My reading has been going great lately. I must be getting better at picking out books and realizing what type of book suits or doesn't suit my taste. I can see a pattern of me picking a lot fewer thrillers for one thing. I read 11 books in March, one of which is sure to be in my top ten of the entire year! Six books were in digital format on my Kindle and 5 were in print. Two books were duds, but the remaining nine got good ratings from me. Eight books were rated 4 stars and higher!

Get yourself a cup of tea and settle in for this long post!

Saturday by Ian McEwan (published 2006) was a book Sara had read and mentioned on our podcast Reeding Between the Lines. Ian McEwan wrote Atonement, an excellent book which was made into a movie staring Keira Knightly. Saturday tells the story of one day in the life of Henry Perowne, a neurosurgeon living in London. The book felt as if it were unfolding in real-time, which made it feel dragged out at times. Our main character gazes out his bedroom window, has a breakfast chat with his son, leaves the house to go play squash with another doctor, and gets into a road rage type of skirmish on the way to his squash game…You get the idea. Things take off after the road rage incident when the doctor notices that the person so angry about the fender bender has a neurological disorder. It turns out this individual follows the doctor around all day and later makes a home invasion into his residence. That is when things get really tense and exciting. I enjoyed this book in spite of its rather unusual format. 4 stars

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone (published 2024) is the first book I have read by this author, who is a popular rom-com style writer. Twenty-something Eve Hatch is living a fairly carefree life in Brooklyn when she learns she is unexpectedly pregnant, resulting from a one-night stand. This unplanned pregnancy upends all her relationships with friends and family. Childhood friend Shep steps up to the plate, helping Eve with things she hadn't even realized she needed help with. The baby's father is conflicted about how much involvement he wants with the child, which causes Eve to rethink everything she thought she knew about herself and her world. I was frustrated with Eve not seeming to know her own mind, and not recognizing what a gift her friendship with Shep was. The tone of the book was also a bit "woke" for me, with some discussion of not imposing gender ideas on a child, but letting them figure out if they identified as male or female as they matured. Um, ok then. That knocked the book down to 3 stars for me. Maybe 2.5.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley (published 2024) is a debut novel set in Great Britain in the future. In it, an unnamed female British-Cambodian civil servant is recruited by a secret government project that retrieves individuals from the past moments before their recorded deaths. Historical figures from the past are brought to the present with unexpected results: sometimes tragic, sometimes hilarious. Assigned as a "bridge," she must assist Commander Graham Gore—historically presumed dead during the 1847 Franklin Arctic expedition—in acclimating to contemporary London. As she guides Gore through the complexities of modern life, their relationship deepens, causing conflicts in professional duties and personal emotions. This multifaceted narrative blends elements of time travel, romance, and espionage while exploring themes of power, adaptation, and the human capacity for love across time. ​I love a time travel book, and this one was very good. 4 stars

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand (published 2022) was the second book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. In the book, a once-glamorous Gilded Age hotel is restored to its former glory under the leadership of Lizbet Keaton, who is determined to get a five-star review from a secretive hotel reviewer. As she assembles a quirky staff, including a celebrity chef and a charismatic concierge, they navigate scandals, high-maintenance guests, and lingering heartbreak. Best of all, the ghost of a chambermaid who died in the hotel decades ago still haunts its halls. With her signature mix of romance, drama, and island charm, Hilderbrand’s novel explores second chances, hidden secrets, and the pursuit of redemption in an idyllic Nantucket setting. This would be a perfect beach read, but go ahead and read it any time of the year! 5 stars

Penitence by Kristen Koval. (Published 2025). I have to say right up front that this book was not for me at all. I had high hopes, as it is described as a family drama, courtroom drama, and mystery. What it was is a hot mess. As the book begins, we learn that 13-year-old Nora has shot and killed her older brother Nico, who was suffering from an ultimately fatal disease. A family friend/former boyfriend of the children’s mother is hired as their attorney. (Seriously?) The story was extremely slow-paced and unbelievable. First of all, the 13-year-old child is being tried as an adult, which I doubt would ever in a million years happen. At no time are we allowed insight into Nora’s motives or what was going on in her head to commit such an act. The main adult characters (mom Angie , lawyer Julian, father David) were all unlikeable and weak. The conclusion of the book was totally depressing and somewhat unresolved. This book had great possibilities but sadly was a miserable failure in its execution. 2 stars

Count My Lies by Sophie Stava (published 2025) was a Good Morning America selection for the month. In this thriller, Sloane Caraway, a habitual liar, fabricates stories to make her mundane life more exciting. When she encounters Jay Lockhart and his injured daughter in a park, she falsely claims to be a nurse and assists them. This deception leads to a nanny position with the affluent Lockhart family. As Sloane becomes entwined in their seemingly perfect lives, she uncovers hidden secrets, realizing she's not the only one concealing the truth. This suspenseful thriller delves into themes of deception, privilege, and the complexities of human relationships. Pretty good if you enjoy twisty thrillers. 3.25 stars ​

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian. (Published 2025) I really enjoy this author and am constantly amazed at the versatility of his themes and genres. In this work of historical fiction, Virginian Libby Steadman is barely keeping things together as she runs the family gristmill with her teenage niece and two freed slaves towards the end of the Civil War. Every bit of grain they mill must be turned over to the Union Army, which is occupying the Shenandoah Valley where she lives. Her husband is off fighting for the Confederacy and was last heard from in a prison camp and is feared dead. One day, she discovers a Union soldier, Captain Johnathan Weybridge, critically injured and near death. She has a decision to make: leave him to his fate or get him to her home and attempt to save his life. If it were her husband in the same situation, she hopes a kindhearted Northern woman would come to his aid. The lines between who is a friend and who is the enemy become very blurred as Libby nurses Johnathan back to health. The story is quite suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat. This book was based on the true story of a Southern woman who secretly saved the life of a Union soldier. 4.5 stars

Salt To the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (published 2016) is a highly praised work of historical fiction set during the final months of World War II, following four young refugees seeking safety in East Prussia. Joana, a Lithuanian nurse burdened by guilt; Florian, a mysterious Prussian with a dangerous secret; Emilia, a pregnant Polish girl running from her past; and Alfred, a delusional Nazi soldier, all find their fates intertwined as they board the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship promising escape. However, the voyage turns into tragedy when Soviet torpedoes strike, leading to one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. Told through alternating perspectives, the novel explores themes of survival, sacrifice, and the hidden atrocities of war. Sepetys brings to light a forgotten chapter of history, weaving a powerful tale of hope and resilience amidst devastation. With lyrical prose and intense emotion, Salt to the Sea honors the voices of those lost to history. 4.5 stars

The Feast by Margaret Kennedy (published 1950). This amazing book was published 75 years ago and felt as contemporary as a book out in 2025! This book was incredibly ingenious and totally engrossing. Here's the set-up: It's the late 1940s, and a seaside hotel in Cornwall is demolished when the cliff it sits on collapses into the sea, killing all the guests except for those lucky enough to be away on a picnic. What's brilliant is that the characters are modern-day representations of the 7 Deadly Sins. The guests gather at the seaside hotel, managed by the unhappy wife of Sloth. I had a blast trying to determine which characters represent Pride, Lechery, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, and Envy. Going into the book, we know some guests die, and it's gripping to figure out which ones are fated. Such a clever book! Don't miss it. You might think you have it figured out, but just wait! It's perfect for Agatha Christie fans. 5 stars.

How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley (published 2024). This was a laugh-out-loud book that set out to show we don't need to be limited just because of our age. We meet a cast of unlikely and flawed characters who come together to save the community center that houses a senior center, childcare facility, yoga classes and AA meetings. When Lydia agreed to run the senior group, she anticipated quiet group activities and got anything but that. Publishers description: “From Art, a failed actor turned kleptomaniac to Daphne, who has been hiding from her dark past for decades, to Ruby, a Banksy-style knitter who gets revenge in yarn, these seniors look deceptively benign—but when age makes you invisible, secrets are so much easier to hide.” When the City Council threatens to close the community center, the seniors join forces with the daycare next door to save the building. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, enjoyed their banter, and loved how they came together in support of the community and each other. This book is about unlikely friendships, new beginnings and found family, all themes I love in a book. This would be such a good choice if you are in a reading slump or want something lighter after reading a heavier-themed book.  4 stars

Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall (published 2025). This is it, a book that will be on my Top Ten of the Year list for sure. This book left me shattered into a million pieces when I finished it. I read it in two sittings over the weekend, as I truly didn't want to put it down. There is a lot of hype about this book on Instagram, and it is well deserved. Set in a small rural English town between 1955 and 1968, the story follows Beth, a farmwife grieving the loss of her son, who is otherwise living contentedly with her kind, good-natured husband. Then, her ex- the love of her life- moves back to town with his adorable young son. Uh oh, right? The book contrasts the power and endurance of first love against the deep loyalty and affection we feel toward an equally beloved spouse. Love can take many forms, and this book paints a vivid picture of a tragic love triangle. Don’t misunderstand; the book is not a clichéd story at all. The narrative possesses great emotional depth and left me rather heartbroken. It is beautifully written and really packs a punch at the end. 5 stars.