March 2021 Book Reviews and Recommendations

I read a number of depressing books in a row this past month (I don’t review all the books I read). Then, thankfully, I found a book I really enjoyed. I even gave it five stars (see review below). The story made me want to go on a vacation so bad! Enjoy these book reviews and find your next great read.

This post contains affiliate links. Please see affiliate disclaimer here.

People Like Her

Wow, I am a super tiny “influencer” and reading People Like Her made me want to shut down all my social media accounts immediately. Although the book is fiction, it totally freaked me out because I do know people who have been stalked, trolled, and have had their accounts hacked.

Warning – if you currently have a baby you might want to skip this one.

A famous insta-mom is a lot less disheveled than she appears in her extremely planned out squares. She has created a brand and image that appeals to struggling moms. Her goal is to break into tv hosting especially since her author husband hasn’t published a book in years.

One follower is planning something terrible to happen to this influencer for personal reasons. Her plan unfolds throughout the book.

This book definitely touched on a few of my big fears in life and got emotional reactions out of me.

The Last Flight

The Last Flight is a quick read, thrilling but not too scary. A woman is attempting to leave her abusive husband.  He is wealthy and well known with many loyal friends and employees.  She has a detailed escape plan but it gets messed up in the last minute.

Another woman is also trying to flee her life because her job has gotten very complicated and she fears for her life. 

The book explains the months leading up to when these women will meet in an airport where a decision will change both of their lives forever.

I liked this book. It kept me interested throughout and I thought both main storylines were equally entertaining.  The end came a little abruptly and was too coincidental for my taste but I still enjoyed the book.

28 Summers

I needed this read.  Yes, 28 Summers is a romance but it’s so much more.  I have read numerous books by this author and this one is by far my favorite.

A woman and a man agree to meet every Labor Day forever. They love each other but other circumstances keep them from being together in a “normal” relationship. 

Each chapter is devoted to a year and starts with a snippet of the major political news and pop culture events that took place that year (which I love!). 

The story takes us through the main characters’ careers, friendships, marriages, children, etc. Will their annual love affair be kept secret forever?

Trust me, it’s a lot better than I’m making it sound.

Betty

The writing is good, very good, but the story of Betty is so despressing. It even made me sick to my stomach at times.

Trigger warning – rape, incest, children dying, suicide. 

A family of mixed race uproots frequently but eventually ends up living back where the dad and mom originally came from.  Betty is one of the daughters in a larger family and looks more Native American (like her dad) than her siblings. She gets bullied a lot at school and even by her own family members. 

Throughout the book, Betty learns of her mother’s dark history and why her mom is estranged from her parents. The story also features the relationships between the siblings and details how a number of the children come to die over the years.

Betty has a great relationship with her father. He does many odd jobs and sells natural treatments to local community members to help with their various ailments.

Betty is a writer and a lot of her poetry and stories are written as a way to deal with the many hardships in her life.

Check out my book reviews from February for more book recommendations!