By Sariya Camp

Springtime calls to mind birdsong and flower fields, gentle sunshine and the flitting of dragonflies: the sights and sensations of the earth renewing itself.

As we ease out of the colder months, we turn to the comfort of books that capture this spirit of new beginnings. Stories that celebrate the beauty of the natural world. Stories that foreground hope and gratitude, blossoming love, and the joy of simple living.

In this post, I’ve compiled a list of beloved classics and contemporary favorites sure to put you in a spring mood. From poetry to cozy mysteries, there is something to enchant every reader. Without further ado, here are twelve books to have on your radar this spring.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

“Oh, it is wonderful to wake up in the morning with things to look forward to!” exclaims the dreamy narrator of this rags to riches tale. Told in a series of journal entries, I Capture the Castle traces the romantic adventures of seventeen-year-old writer Cassandra Mortmain as her family struggles to make ends meet in a crumbling castle in 1930s England.

Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

This latest installment in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series returns to Funiculi Funicula, the whimsical time traveling café of Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s imagination. Before We Say Goodbye is a heartwarming exploration of moving forward from the griefs that hold us back.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Krystal Marquis’ debut novel centers on an affluent Black family, offering a fresh perspective on American history. The Davenports kicks off during the spring ball season in Gilded Age Chicago and charts the experiences of four young women who work to turn their colorful dreams into reality.

Morning in the Burned House by Margaret Atwood

In this intimate collection of poetry, Margaret Atwood blends myth and reality as she muses on everyday life and observes the intricacies of nature. Morning in the Burned House is unafraid to probe the dark side of the human condition, challenging readers to look past the bleak and mundane to find the extraordinary.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

An escapist fantasy at its core, The Enchanted April focuses on a group of Englishwomen hailing from differing social backgrounds, who, dissatisfied with their lives, find connection whilst on holiday in the Italian Riviera.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Betty Smith’s modern classic chronicles the coming-of-age of Francie Nolan, an adolescent girl determined to flourish in early 20th century Brooklyn despite the atmosphere of poverty and hardship she is born into.

The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O’Neill

Furnished with the sweetest illustrations, The Tea Dragon Society can only be described as a therapeutic reading experience. The former webcomic unfolds in a fairytale realm as Greta, a blacksmith-in-training, learns the art of nurturing tea dragons, from which tea leaves are harvested.

Emma by Jane Austen

This classic of English literature follows Emma Woodhouse, a charming, wealthy young woman who creates more trouble than good when she decides to play matchmaker for the residents of her country village. Romance, wit, and quaint scenery combine to make Jane Austen’s Emma a springtime essential.

All the Honey by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

A recent release from poet Rosemary Wahtola Trommer, All the Honey shepherds readers through moments in time both big and small, beautiful and ugly, on a journey toward emotional healing.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells tells the story of Claire Waverley, a gifted but reclusive chef who spends her days tending her family’s enchanted garden. Set in a small town in North Carolina, this magical realist tale of sisterhood and self-growth is perfect for fans of Practical Magic.

Sinister Spring by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie’s Sinister Spring is a sweet treat for mystery lovers. This anthology of short stories sets murder and mayhem against a blossoming backdrop with appearances from fan-favorite detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

The Book of Delights by Ross Gay

From the poetic mind of Ross Gay comes a vitalizing collection of essays that doubles as a love letter to life itself. The Book of Delights is a close study of the simple and ordinary, devoted to finding the softness in a world that is too often unkind.