10 New Novels That Will Get You Excited About Spring
The magical day that we’ve all been awaiting for the past three months has arrived — the first day of spring. After the joy of Christmas, the excitement of a new year, and the first couple of weeks of January taper off, we all start to long for less dreary, puffer jacket-clad, and bare winter days, and instead more sunshine, light jacket-weather, and flowery spring days.
And finally, those days are at our doorstep to revel in.
Warmer afternoons calls for leisurely reading in the park with an iced coffee by your side — but what should you read? Well, something that will get you excited about being outside again, of course.
But you’ve read Anne of Green Gables. You’ve read The Secret Garden. You’ve read Persuasion. Many, many times, in fact.
This year, you’re looking for something new. Allow us to suggest a few newer novels that will be a great companion for you as you bask in the spring sun.
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01 | The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
Mary Davies works as an engineer and thrives on the order it brings her — but still, there’s something missing from her life. Her friend, Isabel, invites her to a getaway to a Jane Austen-inspired resort in Bath, England, and Mary hesitantly agrees. Over the course of her stay, Mary discovers truths about her work, her life, and herself. With the rolling fields of England as the backdrop, there’s no doubt you’ll be excited to be out and about as you read this novel.
02 | Born of Gilded Mountains by Amanda Dykes
It’s 1948, and Hollywood starlet Mercy Windsor’s world has fallen apart. She arrives in Mercy Peak, Colorado with hopes of a fresh start. As she begins to rebuild her life, she is faced with mysteries from the past — what came of her childhood pen pal, Rusty Bright, and what happened to a missing railcar that carried a mailbag with letters that could change lives.
03 | The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
Clara was only eight when her mother, a beloved author of a book written in an invented language, tragically vanished. To add to the devastation, her disappearance means her sequel won’t ever be translated. Years later, when Clara is raising her own daughter, she is contacted by someone who claims to have a dictionary of her mother’s language. Clara soon embarks on the journey of uncovering what her mother left behind.
04 | The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold
Aidyn is a motivated reported for the Kansas City Star who’s ready for something meatier to write about. Instead, she’s given what feels like a dull job of penning an obituary for Clara, an elderly woman in hospice care. However, Aidyn soon discovers that Clara’s story is exactly the kind she’d been looking for.
05 | Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese
Lauren is a schoolteacher who hasn’t found the one. Still, she loves kids, so when she decides to adopt an orphan, she agrees to remain single throughout the process to abide by the agency’s rules. That’s when she unexpectedly meets the perfect man.
06 | A Common Life by Jan Karon
The sixth book of Jan Karon’s beloved Mitford series, A Common Life centers around the wedding of Father Tim Kavanaugh and Cynthia Coppersmith, whose love story grew over the last few books. A charming and heartwarming read, this novel will make you wish you were invited to the ceremony too.
07 | He Should Have Told The Bees by Amanda Cox
Beckett works with her father as a beekeeper. When he suddenly passes away, the future of their business is up in the air as it seems her new partner, Callie, is angling to sell it. Callie has her reasons — her new business is still barely getting off the ground, and her mother needs money for rehab. Together, Beckett and Callie uncover long-held family secrets, making way for a brighter future.
08 | Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer
Edith is attempting to move on from a painful yet short-lived marriage. While she prepares for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she takes a short-term job as a nurse in a small town. She’s sharing a house for the summer with Henry, who works days, while she works nights — so they never run into each other. Henry assumes Edith is an elderly woman, while Edith assumes Henry is an old man. Little do they know, the person who’s been catching their eye in and around town is actually their housemate. Soon, Henry realizes his mistake. But Edith’s trip is coming up, and she must decide which path is the right one for her.
09 | Daisies For Innocence by Bailey Cattrell
Behind Elliana’s perfume shop there’s an enchanted garden. When she finds her assistant, Josie (who had started dating Elliana’s ex), dead in the garden, it’s up to her to uncover the mystery of what happened — especially since she’s now the prime suspect.
10 | The Twilight Garden by Sara Nisha Adams
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, bustling garden nestled between two London homes, No. 77 and No. 79. Today, the garden is neglected, the gate closed. Winston, in No. 79, would rather the garden stay closed — he’s not the most neighborly type. But when a collection of old pictures of the garden in its golden days are left on Winston’s doorstep, he is compelled to ask if someone is trying to tell him something. The Twilight Garden just might have some life left in it.
In short…
Many an afternoon spent on the porch or at the park, admiring the blooming flowers and fuller trees, await. All you need is a book by your side to complete the picture. Happy spring reading!