Looking to grow your reading list? Spring into these books
Spring has sprung! Now that the weather is finally getting warmer and the days are getting sunnier, it's the perfect time to lie down on a patch of grass with a book in hand. This should be a stress-free time, but it can be quite difficult to navigate BookTok and Goodreads in pursuit of interesting titles.
Here are a few book suggestions sure to help brighten up your spring.
"Wild Beauty" by Anna-Marie McLemore
"Wild Beauty" tells the story of a family of women who maintain a garden estate called La Pradera with their flower-growing magic. But they also suffer from a family curse: the people that they fall in love with disappear.
With its lush garden setting and beautiful prose, "Wild Beauty" evokes soothing springtime imagery. The novel features profound themes of love, loss, family and growth in addition to positive bisexual representation, culminating in a truly great addition to your bookshelf.
"Emma" by Jane Austen
"Emma" is one of Jane Austen's most acclaimed works — why not take this time to catch up on it?
The story follows the titular character, Emma, a young woman who lives in a small English village and tries to play matchmaker with her neighbors, eventually finding love for herself. With its humorous and charming characters and rich setting, "Emma" makes for a very pleasant and enjoyable read, the perfect book to take on a trip.
"Emma" was recently adapted into a movie starring Anya Taylor-Joy, so if you're looking for a relaxing afternoon, make an activity out of comparing it to the source material.
"Black Rabbit Hall" by Eve Chase
"Black Rabbit Hall" follows two protagonists: Amber and Lorna. Both have a special connection to the titular estate — the former grew up spending her summers there, while the latter finds it and falls in love with it while searching for a wedding venue. While the women's stories are told in different time periods, the charming and mysterious house serves as one of the invisible threads that connects them.
Though the book isn't necessarily centered around spring, it does a good job of balancing an engrossing plot with an easy-to-read style. Pack the book for a picnic or a day out in the park, and you might end up losing track of time.
"The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World" by Laura Imai Messina
In contrast to the other recommendations on this list, "The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World" delves into heavy themes of grief and loss. But it is ultimately a story of hope and healing, themes that reflect the transition from the decay of winter to the glimmer of springtime.
The novel follows protagonist Yui as she grieves her mother and daughter, both of whom died in a tsunami. She then finds a man with a telephone booth in his garden that allows visitors to talk to their late loved ones.
As a story of survival against painful odds, for those seeking self-development, "The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World" makes for a challenging yet ultimately rewarding read.
"the sun and her flowers" by Rupi Kaur
If you're looking for poetry, Rupi Kaur's "the sun and her flowers" may be just the read for you.
Kaur's poems are often lauded for being accessible and approachable for beginner poetry readers, so if you're looking to dabble in the genre for the first time, this could also be a great choice. The book contains themes of growth, healing, ancestry and love, a fitting choice for the rejuvenation of spring — not to mention vibrant illustrations and a floral theme.
Whether you're already an avid reader or you're hoping to become more of a bookworm this spring, hopefully, this list helps you find your new favorite story for the season!
