Reviews of the 8 Books I Read in March 2025

1. Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam

When Andie lands her dream job as a senior book publicist, she’s ready to conquer New York publishing—until she realizes her biggest client is Jack Carlson, the man who ruined her life in college.

Now a bestselling author, Jack is still as infuriating (and attractive) as ever, and Andie can’t afford to let their past affect her career.

But with a month-long book tour across Europe ahead of them, keeping things strictly professional might be easier said than done.

My Rating: ★★★

Bad Publicity is an enjoyable enemies to lovers, will-they-won’t-they story wrapped up in the world of book publishing.

An English book publicist living in New York City has been tasked with representing an author from her past and accompanying him on his book tour across Europe. The publicist seems to have a strong grudge against the author which comes to light near the end of the book. I felt the book had good pacing and I was intrigued to find out more about their past relationship.

At times, the main character of the book didn’t come across as the nicest person in the world in terms of her relationship with her mother and best friend. It seemed her life was more important than anyone else’s around her, which I didn’t enjoy. Overall, a nice plot that reminded me a little bit of One Day as the university time period was set in Edinburgh.

2. The Housemaid is Watching by Freida McFadden

A family’s dream home quickly turns into a nightmare in the latest instalment in The Hosuemaid series.

When the protagonist moves into a picturesque suburban neighborhood, she’s determined to leave her troubled past behind. But unsettling encounters—an eerie maid, a cryptic warning from a neighbor, and her husband’s mysterious late-night outings—make her question whether their new home is truly safe.

As strange events escalate, she realizes that the quiet street may be hiding sinister secrets, and her past might not be as far behind as she thought.

My Rating: ★★★★

I finally got my hands on the 3rd installment in the Housemaid series by Freida McFadden! I feel like the month of March is going to be reading all of the books I’ve been wanting to read for a long time now that I’ve signed up to my local library. While this book wasn’t as good as the first in the series (will anything ever be?!) It was nice to follow along with the Housemaid years later. Even if it did take me a while to remember the characters and who was who.

3. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, former child star Jennette McCurdy shares a raw and darkly humorous memoir about her struggles growing up in the entertainment industry.

Pushed into acting by her overbearing mother, Jennette endured years of eating disorders, emotional manipulation, and loss of autonomy. As she rose to fame on iCarly and Sam & Cat, she battled anxiety, addiction, and deep-seated trauma.

Following her mother’s death, she finally begins to heal, embracing therapy and reclaiming her identity. With unflinching honesty and wit, McCurdy delivers a powerful story of resilience and self-discovery.

My Rating: ★★★★★

I have had this on my want to read/want to buy list for what feels like forever. Every time I was in a bookstore I would always pick it up but never buy it. Part of me just doesn’t want to spend $20 on a book, you know?

I was so excited when I found it in my new local library in Sydney that it was one of the first things I read. I had no idea what to expect reading this from the title, but it was so interesting to read about Jennette McCurdy’s life and behind the scenes of children’s fame.

A lot of the content was hard to read at times and it’s clear she’s still not out the other side of it yet, but it’s so clear why this is one of the best books of the last few years and quite possibly one of the best celebrity memoirs ever.

4. Wildfire by Hannah Grace

Russ and Aurora have a steamy one-night stand, only to unexpectedly reunite as summer camp counselors—where romance between staff is strictly off-limits.

Both hoping to escape their complicated home lives, Russ wants to avoid his father’s gambling troubles, while Aurora longs for a place where she feels she belongs.

But staying away from each other proves impossible, and their forbidden connection threatens to upend their summer plans.

My Rating: ★★★★

This is the second in the Maple Hills book series and it feels like quite a long time ago that I read Ice Breaker (#1) and was obsessed with it. It’s taken me a long time to get around to the sequel, but again, I loved Hannah Grace’s style of romance novels.

The Maple Hills series takes place during college years, and it takes me back (I sound so old) to the days of my youth and I feel like I’m reliving it through these characters.

5. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Brothers Peter and Ivan Koubek seem vastly different—Peter, a composed Dublin lawyer struggling with grief and complicated relationships, and Ivan, a socially awkward chess player navigating an intense new romance.

As they each grapple with love, loss, and identity after their father’s death, their lives enter a turbulent yet transformative period, testing how much they can endure without falling apart.

My Rating: ★★★★

When Sally Rooney releases a new book, it’s always a must-read. However, after reading Beautiful World, Where Are You? And low-key hating it (sorry Sally), I really wasn’t looking forward to reading Intermezzo, but wanted to give it a go anyway.

When I first started it, I thought, Here we go again, I hate it already. But as I got further into the book, it turned around and I felt myself enjoying it and wanting to keep picking it up. I can see this potentially being turned into a mini-series for TV and I actually wouldn’t begrudge a sequel to see where the characters end up in the future.

6. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

When First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz’s feud with Prince Henry sparks a media scandal, they’re forced to fake a friendship for damage control.

But as their staged bond turns into a secret romance, Alex must decide if love is worth risking his mother’s reelection and international fallout.

My Rating: ★★★★

I finally got around to reading the book that I feel everyone on this planet has already read. It was originally published a few years ago now, given that the movie version has been out around a year already.

This was one of those TikTok-famous books that very quickly was adapted by Prime Video while the hype was still hot. It was an enjoyable rom-com that had me laughing out loud in parts and as my second book by Casey McQuiston, I’ll be quick to pick up another!

7. Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

Evelyn remembers all her past lives. She also remembers that in every single one, she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by Arden, a supernatural being whose soul―and survival―is tethered to hers.

The problem is that she’s quite fond of the life she’s in now, and her little sister needs her for bone marrow transplants in order to stay alive. If Evelyn wants to save her sister, she’ll have to:

1. Find the centuries-old devil who hunts her through each life―before they find her first.
2. Figure out why she’s being hunted and finally break their curse.
3. Try not to fall in love.

My Rating: ★★★

I joined my first ever book club in Sydney, and this was March’s book pick. It’s Young-Adult which isn’t something I usually go for, but it was nice to buy myself a brand new book for a change.

I enjoyed the story of past-lives and being set in different places around the world, yet it did remind me of V. E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (she’s also quoted on the cover) and it was nice for me that half of the book was set in Wales, where my boyfriend is from.

I will say that the ending confused me quite a bit, which is why I dropped it a few stars. I don’t think it was explained as well as it could have been and may have needed a few extra chapters to wrap it up better.

8. How I Became A North Korean by Krys Lee

At the lawless border between North Korea and China, three young lives converge in the hope of a better future.

Yongju is an accomplished student from a prominent but recently disgraced family; Jangmi has had to fend for herself since childhood, and now has her unborn child to protect; Danny is a Chinese-American teenager who yearns for the China of his childhood. But danger is everywhere: government informants, thieves, people smugglers, abductors and even missionaries are a threat. As the three form an adopted family in the struggle to survive, will they reach the safety and freedom that China seems to offer?

My Rating: ★★★★

I picked this up in a second-hand bookstore – my first second-hand book purchase in Sydney! The title of the book caught my eye for obvious reasons, but also mostly because I visited South Korea last year and learnt a lot about the tension, war and borders.

This told the story of three individuals crossing the North Korean border and how they intertwine and the struggles they face. I found the book incredibly insightful and devastating that this is the way of life for so many people in those regions still today.