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Books in March - Book Recommendations
- The Little Bookshop
- Mar 1
- 6 min read
Helllooooo March! Please bring us sun - for some days and not only two days, pretty please! The (only) positive aspect of having rain all the time: it’s great for staying at home with a good book. And trust me, so many wonderful books are getting published in March. Are you ready for our little list?
Contemporary/Fantasy/Thriller/Sci-fi adults
Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave (12 March)
Because I just love her writing!
Erica and Laure meet on the steps of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris, 1978. Erica is a student, relishing her first summer abroad before beginning university at home in England. Laure is studying for her Ph.D. at the Sorbonne, drinking and smoking far too much, and sleeping with a married woman. The moment the two women meet the spark is undeniable: but their encounter turns into far more than a summer of love. It is the beginning of a relationship that will define their lives and every decision they have yet to make…
Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (26 March)
Because I already read it and loved it!
1954: When her former novice’s dependable letters stop, Nora Breen asks to be released from her vows. Haunted by a line in Frieda’s letter, Nora arrives at Gulls Nest, a charming hotel in Gore-on-Sea in Kent. A seaside town, a place of fresh air and relaxed constraints, is the perfect place for a new start. Nora hides her identity and pries into the lives of her fellow guests. But when a series of bizarre murders rattles the occupants of Gulls Nest it’s time to ask if a dark past can ever really be left behind.
Rapture by Emily Maguire (26 March)
Because female pope…
The motherless child of an English priest living in ninth-century Mainz, Agnes is a wild and brilliant girl with a deep, visceral love of God. At eighteen, to avoid a future as a wife or nun, Agnes enlists the help of a lovesick Benedictine monk to disguise herself as a man and devote her life to the study she is denied as a woman. So begins the life of John the Englishman: a matchless scholar and scribe of the revered Fulda monastery, then a charismatic heretic in an Athens commune and, by her middle years, a celebrated teacher in Rome. There, Agnes (as John) dazzles the Church hierarchy with her knowledge and wisdom and finds herself at the heart of political intrigue in a city where gossip is a powerful—and deadly—currency. And when the only person who knows her identity arrives in Rome, she will risk everything to once again feel what it is to be known—and loved.
The Names by Florence Knapp (26 March)
Because this one is on my list since a long time…
In the wake of a catastrophic storm, Cora sets off with her nine-year-old daughter, Maia, to register her son’s birth. Her husband, Gordon, a local doctor, respected in the community but a terrifying and controlling presence at home, intends for her to name the infant after him. But when the registrar asks what she’d like to call the child, Cora hesitates… Spanning thirty-five years, what follows are three alternate and alternating versions of Cora’s and her young son’s lives, shaped by her choice of name. In richly layered prose, The Names explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.
YA Book Recommendations
You Pierce My Soul by Jessica Mary Best (10 March)
Because utopian/dystopian queer sounds soo interesting!
In the utopian city of New Ionia, everyone gets a soulmate – and Zada can’t wait for hers. Now that she’s eighteen, it’s her turn to meet her destiny with the help of Heartsong, an algorithm that chooses your perfect match for you. Then Zada crashes into her soulmate, setting off their shared Heartsong, and the unthinkable happens: she feels nothing for him. But the Heartsong program doesn’t make mistakes, and by the end of the night, Zada is engaged to a man she doesn’t love. Desperate for a way out, Zada turns to her beautiful, reckless, and utterly impossible former best friend Daphne. Together, the two embark on a quest for the truth that throws Heartsong – and their entire world – into question. As time runs out, Zada must find the courage to choose what she believes and who she loves.
The Summer After the Night Before by Lisa Williamson (26 March)
Because it’s an important subject.
Ben's been in love with Molly for ever. When she finally kisses him at a party, he thinks all his dreams have come true. And later that night, he thinks they've started something really special. Molly loves Ben too - of course she does. But not like THAT. He's her best friend's brother - which makes him practically her brother too, right? But after a few drinks at a party, Molly kisses Ben. And she can't remember what happened next. The months of freedom after GCSEs should be the best of your life. But everyone's reckoning with doubts, lies and mixed-up memories, the thorny summer after the potent night before.
To the Death by Melissa Welliver (26 March)
Because I loved The Undying Tower and am still waiting for the next one… Melissa??
Welcome to Blood Island, where the struggle for survival against the bloodthirsty undead is captured on camera for entertainment. When Bloodwatch, the shadowy organisation behind the ever-watchful cameras, descends upon the island to shoot a new high-stakes reality show, Astrid finds herself thrust into the spotlight. The prize at stake? A coveted ticket off the island. Paired with Luke, a risk-taking outsider harbouring secrets of his own, Astrid discovers the perilous costs of winning the adoration of a legion of fans. Caught in a deadly game where the undead and other contestants close in, Astrid must navigate her developing feelings for Luke and the treacherous terrain of reality TV, where there can be only one winner.
What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally (31 March)
Because you all know I’m a huge fan!
Hannah is having an incredible spring break. A week at a resort in Mexico with her best friend Emmy and her family is perfect for de-stressing from senior year, even if it's awkward being around Emmy's older brother, Jackson, who she's had a crush on for as long as she can remember. Still, the beach is gorgeous. So is the guy they meet in the surf. Except Hannah is now the third wheel in Emmy's vacation romance. Eager to impress Emmy, her wealthy new boyfriend charters a private sailboat to make the most of their last day in paradise, and Hannah and Jackson are invited along. As the clouds roll in and the skies darken, their boat is the only one leaving the marina. And the further they get into open water, the more unsettled Hannah becomes. A storm is brewing onboard that's as deadly as the one racing toward them. Forget surviving graduation. Who will make it back to land alive?
Children’s Books
The Lost Robot by Joe Todd-Stanton (5 March)
Because it’s a new Joe Todd-Stanton!
Deep in the heart of a rubbish dump, a little broken robot woke up… Mio can't remember where they came from or how long it's been, but they know they're not meant to be there. They go in search of their memories and the home they once knew, only to discover that everything has changed. A stunning picture book with a beautiful message about loving yourself and knowing there is always a place where you belong.
Emerald and the Sea Dragon by Harriet Muncaster (5 March)
Because I know we have some Emerald fans!
A baby sea dragon hatches from the egg! It is sooo cute! When the cheeky little sea dragon hitches a lift with Emerald back to Mum's, everyone at the royal palace is enchanted. Emerald knows deep down that they need to find its real family and so Emerald, Delphina, and Mum set out on an exciting ocean adventure to do just that.
Home of the Wild by Louise Greig (19 March)
Because these illustrations and this story look amazing for kids.
In the quiet dawn of the spring forest a boy finds an orphan fawn, hungry and alone. He carefully carries her home, caring for her while she grows strong. The boy and the fawn become inseparable. Together they spend long summer days running through the glen, leaping over the heather, and lying in the dappled sunlight. But the young deer is a wild thing and too soon she is ready to discover a home of her own. The boy misses his friend and worries for her when a big storm threatens. Can the boy and the fawn find each other again? Are some bonds stronger than goodbye?
Ocean Colours : A First Colours Book by Bobbie Brooks (26 March)
Because this is a nice way to learn colo(u)rs.
Little ones will giggle with wonder as hidden pictures appear and disappear in the peekaboo windows with each tip and shake of this book! From a whale, starfish and an octopus to a crab and even a submarine, there are lots of things to spot, colours to learn, and pictures to discover.
We hope you enjoyed our little list and that it gave you some book inspiration!
Looking to pre-order one of these books? Just follow the path! 👇
This blog post is written by The Little Bookshop, your bookshop for English books in Rennes.
