March 2020 Book Releases

Last month, I struggled to find enough decent titles to fill out my new release list. That wasn’t a problem this month. Quite the opposite, I found more exciting March 2020 book releases than I thought possible.

Seriously, every publishing house must have saved their best books for March, because I am blown away by the quality of the titles this month. I expect March will have more books on the best of the year lists than any other month.

Just take a peek at this month’s highlights:

• The much-anticipated new book from the author of Station Eleven
• A new fantasy series from Sarah J. Maas
• A five-star historical fiction novel in the running for my top book of the year
• Nonfiction books from big names – Carrie Underwood, Dave Hollis, and Anne Bogel

Have I got you interested? Then keep scrolling to see our picks for the best of the March 2020 book releases.

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In a gentrifying North Carolina neighborhood, the clash between new and old has deadly consequences. Professor Valerie Alston-Holt has lived in Oak Knoll for decades. It’s where she raised her son Xavier, who is off to college soon. But things go horribly wrong when her new neighbors, the Whitmans, move in. Brad Whitman’s monstrosity of a house damages the root system of Valerie’s precious oak tree, an unforgivable offense in Valerie’s eyes. Yet despite the differences in race, class, and lifestyles, Xavier falls in love with Whitman’s stepdaughter.

I must say, Fowler is an excellent writer. For the most part, her characters shine through and she draws you in with the power of her storytelling. Normally, A Good Neighborhood would be a solid four stars for me, except two points keep nagging at me. First, Brad Whitman’s character felt a bit contrived and too heavy-handed. Serving as the antagonist, he didn’t have enough nuance and felt like a caricature. Secondly, the ending left me so downtrodden. After all that, what was the point? Usually, I’m all about sad endings, but this one felt like too much, maybe because in all its hopelessness, it rang as too realistic. I can see why other people will give it 4 or 5 stars, but only 3.5 stars from me. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After the success of her novel Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel’s newest novel was my most anticipated of the March 2020 book releases. Mandel starts you off with a teaser – a woman falling into the ocean with a few flashes along the way. Then she slowly unravels a story of Vincent, a hotel bartender, and Jonathan Alkaitis, a rich financier running a Ponzi scheme.

After reading the book, I’m having difficulty deciphering my feelings. Her writing is exquisite – both haunting and soulful. Yet, the story drifts along without an anchor. Although the characters are connected, the narrative doesn’t have any driving force, lacking a central message. If you plan to read it, I suggest tempering your expectations. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Knopf Doubleday Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

While touring Vietnam, emergency room doctor Alexis is startled when her boyfriend Austin vanishes on a bike ride. The only clue is one of his empty packets of energy gel left behind on the road. Quickly Alexis learns that Austin had been lying about why they were in Vietnam. The deeper Alexis digs the more she realizes that Austin was not what he seemed. 

Chris Bohjalian’s fun thriller won’t exactly keep you glued to the edge of your seat, but his story is compelling enough to keep you reading. As a protagonist, Alexis hits all the right notes, swaying from grieving girlfriend to curious investigator. The ending has the perfect mix of action and danger, and the epilogue was spot-on. While The Red Lotus might get lost among all the incredible March 2020 book releases, it’s a solid story for fans who enjoy a good detective story. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Doubleday Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

With the success of his wife’s book, Girl, Wash Your Face, Dave Hollis has his own self-help book now addressing the lies that men tell themselves. Having read (and loved) Girl, Wash Your Face, it was interesting to get a behind the scenes peek at the Hollis’s marriage. While Rachel was pushing herself to be her best self, Dave was languishing behind, acting like a complete jerk. Instead of blaming his wife, he eventually realized he needed to fix himself.

I respect how forthright Hollis is in his book. He doesn’t always come off in the best light, and it takes courage to admit your flaws. Dave Hollis’s writing is not nearly as compelling as Rachel’s (though many found her style completely off-putting), but I found his advice to be rather solid in places. However, I don’t see his target audience picking up a self-help book or appreciating being gifted one.  Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Collins Leadership. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Put down the phones. I’ve found my frontrunner for the best book of the year. Based on a true story, Nancy Wake, a New Zealander living in Paris, becomes a spy for the British and rises to one of the top leaders of the French Resistance and one of the most decorated women of the war. The story is split into two narratives – the first starting with Nancy parachuting into France in 1944 and the second telling of her courtship with her husband, Henri Fiocca, in 1938. Lawhon has done her research, using Wake’s own words as much as possible.

You’ll fall in love with Henri and cheer on Nancy as she transforms into a fierce fighter and respected commander. As the earlier timeline catches up with the later one, you’ll feel all the emotions of a woman caught up in a terrible war. Although I generally hold giveaways for my ARCS, you better believe that I’m keeping this one all to myself. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Doubleday Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Could you wear only 33 items for 3 months? Taking a capsule wardrobe to a whole new level, Courtney Carver’s take minimalism into the fashion realm. You might think that having a million choices would allow you to be extremely stylish, but Carver points out it’s just the opposite. By limiting your wardrobe to items you love, you’ll have more fashion sense, more money and more time to do other things.

I’m not going to lie, I was insanely excited to read this book. In 2018, Courtney Carver’s blog post on Project 333 was my first experiment with minimalism. I may have bent the rules a bit, but I tested her idea of limiting my wardrobe to only 33 items for 3 months. And I loved it. Now, two years later, my wardrobe is slightly bigger, but not much. I can personally attest that this method does work.

While her method is solid, I’m not 100% sure Project 333 needed a full book to explain the concept. However, Carver does a great job filling up space without making you feel like she’s just filling up space. She dives into the minimalist mindset and motivation and then sets you at ease that you won’t miss your overstuffed closet. Whether you pick up the book or just check out her blog, Project 333 is a great minimalist experiment to try. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tarcher Perigree. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

For her entire childhood, Rose Gold thought she was sick until as a teenager she realized her mother was poisoning her. After five years in prison, Patty Watts walks out of prison and into Rose Gold’s life again. Rose Gold is no longer a child and is now ready for her dear old mother. Wrobel’s thriller is told from a split perspective: Patty’s modern-day viewpoint and Rose Gold’s story from the last five years. While Wrobel has some tricks up her sleeves, the story overall is too predictable. I wanted more suspense and more debate on Rose Gold’s motives. Among the huge wave of exciting March 2020 book releases, this middle of the road thriller fails to stand out. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lawyer Dannie Cohan knows exactly where she’ll be in five years – until on the night of her engagement to her perfect boyfriend David. In her post-engagement bliss, she has a vision of herself in five years engaged to someone else. She doesn’t think much of it, though she continually puts off her wedding. Until years later when she meets the same man, dating her best friend.

From the synopsis, I thought In Five Years would be a light-hearted romantic comedy, something quick and easy, perfect for vacation. Serle starts off light but then surprises you with a serious turn about halfway through. Beach read goes out the window and thought-provoking steps in. I felt compelled to know if the vision came true and surprised at how well Serle countered my expectations.

Last year, I read her first book, The Dinner List, and felt it was rather self-indulgent. While I still think her writing could use some work, I was extremely impressed with the progress she has made with In Five Years. I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next. Read more →

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books and through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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In his new book, Terry Giles tries to answer the question, Why do some people overcome hardships better than others? Giles calls this small group of people who seem to rise above against all odds, The Fifteen Percent. What makes them different, and how can you learn to overcome your obstacles. If you saw my business books post a few weeks ago, you’ll know that this style of book is right up my alley. Read more →

What March 2020 book releases are you most excited to read?

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