6 Books for Spring Reading

Spring Cleaning…really, who’s idea was this?! I get the desire to throw open the windows and clean out the closets, but that’s as far as my understanding of spring cleaning goes. Frankly, cleaning in general. Just ask my mom. (Hi Mom!) Which is why this is a blog about books, not about cleaning.

I much prefer Spring Reading. The days are longer and the extra hours of sunlight make me motivated to not get in bed at seven o’clock. I may or may not have done that a few times this winter. Plus, I gave up Instagram for Lent (please feel sorry for me, I’m reveling in self pity) so I’ve had a little more time on my hands!

Springtime can be the perfect season to get back into reading whether you’ve been in a slump, aren’t much of a reader at all, or haven’t been able to find the time, here are some great books to jump start your Spring Reading.

If you’re looking for a fun, thoughtful book about books, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is one you don’t want to miss. It’s about a bookstore owner, relationships, surprises in life, and all the ways reading affects us. It’s clever and sweet and interesting. And it’s hopeful (which you’ll notice is a theme in all these spring books!). I loved this. The story and characters are so memorable.

For fans of: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Set It Up (the Netflix Movie), You’ve Got Mail

Family drama, long kept secrets, and a sharp sense of humor are layered throughout The Almost Sisters. An unexpected pregnancy plus news of her ailing grandmother sends Leia back to her hometown in Alabama. If you know anything about small Southern hometowns, you know they tend to be full of *characters*, good and bad. I listened to this on audio and loved the narration. If you’ve never done an audiobook, this is a great one to start with. It was funny while also dealing with serious, relevant issues.

For fans of: Jane the Virgin, Sweet Home Alabama, The Help, sweet tea, The South

Think your family is dysfunctional? Read Eight Hundred Grapes and it’ll make you feel less so! It will also make you want to get on a plane and fly straight to Napa Valley and Sonoma. If you don’t get to this one in the spring, it would make a good beach read. It’s light but not cheesy, full of family drama, and pretty quick, coming in at only 270 pages.

For fans of: Sophie Kinsella, The Parent Trap, celebrity gossip magazines, wine 🙂

I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about my beloved Lauren Graham (aka Lorelai Gilmore) as an author. I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan and while this isn’t at all related to Gilmore Girls, it gave me the same warm, fuzzy, happy feelings as watching the show did. This is a coming-of-age story about Franny (what a great name) who moves to New York City with hopes of making it big. It was rumored that this was loosely based on Lauren Graham’s own experience and that made me like it even more!

For fans of: Gilmore Girls, New York City, Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation

A quirky, modern day Western about an unlikely friendship…at first, it sounds like something I probably wouldn’t read. If I went by the description alone, I never would have picked this book up. BUT I read the first few pages and was hooked! The writing is very poetic. I actually read this one and listened to it on audio simultaneously (I know, nerd alert). The narration is excellent, and I drive a lot, so it makes sense! It’s super short, captivating, and really original. I loved it.

For fans of: A Gentleman in Moscow, Little House on the Prairie, the Oregon Trail game

Memoir that’ll make you cry? Check. Not boring non-fiction? Check. Heartfelt and moving? Check. When Breath Becomes Air was published early in 2016 and if you missed it, don’t put it off any longer. This book is about what happens when the doctor becomes the patient. It’ll make you think about your own life and what’s really important. Keep the tissues close by.