With spring on the way, now is the perfect time to head outside to the quad or settle down on a bench with a good book.
These five reads are The Eagle’s picks for the arrival of spring are full of feeling and will leave readers itching to turn the page.
“Emma” by Jane Austen (1815)
This classic Jane Austen novel tells the story of Emma Woodhouse, a smart and spoiled young woman who is confident in her matchmaking abilities. Despite her confidence, her meddling leads her to multiple romantic entanglements.
This novel has as much humor as it has romance and will throw readers into a world of gossip, excitement and friendship.
“Funny Story” by Emily Henry (2024)
Daphne and Miles meet through unfavorable circumstances: their exes broke up with them to be with each other. Left in an awkward situation, the two dissimilar people move in with each other in the wake of their breakups.
Over time, they form a friendship and a plan to travel throughout the summer. They also plot to post misleading photos targeted toward their exes online. As the summer goes by, the pair grows closer and feelings blur.
“Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery (1908)
Anne Shirley is a stubborn, passionate and romantic orphan from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Due to a switch-up from the orphanage, she ends up with siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, who originally wanted to adopt a boy to work on their farm. The Cuthberts take a chance on Anne, though, and agree to let her stay at their home, Green Gables.
This heartwarming story follows Anne through her school-aged years as she navigates friendships, enemies and her newfound family.
This novel is the first in a series following Anne, and all eight books are perfect heartwarming reads for spring.
Aptly named, this third installment in Smith’s “Seasonal Quartet” series explores human nature and the state of modern-day Britain by following the lives of everyday people.
“Spring” was long-listed for the Orwell Prize in 2020, a British prize for political writing.
“A Tree Grows In Brooklyn” by Betty Smith (1943)
This American classic follows a young girl at the turn of the century in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Francie Nolan and her impoverished family are just barely getting by, and she learns from a young age that life’s not fair.
Francie escapes through books, ponders her eccentric neighbors and finds beauty everywhere. Despite the hardships she and her family take the reader through, Francie’s character and this novel display the wonders of the human spirit.
“The House of My Mother” by Shari Franke (2025)
On screen, Shari Franke’s family lived a perfect life. Off screen, her mother Ruby was cruel, strict and overbearing.
This newly released page-turning memoir follows Franke’s experiences growing up in a devout Mormon household, the family’s fame found by the YouTube channel “8Passengers” and the dark turn in her mother’s demeanor after meeting an unconventional therapist.
Facing a new life at college and sudden estrangement from her family, Franke finds a way to save her siblings and herself. It pairs well with the new Hulu docuseries “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.”
Try any or all of these books to welcome in the warm weather!
This article was edited by Jessica Ackerman, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Olivia Citarella, Emma Brown and Ella Rousseau.
