Most Anticipated Book Releases of March 2023

Warmer spring weather appears to be bringing out all the characters!

I feel like I blinked and February was over. Which I guess, made up for the fact that January felt like it lasted for 273 days.  But, we have made it to March - Spring Break, warmer weather, Spring Training and, of course, more new releases to add to our TBR lists.

I’m feeling pretty good so far this year about the books I’ve been reading and the recommendations from my friends have been on point. The down side to this is I simply want to stay home with a blanket over my head and read. Sometimes that is just easier than dealing with reality.

Anyways, enough of that nonsense!  What is easy to deal with? Adding more books to my TBR, so why wait any longer? Let’s take a look at my top ten for March!

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay (March 7)

Three childhood friends who survived their time in a group home for parentless teens even after the home was shut down following the disappearance of several kids are reunited 25 years later in a life and death situation. Someone is out to kill them.

A stay-at-home mom with a past.

A has-been rock star with a habit.

A reality TV producer with a debt.

Three disparate lives.

One deadly secret.

I love character based stories and with the initial setup of this plot, it seems that the characters’ pasts are going to drive the present. My guess is the disappearances from all those years ago are going to come back to haunt them. From Amazon: “What Have We Done is both an edge-of-your-seat thriller and a gut-wrenching coming-of-age story.”

Royal Blood by Aimee Carter (March 7)

Evan Bright has kept her identity as the illegitimate daughter of the King of England a secret, until she is forced to spend the summer with the royal family and her identity is made public. That’s not really an issue until she becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. Now, I’m not a huge fan of books and movies that involve people getting framed for crimes they didn’t commit or innocent people being convicted, but I’m pretty sure that as this is book #1 of a new series, that all will work out for Evan in the end. There always seems to be some intrigue with the royal family, and I think that this could be a popular YA release for fans of The Princess Diaries who want a more dark, murderous plot! From Amazon: “Royalty, murder and scandal combine in this thrilling new series about an American girl who becomes the British Monarchy’s greatest nightmare.”

The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell (March 7)

First of all, I love reality TV cooking shows and I love them even more in books. So not only is that what we have here, but we also have a murder on the set. I mean these reality competitions can be cut-throat! Six bakers come together for “Bake Week,” on the property of Betsy Martin, author of numerous best selling cookbooks and apparently a not so nice person off camera. When murder strikes, everyone is a suspect. I honestly just think this sounds like a fun little murder mystery, but I feel that it is meant to be a little more suspenseful and thrilling than cozy and fun. Either way, I think it is going to be a great read. It’s like Paul Hollywood is going to come solve the murder and give a handshake for the most amazing bakes. From Amazon: “This delicious combination of Clue and The Great British Bakeoff kept me turning the pages all night!” —Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author.

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten (March 7)

The two words that will always draw my attention are “epic fantasy.” Welcome to book 1 of a brand new series that I will 100% be adding to my TBR. Lore possesses a highly sought after magical ability, a death magic that as long as no one knows, she is relatively safe. It’s pretty obvious that her magic will be discovered and she will become a pawn in the plans of those way more powerful than she. People in surrounding villages are mysteriously dying, and if she doesn’t want to join them, she must use her powers to figure out what is happening. One thing I like about this one is that typically our main character in this type of story is around 17-19 years old. It appears that Lore is about 23, so we have a little bit more mature character who may not have the same teenage angst as we sometimes see. From Amazon: “In this lush, romantic epic fantasy series from a New York Times bestselling author, a young woman’s secret power to raise the dead plunges her into the dangerous and glamorous world of the Sainted King’s royal court.”

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson (March 7

I’ll never know what it’s like to live among the most powerful members of the New York community. The money, power, and family dynamics…but I sure love to read about it! First off, I absolutely love the title, and that is what immediately made me pause and look a little more into what this story is about. Then, I came to learn it is really about characters, and if you’ve read anything I’ve written, you know that I’m a sucker for character driven stories. Pineapple Street follows three women all part of the same Brooklyn power family as they try to find their way in this crazy world. From Amazon: “A deliciously funny, sharply observed debut of family, love, and class, this zeitgeisty novel follows three women in one wealthy Brooklyn clan.”

A Likely Story by Leigh McMullan Abramson (March 14)

Isabelle, now the adult child of New York City’s It couple (best-sellers author father and society hostess mother), finds herself on the verge of a breakdown when all she really wants is to be a successful author too. But, it’s not as easy as she may have thought, and now after her mother’s unexpected death, she begins to learn those hidden family secrets that never come to light until after a death. Has her whole life been a sham? A lie? I just love books about books and authors. There is sure to be some aspect of a story within a story. With the secrets coming out, is Isabelle going to discover that the life her parents created was just an elaborate story? I’m intrigued. From Amazon: “The only child of an iconic American novelist discovers a shocking tangle of family secrets that upends everything she thought she knew about her parents, her gilded childhood, and her own stalled writing career in this brilliantly observed standout debut.”

The Donut Legion by Joe R. Lansdale (March 21)

Charlie is a little concerned that his ex-wife ahs been missing for over a week. I would be concerned too if she had been working at a donut shop that was a front for a space-age, evangelist cult who believe their compound to be the site of an extraterrestrial Second Coming who are referred to as “The Saucer People.”  With what appears to be a misfit cast of characters, Charlie is determined to find Meg. I don’t know if it’s the sarcastic vibes I get from this or what, but I’m so intrigued by the whole concept. I’ve always been fascinated by cults and the cult mentality, so I am really eager to see what happens when this one hits the shelves. From Amazon: “Brimming with colorful characters and Lansdale’s characteristic bounce, this rollicking crime novel examines the insidious rise of fringe groups and those under their sway with black comedy and glints of pathos.”

The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley (March 28)

I feel that there are some major life lessons to be learned here when 21 year old Tanner wants a job where she can be lazy and play video games. Louise is an elderly woman who needs a live-in caretaker. It’s a win-win! Except that Louise doesn’t want a baby-sitter, and maybe it’s because Louise is more than she appears? Tanner begins to notice things like the uncanny resemblance between Louise and the suspect in America’s largest jewelry heist in history. If there were doubts about Louise before, it’s pretty clear there’s more than meets the eye when she wakes Tanner up at 1 am and tells her they have to leave town immediately. Again, another story where it just screams witty dialogue and interactions that drip with sarcasm. I really hope it’s as much fun as I think it’s going to be! From Amazon: “An unforgettable pairing of a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law in this story full of tremendous heart, humor, and wit.”

Greymis Fair by Francesca Zappia (March 28)

The first thing that drew me to this one was the knowledge that it is inspired by some of the lesser known Grimm Brothers' fairy tales. Um, yes please! Add a dash of murder mystery and a sprinkle of magic, and the village of Greymist Fair becomes my next destination. Heike, the young tailor in the village, finds a dead body and like most people who find a dead body in the middle of the road, she embarks on a quest to uncover what happened. Also not surprising, it leads to more strange things. It oozes that dark, almost gothic feeling that I love in this type of book. Added points for the fact there are multiple points of view. From Amazon: “Greymist Fair examines the themes of childhood fears, growing into adult responsibilities, and finding a place to call home amid the trials of life and death.”

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher (March 28)

I haven’t read anything by this author, but I have heard lots of great things, but for some reason, this particular story caught my attention. Sam is excited for an extended visit with her mother who lives alone, even though her brother recently stated that “Mom seems off.” However, almost instantly, Sam realizes that Mom is off, and she sets off to uncover what has her mother so terrified. I don’t read a lot of horrors or thrillers, but every now and then one will catch my eye. So, we’ll see. From Amazon: “A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family.”

If that’s not enough to get you excited for the books hitting the shelf in March, here are my honorable mentions:

• Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones (March 7)

• Love Wager by Lynn Painter (March 14)

• Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (March 14)

• Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (March 14)

• Girl in the Woods by Kristen Ashley (March 21)

• The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores (March 21)

• Two Wars and a Wedding by Lauren Willig (March 21)

• Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland (March 28)

• Girl Forgotten by April Henry (March 28)

• Made of Stars by Jenna Voris (March 28)

Am I missing anything from my list?  What are your most anticipated reads of the month?  Let me know!

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