Brenda Janowitz is the POPSUGAR books correspondent. She is the author of five novels, including The Dinner Party.
Polar vortex, we are so over you. Thank you, next. Let's warm up just thinking about the 28 best new books of Spring, books that will warm your soul and delight your spirits. From literary to commercial, memoirs to essay collections, historical to fiercely modern — whatever you like, we've got the perfect read for you! Take a look ahead to see the latest and greatest from authors Helen Oyeyemi, Candice Carty-Williams, Jojo Moyes, Helen Hoang, and more.
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Think you know the story of the iconic '70s rock group Daisy Jones & The Six? Think again. Told entirely in a "Behind the Music"-style rockumentary format, Daisy Jones & The Six is about the rise and fall of an American band, from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Read this one fast: Reese Witherspoon will be producing a series for Amazon, based on the book!
Release date: March 5
Forget what you think you know about the children's stories about gingerbread. In acclaimed writer Helen Oyeyemi's hands, everything takes on a different meaning. From a childhood best friend named Gretel to a family recipe passed down through generations, Oyeyemi takes us on a journey that is wild and adventurous. Gingerbread is a novel you won't soon forget.
Release date: March 5
When Max meets Hanna in prewar Germany, they fall in love. But Hitler is slowly rising to power, and Max soon realizes that it's not a safe place for Hannah to be. What if he had a way for them to escape? Told in dual timelines of 1931, where Germany is slowly changing, and 1946, where Hanna wakes up in a field with no memory of the past 10 years, In Another Time is a beautifully written, utterly romantic story about a love that transcends time. The sort of book you wish could never end.
Release date: March 5
Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London. She's smart and beautiful and funny, but she doesn't quite see herself that way. After a breakup with her boyfriend (or was it just a break?), she's in crisis, and making loads of bad decisions. Queenie is the book for anyone who has ever asked: who am I? And how do I get there?
Release date: March 19
When we first meet Oksana, she's in elementary school, having recently come from Ukraine. She's trying to fit in, trying to behave, but it's not that easy. The novel takes us from her childhood through to her adult life, showing us the pains of growing up. With a fresh voice and a protagonist you can't help but root for, Oksana, Behave! is a coming-of-age novel that is funny and sad and wonderful.
Release date: March 19
One of the most highly anticipated debuts of the year, Lot by Bryan Washington is a collection of short stories, centered around the city of Houston. In it, we meet a diverse group of characters as they struggle with work, love, and discovering who they truly are.
Release date: March 19
"[T]he Great Zambian Novel you didn't know you were waiting for," The Old Drift is a stunning blend of historical fiction, fairy tale, suspense, magical realism, and science fiction. The story of an African nation told over the course of 120 years, The Old Drift is an epic tale, filled with characters who will stay with you, long after turning the last page.
Release date: March 26
After a bicycle crashes into him, Professor Chandra has very specific orders from his doctor: slow down. But how can he when work defines his life? The doctor's very Californian advice: follow your bliss. And so begins a journey of discovery. Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss is a charming, funny story about finding out what really makes us happy.
Release date: March 26
Nora McInerny has been through a lot: in one year, she lost her father, her husband, and her unborn second child. It's why her popular podcast is called Terrible, Thanks for Asking. In No Happy Endings, she takes us through her Chapter 2, which is what some call the stage after unspeakable loss, the stage when we begin to move on. She's creating a new life for herself, but she still feels her loss. And that's okay. As Nora says: "there will be no happy endings, but there will be new beginnings." No Happy Endings is the book for anyone who's fallen down and is trying to pick themselves back up again. An emotionally honest and thoughtful read.
Release date: March 26
All writers get nervous when they meet their editors for the first time, but James Smale is in for a huge shock when he meets the editor who is acquiring his novel: none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. As James works with Mrs. Onassis on his book, they develop a relationship, and he soon finds himself fixing not just his manuscript, but some of the important relationships in his life, as well. The Editor is a sweet and charming novel, perfect for fans of Jackie O and of Rowley's first novel, Lily and the Octopus, alike.
Release date: April 2
Do you love the "Cathy" cartoons? (Silly question. Of course you do!) This Spring, beloved "Cathy" creator Cathy Guisewite gives us Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault, a collection of essays that are equally parts warm, laugh-out-loud funny, and charming. Guaranteed to make you fall in love with Cathy all over again.
Release date: April 2
When Chanel Cleeton's Next Year in Havana was picked by Reese Witherspoon as a Hello Sunshine Book Club pick, we were swept away to the shores of Cuba, as one powerful family fled their home as Fidel Castro came to power. One of that novel's most fabulous characters was beautiful Beatriz, and we just knew that her story merited its own novel. In When We Left Cuba, we find that Beatriz is more than just a pretty face. Much, much more. When We Left Cuba is a thrilling story about love, loss, and what we will do to go home again. Utterly un-put-down-able.
Release date: April 9
JoJo Moyes is best known for her unforgettable Me Before You series, but get ready to meet a whole new cast of characters. Meet Athene Forster; called "the last Deb" back in the '60s, she had it all. But a scandal changed everything. Thirty-five years later, we meet Suzanna Peacock and her Peacock Emporium. What, exactly, is The Peacock Emporium? It's a coffee bar and little shop filled with all manner of things and all manner of people. But is Suzanna just hiding from her past? And can she move on with the present without facing it first?
Release date: April 9
When two freshmen meet at a highly competitive performing arts school in the early '80s, they fall madly in love. Life intervenes, sending them in different directions. But then, in the middle of the novel, perspectives twist, leading the reader to question everything. Trust Exercise is a stunning novel about love, life, and the power of story.
Release date: April 9
From the acclaimed author of Lilac Girls comes its prequel, Lost Roses. Inspired by true events, just like its predecessor, and just as well-researched, Lost Roses is a remarkable story and another testament to female strength. This sweeping epic will thrill and delight fans of Lilac Girls and readers of historical fiction alike.
Release date: April 9
When Conversations with Friends debuted in 2017, people took notice. Sally Rooney now brings us Normal People, the story of Connell and Marianne. They don't speak at school, partly because Marianne isn't very popular, and partly because Connell's mother works for Marianne's family as a housekeeper. When a connection forms between the teenagers, where will it lead? Normal People is a smart, nuanced take on the "will they/won't they" story, written in spare prose that are deceptively simple.
Release date: April 16
Alexa Martin is the real-life wife of an NFL player, so when it comes to football, she knows what she's talking about. In her novel Fumbled, we meet Poppy Patterson. She's been a single mom since the age of 16, but she's got this. Until, that is, she runs into her ex, NFL star T.K. Moore. Get ready for sparks to fly . . .
Release date: April 23
When Alice Weiss leaves the comfort of the Midwest to chase her dreams in Manhattan, she has no idea what to expect. She lands a job at Cosmopolitan, working under none other than its first female editor-in-chief, Helen Gurley Brown. Park Avenue Summer takes us behind the scenes of a moment in history, delivering a delightful and empowering read.
Release date: Apr. 30
When Reese Witherspoon chose Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows for her book club, Balli Kaur Jaswal instantly became a writer to watch. She's back this Spring with The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters, the story of three sisters who must travel to India to bury their mother. Expect another heartwarming winner about love and family.
Release date: April 30
Jamie Brenner has been making a name for herself writing about a different beach town each year. With Drawing Home, she brings us to Sag Harbor, where Emma Mapson dutifully mans the front desk of the The American Hotel. When one of the town's most famous residents, the reclusive artist Henry Wyatt, suddenly dies, he leaves his exquisite waterfront estate to Emma's daughter. Everyone is shocked that Wyatt has left his home, filled with his valuable artwork, to a teenager, especially art patron Bea Winstead, who descends on the town, ready to fight for what's rightfully hers. A charming novel about love, family, and the true meaning of home, you simply will not be able to put Drawing Home down.
Release date: May 7
We fell in love with Helen Hoang last year when she released her debut novel, The Kiss Quotient. Now she's back with The Bride Test, so prepare to fall in love all over again. Meet Khai Diep. He's uber-successful at work, but his autism leaves him feeling like he has no emotions and that he simply cannot love. His mother doesn't believe that for an instant, though. She travels to Vietnam and meets Esme Tran, a single mother who works cleaning bathrooms at a high-end hotel. She's immediately certain that this is the girl who will make her son fall in love. Desperate to find a better life for her daughter, Esme goes along with the crazy plan — but can you really make a plan where love is concerned? The Bride Test is a charming love story that is equal parts sexy and sweet.
Release date: May 7
What could be more delightful than another winner by Mary Kay Andrews? This May, she brings us to Sunset Beach, where we meet Drue Campbell, whose life isn't exactly going according to plan. When her estranged father shows up out of the blue at her mother's funeral, it's bad. But then it gets worse when Drue discovers that his new wife is none other than her eighth-grade frenemy, Wendy. When an old case gets under Drue's skin, things heat up. Sunset Beach is another page-turner from the always charming Mary Kay Andrews.
Release date: May 7
Imagine being able to go to a decadent spa where your every need is taken care of: nutritious meals, personal trainers, and beautifully appointed accommodations and grounds. And it's free. The only catch? You will be the surrogate to an unknown donor's baby. And you can't leave until you deliver. The Farm is a smart, thoughtful novel about women, choices, and the immigrant experience that asks the question: how far would you go for the American dream?
Release date: May 7
Julie Buxbaum writes Young Adult novels that appeal not just to younger readers, but adults as well, tackling tough issues with intelligence and grace. In Hope and Other Punchlines, she takes on 9/11 through the lens of two teens who were personally touched by the tragedy. Abbi is Baby Hope, the subject of the photograph that most people associate with 9/11. But she'd rather you didn't recognize her, thank you very much. Noah Stern has a connection to that photograph, and if he's going to find out what he needs to know, he's going to need Abbi's help. Told in alternating chapters, Hope and Other Punchlines is a smart, thoughtful story about out how our pasts inform our presents.
Release date: May 7
When Laura goes out on a blind date, she doesn't come home the next day. Her sister, Rosie, who's always worried about her since they were kids, immediately wants to get to the bottom of things. But Laura hasn't left her with any information about her date, and she's not answering her phone. Told in alternating timelines, with Laura's moving through the night of the date, and Rosie's moving through the next morning, The Night Before will keep you guessing until the very last pages. What happened to Laura? A twisting, turning delight!
Release date: May 14
Home Remedies is a debut collection of literary stories about the search for identity. These beautifully crafted stories, told through the lens of a Chinese millennial, are about love, career, and family. Called a "radiant new talent" by Lauren Groff, Xuan Juliana Wang's writing will delight and challenge you.
Release date: May 14
One year ago, Jane Harris lost her eldest daughter, Mary, in a horrible accident. She's been in a grief-stricken, antidepressant haze, but she's ready to get her life back, as her younger daughter prepares to graduate from high school. But as she tries to get back to life as usual, she gets a note that tells her that Mary's death was not an accident. What has she missed in the last year? And who can she trust? The Favorite Daughter will keep you at the edge of your seat as Jane struggles to figure out the truth.
Release date: May 21
So many women struggle with their weight each year. With Waisted, Randy Susan Meyers takes on this touchy topic, introducing us to a cast of characters who meet at a weight-loss clinic called Privation, all of whom have agreed to film their experiences for a documentary. But is everything as it seems at Privation?
Release date: May 21
