Arts & Entertainment
The 10 Best Books To Read In March
From suspenseful thrillers to rock 'n' roll must-reads, these are the page-turners everyone's talking about this month.
Spring hasn't arrived quite yet, but we've got the next best thing: A brand new reading list to get you through the end of winter! This month's list includes picks from Patch staffers and Amazon editors. We've got fiction, nonfiction, politics, science, rock 'n' roll and everything in between. If you like reading, there's a book (or 10) you're sure to love.
#1 "The River: A Novel" by Peter Heller
Wynn and Jack are best friends from college united by their love of the outdoors. When they decide to canoe the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they expect a fun, relaxed adventure filled with camping under the stars and cooking by campfires. But an unexpected wildfire changes the tone of the trip. Wynn and Jack hear a man and a woman arguing and try to warn them, but they can't find the pair. The next day, they encounter a man, paddling alone. Is this the same man they heard arguing, and where is the woman he was fighting with? This book is a fast-paced story with all the elements of a thriller and a wilderness survival book.
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#2 "The Lost Night: A Novel" by Andrea Bartz
In 2009, Edie was a recent college grad living in Brooklyn. When her body was found along with a suicide note following a long, drunken night, no one could believe it, and Edie's friends went their separate ways. A decade later, Lindsay's come a long way from that horrible, hazy night. A chance reunion with an old acquaintance leads her to discover a troubling video from the night Edie died, and she begins to wonder if her friend actually took her own life. Worse even, Lindsay isn't sure if she herself was involved. She begins combing through the case files, old technology and her own fractured memories in a quest to find out what really happened to Edie. In doing so, Lindsay is forced to confront her own troubled past and a violent history she'd tried to block out.
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#3 "Am I Dying?!: A Complete Guide To Your Symptoms — And What To Do Next" by Christopher Kelly M.D. and Marc Eisenberg M.D.
Googling your symptoms can lead you down a dark internet rabbit hole and likely leave you way more worried than you need to be. Obviously, taking to a doctor about what you're experiencing is the only way to get a definitive diagnosis, but this witty, comprehensive book might just be the next best thing. Written by two Columbia University doctors, "Am I Dying?!" walks you through a comprehensive list of common symptoms. Most of the time, they're nothing to worry about, but if that headache doesn't go away, it could be indicative of something more serious. In this humorous, reader-friendly book, Dr. Kelly and Dr. Eisenberg answer common medical questions and give trustworthy advice on the next steps you should take on your wellness journey.
#4 "Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goal" by Rachel Hollis
If you're looking for gentle motivation, this might not not be the book for you. "Girl, Stop Apologizing" is blunt — and author Rachel Hollis isn't accepting your excuses. Instead, she outlines how you can finally take charge of your life, achieve your goals, and stop worrying about what anyone thinks of you for being your authentic self.
#5 "The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump" by Andrew McCabe
Nearly one year ago, Andrew McCabe was fired from his position as deputy director of the FBI just 26 hours before his scheduled retirement. President Donald Trump celebrated on Twitter, calling it "A great day for Democracy." Now, McCabe is telling his side of the story and going back through his two decades worth of service with the FBI. For anyone interested in government, domestic intelligence, federal law and the political climate we find ourselves in today, "The Threat" is an unforgettable must-read.
#6 "Daisy Jones & The Six: A Novel" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Daisy Jones & The Six was an iconic '70s rock group, but the reason behind their infamous breakup has been largely unknown... until now. In this gripping novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid looks back at the sex, drugs and of course, the rock 'n' roll that resulted in sold-out concerts, wild adventures and ultimately, a dramatic falling out that made the music stop. This book is fast-paced, gritty and undeniably fascinating for any music buff.
#7 "Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland" by Patrick Radden Keefe
In 1972, Jean McConville was dragged from her Belfast home, her children clinging to her legs. Everyone in the neighborhood suspected the I.R.A. was responsible for her horrifying abduction, but in a climate of fear and paranoia, no one dared to say anything. In 2003, a set of human bones was discovered on a beach in Northern Ireland, and McConville's children knew it was her when they were told a blue safety pin (like the one their mother always had handy) was attached to the dress. In this eye-opening book, Patrick Radden Keefe explores what really happened with McConville on that fateful day and how so many other injustices were able to take place during this dark, violent time in Northern Ireland's history.
#8 "An American Marriage : A Novel" by Tayari Jones
Newlyweds Celestial and Roy seem to have it all. He's a young executive, and she's a successful artist. But just as they begin to settle into the routine of their life together in the New South, Roy is arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison for a crime Celestial knows he didn't commit. She's heartbroken, understandably, and finds herself taking comfort in Andre, a childhood friend who was the best man at her wedding. As Roy's time in prison passes, Celestial finds herself unable to hold on to the love they once shared. Five years in, Roy's conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume his life with Celestial. She's conflicted and struggling with a new normal neither of them would've ever chosen. Former POTUS Barack Obama described this book as, "A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple."
#9 "Feeding You Lies: How to Unravel the Food Industry's Playbook and Reclaim Your Health" by Vani Hari
There's a lot of contradictory information about health, nutrition and what constitutes "good" food. Labels like "all natural" and "non-GMO" aren't always what they seem, and junk food is convincingly disguised as health food more often than you think. But Vani Hari, The Food Babe, is here to blow the lid off all the lies we've been fed by the food industry. In this book, she provides a blueprint for how to eat well and recognize when you're being duped. It's an enlightening, easily digestible read that'll help you create new, positive eating habits.
#10 "A Friend Is a Gift You Give Yourself: A Novel" by William Boyle
When Rena Ruggiero's 80-year-old neighbor makes an unwanted advance on her, she hits him in the head with an ashtray, takes his car and flees to her estranged daughter's house in the Bronx. Her daughter, Adrienne, turns her away at the door, but a neighbor, Lacey "Wolfie" Wolfstein, takes Rena in. Wolfie, a one-time Golden Age porn star and retired grifter, quickly befriends Rena. Adrienne's daughter Lucia learns her mom is planning to go on the run, so she reaches out to Rena and Wolfie. The three women embark on adventure together, trying to escape the violent figures from their pasts. This book, described as "'Goodfellas' meets 'Thelma and Louise,'" is an exciting and ultimately heartwarming tale of unlikely friendships and how they can lift us up.
Looking for even more great books? Check out last month's reading list!
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