I haven’t forgotten, I promise. March has been a month. My poor wittle website got hacked (How? I don’t know?) and I spent what felt like 3,000 years of my life trying to remove malicious code and installing firewalls. But huzzah! It is fixed and I feel like a genius.

I’ve done a lot of reading this month, mainly because I continued my Harry Potter re-read I never bothered to finish last year, and let me tell you! I forgot how much I love and treasure these books! I’ve read each book a minimum of 15 times at this point and I still get emotional over these characters.

There have been a few other titles littered amongst the Potter – mainly Thrillers (what a surprise!). Excluding Enchantee which I’ve just started reading I have yet to read a YA Fantasy book this year which, for me, is a bit of a surprise.

I’ve only read one short story collection this month and that was Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark in preparation for Del Toro’s adaptation coming this August. Let me just tell you… reading this in the dark before bed is not the best idea if you don’t want to have series of weird dreams/nightmares.

1. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz ● rated 4 Stars

1. Connections in Death by J.D. Robb ● rated 4 Stars
While I enjoyed the 48th instalment of this series it was by no means my favourite of the series (or the best). Probably one of the most linear storylines Robb has churned out, I want a return to high-stakes, strained relationships and interesting things happening that I can fully invest myself in.

2. Betrayal by Harold Pinter ● rated 4 Stars
I get to see this performed in theatre in 2 months time (aaaaahhhhhh!) starring Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Cox and Zawe Ashton (cue more screaming – aaaaaaaaaaaah)! This play is quite literally a series of shitty individuals lying and deceiving each other in 144 pages. I can’t wait to hate everyone all over again.

3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling ● rated 5 Stars
All my little babies – so sweet, so pure, so innocent.

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling ● rated 5 Stars
Excuse me while I get emotional over Remus, Sirius and Dumbledore for the nth time. I just want my precious children to live long happy lives but we all know how that turns out.

5. Misery by Stephen King ● rated 5 Stars
Misery was twisted, dark, and to put it plainly… terrifying. King didn’t need to include the supernatural to make the hairs on your arm stand on end. He just needed humanity or the lack of it.

6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling ● rated 5 Stars
I’ve forgotten how much of this book I’ve, well, forgotten. It’s been too long. But it was also great because I got to be hella emotional again over the end! Sirius seeing Harry after the third task. Fawkes comforting Harry after the third task. Sirius with his face in his hands after Harry mentions James. I’m not okay, you guys. I’m not.

7. Lullaby by Leïla Slimani ● rated 3 Stars
After an explosive opening, Lullaby ended on a lackluster and disappointing note. I was expecting something akin to Baby Teeth by Zoje Stage but was sorely mistaken. This is not a thriller but a character study. Lullaby touched on themes of racism, class, mental health and the loneliness of being a parent. If, like me, you read the blurb/first chapter and expected a book chock full of twists and turns, you’ll be sorely disappointed.

8. Batman Damned: Book One by Brian Azzarello ● rated 2 Stars
I’m really not sure what I expected here? But I defintely expected better. A “visceral thrill-ride” that explores the events that take place in the wake of the Joker’s death as Batman is unable to recollect whether he commited the crime or not is not what I got. While the artwork was stunning, the narration dropped the ball and made this a tedious read. Frank Miller can’t be imitated.

Here I am with the same set of books on my ‘next-to-read’ list for the third month in a row (well, almost the same set). I’ve managed to read Misery (which was A+++ everyone read it) and I’ve made a start on Enchantee (which so far is pretty so-so).

1. The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (ARC)
2. The Orphanage of Gods by Helena Coggan (ARC)
3. The Furies by Katie Lowe (ARC)
4. Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

How was your bookish March?

Read any of the books above or a choosing to in April? Got a book you think I’ll be interested in? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.