The Best Books I Read in March

February went super fast for me, but March seemed like such a long month. It didn’t drag or anything like that; I was very busy. It just felt like March took at least twice as long as February.

My reading was all over the place in March, but I did read a few really good ones. Here are my favorites.

One of Us is Lying, by Karen M. McManus (YA mystery): It’s like The Breakfast Club, but with a murder. Five stereotypes enter detention, and one of them dies. (The jock, the brain, the pretty princess, the stoner-loser, and the gossipy outcast) The four who are left all had motive and are more than they seem to be at first glance. It’s fast-paced and twisty (in a good way).

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, by Lauren James (YA science fiction): In general, YA science fiction doesn’t tend to be as sciency as regular science fiction. It focuses more on character and relationships than setting, and that’s what I like. When stories get too bogged down in explaining things, I tune out.

Normally when characters are so isolated, the story can turn boring. No one wants to be alone with their own thoughts, let alone someone else’s. But there’s lots of drama, interesting backstory, and hints that something isn’t right. It’s a fun and creepy ride with a surprise ending I loved.

Rich People Problems, by Kevin Kwan (Contemporary): If you’ve been following along with me, you know that I’m less thrilled with sequels than I once was. In general, I think the quality of a story diminishes.

The third installment of Crazy Rich Asians was quite good, but I am glad that the third one is the last one. I enjoyed it just a little less than the second one, and there was a storyline I just wasn’t into. But overall, it’s as much fun as the other two, and I’m not sorry I read it.

The Pursuit of Happyness, by Chris Gardner (Biography): Chris Gardner made a promise to himself when he was a child, that no child of his would ever be fatherless. His childhood wasn’t pretty, and neither were a lot of the things he did as a young man and adult. He doesn’t sugar-coat how imperfect he is, and I really respect that. It’s a brutal look at how he became successful despite all his mistakes, and how he stayed determined through homelessness and single parenthood. I liked that he doesn’t make excuses for the terrible things he did, and he doesn’t pat himself on the back for making sure his child always came first. He’s just a man who did his best and was determined to be successful. I haven’t seen the movie, but I’ll bet that there’s a lot Hollywood left out. Definitely worth reading.

Did you read anything really good in March?

Book Challenges- Week 15-17

As you can probably imagine, I burned out on blog posts during the A to Z Challenge. I love it, and I’ll talk more about it in my reflection post, but I decided to take a break from reporting in on my book challenges.

Popsugar Challenge

(17/50)

A book with a weather element in the title: Black Lightning, by John Saul (horror): When I was a teenager, I read a ton of John Saul books. Full disclosure: I have no idea if I read this one before or not. It’s a good, straightforward book about a serial killer and some weird paranormal stuff that happens. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.

A book that was published in 2018: The Woman In The Window, by AJ Finn (thriller/ mystery): I generally hate the trope of “unreliable narrator who drinks too much and basically causes all their own problems.” This book started off that way, but I stuck with it because a trusted friend recommended it. When it hit 50% or so, there was a twist I loved so much that I was all in, and I couldn’t put it down until the conclusion.

A book about twins: Blood & Salt, by Kim Liggett (YA horror/ paranormal): I decided that I needed to start reading more YA horror, because that’s what I write and enjoy. So that may be why I’ve had a run of particularly enjoyable books, and this is one of them. Ash and her twin know their mother used to belong to a cult, but she got out… or so they thought. When their mom disappears, they find and infiltrate the cult in order to help her, but there’s so much more going on than they bargained for. This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and kept me guessing as to who were the good guys and who were the bad guys up until the end. They wrapped it up enough to satisfy me, but be warned… there is a sequel…

While I Was Reading Challenge

(4/12)- No progress this week

The Unread Shelf

Running Total: 3 Um… is that really all? I’m not doing so well on this one.

5 Classic Books

(0/5) No progress… I think I’d better get started.

Miscellaneous Reading

Fire Up Your Writing Brain: How to Use Proven Neuroscience to Become a More Creative, Productive, and Successful Writer, by Susan Reynolds (non-fiction): This book has a lot of interesting information about the brain and different techniques to work with how the brain likes to do things.

The Girl From the Well, by Rin Chupeco (YA horror): This book is on my favorite books of 2018 list. It’s a fantastic story that draws from Japanese legends. The narrator is a vengeful ghost who kills people who murder children. But when she meets a teenage boy who’s got a demon inside, she starts to think about things other than vengence. It’s a good standalone book but does have a sequel.

Famous Last Words, by Katie Alender (YA mystery/ horror): From the cover (and the description), this one looks like fluff. It’s not. There’s a serial killer and a ghost, and how those two things intersect is a lot of fun.

The Forgotten Book, by Mechthild Glaser (YA fantasy): I was attracted to this one by the gorgeous cover. The book wasn’t what I expected, but I still enjoyed it. I knew that it was a reinterpretation of Pride and Predjudice, and I love all things P&P. That being said, it made the story somewhat predictible. There’s a definite fantasy element that wassn’t in the original book, so it’s a unique angle in that sense. If you’re a P&P fan, it’s worth reading once.

The Dark Side of Nowhere, by Neal Shusterman (YA science fiction): This was a fast read with an interesting premise. It sets up the weird very well and keeps it going throughout the book. The conclusion is satisfuying. I won’t say this was my favorite book this year, but I definitely wanted to see what happened.

We Were Liars, by E. Lockhart (YA mystery): This book. I don’t even know what to say. It’s nearly impossible to discuss with anyone who hasn’t read it. I’ll just say that it was a roller coaster ride from beginning to end, and that if you love mysteries, you should read this.

Dark In Death, by JD Robb (#46) (Mystery/ romance): I am in awe of Nora Roberts (aka JD Robb) for keeping this series going strong for almost 50 books now. I love the characters in these stories, and love how they interact with one another. Having followed this series from the beginning, it’s lovely to see how they’ve all grown and changed over time. I love cop procedurals, but these books are so much more than just that. Some of them I like better than others, and this is one of my favorites. The premise of the murder was creative and a lot of fun.

Abandoned

None this week.

2018 Running Total: 47

Have you made any progress on your TBR or book challenges?

Book Challenges- Week 8

Popsugar Challenge

(7/50) No progress this week.

While I Was Reading Challenge

(3/12) 25% done, but no progress this week

The Unread Shelf

Running Total: 3

Committed: A Love Story, by Elizabeth Gilbert (memoir): As you may know, Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love. At the end of that memoir, she met Felipe, and fell in love. They decided to stay together, but neither of them wanted to get married. But Felipe was not a US citizen, and at one point, was no longer allowed to enter the US. They were forced to get married if he wanted to continue to stay. They agreed, but were stuck outside the US for almost a year while their paperwork was processed. This book was Ms. Gilbert’s attempt to come to terms with the marriage.

It was an interesting book, part memoir and part exploration of the history and culture of marriage. I found the different sections interesting and informative. There was a lot of information that made me think or say “huh.” I’m always interested in books that explore relationships, and this one was good.

I Remember You, by Cathleen Davitt Bell (YA speculative romance): I’m delighted to announce that I’ve found my first favorite book of 2018! It was a wonderful experience and I’m already looking forward to reading it again. Lucas and Juliet are different people, but when they begin to fall in love, it feels familiar to both of them. But then Lucas starts telling Juliet that he “remembers” their relationship, that it’s happened before. Juliet doesn’t believe him at first, but as time goes on, and he’s right about things that have happened, she’s not sure what to believe. His memories become more and more disturbing, testing their relationship and making them both wonder if he’s crazy. This is a lovely book about first love, relationships, and family.

5 Classic Books

(0/5) No progress

Miscellaneous Reading

Uncanny, by Sarah Fine (YA Thriller): I had a good reading week. This is the second five star book I’ve read this year. Uncanny is an example of how to write a thriller. Cora and Hannah are stepsisters. After Hannah dies, we’re given just enough information about what happened to keep the tension high. This book explores the complex relationships between families and also has some interesting things to say about technology and how it changes the way we look at the world. The whole book is fantastic, but the ending was amazing.

2018 Running Total: 21

Have you made any progress on your TBR or book challenges?