March ended up being my biggest reading month so far this year. I finished eight books and read a total of 2,852 pages, which I’m really pleased with.
I kept a good mix of formats again — four audiobooks, two Kindle reads and two physical books — which made it easier to fit reading into everyday life depending on what I was doing.
I had one five-star read this month, The Other Passages, which really stood out for me. The rest were a real mix in terms of genre and enjoyment — from historical fiction and cosy mystery to dystopian and thrillers — which always keeps things interesting.
The Other Passages – Louise Candlish
Jamie has a seemingly perfect London life — a nice home, a steady relationship, and a daily riverboat commute where he befriends the charismatic Kit. But when Kit suddenly goes missing after a night out, Jamie finds himself at the centre of a police investigation. With witnesses placing them arguing on the boat, suspicion quickly turns towards him — and as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that friendships, relationships and truths aren’t quite what they seem.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Domestic thriller
- Missing Person
- Hidden secrets
- Unreliable perceptions
- Past resurfaces
My thoughts: 5/5 Stars
This was a book club pick for the month and I honestly loved it. I devoured the whole book in just a few days. I found the shorter chapters really easy to read and it meant I could pick up and put down quickly during the day when I had a few spare minutes, although to be honest I ended up bingeing it for a few hours at a time! The jump between time lines wasn’t difficult to follow either. I found some of the plot predictable but it was written so well I didn’t mind. A really good thriller to get your teeth into.
Starling House – Alix E. Harrow
Opal has spent her life trying to escape her circumstances, but when she’s drawn to the mysterious Starling House, she finds herself pulled into a world of secrets, strange histories and dark magic. The house — and the man who lives there — are far more complicated than they first appear.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Gothic mystery
- Forbidden place
- Slow-burn romance
- Found family
- Hidden past
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
Part haunted house, part mythical fantasy, part love story! I decided to try this one as it was a Reece Witherspoon Book Club pick, and I found the audiobook version of it. I really enjoyed the audiobook, brilliantly narrated and fast paced enough to keep me hooked. My only criticism is the end felt a little abrupt, I kinda wanted a little more. But it is a great concept and brilliant story. Im now looking forward to reading more of her books.
Wild Rose – Roxanne Tully
Set on a small-town ranch, this story follows Rose, who heads to Blue River for a fresh start, only to end up working for her brother’s best friend. What should be a simple summer job quickly becomes complicated, as tension builds between them and old boundaries start to blur. With close proximity, unresolved pasts and plenty of chemistry, this one leans fully into those addictive cowboy romance vibes.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Small-town romance
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Brother’s best friend
- Workplace romance
- Age gap
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
I’m always a fan of lightweight, easy to read spicy books, and do have a soft spot for cowboy romances. This one didn’t disappoint. Stereotypical Cowboy story line, girl from the city falls for the grumpy cowboy. Similar to Chestnut Hills series by Elsie Silver, but with less spice. Still an enjoyable quick romance romp if thats your thing, great as a beach/holiday read.
The Maid – Nita Prose
Molly, a hotel maid who thrives on routine and order, finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation when she discovers a guest dead in his room. As suspicion falls on her, her unique perspective means she sees things others don’t — but also struggles to make herself understood.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Murder mystery
- Unreliable narrator
- Outsider protagonist
- Found friendship
- Hidden truth
My thoughts: 3/5 stars
I’d heard great things about this, but I honestly didn’t love it. I had the audiobook and got through it super quickly as it is really easy listening, but I found the character of Molly really irritating. I get that she is portrayed as having neurodivergent traits but I just couldn’t warm to her, and I thought that the story just wasn’t that interesting or different to others I have read.
Vinegar Girl – Anne Tyler
A modern retelling of The Taming of the Shrew, this story follows Kate, a sharp-tongued young woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she’s asked to enter into a marriage of convenience. What follows is a mix of humour, resistance and reluctant connection.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Marriage of convenience
- Opposites attract
- Family pressure
- Modern retelling
- Slow-burn romance
My thoughts: 3/5 stars
I only tried this one as it was on one of the Goodreads Challenges. I haven’t read The Taming of the Shrew so I didn’t know what the story line was or what to expect. A lot like The Maid it was a super quick read, but I just didn’t find it that interested and was actually irritated by most of the characters. The end was very brief and abrupt also.
Circus of Wonders – Elizabeth Macneal
Set in Victorian England, this novel follows Nell, whose life changes dramatically when she’s sold to a travelling circus. As she becomes part of this unusual world, she experiences both belonging and exploitation, while navigating identity, power and performance.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Found family
- Outsider protagonist
- Historical setting
- Power imbalance
- Identity journey
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was last months book club pick and has had a mixed reaction from everyone. It’s sad and poignant, but also joyous in places. I loved the setting, and the characters, the tension as to whether they would succeed in becoming famous, Nell finding her own family and a place she felt accepted, but the end was hard to read and I really wish it had ended more happily for Nell and Toby.
Sunrise on the Reaping – Suzanne Collins
Set in the world of Panem, this story returns to the Hunger Games universe, exploring another chapter of survival, control and rebellion. As the Games unfold, the focus shifts to the human cost of power and the individuals caught within it.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Dystopian society
- Survival game
- Oppressive regime
- Moral dilemmas
- Rebellion
My thoughts: 4/5 stars
The prequel to The Hunger Games Trilogy, which I was a big fan of and read when they originally came out (2008-2010). I did enjoy how it explored the character of Hamitch Abernathy, how his life was before The Games and why he became the man we see in the original books. I really loved being introduced to the other characters we meet later on 0 Beetee, Wiress, Mags and even Effie Trinket. And I was hooked on the plans to sabotage the games and seeing how evil President Snow really could be. But I thought the writing of the games themselves, was way to brief, it lacked details which the original books had, it felt like it was all over in just a few pages, rather than the big battle I was expecting. Still a great addition to the collection of stories.
The Couple in the Lodge – A. J. Wills
A couple cut off by the snow. A series of mysterious packages. And a prediction that one of them will die…Clara Flint’s life changed forever when her debut novel became an international bestseller. Now, under pressure to deliver a sequel, she’s paralysed by writer’s block — and watching her marriage quietly unravel.
Find it here
Main tropes:
- Remote setting
- Domestic thriller
- Hidden secrets
- Relationship tension
- Suspicion & mistrust
My thoughts: 3/5 stars
This was another book club pick and was such a disappointment, I would probably have given it a 2.5 stars in reality! It started out so strong!! The start felt like it was going to be a horror, ghost story type of thriller, and I loved the opening scenes when they arrived at the house. The book is in 3 parts and they gradually got worse! Sadly I guessed the major twist very early on, which took a lot of the pleasure out of the book I think. I thought the ending was just really ridiculous and some parts were completely unnecessary. If you want a thriller, set in scotland, with a good twist I would recommend Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney