March Book Review
Happy spring, everybody!!! Not that it *feels* like spring here in Southern California, where it’s suddenly decided to pretend it’s Seattle nonstop, but #itscool. I don’t ever need a good hair day again! JK. While wildly outside our sunshiney norm, these rainy days have provided some super-cozy afternoons just perfect for, duh, great reading!
Despite what felt like one crazy month on the home front (a 10th birthday! a three-day whirlwind field trip to Sacramento! all-the-sports back, full force! wrapping up random house projects!)—I managed to read four books in March and am so glad I read each one!
All in all, I remain thrilled with my progress on the quest to have my best reading year ever. I don’t know if it’s the new releases, my choices, my moods, or a combination of everything, but so far, 2023 is glittering in the reading department! I’m one happy bookworm and hope you are too!
Anyway.
Can we skip to the good part?
Let’s go!!!
My Book Club selected this gem for March, and I only suggest you read it if you want to smile, swoon, and feel your heart swell with sweetness! This is such an endearing novel, British in humor and universal in lovability. When young Libby meets elderly Frank while riding the 88 bus, she hears quickly about his encounter decades ago with a gorgeous redhead on the same public transit. Frank and his bus crush had made plans to meet at the National Gallery art museum, but he (nooooooo!) lost the ticket bearing her precious phone number. For the last sixty years (that’s right), Frank has never stopped searching for the mysterious ruby-haired woman who got away from him. Sigh!!!
What results is a thoroughly entertaining story of cat-and-mouse, friendship, romance, memory, and time. Think Serendipity with a London vibe, a splash of Hallmark, with plenty of charm and poignancy. I give it 4.75 stars, only knocking some stardust because there’s an alternate ending that I had predicted and FRANKly (see what I did there?) would have loved more. If you read it, I think you’ll know instantly what I mean! Still, I LOVED this one! It's just so wonderful and adorable! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Here we have another British book full of misadventures, second chances, and newfound friendship! Down-on-her-luck Sam accidently takes fancy-fabulous Nisha’s bag from the gym. What Sam never could have predicted were the six-inch red Christian Louboutin heels inside—or the way one pair of shoes could alter her world. The simple mix-up is the catalyst for a life-changing journey of two polar-opposite women: their lives, their loves, their futures, their shoes!
The thing is, you guys! With a plot like this and Jojo Moyes at the helm, I would’ve forecasted this book as a six-out-of-five stars read for me. I love a little magic, a lot of London, and stories grounded by strong female characters on a path of big change and self-discovery. Not to mention, Me Before You and The Giver of Stars are two of my favorite books, ever!
I was thinking this fresh women’s fiction from Moyes would be… I dunno… Freaky Friday meets Cinderella with a wee bit of Bridget Jones. And I suppose, in some ways it is those things, but truthfully—fine, I’ll just say it—it was just TOO DARN LONG! Gah. I will also say right here and now that I am in no position to criticize Jojo Moyes. She is an icon and queen! It is just my personal preference-based opinion that this book could’ve been 100 pages shorter… and probably better for it?? It just kind of went on, and on, sometimes winding far, far away from the very parts I loved the most!
This book is still wonderful and even made me tear up at the end. Once it finally came. LOL. I even loved how it felt a bit Finlay Donovan crossed with The Maid—mystery, humor, hotel hijinks—which I wasn’t expecting at all. In summary, I liked this book, but I wasn’t obsessed. The length was the downfall for me. Maybe if you have a realllllllly long vacation to paradise planned in your future, take this book with you! You’ll likely love it!!! You’ll just be there a while. :) 3.75 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Boy, OH, BOY!!!! Now I get to gush about the memoir now ranked up high in the sky with my all-time favorites. To start, though, I will say that I’m not sure you will obsess over this book to my level if you have no idea who on the good earth Beth Moore is (which is totally fine)! Beth Moore is one of the most prolific and influential female Christian teachers of my generation and founder of Living Proof Ministries. She’s the Beyoncé of the Bible, okay?! But like… really.
To me, therefore, this book is a celebrity memoir. I loved it for the same reason I loved devouring the memoirs of Jessica Simpson, Viola Davis, Katie Couric, and so many more. I know their WORK. I know their CAREERS. I know them publicly. I know what I think I know—which is never the whole picture, of course. There is always a formidable universe of wounds, losses, rainbows, relationships, resurrections, triumphs, and difficult truths behind the strongest women alive. Most of which we’ve never heard. But queens earn their crowns every time!
And Beth Moore, to me, is Bible teaching, women-leading, Christ-serving royalty, to be sure. Human, flawed, like everyone, of course, but a spiritual giant to me and to many. So, if you are like HUH? Or WHO? Then this memoir might not be for you—or maybe it is; just Google around before diving in. (You’ll find a LOT!) Or, if you already LOVE her like me, then keep reading and go buy this book!
Anyway. Tangent. Sorry!
How do I sum up my admiration in one tiny paragraph? This book is so courageous and surprising, I still have the chills. I have done countless Beth Moore Bible studies over the years, and she refers to her past of hardship and abuse, not infrequently—but I guess I just didn’t know. I really just didn’t know. I think I’m mostly in awe of the fact that Beth Moore has served God for years, decades, in robust and profound fruitful ministry, with her mind, her heart, her wide-open arms—while battling so very much in her private life. The chapters about her marriage had tears streaming down my face. The last few sections will stay with me forever. Holy moly. Her strength, her endurance, her faith. My heart was not ready!!!! This book GOES there, and then it goes further, with brilliance, humor, and tenderness. The way she discusses everything from movie popcorn to political drama with such color, care, and emotion… I’m just truly in hands-down awe. As a writer, a reader, a believer, through thickest mud and thinnest air.
I wish I could say more, but I guess just want to say thank you, Beth, for being so brave and generous! It is no small thing to share truths like this, to get them finally into the gosh darn light, as anyone—let alone as someone in the position she holds in the world, and in so many hearts. I am still thinking about her words, perspective, encouragement, truths, courage, and leadership, days and days later. I won’t forget this one. All my stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I definitely closed this book and felt punched in the gut. I immediately wrote in my Goodreads review (like literally, that second): “WHOA!!!!! I feel like I’ll be digesting this one for a minute. Between 4-5 stars!” Now that I’ve finished digesting, I’m going with 4 haunting stars! More specifically, I’d say this is an absolute five-star book—gorgeous writing, amazingly drawn characters, powerfully explored themes. But it’s a five-star book that made me feel three-ish for most of the time. Do you know what I mean?
As a side note, this book has received infinite accolades and wide hype. National bestseller, Goodreads finalist, tens of thousands of rave reviews—and for great reason. The book is brilliant: a knockout, bravo! I was engaged and immersed. But I also felt incredibly heavy and sad on the journey! I thought I wanted to be inside the mind of a serial killer… but I DON’T KNOW, GUYS, maybe I don’t after all. Baha!
Center stage is Ansel Packer, a serial killer on death row with 12 hours to his execution. (Totally light fluffy beach content.) We also enter the POVs of three women impacted by his life and actions. Lavender, Hazel, and Saffy. The slow-burn is worth it, engaging, deeply thought-provoking. Full of nuance and empathy. I LOVED hearing from the women and understanding the monster of Ansel. The ending broke my heart and made me just sit there, like WHOA. I just didn’t feel giddy every time I went to pick this one up, and I love books that make me feel giddy!
In conclusion, I don’t necessarily recommend this one to the masses, but if you’re a book junkie like me and it’s on your list, please read it so we can discuss. OKAY? Five-star book, three-star feels, four-star review. LOL. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The end!!!
What are you reading in April?!
Here are some of my hopefuls:
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (Will be finishing this one ASAP!)
Hello, Stranger by Katherine Center (I have an ARC for this 7/11 release; yippee!)
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfield (released just yesterday!)
The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland (my Book Club’s April Pick!)
Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy (parenting book I keep hearing about!)
Based in Orange County, California, Stephanie Mack is a longtime writer, wife to one, and mom of three little girls. She has been blogging at MOMentary Insanity® since 2014. Her work has also been featured on Scary Mommy, Faithit, Coffee + Crumbs, and more. She holds a Master of Professional Writing degree from USC. When We Blinked is her debut novel.
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In 2024, one specific piece of writing advice has persisted in reaching my ears. Through the Booked Solid podcast, landing my dream agent, and my ever-trustworthy author friends, the message echoes: Get out of the slush pile.