25 Big Books of Spring
As winter slips away, it's time to prepare for a new season of reading—which, to be fair, is every season for us.
Whether you have your sights set on sun-soaked spring breaks or warm afternoons at the park, you might be in the mood for some reading recommendations. (We know you so well, don't we?) Check out some of the great books your fellow Goodreads members have been adding to their Want to Read shelves! What catches your eye?
Fiction
Exit West
by Mohsin Hamid
In an unspecified city on the brink of civil war, two lovers stumble upon a door that leads to an uncertain future. [Read our interview with Hamid.]
Release date: March 7
The Idiot
by Elif Batuman
Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, embarks on a journey of reinvention as she moves from Harvard to Hungary, from childhood to adulthood.
Release date: March 14
What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Playful and heartbreaking, this debut collection of short stories exposes the ties that bind us to each other and to the places we call home.
Release date: April 4
Beartown
by Fredrik Backman
In a small town nestled deep in the forest, a community in crisis looks to junior ice hockey for hope and redemption.
Release date: May 2
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The past catches up with the present as classic film actress Evelyn Hugo recounts the true story of her scandalous life to a struggling reporter.
Release date: June 13
Young Adult
The Inexplicable Logic of My Life
by Benjamin Alire Saenz
During his final year of high school, Sal questions his place with his adoptive gay father and his loving Mexican American family.
Release date: March 27
Strange the Dreamer
by Laini Taylor
Lazlo, war orphan and junior librarian, chases a dream in a mythical world full of ghosts, nightmares, and murdered gods.
Release date: March 28
The Upside of Unrequited
by Becky Albertalli
Twin sisters sort out their opinions on unrequited love, loneliness, and being a "lovesick mess" in this feel-good take on teen relationships.
Release date: April 11
Flame in the Mist
by Renee Ahdieh
To discover who's trying to kill her, Mariko, the daughter of a prominent samurai, disguises herself as a peasant boy and infiltrates the ranks of a bandit gang.
Release date: May 16
Plus: Look out for highly anticipated sequels from Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, and Jenny Han!
Nonfiction
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit
by Michael Finkel
In 1986, Christopher Knight left his home, moved to the forest, and did not talk to another human being for nearly three decades. This is his story.
Release date: March 7
The Best We Could Do
by Thi Bui
A family escapes the fall of South Vietnam and fights to build a new life in this poignant illustrated memoir debut. [Read Bui's book recommendation.s]
Release date: March 7
The Greatest Story Ever Told—So Far: Why Are We Here?
by Lawrence M. Krauss
Reality is "weird, wild, and counterintuitive" in this engaging scientific adventure from the author of A Universe from Nothing.
Release date: March 21
Killers of the Flower Moon
by David Grann
In this true-life murder mystery, the author of The Lost City of Z uncovers the secrets and scandals surrounding the investigation of the Osage Murders in the early 1920s.
Release date: April 18
Mystery/Thriller
Say Nothing
by Brad Parks
Judge Scott Sampson's life is perfect…until the day his six-year-old twins are kidnapped, triggering a nail-biting ordeal of blackmail and terror.
Release date: March 7
Never Let You Go
by Chevy Stevens
Eleven years after Lindsey escaped an abusive marriage, her home is invaded and her daughter is stalked. Could it be her ex-husband? [Read Stevens's book recommendations]
Release date: March 14
Into the Water
by Paula Hawkins
A woman turns up dead at the bottom of a river in Beckford…and she's not the first. Secrets long submerged rise to the surface in this follow-up to The Girl on the Train.
Release date: May 2
Historical Fiction
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
by Lisa See
A mother contemplates leaving her remote Chinese village while the daughter she gave away grows up across the ocean in California. [Read our interview with See.]
Release date: March 21
The Alice Network
by Kate Quinn
In 1947, pregnant college student Charlie goes to London to find the cousin she lost during the war. What she finds instead is Eve, a former WWI spy determined to help.
Release date: June 6
Romance
The Thing About Love
by Julie James
On a high-profile undercover sting, FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd work out the kinks of their fiery love/hate relationship.
Release date: April 18
The Deep End
by Kristen Ashley
At the honey club, handsome men commit to fulfilling a woman's every desire. Olivier is unsure of it all, but Amelie thinks she can change his mind.
Release date: April 25
Science Fiction and Fantasy
The Collapsing Empire
by John Scalzi
When faster-than-light travel starts to slip away, a scientist, a captain, and an empress race to prevent all human worlds from being cut off from each other.
Release date: March 21
Red Sister
by Mark Lawrence
Born for killing, eight-year-old Nona Grey comes to terms with her destiny at the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a school for would-be assassins.
Release date: April 4
American War
by Omar El Akkad
The Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. Forced out of her home, young Sarat becomes an instrument of war in this audacious debut.
Release date: April 4
Borne
by Jeff VanderMeer
In a ruined city littered by discarded experiments and at the whim of a giant bear, Rachel finds Borne. Plant-like at first, he grows, throwing Rachel's fragile existence into chaos.
Release date: April 25
Which book are you most excited to read this spring? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Books Goodreads Members Have Read in 2017—So Far
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
Whether you have your sights set on sun-soaked spring breaks or warm afternoons at the park, you might be in the mood for some reading recommendations. (We know you so well, don't we?) Check out some of the great books your fellow Goodreads members have been adding to their Want to Read shelves! What catches your eye?
Fiction
by Mohsin Hamid
In an unspecified city on the brink of civil war, two lovers stumble upon a door that leads to an uncertain future. [Read our interview with Hamid.]
Release date: March 7
by Elif Batuman
Selin, the daughter of Turkish immigrants, embarks on a journey of reinvention as she moves from Harvard to Hungary, from childhood to adulthood.
Release date: March 14
by Lesley Nneka Arimah
Playful and heartbreaking, this debut collection of short stories exposes the ties that bind us to each other and to the places we call home.
Release date: April 4
by Fredrik Backman
In a small town nestled deep in the forest, a community in crisis looks to junior ice hockey for hope and redemption.
Release date: May 2
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The past catches up with the present as classic film actress Evelyn Hugo recounts the true story of her scandalous life to a struggling reporter.
Release date: June 13
Young Adult
by Benjamin Alire Saenz
During his final year of high school, Sal questions his place with his adoptive gay father and his loving Mexican American family.
Release date: March 27
by Laini Taylor
Lazlo, war orphan and junior librarian, chases a dream in a mythical world full of ghosts, nightmares, and murdered gods.
Release date: March 28
by Becky Albertalli
Twin sisters sort out their opinions on unrequited love, loneliness, and being a "lovesick mess" in this feel-good take on teen relationships.
Release date: April 11
by Renee Ahdieh
To discover who's trying to kill her, Mariko, the daughter of a prominent samurai, disguises herself as a peasant boy and infiltrates the ranks of a bandit gang.
Release date: May 16
Plus: Look out for highly anticipated sequels from Sarah J. Maas, Cassandra Clare, and Jenny Han!
Nonfiction
by Michael Finkel
In 1986, Christopher Knight left his home, moved to the forest, and did not talk to another human being for nearly three decades. This is his story.
Release date: March 7
by Thi Bui
A family escapes the fall of South Vietnam and fights to build a new life in this poignant illustrated memoir debut. [Read Bui's book recommendation.s]
Release date: March 7
by Lawrence M. Krauss
Reality is "weird, wild, and counterintuitive" in this engaging scientific adventure from the author of A Universe from Nothing.
Release date: March 21
by David Grann
In this true-life murder mystery, the author of The Lost City of Z uncovers the secrets and scandals surrounding the investigation of the Osage Murders in the early 1920s.
Release date: April 18
Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body
by Roxane Gay
Candid, vulnerable, and powerful, this is a memoir of food, weight, self-image, and self-worth from the author of Bad Feminist.
Release date: June 13
by Roxane Gay
Candid, vulnerable, and powerful, this is a memoir of food, weight, self-image, and self-worth from the author of Bad Feminist.
Release date: June 13
Mystery/Thriller
by Brad Parks
Judge Scott Sampson's life is perfect…until the day his six-year-old twins are kidnapped, triggering a nail-biting ordeal of blackmail and terror.
Release date: March 7
by Chevy Stevens
Eleven years after Lindsey escaped an abusive marriage, her home is invaded and her daughter is stalked. Could it be her ex-husband? [Read Stevens's book recommendations]
Release date: March 14
by Paula Hawkins
A woman turns up dead at the bottom of a river in Beckford…and she's not the first. Secrets long submerged rise to the surface in this follow-up to The Girl on the Train.
Release date: May 2
Historical Fiction
by Lisa See
A mother contemplates leaving her remote Chinese village while the daughter she gave away grows up across the ocean in California. [Read our interview with See.]
Release date: March 21
by Kate Quinn
In 1947, pregnant college student Charlie goes to London to find the cousin she lost during the war. What she finds instead is Eve, a former WWI spy determined to help.
Release date: June 6
Romance
by Julie James
On a high-profile undercover sting, FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd work out the kinks of their fiery love/hate relationship.
Release date: April 18
by Kristen Ashley
At the honey club, handsome men commit to fulfilling a woman's every desire. Olivier is unsure of it all, but Amelie thinks she can change his mind.
Release date: April 25
Science Fiction and Fantasy
by John Scalzi
When faster-than-light travel starts to slip away, a scientist, a captain, and an empress race to prevent all human worlds from being cut off from each other.
Release date: March 21
by Mark Lawrence
Born for killing, eight-year-old Nona Grey comes to terms with her destiny at the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a school for would-be assassins.
Release date: April 4
by Omar El Akkad
The Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. Forced out of her home, young Sarat becomes an instrument of war in this audacious debut.
Release date: April 4
by Jeff VanderMeer
In a ruined city littered by discarded experiments and at the whim of a giant bear, Rachel finds Borne. Plant-like at first, he grows, throwing Rachel's fragile existence into chaos.
Release date: April 25
Which book are you most excited to read this spring? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
The Best Books Goodreads Members Have Read in 2017—So Far
Celebrating the Joy of Rereading a Favorite Book
Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017
Comments Showing 1-50 of 69 (69 new)
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Anupama
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Mar 07, 2017 07:32AM
Eagerly looking forward to read "Into the Water by Paula Hawkins."
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The Inexplicable Logic of My Life! I want the sequel of Ari and Dante more, but this is the next best thing :).
Great list! Got quite a few of these on my TBR already.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is excellent! I was fortunate to get an advance reader copy and ended up falling in love with the story and the characters. This is one of my favorite books so far this year -- definitely a highly recommended read!
The Idiot was great as well, though it’s definitely not a book for everyone, as it sometimes went off on literary and philosophical tangents that were a bit tedious to read through. Definitely not the standard “coming of age” type of story. Loved the humor and sarcasm throughout the book though!
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is excellent! I was fortunate to get an advance reader copy and ended up falling in love with the story and the characters. This is one of my favorite books so far this year -- definitely a highly recommended read!
The Idiot was great as well, though it’s definitely not a book for everyone, as it sometimes went off on literary and philosophical tangents that were a bit tedious to read through. Definitely not the standard “coming of age” type of story. Loved the humor and sarcasm throughout the book though!
As a big Fredrik Backman fan, I cannot wait for Beartown. Read all of his other work and loved it all.
Probably all the ones under Mystery/Thriller! That genre makes me paranoid at night, but I read it anyway...
It´s nearly Autumn here in the Southern Hemisphere, and I prepare to read the recently released Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
I am going to giveThe Deep End a shot.... I have read almost all of Kristen ashley's books and she hasn't let me down yet....
Even though March 7 is still wintertime, I'm looking forward to reading Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs.
Angy wrote: "Can't wait for "Waking Gods" by Sylvain Neuvel!"
Me too! I read 'Sleeping Giants' over a weekend earlier this year and immediately googled the release date of the sequel. Not long to wait now! :)
Me too! I read 'Sleeping Giants' over a weekend earlier this year and immediately googled the release date of the sequel. Not long to wait now! :)
So excited for Tea Girl and The Alice Network. Lisa See and Kate Quinn are both wonderful authors :)
Thanks for this. A point to note - in some parts of the world it is not Spring but Autumn. Categorising by season does not work in global fora.
The Paula Hawkins for sure (along with the YA book Perfect by Cecilia Aherne not mentioned) and as someone else states - The Book if Dust by Phillip Pullman.
It's not in that list but two John Sandford books have been released and I just so much enjoy his writing
Scalzi's new science fiction, The Collapsing Empire. John is a powerful contemporary writer in this category.
Sophie wrote: "The Good People by Hannah Kent."
Bkwmlee wrote: "Great list! Got quite a few of these on my TBR already.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is excellent! I was fortunate to get an advance reader copy and ended up falling in love w..."
Beartown is a wonderful addition to one of my favorites but I won't kid you - it is a turn to a darker side for him.
Bkwmlee wrote: "Great list! Got quite a few of these on my TBR already.
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is excellent! I was fortunate to get an advance reader copy and ended up falling in love w..."
Beartown is a wonderful addition to one of my favorites but I won't kid you - it is a turn to a darker side for him.
Since I wrote my first comment, I've been reminded of two other books coming out that I am even more excited to read!
Etched in Bone (The Others, #5!) by Anne Bishop, came out on March 7; and
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts, which is due to be published on May 30!
I'm sure there are others (doesn't Jayne Ann Krentz have an Amanda Quick book coming out soon?), but their titles escape me at the moment. :-(
:-)
Etched in Bone (The Others, #5!) by Anne Bishop, came out on March 7; and
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts, which is due to be published on May 30!
I'm sure there are others (doesn't Jayne Ann Krentz have an Amanda Quick book coming out soon?), but their titles escape me at the moment. :-(
:-)
Stephanie wrote: "As a big Fredrik Backman fan, I cannot wait for Beartown. Read all of his other work and loved it all." I agree=his books are amazing-I hate when they end-I'm so into the characters! Wish he'd write more books!
Bear Town. Backman is one of my favorites. His books hold a place of honor on my shelves. Never has anyone depicted odd people so cleverly and woven them into a triumphant fabric of acceptance and appreciation.
Jen wrote: "Even though March 7 is still wintertime, I'm looking forward to reading Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs.
"
Read Silence Fallen in a day. Briggs is still good!
"
Read Silence Fallen in a day. Briggs is still good!
What about SCARED SELFLESS: MY JOURNEY FROM ABUSE AND MADNESS TO SURVIVING AND THRIVING out 3/21? An EXCELLENT book about child abuse, mental illness, psychotherapy, and healing. Very INSPIRING!!! Endorsed by DR. PHIL, ARIANNA HUFFINGTON, JACK CANFIELD, PEOPLE Magazine, O THE OPRAH MAGAZINE and more!
Scared Selfless: My Journey from Abuse and Madness to Surviving and Thriving
Scared Selfless: My Journey from Abuse and Madness to Surviving and Thriving