Spring Book Report

Titles I’ve loved, buzzy spring releases, and a peek at my TBR pile

We’ve sprung ahead, a new season awaits, and I am filled with excitement for all things spring: longer days, fresh flowers, lighter clothes, and, as always, books!

Books I’ve Loved So Far

I love reflecting on what I’ve read, so it was a fun exercise to go through my Goodreads list and see what I’ve enjoyed most in these opening months of 2025. It also helped me ask questions like:

- Which genres do I want to explore more deeply?

- What did I dislike, and why?

- Who recommended the books I loved, and what else are they reading?

Of the nine titles I’ve read so far, these three left the greatest impression:

⛰️ The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
A double-disappearance mystery set at a summer camp in upstate New York, involving a wealthy family, a working-class town, and a fantastic cast of well-developed characters. It reminded me how much I love mysteries—and that I need to read more of them! Send your best recs my way.

💕 How to Tell a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
A novelist heads to LA to help adapt her book into a screenplay, only to find herself working with her hunky high school classmate—the same guy who was accidentally responsible for her sister’s death. It’s complicated, sexy, and well-paced, with an eldest-daughter-of-immigrant-parents protagonist I found extremely relatable.

🏫 Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
A unique story about a journalist-turned-professor mining stories from college girls in an Arkansas dorm. The conflicts, though low-stakes, were so well depicted, and the dialogue felt so real that it made me anxious in a way I can only describe as… intriguing? Plus, sneakily, this is a very female-centric book—the only heterosexual male characters are minor ones. Of all the books I’ve read this year, this was far and away the best written, and one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

New Books Coming This Spring

Between literary podcasts, Substacks, and bookstore newsletters, I’m so excited for this spring’s book releases, especially these four. Some of them are even part of Bookshop.org’s Spring Ahead Sale, where you can save 20%! (I’ll share which one I purchased below.)

🌊 Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
A single father of three, living on a remote island near Antarctica, is in isolation when a mysterious woman washes up on shore. Both have secrets, neither trusts the other, and there’s love and tragedy—what more could you want? All the best book folks keep talking about this one! Save 20% off this title on Bookshop.org through March 10

💭 Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This book follows four Nigerian women—a travel writer, a lawyer, a banker, and a housekeeper, exploring love, family, ambition, and expectations. I haven’t read her other books, but I’ve heard incredible things about Adichie’s writing and can’t wait to dive in.

🎧 Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
A story of two people, their shared love of music, and a relationship that unfolds over nearly a decade—starting at a campus bar in 2000. Everything about this book is calling my name, and if you’re a fellow elder millennial, I think you might love it too.

✍️ Great, Big, Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
The queen of rom-coms is back! This one follows two writers competing to tell the story of a legendary, reclusive octogenarian—all set on an island off the coast of Georgia. Emily Henry books are auto-buys for me, so you know I used Bookshop.org’s 20% off coupon to pre-order this one, releasing on April 22, 2025.

If you’ve never shopped on Bookshop.org before, let me give it a little plug: It’s just as easy as Amazon, but you get to support your favorite local bookstore. I love that I can “shop” at Brewster Bookstore—my Cape Cod favorite—even when I’m not there.

I also just updated my Bookshop storefront with my all-time favorite reads. Take a peek!

In my TBR (to be read) pile

No cute stack photo this time—my TBR is a metaphorical one! I try to use the library as much as possible, so some of these are on hold or still being acquired. In addition to the spring releases above, here’s what I’m planning to read next:

🎙️ Back After This by Linda Holmes

◼️ Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

💙 Between Friends and Lovers by Shirlene Obuobi

🏡 Rental House by Weike Wong

☀️ One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

💄 Glamorous Notions by Megan Chance

💐 Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

📚 Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

Nothing makes me happier than chatting books with friends! I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!

💬 What is your favorite book of the year so far?

💬 What book are you most anticipating this spring?

✍️ Creative Exercises/Journal Prompts

1. Make a list of five books that have stayed with you. What do they have in common?

2. Book swap with a friend. Share a favorite with them, and ask them to do the same with you!

3. Take yourself on a book date! Visit a local shop, peruse the shelves, and pick out something that calls your name.

☀️ Five good things

When we can recognize the things that bring us the most joy, we invite more of them into our lives. Here are five things that made me happy this week. Share yours below!

Five good things that happened this week:

1. My mom and I had a fun day of shopping and lunch together, and I came back with a couple of new puzzles.

2. Though I’m already starting to spiral about it, I officially began pitching my completed manuscript to literary agents! 🤞🤞🤞

3. I started watching (and loving!) Mindy Kaling’s newest show, Running Point on Netflix. I also really enjoyed this interview with her on Armchair Expert.

4. I found a new favorite TV/ambiance YouTube channel featuring gentle music and dreamy countryside settings.

5. My latest Rent the Runway order arrived, and I cannot wait to wear this green dress on repeat this month.

💬 Share your intention

Whether it’s a giant leap, a tiny to-do list item, a habit change, or something else, there is power in accountability, and this is a safe space to share your aim. Some weeks, we’ll fail, others we’ll soar, but with support, we’ll always keep going together.

Until next week, get out there and make something beautiful.

Michelle

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