In case you missed it, I took a soft hiatus from blogging in March. I still posted a few reviews and blog hopped a little. But for the most part I consciously took a step back. I may write a reflection post about that, to be determined. But overall it was nice to take a small breather. Even though I didn’t blog as much, I still have plenty to share for a March 2026 book blog wrap-up. So below you’ll find what I was up to in March.

Book Reviews

I posted three book reviews in March. From earliest to latest they are:

• The Trident and the Pearl by Sarah K.L. Wilson
• Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
• The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating by Tiffany Hunt

Blog Statistics

Every month I share some statistics from Google Analytics because I think it helps put expectations into perspective for other micro-bloggers like me who are out there. These statistics are from Google Analytics 4.

My top five posts for total page views are (as of March 30):

1. March 2026 Book Releases: 719 views
2. STEMinist Romance Books: 514 views
3. Arthurian Retellings Reading List: 441 views
4. Dungeons and Dragons Romance Books: 224 views
5. Book Review: To Bleed A Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker: 134 views

I didn’t post as much this month since I took a soft hiatus. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that viewership was overall pretty constant. I had ~6,600 views as of last night, which is about even with last month. That’s the power of SEO. Also, thank you to all who interacted with the handful of posts I generated this month!

I also gained a couple more followers and sit at 272. Welcome, all!

#BeattheBacklog

I finished two books that I had on my TBR prior to 2026. Those books are MEN WHO HATE WOMEN by Laura Bates and THE DARK LORD’S GUIDE TO DATING by Tiffany Hunt. I also DNF LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan, which I’ve had for over a year now. So I’ll count it in this category.

Other Bookish Items

I finished seven books in March and had one DNF:

• PARABLE OF THE SOWER by Octavia E. Butler
• TWO CAN PLAY by Ali Hazelwood (audiobook)
• MEN WHO HATE WOMEN by Laura Bates (audiobook)
• THE STARS TOO FONDLY by Emily Hamilton
• HUNCHBACK by Saou Ichikawa (translated, disability representation)
• THE DARK LORD’S GUIDE TO DATING by Tiffany Hunt (ARC)
• LONG LIVE EVIL by Sarah Rees Brennan (DNF)
  • This was a buddy read with Caitlin, but past the first couple of chapters I just struggled. I finally called it at 60%. I thought there was a lot of exposition that didn’t seem to further the plot. Not to mention for whatever reason I had such a hard time keeping everything straight in my head.
• TRAD WIFE by Saratoga Schaefer (nonbinary author)

A friend and I went to Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C. last week to listen to T. Kingfisher promote her new book, WOLF WORM. I didn’t really know much about her, but I had a great time listening to her talk about her book and answer questions. I like author events because it helps me understand why they might write about the things they do. Anyway, she mentioned one of the next books she’s writing is about naked mole rats in space. It sounds so odd that I definitely have to keep an eye out for it. She also said she has 6 books due this year and had turned in two already. What a commitment!!

Other Media Wrap-Up

HOPPERS: I loved this newly released animated movie. Mable, the main character, is trying to stop an overpass from being built over this pond area that used to have beavers. To try and figure out how to get beavers back into the area, which would stop construction, her consciousness goes into a beaver robot and she learns how to talk with them. I cried twice watching this. It’s such an ode to environmentalists and politicians fighting each other and feeling like you’re the only one who cares. It’s aimed at kids, but adults will definitely appreciate it as well. There were lots of reactions from kids and adults alike in the theatre.

PROJECT HAIL MARY: Like many others, I took to the movie theatre to see this new sci-fi adaptation. I thought the adaptation was really good, though to be fair I read the book two years ago, so there was a lot I’d forgotten. It had a more comedic tone than I remember in the book, but I think it worked well for the big screen. My husband, who hasn’t read the book, loved it. I kind of want to see it again, but I don’t feel like spending the money.

ASTERIX AND OBELIX: We finished the Netflix series a couple months ago, so we finally sat down to watch the live action movie (also on Netflix). It wasn’t anything earth shattering, but it was still a good time.

Non-Bookish Items

The weather has been so random this month. We got up to 80+ degrees one day only to get snow the next day. Anyway, the rain helped germinate a bunch of pea seeds (sugar snap, snow pea, golden pea) I planted, so that’s awesome. Our first asparagus shoots are above ground now. This is the first year we can harvest them, but only for a period of 8-12 days. Next year we can harvest them for a period of 4 weeks or so. The jury is still out on whether the artichoke plants I grew from seed survived our brutal (for Virginia) winter. I think they are, but I’ll feel more encouraged once they start putting out new leaves. I already know some of the perennials I grew from seed for what I lovingly call my “witch garden” didn’t survive, so back to the drawing board for those.

As an early birthday present for me, we saw the Swan Lake ballet last weekend. Afterward we had an impromptu dinner, so yay for restaurants that are open later on weekends. It was a nice date night.

We also decided to finally replace the old carpet upstairs that we inherited when we bought the house. It’s still carpet at the moment, but we signed a contract with a flooring company. So by May we’ll have hardwood floors upstairs. I can’t wait because I’m so grossed out by what the vacuum cleaner pulls up. Our cat will be sad, though…she’s a carpet fan, but we’ll buy some area rugs to make up for it.

And that’s it for my March 2026 book blog wrap-up! How was your March?