If You Only Read One: March 2021

We know that we read — and review — a lot of books. It definitely helps that there are three of us, in that regard. So with this feature, we want to tell you our favorite read of the month - if we only recommend one book to pick up, what would it be?

Shannon

As you could probably tell by my review, I love-love-loved Alix E. Harrow’s beautiful fantasy/historical fiction novel, “The Ten Thousand Doors of January” (Bookshop | Kindle). January Schaller is a complex protagonist, completely ahead of her time, and the book tackles themes of classism, racism, and sexism, all while creating a fantastical world where Doors lead to other concurrent worlds. There’s a great book-within-a-book as well, and the mysteries of January’s background and where she came from unfold throughout.

Elizabeth

After a prolific February, things slowed down in March - like, I think I had 8 days or so where I didn’t even feel compelled to pick up a book? Very unlike me, as you all know. However, I did have one clear winner: “The Rose Code” by Kate Quinn (Bookshop | Kindle | my review). I do find it a little funny that I was waffling between this one and another book about women at war, but the sheer scope of “The Rose Code” made me throw it the top spot this month. It had a little bit of everything, and it was written on a truly epic scale.

Moira

Appropriately enough, I read Lauren Fox’s “Send for Me” (Bookshop | Kindle) on the eve of Passover. This lovely and heartbreaking multigenerational story of a young woman leaving her parents behind in Nazi Germany to start life with her new husband in America. Later, her great-granddaughter reads the correspondence of the women before her as she is on the edge of making a pivotal life decision. Interspersed with letters from Fox’s own great-grandmother, this is a beautiful and intimate exploration of love and heartbreak and the sacrifices we make for those we love.

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