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Seasonal reading is kind of my thing. I love reading books that take place in the season I am living in, or at least books that feel like that season. This is a compilation of books on my to read shelf (or library wish list) that take place in spring or feels like springtime to me. Spring is a time for renewal, joy, and splashes of color after a grey and dull winter. In springtime I look for books that give me the feeling of walking barefoot in the grass, of picking dandelions, the scent of lilacs in the air, and that feeling of the warm sun on my face after a long winter. These are books that are as charming as spring flowers and warm as the kiss of the sun. From deep and moving novels, joyful romances, treasured classics, inspiring memoirs, to classic children’s stories, I hope that this list inspires you to add a book or two or perhaps even a few to your spring reading list.
At the beginning of every season I look forward to creating my seasonal reading list. I know that I may not have a chance to read every book on this list, but by creating this list I inspire myself to dedicate time to read, and I hope that by sharing it, I will also inspire you. If I don’t read them all, that is perfectly ok. The books I miss will make it on my to read shelf eventually or find themselves on another reading wish list one day. As I have compiled this list I have only found more that I wanted to add, but had to cut the list off somewhere. I feel that this is a well rounded and spring filled compilation of book recommendations. Simply click on the pink title where each book is linked to view the book itself. These are the books I am looking forward to this spring:
Water For Flowers by Valerie Perrin
Translated from French, this novel about a cemetery keeper was a big hit in Europe during the pandemic. Now an international bestseller, I picked up a copy because the unique storyline intrigued me. It was displayed at a small local bookshop called The Hickorystick Bookshop and I knew it would be an intriguing read for springtime. This book is about a woman living in a cemetery who meets a mysterious detective looking to keep his mother’s dying wish to leave her ashes with the grave of a man he has never met. This stranger and his quest shakes up the ordinary and quiet life of the cemetery keeper. Is it a love story? I don’t know. Even though most of the people in the book are deceased, this is a book for the living on how to live a meaningful life. I read a few chapters and could not put it down. I cannot wait to read the rest.
Life In The Garden by Penelope Lively
A thoughtful book about gardening and metaphors of the garden, I couldn’t help but pick up this lovely little book.In the springtime I like to make plans for my own garden. Written by an author in the UK, gardens have a deeper meaning. In the United States we tend to only name gardens spaces that have been meticulously planted and groomed. The rest of our land is just a “yard.” But in the UK the entire yard is the garden, whether it is a tiny fenced in plot behind a townhouse or rolling hills outside an estate, the garden is a romantic and beloved place. I am determined to read more books about the garden or gardening life because it is so soothing for the soul.
Over the winter I read “Wintering” by Katherine May. Although it is in the self help section of the bookstore, it is more of a collection of essays than a guide in any way. Creative and thought provoking, each chapter touching upon a new subject and was so relatable. Katherine May’s newest book is quickly becoming a bestseller and it is about finding enchantment in our lives in the chaotic world we are living in. I like to leave room for magic in my own life and “Enchantment” sounds like a lovely way to do so.
I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
This fictional story told through the eyes of a young girl living a poor life in a castle will capture your heart, or so I have been told. This book has been on my reading list since last spring and I fully intend to read it this year. It follows the story of a family with two young daughters who are living in poverty, but just so happen to live in a run down old castle. It sounds romantic, but it is also hard and very cold. Still, this poor family finds the magic in it and as the girls grow up they begin to see their lives and futures in unexpected ways.
Simply Living Well: A Guide To Creating A Natural, Low-Waste Home by Julia Watkins
Sustainability is important to me and I feel that springtime is a good time to start and learn something new about simple living and low-waste living techniques. I’m hoping this read will inspire my spring cleaning this season.
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
I recently read The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery and could not put it down. The author is best known for her Anne of Green Gables series, but I have not read her other books. I plan to start with Pat of Silver Bush and then work my way to her other series. Pat os Silverfish is also about a young girl growing up on Prince Edwards Island.
Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards
I did not know that Julie Andrews, our very own Mary Poppins and Fraulein Maria, was also a beloved children’s author. She wrote Mandy back in the 1970s for her own daughter and her daughter loved it so much that she decided to get it published. This story follows a young orphan named Many is is about twelve years old. The orphanage is actually a very kind place where she is well cared for and has friends, but she is also very lonely and longs for a place of her own. One day she finds an abandoned cottage in the woods and decides to fix it up and make it her own. This is a slow story and I would describe it as “cottagecore” because there are a lot of descriptions about gardening and simple living. But then one day she becomes sick while at the cottage and no one knows where she had disappeared to. Mandy will discover that she is not as lonely as she may think.
The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay
This contemporary romance novel is about an engineer named Mary Davies who is looking for an escape. She runs off with some friends to Bath, England, for a Jane Austen retreat and runs into all kinds of dramatic scenarios and situations. I do not know much about this story, but I love books written by and for Jane Austen fans. I am looking forward to reading this one.
Miss. Newbury’s List by Megan Walker
I believe this book may have been inspired by Mr. Malcomb’s List. It is also a historical romance novel taking place in Jane Austen’s regency England. The plot of this one is different though. This follows the story of a young woman named Rosalind Newbury who is engaged to an older wealthy duke she barely knows. Marrying the duke will set up her and her family for life. Weeks before her wedding day she finds an old list of things she had written down of things she wanted to do before getting married and she enlists the help of her best friend and her friend’s cousin Charlie to complete her list. Only, things start getting interesting between Rosalind and Charlie and the wedding is getting closer.
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell
This memoir follows the life of food blogger Julie Powell and her adventures cooking Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking book in one year. One of the first ever successful bloggers in the early 2000s one year after September 11th 2001, Julie’s book was turned into the famous movie starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. I loved the movie and felt the desire to read the book. The book is even better. I am enjoying the story immensely and it is one of the most fun books I have picked up this year so far.
Creating A Garden Retreat by Virginia Johnson
This beautiful gardening guide is completely illustrated with whimsical watercolor depictions of gardens and garden life. It is a fun guide to creating your own backyard garden oasis, no matter the size of your yard, and is a beautiful and inspiring book for spring.
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The Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson
I didn’t learn until recently that Emily Dickinson’s poetry was never published in her lifetime. She lead a very quiet and simple life and her poetry was not even known to her family. It was all discovered after she had passed away and her family published it after her passing. It amazes me that someone so famous lived her entire life so unknown. This beloved poet was also form New England, making this collection perfect for a New England spring. Even more darling is this beautiful and whimsical cover with flowers and birds. The pages are very thin and delicate, but this book is a beautiful collection of poetry to add to your bookshelf.
The Tale of Hawthorne House by Susan Wittig Albert
The fourth book in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter series, this fictional retelling of Beatrix Potter’s life in Sawrey England is a lovely and cozy mystery series. I was delighted by the first three and am looking forward to continuing the series. Slow moving, but picturesque and very “cottagecore,” this mystery series is very sweet and charming. If you are a Beatrix Potter fan, you will love this retelling of her life in the country.
Miss. Potter; The Novel by Richard Maltby, Jr.
This novelization of the movie by the same name, tells the brave story of Beatrix Potter as she publishes her first book and saves enough money to buy her own farm and start conservation efforts in the Lake District of Sawrey.
The Springs of Joy by Tasha Tudor
I am a new Tasha Tudor fan. Tasha Tudor is a famous children’s illustrator and author from New England who is best known for her old fashioned depictions of simple living and childhood. This spring classic is a lovely book of illustrations and a collection of quotes about spring and joy.
The Garland Book For Girls by Louisa May Alcott
I know many of the famous children’s authors and their major works, but not so much about their lesser known novels. The Garland Book For Girls is a collection of short stories written by Louisa May Alcott, best known for Little Women. I am looking forward to reading her other novels and this one sounds perfect for springtime.
The Adventures of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter
I have mentioned quite a few Beatrix Potter inspired novels in this reading list, so of course I had to list one of her darling little books. Peter Rabbit is her most famous and I have read it so many times, so I thought the Adventures of Tom Kitten would be a good choice.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson
The secret garden was a favorite of mine in my teen years. The story follows a young girl named Mary who has been tragically orphaned and sent to England from India to live with her widowed uncle. He is a wealthy man who is often away on business and his sick son is kept hidden from her. One night she sneaks out to meet her cousin and they form a friendship. When she discovers a secret garden that once belongs to her aunt, Mary sets out to restore the garden and her cousin joins her. This garden changes the lives of everyone who lives at the manor.
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf is a very famous author whom I have never read…. It is about time to change that. This story follows a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares to host a party. Unexpected things occur that make this short story known as a “masterpiece.” I am hoping to discover what makes this novel a beloved work of art.
As you are reading this list, my spring reading wish list continues to grow! There are so many wonderful books out there and so little time to read them. What books are on you list this spring? Have I missed any books that you consider essential spring reads? I would love to hear all about them in the comments below. Happy reading!
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