Arts & Entertainment
10 Books To Read In March
From Elizabeth Little's new thriller to a memoir with intimate royal details, these are books that everyone's going to be talking about.
They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Looking at the weather forecast, we're not sure that's true, but we do know one thing: March is a great month for new books.
This month's reading list is a mix of picks of from Patch staffers and Amazon editors — fiction, nonfiction, memoir and everything in between. From Elizabeth Little's new thriller to a memoir written by Princess Margaret's lady in waiting, there really is something for everyone. Happy reading!
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#1 "Writers & Lovers: A Novel" by Lily King
In the summer of 1997, Casey Peabody arrives in Massachusetts without a plan. She's 31 years old and clutching to her dream of living a creative life, but reality has her waiting tables in Harvard Square. She's determined to finish her novel, a book she's been writing for six long years, but the demands of her work life make it difficult. When Casey falls in love with two men at the same time, her life and art are challenged in ways she never expected.
#2 "Pretty as a Picture: A Novel" by Elizabeth Little
Marissa Dahl, a successful film editor, travels to a small island off the coast of Delaware to work on a feature with Tony Reese, a famously demanding director. The movie's premise isn't exactly original: some girl dies. Marissa isn't all that concerned with the details until she meets teenage girls who are determined to solve the real-life murder on which the movie is based. On set, rumors abound of accidents, scandals and schemes. Half the crew has been fired, and even the actors know something is wrong. Marissa gets involved in the investigation, but there's a big problem: the killer may still be on the loose.
#3 "The Jetsetters: A Novel" by Amanda Eyre Ward
Seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins writes a sexy essay to win the "Become a Jetsetter" contest. She uses the prize of a 10-day Mediterranean cruise to reunite her estranged family. But as Charlotte and her three grown children embark on a new journey, old wounds reopen and secrets are revealed. Set against the extravagant background of their trip, the Perkins family is forced to confront the drama and family tension that drove them apart to begin with.
#4 "Sharks in the Time of Saviors: A Novel" by Kawai Strong Washburn
In 1995, during a rare family vacation to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 7-year-old Nainoa Flores falls overboard a cruise ship. Immediately sharks surround him, but to everyone's shock, Noa is gingerly delivered to his mother in the jaws of a shark. The boy's family views his rescue as a sign of favor from the Hawaiian gods —and his newfound abilities seem to back up this belief. But as the years go by, Noa's supposed divine favor tears the family apart. It's only when another series of supernatural events occur — this time with tragic consequences — that the Flores family is forced to examine their relationships and the "luck" bestowed upon them.
#5 "Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown" by Anne Glenconner
As a child, Anne Glenconner befriended Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret. Through the years, they stayed close: Anne was the maid of honor at the queen's coronation, and a lady in waiting to Princess Margaret until her death in 2002. In this candid, heartfelt memoir, Anne shares intimate stories from her own life and gives readers a witty, insightful look at the royal family.
#6 "Rust: A Memoir of Steel and Grit" by Eliese Colette Goldbach
Fresh out of college and eager to get out of her conservative hometown, Eliese takes a job at a steel mill. It's grueling, dangerous work — and it's not the life Eliese envisioned for herself — but the pay is steady. In this poignant memoir, Eliese recounts the surprising kindness she finds among her fellow steelworkers. She also paints a poignant portrait of the grit required to survive and thrive in an industry that demands hard work.
#7 "A Good Neighborhood: A Novel" by Therese Anne Fowler
Valerie Alston-Holt, a professor of forestry and ecology, is raising her smart and talented biracial son, Xavier, in Oak Knoll, a tight-knit North Carolina neighborhood. Things are going just fine until the Whitmans, a family with new money, tear down the house next door and build themselves a showplace. Tension immediately arises between these two families. It starts with a disagreement over an historic oak tree in Valerie's yard, but soon there's more drama in the form of a blossoming romance between Xavier and the Whitmans' secretly troubled teenage daughter. This provocative, powerful book is a story about family, love, race and classism in America today.
#8 "My Dark Vanessa: A Novel" by Kate Elizabeth Russell
Back in 2000, 15-year-old Vanessa Wye gets tangled up in affair with Jacob Strane, her 42-year-year-old English teacher. Fast forward to 2017: Strane has been accused of sexual abuse by a former student, who reaches out to Vanessa. All these years later, Vanessa struggles with what to do. She still considers Strane her first love, and he's been a persistent presence in her life ever since their affair. But can Vanessa grapple with the fact that the man she thought she loved as a teenager is very different from what she's always believed?
#9 "House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)" by Sarah J. Maas
Bryce Quinlan is left bereft and alone after a demon murders all her closest friends. The accused is behind bars, but the crimes continue. Bryce gets involved in the investigation and resolves to do whatever it takes to avenge her friends' deaths. In her search for justice, she meets Hunt Athalar, a notorious fallen angel enslaved to the Archangels he once tried to overthrow. Hunt is offered a deal where if he helps Bryce find the murderer, he'll be granted his freedom. Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City's underbelly, and neither is prepared for what they find or the sizzling romance that develops.
#10 "Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life" by Carrie Underwood![]()
Carrie Underwood has common-sense approach when it comes to diet and exercise: She strives to be healthy and fit 52 weeks of the year, but she doesn't expect herself to be perfect every day. In this informative book, the country star shares her tips and secrets to a healthier, happier body and mind. There are recipes, meal plans, workouts and more — plus personal anecdotes from the "American Idol" winner's own life and wellness journey.
Looking for more great books? Check out last month's reading list!
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