🥳 What I Read in March 2026

🥳 What I Read in March 2026


2026 GoodReads Reading Challenge:  ?? Books Completed Out of Goal of 100 (??%)

Picking up the pace with my reading this month. Got some finished that I have been reading for a while, and finally took one book off my physical tbr list that has been staring at me for far too long. Mostly 4 💜, which is great, and one disappointing 3 💜.

 




My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you, Netgalley and Verve Books, for allowing me to read this ARC. 

I loved this book. It's very dark with lots of atmosphere and sinister happenings, but I loved every page. 

This book is told in two time periods, each with a different narrator. Alys is a woman living in modern times, and she is seeking the Slashed Beauty Venuses - anatomical wax figures depicting three women who were killers in the 1700s. Legend has it that these figures are cursed and come to life to end the lives of men who have wronged them. She has a special link to these women, but is determined to put an end to the legend. But the three women may not be willing to accept this fate. 

Eleanor is a young woman who has been abandoned in London in 1763. When she is rescued from uncertainty by Elizabeth and offered a home with herself and Emily at a soon-to-be-opened courtesan salon, she doesn't hesitate. Until she has lived with Elizabeth for a while and realises that everything is not as it seems in her new home. 

This is a great example of Gothic historical fiction done beautifully. And the twist near the end had my chin bouncing on the ground. 

If you like gothic tales with strong women, then I think you will love this book. 


 



My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

This book has been on my physical tbr list for far too long. I finally decided to grab it and start reading, and I'm so glad I did. I like that each chapter is told from the pov of a different character, so the reader gets a varied view of the events that unfold throughout the books. 

Kaz Brekker is a criminal mastermind who runs a successful, feared gang in their local town. When he is offered the opportunity to earn a whole lot of money he jumps at the chance. All he has to do is one little heist. Seems easy, until it isn't. He isn't alone in this mission, as he needs lots of help. 

The characters are very different, and yet they all work well together and have one anothers back when the chips are down, for the most part. Some of them have magical abilities that help them along their path. I love the banter between the characters, especially those who have known one another before joining this motley crew of thieves and criminals. 

The book moves a little bit slowly at the start, but once it starts to get moving, there is absolutely no stopping it. 

Will they succeed? And will they all live to the end?

I was loving this book so much, I got the second book in the duology when I was about half way through this one. Can't wait to start the next book in April. 

If you love adventures, rogues, dangerous missions and magic, then I think you will enjoy this book. 



My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Audio, for granting me permission to listen to this audiobook.

This is a wonderful mystery thriller that keeps you gripped throughout. It builds slowly to a huge twist that I didn't see coming.

The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Dan Stevens, Hannah Curtis, Christine Rendel and Sarah Callum. Dan Stevens is the main narrator and does a wonderful job of speaking the words of Benedict Prince and other characters with great aplomb. The narrators really add to the story with their great work. 

In this book, we meet Dr Benedict Prince, who is an expert in sleep-related crime, and gets the chance to work with Anna O, a young woman who has been asleep for four years in a state neurologists have called resignation syndrome. He is brought in to help wake Anna up so that she can stand trial for her alleged crime of murdering her two friends. There seems to be no motive for the crime, and everyone wants to know if 'sleeping beauty', as she is dubbed, really did it, and if so, why.

The book beautifully details not just Anna's life before the crime, but also Benedict's work and personal life while he navigates being divorced from his police detective wife while co-parenting their daughter. 

Will he succeed in waking her? Did Anna murder her two friends? Do yourself a favour and grab this audiobook to find out. 


Midnight Bookshop, Written By Amanda James

My Rating: 💜 💜 💜

This is my book of the month for the Chapter a Day Readalong group via Chapter 25.

I really struggled to continue reading this book, and almost DNF'd it quite a few times. But I decided to keep reading it, hoping it would improve, but it really didn't, unfortunately. 

In this book, we meet Jo, Adelaide and Kye, three people who are in their own personal nightmares - Jo has parents who are more concerned with their images than their daughter, Adelaide is married to a bully, and Kye has a sick mother and a drug dealer for a brother who is determined to bring him into his business. After serendipitously meeting, they decide to find the Midnight Bookshop after finding a leaflet advertising it. After having problems locating it, they eventually track it down. What they find is a magical bookshop, run by a mysterious woman named Fay, who seems to know things before they happen. When Fay tells them that they don't pick a book, the book chooses them, and they each pick a book to read for their book club. Suddenly, their lives start to change. 

For me, this book had so much promise, but sadly didn't deliver. The writing was overly emotional, with everyone crying constantly. There is the potential to explore a new world with Fay, but it is never touched upon. The answer to the riddle that is Fay is never explored, and it's a pity because that might have been more interesting. The characters were nice enough, but I wasn't as invested as I'd hoped. 

If you like extremely slow, overly emotional stories, then you might enjoy this. To be honest, I might try out the audiobook instead. 



My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜

Thank you, NetGalley and Lexi Davis, for allowing me to read this ARC.

This is a fun, quick and spicy tale for Valentine's Day, although it would be a good read at any time of the year. 

Check the trigger warnings before reading, as some themes may not be for everyone. 

Hannah is about to go on a first date, while her stalker, Damian, is watching her every move. When her date night doesn't go as she had planned, Damian is forced to reveal himself to her to stop her from doing something silly and potentially dangerous. Will she find out the truth about her new friend? 

At 89 pages, it's a very fast read that doesn't pull any punches. Very direct and straight to the point, but there is a decent explanation of the characters. The obsession is well-detailed. I start off not really liking Damian, but my opinion changes a little as the story goes along. 

If you like quick and spicy books, then I think you will like this, but as I said, check the trigger warnings before starting.

April Plans:

March was an awesome reading month. After a few lacklustre reading months, I really got my reading mojo back. I can't wait to read The Midnight Croissant before it comes out on the 14th April, although I am indulging in reading the first book in the series, Pearly Gates, first.
I'm also looking forward to stepping back into the world of Six of Crows with the second book in the duology, Crooked Kingdom. I already have it sitting in my physical TBR list, waiting for me. 
April is going to be a big Leigh Bardugo month for me. As well as reading Crooked Kingdom, I will also be reading Ninth House with my book group. 
Can't wait to dive in. 
Until next month. 
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