Welcome to Quick Lit, where I share short and sweet reviews of what I’ve been reading lately on (or around) the 15th of the month, and invite you to do the same.
For the second time recently today’s roundup of recent reads include a little old, a little new, a variety of genres, but most notably, more nonfiction than fiction. I hope you enjoy the change-up!
I hope you find something that looks intriguing for your TBR here (and in these comments), and I look forward to browsing your recent reads below. Thanks in advance for sharing your short and sweet book reviews with us!
Welcome to March Quick Lit
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space
As an elder Millennial/Baby Xer, I well remember the 1986 Challenger disaster. I stayed home sick from school that day and watched it on tv with my mom, and didn't know anything was wrong until she hushed my questions and turned up the volume on the tv. And then ... I forgot all about it. Like many of my classmates, we watched the launch on live tv but not the news investigating the tragic aftermath; our parents and teachers didn't want to talk about it. It took me decades to realize what actually went wrong—and how it was initially covered up—after the space shuttle exploded on live television, killing the seven astronauts on board and leading at long last to a painful internal reckoning. This is Higginbotham's weighty history of the event: he covers the origins of the shuttle program, the selection process and the seven chosen astronauts that emerged for the mission, the engineers (and eventual whistleblowers) who pioneered the shuttle technology, the tense circumstances leading to the launch, and everything that happened after. I found this to be very good and also at times incredibly difficult to listen to how this tragedy unfolded. I opted for the audio, narrated by Jacques Roy. More info →
Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story
I love a good musician memoir! I plucked this one from the blog comments on our recent post 12 compelling musician memoirs to read or listen to: thanks so much to the many readers who nudged me there! This 564-page memoir has room to cover a lot of ground, from his Dublin childhood to his current musical and activist endeavors. Each of the 40 chapters is dedicated to a specific U2 song, which provided a loose and comfortable structure to talk about the band and its music but also his parents, friends, colleagues, faith, inspirations, struggles, missteps, and more. I love the kind of life-changing read that doesn't deliver a bolt from the blue about my worldview but instead offers a super-specific and practical nugget, and this book has done that by bringing a whole lot of U2 back into heavy rotation on my playlists. As I prefer to do in this genre, I listened to the audio narrated by the author (and wouldn't have wanted to read it any other way). More info →
How to Sleep at Night
I read this debut novel in preparation to interview the author for an event at my local indie last month, and enjoyed it so much! It feels particularly timely for right now: married partners Ethan and Gabe have never seen eye-to-eye politically, but it's never been a problem—at least, not until Ethan decides he wants to run for Congress as a Republican, and the rigors and realities of campaigning in today's divisive political landscape push the pair to their limits. Meanwhile, Nicole is surprised to find herself as a stay-at-home mom in the New Jersey suburbs: it's a role she never thought would suit her, in a marriage that has become complacent—but she is fiercely devoted to her kids and is content enough with the choices she's made. At least, until a romantic interest from her past—Ethan's sister Kate!—shows up and prompts her to consider what might have been. This was a thoughtful page-turner that I especially enjoyed for its portrayal of marriage and politics, midlife reckoning, fierce parental love, and queer parenting. More info →
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
This exemplifies the kind of slow, reflective reading that I turn to in the morning reading that worked so well for me in 2024, and continues to do so in 2025. It came to me via recommendation from our team member Shannan, with whom I share a love for "therapy books." I read this slowly because I had to think about it, argue with it, and sit with it: such a worthwhile experience on all counts! From the opening section where she proclaims "chaos should be regarded as extremely good news" (gulp) to the close where she discusses practical ways to embrace uncertainty, I found her thoughts challenging, worthwhile, and elegantly delivered. I can definitely see myself revisiting this book in the future. More info →
Beg, Borrow, or Steal
Since I read my first Sarah Adams book two years ago, her work has become a sweet escape when I need it. It doesn't hurt that the When in Rome series offers a positive portrayal of my home state of Kentucky: we don't get that a lot, y'all. This enemies to lovers romance is the third in a series, but it stands alone just fine. In this one eldest daughter Emily Walker takes the lead, and WOW do we see how the early deaths of her parents prompted her to pick up a heavy emotional burden and intense practical responsibilities where her two youngest sisters are concerned. In spite or likely because of her background, she's a first-class second grade teacher—but she nurses secret dreams of becoming a romance novelist. Meanwhile, her fellow second-grade teacher and workplace rival Jack is keeping a secret of his own: only his agent knows that he is the writer behind a wildly successful (and pseudonymously written) mysteries series. I so enjoyed watching these two come into each others' orbits and find well-deserved love and happiness, and I REALLY enjoyed all the banter and hijinks along the way. I primarily listened to the great audio narrated by Nelson Hobbs and Brittany Pressley, but found myself dipping into the e-version because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. (Open door.) More info →
What have YOU been reading lately? Tell us about your recent reads—or share the link to a blog or instagram post about them—in comments.
39 comments
This month’s reading wrap up includes a few romances and a fantasy that I loved! Check out all the books I read this month
https://neverenoughnovels.com/2025/03/17/march-2025-mini-book-reviews/
In the March BOOKBAG –
* 5 books that got me through wintertime
* favorite best-selling authors writing on Substack
* 5 star Kindle deals
* the literary time capsule
* Nancy Drew takes over my mantel
https://lindastoll.substack.com/p/the-bookbag-celebrates-springtimes
My father worked for NASA so I remember how devastated he was about the Challenger disaster. I’ll add this book to my list! I’ve read Pema Chodron’s book at least twice already and likely will read it a third time down the road.
I am recommending “Meditations for Mortals” to everyone I know. It’s not about meditating though; it’s about embracing our limitations. So good! I also recommend “Here One Moment” by Liana Moriarty. I loved it.
Here are all 6 books I recommend this month:
https://lisanotes.com/books-i-recommend-march-2025/
I LOVED Meditations for Mortals! As well as Here One Moment—I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read it or not but ended up loving it.
I think When Things Fall Apart needs to be added to my TBR. And the Challenger book intrigued me.
My month’s reviews include literary fiction (including a strong candidate for favorite book of 2025), a couple of feel-good stories, a thriller that was not for me, three middle grade novels (that all happened to be Newbery winners), one very happy essay collection and one very sad one, and a nonfiction book about large families that I CANNOT stop thinking about.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kendranicole/p/quick-lit-march-2025?r=373sc&utm_medium=ios
I finally read Things Fall Apart last year — I’m glad you enjoyed it! My month was crammed with short audiobooks as I was trying to be ready to go as soon as my hold on The Only Plane in the Sky finally came in.
https://cocoonofbooks.blogspot.com/2025/03/what-ive-been-reading-lately-quick-lit.html
I’ve been meaning to read The Only Plane in the Sky for ages! Hope your library timing worked out just right.
If you can, read The Only Plane…on audio!! Terrific!
The Only Plane in the Sky is right up there on my list.
I found it to be extremely powerful and moving and the audio version was so good.
I would recommend it highly.
Tricia
North Yorkshire
England
I loved The Only Plane in the Sky!! Read the print version first and followed up with the audio last year. Enjoyed them and was awed by the devotion of our Canadian friends.
I have been working my way through Challenger. I think I should have chosen the audio. My reading other reading was on the short side but check out what I was reading. https://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2025/03/booking-it-march.html
Challenger is on my list. I remember sitting in our lunch room watching the TV on a rolled-in cart and then not understanding what had just happened and crying. I love space stories anyway and will add the audio to my Libby holds.
This month, I have four books (I traveled for two weeks and hardly read), including a holiday romance I finally read, two 5-star books that were on my list for far too long, and a Christian nonfiction book.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year
Olive, Again
Take My Hand
The “Do What You Can” Plan
https://www.sincerelystacie.com/2025/03/quick-lit-march-2025-edition/
Stacie, I hope you know that Strout’s Tell Me Everything continues Olive’s story!!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! We listened to that Challenger book on a road trip, and the whole family was interested.
I had a short list for a short month in February. There were some gems though.
https://www.allthebooksihaventread.com/blog-1/2025/3/14/show-us-your-books-march-2025
Beg, Borrow, or Steal sound fun! We watched a documentary about the Challenger explosion a few years ago (Netflix maybe). I was only 2 at the time but had known the basics of the tragedy, learned a lot from the doc that was so sad. (We had to chase episodes of that with something like The Office so we could end the night on a happier note.)
My February reading recap, some books we read for homeschool, some shorter chapter books I read with my 6 year old, and quite a few I just read for me!
3 March reads I recommend:
Cafe with No Name
On the Hippie Trail
Penitence
I’ve got a graphic novel adaptation of a favorite novel, a mystery within a mystery, and the history publishing for readers and writers alike.https://carolinestarrrose.com/quick-lit-what-ive-been-reading-lately-43/
I keep hearing about When Things Fall Apart. Must be a sign that it belongs on my list…
I have started including Book Briefs in my monthly newsletter, and it’s been a fun way to share the goodness:
https://michelemorin.substack.com/p/living-our-february-days
My 2 favorites so far this month are:
*Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (epistolary with a fun connection to her last book, Love & Saffron, that I didn’t know about ahead of time)
*Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (which I read in a single mesmerized sitting when we needed to be completely absorbed for an evening )
Kate & Frida is on my list! My Libby doesn’t have it yet though…
Dream Count (thank you MMD- gorgeous though I still prefer ‘americanah’ I think)
Careless People, the ex Facebook employee memoir (riveting)
I just finished reading Black Woods, Blue Sky on Saturday, and I can’t stop thinking about it!
For nonfiction, I’ve been reading a chapter per day of Sean Palmer’s 40 Days on Being a 3 as part of my Lent discipline. It’s part of a series of books, one for each Enneagram type.
I loved Challenger! The way Higginbotham writes is so engrossing. Even though I remember the event and I know how it ends, I was still hoping that someone would stop it before it was too late! I also highly recommend Midnight in Chernobyl by Higginbotham (also in 1986). I can’t wait to see what he writes next!
Wouldn’t Pema Chodron and Mariann Budde have an interesting conversation? I just read Budde’s How We Learn to Be Brave, Decisive Moments in Life and Faith, which has led me to reflect on my own moments of bravery and how to ground myself for moments when bravery is needed. On the fiction side of my pile I loved Anne Tyler’s newest, Three Days in June–almost one-sitting. Also, this month I read The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjam Kamal and learned so much about contemporary Iran through the eyes of relatable characters. Over the weekend I hosted in my home a gathering I call Women Who Read. I asked each woman to bring the book they are currently reading. They spread throughout the house, finding a cozy place where they each read for an hour. The next hour we gathered in the living room and shared what we are reading and talked about reading and books. I should have asked everyone to bring their pajamas, and we could have ordered pizza and talked on and on for hours. A lovely afternoon of connection and inspiration. My TBR list grew, for sure!
Funny thing, I just picked up the new Mariann Budde book at Anderson’s Bookshop this past weekend after a friend highly recommended it! Love the sound of your Women Who Read gathering—sounds like a lovely time!
Thanks for this! I read CHALLENGER last year and really enjoyed it! As someone born after the Challenger disaster, I had never heard of it until picking up this book and was pretty shocked! Think I will add WHEN THINGS FALL APART to my TBR.
I recently read and LOVED:
– The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan – such a creative and haunting tale of the unrealistic expectations put on mothers! I can’t stop thinking about it!
– The Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller – super wholesome underdog story and learned a lot about Deaf culture. Great on audio too – Fuller does a great job and listening to the footfall feels like listening to a game on the radio!
I am currently reading BLACK IN BLUES, Imani Perry and LIFE’S TOO SHORT, Abby Jimenez.
Beg, Borrow, Steal was great. Makes me want to read the others in the series.
Books #13-26 of 2025: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2025/03/reading-update.html
I read How to Sleep at Night in Jan and loved it! I’m glad to see it mentioned here — I have been thinking it deserves more buzz than it has gotten.
Just finished the Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley which was recommended to me by a friend. Wow. The characters will stick with you. Lots of life lessons intertwined within the story. Something I rarely do is reread certain passages, but in this novel I wanted to savour some of the content and let it simmer.
I’ve only read one Sarah Adams book but I thought it was very funny so I really should pick up another one!
Here’s what I’ve been reading: https://readeatrepeat.net/2025/03/books-in-progress-march-2025/
I love to hear stories of experiences, Anne! I was mid-20s, and my roommate and I went over to watch it at a friend’s house. The rocket took off and then there was an explosion, but from watching other launches, I knew that the separation of modules can look like possibly an explosion or something that’s not supposed to happen, so we didn’t react at first. Then more explosions, and more explosions, until it looked like there couldn’t possibly be anything left….we sat there stunned, saying nothing, and I may not remember right, but it seems to me that the commentator said nothing, either! We looked at each other, and said “Did we just see what we thought we saw? Is it gone??” Wow, did we go home sober.
I love the idea of slow, reflective “therapy books” to start the day. The older I get, the more I gravitate towards nonfiction after a string of fiction books. When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times sounds like the type of nonfiction I would enjoy. I keep seeing Sarah Adams pop up, so I may also have to add Beg, Borrow, or Steal to the TBR.
Here’s a peek at my recent reads:
https://ourlittlebookcollection.substack.com/p/february-reading
While I was alive, I’m not old enough to remember the Challenger disaster, but the book sounds like it might be the kind of compelling nonfiction I enjoy…
I’ve had a bit of a crime/mystery heavy first half of the month – my thoughts are in my mid-month wrap-up: https://gemsbooktalk.com/2025/03/18/march-mid-month-wrap-up/
Have you read Scott Kelly’s memoir Endurance? It’s an incredibly interesting read and he narrates the audiobook. He talks about the challenger disaster in his book. If you haven’t read it or listened to it I’m sure you will love it.
I was home sick that day also. I watched with my dad. I will add the book to my list.
I remember watching the Challenger launch live, and how excited everyone was for this event only to see the disaster unfold before our eyes. Then the announcer calmly saying “Obviously, a major malfunction…” It was a surreal moment. Will have to check out the Higginbotham book.
A recent non-fiction that I knew nothing about until I saw it on a library’s giveaway shelf. Excellent book!
Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, written by Judy Christie and Lisa Wingate
Wingate’s popular book Before We Were Yours resulted in a somewhat spontaneous reunion of TCHS adoptees and their families. That weekend together, one year after the book’s publication, culminated in this devastating and beautiful book filled with their personal stories. Adoption always comes from loss, regardless of the specific details, and forever impacts adoptees, as well as their birth and adoptive families. However, the corruption of TCHS – stealing and selling children for profit – and decades of limited access victims had to birth records escalated the trauma to a whole new level. While this book has lots of very sad placement stories, it also has happy ones. Ultimately, all the stories are of various types of survival, growth, and healing.
A musician memoir I loved is “In the Pleasure Groove” by John Taylor.
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