Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and sunlight is shining. Spring is on the horizon! For me, the turning of the new season always elicits new possibilities, hobbies and even a new sense of motivation. Being able to spend time in the fresh air has inspired a new sense of focus in both my study habits and my personal goals, like that reading goal I set on New Year’s.
It can be difficult to keep up with expectations and goals during the whipping wind of winter depression. For myself and many others, the books have stayed on the shelf, replaced by a remote control in hand for the last few months.
With the spring sunshine, as we gain back motivation to finally get that reading goal back on track, here are four spring reading recommendations that will boost your spirits, prepare you for what’s coming soon in pop culture and have you feeling ready for the summer that’s just around the corner.
1. “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry
Emily Henry’s books have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. She grew her following mainly through TikTok’s subpage, “BookTok,” and fans were hugely intrigued by her sweet, friends-to-lovers romance books, including loads of banter and unique, feel-good vacation-style premises.
Henry released “Great Big Beautiful Life” in spring of 2025, piquing fans’ interest with a book more centered around rivalry and enemies-to-lovers than the friendship-based romance she has been praised for.
The book follows biographical writers Alice and Hayden as they spend a month on an island, aiming to write and discover the true story behind the Hollywood retiree that inhabits it. Whilst each character intends to outwrite the other, they are both on a trial period by the heiress of the island, Margaret Ives, and struggle to make sense of her story on their own.
Emily Henry is known to write for a sort of lighthearted audience. With the weather finally warming and the end of the semester in sight, a lighthearted read may be the thing many chose to reach for at the turn of the season. After the recent success of Netflix’s adaptation of one of her popular novels, “People We Meet on Vacation,” fans have been drawn into Henry’s work, and this new release differentiates itself from her previous work with its romance and scandalous content.
A quick read and very enjoyable distraction from the stress of midterms, schoolwork or whatever may be stressing you out this spring, Emily Henry’s “Great Big Beautiful Life,” could be the perfect choice for your next read.
2. “After I Do” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Leaves are turning, flowers are blooming and the sun is shining bright past 4 p.m. again. Spring is a time for new beginnings and self-discovery. While many associate these types of reads with the January “new year, new me” era, it’s never too late to make a change that impacts your everyday life, and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s work is certainly impactful.
“After I Do” follows the life of main character Lauren after her shocking separation from her husband, the man she fell in love with so young and thought she would be with forever. The couple takes a year-long separation as a time to rediscover themselves, their independence and how life looks outside of the drainage caused by their relationship.
Reid tells a truly beautiful tale of womanhood and independence, highlighting the reality of relationship struggles in early-to-mid adulthood and reminding readers that it’s okay to step away from things that drain you to rediscover yourself. Brighter days are right around the corner.
This theme of rediscovery and freedom makes spring the perfect time to dive into “After I Do,” opening up the door to new beginnings. The seasons begin to change and inspire audiences in the same way spring brings motivation and joy to so many.
3. “Verity” by Colleen Hoover
Now, Colleen Hoover is, all things considered, very controversial. From the shampoo scandals of Blake Lively in “It Ends With Us” to the internet allegations and questionable content in some of her books, her name has definitely seen its share of headlines. Regardless, Hoover’s books have had massive success in the publishing industry and have begun to be adapted into films that are also rolling in massive success.
Hoover’s most popular novel, “It Ends With Us,” hit the big screen in 2024 and led to the adaptation of “Regretting You” in 2025 and most recently, “Reminders of Him,” released this March. She is set to produce her fourth film adaptation for her psychological thriller “Verity” in October. In the world of romance and fantasy publishing, Hoover’s novels and films tend to be well-publicized and something worth talking about.
“Verity” follows a struggling author, Lowen Ashleigh, who was hired by the husband of famous author Verity Crawford, who was tragically paralyzed and unable to finish her books. Lowen, taking on the position of finishing the series, is let into Verity and her husband’s home and learns the truth behind her conditions and the secrets held within the Crawford family.
The film is projected to perform well and will star Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway, drawing in audiences from across fanbases. So whether you’re a fan of Hoover’s other work or not sure what to think of her, “Verity,” a novel that varies slightly in theme and genre from her other novels, may be worth the read in preparation for the film’s release and imminent popularity.
4. “Every Summer After” by Carley Fortune
Finally, if you’re ready to skip over the spring stage all together and dive into the fun, flirty summer romances, don’t worry, I’ve got a recommendation for that too. If you’ve already flown through Emily Henry’s summer collection, the greatly popular “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series by Jenny Han or even the newly adapted “We Were Liars,” Carley Fortune’s “Every Summer After” may be right up your alley.
In an excellently woven story, we follow Persephone Fraser retelling the stories of her summers growing up in a beach house beside her neighbors, brothers Charlie and Sam Florek. In the present, Percy returns to the house, reconnects with Sam, her first love, and reminisces on the flames between her and Charlie.
The novel takes the idea of the brother love triangle, popularized by Jenny Han’s “The Summer I turned Pretty,” and turns it on its head by highlighting that while maturity and time can alter feelings they never go away.
I personally prefer this book over most popular summer romances because of the carefree feeling of summer memories captured through Fortune’s poetic diction and fluent narrative writing. The series includes multiple other novels, telling stories of a main character’s return to their summer home and first love, almost as if they’re the Hallmark of summer novels.
If you’re looking for a book that will get you in the mood to tan, swim and revisit summer through the lens of your youth, “Every Summer After” is definitely the read for you.
So, with the weather finally starting to heat up and the birds creating a natural sound machine, now’s the perfect time to grab a book and head outside for a good read. Whether you’re traveling or looking for an escape from your spring cleaning, these books will definitely keep you busy for the next few months! Happy reading!