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March was a pretty good book month for me – I managed to read 4 books. I knew I was going to read Girl, Stop Apologizing, but I didn’t read any of the other books I planned to read. Instead I picked up a few new, unexpected books – check them out!

Party Girl by Rachel Hollis

Synopsis (Amazon):

Landon Brinkley’s dreams are all coming true. She’s landed an internship with a fabulous event planner for the Hollywood elite, taking her from small-town Texas to the bright lights of LA. Landon finds herself in a world in which spending a million dollars on an event—even a child’s birthday party—is de rigueur, and the whims of celebrity clients are life-and-death matters. At first, the thrill of working on A-list parties and celebrity weddings is enough to survive the seventy-five-hour workweeks and her mercurial boss. But when the reality of the business reveals itself, she’s forced to make a choice: do whatever it takes to get ahead, or stay true to herself.

Drawing on the author’s real-life experiences as an event planner to the stars, Party Girl takes readers on an adventure among Hollywood’s most beautiful—and most outrageous—people, revealing the ugly side of Hollywood’s prettiest parties.

My Review: 

This is the only fiction book I managed to read this month. But I’m going to highly recommend it if you like cheesy, goody-goody, chick lit (like Meg Cabot, or Sophia Kinsella). It was an easy read, the main character, Landon, was super goody-goody and naive, but it was cute. I enjoyed the easiness of the read; I don’t always want heavy, brain-exhausting reads. And the most interesting thing is that the author bases the novel off of her real-life time working as a celebrity event intern and planner. So there are details that make it seem pretty authentic. Overall, I really enjoyed this as a lighthearted, fun read. Headed somewhere on Spring Break vacation? This is your book! Plus there are two more books in the series (Smart Girl and Sweet Girl).

Recommendation: Buy it. If you like chick lit, you’ll read it and reread it when you’re looking for a light read!

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

Synopsis (Amazon):

Reese Witherspoon’s grandmother Dorothea always said that a combination of beauty and strength made southern women “whiskey in a teacup.” We may be delicate and ornamental on the outside, she said, but inside we’re strong and fiery.

Reese’s southern heritage informs her whole life, and she loves sharing the joys of southern living with practically everyone she meets. She takes the South wherever she goes with bluegrass, big holiday parties, and plenty of Dorothea’s fried chicken. It’s reflected in how she entertains, decorates her home, and makes holidays special for her kids—not to mention how she talks, dances, and does her hair (in these pages, you will learn Reese’s fail-proof, only slightly insane hot-roller technique). Reese loves sharing Dorothea’s most delicious recipes as well as her favorite southern traditions, from midnight barn parties to backyard bridal showers, magical Christmas mornings to rollicking honky-tonks.

My Review: 

I love Reese Witherspoon, so I’ve been wanting to read this book for months now. I have mixed feelings about the book. It has a lot of great recipes that I’d love to try, and the photos in the book are great. Reese’s voice and personality really come across in the text. But, it also felt a little empty to me. I wanted a little more substance to it; it felt a little airy, without enough depth. I bought the book and I don’t regret it, because, like I said there are some great recipes in it. I don’t know that I would reread the entire thing, but I’ll definitely look back through it for the photos and recipes. 

Recommendation: Buy it if you like to collect recipes or if you like fun, coffee-table books. Otherwise, borrow it from the library, but take the time to read it once. 

Kindness is the New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure

Synopsis (Amazon):

As a woman in today’s world, you know what it’s like to feel pressure on all sides from clashing cultural expectations. How can you stay true to who God has uniquely created you to be in the face of the script you’ve been given? What’s more, how can you stand your ground with grace?

The classy confidence you know and love—whether it’s on set at Full House or Fuller House, Dancing with the Stars, The View, or Candace’s Hallmark films—is no act. But it hasn’t come easy. In fact, learning to stay true to herself with grace has been one of the biggest fights of Candace’s life.

The secret, she has learned, is kindness: it’s classy, unexpected, even counter-cultural, and ultimately wins the day.

My Review: 

This was my least favorite book this month. I like Candace Cameron Bure, and I really wanted to like this book. But I just didn’t. It was very, very focused on religion, which I have no problem with, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I am definitely of the opinion that the world needs more kindness, and I think Bure is too, but she didn’t do a great job of promoting that. Instead, she usually just linked everything back to letting God shine through you. Which is fine, I think that people who really let their faith shine can be kinder, more empathetic people. But the book was fluffy, empty, and without real solutions to me. 

Here’s the thing – other people may really like this book. This is just my opinion. It was fine, but it just wasn’t deep enough or applicable enough for me. 

Recommendation: Skip it or borrow it from the library. 

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

Synopsis (Amazon):

In Girl, Stop Apologizing, #1 New York Times bestselling author and founder of a multimillion-dollar media company, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call. She knows that many women have been taught to define themselves in light of other people—whether as wife, mother, daughter, or employee—instead of learning how to own who they are and what they want. With a challenge to women everywhere to stop talking themselves out of their dreams, Hollis identifies the excuses to let go of, the behaviors to adopt, and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence, and believing in yourself.

My Review:

This was my favorite book this month. I really enjoyed Girl, Wash Your Face, and this one was a close second. As I’m trying to grow my own blog and business, and reach my goals, Hollis helped me wrap my mind around what I need to do to be successful. I feel like this book really helps you get out of your own head and make a plan for success. Plus she writes like she is talking to you; she feels like a friend. I can’t recommend this book enough!

What great books have you read recently? I’m always looking for recommendations! 

And if you’re looking for more book reviews and recommendations, check out February’s books and January’s books!