Spring is in the air! This time of year is all about renewal, new beginnings, love, growth, and hope. The sun is shining, plants are in bloom, and it’s the perfect time to check out these reads!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
* Eleanor has no confidence, no friends, and no problem with that – until the night she meets the love of her life. As she seeks to reinvent herself to be with him, Eleanor begins to open up, make connections, and realize that she might deserve more from life after all.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
* An orphaned Mary Lennox moves to her uncle’s dreary manor home. Life there is dull and lonely, but when she finds an abandoned garden, her search for answers reveals long lost secrets and unlocks new hopes. This beautiful story and its description of gardens in bloom will put readers in a spring mood.
Looker by Laura Sims
* A thriller novel about a woman who develops an unhealthy obsession with the actress on her block. Looker takes the idea of reinvention to a new, twisted level.
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
* Eilis leaves her small town in Ireland behind to begin a new life in America. A poignant story of self-discovery, young love, and finding a place to call home.
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
* A young doctor moves his family to a small town, close to a mysterious burial ground. When tragedy strikes, they discover its dark powers, and prove that some things don’t deserve a second chance. The new Pet Sematary movie is out now, so it’s a great time to read this classic horror novel.
The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh
* In this dystopian novel, three sisters are raised on an isolated island away from harms of men, keeping themselves pure through cleansing rituals. But when three strangers arrive on their island, they are awakened to a world of new possibilities.
Emma by Jane Austen
* A young girl plays matchmaker for her friends, with disastrous results. This classic story is full of fun, flirtation, and picnics, making it perfect for spring.
Can’t Help Myself: Lessons & Confessions from a Modern Advice Columnist by Meredith Goldstein
* A memoir by an advice columnist about giving advice when you haven’t got it all figured out. Goldstein’s story of personal growth, along with letters and responses from her column, will move and inspire you.
The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy
* A group of ‘May Mothers’ who meet regularly must band together when one of their babies goes missing, revealing secrets and suspicions along the way. An entertaining thriller and a satire on mommy-shaming culture, this is a great Mother’s Day read.
We’ll All Be Burnt in Our Beds Some Night by Joel Thomas Hynes
* Johnny, a petty criminal facing jail time, gets a sudden clean slate and hitchhikes across Canada, taking a look at his past and trying to find a way to start over along the way.
For more book reviews and book recommendations, check out Sarah’s blog here.
