March Reads Recap 2024
If you missed my first post, I’m reading as much as I possibly can in 2024 and recording my journey on Goodreads, StoryGraph and here, on my blog. If you missed my January & February recap, you can find those here. As I mentioned in my last post, March was off to a much better start than February. I am happy to report, I read a ton in March and I am excited to share my reviews.
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Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
A light summer read. A few heavier concepts, but overall, a nice book. I liked the character development and plot line. It didn’t keep my attention in a few chapters, hence the 4 stars.
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
American Dirt opened my eyes to the side of immigration that the current media struggles to capture. Especially faith based media. They tend to leave out compassion, the reality of why people might be trying to start over and this book placed me in the shoes of what could easily be a real situation. Regardless of your stance on illegal immigration, I found this book beautiful, challenging and a must-read for anyone who lives in the America we live in.
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
I enjoyed this book and where it met me in the season I’m in. I did not agree with all of her theology or way she approached women in a marriage relationship. It felt very 90’s Christian stereotypical. That being said, it had some good reminders about how to view my husband and his perspective.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Vulgar. Excessive. I finished it because I felt like I had gone too far not to.
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
As a classic, I expected to enjoy this book. I will report that it was hard to get through and a little difficult to understand. That being said, it gave me a new perspective in which to view my daily thoughts and the spiritual schemes I’m up against. Although it was set in the 1940’s, I found it quite relatable.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
I really loved the storyline. I could’ve done with less back and forth and “almost”. It was definitely a lot of chapters. That being said, a very cute concept. Pretty closed-door for the most, with a few more graphic settings. Overall a cute, fun romance with some heavier themes mixed in. I really appreciated how the author took a topic like emotional manipulation and abuse and took it quite seriously. It’s rare you actually see a character supported by friends. This was one of the more realistic portrayals of how you should handle emotional abuse. She didn’t glorify it or make it okay. She brought light to the situation, showed how a good friend and partner could show support and showed the steps that one could take to handle a situation and get into a safe scenario.
London is the Best City in America
I struggled to get through this book. I found the writing to be redundant, predictable & lacking in a solid plot line and character development. I love Laura Dave’s newer writing so I was quite dissatisfied.
All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham
This is a thriller/mystery/true crime novel and it will wrench at your heartstrings. There’s definitely some trigger warnings around children, birth and postpartum. I would give you too many spoilers if I went into it, so if you are easily triggered in any of these areas, I’d skip this book. I didn’t give it five stars because I want to reserve those for the best of the best. This was pretty darn close. I think this is a great thriller if you’re not into gruesome, but you like a little bit of suspense and mystery. I enjoyed the plot, the author’s creative twist on really hard topics and the majority of the character development. There’s a few characters I could’ve done without, but overall, this book is a great read.
Parenting by Paul David Tripp
In the midst of parenting toddlers, I often find myself at a loss. Learning how to parent is hard, unlearning how to parent how you experienced parenting, is a task within itself. I am thankful for this book and how the author laid a fantastic foundation of what it looks like to parent from God’s perspective. Although there was quite a bit of repetition, I found it drove his points home. You have to hear/see a concept 7 times for it to stick, in this case, it was beneficial. I would recommend this book to every parent, especially one who is struggling with anxiety and anger. The author’s grace and honesty about how hard it is to be an imperfect person, parenting imperfect people was extremely appreciated. Five stars, without a doubt.
That Night by Chevy Stevens
I enjoyed the plot line, the past and present storytelling and the complexities of injustice. I did not enjoy, what felt like, a rushed ending. Overall, a good audiobook choice.