Books read and reviewed in March 2024

The end of March came round so fast, I nearly forgot to tot up my books and include my summary of a selection of what I’ve read and reviewed in March.

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• Books read in March – 15
• Books read this year – 44

Here’s some of my mini reviews of books I’ve read in March 2024. I’m getting through them, and trying to stick to a genre at a time to clear out my Kindle Collections rather than flipping between genres. This month was chick lit (and one mistaken dystopian genre I’d never really thought about reading!)

Something to Tell You by Lucy Diamond

The large Mortimer family have a strong bond and are a force to be reckoned with. But love child Frankie turns up looking for the father Harry after she finds out the truth about him from a hidden letter from her late mum. Not just turns up, but at his anniversary party. Everything for the Mortimers including Frankie starts to unravel.

Relationships, jobs, past secrets, threats to family life, parents and children. It all turns up, with the Mortimers having to work through the pain, and learn to stand up for what they’re about and what they believe in.

There’s a lot going on in this book, a lot of stories, a lot of characters to work through, and anger and hurt to get over. But you want the family dynamic to return and be who they are in the whole again. Worth a read.

Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews

Ruby Brown is ready for change, ready to get out there again after splitting from her ex husband. But doesn’t want complicated while looking for her serious long term other half. She’s not only dropped the husband, but is living in a rented annex, while dropping to basic minimum wage job in a bar that she loves.

More opportunities for love come Ruby’s way, despite best friend Charlie encouraging her to stick with her love Gary Barlow and Take That. The book is interspersed with the friends following Take That around events inbetween the tales of Ruby’s antics being swept off her feet with the excitement of swarve boss Mason and trying to avoid wanting to be involved with reliable, down to earth, sexy dive instructor Joe who comes with a jealous ex wife and 2 older children.

There’s some funny moments, and it’s interesting to see a slightly older (nearly 40) lead character going back to looking for a life, relationship and future. If you’re not a Take That fan, you might get a bit annoyed by all the references and their obsession. If you are a fan, then this is definitely worth a read.

Beach Read by Emily Henry

After her dad dies leaving turbulent secrets behind, and her boyfriend finishing with her, January realises she needs to get her head down and write her 5th novel. She heads to the beach house she inherits, only to find her annoying neighbour was Gus from uni, who used to look down on her for her romance writing.

They both have deadlines, his aunt takes January under her wing to get her involved with the town and friends, and they realise that maybe to write their own books, they need to try writing each other’s genre. So the challenge begins to beat each other at their own game.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked both main characters, how they both begin to open up emotionally, and their friendship deepens. It’s also interesting to discover their different methods of researching novels.

Best Friends by Holly McCullough

Like so many similar books, main character Bea isn’t necessarily happy in her job, but not willing to put the effort in to move, do more, or develop her fledging card business. She decides that she should maybe start dating but like everything not enthusiastically. While ignoring her old uni best friend Peter, who obviously fancies her and has done for years.

Does Bea realise that the man she wants and needs is actually there for her all the time?

Bea was a bit of an annoying character, she couldn’t make up her mind, and as a reader, along with her friends and family, it was just obviously that she should be with Peter.

A nice enough read with some funny parts, worth a couple of hours of reading.

Working it Out by Nicola May

Ruby’s got a plan after losing her high powered marketing job. 12 jobs in 12 months, to see what type of job she’s interested in going into longer term. All the while trying to work out how she really feels about younger neighbour George, and helping look after elderly neighbour (and matchmaker) Margaret.

The general gist of this book is ok, the characters are generally fine with good repartee between them, and some close friend and familial relationships.

But Ruby seems to also be working through the male population in each job, even if the men are way off for the type of person she should be with. It puts me off her as a character, and maybe George could do better than someone who just sleeps around with random people.

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

I found The Authenticity Project a charming idea. Lonely elder gent Julian leaves a starter exercise book with honesty about himself and asks the next person to write their story and pass it on. Cafe owner and uptight Monica finds it, and shares her truths, and the book moves on, eventually bringing the 6 finders together as friends and community, believing in and learning from each other to change their lives.

From the addict, to laid back Aussie, the influencer ‘perfect’ mum, famous artist of old, and more. They shouldn’t work together but julian’s project brought them together.

I really enjoyed this book to find out how people develop and grow, moving on with their lives, standing up for themselves, and putting themselves en route to love and adventure.

There’s a bit of a surprise at the end which I didn’t even think would have been possible, and threatens those friendships. But otherwise this is a lovely book about a book that changes lives.

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

Tiffy’s needs to find a flat fast with her ex having dumped her and kicked her out of his flat. But with little money, she decides to take on a flatshare. Which turns out to also be a bed share – with Leon who works nights and is at his girlfriend’s at weekends.

Leon needs the money to help his brother’s legal costs for his appeal to overturn his wrongful conviction.

But can they do as Leon’s girlfriend intends, to never meet. Will their passing post it note messages between flatmates who never speak to or see each other grow into a supportive friendship to help Tiff past her traumatising break up/previous relationship, their jobs, and family relationships.

I really enjoyed this Beth O’Leary book. Leon and Tiffy are both nice characters who would work so well together. They’ve both got things they need to work out and discover with the support of friends and each other, with some quite serious points of palliative care, the legal system, PTSD and controlling relationships. There’s plenty of laugh out loud moments, brilliant friendships, and fighting back situations.

Definitely worth a read.

The Cactus by Sarah Haywood

Susan is a prickly character, set in her very strict ways, she doesn’t abide by people who aren’t organised or have no direction…like her younger brother who got away with everything as a child and seems to be as an adult too. After their mum’s death, there’s a surprise will that Susan’s sure her mother was forced into, so starts legal procedures to challenge it.

At the same time, pregnancy as an older mother is looming, she’s trying to work out her feelings for the father, and what’s with her brother’s friend Rob?!

Susan’s not a particularly likeable character, this definitely isn’t a typical chicklit romance book, but you do end up hoping that she’ll loosen up, and realise how much she’s pushing people away.

I found the book interesting because of the legal aspects, and there is some hope for Susan. Worth a few hours reading.

Meet me at Pebble Beach by Bella Osborne

Pranking Regan gets pranked at work and loses her job, boyfriend, and home in one fail swoop. Meeting fireman Charlie with his positive outlook on life means Regan opens up, taking on new challenges and ideas to make a career of her own, new friends and a new life. Hopefully with the lovely Charlie. But he has surprising news that threatens her new friendship, and tests Regan’s new way of living.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s an easy read, a typical romcom with ups and downs, challenges, good friendships, and a lovely guy. You end up rooting for it all to turn out well, although have the tears ready in some parts.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

Not quite the book I thought it would be when I realised I’d filed it under chick lit on purchasing it for my Kindle! I’m glad I read this book if only to try something very different to what I’d normally read. Having lived through a pandemic, this book which is about a desolute and dangerous world post a killing flu virus, it’s a thought provoking read given it was written before we knew about Covid 19.

There’s an interesting mix of characters, with chapters flipping between famous actor Arthur’s life, relationships and death just before the virus arrived, and others who’ve got links to him

The name of the book comes from his first wife’s graphic artwork, although the explanations about what her comics were about passed me by, as they’re not something I relate to.

If you’re like me and not into this type of post apocolyptic genre, it’s still worth a read for the characters, the Shakespeare and differences in art and culture between comics and literature, and survival.

Check out my other reads at my Goodreads profile, or try this audible free trial to get 2 new audiobooks for yourself.

What have you been reading this month?