Spring has finally sprung! With spring officially having started on March 20, I’m still waiting for it to feel like spring in Nashville. With the promise of 65 degree weather for the coming weekend, my hopes are high. I can’t wait to pop open a new book on my deck and enjoy the breeze while flipping pages. I’ve compiled a list of books that came out in March or are going to be released in April that I think will make fantastic spring reads. Let’s get started!
Image from Bloomsbury Publishing
1. “Circe” by Madeline Miller | TBR: April 10
A fictitious tale featuring a range of mythological heroes and villains, Madeline Miller’s “Circe” features a female protagonist that is forced to find her power when Zeus banishes her from Mount Olympus. Circe discovers an ability to “transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves,” and after finding her place among mortals, Circe must choose between returning to the Gods or remaining on Earth. What promises to be a captivating story that brings mythology back to the literature scene has got to be my most anticipated release of Spring 2018.
Image from Goodreads
2. “The Merry Spinster” by Mallory Ortberg | Released: March 13
Similar to Miller’s mesmerizing tale based on previously crafted lore, Mallory Ortberg has released a new collection of stories that focus on the psychological aspects of the classic fairy tale. While remaining true to the fairy tales we all know and love, Ortberg highlights the grittier parts of the stories to bring an alarming twist to readers. I’ve always loved fairy tales (the Disney versions and the Grimm brother’s original writings), so when I heard about Ortberg’s “The Merry Spinster” I knew I needed it on my shelf.
Image from Harper Collins
3. “I’ll Be Your Blue Sky” by Marisa de los Santos | Released: March 6
Marisa de los Santos released the third book in her “Love Walked In” series, “I’ll Be Your Blue Sky” this March. Continuing the story from her first two novels, Santos incorporates elements of family, sacrifice, and courage into her story. When Clare ends her engagement and inherits a house with a mysterious past, family and friends come together to unravel the strings that connect people in our lives. I actually didn’t know this was a series when I added it to my list, but this just means I have two more books to add to my list!
Image from dictionarystories.com
4. “Dictionary Stories: Short Fictions and Other Findings” by Jez Burrows | TBR: April 10
Jez Burrows “Dictionary Stories” is a collection of short stories that begin with example sentences from dictionary definitions. Burrows includes a variety of genres to remind readers of the serendipitous nature of life. As a lover of reading and understanding language, I knew I needed to add Burrows new collection to my list. Guaranteed to be an enlightening read, I can’t wait to pick it up come mid-April.
Image from Amazon
5. “Awayland: Stories” by Ramona Ausubel | Released: March 6
Another collection of short stories, Ramona Ausubel’s “Awayland” takes a critical look at universal themes like loss, parenthood, and identity through a mythological lens. (I must be subconsciously craving fantastical fiction with all the mythological/fairy tale related books I added to my Spring TBR.) Crisscrossing the globe with a vast assortment of characters, “Awayland” promises to unveil some of the mysteries of life.
Well, there you have it. Five of my most anticipated reads this spring. Let me know what new releases you’re excited about in the comments below!
Happy reading,
Kimberly