I don’t usually do a reading round up or do a book haul post. That said I thought it might be interesting (for me at least), if I had a look at how many books I manage to read in a month and compare it to how many arrive in the house. I know for a fact that the one in one out policy is never implemented, though I am trying to reliquish some books to make room for the kids.

I don’t read many books each month, at least not compared to many bloggers, though most people will probably wonder where I get my time to read as many books as I do. Because of that it is more than likely that the scales will be tipped towards incoming books rather than outgoing ones (i.e. read books or those given away). I am lucky in that I sometimes receive books for review. This month I bought only three books, which is something of a record. What came in still outweighs what went out though…

Here’s what was locked into the Emson book vault this month.

1. Black River by Will  Dean, kindly  sent for review by Point Blank Books

2. Man at the Window by Robert Jefferys, sent for review.

3. The Holdout by Graham Moore, sent for review.

4. The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood, sent for review by Penguin.

5. The Corset by Laura Purcell.

6. Between Two Evils by Eva Dolan.

7. To the Lions by Holly Watt.

8. Impossible Causes by Julie Mayhew.

9. Social Creature by Tara Isabella Burton.

10. The House on Half Moon Street by Alex Reeve. Numbers 5 to 10 were all sent by Bloomsbury Raven for review.

11. Grace is Gone by Emily Elgar, sent for review by Sphere.

12. Angel by Elizabeth Taylor.

13. Ordinary People by Sally Rooney.

14. Cross Bones Yard by Kate Rhodes. (These last three were charity shop finds).

15. The Mercies by Kiran Milwood Hargreave, kindly sent for review by Picador.

16. The Dilemma by B. A. Paris, sent for review by HQ Stories.

17. Black Summer by M. W. Craven, sent for review by Constable.

18. Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton, kindly sent for review by Viking Books.

19. Meet Me at the Museum by Anne Youngson, sent for review by Transword.

20. Hellfire by Eoin Colfer, sent for review by Jo Fletcher  books.

21. The Hopes and Triumphs of the Amir Sisters by Nadiya Hussain, sent for review by HQ Stories.

22. The High Moment by Sara-Ella Ozbek.

23. Where We Belong by Anstey Harris. Both this and The High Moment were kindly sent for review by Simon and Schuster.

24. Framed by S. L. McInnis, sent for review by Headline.

25. Coming up for Air by Sarah Leipciger, sent for review by Doubleday.

26. Heatstroke by Hazel Barkworth, sent for review by Headline.

27. Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan.

28. 55 by James Delargy. This and Jenny Colgan’s book were borrowed from the library.

29. A Good Neighbourhood by Therese Anne Fowler, sent for review by Headline.

As for outgoings I read:

1. Coming Home to Winter Island by Jo Thomas.

2. Cruel Acts by Jane Casey (a library book so quick win balance wise).

3. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (read but will be remaining in the Emson archives to be re-read again one day).

4. The 24 Hour Café by Libby Page.

I gave 13 away to charity, (though a few of these were snaffled before by family members), gave 1 to a fellow school mum, posted another to a lovely blogger friend, returned 2 to the library, donated 2 to the school for a raffle prize and managed to throw 4 proofs in the recycling. (I’m still not quite over it!). So 29 in and 23 out. Not quite an equal balance sheet for the month but not as bad as I thought.

Next month sees a birthday celebration and Christmas. Though I’m not allowed books as presents as I ‘have too many already’ whatever that means. So I’m expecting the balance to be tipped in favour of leaving rather than receiving. We shall have to see…