Readers' eyes have been opened to the repercussions of actions that they do not want to see repeated in the world we live in as a result of learning about the past through the experiences of others. It has influenced someone's capacity to feel empathy for groups of people and cultures that are unlike their own. Decisions and other behaviors have been influenced and altered by reading historical fiction.

The following historical fiction books are scheduled for publication in March 2024:

1. Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González

Anita de Monte Laughs Last is a provocative, satirical study of power, love, and art that dares to question who gets to be remembered and who gets left behind in the exclusive world of the elite. It moves back and forth in time and is recounted from the views of both women. This book will likely be published by Flatiron Books on March 5, 2024.

2. Can't We Be Friends: A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe by Denny S. Bryce, Eliza Knight

The groundbreaking book that reveals the actual friendship and boundary-pushing relationship between Ella Fitzgerald, the Queen of Jazz, and legendary movie star Marilyn Monroe is the result of the collaboration of award-winning author Denny S. Bryce and USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight. In addition to revealing and celebrating their unexpected connection spanning ten years, this book is a moving reminder of how real friendship can transcend boundaries and support us through both incredible achievement and heartbreaking grief. This book is scheduled to be published by William Morrow Paperbacks on March 5, 2024.

3. The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez

Cristina Henríquez, the well-known author of The Book of Unknown Americans, has written an epic novel about the building of the Panama Canal that sheds light on the unsung individuals who lived, loved, and worked there. The Great Divide is a searing and compassionate look at the interwoven lives of laborers, activists, fishmongers, neighbors, physicians, and soothsayers—people who shaped history but are rarely given credit for it. This book is scheduled to be published by Ecco on March 5, 2024.

4. James by Percival Everett

A masterful, action-packed adaptation of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim, that is both terrifying and fiercely humorous. Full of sharp insights and electric comedy, James is sure to become a great literary landmark for the twenty-first century and a big publishing event. Knopf Doubleday is anticipated to release this book on March 19, 2024.

5. Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

An entirely unique celebration of the human connection that transcends historical divisions and battle lines. Glorious Exploits is a remarkable tribute to the power of art in a time of conflict, fraternity in a time of hostility, and human will across the centuries. It is told in a modern Irish voice and is as riotously humorous as it is profoundly poignant. The anticipated release date of Henry Holt and Co.'s novel is March 26, 2024.

Romance is the market's most upbeat and positive genre; in fact, its concentration on happy endings usually has to be defended against those who confuse irony for realism. Some claim that it's a genre that is mostly written by and for women, emphasizing the worth and centrality of women's experiences, desires, and complex inner lives. It's clever, shrewd, entertaining, inclusive, and sure to make you smile.

The following romance books are scheduled for publication in March 2024:

1. Trouble by Lex Croucher

A delightfully feminist and romance comedy set in the Regency era, written by the New York Times bestselling author of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. With its compelling plot and delightful banter, Croucher's writing is both deft and nuanced. It has individuals from varied backgrounds who interact in a way that seems new and alive. This book is scheduled for release by St. Martin's Griffin on March 5, 2024.

2. Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage

She is the urbanite who is against having a man in her life. The cowboy in him still wants her. The newest installment in the Rebel Blue Ranch series, a small town romance with forced closeness and opposites attract, is written by the author of the BookTok phenomenon Done and Dusted. With Rebel Blue Ranch, Lyla Sage has created something really unique. Readers will gladly return time and time again to Swift and Saddled, evocative, romantic flights of dreams that are deeply lovely, brilliantly hilarious, and just the right amount sensual. This book is scheduled to be published in trade paperback by Dial Press on March 5, 2024.

3. This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan

One of the best romance authors of our time offers a profoundly poignant and intimate book about selflessness, sacrifice, and achieving genuine happiness for readers who enjoy Tia Williams and Colleen Hoover. Characters created by Ryan are incredibly approachable, captivating, and exquisitely rendered to the point that they seem like old friends. This book is scheduled to be published by Forever on March 5, 2024.

4. Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

Happily Never After brilliantly delivers on its promise of an irresistibly enjoyable idea, complete with wonderfully cheeky banter and chemistry between its endearing lead characters that is so hot it will make you sweat. This is the most entertaining romantic comedy that Lynn Painter has ever written. She truly has a flair for it. An enjoyable story that doesn't take itself too seriously is rounded out by an equally hilarious supporting cast. This is a rom-com for skeptics This book is scheduled to be published by Berkley on March 12, 2024.

5. Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman

This captivating tale of two Filipino superstars torn between being and wanting everything will captivate fans of Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang. The story's characters are on a journey to live their best lives and discover passionate romance along the way, from showing up to beaming up. This book is scheduled to be published by Afterglow Books by Harlequin on March 26, 2024.

The intense and action-packed nature of thrillers makes them feel a little like video games, providing a means of escape from reality. In addition, there are moments when we just want to escape the world. They often also revolve on a crime or mystery that we are not directly engaged in, which gives us a high without any real ramifications for ourselves. The excitement of reading a thriller increases our yearning for mystery in spite of being action-packed and frantic.

The following novels in the thriller category are scheduled for release in March 2024:

1. Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering

Bye Baby addresses the various ways friendships change and develop over time, the residual effects of childhood trauma, and the influence of women's decisions on their lifetime relationships. It is told in alternating perspectives in Lovering's trademark suspenseful manner. St. Martin's Press is scheduled to publish this book on March 5, 2024.

2. Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Imagine believing that you had killed your closest friend. And what if everyone else thought the same way? Furthermore, what happens if the truth is unnecessary? A masterful murder mystery with well placed turns, Lucy is a hilarious and combative heroine. Celadon Books is scheduled to publish this book on March 5, 2024.

3. The New Couple in 5B by Lisa Unger

In this thrilling thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, a couple inherits an apartment with a chilling background. This book is perfect for binge-reading. The New Couple in 5B is a masterpiece of domestic suspense with a dazzling Gothic edge that would make the great Ira Levin proud. It's full of heart, tension, and fever-dream horror. Park Row is scheduled to release this book on March 5, 2024. 

4. The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian

In this gripping story of organized crime, cryptocurrency, and family secrets on the Las Vegas strip, a Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister are dragged into a risky game of money and murder by the New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and The Lioness. An incredible thriller from one of our most remarkable writers, The Princess of Las Vegas is an absorbing, wildly unique tale of identity, obsession, fintech, and high-tech mobsters. Doubleday is scheduled to publish this book on March 19, 2024. 

5. How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

An incredibly entertaining mystery for lovers of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club about a lady who spends her whole life attempting to stop her prophecy of murder, only to be confirmed correct sixty years later when she is discovered dead in her expansive country home. Finding the murderer is now up to her great-niece. Dutton is scheduled to publish this book on March 26, 2024.

Reading fiction is arguably the best way for us to develop empathy and learn to walk in other people's shoes.  Numerous studies have demonstrated that telling tales activates the parts of our brain that are involved in comprehending people and gaining fresh perspectives on the world.

These are a few fiction novels that will be available in stores this coming March 2024:

1. Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

Adelle Waldman takes her unmatched humor and talent for social observation to the workplace in Help Wanted. Help Wanted is a genuinely human depiction of individuals struggling to make ends meet against ever greater obstacles. It is a darkly comedic workplace escapade that examines the pains and uses of cooperation. WW Norton & Company is scheduled to publish this book on March 5, 2024.

2. Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham

A young Black man's life is altered by a historic presidential campaign in the much awaited debut book by one of The New Yorker's emerging talents. The story of David's eighteen months of service to the senator's presidential campaign is told in Great Expectations. Reflecting on fathers and families, religion and preachers, politics and politicians, Great Expectations is a novel of ideas as well as an emotionally charged coming-of-age tale, heralding the emergence of a significant new writer. Hogarth is scheduled to publish this book on March 12, 2024.

3. The Morningside by Téa Obreht

This enchanting book about mothers and daughters, belonging and displacement, and myths both ancient and modern comes from the highly acclaimed and modern York Times bestselling author of The Tiger's Wife and Inland. The Morningside is a book about the tales we tell—and the stories we refuse to tell—to make sense of where we came from and who we think we can become. It is shocking, creative, and deeply emotional. Random House is scheduled to release this book on March 19, 2024.

4. Memory Piece by Lisa Ko

A visionary novel about friendship, art, and ambition, written by the award-winning author of The Leavers, poses the question: What is the worth of a meaningful life? Memory Piece is an inventive and daring story of three lifelong friends as they try to build satisfying lives in a world that turns out to be radically different from the one they were promised. It moves from the predigital 1980s to the art and tech subcultures of the 1990s to a strikingly imagined portrait of the 2040s. Riverhead Books is scheduled to publish this book on March 19, 2024.

5. Like Happiness by Ursula Villarreal-Moura

An insightful debut that explores the complicated relationships between gender, power, and celebrity via the tale of a young woman's toxic relationship with a renowned author. Like Happiness is a dual narrative that switches between Tatum's letter and her present-day life, delving into the subtleties of an unbalanced and complex relationship and inspiring readers to confront issues of memory, gender, celebrity, Latinx identity, and the unexpected ways in which power dynamics can emerge. Celadon Books is scheduled to release Like Happiness on March 26, 2024.

Kristin Hannah, a best-selling novelist, is renowned for sharing the tales of women who have been overlooked by history and time. In her most recent epic, The Women, three nurses serving in Vietnam are depicted together with their return to civilian life. These ladies create a friendship through the terrible events and uncertainties of war that lasts long after the fighting ends. Kristin Hannah discussed a narrative that has been in the works for almost 30 years as well as the overlooked history and achievements of women.

Kristin Hannah claims that her concern in human psychology and the experiences that shape a person's identity is what inspired her to write this sort of fiction. She is drawn to those that persevere through extreme hardship, come out on top, and give it their all. Individuals may encounter the worst-case situations at all times, and those situations and the resulting conflict serve as the purging that molds their personalities.

She always aspires to produce a book that is huge, intricate, and intense, but it also needs to have a point and, ideally, impart knowledge to the reader. Her concept of women's forgotten stories resulted from this. She eventually realized that women are not educated about our own history. She thought, at the very least, that she was leaving high school and college without knowing enough about the whereabouts and activities of women throughout many of these significant historical junctures.

She claims that she spent thirty years sitting on this work. She returned to it again and again, eager to do it. However, there was a significant window of time during which people made it very apparent that they did not want to watch or read about the Vietnam War in movies or books. It was just a time period that people didn't want to discuss. She continued to wait and consider it. She said that she spent the most of the war in primary school and that everything had a profound effect on her.

The pandemic then struck. The news was about the trauma that the medical staff was going through and the price they were having to pay in order to aid their fellow people, and she was stuck in her house with nowhere to go and nothing to do. It was all connected by the fact that the nation was extremely fractured at the time and continues to remain so, and that healthcare workers were doing greater than their scope of duty without receiving the backing they needed. It fell into place with ease. Given that it concerns similar topics in a comparable age, now is the appropriate time. 

According to her, the book went through several iterations and narratives before arriving at the perfect one. Ultimately, she aimed to narrate a representative tale about these women, who were brought up by parents who fought in World War II and were instilled with a strong sense of patriotism, military duty, and the strength and integrity of America to volunteer and go to war without fully comprehending the implications or how it would completely change their world.

The second part of it is that once they do that and turn into this fierce combat nurse, they return home to a nation, and frequently a family, that is unable to discuss, consider, or honor their contribution. And after that, how do they proceed? From there, who do they become? She said that since she doesn't usually write about immoral individuals, the book's one twist—when someone returns—was really challenging for her to write. She had to write about a wider range of personalities in this novel in order to maintain the plot's momentum and put Frankie under pressure as she attempted to mend herself, practically on her own. 

She discovered that, frequently, when women return from war or similar events, no one is interested in hearing about them or wanting to hear their narrative. They return home and resume their lives instead of pushing back against it. They don't retell their narrative endlessly or write books about it soon. In this type of warfare, many men and women refrain from sharing their own narratives with their own families. The first and most crucial thing is that we need to provide a space where family members and veterans may discuss these challenging topics and draw lessons from each other. 

She aspires for others to read this book, become engrossed in it, experience intense emotional resonance, and gain a profound understanding of the sacrifices these ladies made on behalf of their nation. After that, check if there are any additional lessons they can learn by conducting independent study on their own about the politics, the war, and their own families. 

Resource: Goodreads

“I forgot how beautiful the world is when you’re a part of it this way, when the sun is relenting and the moon is rising and the night is magic, it can change your life if you let it,”

― Caroline Kepnes, Providence

This book is a work of fiction with a vague science fiction theme. Loosely, as it is mysterious and leaves out the scientific explanation for how one of the key characters gets transformed. It has been characterized as a supernatural romance-suspense thriller. It has been openly described as odd by reviews.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Growing up as best friends in small-town New Hampshire, Jon and Chloe are the only ones who truly understand each other, though they can never find the words to tell one another the depth of their feelings. When Jon is finally ready to confess his feelings, he’s suddenly kidnapped by his substitute teacher who is obsessed with H.P. Lovecraft and has a plot to save humanity.

Mourning the disappearance of Jon and facing the reality he may never return, Chloe tries to navigate the rites of entering young adulthood and “fit in” with the popular crowd, but thoughts of Jon are never far away. When Jon finally escapes, he discovers he now has an uncontrollable power that endangers anyone he has intense feelings for. He runs away to protect Chloe and find the answers to his new identity—but he’s soon being tracked by a detective who is fascinated by a series of vigilante killings that appear connected.

Whisking us on a journey through New England and crashing these characters’ lives together in the most unexpected ways, Kepnes explores the complex relationship between love and identity, unrequited passion and obsession, self-preservation and self-destruction, and how the lines are often blurred between the two.

My reaction to this novel...

After reading the “YOU” series, I was completely smitten with Caroline Kepnes’ writing style, which is why I was so eager to read Providence. To that end, I added it to my cart and proceeded to read it. But first and foremost, I must state that Providence is not a “Joe and Beck” tale. It is not the same as that story because the genre of this falls under supernatural phenomena. It’s a touching romance mystery with a sci-fi twist. That is, however, why this book is wonderful. Caroline creates an implausible narrative and makes it completely authentic. When you’re engrossed in a story, you’ll notice that you’re less focused on the spectacular events of the story and more focused on the feelings of the characters and their unfortunate circumstances.

This story was really unique. Each section was a struggle to read through. However, I am not a big lover of science fiction, but I was captivated by the plot, which kept me awake at night. I also noted that one of the ways Providence differs from Caroline Kepnes’ previous works is its command of time. The main protagonists’ narrative spanned several years. During that period, you will observe that the settings alter and the majority of the characters progress. You see, some people develop and go on with their lives. Some people have fatal breakdowns. The story’s tremendous secret of how and why it happened to Jon, which was left unanswered throughout the whole book, is my sole complaint. When I couldn’t discover the explanation for why it occurred in that manner, I genuinely thought the author was playing a joke on me. I also realize that not all secrets are revealed in a novel, but in my opinion, it would be ideal and genuinely acceptable if it were revealed given how excellent and remarkable the story’s flow was.

I don’t want to include more spoilers here. Well, without a doubt that, If you appreciate otherworldly creatures, fate, love and family stories then, at that point, this is the most ideal book for you. You will love Jon here. You will find that he is genuine, a character in a world filled of unfair and unjustifiable events. You will also feel that he should his life as what he wants, since he merits it. You will also feel that he needs to live, love and be loved which was undeniably and unfairly taken away from him very early in his life in a very mysterious way. And because of that he doesn’t merit the cards he has been managed. Each chapter that focuses on Jon will make you desire for his return, and each page you read will reveal that Caroline Kepnes will not give us what we need as easily as she did in her previous works, which I found both disheartening and upsetting. However, I believe that the magical elements that Caroline handles so phenomenally well as a writer are the greatest aspects of this novel.

Kepnes has this relaxed, open, and convincing approach to narrating that is quickly enamoring. You will feel areas of strength especially when it comes to love which will make you trust that there’s a spin-off in it. It needn’t bother with a spin-off however, it’s sufficient as a stand-alone novel yet as a reader, I might simply want to find out about what occurs with Jon. This book has the wow factor woven all through the story and I couldn’t get enough of it.

I will totally recommend it to everyone who is an avid fan of supernatural, mystery novel. You will appreciate the story of this one. Though you may have read some negative reviews about this, but for me, the story of this one is so interesting and mind-boggling.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

“That’s the problem with letting the light in—after it’s been taken away from you, it feels even darker than it was before.”

― Kim Liggett, The Grace Year

The Grace Year explores the complicated and even twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the tough choices they make in between with witty writing and harsh reality.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.

In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.

Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.

My reaction to this novel...

Although I had never read a book by this author before, I was rather thrilled about it since I could tell from the cover that it would be similar to The Hunger Games. As a result, I had considerable expectations for the book. Having read The Hunger Games, I knew this book would be just as good, if not better, than that book since I noticed that it had earned 4+ stars on Goodreads, which gave me even more confidence that it would be outstanding. I started reading it right away.

This narrative has an intriguing, alluring, and distinctly original idea. It's a fictional piece that has left me feeling both hopeless and forlorn at moments. Above all, though, I was captivated and amazed by its extraordinary tale. However, despite its intriguing plot, I found it to be quite sluggish and drawn out, which sometimes got boring. Many times, I was excited, but because it was moving slowly, my excitement quickly changed into boredom, which made me want to put the book down. I also observed that the author displays her level of feminism. As a woman myself, I found the author's overuse of gender stereotypes to be rather distressing. I was worn out by the book. Some novels I just can't seem to put down, and then there are others, like The Grace Year. The feeling it gave me was the sole reason I couldn't wait for it to be over immediately.

In addition, I didn't think everything made sense. Also, there were still some unanswered questions, thus not everything was adequately clarified. Additionally, I experienced some writing problems. The writer had a tendency to prolong passages with pointless internal speeches. The author had a habit of including impromptu twists that were so ridiculous and a little corny that they were almost implausible. For me, all of the amazing ideas were a little bit deflating. The connection came out as phony and overdone. About halfway through the book, I started to grow irritated.

Conversely, I found it rather satisfying that the narrative did not come to an abrupt close. The writer spared some time to complete the missing pieces. But as I have indicated, I still have plenty of concerns. However, I thought it was good that the tale carried on after the Grace Year was declared to be finished. It provided a rather gratifying resolution for the narrative. All in all, this narrative had a nice concept, but it fell flat. Without giving away the conclusion, it was confusing, ambiguously allegorical, and really frustrating. For these reasons, I'm not sure if I should suggest it.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐✨(2.5/5)