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Must-Read Books March 2026 |
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| Cleopatra by Saara El-ArifiCleopatra tells her own story, starting with her teen years when her father the pharaoh died, through power struggles with siblings and others, her relationships with her children and lovers, and on to her death and beyond. Sometimes directly addressing the reader, this richly detailed, well-researched novel presents a unique portrait of a strong woman. Try this next: Natasha Solomons' I Am Cleopatra; Malayna Evans' Neferura.
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Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief
by Benjamin Stevenson
Ten heists. Ten suspects. A murder mystery only Ernest Cunningham can solve in this delightfully clever and twisty new novel in Benjamin Stevenson's bestselling series--perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz.
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Her Last Breath
by Taylor Adams
From the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and The Last Word comes a story of two friends who embark on an ill-fated caving expedition—and the dark truth of what happens deep underground.
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| One & Only by Maurene GooForty-year-old matchmaker Cassia Park must learn to follow her heart when she's forced to choose between 28-year-old Ellis Yang-Cohen, with whom she recently had a fling, and Daniel Nam, Ellis' boss and the person she's fated to marry. YA author Maureen Goo's moving and magical realism-tinged adult debut will appeal to fans of In Five Years by Rebecca Serle. |
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| This Is Not About Us by Allegra GoodmanThis "unsparingly frank, wryly funny" (Kirkus Reviews) linked story collection is narrated by three generations of the Rubenstein family as they navigate 74-year-old Jeanne's death, a feud between her older sisters over apple cake, and various get-togethers for holidays, divorces, a bat mitzvah, and more. Read-alikes: The Family Izquierdo by Ruben Degollado; Underburn by Bill Gaythwaite. |
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This Story Might Save Your Life
by Tiffany Crum
Best friends Benny and Joy like to say they’ve been saving each other’s lives since the moment they met. Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is suspected of murder . . .
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| The Everlasting by Alix E. HarrowSir Una Everlasting's legend as a courageous knight has been memorialized in story, but her life itself has been forgotten. Centuries later, Owen Mallory's love of her tale suddenly takes him back in time to Una herself, where they will be entangled in a story bound to repeat over and over again unless they rewrite history. For fans of: knighthood fantasy with compelling characters and intricate storytelling, such as Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword and Charlotte Bond's The Fireborne Blade. |
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| A Gift Before Dying by Malcolm KemptThis atmospheric debut follows divorced cop Elderick Cole, who's been exiled to a troubled small town in the Canadian Arctic after mishandling a missing child case. When a young Inuit woman is found dead by hanging, Cole realizes she didn't get there on her own in this haunting, immersive story. Booklist raves, "If you only read one mystery this year, this should be it." For fans of: Peter Høeg's Smilla's Sense of Snow. |
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| The Happiness Collector by Crystal KingHistorian Aida Reale thinks she has it made when a friend recommends her for her dream job in Italy. However, cracks slowly begin to appear in the facade as she and her new colleague Luciano do more research into her company, until she realizes that they are simply pawns in a game being played by the gods. Crystal King's contemporary fantasy also serves as an alternate history taking place between 2018-2021, where "urban fantasy, unexpected romance, and mythology all collide" (Booklist). |
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| In Her Defense by Philippa MalickaA London libel trial becomes a psychological chess match in this debut novel. As celebrity chef Anna Finbow battles her daughter’s controversial therapist in court, the truth emerges through the unreliable testimony of Anna's former assistant -- revealing obsession, manipulation, and the uneasy power dynamics binding three women at the center of a public scandal. |
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| Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy and Sierra SimoneLooking for a fresh start after her politician boyfriend dumps her, Madelyn "Maddie" Kowalczk moves to small-town Mount Astra, Kansas, where she picks up nannying as a side hustle. The only problem? Maddie's first client is single dad Bram Loe, with whom she had a steamy one-night stand on her first night in town. Featuring explicit and mildly kinky sex scenes, this latest collab between the bestselling authors of A Merry Little Meet Cute will appeal to fans of The Nanny by Lana Ferguson and readers who like their romance on the spicier side. |
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| This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby PageWhen her new husband Joe dies of cancer, grief-stricken London book editor Tilly learns from their local bookseller that Joe has arranged for her to receive a book -- along with a note -- every month for a year. As the weeks pass, Tilly becomes friends with struggling bookstore owner Alfie and tries new things with Joe's literary encouragement in this charming read. For fans of: Mikki Brammer's The Collected Regrets of Clover. |
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| Hearts on the Fly by Toni ShilohProfessional hockey player Jabari Hall takes a hit that makes an eye condition worse, greatly affecting his vision and ending his career. Knowing he's feeling down, his teammates set him up on a date with Val Elliott, who turns out to be his ex's sister. Though Val has strong family loyalty, she knows Jabari needs a friend, plus he isn't exactly how her big sis described. If you like this Christian romance, try: If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair. |
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| Paper Cut by Rachel TaffLucy Golden, infamous for escaping a murderous California cult as a teenager, thought her past was behind her. But when a high-profile documentary threatens to unearth long-buried secrets, she must confront the desert, her family, and online critics, navigating fame, memory, and danger in a darkly addictive, twist-filled suspense debut. |
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Reproductive Wrongs: A Short History of Bad Ideas about Women
by Sarah Ruden
In Reproductive Wrongs, acclaimed translator and cultural historian Sarah Ruden exposes how ideologies that oppress women and families in the service of power took hold. Ruden traces a sweeping history through her trenchant analysis of seven pieces of literature that, she argues, marked key inflection points across two thousand years. From propagandistic poetry written by Ovid in the early Roman Empire to the biography of an evangelical American “abortion survivor,” Ruden lays bare how doctrines of control over women were invented and propagated.
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| Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling by Danny FuntWashington Post contributor Danny Funt's illuminating debut chronicles the evolution of legalized sports betting in the United States, detailing the rise of companies like FanDuel and DraftKings and how they prey upon consumers and athletes alike. Further reading: The Bookie: How I Bet It All on Sports Gambling and Watched an Industry Explode by Art Manteris and Matt Birkbeck. |
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| The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander; illustrated by Kitt ThomasAfter her school library is shut down, third-grader Macy is tapped to speak up for it at a big public meeting. But with a violin recital looming, plus homework and family pressure, Macy worries that she won't find her voice in time. Told in short, easy-to-read poems, this inspiring chapter book will keep you turning pages. |
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| Loops by Jashar AwanSolid-colored backdrops and bold, chunky artwork invites readers to focus on the sole character in this story: a child who's determined to tie the laces on his first pair of big-kid shoes. For fans of: Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic's Touch the Sky, another upbeat tale of persistence in the face of frustration. |
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| Call of the Dragon by Natasha BowenWhen the corrupt king of Kwa offends the dragon gods, they revoke their blessings, allowing malicious shadow spirits to threaten the land. Now Moremi, her crush Nox, and her bully Zaye must locate the gods and reestablish their protection. This fast-paced Afrofantasy explores the role of the “chosen one.” |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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