Spring is right around the corner, which means it will be the perfect weather for sitting outside with a great book. In this article, I will recommend five books that I personally enjoyed!
- Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco MellorsÂ
The book starts with Cleo, a 24 year old British painter, meeting Frank, a 40 year old American advertising director, meeting on an elevator in New York. The pair impulsively decide to get married. Part of the reason why they got married so quickly was so that Cleo could get a green card. The book follows the ups and downs of the couple’s relationship. The book also explores Cleo’s hardships with moving to a new country.
- Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The ultimate warm-weather book. This story takes place over one day, the day of Nina Riva’s infamous end-of-summer party. Every year, Nina and her three siblings throw a large party commemorating the end of summer. Nina and her siblings are the estranged children of singer Mick Riva. The book follows Nina and her hesitations about throwing the party. The book also tackles issues of love, betrayal, and family issues.
- The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’DonoghueÂ
Rachel is a 20 year old English student in Cork, Ireland. She works part-time at a bookstore with her best friend James. James quickly asks her to move in with him. The two of them live their lives freely, trying to ignore the ceiling of debt over them. While at school, Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Byrne. James helps her devise a plan for the signing of his new book at the bookstore. When Dr. Byrne shows up to the book signing, James also falls for him. The book follows Rachel and James grappling with how Dr. Byrne has flipped their lives upside down.
- Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
Lucy lives in the small Irish town of Crossmore. Her neighbor and best friend, Martin, is hopelessly in love with her. Lucy loves Martin but she does not see him romantically. She wonders why she can’t love Martin the way she is supposed to. She finally figures out why she cannot love Martin when she starts getting closer to Susannah. Lucy is horrified by her newfound feelings for Susannah, especially because she lives in a small Catholic, conservative, rural town in the nineties. Lucy is already different from her other friends. They all have money and can afford college. She can’t. Lucy does not need another thing to separate her from her friends. The book follows Lucy and Susannah’s secret relationship over the course of many years.
- Funny Story by Emily Henry
Daphne has just moved to Michigan with her fiance, Peter. She has a new job as a children’s librarian, a nice house, and a perfect life. It all flips upside down when Petra, Peter’s best friend, confesses her feelings for him. Peter breaks it off with Daphne and now she is left alone in Michigan. Daphne moves in with the only other person who understands her situation, Petra’s ex, Miles. Miles and Daphne live in opposite worlds. She’s clean, he’s messy. She’s a librarian, he’s a bartender. The only thing that unites them is their mutual pining for their exes, who are now engaged. The story follows Daphne and Miles as they process their past relationships and build new ones.Â
I hope this list was helpful and that you were able to find at least one book that appeals to you. Happy reading!