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March is an excellent time for book releases! So many books are coming out this month. It was hard to narrow down my list to a reasonable number of books. Here are the ones I'm looking forward to reading the most.
Note: Some of the release dates may change or be different in your part of the world. Don't come for me if they're wrong. I'm trying to keep up!
❆ March 2023 Book Releases 💮
Old Babes In The Woods: Stories by Margaret Atwood
Adult Short Stories
March 7, 2023
The two intrepid sisters of the title story grapple with loss and memory on a perfect summer evening; "Impatient Griselda" explores alienation and miscommunication with a fresh twist on a folkloric classic; and "My Evil Mother" touches on the fantastical, examining a mother-daughter relationship in which the mother purports to be a witch. At the heart of the collection are seven extraordinary stories that follow a married couple across the decades, the moments big and small that make up a long life of uncommon love—and what comes after.
Why it caught my attention: Margaret Atwood is (maybe?) my favorite author ever. My goal is to read all of her novels and short stories. Of course I need to read this one! I love her writing style. It's very vivid. Scenes from her novels will be stuck in my mind forever.
The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church
Adult Historical Fiction
March 7, 2023
For fourteen-year-old Leah Payne, life in her beloved coastal Carolina town is as simple as it is free. Devoted to her lumberjack father and running through the wilds where the forest meets the shore, Leah's country life is as natural as the Loblolly pines that rise to greet the Southern sky.
When an accident takes her father's life, Leah is wrenched from her small community and cast into a family of strangers with a terrible secret. Separated from her only home, Leah is kept apart from the family and forced to act as a helpmate for the well-to-do household. When a moment of violence and prejudice thrusts Leah into the center of the state's shameful darkness, she must fight for her own future against a world that doesn't always value the wild spirit of a Carolina girl.
Why it caught my attention: The synopsis reminds me of Where the Crawdad's Sing. I loved the nature writing in that book but had issues with other parts of it. It would be awesome if this book was a Crawdads do-over without the eyeroll-inducing parts. Also, Carolina Girl is supposedly about eugenics. That's a frightfully interesting topic to read about.
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Young Adult Historical Fantasy
March 7, 2023
London, 1885. Gabriel Utterson, a 17-year-old law clerk, has returned to London for the first time since his life—and that of his dearest friend, Henry Jekyll—was derailed by a scandal that led to his and Henry's expulsion from the London Medical School. Whispers about the true nature of Gabriel and Henry's relationship have followed the boys for two years, and now Gabriel has a chance to start again.
But Gabriel doesn't want to move on, not without Henry. His friend has become distant and cold since the disastrous events of the prior spring, and now his letters have stopped altogether. Desperate to discover what's become of him, Gabriel takes to watching the Jekyll house.
In doing so, Gabriel meets Hyde, a strangely familiar young man with white hair and a magnetic charisma. He claims to be friends with Henry, and Gabriel can't help but begin to grow jealous at their apparent closeness, especially as Henry continues to act like Gabriel means nothing to him.
But the secret behind Henry's apathy is only the first part of a deeper mystery that has begun to coalesce. Monsters of all kinds prowl within the London fog—and not all of them are out for blood . . .
Why it caught my attention: There's a man with a fancy hat on the cover. You know I love a fancy hat. Usually I say "Absolutely not" to retellings, but I think I can get behind a Jekyll and Hyde remix. There's a lot of potential for twists and creepiness.
There Goes The Neighborhood by Jade Adia
Young Adult Contemporary
March 7, 2023
Fifteen-year-old Rhea and her best friends, Zeke and Malachi, are South L.A. born and raised, but a recent wave of gentrification has been transforming the place that they call home. When an eviction notice from a greedy landlord threatens to split up the crew, Rhea and her friends manipulate social media to form a fake gang in hopes of scaring off developers. Their scheme appears to work at first . . . until a murder is pegged on the nonexistent gang. Yikes.
Why it caught my attention: According to early reviewers, it's a joyful book that will make you laugh. Also, does the cover remind anybody else of books that were published in the 80s and 90s? For some reason, it's bringing back memories of my elementary school library. I vaguely remember a "giant head and photo collage" era of publishing.
The Jump by Brittney Morris
Young Adult Contemporary
March 7, 2023
Influence is power. Power creates change. And change is exactly what Team Jericho needs.
Jax, Yas, Spider, and Han are the four cornerstones of Team Jericho, the best scavenger hunting team in all of Seattle. Each has their own specialty: Jax, the puzzler; Yas, the parkourist; Spider, the hacker; and Han, the cartographer. But now with an oil refinery being built right in their backyard, each also has their own problems. Their families are at risk of losing their jobs, their communities, and their homes.
So when The Order, a mysterious vigilante organization, hijacks the scavenger hunting forum and concocts a puzzle of its own, promising a reward of influence, Team Jericho sees it as the chance of a lifetime. If they win this game, they could change their families’ fates and save the city they love so much. But with an opposing team hot on their heels, it’s going to take more than street smarts to outwit their rivals.
Why it caught my attention: It's been a while since I read a book about a high-stakes game. I'm still searching for one that I love as much as The Hunger Games. Maybe this'll be it. I need a book that's fast paced but still has a lot of character development.
A Bit Of Earth by Karuna Riazi
Middle Grade Contemporary
March 14, 2023
Growing up in Pakistan, Maria Latif has been bounced between reluctant relatives for as long as she can remember—first because of her parents’ constant travel, and then because of their deaths. Maria has always been a difficult child, and it never takes long for her guardians to tire of her. So when old friends of her parents offer to “give her a better life” in the United States, Maria is shipped to a host family across the world.
When Maria arrives on Long Island, things are not quite what she was expecting. Mr. Clayborne has left on an extended business trip, Mrs. Clayborne seems emotionally fraught, and inexplicable things keep happening in the Claybornes’ sprawling house. And then Maria finds a locked gate to an off-limits garden. Since she’s never been good at following rules, Maria decides to investigate and discovers something she never thought she’d find: a place where she feels at home.
Why it caught my attention: Normally, I'd say "No" to a Secret Garden retelling because I loathe the original, but this one sounds like it has complex characters and a lot of drama. Goodreads says, "evocative prose is interspersed with poetic verses, illuminating each character’s search for a place they can truly call home." Sounds promising.
Y/N by Esther Yi
Adult Literary Fiction
March 21, 2023
It's as if her life only truly began once Moon appeared in it. The desultory copywriting work, the philosopher boyfriend, and the want of anything not-Moon quickly fall away as she discovers him in concert, where Moon dances as if his movements are creating their own gravitational field; on live streams, where fans comment in dozens of languages; even on the packaging of skincare products endorsed by the wildly popular Korean boyband, of which Moon is the youngest member. Bursting with untenable desire, our unnamed narrator begins writing strange fanfiction in which [Your/Name] has an intimate relationship with the unattainable star.
But when Moon vanishes from public view without explanation, she falls into total disorientation. As Y/N flies from Berlin to Seoul, our narrator, too, journeys to the city where her parents were born, in search of the star. In Korea, an escalating series of unhinged circumstances land her at the headquarters of the Kafkaesque entertainment company that manages the boyband—where, in a turn of events befitting her wildest fanfiction, she finally gets a chance to meet the object of her affection. At a secret location, together with Moon at last, fantasy and real life approach their final convergence until she can no longer hide her obsession from Moon.
Why it caught my attention: Fangirls are a fascinating phenomenon. I've never been so obsessed with something that it consumes my entire life, but I've seen it happen to other people. I'd like to know why. This book probably won't tell me because it's fiction, but it'll be fun to explore.
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Adult Historical Fiction
March 21, 2023
1873. At an abandoned château on the outskirts of Paris, a dark séance is about to take place, led by acclaimed spiritualist Vaudeline D’Allaire. Known worldwide for her talent in conjuring the spirits of murder victims to ascertain the identities of the people who killed them, she is highly sought after by widows and investigators alike.
Lenna Wickes has come to Paris to find answers about her sister’s death, but to do so, she must embrace the unknown and overcome her own logic-driven bias against the occult. When Vaudeline is beckoned to England to solve a high-profile murder, Lenna accompanies her as an understudy. But as the women team up with the powerful men of London’s exclusive Séance Society to solve the mystery, they begin to suspect that they are not merely out to solve a crime, but perhaps entangled in one themselves.
Why it caught my attention: The spiritualist movement in the 1800s is one of my favorite time periods to read about. It was full of con artists, amateur scientists, and passionate believers in the supernatural. The time period provides excellent fodder for fiction.
Lone Women by Victor LaValle
Adult Historical Horror
March 21, 2023
Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It’s locked at all times. Because when the trunk is opened, people around her start to disappear . . .
The year is 1914, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, and forced her to flee her hometown of Redondo, California, in a hellfire rush, ready to make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will be one of the "lone women" taking advantage of the government's offer of free land for those who can cultivate it—except that Adelaide isn't alone. And the secret she's tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing keeping her alive.
Why it caught my attention: Historical horror is my jam right now. It's a mixture of my two favorite genres, and I want to read all of it. Goodreads calls this book "Shimmering" and "Inventive." Let's find out.
Her Lost Words: A Novel Of Mary Wollstonecraft And Mary Shelley by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Adult Historical Fiction
March 28, 2023
1792. As a child, Mary Wollstonecraft longed to disappear during her father's violent rages. Instead, she transforms herself into the radical author of the landmark volume A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, in which she dares to propose that women are equal to men. From conservative England to the blood-drenched streets of revolutionary France, Mary refuses to bow to society's conventions and instead supports herself with her pen until an illicit love affair challenges her every belief about romance and marriage. When she gives birth to a daughter and is stricken with childbed fever, Mary fears it will be her many critics who recount her life's extraordinary odyssey.
1818. The daughter of infamous political philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft, passionate Mary Shelley learned to read by tracing the letters of her mother's tombstone. As a young woman, she desperately misses her mother's guidance, especially following her scandalous elopement with dashing poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mary struggles to balance an ever-complicated marriage with motherhood while nursing twin hopes that she might write something of her own one day and also discover the truth of her mother's unconventional life. Mary's journey will unlock her mother's secrets, all while leading to her own destiny as the groundbreaking author of Frankenstein.
Why it caught my attention: Another "Based on a true story" novel. Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley had a massive impact on modern literature, so I'm always happy to read about them, even in fictional form.
Greymist Fair by Francesca Zappia
Young Adult Fantasy
March 28, 2023
Two roads lead into a dark forest. They meet at Greymist Fair, the village hidden in the trees, a place kept alive by the families that never leave. The people of Greymist Fair know the woods are a dangerous and magical place, and to set foot off the road is to invite trouble.
When Heike, the village’s young tailor, discovers a body on the road, she goes looking for who is responsible. But her quest only leads to more strange happenings around Greymist Fair.
Why it caught my attention: Goodreads calls it "a suspenseful and inventive murder-mystery." I've read two of Francesca Zappia's other books and liked her writing style and loveable characters. I'm hoping for more of the same.
Of course I love the title My Dear Henry! It's gonna be a good month for books, hope you enjoy all of these!
ReplyDeleteI think the Atwood collection interests me. Did you ever read her Stone Mattress collection? Wow. If it's anywhere near as good as that one ... then I'm game for sure. I particularly loved the title story Stone Mattress ... which is quite evil ... & good.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting mix of books. And are there people who don't like fancy hats? It is a great cover.
ReplyDeleteMarch is such a great month for new books! I have a few of these on my tbr
ReplyDeleteThe London Seance Society is on my TBR. It looks fabulous. And the man in the fancy hat caught my attention on My Dear Henry. He definitely looks like he knows some secrets and may be up to something mysterious.
ReplyDeleteI liked Lone Women and Greymist Fair! I am also curious about My Dear Henry. I honestly am not sure what other books coming out this month I am excited for, but I liked quite a few of the ones I have read so far!
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to read A BIT OF EARTH!
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