What I Read in March 2025
This month’s books were wonderfully varied, but they all had one thing in common: they were fantastic! From compelling witches and long-buried family secrets to first loves, friendships, and even a story about grieving with a dog, March had it all. I dove into stories set across different timelines, discovered hidden identities, unraveled mysteries, and explored heartfelt bonds. Curious about what to read next? Keep scrolling for the books I loved in March! 📚✨
For more recommendations, don’t forget to check out my Bookshelf page!
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Weyward by Emilia Hart
Two things I absolutely love: witches and multiple timelines! Set across 2019, 1942, and 1619, this story weaves together themes of family, resilience, and resistance—not to mention strong, independent women. In the present day, Kate is in an abusive relationship when she unexpectedly inherits a cottage from a great-aunt she barely knew. With nowhere else to turn, she arrives at the cottage and discovers the possibility of a life she never imagined. As Kate explores her new home, she begins to uncover her great-aunt Violet’s life in 1942. Violet, as a young girl, yearns for more than the constraints placed on her by the men around her. Violet’s story connects even further back—to 1619—revealing a lineage of women who embraced their strength and unique power. I loved how this wonderful novel blended nature, feminism, and believing in yourself.
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
Don’t let the unusual title stop you from picking up this book—once you reach the end, it all clicks! As someone who obsesses over teenage dramas like Gossip Girl or The Sex Lives of College Girls, this novel checked all those boxes for me. Set at the University of Edinburgh, the story follows Pen, a young woman determined to unravel the mystery behind her parents’ abruptly ended marriage. Along the way, Pen forms an unexpected friendship with one of her dad’s oldest friends—a famous author—hoping to uncover the truth about what really went wrong. It’s a captivating coming-of-age story filled with first loves, dramatic turns, newfound independence, and the ups and downs of stepping into adulthood. I was hooked from the very first page and only wished there was more when it ended. A thoroughly satisfying read!
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
Another captivating read! Cate Kay is a bestselling author who has created a trilogy that's turned into its own franchise. But here's the catch—Cate Kay doesn't actually exist. She's a pseudonym, and not the first fake name "Cate" has used. Cate is really Annie, a girl from a small town in upstate New York with big dreams of becoming an actor alongside her best friend Amanda. Just as they're about to move to LA to pursue their dreams, a tragic accident changes their lives forever. Annie flees, running from the pain and drastically altering the course of her life. She hides herself away in anonymity and channels her grief into writing, unintentionally becoming infamous because nobody knows who she really is. This book flew by, and I especially loved how the story unfolds from multiple characters’ perspectives.
The Friend by Sigrid Nunez
I was really excited to see The Friend included on the NYT's list of "100 Best Books of the 21st Century," especially since the movie adaptation is coming out in April. Honestly, I wasn't sure I could handle a story about a dog (let's face it—they always die in the end, and that's something I just can't deal with right now!). But it turns out this is truly a story about relationships and grief, and it was wonderful. The novel follows a woman who loses her best friend and mentor to suicide and ends up inheriting his dog, Apollo, a Great Dane who's grieving as deeply as she is. The book reads like part journal, part letter to a friend—almost a stream of consciousness as she processes her loss. That's actually what I loved most about it. She reflects on her friend’s life and death while simultaneously navigating her own grief alongside Apollo. It was a quick, moving, and beautiful read.
