The Reading Nook: 9 New Books To Read This March

Burning Questions by Margaret Atwood

We’ve all read her cult classics, now it’s time to uncover her series of essays spanning everything from a financial crash to the climate crisis. 

Margaret Atwood, known so brilliantly for her novels The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments, will be releasing a new work this March. Dedicated to over 50 detailed and intelligent essays from 2004 through to 2020, the book offers us Atwood’s perspective on the world and her curiosity to tell questions we’re often too afraid to ask. Expect her usual wit and humour to prevail.

French Braid by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler returns with another book that’s set to steal your hearts. The award-winning author’s French Braid follows The Garretts and their family journey from the 1950s to modern day. 

We follow the family as they take their first and last vacation in 1959, and journey with them through the generations in all of their ups and downs, heartbreaks and happiness.

Dawnshard: A Stormlight Archive Novella by Brandon Sanderson

From the New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson comes Dawnshard, the next instalment in the Stormlight Archive series. 

The narrative begins with a discovery of a ghost ship and it’s presumed dead crew who were on their way to reach the island of Akinah. It’s left to Navani Kholin to find an alternate expedition to head to the island to make sure it hasn’t been taken under the wing of enemies.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Known for her novels The Hunting Party, The Guest List and The Invitation, Lucy Foley returns with another gripping murder mystery thriller. 

The Paris Apartment is already lauded as the next big thriller everyone’s going to be talking about. The narrative follows residents of a Parisian apartment block and their untold stories hidden within. Expect to meet a watchful concierge, a scorned lover, a prying journalist, a naive student and an especially unwanted guest.

Run, Rose, Run by Dolly Parton & James Patterson

This certainly isn’t the collaboration we were expecting, but you can never put anything past Dolly Parton. 

The legendary country icon has teamed up with US author James Patterson to release her debut novel, Run, Rose, Run. The tome follows a young star who is on the road to success. But unknown to others, she’s also on the road in a literal sense, as she’s on the run from her struggles and turbulent past. 

And it wouldn’t be a Dolly Parton release without an album to accompany alongside. She’s announced that she’s also releasing a 12-track record to allow readers to see the story come to life through music.

The Flames by Sophie Haydock

A story of four muses, Sophie Haydock’s The Flames is a must read. The narrative follows four women whose bodies are depicted in detail by the artist Egon Schiele. But stories were never told. 

The narrative unpicks their livelihoods, reimagining the four women as wild hearts longing to be known.

Mouth To Mouth by Antoine Wilson

The airport is the last place you want to see someone from your past. Especially when it’s a classmate from bygone years. Unfortunately that’s what happens to a struggling author who bumps into his former friend and classmate, Jeff, who happens to be waiting for the same delayed flight. 

The two begin chatting and the narrative quickly unfolds with Jeff unveiling the truth behind his gilded life. As it turns out, Jeff helped rescue a renowned art dealer from drowning, which became a catalyst for Jeff’s lifestyle of luxury and secrets…

Truth and Other Lies by Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith’s debut novel, Truth and Other Lies begins with a young reporter Megan Barnes losing both her job and her boyfriend on the same day. She subsequently moves back in with her mum, an overprotective woman who also happens to be running for the U.S. Congress. 

Desperate to escape and move on with her life, Megan finally gets her opportunity when she bumps into Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jocelyn Jones, who offers her a job on her PR team. It’s not long before that world of flamboyance and luxury turns on itself, when an online troll is determined to explore Jocelyn’s true colours. It’s left up to Megan to dig deep and uncover the truth.

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

A story centred around diaspora – families spread from their homeland – Sabaa Tahir’s All My Rage is a novel that’ll leave your heart aching and wanting to ring your relatives in an instant. 

The New York Times bestselling author’s story is divided into generations split by continents. The past follows Misbah, a daydreamer and storyteller who’s recently married in an arranged set-up to Toufiq. We see them move to the United States from Lahore, Pakistan and open a motel in the hope of a fresh start. The present follows best friends Salahudin and Noor. Living in Juniper, California, we follow them as they go from family to fall out after a fight. 

Both parts tender and tragic, the two stories collide and erupt, bringing themes of family, regrets and forgiveness to centrefold.