Recent Reads March 2022
March was NOT a good reading month for me. I was so busy with work, and I also just stumbled across some books that were hard for me to read. I still chugged forward, though; I did challenge myself to read 75 books this year!! Read on for my thoughts on what I read in March.
Before I Met You - Lisa Jewell
This is the story of a young woman, Betty, who gives up having a life of her own to take care of her grandmother, Arlette, a mysterious woman whom Betty looks up to and loves. After Arlette passes away, Betty is left with the mystery of Clara Pickle, the unknown beneficiary of her beloved grandmother’s will. Betty winds up moving away from her isolated island of Geurnsey to Soho, London, where she becomes entangled with a rockstar and dives into the mystery of her grandmother’s past. This was an intriguing read, and one that kept me turning the pages to discover the mystery of Arlette de la Mare.
Patrick is a Hollywood has-been who loves his neice and nephew, but is shocked when his best friend/sister-in-law passes away, and his brother entrusts him with the care of nine year old Maise and six year old Grant. Through a myriad of adventures and “Guncle rules,” GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) and the children navigate their way through their grief together. This is a heartbreaking but heartwarming read that got me right in the feels on almost every page. I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed the growth of every character.
This was a really fun read! Raffy is a YouTube-famous cosplayer who is getting ready for his big cosplay competition debut. He is facing two obstacles; his mom, who doesn’t feel that cosplay is true art like what she displays in her galleries, and his ex, Luca, whom he will be competing against. In a story that flips between past a present, we learn about these two teens coming of age and to terms with themselves. This was a sweet, breezy listen, and it really spoke to the inner nerd and crafter in me!
The Corpse Flower - Anne Mette Hancock
I’ve gotta be honest, I can’t tell you a whole lot about this book - I listened to it, and it could NOT keep my attention. I constantly found myself slipping away into random thoughts while listening to this book, and honestly, I just didn’t feel any connection to or care about any of the characters. I know there was a murder, and a suspect on the run, with some twists along the way…. but nothing at all stuck with me, so this is not one I can recommend.
Next Year in Havana - Chanel Cleeton
This was my book club read for the month, and I absolutely LOVED it! I did not finish in time for our actual book club meeting, but my fellow members were nice enough to not spoil the end for me, while still skirting around talking about what happened. Marisol grew up hearing fairytales of Havana from her grandmother, Elisa Perez, a Cuban exile and sugar-baron’s daughter. When Elisa dies, she bequeaths Marisol with bringing her back to Havana. As a freelance writer, Marisol is able to get into Havana, but the fairytales she’s heard are quite different than the relatity she is faced with, and Marisol learns that her grandmother is not who she thought. This is a story of family, heritage, heartbreak, and love. I absolutely recommend picking up this book if you have a chance!
I am getting this post published way late, and I am happy to say that April has been a MUCH better reading month for me! I almost doubled the amount of books I read, and have started more than double (I don’t add the books to my list for the month until they are finished, so I will have a few I’ve started in April that will be on my May list).
What did you read in March? What are you currently reading or looking forward to reading? Let me know in the comments!
