“By March, the worst of the winter would be over. The snow would thaw, the rivers begin to run and the world would wake into itself again.

Not that year." - Neil Gaiman, Odd and the Frost Giants

We may have experienced all four seasons of weather this month, but the weather hasn't been the only thing that's been varied and plentiful. This month has seen fiction and non-fiction, paperbacks aplenty and dazzling debuts of all styles for you to enjoy.

Scroll through the recap of this month's reading recommendations and shop all the titles at the bottom of the page.

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Fiction Books of the Month

A riot of magic and mayhem through to cosy compassionate capers, crime stories of all types and stimulating spy thrillers: find all this and more in this month's fiction book recommendations. Keep scrolling to find out more and read a snippet of our expert reviews.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty - "A riot of magic, of mayhem and of heart, this is a glorious swashbuckling tale of a notorious pirate, smuggler and blasphemer, a fierce and fearsome female rogue. I will follow Amina to the ends of the earth."

An Island Wedding by Jenny Colgan - "This nourishing new dose of cosy, comic, compassionate island escapism confirms Colgan’s status as Queen of her genre."

Eleven Liars by Robert Gold - "A satisfying crime thriller that sucks you into the vortex of a close-knit community jolted by lies and violence."

The Hand that Feeds You by Mercedes Rosende - "A provocative, heady, and incredibly smart thriller based in Uruguay detailing the chaos that occurs after a crime."

The Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson - "Fiercely provocative, wryly amusing, and just a little bit heart-breaking, this novel screams out into the void of family life with real power."

Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry - "Aching with love, grief and the weight of secrets, this haunting novel sees a retired policeman pulled into the tumultuous torrents of his tragic past when an old case rears its head."

Mother's Day by Abigail Burdess - "A psychological thriller about motherhood. It’s dark. Pitch black. And I loved every twisty turn."

The Girl Who Dared to Dream by Diney Costeloe - "Prepare to be swept back to pre-war London in this moving historical drama full of period detail and beautifully crafted characters."

Death on the Isle by M.H. Eccleston - "Cosy crime slays on the Isle of Wight with an intrepid team of amateur sleuths at the helm."

The Perfect Crime by Vaseem Khan, Maxim Jakubowski - "Meet old friends and new in this anthology of 22 crimes stories by authors from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, it’s a truly fabulous and satisfying read."

Death Comes to the Costa del Sol by M.H. Eccleston - "An internet troll runs amok in a British expat community in this amusing mystery novel you can really sink your crime-solving teeth into."

The Spy Across the Water by James Naughtie - "Fabulous characters weave their way through the Northern Ireland Troubles and ending of the Cold War in this worthwhile and stimulating spy thriller."

White Cat, Black Dog by Kelly Link - "Reader beware - seven fabulously reinvented fairy tales live in this book, some might bite!"

Non-Fiction Books of the Month

Spring is a time for renewal and fresh starts so what better time to dive into some new non-fiction. Our March selections include mouthwatering new recipes, a graphic novel toolkit with powerful messages of resilience, and provocative, inspiring books about our lives, our history and the world around us.

Saving Time by Jenny Odell - "Provocative and yet beautifully considerate and attentive, this is a book that gifts you the awareness of time and how to make the most of it."

The Hidden Fires by Merryn Glover - "A truly inspiring and beautiful book about the Cairngorm mountains, our natural world, and beyond."

Woman's Lore by Sarah Clegg - "This meticulous charting of monstrous female creatures of legend is endlessly fascinating, and shot-through with formidable wit, wisdom and fresh takes on history."

The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan - "An untold history of the relationship between climate and mankind"

Mother Tongue by Gurdeep Loyal - "A mouth-watering cookbook which welcomes you to journey with Gurdeep Loyal into his culinary memories and exploration of food."

[Re]Start: It's Never Too Late by James Pattinson, Julia Cockerham, Latreya Nelson, Eddy Nicholls - "Part graphic novel, part journal, this toolkit for life shares powerful messages of resilience and “it’s never too late” fresh starts"

Debuts of the Month

Discover a new author to fall in love with, from brand new engaging page-turners to paperback releases of unique reads that we've loved for a while. Take a look at what our experts thought of these debut books, the authors are now well and truly on our radar.

The Walled Garden by Sarah Hardy - "Set in the aftermath of WW2, this is a captivating novel about love, war, hope, compassion and the power of human resilience; it’s a beauty."

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - "Fizzing with feminist humour and romance, this radiant, life-affirming novel sees a brilliant chemist and single mother switch to presenting a hit TV cooking show that challenges 1960s social norms."

Theatre of Marvels by Lianne Dillsworth - "A dynamic and thought-provoking historical drama that hits all the right notes as it explores social issues, relationships, and self-identity."

Reptile Memoirs by Silje O. Ulstein - "Incomparably unique, this addictively unsettling literary thriller is a viper’s nest of obsession, trauma, self-preservation and revenge."

Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai - "This beautiful, uniquely engaging page-turner melds Japanese myth, magic realism and the traumatic aftermath of the Great Japan Earthquake."

No Life for a Lady by Hannah Dolby - "This romp about a Victorian lady becoming a detective will solve all your uplifting historical fiction problems"

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran - "Set in Vietnam, this riveting gothic mystery throngs with romance and the ghostly secrets of a ramshackle colonial house"

Breaking Point by Edel Coffey - "This chilling, emotional thriller explores the burdens placed on working mothers in the wake of a high-flying doctor’s tragic mistake."

I Am Enough by Sheridan Stewart - "A  book about change and contentment. It's an enjoyable and inspiring guide to slowing down the pace of your life and practising self-care"

Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month

Liz's recommendations always offer a reliable range of brilliant books and these March titles are no different. Take a look at the books Liz has recommended this month and head to the bottom of the page to add them to your basket.

Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh - "An intoxicating read, set in a small town in France, that loses itself in the layered labyrinth of one woman’s mind during the 1950’s."

The Man I Met on Holiday by Fiona Gibson - "Sunshine, showers, and storms make this relationship tale feel wonderfully authentic while still bringing a whole heap of feel-good factor."

The Bookseller of Inverness by S. G. MacLean - "Seizing thoughts and buffeting feelings this crime thriller set after the Battle of Culloden hits the very peak of storytelling."

In A New York Minute by Kate Spencer - "A lively, joyful and thoroughly modern romance set within a city that joins the cast as a main character."

Star Books

Another month chock-a-block with stars. This month's galaxy of great reads feature familiar names, some familiar titles now available in slimmer paperback form, award contenders and much, much more. These are books we loved from the first page right through to the final sentence. If you're in a reading slump, you won't go wrong picking up one of these.