March has actually been a fairly good reading month for me, and I'm definitely on target to complete my Goodreads challenge which this year is 100 books! Here's everything I read in March with quickfire reviews...
The Daughter by T M Logan
This was my first audiobook of the month, and I really enjoyed it - I love T M Logan anyway, and I do kind of wish I'd read a physical copy of this as I think it might have hit even better, but this was a great thriller about a missing young woman and a mum who will not give up. Great twists, interesting plot, heavy drama. 4 stars!
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
I read this for our book club pick in March, and enjoyed it more than I thought I would - the twist is phenomenal, but it does beg the question of does a good twist make a good book? Because the more we chatted about it at book club, the more we found flaws and realised just how much of the story is left almost unfinished. Also, all of the characters are really quite unlikeable. That being said, still an enjoyable read. I gave it 3.5 stars in the end!
The Love of my Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood
This has been sat on my shelves since my bestie bought it for my birthday last year - chosen by her because of the ombre sprayed edges, which I hugely appreciate. I'd heard that it's pretty funny so when I was feeling unwell and very sorry for myself towards the beginning of the month I decided to pick it up. And ohhh it didn't disappoint; funny, poignant, heartfelt, lovely... there are no words to describe just how much this book made me laugh and cry, and if I could give it six stars I would. Utterly charming. Favourite read of the year so far.
Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey
I am a sucker for a spicy sports romance, and even though this one was about golf (??) I still absolutely devoured it, and really enjoyed it. I'm a big fan of Tessa Bailey's writing, and this one had a genuinely nice plot as well as fun, interesting characters and good sex scenes without really too much cringe. 4.5 stars from me!!
Breakaway by Grace Reilly
Speaking of cringe, this one has bucket loads of it - I didn't hate it, but it was definitely a bit of an ick to read. I don't think this is a particularly well written book, but if you like a LOT of spice then you will enjoy it. And of course there's a nice little hockey/college storyline which is fun. I gave this 3.5 stars personally...
Stealing Home by Grace Reilly
I definitely preferred this one to Breakaway, as it was much less cringe - another college romance featuring rich kids and heartbreak. The plot of the books in this series is pretty much the same, as with most romance novels, but it was still a fun enjoyable read. 4 stars!
Heartless by Elsie Silver
My second foray into Elsie Silver's work, and of course the second in her Chestnut Springs series. As cowboy romances go, this is a good'un and I can see why everybody loves these books - they're not as good as Paisley Hope's Silver Pines series, imo, but this is a cute age-gap/single dad romance set on a ranch with a delightful slow burn situation. 4.5 stars!
Powerless by Elsie Silver
My favourite of the Chestnut Springs series so far, because childhood friends to lovers is a gorgeous trope and the FMC in this book was such a strong character - I loved seeing her internal transformation. There isn't anywhere near as much spice in this one, but what there is is well written. The book has great pacing and I really really enjoyed it. 4.75 stars for this one.
Reckless by Elsie Silver
Winter and Theo absolutely charmed me; I did feel this one was a little random as we don't know much of either character before this book, however it was a gorgeous story and I absolutely fell in love with their little family. Plus, bull riding is such a VIBE. 4 stars!
Hopeless by Elsie Silver
The final book of the series and honestly my least favourite - really she could have stopped at book 4, I didn't feel connected to either of the main characters in this one and I felt they lacked a connection to each other. It's a sweet story but honestly very 'meh' for me - a 3.5, it just doesn't live up to the rest of Chestnut Springs!
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
My final read of March and wow, what a way to close out the month. Truly, utterly, sensational - so cleverly crafted, so gutwrenchingly sad, so powerful. Haymitch has always been one of my favourite characters and to see an insight into why he is the way he is was equal parts upsetting and uplifting. A beautiful 5 stars from me.
Here's hoping April is an equally good reading month as March was!