We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
14 new good books to read this March
Get on the hype before these books go mainstream.
Looking for the best books to read this March 2019? Although having the time to sink your teeth into a great novel and escape the real world might feel like a fantasy, it doesn't have to be. Set aside ten minutes a day and grab one of these new good books with a cup of tea. You're welcome.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
My Lovely Wife is a thriller set in a small town, where a serial killer is on the loose preying on young women, and one man's daughter is playing up out of fear because of it. While lying next to his wife in bed one night, he begins to dissect what is going on, which leads him to question the flaws of his marriage – and whether the secrets it holds run deeper than he ever thought.
Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young
Described as Westworld meets The Handmaid's Tale, Girls With Sharp Sticks is set at The Girls of Innovations Academy, where the female students are beautiful and well-behaved, thanks to the lessons they've learned from their Guardian. But as Mena and her friends uncover the dark secrets of what's ~actually~ happening at the academy, all hell is about to break loose.
Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson
In this deeply unsettling novel, Hen and Lloyd are invited over to dinner by the only other seemingly-childless couple in the neighbourhood, Matthew and Mira. But when Hen notices something suspicious in Matthew's study, things take a sinister turn.
Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Reese Witherspoon says she's already devoured Daisy Jones and the Six, which tells the story of a band of the same name who sold out arenas across America and split in July 1979. Everyone remembers how it happened differently, but finally Daisy's ready to tell her version of events – success, drugs, music and loving like your life depends on it. It's based on Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, and sounds very, very good.
Era of Ignition by Amber Tamblyn
A passionate and personal exploration of feminism by actor, filmmaker and activist Amber Tamblyn: one of the founders of the Time's Up organisation. She addresses everything from gender inequality and misogyny to discrimination, trauma, reproductive rights and sexual assault.
Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias In A World Designed For Men aims to do exactly that: explore how, in a world largely built for and by men, women are perpetually and systematically discriminated against. It'll probably make you very angry.
The Choke by Sofie Laguna
10-year-old Justine was abandoned by her mother and is estranged from her unpredictable, violent father, and finds solace in the natural beauty of the Murray River while being brought up by grandfather, Pop. But when outside threats threaten her sanctuary, she must navigate the final years of childhood alone, and learn to fight back against those negative forces.
The Magnificent Mrs Mayhem by Milly Johnson
Sophie, the wife of rising political star John F Mayhew, lets their reputation slip when she accidentally says the wrong thing in an interview. She flees to a place that was special to her as a child, and begins to settle into the comfort of the welcoming coastal village. Now she has to decide, where does her future lie?
A Gift For Dying by M. J. Arlidge
Forensic psychologist Adam Brandt is used to dealing with tricky cases, but even he has never met someone like Kassie; the teenager who claims she can look into people's eyes, and see how and when they'll die. When a series of murders begin to unfold in their city, Kassie seems to know where the serial killer will strike next, and she and Adam begin to work together in an attempt to crack the case.
House on Fire by Bonnie Kistler
The future of Leigh Huyett and Pete Conley's marriage is thrown into question when his son Kip, a high school senior, crashes his car with Leigh's 14-year-old daughter Chrissy in the passenger seat. He is charged with manslaughter, but soon changes his story about what actually happened. Eventually, the mystery of what that night – and Leigh and Pete's loyalty to their children but love for each other – threatens to tear the family apart.
The Last Woman in the Forest by Diane Les Becquets
While protecting endangered wildlife together, Marian falls in love with her mentor Tate. She later learns of his death while they were on separate assignments, and then makes a disturbing discovery: he is reportedly responsible for the unsolved murders of at least four women. In an attempt to clear Tate's name, Marian delves into the case, only for the real truth to shock her more than she ever imagined.
Lanny by Max Porter
The globally-anticipated new novel from Max Porter, Lanny is about the village just outside of London that belongs to those who have lived in it, past and present. The likes of Mad Pete, Dead Papa Toothwort and ancient Peggy make up these pages, and weave an audacious, strange and wonderful story.
What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon
In 1921, a heartbroken Anne Gallagher travels back to Ireland to scatter her grandfather's ashes. While overcome with memories and consumed by his stories of a time she never knew, she is mistaken for a missing woman and adopts a new identity; as the guardian to a young boy. But when the struggle for Ireland’s independence grows, Anne is trapped between history and her heart, and must decide whether she’s willing to let go of the life she knew for a love she never thought she’d find.
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
Christopher and Hannah are a happily married surgeon and nurse, who feel like all that is missing from their life is a child. So when an abandoned six-year-old, Janie, takes a shining to Christopher at the hospital, he convinces Hannah that they should take her in – with destructive consequences.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
These The Neighbourhood stars have surprising TV history
What Beyond Paradise's Zoe exit could mean for the franchise
Corrie confirms Todd aftermath in death plot
Emmerdale teases Bear’s devastating fate ahead of trial
