March was a good month for reading. I feel like I got in a pretty good variety this month too (at least for me).
Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Almost every winter I pick up a book like this one. I’m perpetually drawn to historical fiction set in Russia—particularly around the revolution.
This book was slow to start—a tale about a former Bolshoi ballerina auctioning off her collection of jewels—but gained speed about halfway through. I know that seems like a bit of a wait to really get into a book, but the payoff was beautiful.
If you enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow or The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers, you’ll like this book.
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book came highly recommended by several friends, and it deserved every bit of the hype.
Red, White & Royal Blue was the perfect escapist book to read during the dullest months of the year. I think it might have hit even harder if I read it pre-2021, but it was still an absolute delight. Do I want to provide you with more details? Nope. I think this rom-com can stand on its own.
We Can Only Save Ourselves by Alison Wisdom • ⭐️⭐️
I don’t know about this one. I was tempted by We Can Only Save Ourselves after seeing a review on Bustle. A novel about a high-achieving high schooler that leaves her perfect life to follow a charming man and his house of followers. I mean, I love a good cult story (Wild, Wild Country anyone?).
But the book was disappointing. While I understand that, sure, a perfect student might want to rebel and leave her life behind, her motivations were incredibly vague. And the cult leader’s point of view was nonexistent. It just felt sort of toothless. Meh is my final review.
Bunny by Mona Awad • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Where on earth do I begin? I have never ever read anything like Bunny. Nevertheless, I couldn’t put it down.
This story of intense female friendship gone totally awry had me reading into the wee hours and regularly thinking WTF. It was funny, creepy and inexplicable.
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner • ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I waffled between three and four stars on this book but opted for the higher score because overall it was an enjoyable read.
This book is structured the way a lot of historical fiction seems to be now: with a dual timeline. Overall, I found the story about Nella and Eliza working in the apothecary in the 1790s more compelling (I mean, who am I to resist a story about a female apothecary that sells tinctures exclusively for the benefit of women and demise of evil men?), but the half of the story in the present day wasn’t too bad.
If you liked The Taxidermists’ Daughter, I think you’ll like this.
As always, you can follow along with my progress and see what I’ve read over on Goodreads!
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