search-icon

Our 19 Most Anticipated New Reads of March 2020

by  | February 26
Five March Books on Couch

We know, we know, you have too many books to read already. We hear you, readers, and to you we say: here are 19 more coming out in March that you should probably read as well. Sorry, not sorry! To help you handle your TBR pile stress, we suggest starting a separate “when-the-mood-strikes” book list. The March books here will help you through any sorta mood, from the Make Good Trouble Mood to the Stare Forlornly Out the Window Mood. And, as always, there’s plenty for the Badass Feminist Mood

Once Upon a Sunset

Once Upon a Sunset

by Tif Marcelo

Nicole’s Pick #1

I always eagerly anticipate books featuring POC leads, and that is one of several reasons I’m excited for Tif Marcelo’s Once Upon a Sunset. It’s the story of a D.C. physician named Diana who, through a series of unexpected and unfortunate life circumstances, finds herself with lots of free time. Rather than wallow, Diana attempts to restore some order to her life and, in the process, she and her mother, Margo, discover old letters that lead them to uncover a family secret and surviving relatives in the Philippines. Diana decides to take the trip to the other side of the world, and learns more there about herself, her family, and life in ways that she could never have expected. Tif Marcelo is known for writing about complex family dynamics, and I’m eager to see how that plays out here, especially with the added layer of Filipino culture woven in.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
House of Earth and Blood

House of Earth and Blood

by Sarah J. Maas

Heather’s Pick #1

Friends had been recommending Sarah J. Maas to me for years before I gave in and read Court of Thorns and Roses, the first novel in her YA fantasy series of the same name. My friends were right; of course they were right: I liked that first book and promptly inhaled the sequel, A Court of Mist and Fury, which had just the right blend of action and romance. I’m still working on Book 3 (A Court of Wings and Ruin), but that hasn’t stopped me from also eyeing Maas’s next release, her first adult series, House of Earth and Blood, which is set to launch with Crescent City. Our new heroine, Bryce, is half-human, half-fae, and 100% determined to track down the demon who killed her closest friends. Enter a fallen angel named Hunt, who’s still paying for a long-ago failed rebellion against the Archangels by unwillingly serving as their resident hit man. Looks like he teams up with Bryce for one reason (the Archangels will release him from captivity if he finds the demon), but sticks around for a whole other one (his feelings for Bryce). Sounds like a winning concept to me!

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logo
The Sinner

The Sinner

by J.R. Ward

Heather’s Pick #2

Everyone’s always working in today’s gig economy, and vampires are no exception. In J. R. Ward’s The Sinner, Syn’s pulling in extra cash as a mercenary when he meets Jo Early, who has no idea that she’s half vampire and starting to transition. They’re immediately drawn to each other, but only Syn understands, at first, that Jo’s going to die if she doesn’t listen to her instincts and embrace her fate as an immortal. Can he get through to her, and can love give them a new path forward, together?

While I read a lot of contemporary and historical romances these days, my reading diet wouldn’t be complete without paranormal romances, and nobody does it quite like J. R. Ward. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in her long-running Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Offerings

Offerings

by Michael ByungJu Kim

Emily’s Pick

I absolutely loved Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, Michael Lewis’s The Big Short, and the HBO show Succession, so that should give you an idea of how excited I am for Michael ByungJu Kim’s Offerings. The main narrative follows Dae Joon, a Harvard-educated Wall Street banker who obtained his impressive career while abandoning his familial obligations as a firstborn Korean son. And if that doesn’t sound heartbreaking enough, when the 1997 Asian financial crisis hits, Dae Joon is forced to make even more tough decisions that’ll either affect his homeland of Seoul or his impressive high-stakes career. Based on that narrative and the book’s amazing endorsements, this sounds like a thoughtful, white-knuckle read. I’m ready to learn a little history and economics while engrossed in a good story.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
The Hidden Things

The Hidden Things

by Jamie Mason

Molly’s Pick

I can’t wait to get a copy of the paperback edition of The Hidden Things by Jamie Mason. A viral video of fourteen-year-old Carly Liddell fending off home invaders leads to the unexpected reappearance of a 17th-century masterwork painting that was stolen during the very real and still-unsolved Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in 1990. It’s up to Carly to uncover the truth as greed, revenge, secrets, and lies threaten to tear her family apart. Between its creative premise and whip-smart and plucky protagonist, it’s a Venn diagram of a book written especially for me. The Hidden Things publishes in paperback on March 3rd, just in time for the thirtieth anniversary of the still-unsolved heist.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders

We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders

by Linda Sarsour

Saimah’s Pick #1

As a Muslim-American, I am really thrilled to read Linda Sarsour’s book. She was one of the organizers of the inaugural Women’s March. In We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders, she shares her story about how the racism and backlash after 9/11 affected her and the Muslim communities around the nation. She has spent her career fighting for women’s rights. She serves as an inspiration and role model not just for other Muslim-American women but for women of all backgrounds.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
The Woman of a Thousand Names

The Woman of a Thousand Names

by Alexandra Lapierre

Courtney’s Pick #1

A strong female lead who must depend on herself in order to survive? Sign me up! I’m pumped to read The Woman of a Thousand Names, written by Alexandra Lapierre, because of the strength and tenacity of the heroine, Moura. Moura was born into Russian aristocracy, never wanting for anything, until the Bolshevik Revolution leaves her life in ruins. In order to survive, Moura must stay on the move, leaving behind her past life and frequently changing her identity. Some of us occasionally daydream of leaving it all behind and starting over where no one knows our name, but what if you were forced to? Would you be able to? I’m not sure what the answer is for myself, but I can’t wait to dive into Moura’s story, based on the life of a real aristocrat, and follow along as she defies all expectations to survive.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
We Ride Upon Sticks

We Ride Upon Sticks

by Quan Barry

Sara’s Pick

Witches are definitely having a moment, but back in the 1690s—and then again in the book’s setting of 1980s Salem—the occult was rather looked down upon. That doesn't matter much to the Danvers High School women’s field hockey team. They're looking to get a little help with their not-so-stellar playing, which goalie Mel Boucher seeks to do by having all the girls sign a book with a picture of Emilio Estevez on the cover and make a pact to follow “any urges you might get all the way to the end no matter what.” It seems silly at first...until they start winning games. Is it witchcraft or just coincidence? Only Emilio knows. A funny piece with an ensemble cast of team members, We Ride Upon Sticks takes a look at what it means to believe, both in oneself and in something bigger. An exploration of love, sexuality, friendship and what makes us who we are, this is a must-read if you're looking for a moving book that will make you fall in love with every character (and maybe fear the power of Emilio Estevez).

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logo
Waiting for Bojangles

Waiting for Bojangles

by Olivier Bourdeaut

Sabrina’s Pick

The thought of getting the paperback edition of Waiting for Bojangles into my hands makes my heart jump and ache all at once. I have heard that truth is only what people believe, and this epic fairy tale bends the parameters of truth in every way. Living in a world of fantastical realities, a young boy watches his father, George, call his mother, Louise, by a new name every day. Every evening their Parisian apartment is filled with guests and his parents dance wildly and freely to Nina Simone’s “Mister Bonjangles.” Yet, through all his efforts, George cannot shield his son from the reality of his mother’s mental illness. In Oliver Bourdeaut’s debut novel, as Louise sinks further into her mind, father and son learn the nuances of truth—and how to protect those you love.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
The Power Notebooks

The Power Notebooks

by Katie Roiphe

Courtney’s Pick #2

One of the voices guiding me on my personal quest to take inventory of my life goals is Katie Roiphe and her latest book The Power Notebooks. As the title suggests, Roiphe shares her personal notebook entries—offering up insights on divorce, single motherhood, and being a female writer. She also intertwines her musings with those of famous writers such as Sylvia Plath and Simone de Beauvoir. From her first journal entry, you are immersed in Roiphe’s head and can feel the way she must have felt when writing each one. The book as a whole is more informal than most nonfiction I’ve read, and lends itself to creating an intimate connection with the author. As a reader, you’re drawn into Roiphe’s circular thought processes as she grapples with contemporary womanhood, her professional writer self, and the private person she is when she’s all alone in the early morning. You will find yourself relating to this feminist writer’s internal battle and, hopefully, at the end, leave with a bit more understanding of your own self and the world around you.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
A Conspiracy of Bones

A Conspiracy of Bones

by Kathy Reichs

Sue’s Pick

I’m so glad that Kathy Reichs is soon to publish Conspiracy of Bonesbecause it’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of diving into one of her novels. I’ve been a fan of the Temperance (Tempe to us die-hard groupies) Brennan series since her first book, Déjà Dead. You have to love that our Tempe is a beautiful, brainy, and really fearless chick. I’m guessing Conspiracy of Bones will have me glued to the page—and in Tempe heaven—as she works to put a name to a faceless corpse and figure out how it’s related to a cold case involving a missing child.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
The Upside of Being Down

The Upside of Being Down

by Jen Gotch

Heather’s Pick #3

Several members of my family suffer from depression, but until a few years ago, when winter blues hit me hard, I couldn’t truly understand what they experienced. Since then, my eyes have been opened to the mental health struggles so many of us face, and how important it is to talk about them in order to continue erasing the stigma. One person who has been using her platform to do just that is Jen Gotch, the founder and chief creative officer of the lifestyle brand ban.do. In her forthcoming memoir, The Upside of Being Down, Gotch reflects on everything from her childhood—in which her bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, and ADD were misdiagnosed—to her unexpected career path as an entrepreneur. Can we thrive at work and in our personal lives not despite our struggles, but because of them? Jen Gotch says yes, and I can’t wait to read more of her uplifting message.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Procrastibaking

Procrastibaking

by Erin Gardner

Holly’s Pick

Bad day? Work stress? Too many chores? Or maybe you’re just plain bored. My ever-indulgent solution to all my problems is baking. When the weight of the world is just a bit too heavy, I say throw all your responsibilities aside and whip out your spatula. That’s why I am so ready for Procrastibaking by pastry chef Erin Gardner, who created ErinBakes.com to share tutorials for making cakes and other desserts. She’ll teach us how to procrastinate with “pride and purpose” through over 100 recipes, each one as sweet as the last. While it may take me days to answer your email or weeks to finally clean up my living room, with this book you can always count on me for a batch of cookies to be ready in the oven.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
These Ghosts Are Family

These Ghosts Are Family

by Maisy Card

Nicole’s Pick #2

My parents are both from the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada, and though Maisy Card’s These Ghosts Are Family is set in Jamaica, I can’t help but be eager to read a story from the West Indies—a place so familiar to me. The book tells the multigenerational story of a family dealing with trauma in the midst of tumultuous times in Jamaican and American history over the course of decades. Specifically, These Ghosts Are Family revolves around the consequences of Abel Paisley’s decision to fake his own death and assume the identity of his best friend, Stanford Solomon. My 2020 resolution continues to be to read more books by people of color, and I can’t wait to finish this one on my list.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Woman on the Edge

Woman on the Edge

by Samantha M. Bailey

Kristin’s Pick

Woman on the Edge, Samantha Bailey's debut novel is a white-knuckle thrill ride from page one. Imagine you're standing on a subway platform, idly awaiting the train, and just as it barrels into the station a perfect stranger addresses you by name, tosses you her CHILD, and jumps. RIGHT?! That's where this story begins. Poor Morgan Kincaid—she was already just trying to make lemonade out of some serious life lemons, and now she’s embroiled in a nightmare that just keeps getting creepier. With every new chapter comes a new twist. How did that woman she'd never met know her name? And why did the stranger beg Morgan to take her child, to "keep her safe"? Was she paranoid? Suffering from postpartum psychosis? I was myself a Woman on the Edge (of my seat), devouring this book to get all the answers. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Please See Us

Please See Us

by Caitlin Mullen

Anne’s Pick #1

I’m calling it now: Caitlin Mullen is the feminist voice of crime fiction we need. This author’s atmospheric debut follows grisly Atlantic City murders and gives voices to the lost Jane Does. Please See Us was inspired by true events, and goes beyond true-crime tropes to explore women’s relationships with men of power and wealth. It’s a heart-pounding thriller that follows two young women’s race to find the killer before another victim disappears.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
The Honey-Don't List

The Honey-Don't List

by Christina Lauren

Anne’s Pick #2

Is there any better sign that winter is waning than an upcoming new spring romance? If you’ve been tearing through Jasmine Guillory, I highly recommend reading Christina Lauren. This best-friends writing duo behind one of my favorite 2019 reads, The Unhoneymooners, is back in perfect form with The Honey-Don’t List. It follows two young assistants who are desperate to keep their jobs despite the stresses of the work...which includes keeping their bosses’ crumbling marriage together on their media stardom book tour. Think the Netflix movie Set It Upmeets HGTV’s Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna. Absolute perfection!

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
In Five Years

In Five Years

by Rebecca Serle

Saimah’s Pick #2

Where do you see yourself in five years? It’s a question that is often asked during job interviews. Dannie Cohan always knew her answer. She had a vision of not just where she wanted to be in her career but also in her personal life. But on the day where she has a job interview for her dream post at a prestigious law firm in the city followed by a celebratory evening with her fiancé, she suddenly has a vision in her dream. She sees herself five years in the future, living in a new apartment, with a different engagement ring on her finger and a guy who is definitely not her current fiancé. When she wakes again (for real this time), she is back in 2020 with her life as it was when she first fell asleep. She shakes it off, thinking it was all just a dream.

The story then jumps ahead to 2025; Dannie is still engaged to her fiancé and working at the law firm. But when Dannie is out with her best friend, Bella, she suddenly runs into the mystery man from her dream four-and-a-half years ago. I could not believe the twist that Rebecca Serle introduced next—and this book had me rapidly flipping the pages to find out just how this story would end.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logoBookshop logo
Undercover Bromance

Undercover Bromance

by Lyssa Kay Adams

Saimah’s Pick #3

After reading The Bromance Book Club, I was happy to discover there was an upcoming sequel following the story of my favorite character, Braden Mack. I was lucky to get an advanced copy and devoured this book in a couple of days. Mack is a swoon-worthy guy who loves to read romance novels because he thinks they make him a love expert. What he doesn’t realize is that an IRL romance can be even better than a story.

Braden is an entrepreneur who owns a nightclub and is trying to launch a new restaurant in Nashville. He’s friends with all the bigwigs in the industry. One night while dining at one of Nashville’s hotspots, Mack sees his friend’s sister-in-law, Liv, delivering the restaurant’s famous signature dessert. But when the encounter leads to Liv inadvertently dropping the dessert on Mack’s date, the restaurant owner is LIVID. When Liv heads to his office to discuss the incident, she catches the owner sexually harassing the restaurant’s young hostess. Liv decides to expose the dirtbag, but she needs a little help taking him down. Mack offers his assistance and recruits the guys from the Bromance Book Club to help. As Liv and Mack spend more time with each other while plotting to take down her former boss, they can’t deny the sparks that fly between them.

Amazon logoBarnes & Noble logoBooks a Million logo
Love to get lit... erary? Sign up to get the latest delivered to your inbox!