What we loved: March 2025
We are marshmallows (plus as always Michelle & Caitlin's book recommendations are very different)
In March, Michelle moved and Caitlin made plans to move. Big and busy month, but expect ‘new bookshelves’ social content from us both in the next little while! Since it’s my (Caitlin) turn to write this intro so I’m just going to summarise my excellent entertainment in March. I saw the play of Picnic At Hanging Rock at the start of the month and made it a mini deep dive, reading the novel beforehand and then seeing the 1975 movie a week later. Was a great experiment! I also went to the cinema an a couple of other times, once for the French Film Festival, and at the start of the month to see Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (so amazing, I cried 5 times). Bonus more rare fun thing: I went to a TV taping of Taskmaster! That was super fun, I actually have no idea how they cut down all the jokes and chat for a shorter episode to air. Throw in a couple of book events and it’s been a very busy month. And while I did spend the first part of this year listening to my own throwback playlist (Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, ABBA…) now I am loving everyone providing us with new music! Deluxe tracks from Sabrina Carpenter and Ariana Grande, new album from Selena Gomez, new songs from Haim and Chappell Roan. And NONE of the things in this intro are my ‘real’ recommendations, all new content below.
What did you enjoy reading, watching and listening to in March? Leave us a comment and tell us what you can’t stop thinking about!
*denotes review copy
Reading
Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin*
Ordinary Saints gives us flawed characters, messy relationships, and engaging writing with gentle warmth. Jay is living in London with her girlfriend, a world away from her devout upbringing in Ireland. But she is forced to confront relationships with family and faith when her parents tell her that her older brother, who died many years ago in an accident, may be made into a Catholic saint. Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin’s writing is so warm, engaging and subtly humorous. The reflections on faith, religion and the paradoxes of the Catholic Church in particular were so thought-provoking but never felt self-righteous or overbearing. Ferdia’s proposed sainthood is a fascinating premise that encouraged me to think deeply about the place religion holds in modern society and how we can live alongside and love people who hold different faiths to our own. Faith aside, Ordinary Saints also asks how we can reconcile relationships with parents after difficult childhoods or the loss of a sibling. Ordinary Saints was beautiful, enjoyable and thoroughly thought-provoking.
– Michelle
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
I was really excited for this release and went to pick it up on publication day. Rare for me! Also surprising to some friends was that I never read or watched The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes. Once I was about halfway through Sunrise on the Reaping I was curious enough, so I did watch the film which I enjoyed but I still have no interest in reading Snow’s book. I am simply more interested in Haymitch, but also wasn’t really looking for answers as to why he is the way he is in the original trilogy. Obviously it was awful. But I thought this expansion on his journey was really well done and I appreciated the references and cameos that we’re both fan-service, and fit perfectly in the story. I am definitely in the mood to reread the original trilogy and am curious because I know some people think this book is quite similar to the first book, The Hunger Games, but I think that’s the point. Rebellions don’t happen on the first try. History repeats itself, but we don’t learn. (
has written an excellent piece about this book, read it here.)– Caitlin
I Want To Go Home But I’m Already There by Róisín Lanigan*
Áine and her boyfriend Elliot are moving in together. From their first moments in the flat Áine is uneasy. It’s always cold, she can’t stop the mould spreading from the basement and the couple upstairs are a looming presence. But this is not a horror story. Áine’s relationship with Elliot and her friends is at the heart of this story. The minutiae of their interactions are as crucial as the moments that convince Áine something is wrong in the flat. I Want To Go Home But I’m Already There is unsettling, but so compelling – a kind of contemporary gothic that left me constantly questioning whether there was any kind of haunting or if it was Áine’s state of mind slipping away. This is one of those books where nothing really happens, and yet so much happens. The observational narrative style absolutely worked for me, by turns relatable and claustrophobic.
– Michelle
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Oseman
Yes, I’m the last person on this bandwagon. Michelle has been telling me to read this series, I think literally since it was published? I finally did! And yes, I can see what all the fuss is about. Apologies to Richard Oseman, I am now a fan as I’ve been listening to The Rest Is Entertainment podcast (another Michelle recommendation!) so I was pretty confident I’d like his witty style of writing. I really enjoyed spending time with the four main characters, already looking forward to sharing more adventures in the next books in the series. I think when the TV series comes out at the end of the year, I’ll be glad to have read the book first also. I was already picturing the cast and I feel like they will elevate these quirky characters on screen.
– Caitlin
Watching
She Said
I love a journalism movie and She Said is a brilliant example of why. It explores journalist Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor’s work to expose Harvey Weinstein. The tension is palpable, particularly watching the opening scenes about Trump. Like one of my favourite films Spotlight, She Said pays homage to both the reporters and the survivors whose stories they shared.
– Michelle
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
I’ve continued to consume SNL related content, it’s so interesting! This 4 part documentary series was made for the 50th anniversary celebration. The first episode is about casting and features a lot of famous alums talking about joining the show and watching their original auditions, plus casting directors admitting who didn’t make the cut (so many stars!). The second episode follows the writers in a real week - meeting the host, writing sketches, the table read, all the way through to the live show. I admit I’ve not watched the third yet (a deep dive on iconic sketches) because the fourth was too alluring: The Weird Year. In it’s 11th year, in 1985, SNL creator Lorne Michaels came back because ratings were slipping. He scrapped everything, got himself a new young cast (The kid from The Breakfast Club? Joan Cusack? RDJ?!) and it never really worked. Chaotic from an awkward start to a crash and burn at the season finale. And then they got a whole new cast again, something clicked and here we are 40 years later. Absolutely fascinating!
- Caitlin
The Road Trip
I love Beth O’Leary’s books and we had the pleasure of chatting to her when The Road Trip came out. Seeing it brought to life on screen was brilliant. In this, we follow Addie, her sister, her ex Dylan, his best friend and a random wedding guest as they are forced to share a van en route to a wedding in Spain. The casting felt spot on and there was the perfect blend of emotion and humour that I always expect from the books. This adaptation is by the same producers as The Flatshare and I just feel like they’ve nailed the vibe perfectly.
– Michelle
Thelma
Thelma is a 93-year-old grandmother, one day she receives a phone call and she’s scammed out of $10,000. Not willing to let the con artist get away with it, she recruits a friend and his motorised scooter to track her money down. This movie is so funny and heartwarming, I loved the sweet relationship between Thelma and her grandson, Danny. Perfect amount of spy and action genre satire as Thelma and her friend Ben travel across LA, try to dodge Thelma’s family (they wouldn’t approve of this adventure) and the confrontation happens at the end. A great watch, completely recommend!
- Caitlin
Listening
‘The Adolescence Director Answers Your Questions’ on The Rest is Entertainment
Hopefully you’ve at least heard of Adolescence. The mini series has transcended entertainment to become public discourse in a way that so rarely happens. But it is even more fascinating because it’s a true one-shot filming style. On this episode of our shared favourite podcast, Marina and Richard get all the details of how it was made. Fascinating stuff!
– Michelle
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
I love Amy Poehler and was delighted to discover her brand new podcast, Good Hang. First episode interviewing Tina Fey, second episode Martin Short, third episode Rashida Jones. A fun extra is that at the start of each episode, Amy quickly speaks to a couple of mutual friends to see what they’d like to ask her guest. I was cracking up laughing before Amy even introduced Tina. Incredible, I’m hooked, I can’t wait to listen to more. Just so much fun! I don’t think Amy will run out of funny and famous friends to interview soon.
- Caitlin
White Lies by Sam Ryder
Okay, so this is only one song but it gives me a chance to shout out the talent that is Sam Ryder. He was the UK’s runner up in Eurovision a few years ago and his voice is incredible. I loved his debut album and I’m even more excited for his next one after listening to this new single from it. It’s quite boppy and catchy but with a melancholic edge that suits his vocals so well.
– Michelle
Mayhem by Lady Gaga
I’m not the biggest Little Monster (odd phrase) or Gaga fan, but I have always appreciated how talented and theatrical she is. I’ve definitely loved hits over the years but not been a dedicated listener, so I have no idea why I decided to listen to her newest album Mayhem in full. Loved it though and it’s been in rotation this month! Love ‘Disease’, ‘How Bad Do You Want Me’, ‘Perfect Celebrity’, ‘Killah’ and ‘Abracadabra’ in particular.
– Caitlin
Something else
Veronica Mars
We’ve started re-watching Veronica Mars together! We watch simultaneously and text each other throughout and we’re really loving revisiting such a brilliant show. Michelle introduced me (Caitlin) to this show and even leant me her DVDs back in the day, so in a way this tv show is like one of the pillars of our friendship. Each episode so far we’re half remembering story details, loving seeing Kristen Bell on our screens, quoting hilarious lines, and just generally praising how excellent it is. As we watch we’ve realised yet again how ahead of its time Veronica Mars was.
- Michelle & Caitlin