Like the Comet

March both lasted forever and went by in a blink.

Audiobooks were my main source of reading. I think I was just having a rough time actually sitting down to open a book. So the convenience of having someone read the book to me was too nice to pass up.

This also wasn’t my favorite month. After twelve glorious years full of love, we sadly had to put our golden retriever, Khloe, down. It was a pretty tough weekend and I’ll miss that stubborn, sweet gal so much. Hug your pets extra tight for me. <3

I think that’s my big update, so let’s get into everything I read in March.

*All summaries are taken or paraphrased from Goodreads.

BECAUSE OF MISS BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: Sometimes you find love in the most unexpected of places… This is not one of those times. Everyone expects Billie Bridgerton to marry one of the Rokesby brothers. The two families have been neighbors for centuries, and as a child the tomboyish Billie ran wild with Edward and Andrew. Either one would make a perfect husband… someday. Sometimes you fall in love with exactly the person you think you should… Or not. There is only one Rokesby Billie absolutely cannot tolerate, and that is George. He may be the eldest and heir to the earldom, but he’s arrogant, annoying, and she’s absolutely certain he detests her. Which is perfectly convenient, as she can’t stand the sight of him either. But sometimes fate has a wicked sense of humor… Because when Billie and George are quite literally thrown together, a whole new sort of sparks begin to fly. And when these lifelong adversaries finally kiss, they might just discover that the one person they can’t abide is the one person they can’t live without.

My Thoughts: This was my first Julia Quinn book and I now completely understand why people are obsessed with her writing! I listened to this entire audiobook on a Saturday while I was cleaning my apartment because I didn’t want to pause it. Billie’s character was so much fun. Her spunk and charisma is contagious and I definitely wanted to be her friend. She doesn’t really care about society’s expectations of her as a single twenty-three-year-old woman. She’s passionate about helping her father tend to their land and the tenants that live on it. Most people are putting pressure on her to get married soon, but Billie doesn’t want to be put into a box by any man who wants her to be the perfect wife. George’s character started off more as an enigma and slowly grew on me. It’s not that I didn’t like him at first, but he was definitely more reserved. He’s the eldest son in his family and expected to take over the estate one day which means while he’s at home learning how to lead, his younger brothers are off fighting for their country. He battles internally with his sense of purpose and whether or not he’s doing enough for his family. Ultimately though, Billie and George are the perfect remedy for each other. I adored that they built a friendship first and let that naturally transition into something more. This romance was the perfect mix of laugh out loud interactions, downright swoony moments, and intense emotional situations. Needless to say, I am sold on Julia Quinn now and cannot wait to start the next book in this Rokesby Boys series.

STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies on stage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in time - from the actor’s early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as the Traveling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains. This suspenseful elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor’s first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet.

My Thoughts: All right, y’all. I’m a little late to this game, but I started watching the HBO Max adaptation of Station Eleven. However, I had only heard awesome things about the book, so I decided to read a few chapters and then watch a couple of episodes. This story was kind of a slow burn for me book-wise, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I loved the overlapping timelines, the jumping to different characters’ perspectives and seeing how the pandemic affected everyone. That said, I feel like the book was more about empathizing with the characters and their individual fights for survival. Plus, what happens with the prophet was a little anticlimactic for me. The show, on the other hand, has plenty of suspense incorporated into it and I feel like they directly connect the characters in a much more obvious way. Did I enjoy the book? Yes. Do I agree with how they did the tv series adaptation? Also, yes. This book/show won’t be for everyone, especially after going through everything we have with COVID over the last three years, but I think that if a pandemic isn’t a triggering topic for you then you should definitely give the book a try.

I’M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor - including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother - and how she retook control of her life. Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

My Thoughts: I absolutely FLEW through this audiobook. Read by Jennette herself, this memoir was one for the ages. She grew up with a narcissistic mother who was extremely manipulative and whom Jennette lived to please. It was heartbreaking and, at some points, disturbing the experiences she talks about related to being a child actor, her family life, how she coped with the stress of it all, and more. I appreciated that the writing of this book was very straightforward and matter-of-fact. She didn’t try to pull super hard at your heartstrings by making anything overly emotional. It was clear that she knows most of the things she shares in this book are pretty fucked up, but that’s how it was and she’s made peace with it. I cannot admire her enough for getting the help she needed and continuously working on herself after enduring so much damage and trauma for so long. There are plenty of trigger warnings to be aware of before jumping into this book, but if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend you do.

Cursed Fates by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

CURSED FATES (#5 Zodiac Academy) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: After the devastating events at Zodiac Academy, we have to deal with this darker world we’re faced with. Lionel seeks to hurt us, the Nymphs seek to hurt the entire Fae race, and between all of it, we just have to try and survive each day as it comes. I’m afraid of everything falling apart, but it looks like it already has.

My Thoughts: OH MY GOD. You know, with the way the fourth book ended, I was like, “there’s no way this series can fak me up any more than it already has.” Cue book five. Holy hell, y’all. The stars are working against EVERYBODY in this book except for freaking Lionel. I swear to you, so much happened to every single character that I had to take a breather to reflect on everything. Darius and Tory are striking out. Darcy and Orion hit a monumental roadblock. The only few good things happening are the girls are figuring out new ways to wield their Phoenix fire against Dark magic and the animosity between the twins and Heirs has actually transformed into a camaraderie instead. ALSO Tory is going through some SUBSTANTIAL character growth and development, and I am HERE. FOR. IT. It’s about damn time. She’s been so freaking stubborn. Anyway, the ending of this book physically put me in the fetal position on the floor and sucked the wind out of my lungs. So like, of course I’m going to keep going with this series. And, yes, I do recommend you read this book just so I’m not the only one being emotionally damaged by it. Thank you.

Fated Throne by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti

FATED THRONE (Zodiac Academy #6) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary: Fate has torn us apart and sometimes I believe the stars have given up on us altogether. Without my sister, the world seems darker than ever before and the shadows loom thicker, rising up to answer the call of the Shadow Princess and changing the face of Solaria for good. Now Lionel Acrux has the strength to make a move for the throne, I’m not sure how much time we have left to stop him. Our only hope is to find the Imperial Star before he does. We made the sacrifice the stars called for and we’re paying the price for that decision so it can’t be for nothing. But with the stars turning against us at every move, and the last light in the world seeming to fade, I’m afraid we’re almost out of time. Hope is a dangerous thing. It’s the key to us fighting on. But it could be what destroys us in the end. One thing is for certain, I won’t stop until I have been reunited with my other half and together we will fight to take our crowns.

My Thoughts: Okay literally SO. MUCH. HAPPENS in this book that I regret not writing this review directly after finishing it. We see the repercussions from how things ended in the last book right away here. Specifically, the effects on Tory now that she is in a situation that has put her through some trauma and brainwashing. Luckily, our little squad of Darcy, the Heirs, Geraldine, and Orion are determined to free her from the binds she’s being held under. Orion also gets a taste of freedom and has a pivotal moment in his storyline that changes the course of his commitment to the throne. Gabriel started playing a much bigger part in this book with his gift of Sight and I appreciated that there’s someone looking out for them now. HOWEVER, there is a SIGNIFICANT catalyst towards the end of this book that I thought was insanely convenient to the storyline based on a vision Gabriel saw involving Darius. Although how it played out literally ripped my heart to shreds while simultaneously giving me a bit of hope, I was a little “side-eye” at how opportune this vision was at the given moment. There’s so much more shit that happens in this book, but I can’t go into detail on anything without giving it away. All I can say is that if you’ve made it this far in the Zodiac Academy series, you MUST continue on.

Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

MADE TO STICK: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath

Rating: 4/5 stars

Summary: In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier, such as applying the human scale principle, using the Velcro Theory of Memory, and creating curiosity gaps. Along the way, we discover that sticky messages of all kinds – from the infamous “kidney theft ring” hoax to a coach’s lessons on sportsmanship to vision for a new product at Sony – draw their power from the same six traits. Made to Stick will transform the way you communicate. It’s a fast-paced tour of success stories (and failures): the Nobel Prize-winning scientist who drank a glass of bacteria to prove a point about stomach ulcers; the charities who make use of the Mother Teresa Effect; the elementary school teacher whose simulation actually prevented racial prejudice. Provocative, eye-opening, and often surprisingly funny, Made to Stick shows us the vital principles of winning ideas - and tells us how we can apply these rules to making our own messages stick.

My Thoughts: I tried picking this book up MULTIPLE times over the years and never made it past the first chapter, but that’s definitely more of a “me” thing than it was due to this actual book lol. I figured the audiobook would be easier to get through and it definitely was. This book is basically about why ideas stick around and what makes them stick-worthy. They break down the different components of sticky ideas and give numerous examples that support the concept. I probably won’t remember any specifics from the book to be honest, but I would definitely recommend it if you’re in a creative field such as marketing or advertising. Or I guess even if you’re trying to figure out a creative way to get an idea across to a person or group of people.

THE GIRL WITH THE MAKE-BELIEVE HUSBAND by Julia Quinn

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Summary: While you were sleeping… With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He’s unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier’s life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie. I told everyone I was your wife. When Edward comes to, he’s more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is - even if he does not recall her face - and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he’d always assumed he’d marry his neighbor back in England. If only it were true… Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself - completely - to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

My Thoughts: Ugh okay so I enjoyed the overall experience of this audiobook, but it kind of fell flat for me at the same time. Starting with the characters, I liked Edward and Cecilia enough. They were pleasant characters to follow along with and I did find myself caring about them. However, did they blow me away or absolutely enthrall me in this story? Not really. Also Cecilia had PLENTY of opportunities to explain to Edward why she lied about being his wife. Like she spent dayyyys with the man and realized how understanding and nice he could be. It’s not like he’d be up in arms about the situation. PLUS, he had already developed a crush on her through the letters she wrote to her brother. So even though he couldn’t remember marrying her at the moment, he was still pretty happy to have scored Cecilia. The plot was kind of anticlimactic as well, but the ending saved the blandness of the rest of the book. I think had I read this as a physical book, I would’ve been kind of bored. The audiobook narrator provided enough animation to it though that it wasn’t a task to finish listening to it.

THE OTHER MISS BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Summary: She was in the wrong place… Fiercely independent and adventurous, Poppy Bridgerton will only wed a suitor whose keen intellect and interests match her own. Sadly, none of the fools from her London season qualify. While visiting a friend on the Dorset coast, Poppy is pleasantly surprised to discover a smugglers’ hideaway tucked inside a cave. But her delight turns to dismay when two pirates kidnap her and take her aboard a ship, leaving her bound and gagged on the captain’s bed… He found her at the wrong time… Known to society as a rascal and reckless privateer, Captain Andrew James Rokesby actually transports essential goods and documents for the British government. Setting sail on a time-sensitive voyage to Portugal, he’s stunned to find a woman waiting for him in his cabin. Surely his imagination is getting the better of him. But no, she is very real - and his duty to the Crown means he’s stuck with her.

My Thoughts: Ermahgerd. Yess. This third book in the Rokesby Boys series made up for what the second book lacked and I was here for it. First off, the banter was *chef’s kiss*. There was some quality banter in the previous two books, but I was obsessed with Poppy’s and Andrew’s quick-witted quarreling. They are both incredibly intelligent but can also appreciate some sarcasm which provided some of the best quips. I loved the tropes included in this storyline: forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers. Plus, it has a privateer component to boot? Sign me up. Poppy’s character was spunky to say the least. She’s got a curiosity that just won’t quit and a competitive fire inside that drives her to exploring and learning as much as possible. Andrew is similar in that he isn’t content sitting still and educates himself in a way that allows him to know a little bit about everything. They truly are the perfect pair and I was obsessed with how this voyage to Portugal brought the two together in a way that made it impossible for them not to develop feelings. There was a touch of spice to this story which we all know I appreciate lol. The last portion of this book did not end the way I was expecting, but it wrapped up lovely all the same. If you started the Rokesby Boys series, I’d say you can skip the second book (The Girl with the Make Believe Husband) and go straight to this one without really losing any context.

Well, that’s everything I read in March!

I’m hoping to incorporate a little bit more variety into my reading in April since this month was basically some regency era romance and Zodiac Academy with some random reads thrown into the mix lol.

2023 Book Count: 32

Add me on Goodreads if you haven’t already.

YOUR TURN! What’s a tv adaptation you’re looking forward to? Have you read and/or watched Daisy Jones & the Six yet?