Books, books and more books! If you’re looking to expand your literary horizons and discover some refreshing reads for your spring booklist, you’ve come to the right place! I think my selection is perfect for adding a touch of springtime magic to your reading list. Who doesn’t need a little magic in their lives?!
A Season for Blossoming Stories
If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I started my own book club. I like sharing books that I’ve read and some that are on my list to read. I aim to share fresh literary content 4-5 times a year, and the changing seasons often provide a springboard of new books. If you love to read, I hope you like my newest selection.
If you would like to start your own book club, you can visit my post, 7 Easy Ways to Host a Book Club.
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates’ loot on Treasure Island and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life.” – Walt Disney
Where to Get These Books
Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt
Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures, is a heartwarming, gently humorous, and deeply moving story about grief, community, and an unexpected friendship between a woman and a Giant Pacific octopus. Set in a fictional, charming coastal town in Washington state, it weaves together three distinct perspectives to solve a decades old family mystery.
This is definitely one to put on your list! I loved it!
June Baby | Shannon Garvey
June Baby by Shannon Garvey follows Ruth at two formative periods of her life on Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island. After losing her mother to cancer as a teenager, her father send her to an island to find a woman she’s never met, but someone who knew her mother. The story explores family dynamics, identity, secrets, and lasting impact of the past, balancing personal struggles with heartfelt moments.
The Maid’s Secret: A Maid Novel | Nita Prost
The Maid’s Secret: A Maid Novel is the third in the Molly the Maid series. Molly Gray, now the Head Maid and Special Events Manager of the Regency Grand Hotel, finds her life turned upside down when a valuable artifact disappears. She and her friends become entangled in an art heist, and the key to solving the mystery lies in her Gran’s diary, which reveals long-buried secrets and a love story.
I really enjoyed the The Maid and The Mystery Guest and I’m looking forward to this one, too!
Three Days in June | Anne Tyler
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler revolves around Gail Baines, a mother of the bride, experiencing a series of unfortunate events, including losing her job and her ex-husband’s unexpected arrival. The true crisis occurs when her daughter, Debbie, reveals a secret about her future husband, which puts the wedding in jeopardy and stirs up Gail and Max’s past. The novel is described as a triumph, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love, marriage, and family life
The Sicilian Inheritance | Jo Piazza
Friends, I am all about anything Italy, as I am planning a big trip there next year! So, The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza caught my attention, immediately!
Sara Marsala’s business and marriage have failed. To make matters worse, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving her feeling tremendous grief. Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believed Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it. Rosie suspected she was murdered.
As Sara dives deeper, she uncovers secrets and faces danger. The journey connects Sara to her heritage, but also allows her to discover her own strength , much like her great-grandmother Serafina.
Italy and a mystery all wrapped into one! What could be better?
The Last One at the Wedding | Jason Rekulak
I thoroughly enjoyed The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak and read it in two days!
Frank Szatowski, a UPS driver, is shocked when his estranged daughter, Maggie, invites him to her wedding. The wedding is at a private estate, and Maggie is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a tech billionaire. Frank feels out of place and senses something is amiss. Aidan is withdrawn, Maggie seems distant, and the locals are hostile to the Gardners. Frank tries to reconnect with Maggie and learn about her new family, but he fears pushing too hard and losing her again. This thriller explores family dynamics, the corrupting influence of wealth, and secrets hidden beneath a polished exterior.
The Celebrants | Steven Rowley
Okay…who remembers “The Big Chill”? I never read the book, however, I was ALL about the movie, in my earlier days. The Celebrants by Steven Rowley has been said to have a similar vibe. How can I not be here for it?
The Celebrants follows a group of seven college friends bound by a unique pact. After the tragic death of their eighth friend just weeks before their graduation, the grief-stricken group makes a promise. They vow that any one of them can call a reunion in Big Sur whenever needed, and the reunions will involve holding mock funerals – a way to celebrate life while acknowledging how truly fragile it is.
One particular reunion is different. Jordan, a member of the group, carries a secret that threatens to upend their long-held pact. How will it end? You’ll have to read it to find out!
The Celebrants explores themes of friendship, resilience, and facing mortality. It’s a story about how the bonds we forge in youth can sustain us through life’s ups and downs.
Homecoming | Kate Norton
I love a period piece and a mystery. Homecoming by Kate Norton weaves the past and present together, along with a good mystery. Two of my favorites!
In the Adelaide Hills of Australia, Christmas Eve 1959, tragedy strikes the Turner family. A picnic outing takes a horrifying turn when mother Isabel and three of her children are found dead. The youngest child, Thea, vanishes without a trace. This unsolved crime leaves the small town of Tambilla forever haunted.
Fast forward to 2018, Jess, a struggling journalist in London, receives news that her grandmother Nora, who raised her, has fallen and is hospitalized in Australia. After returning home to Australia, Jess seeks comfort in her past and stumbles upon a true-crime book detailing the unsolved Turner family tragedy. To her amazement, she discovers a connection between her own family and this long-buried secret.
Homecoming is a story about the enduring power of family secrets, the complexities of love and loss, and the relentless pursuit of truth.
The Paris Apartment | Lucy Foley
Ever since I read The Guest List by Lucy Foley, I’ve wanted to read some of her other novels. The Paris Apartment came out last year and has been on my list to read.
The Paris Apartment is another suspenseful mystery set in a luxurious Parisian apartment building.
Foley’s novel follows Jess, a down-on-her-luck journalist, who arrives in Paris seeking refuge with her estranged half-brother, Ben. Upon arrival, she finds the high-end apartment empty and Ben has vanished without a trace. The building itself is full of quirky tenants, each with their own secrets and motives. With a growing sense of unease, Jess must navigate a web of lies and hidden agendas to find out what happened to Ben.
Will Jess uncover the truth behind Ben’s disappearance? And what dark secrets lurk within the walls of 12 Rue des Amants? The Paris Apartment keeps you guessing until the shocking and suspenseful conclusion.
The Bucket List | Rachel Hanna
I needed a light-hearted book to get lost in, and based on good reviews, I picked up The Bucket List by Rachel Hanna. I have to say not one of my usual kind of reads, but it did not disappoint!
The story follows Jill, a widow suffering from crippling anxiety, and finds her life upended by the death of her best friend. But amidst the grief came a life-changing twist: financial independence and a charming beach house – both courtesy of her friend’s will. However, there was a catch. Jill wouldn’t inherit everything outright. In order to claim her full inheritance, she has to conquer her anxieties and complete a bucket list her friend has meticulously crafted for her.
Growing Up with Stories: Children’s Books
With spring, comes Easter. Why not give the gift of imagination and learning by including children’s books in their Easter baskets!
Some Gardening Favorites
With spring in the air, it’s also prime gardening time, so I thought I’d share some of my gardening favorites!
- The Ultimate Raised Bed & Container Gardening Guide For Beginners
- The Bricks ‘n Blooms Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden Planner
- The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden
- My Gardening Journal Organize Your Gardening Life
Books – Frequently Asked Questions
Refreshing Reads for Your Spring Booklist
It’s my hope that these new literary finds be the perfect companion for your spring adventures. Whether you are lounging by the pool, on spring break, soaking up the sunshine at home, or simply enjoying a quiet day indoors, pick up one of my spring favorites and enjoy!
Happy reading!
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I will put these on my list…and then never read them!! I always go into the Summer with good intentions to read and then don’t!
Me too! I never read as much as I plan on. Just pick one and read it! LOL
I love your book recommendations! I need to make time for more reading. My plan is to set aside one evening a week for just reading now that I have my new reading nook.
Glad you like them, Tammy! I love to read…just wish I had more time!
Those books sound great. I will pick up a few for spring and summer reading. I need to get back to reading for fun instead of reference😆 I loved The Maid that we all read for our book club.
Yes, that was a good one! Hope you get the chance to read for fun!