Favorite book I’ve read in March
You know when you start reading a book and enjoy it so much that you don’t want to finish it in case it disappoints you? I’m savoring Hell’s Heart.
Books I COMPLETED
I read 7 books in February and started/continued 4 other books. Unusually for me, I re-read two books that I had read just last year. Both of them were for book clubs or read-alongs. I forgot how much I like re-reading books. Why have I stopped re-reading books?
I’ve included snippets from my reviews and additional thoughts.
The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Briggandale (3/17/26) by CM Waggoner (eARC)
I really wanted to like this book more. than I did. The narrator is sassy and meta and unreliable. I think I wanted to understand more about the worldbuilding, but since Gretsella didn’t that much about the outside world, it was all hazy.
Into the Midnight Wood (1/13/26) by Alexandra MoCallum (eARC)
Enjoyable enemies-to-lovers romance with actual, unforced miscommunication issues. And there are many terrible relatives. This was by far the best of three M/M romances i read this month.
A Gentleman’s Gentleman (2025) by TJ Alexander (re-read, read along)
Loved this book so much last year that I purchased a copy for myself. Plus I was doing a read-along with the author, and re-reading the eARC seemed rude.
Bromantasy (5/26/26) by Máire Roche (eARC)
Two roommates are forced on a quest and feelings come out. Cutesy fantasy romance featuring mutual pining. It’s a pretty standard romance in a standard fantasy setting with a few too many nods to contemporary culture for my taste.
Last Best Quest Ever (5/26/26) by FT Lukens (eARC)
Another fun YA queer romance by Lukens, this time featuring a female protagonist. Ellinore the Brave has just retired from questing. And then her brother makes a bad bargain, forcing her on an impossible quest. Princet Aven, her rival, and her brother insist on accompanying her.
Back After This (2025) by Linda Holmes (re-read, book club)
Satisfying and sexy M/F romance set in the podcast world. Listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. (Of course, when I read it the first time I heard Holmes’ voice in my head. I’m a longtime listener of Pop Culture Happy Hour.)
Stay for a Spell (4/14/26) by Amy Coombe (eARC)
Enjoyable cozy fantasy about getting over burnout. A princess is cursed to live in a bookshop. Despite not being able to leave the house, she makes friends and connections with her new community.
However, it does that twee meta/fan servicey thing where characters in a fantasy (or historical) world somehow create a business that looks and behaves as if it were operating today. (See also Bromantasy above) Now, I love a good wink at the audience. I devour metafiction. My problem is when the characters intuit these business practices without much effort or failure. Yes, I know that I have the minority opinion on this topic.
Honor & Heresy (4/21/26) by Max Francis (eARC) – DNF
It’s supposed to be dark academia enemies-to-lovers romantasy. I got bored while they were still enemies. There was too much stupid and pointless fighting, and I’m not in the mood to read that at present.
Books I’M currently reading
Still noodling around with consciously reading multiple books at the same time. Here are the other titles I also read or started in March:
- A Lady for All Seasons (3/10/26) by TJ Alexander (re-read) – savoring it
- Hell’s Heart (3/10/26) by Alexis Hall – savoring it a bit too slowly
- The Subtle Art of Folding Space (4/7/26) by John Chu
April TBR
Backlist
- A Fae in Finance (2025) by Juliet Brooks – planning on reading this in April after I file my taxes, or October if I get an extension
- The Village Demon-Hunting Society (2024) by CM Waggoner
- The Experiences of Loveday Brooke, Lady Detective (1894) by Catherine Louisa Pirkis
- Marx for Cats: A Radical Beastiary (2023) by Leigh Claire La Berge
- The Enchanted April (1922) by Elizabeth von Arnim – it’s been a while since I re-read it during an April
Upcoming April Releases That I Want to Read
- The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances (4/7/26) by Glen Dixon
- Cherry Baby (4/14/26) by Rainbow Rowell
- Bitchy (4/21/26) by Roberta Gregory – compilation of comics, most of which I’ve read before
- Thistlemarsh (4/21/26) by Moorea Corrigan
- An Accident of Dragons (4/28/26) by Chreri Radke
Already read:
- How to Fake It in Society (4/28/26) by KJ Charles
Notes AND PLANS
- Still playing around with the focus and format of these posts.
- Trying to find the best place to put the publishing date, especially since I am trying to read more than eARCs of upcoming releases
- Liking the idea to add in at least one longer review in a separate post each month.
