Here we are again!

Last month’s What I’ve Been Reading post was a really long list, cos it covered January AND February.

This month’s is obviously a tad bit smaller, as it’s only from March.

I’ve also been distracted by Netflix a lot so haven’t been reading as much as I normally would…

(I feel like Kimmy and Once Upon A Time are worthy distractions though!)

The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

I was in the middle of this when I wrote my last reading post, and I finished it the day after.

It’s… OK. I find it hard to describe!

The plot and characters are the sort you’d find in a tween/teen fantasy novel: a bit under-developed and shallow. Which is fine.

But then I felt like the writing is faaaaar too flowery to be in a tween/teen novel.

Which leaves me a bit confused as to who exactly the author was aiming this at.

I did really like the story and I found it really engrossing (actually missed my stop into work one morning cos I was so into it!), but by the end I just felt like there was something missing.

It was a bit of an unsatisfactory ending to be honest!

Verdict: THREE STARS

 

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

More mermaids!

The lovely Amy recommended this one to me in the comments of last month’s post.

It’s proper modern fantasy YA reading.

Lots of American high school and romance and mermaids and a really hot guy on a motorbike.

Not exactly a literary masterpiece, but perfect for pure teen escapism.

Verdict: THREE AND A HALF STARS

 

Eat My Heart Out by Zoe Pilger

Confession time: I didn’t actually finish this one.

IT’S SO WEIRD.

Anne-Marie is a crazy posh girl whose boyfriend cheated on her so she drops out of Oxford university, gets a waitressing job and goes on a sexual rampage whilst blathering on about politics and living on champagne and cigarettes.

There’s a whole load of pretentious whining about art, money, feminism and blahblahblah.

Maybe it gets better towards the end?

I don’t know. I got about 20 pages in and gave up.

Not my sort of thing at all.

Verdict: ONE STAR

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

I read Philosopher’s Stone last month and after the horrors of Eat My Heart Out, I wanted something comforting and familiar.

Chamber of Secrets is actually probably my least favourite of J.K.’s offerings.

Still love it. Obviously. But if I HAD to pick one I liked less, I’d probably go for this one.

Verdict: FOUR AND A HALF STARS

 

Making it Big by Lyndsay Russell

I love this book.

It’s a pretty standard chick lit story, but set in an alternate reality: Size 22 is the new Size 0.

Kind of Alice in Wonderland-esque, but it’s interesting to see how polarizing the reviews are: for every person who raves about it, there’s also someone saying that they just didn’t get it.

I personally really enjoy it.

I’ve re-read it many a time, and I think it’s a really fascinating look into celebrity, body image and healthy expectations.

Definitely recommend!

Verdict: FOUR STARS

 

The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams by Fiona Harper

More chick lit!

This one’s actually really fun.

I was expecting it to be super cliched but I was pleasantly surprised.

Some of the characters are a bit predictable (oh look another blonde, beautiful reality celebrity with daddy and commitment issues…) but on the whole I enjoyed it.

The plot took some twists I wasn’t expecting and overall I finished it feeling pretty smiley and content.

Which is kind of the point of romantic fiction right?

Verdict: THREE AND A HALF STARS

 

CURRENTLY READING

 

The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng

This one is reaaaally long. I’ve been working my way through it for over a week now!

The writing is beautiful, with stunning descriptions. It’s almost like seeing a work of art being painted.

However I’m 40% through and still couldn’t REALLY tell you what it’s about. The story itself is very, veeeery slow.

But I’m actually not minding it too much. It feels nice to just float along letting the words sink in…

We’ll see how I get on with the rest of it!

*******

I’ve got an ace list of ones to read this month, which I’m really looking forward to.

I’m planning on finally, fiiiinally, getting my head into the Mortal Instruments series, as well as completing the Jane Austen collection with Persuasion.

Do you have any other recommendations for me? :)

What’s been your favourite read this month?

PS. If you’re on Goodreads, add me as a friend!