Wow, my list of spring books is packed! We are truly living in an amazing publishing time where good books are coming out every day. I tried to keep my list below to the ones that I am most anticipating, either from favorite authors or because I love the subject matter. Hope you can find some favorites to put on your TBR!
Books are listed in order of release date. All links are Amazon affiliate links. If you’d like to support independent bookstores and creators, check out my Bookshop.org affiliate link.
- Historical Fiction
- History Nonfiction
- Middle Grade/YA Historical Fiction
- Contemporary Fiction
- Memoir
Historical Fiction
What the Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway (April 2)
I’ve already read and reviewed this book. It has all of my heart as it takes place in 1913 at the beloved Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Joy does a beautiful job at capturing the historical time period where class and wealth mattered above character. The main character, Belle, rises above this to follow her heart’s true calling while finding love along the way. Getting to know Joy has been a treat, too, and I loved getting an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) from her!
American Daughters by Piper Huguley (April 2)
I love learning about unknown friendships, and this one between Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice, and Booker T. Washington’s daughter, Portia, was fantastic. I learned so much about the early 20th century and how these women had to fight for what they wanted, no matter their social class. I highly recommend it! Read my review here.
The House on Biscayne Bay by Chanel Cleeton (April 2)
I love how Cleeton is now writing historical mysteries, and her latest about a mysterious house that harbors a deadly secret is propulsive! It would make a great fast-paced read for your beach bag! Read my review here.
These Tangled Threads: A Novel of Biltmore by Sarah Loudin Thomas (April 2)
I love any book set at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and this one looks so interesting. I had no idea there was a Biltmore Industries weaving company used by the Vanderbilts, so I am excited to learn more!
The Wartime Book Club by Kate Thompson (April 9 – US release date)
Thompson’s 2023 book, The Little Wartime Library, was one of my top books from last year, so I knew I wanted to read her latest about a librarian on the occupied island of Jersey during the war. Thompson’s writing is sharp and smart, and I learned so much about the life of British citizens under Nazi rule. If you wanted The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society to be grittier, this is the book for you! Read my review here.
The Widow Spy by Megan Campisi (April 9)
This book about the first female Pinkerton agent in Civil War-era Washington, DC looks right up my alley. I got an ARC as a patron of the Thoughts from a Page podcast and am excited to watch the author chat!
The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron (April 9)
Spanning both WWI and WWII, this Christian historical fiction novel about a romance between social classes, the horrors of war, and a bookshop looks perfect! Read my review here.
The Outlaw Noble Salt by Amy Harmon (April 9)
Harmon’s books never disappoint, and her latest about Butch Cassidy is getting rave reviews. I love how she brings to life real people from history!
The Beautiful People by Michelle Gable (April 16)
Set in the glamorous world of 1960s Palm Beach, I am excited to read Gable’s latest where Lilly Pulitzer is a character! I’ve read several of Gable’s books and have enjoyed them all!
A Murder Most French by Colleen Cambridge (April 23)
I really enjoyed the first book in this historical mystery series about a friend of Julia Child in 1950s Paris. Can’t wait to see what the famed chef is cooking up in this book about a murder at the Cordon Bleu cooking school!
The Shadow of War by Jeff Shaara (May 14)
Shaara is my go-to for detailed fiction about battles and historical figures, and I can’t wait to read his newest about the Cuban Missile Crisis. His books always help me understand difficult military and political strategies better. I have an ARC and hope to get to it soon.
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner (May 14)
I’ve loved Jenner’s two previous books, and this one that continues Vivien’s story looks captivating. Set in Rome in 1955, I can’t wait to be immersed in la dolce vita! I’ll dig into my ARC soon! (Read my final review here)
History Nonfiction
American Flygirl by Susan Tate Ankeny (April 23)
I love books about women breaking down barriers, and this one about the first Asian American woman to earn a pilot’s license, join the WASPs, and fly for the United States military looks great! The publisher sent me an ARC, so I am excited to dig in soon!
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larsen (April 30)
I’ve yet to read anything by Larsen, and now that he’s tackling my favorite time period to study, I think this will be where I start!
The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created a President by Edward O’Keefe (May 7)
I can’t wait to read this book about Theodore Roosevelt’s mother, wives, and sisters. He is really experiencing a new renaissance in books lately!
Middle Grade/YA Historical Fiction
The Night War by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (April 9)
Author of the best-selling The War that Saved My Life, Bradley’s latest looks just as good. Set in occupied France, a Jewish girl escapes capture and lives in a Catholic boarding school until she has a chance to obtain freedom. The reviews of this one are amazing!
Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry (April 23)
Lowry is a well-known author of historical fiction for middle graders, and her latest looks amazing. A young girl and an elderly woman, both named Sophie, help each other cope with the horrible effects of dementia while telling a story about WWII and the Holocaust. I can’t wait to read this!
Windy Night with Wild Horses (Magic Treehouse #39) by Mary Pope Osborne (May 7)
Jack and Annie land in Mongolia in this latest installment of the beloved series. I love how Osborne always combines history with adventure!
Contemporary Fiction
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (April 2)
Jimenez is my go-to romance author for a reason. She’s the queen of heartfelt romance with heft, so I’ll read anything she writes!
The Library of Borrowed Hearts by Lucy Gilmore (April 30)
I am excited to meet this author at the Junior League of Richmond’s Book and Author event in May! This novel about a librarian finding clues about her town’s romances in the margins of books looks adorable!
Better Left Unsent by Lia Louis (May 21)
Louis is a British author that I love, writing emotional romances that have a huge heart and usually leave me crying! She’s another author where I’ll read everything she writes! Read my review here.
A House Like an Accordion by Audrey Burges (May 21)
I loved this Richmond author’s whimsical debut last year (The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone) and can’t wait to read her newest book about a woman searching for her missing father.
Memoir
Two O’Clock on a Tuesday at Trevi Fountain: A Search for an Unconventional Life Abroad by Helene Sula (April 9)
I love following Helene on Instagram as she and her husband live abroad in Oxford, England. She’s so fun and is finally living her childhood dream of writing a book! I love to support that!
You Never Know: A Memoir by Tom Selleck (May 7)
Selleck is one of my favorite actors of all time, so I know I’ll be listening to him tell his life story through the audiobook. Can’t wait to learn more about his time on Magnum PI and Friends!
What book are you most looking forward to reading this spring?
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Only two of these were already on my TBR list – The British Booksellers and The Wartime Book Club. There are some fantastic-looking other books on this list; thanks for sharing!
I hope you love these! They all look so good!