March was the start of a weird time for all of us – when the lockdown started, I was excited at the prospect of having more time to read. However, if I’m honest, just having more time, doesn’t actually mean you use it productively, so I think it’s important to focus on keeping our bodies and minds healthy, and if we happen to be productive too, then that’s just a happy coincidence.

So here’s what I read in March, it was a good month for reading, and I hope that continues into April as well!

Crazy Rich Asians

After the film for this came out I was determined to read it as there was so much hype, and when I found it for £1 in a charity shop, I couldn’t resist! This book was funny and interesting, and the footnotes from the author to explain bits of Singaporean dialect or slang were both educational and an excellent addition to the book. Overall, it was a good storyline with likeable characters, so nothing to complain about really!

The Recovery of Rose Gold

I was gifted a copy of this from Michal Joseph books and was excited to read it as it concerned Munchausen’s By Proxy which is something I’d always been fascinated by. Rose Gold had grown up with a manipulative mother, but when Patty was eventually found out, she was safely locked in jail. However, five years later when she’s released, can Rose find it in her heart to forgive her, or are some things just unforgivable? This book was gripping and unpredictable – a fab read!

Starman’s Saga

This sci-fi novel concerns Leif Grettison or “Leif the Lucky”. He, half-heartedly, decides to enter a lottery to be in with the chance of joining humanity’s first starflight which is set to explore a planet which could be the next Earth. Leif is very shocked when he learns that he was the one chosen, and his life as he knows it, will now change. Joining a plethora of interesting characters on the ship, what they encounter in space, may not be as challenging as the clashing personalities onboard. Exciting and original, this book was an interesting ride! Read my full review here.

I Was Born for This

I read this as @travelsinfiction and I did a book swap where we made the other read a book we love, but think they would hate. I wasn’t particularly looking forward to it, as the book did not sound like something I’d normally pick up, but I was pleasantly surprised! I Was Born For This follows both band member Jimmy and fangirl Angel whose lives are about to intertwine. Touching on important themes such as identity, sexuality, mental health, and relationships, this book is an interesting and compelling read.

Unnatural Causes

This was by far one of my favourite reads of the month! Concerning the life and career of pathologist Dr. Richard Shepherd, this book details the work he carried out over the years and how that impacted his life. Dealing with high profiles cases such as the 9/11 attacks and Princess Diana’s death, Shepherd’s recollection of the things he witnessed in his morgue are both morbidly fascinating and rightfully horrifying. Read my full review here.

Around the World in 80 Trees

I was gifted this by Lawrence King Publishing. This fascinating book quite simply does what it says on the tin – takes the reader around the world detailing the trees you will find across every continent. Each description included a page or two of information as well as stunning drawings of the leaves, trunks, and surrounding areas you may find the trees in. Something really interesting and eye-opening, and a great book to get lost in while stuck inside! Read my full review here.

The Aftermath

I picked this up in a charity shop a few months ago as I’d seen the film trailer, and as someone who loves books concerning WWI/WWII, I thought it would be something I’d enjoy. Set in 1946 in the winter after the war, Rachel and her husband Lewis move into the house of a German widower and his daughter. With a multitude of emotions emitting from all parties involved, how will they all survive in a situation as unfamiliar as this? In all honesty, this book was disappointing, I was bored and didn’t care for any of the characters. Let’s see if it translates onto the big screen in a more impactful way…

Tin Man

I picked this up in Gay’s the Word bookshop before the lockdown and had previously seen it everywhere! Concerning the lives of Ellis and Michael and how their relationship with each other and those around them evolves throughout their lives, this thought-provoking and impactful read stayed with me well after I turned the last page. As I said in my review, being more about what isn’t said than what is, this book will resonate with many. Read my full review here.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

After the lockdown started, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to re-read the entire Harry Potter series. I started the #HPQuarantineReadathon on Instagram and have set out a schedule to read one every fortnight until July. I’m really excited for it, and absolutely loved being lost in the magical world once more! Head to my Instagram if you want to see the full schedule and get involved.