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 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 though I’ve managed to read far more than I usually do. Still no book purchases as yet this year, though that was more by accident than design.

Here’s what made it passed the book proof fence:

1. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, kindly sent for review by Pushkin Press.
2. The Lost Properties of Love by Sophie Radcliffe, sent for review by William Collins.
3. Snow, Dog, Foot by Claudio Mornandini, translated by J Ockenden, sent for review by Peirene Press.
4. Shiver by Allie Reynolds, sent for review by Headline (and not out until 2021!).
5. Hideaway by Nora Roberts, sent for review by Piatkus.
6. Grandmothers by Salley Vickers, sent for review by the author.
7. Three Little Liars by Heidi Perks, sent for review by Cornerstone.
8. Business as Usual by Jane Oliver and Ann Stafford, sent for review by Handheld Press.
9. The Switch by Beth O’Leary.
10. The Women Who Ran Away by Sheila O’Flanagan.
11. The New Girl by Harriet Walker, sent with the last two books by Team Bookends.
12. Bitter Wash Road by Garry Disher, sent by Viper Books.
13. Echoes of Ruins by Christina Courtney, sent by Headline.
14. Invisible Agents by Nadine Akkerman, sent by Oxford University Press.
15. The Accidental Love Letter by Olivia Beirne, sent by Headline.
16. Duncan Versus the Googleys by Kate Milner.
17. Lampie by Annet Schaap.
18. Lost by Ele Fountain. These last three were sent for review by Pushkin Children’s and are then going to find a new home at a friend’s school.
19. The Murder Game by Rachel Abbot, sent for review by Headline.
20. Settling Scores, edited by Martin Edwards, sent for review by the British Library.

Here’s what I read:

1. Amour: How the French Talk About Love by Stefania Rousselle.
2. Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.
3. The Cutting Place by Jane Casey.
4. Snow, Dog, Foot by Claudio Morandini.
5. Business as Usual by Jane Oliver and Ann Stafford.
6. Perfect Kill by Helen Fields.
7. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, translated by Louise Heal Kawai.

I gave away 7 books to a variety of friends. These were duplicates of ones I already had so made the parting much easier. So 20 in, 14 out, not quite a balance but going along the right lines. I have a feeling March will be a quieter month on both scores. We shall have to see!