What I Read // March 2020

If you listened to episode 206 of the beloved What Should I Read Next podcast, you may have heard my voice gushing to Anne Bogel about my favorite books and lamenting the fact that I can’t seem to read at a consistent pace. I’m a very fast reader so I fly through books, but if I don’t pick up another good one right away, I will go days, weeks or even months without finishing another book. I also never hesitate to drop a book I’m not into which is good in theory but can sometimes lead to lots of book hopping and no book finishing. 

Well, thanks to all of the time I’ve spent at home this month, I’m halfway to my goal of reading 20 books in 2020! I read five books this month and finished listening to an audiobook I started a few months ago. It’s easy to stay consistent with reading when you’re home every night of the week!  

I know a lot of you are bibliophiles like me, so I wanted to start a monthly reading series here on the blog. At the end of each month, I’ll share the books I read and a quick review of each one. You can also follow my reading journey in real-time on my #bookstagram account (@jerrellreneereads). And if you’re looking for something fun to do while you’re hunkering down at home, join my new book club,The Better Together Book Club, on Facebook. We’ll be reading our first book during the month of April. 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was highly recommended by so many people and for good reason. It was such a beautiful, heartbreaking story about two sisters living through WWII in Nazi-occupied France. Emphasis on heartbreaking, especially as a mother. Be prepared to cry while reading this and if you don’t like sad books, definitely skip it. I didn’t think of myself as a historical fiction fan, but after reading this I definitely want to explore this genre more. 

Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose by Rebekah Lyons - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was the perfect book to read during the COVID-19 pandemic. As I’ve mentioned before, I was struggling with anxiety when things first started getting bad. This book really helped me to relax and laid out practical steps I could focus on to get my anxiety under control. I loved the fact that this book was well-researched and included both scripture and science-based research. I will definitely be reading it again soon so that I can answer the questions included in each chapter. I highly recommend this one!

 A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is the April pick for the Better Together Book Club and I cannot wait for us to discuss it. It’s difficult to sum up the plot in just a few sentences so I’d suggest reading the full synopsis on Goodreads. What I will say here is that the book deals with the important issues of racism, class, and our flawed justice system. I went through so many emotions while reading this one and felt heartbroken at the end, but I’m happy that I read it. I know that it’s going to spark very important conversations. Join the book club if you’d like to get in on the conversation! 

Dominicana by Angie Cruz - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was one of the books Anne recommended at the end of my WSIRN episode. I told her that I hadn’t read much historical fiction, that I enjoy family dramas and that I don’t shy away from “heavy” reads. She hit the nail on the head with this one. I devoured it in two days. It was so good. It’s the story of fifteen-year-old Ana, a Dominican girl who is forced to marry a man twice her age in order to help her family immigrate to the United States. The book is told entirely from Ana’s perspective which normally isn’t my thing (I typically prefer a lot of character development), but it really worked for this book. 

Dear Girls by Ali Wong - ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve been listening to Ali Wong’s memoir off and on for the last couple of months. I found this one hard to rate because I loved some parts of the book and cringed my way through others. If you’ve seen either of her stand-up specials on Netflix, you probably know why. Having said that, I really enjoyed hearing about her life and her experiences as an Asian-American woman. The chapters on motherhood were so real and laugh out loud funny. (Warning: wear headphones when listening to this around your children!)

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It feels silly to rate a classic children’s book, but it really was a five-star read for me. I don’t actually remember reading this as a child, so I was very excited to read it with Harper. I don’t think she understood the story as a whole, but I know she enjoyed listening to it. I highly recommend the Read Aloud Edition that I have linked here for reading with younger kids. Harper loved looking at the pictures and trying to follow along as I read.

Since most libraries are closed right now (and the digital hold waitlists are insanely long), I’ve included the Amazon links for all of the books in case you want to order a copy or get a Kindle version. If you’d like to support a smaller online business during this time, I suggest joining Book Of The Month. I’ve been a member for about a year now and I highly recommend it. You can use my referral code to join and get your first book for only $5! Keep in mind that I may receive a small commission for any sales or BOTM referrals from this post.

Happy Reading!