March…I’m done with you! I’m so done with surprise snow storms and kids being home from school. I was writing a book review the other week while my kids were literally hanging their heads over both my shoulders asking me repeatedly when I was going to be done.
But, March did bring some great reading…quantity and quality! I almost made it through without a single DNF, but tacked on two at the very last minute.
I read 9 books this month, two of which were audio. My audiobook listening fell off in February, so I’m glad to get my normal 2 audiobooks per month in this time around! Bonus, I had a very clear favorite book of the month (my second 5 star book of the year)!
Winners
- FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH: The Female Persuasion
by Meg Wolitzer (review coming)
- Brass
by Xhenet Aliu
- Glitter and Glue
by Kelly Corrigan (audiobook, backlist)
- Laura & Emma
by Kate Greathead (my review)
- Look Alive Out There: Essays
by Sloane Crosley
- Tangerine
by Christine Mangan (my review)
- Text Me When You Get Home
by Kayleen Schaefer (audiobook)
by Kayleen Schaefer (audiobook)Losers
- Alternate Side
- Not That I Could Tell
DNF’s
- Go Ask Fannie
by Elisabeth Hyde
- Sophia of Silicon Valley
by Anna Yen
Best-Selling Book (via my affiliate links)
Emma in the Night
Announcements
- Check out My Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2018!
- Personalized Book Recommendations and the Superstars Facebook Group are coming soon!
Later in April, you’ll be able to get personalized book recommendations (I did a free trial for this last Spring) and access to our Superstars Facebook Group by supporting the blog on Patreon. More info to come…
March Quality and Recommendation Sources
Reading Quality
March 2018
- % Successful Books Attempted (includes DNF’s) = 64% (still above my 43% success rate from 2017)
- % Successful Books Finished (does not include DNFs) = 78%
2018 Year-to-Date (through March)
- % Successful Books Attempted (includes DNF’s) = 54% (still above my 43% success rate from 2017)
- % Successful Books Finished (does not include DNFs) = 81%
Successful Recommendation Sources
- Trusted Authors (Glitter and Glue, The Female Persuasion, Look Alive Out There: Essays)
- Annie Jones from From the Front Porch podcast (Tangerine, The Female Persuasion)
- Susie at Novel Visits (Laura & Emma, Brass)
- Read It Forward’s Favorite Books of the Month (Laura & Emma, Brass)
- Tara at Running N Reading (Brass, Text Me When You Get Home
- Tyler Goodson, Manager at Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA (Laura & Emma)
- Unsolicited from Publisher (Laura & Emma)
- March 2018 Library Reads (Tangerine
)
- Book Riot (Tangerine)
- Rebecca Schinsky from All the Books podcast (The Female Persuasion)
- Liberty Hardy from All the Books podcast (Look Alive Out There: Essays)
- Lauren at Malcolm Avenue Review (Brass)
If you’re interested in tracking these types of stats, my “Rock Your Reading” Tracker does all the heavy lifting for you! Enter your book details and it automatically compiles everything into Summary Charts in real time! Go here for more details.
April Releases I’m Excited About
The Female Persuasion
Look Alive Out There: Essays
You Think It, I’ll Say It: Stories
Most Popular Posts
Posts Actually Published in March
March 2018 Books to Read (and Skip)
My Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2018
Book of the Month March 2018 Selections: What Book Should You Choose?
Overall Posts
Book Club Recommendations
Behind Her Eyes and THAT Ending: Spoiler Discussion (#WTFthatending)
Page Turner Books
Favorite Posts by Fellow Bloggers
I’m making up for last month‘s light list with a super hefty one today!
- Y’all know how much I loved Friday Night Lights…so, Imaginary Book Stack‘s list of book recommendations for Tami Taylor totally delighted me. The best part? I put together a list for Tami Taylor awhile back and we came up with two totally different lists.
- If, like me, you’re about to head off for Spring Break, make sure to check out Tara at Running N Reading‘s list of Best Books to Read on Spring Break 2018 for some awesome recommendations!
- I’ve been frustrated for awhile now with all the “for fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train” marketing blurbs that never live up to the originals, so I loved Renee at It’s Book Talk‘s discussion about whether “twisty” publishing buzzwords are still hot.
- Susie at Novel Visits (one of my Go-To Recommendation Sources) shared her 2018 Spring Preview, so get your TBR lists ready!
- Jenny at Reading the End brilliantly analyzes our obsession with The Bachelor franchise (one of my favorite shows) through the book, Bachelor Nation
.
- A Cup of Jo talked about the power of going on a walk…to which I say, “Amen!”
- I’ve been getting more and more requests for audiobook recommendations and Anne at Modern Mrs. Darcy shares 10 in her list of Audiobooks So Good You’ll Want to Fold Another Load of Laundry, etc.
How was your reading month?
I’ve been looking forward to reading the Female Persuasion. Glad to hear you liked it!
It sounds like I need to pick up a copy of The Female Persuasion.
Great month, Sarah! It’s nice to see that going more with trusted recommendation sources is working so well for you. I’m in the middle of Tangerine right now, and will start The Female Persuasion next.
I started working on my wrap up for March (won’t have up until next week) and like you have a bunch of favorites from other bloggers, but we only have one in common. Seems like there was a lot going on in March!
This reminds me that I need to go back and read your March Round-Up!
Wow! I can’t believe it’s already the end of the month and time for monthly wrap-ups!
I’m sorry to see you didn’t enjoy Not That I Can Tell. It’s one I’ve been looking forward to; admittedly it’s the cover that put it on my list.
I don’t necessarily avoid buzzword books, but I didn’t really like Gone Girl, so that blurb would not pull me in!
I know so many people who hated Gone Girl – mostly because of the dislikable characters!
That’s too bad about Not That I Could Tell – that’s high on my TBR. But it sounds like you had a great reading month! I haven’t had a 5 star book yet this year, but I’ve come close, including a couple this month.
Close is good too!
Brass is on hold for me at the library. I’ve had a dece,t reading month. Mostly history.
Good for you! My reading wasn’t nearly as educational.
I’m ready for March to be over, too. Unfortunately, I think April will be just as snowy. I’m glad you were able to find some quality books in March. Have a great April!
So far, I have seen snowflakes in April…grr!
I love your percentages of successful reads, that’s such a nice metric to keep! I think I’m too nervous of giving below-three-stars ratings to things even just inside my own reading statistics spreadsheet, so I don’t know that I’d be able to find such a rating. :p
(Glad you enjoyed the Bachelor post! It was a cool book and a fun post to read!)
Interesting…why are you nervous to rate below 3 stars? I don’t have many sub-3 star ratings mostly because I DNF those books, but I’d have plenty if I counted DNFs!
I’m so glad you read Glitter & Glue. I knew you’d like it. I think it such a great mother/daughter book.
March was a hit or miss month. Which is to say- the new normal. That’s all right. If I can get more goods than DNFs then I’m even happier to find a 4-5 star!
I’m saving the Wolitzer to read after I DNF something because I know I can count on it to be good!
Ugh – we need to get you a solidly good month!
Thanks for including me in your monthly recap Sarah! I didn’t have The Female Persuasion on my radar but I do now that you’ve given it 5 stars!
You’re welcome!
AH I’m sorry you didn’t like Not That I Could Tell! I have a black mark on the reading tracker now! 😉 I finished Tangerine this week and really enjoyed it!