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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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| Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna EverhartIn 1940s North Carolina, unmarried 24-year-old Ruth is unjustly accused of promiscuity by the sheriff and incarcerated at the State Industrial Farm Colony for Women. When 15-year-old Stella is raped and gets pregnant, her parents take her to the same place. There, Superintendent Dorothy Baker reigns, forcing medical treatments and more. This moving, eye-opening novel is based on a real government program. Read-alikes: Ellen Marie Wiseman's The Lies They Told; Meagan Church's The Last Carolina Girl; Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Take My Hand.
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| The Belle of Chatham by Laura FrantzIn 1777 New Jersey, as their brothers fight for liberty in the Continental Army, two sisters find themselves on opposite sides of the American Revolution: loyalist Coralie is secretly engaged to a British lieutenant stationed in New York, while Mae falls for an American officer billeted in their home. Then events lead Mae to suspect Coralie of gathering information for the British. For fans of: well-researched, faith-filled historical romances; Kimberley Woodhouse's The Patriot Bride. |
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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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| The Midnight Taxi by Yosha GunasekeraNew York taxi driver Siri Perera loves true-crime podcasts, so when she picks up public defender Amaya Fernando, they bond over this and their shared Sri Lankan heritage. This connection comes in handy when Siri's next customer is somehow murdered during the ride. Arrested, Siri has five days to clear her name with help from Amaya and the childhood best friend who pays her bail. Witty and clever, this debut will please fans of Mia P. Manansala, Gigi Pandian, and Definitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah Fox. |
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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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| Kings and Pawns: Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson in America by Howard BryantSports journalist Howard Bryant's affecting history details how trailblazing Black actor Paul Robeson and Major League Baseball player Jackie Robinson's differing political ideologies often put them at odds with each other, culminating in Robinson's 1949 appearance at the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), where he testified against Robeson. For fans of: The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. by Peniel E. Joseph. |
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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 Mattering Instinct: How Our Deepest Longing Drives Us and Divides Us by Rebecca Newberger GoldsteinThis thoughtful, curious book explores our deep need to feel like we matter and all the surprising (and sometimes painful) ways we build our lives around that urge. Blending philosophy, psychology, and vivid storytelling, it examines how our longing for significance shapes relationships, creativity, and conflict in a world hungry for purpose. |
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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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