As the days grow warmer and flowers begin to bloom, there’s no better time to read a book that captures the essence of spring. Whether in classics or contemporary reads, the best books that highlight this beautiful season are the ones that make us feel warm on the inside through their beautiful storytelling and heartfelt characters. We’ve gathered an extensive list of novels for you to enjoy this spring — but most importantly — for anytime you need a cozy book that will lift your spirits no matter the season!
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is a genius scholar and good at many things, but she is not good with people. She struggles making small talk and prefers simply being in the company with her books, her dear dog, and the Fair Folk than with other people. So when she arrives at a new village, she has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk, nor does she care to spend time with her handsome, insufferable academic rival, Wendell Bambleby, who manages to equally irritate and confound her. But when Emily gets closer to uncovering hidden secrets amongst her environment and the faeries, she must unlock the greatest mystery of all: her heart.
“One doesn’t need magic if one knows enough stories.”
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
Following a school girl, an elderly woman, and a middle-aged man, this story will bring a tale of friendship, love, and loneliness. Sentaro believes he has become a failure; he drinks too much, has a criminal record, and his faint dreams of becoming a writer seems too unlikely to happen anymore. Therefore, he spends his days working in a tiny shop selling dorayaki, a pancake filled with sweet bean paste. But everything in his life is about to change when he meets Tokue and Wakana, who teach him the value of friendship and to push past the burdens of our past to find meaning in our lives.
“I began to understand that we were born in order to see and listen to the world. And that’s all this world wants of us. It doesn’t matter that I was never a teacher or a member of the workforce, my life had meaning.”
Sweet Bean Paste
Picking Daisies on Sunday by Liana Cincotti
Danielle Daisy Maria always wanted to be in love; it was all she hoped for after watching endless rom-coms. But what she hadn’t hoped for was to be rejected after confessing to her childhood best friend, Levi. After promising herself to never cross paths with him again, she accidentally meets him at a crowded bar four years later, and to her utter shock, he asks her to be his fake girlfriend for his sister’s wedding. Should she protect her heart, or take this second chance to rekindle their friendship?
“I tried to stop loving you, but along the way, you found your way into the sound of my laugh, the style of my writing, and the threads of my clothes.”
Picking Daisies on Sunday
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell
A cozy cottagecore fantasy romance, this story tells the tale of a girl with a magical ability she must learn to control, or else. Clara’s magic has always been wild, but never before dangerous. Until her simple touch causes poisonous flowers to bloom in her father, and the only way to heal him is to cast a difficult spell that requires perfect control of her powers. The only person willing to help is her former best friend, Xavier, who went from being a sweet, shy child to a grown, mysterious, and distant man. As she grapples with reconciling with the boy she once loved, to finding the root of a terrible darkness that has taken over the queendom, Clara must find a way to use her powerful magic for good.
“Magic reflects what’s in our hearts. Every teacher’s said so. It’s this force inside of you that harnesses your emotions.”
Flowerheart
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The March sisters couldn’t be any more different: with Meg’s traditional dreams, Jo’s tomboyish character, Beth’s timid nature, and ambitious Amy, it may seem like the sisters would have no relationship with each other. But with their father away at war, and their dear mother working hard to support their family to make ends meet, they have to rely on one another as they hope their father returns home safely. I try to find an excuse every chance I get to recommend this beautiful, timeless classic; this story will captivate your heart as you read about the beauty of sisterhood and how there is strength in every variation of women, as we are all made of different dreams.
“Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.”
Little Women
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
A sweet romance with adorable mythical creatures and spellbooks full of magic, this story will be sure to heal your heart. Kiela has always had trouble with other people, but thankfully her position as a librarian allows her to spend her precious time around spellbooks and preserving their magic for the city’s elite with her dear assistant, Caz. But when a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, they flee with all the spellbooks they can carry to a remote island, Kiela’s childhood home. Much to her dismay, her very handsome, nosy neighbor consistently keeps showing up every day to make sure she is fed and helps fix up her new home. Now in need of income, Kiela decides to do the unthinkable on this island and opens their first-ever secret spellshop.
“Bookshelves! That was the most perfect thing anyone had ever offered her. Better than jewels or feast or a palace.”
The Spellshop
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
A tale of a proper lady thief and a charming henchman, this fantastical historical romance will have you hooked. Cecilia Bassingwaite is the ideal image of a Victorian lady, but she is also a thief. One who enjoys flying around England drinking tea, blackmailing friends, and acquiring treasure like the other members of the Wisteria Society crime sorority. Ned Lightborne is an assassin (sometimes) and is absolutely smitten with Cecilia when they first meet. But unfortunately, he happens to be under strict, direct orders to kill her; his employer is desperate to rid England of all its presumptuous women, starting with Wisteria Society, and Ned has plans of his own. But both men forgot one thing: never underestimate a woman.
“He had kissed her twice now. Outrageous! Indefensible! Would he kiss her in the sunlight next time? My goodness, she hoped not! Would he hold her close, his hand stroking her back as if she was something to be handled with care, cherished? Heaven forbid!”
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Linus Baker leads a usually quiet life by himself. At forty years old, he lives in a tiny house with no one but his devious cat and old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he spends his time overseeing the well-being of children in government orphanages. Until Linus is summoned to travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children of mythical creatures live, and he must overcome his fears to carry out his mission. But the children are not what he expected, and their caretaker surprises Linus even more with his charm and determination to keep his wards safe; as they grow closer and long-held secrets are exposed, Linus must make the overwhelming choice to destroy a welcoming home or watch the world burn.
“A home isn’t always the house we live in. It’s also the people we choose to surround ourselves with.”
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie is the eldest of three daughters and unexpectedly attracts the attention of the Witch of the Waste, who casts Sophie under a horrible spell and turns her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking the spell lies in the moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s castle. Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the witch head-on once again. But as she spends time in the moving castle, she slowly discovers that there is far more to the enchantment, and its people, than she first expected. This found-family and coming-of-age fantasy novel will capture your heart, and it’s an absolute perfect read when you need a warming lift.
“Howl’s voice was presently heard shouting weakly, ‘Help me, someone! I’m dying from neglect up here!’”
Howl’s Moving Castle
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
It is quite difficult to find a husband when you are a young woman with only half a soul. Theodora Ettings was cursed by a faerie and has no sense of fear or embarrassment due to her unfortunate condition. Dora hopes to simply be a quiet wallflower during the London Season, until Elias Wilder — a peculiar, ill-mannered Lord Sorcier — discovers her condition and draws her into strange and dangerous faerie affairs. As she struggles with her reputation and sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, she slowly realizes that she may indeed fall in love even with only half a soul.
“I have known many human beings with a full soul to their name who do not have half so much compassion or practicality as you.”
Half a Soul
That wraps up our list of books for spring! We hope you found some favorites to enjoy this season, or perhaps one you will enjoy all-year around.
Check out another article on spring recommendations here.
Browse the Bookstr team’s recommendations on bookshop.org here!
