It’s that time of year when the spring showers keep you locked to your dorm or apartment. And what better way to pass the time than to sit down with a good book in hand? The question now is which book should you start with? Here are my top five book recommendations to delve into this spring.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman:
First published in Sweden in 2012, Backman’s debut novel, A Man Called Ove, follows the story of an older man called Ove, who is far from the friendliest neighbor on the block. But while he comes off as crude and unfeeling, he cares deeply for his neighbors.
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this contemporary fiction novel as much as I did. But I have to say, it was so well-written, and the story was so touching that it was difficult not to tear up by the end. It’s a brilliant, easy read, perfect for a day spent hiding from the rain or the false Midwest spring days. 
Circe by Madeline Miller:
Written in 2018, Miller’s novel Circe, set during the Greek Heroic Age, is composed of adaptations of various Greek myths, woven together to form the story of Circe, daughter of Helios and a sorceress herself. Told from Circe’s point of view, this is a definite read for any fans of Greek mythology.
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone:
Published in 2019, This is How You Lose the Time War is a science fiction, romance, fantasy, and time travel fiction novel all wrapped into one single book. It tells the story of two time-travel agents, Red and Blue, as they fall in love through a series of letters exchanged across time and space during their journeys.
While hard to follow at times, this book was definitely worth the read and is a great addition to the literary world.
Alex Approximately by Jenn Bennett:
Jenn Bennett’s 2016 young adult romance novel tells the story of Bailey Rydell, a classic movie fanatic who moves to California and begins to fall for her nuisance coworker, Porter, unaware of who he really is.
Alex Approximately was an easy, fast-paced read, perfect for anyone, whether you usually like to read or not. And with the summer setting, it’s the perfect book to get you excited for the summer weather, or some of the 80-degree Decatur days.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr:
Doerr’s 2014 historical fiction novel is set during World War II. It’s a dual-POV (point of view) novel following the characters Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French girl who takes refuge in Paris after the Nazi invasion, and Werner Pfennig, a member of Hitler’s German Youth military school, accepted for his intelligence and technological talents.
This book tells a complex story and is a great read for someone who prefers historical fiction, and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of the season.
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