 3.5/5 stars

I didn’t know anything about this book before checking it out- just that it seemed to be a popular romance novel. It was way more steamy than I expected, but I ended up liking these characters and their love.

21) The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben – 4/5 stars

I loved many of Harlan Coben’s books and his latest didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed Wilde and Hester. I thought it was face-pasted and had three big twists. I hope we’ll see these characters more in the future.

22) The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver – 4/5 stars

“Everyone has to find their own way back, and if they’re lucky, they have people who love them to hold their hand.” This book is so pretty and put together on the cover and so dark and gloomy on the inside. It’s a good representation of grief and looking put together while going through something. I enjoyed this book and was rooting for Lydia.

23) Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano – 4/5 stars

I can’t say this was an enjoyable read because it’s heavy with grief and hopes for the future that will never be. It was hard to read the chapters about the people on the plane because of this reason. But, I did enjoy seeing Edward grow and move on with his life despite the grief. I also enjoyed his aunt and uncle and how they healed during this time too.

24) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – 5/5 stars

I remember reading the Harry Potter series when it first came out 23 years ago. My mom, brother, and I would pre-order the books at a local bookstore and then pick them up when they came out. I’d read the books in 1-3 days depending on the length. I decided to begin rereading the series for the first time since then and I can’t wait to dive into the others. The first book was so fun and full of magic, wonder, and friendship.

What are you reading?