March Wrap Up: New book finds to inspire you

Sometimes the best inspiration to pick up a new book is to know that someone else has read it, and in not that long a time too. March was a spectacularly bookish month for me, and I had somehow managed to finish 9 books within the 31 days. For some - not that impressive of a feat, while others could never even imagine finishing 9 books in one year. After experiencing both ends of those spectrums, I have come to realise a reader is a reader no matter the number of books read. As such, you may find this 'Books I Read this Month Wrap-up' somewhat inspiring, if not a helpful list of books to give a try.

Books I Read This Month - At A Glance

1. Black River: Finished 2nd of March

2. Fae Bound: Finished 8th of March

3. Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens: Finished 14th of March

4. Twisted Love: Finished 14th of March

5. An Academic Affair: Finished 16th of March

6. Wuthering Heights: Finished 23rd of March

7. How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days: Finished 27th of March

8. The Many Lives of Laila Starr: Finished 28th of March

9. Problematic Summer Romance: Finished 29th of March

My Thoughts

'Black River'

• My first young adult fantasy this year and I finished it in less than a week, so it is an easy read.

• It attempts to explore the struggles of fitting in and being authentic in teenage-hood was initially compelling but over time the narrative becomes too 'on the nose'.

• Like most young adult fiction stories, the characters are relatable for most teenagers and the continuous mysteries and twists are the highlight of the story.

'Fae Bound'

• After a young-adult fantasy, I turned to more adult-themed fantasy worlds with this high-fantasy novel.

• It took me almost a week to finish and was quite difficult to get through. The world building is not too confusing but the story line is melodramatic at best.

• Great novel if you love drama but tiresome if you just want to see the characters have at least one good day.

'Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens'

• This novel took me by surprise. It interweaves elements of historical fiction with contemporary issues in Australia, creating emotional turmoil in its wake.

• The narration flits between modern day Australia, exploring racism against South Asian people, and to the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009).

• Tales of horror and heroism scatter the pages of this book. I warn you - there will be tears.

'Twisted Love' by Ana Huang

• My first dip into a spicy book. After experiencing a deep, emotional story I was ready for something light, and a spicy romance was exactly what I needed.

• Underlying the romance between a recent college graduate and her brother's best friend, is a truly twisted tale of revenge that will leave you in disbelief.

• I finished this in one day so it's definitely a quick read.

'An Academic Affair'

• Following with my romance theme, this novel tells an enemies to lovers story twisted with a fake marriage proposal.

• The narration is smart and witty. I have never before seen footnotes used for such comedic effect.

• A novel that can easily be finished over the weekend.

'Wuthering Heights'

• Before I see the new movie, I had to read the book first so I gave a crack at it.

• The frame narrative is a bit difficult to grasp at first but towards the end of the novel I realised just how helpful it was.

• This is a tale of deep sadness and the fight to find love in spite of it.

'How to Lose a Goblin in 10 Days'

• In a search of reprieve from unhappy tales, this novel was for the most part light and cozy - exactly what I needed.

• Another enemies to lovers plot, set in a fantasy world where halflings and goblins don't get along.

• As the story progresses the book uncovers more than romance, it destroys the very foundations of the society in which the characters live in.

'The Many Lives of Laila Starr'

• This graphic novel was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint.

• The art style is not the only eye-catching part, the whole plot is thought-provoking and ingenious.

• Another short read. Honestly, it only took me an hour to read without even needing to concentrate.

'Problematic Summer Romance'

• I ended the month with another spicy romance this one with a thrilling age-gap theme between another recent college graduate and her older brother's best friend.

• The novel exchanges between the present moment where the male protagonist fights against his feelings and the revealing past where his actions speak louder than words.

• This is quite a lengthy book but I had hunkered down truly that day and finished it before the sun had set.

What I Learned About Reading

March brought a new conclusion about my reading habits. I had always found reading a perfect way to rid myself of the struggles of work and life. Another person's world had always sounded much more thrilling than the stress of my own. However, March made me realise that when my stress-meter was over filling then even the tension of an unknown storyline could be too much. That's why I started to read more romance this month. It led to extraordinary developments; overall my mood and wellbeing thrived as I read. I learned that when things were getting tough, a cheesy predictable romance where everyone gets together in the end is exactly the way to go.

Leave a comment below: What books did you read in March?