March was a bit of a bummer reading-wise. I finished 15 books, and only two of them were 5 stars. Here they are along with a few 4 star reads to make my list of the best books I read this month.

It just so happens that the best book I read were romance novels, although that’s not the only genre I read this month.

The Finance Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur

LGBTQ+ romance

Advanced copy from NetGalley, expected publication April 18, 2023. This is Bellefleur’s best novel by far. It’s funny and sexy and everything I’m looking for in a romance! Tansy’s first love is the bookstore that’s been in her family for decades. It’s struggling and it may be sold to a huge book selling chain. She’s desperate to save it but also eager to get her family off her back when it comes to her lack of a love life. So she makes up a girlfriend. That lasts for a while until Gemma and Tansy meet at a family wedding and it turns out Gemma is even more desperate to inherit her family business. This book made laugh out loud and swoon in my chair. It manages to be light while tacking serious subjects like grief and sexism. I enjoyed it from start to finish and highly recommend it for romance readers. 

Tempting Taste by Sara Whitney

Contemporary romance

A nearly perfect romance novel. This one is so sweet and funny and sexy, it has everything I love about the genre including some heaviness. My only issue with the story is that some of the obstacles the characters face were resolved way too easily, I like to see some struggle. Erik and Josie have a unique meet cute and I was rooting for them from the start. They are total opposites yet compliment each other well. The baked goods descriptions throughout the book made my mouth water and I’m still craving peach cake! I highly recommend this one for romance readers.

Self Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore

LGBTQ+ romance

I love retellings, even though they often let me down. This one was an exception to the rule, it’s an absolutely beautiful spin on The Great Gatsby. I loved the diversity and queer representation throughout the book. I learned a lot about what such lives were like in the 1920’s. As a fan of the original Gatsby, I think this one is an important contribution to the literary world. It was fast paced and enjoyable. Plus it has a happier ending than the original! Highly recommend.

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead

Contemporary romance

The more I read the fake dating trope, the more I like it. Here it’s done perfectly! Alexis wants to get out of her comfort zone by having a one night stand. Though it doesn’t quite pan out. She’s photographed with the super hot Logan, who just so happens to be running for governor. His campaign decides the best approach is to pretend they’re in a relationship. So Alexis gets caught up in his campaign and they both develop feelings along the way. It was truly delightful to follow along on their adventure. I usually wouldn’t 5 star a book that doesn’t have sex until 93%, but it totally fit with these characters and their story. Plus they’re was tons of tension along the way and the two have tons of chemistry. This book captures everything I love about the romance genre: humor, sexiness, and heaviness. The characters deal with grief and loss in different ways. 

Lost Track by Heidi Hutchinson

Contemporary romance

I didn’t like this quite as much as the first in the series but it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable read. This is a relatively low angst story that deals with neurodiversity in an open, honest way. I love how Dave and Sabine accept each other for exactly who they are. It was fun to be back in the recording studio and see characters from the previous book. Piper was my favorite-she’s a hoot! My main complaint with this one is that it’s closed door. It’s not written like it’s going to be and then the door is SLAMMED in the reader’s face, it’s very jarring. I hope this series continues because I’ll definitely read them!