🌺 Books That Give Me Spring Vibes

 Welcome, Spring!

Although I live in Florida where the only seasons are Summer and Summer-Adjacent, I love when Spring arrives. The cherry and plum blossoms are out in many places in the world, snow is melting and flowers are on their way to blooming. People with Seasonal Affective Disorder are hopefully getting a break. It's just a fun time.

When I think of Spring, I think of love and rebirth. Because of Easter, I also think of candy and pastel colors and flowers. I think my choices reflect this (I think). What do you think of when you think of Spring?

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

 

Goodreads Description:

"Snap's town had a witch.

At least, that's how the rumor goes. But in reality, Jacks is just a Crocs-wearing, internet-savvy old lady who sells roadkill skeletons online. It's creepy, sure, but Snap thinks it's kind of cool, too.
Snap needs a favor from this old woman, though, so she begins helping Jacks with her strange work. Snap gets to know her and realizes that Jacks may in fact have real magic--and an unlikely connection to Snap's family's past."

I got this as an ARC which I never read and I am kicking myself for that now as it put off my reading of it for about a year. I ordered it to read so I could get my Netgalley score up and absolutely fell in love with it. The story is so wholesome and sweet and it has a lot of tropes I love like 'small-town witch,' 'found family,' 'animal companions,' etc. It makes me think of Spring because of how nature is intertwined throughout the whole story and the way relationships that characters thought were long dead are made anew. I can't recommend this graphic novel enough.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Goodreads Description:

"Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye."

You probably recognize this from the Studio Ghibli movie. I love the movie but I also adore the book. It's so magical and such a romp. Also: WHOLESOME ALERT. This book absolutely warms my heart. The Spring vibes for me come from Sophie's renewed outlook on life after being turned into an old woman and a certain field of flowers that comes up a bit later in the book. 

Heartstopper: Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

Goodreads Description:

"Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him.

They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner..."

Another graphic novel! I love them, can you tell? Heartstopper is a favorite of the bookish community and for good reason. It's such a lovely story with beautiful character relationships. It reminds me of Spring because of the budding relationship between Nick and Charlie. You get to see it bloom on page and it is just the best thing!

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell

Goodreads Description:

"All Freddy Riley wants is for Laura Dean to stop breaking up with her.

The day they got together was the best one of Freddy's life, but nothing's made sense since. Laura Dean is popular, funny, and SO CUTE ... but she can be really thoughtless, even mean. Their on-again, off-again relationship has Freddy's head spinning — and Freddy's friends can't understand why she keeps going back.

When Freddy consults the services of a local mystic, the mysterious Seek-Her, she isn't thrilled with the advice she receives. But something's got to give: Freddy's heart is breaking in slow motion, and she may be about to lose her very best friend as well as her last shred of self-respect. Fortunately for Freddy, there are new friends, and the insight of advice columnist Anna Vice, to help her through being a teenager in love."

Yes, another graphic novel. But this one is one of my all-time favorites. This had such an impact on me when I read it. It has a great message about toxic relationships and tending to friendships. It is also beautifully illustrated. The reason it reminds me of Spring? It's not just the fact that it's black and white except for the hints of pink throughout. It's the change of perspective that Freddy gets by the end of the book. Spring is all about change and like I said, rebirth for me.

Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

Goodreads Description:

"When Rini lands with a literal splash in the pond behind Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, the last thing she expects to find is that her mother, Sumi, died years before Rini was even conceived. But Rini can’t let Reality get in the way of her quest – not when she has an entire world to save! (Much more common than one would suppose.) If she can't find a way to restore her mother, Rini will have more than a world to save: she will never have been born in the first place. And in a world without magic, she doesn’t have long before Reality notices her existence and washes her away. Good thing the student body is well-acquainted with quests...

A tale of friendship, baking, and derring-do. Warning: May contain nuts."

This is actually a third book in a series but thankfully the books are all loosely connected and you don't have to read them in order. This is one of my favorite books in the series and one that reminds me of Spring because of the atmosphere. The series is all about different worlds that kids can disappear into and in this world, everything is made of candy. And like I said, because of Easter: Spring = candy! There's also a fun adventure and creative villains. Lots of good reasons to check this one out.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Goodreads Description:

"Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Miss ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.

She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings."

I always loved the movie Matilda and didn't get around to reading the book until a few years ago. It was well worth it. The movie and the book are similar but we get a closer look at one of my favorite characters, Ms. Honey. I think both have their merits but the movie reminds me more of Summer while this book makes me think of Spring. The new life Matlida gains at the end of the book is what gives me the Spring vibes. That and Ms. Honey's little cottage.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Goodreads Description:

"To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed.

But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh.

As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all."

This is the first book in a YA series and honestly, I only like this first book. It was such a fun ride with juicy plot beats. But the young love! The young love is what reminds me of Spring. The growing feelings for one another. Also Laura Jean is like a little Spring fairy with all her baking and fashion, I just love her.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Goodreads Description:

"Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.

But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.

With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever."

Another first book in a YA series. This one gave me Spring vibes right off the bat. The writing is positively decadent. I felt like I could taste and see everything that was described. Not only that, the Belles are all named off of flowers. But there is a darker mystery element in this book that made it so much more interesting. I recommend picking it up just for the intrigue.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo

Goodreads Description:

"Desi Lee believes anything is possible if you have a plan. That’s how she became student body president. Varsity soccer star. And it’s how she’ll get into Stanford. But—she’s never had a boyfriend. In fact, she’s a disaster in romance, a clumsy, stammering humiliation magnet whose botched attempts at flirting have become legendary with her friends. So when the hottest human specimen to have ever lived walks into her life one day, Desi decides to tackle her flirting failures with the same zest she’s applied to everything else in her life. She finds guidance in the Korean dramas her father has been obsessively watching for years—where the hapless heroine always seems to end up in the arms of her true love by episode ten. It’s a simple formula, and Desi is a quick study. Armed with her “K Drama Steps to True Love,” Desi goes after the moody, elusive artist Luca Drakos—and boat rescues, love triangles, and staged car crashes ensue. But when the fun and games turn to true feels, Desi finds out that real love is about way more than just drama."

Last one! I read this a long time ago but it's stuck with me because of the main plot point: creating a plan to make a boy fall for you based off of Kdrama tropes. It was so sweet and a great debut. The Spring vibes come in on the emerging love between Desi and Luca. It was so cute and lovely. I think I even read this in Spring so I know what I'm talking about!

Thank you for reading! I hope your Spring is lovely. Seasons are so fleeting. As I get older I'm trying to treasure the seasons more because time moves so fast. I hope I can enjoy this Spring to the fullest! 

x Sasha