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The spring weather is here! This winter seemed like it would never end, but now the birds are chirping, the trees are budding, and purple and blue flowers are just starting to poke their way out of the ground. It’s the time of year where all you want to do is sit on a porch, basking in the sunshine – and devouring an awesome book, of course.

Spring is the season of rebirth, of cleaning house and of rejuvenation after those long winter months. There’s a different energy in the air, with more people out on the streets, friendlier faces everywhere you look, and a light-hearted feeling that permeates everything you do. It’s also a great time to pick up a light, fun read that will get you ready for the warm summer months ahead. Whether you’re reading fiction, a memoir, or a yogi’s experience breaking body-perception barriers, there’s plenty out there to lighten you and your mindset this spring. Happy reading!

Here are 6 book recommendations to lighten your
mood – and your life! – this spring:

Secrets in Summer, Nancy Thayer (Ballantine Books, May 16, 2017)

nancy thayer secrets in summer springThayer is known for her breezy and romantic beach reads, transporting her readers to blue waters and quaint little seaside towns. Secrets in Summer takes us to Nantucket on Memorial Day weekend, where Darcy Cotterill works as a librarian year-round. She’s used to the turnover that living by the beach brings, but when her new summer neighbor ends up being her ex-husband and his new family, Darcy is forced to reexamine her quiet little life. Add in two new love interests and even more new neighbors, and Darcy’s summer is nothing like she thought it would be. With the warmer months coming to an end, she’s going to have to decide what kind of life she truly wants to live.

Welcome to the Farm: How-to Wisdom from the Elliot Homestead, Shaye Elliott (Lyons Press, April 1, 2017)

welcome to the farm shaye elliott springThanks to their popular blog, fans have been reading about the Elliott Homestead for years. Combining recipes, family life and the daily realities of running a farm, Shaye and Stuart Elliott write about the ins-and-outs of what it means to homestead in the modern age. Now they’re bringing that knowledge to you, in a how-to book (written by Shaye) that dives deep into the rural, do-it-yourself lifestyle. This book will teach you how to raise farm animals, how to can fruits and vegetables, how to make butter, how to garden and so much more. As practical as it is beautiful, this is one springtime book that is both useful and uplifting.

A Dog’s Way Home, W. Bruce Cameron (Forge Books, May 9, 2017)

a dog's way home w. bruce cameron springNothing says “feel-good” like a sweet dog story, especially one written by W. Bruce Cameron, author of the international bestseller, A Dog’s Purpose. This time Cameron brings us the story of Lucas and his loyal pup, Bella. Lucas Ray isn’t allowed to have dogs in the apartment building where he lives with his mother. It doesn’t help that Bella (the stray who attached herself to him) is a pit bull, a breed banned by the city of Denver. When Bella is nabbed by Animal Control, Lucas makes the tough choice to send her to a foster family hundreds of miles away. But Bella refuses to be separated from her owner, and so she decides to make the intense, harrowing journey back to the family she loves.

And We’re Off, Dana Schwartz (Razorbill, May 2, 2017)

and we're off dana schwartz springThere’s something just so fun and sweet about a coming-of-age novel set around a trip to Europe. The fact that And We’re Off is described as a cross between Gilmore Girls and 13 Little Blue Envelopes only makes us more excited to read it. Schwartz’s young adult novel is about Nora Holmes, a teen artist who jumps at the chance to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe in order to work on her art. Her mother, Alice, is not quite as excited, worried that the naïve Nora won’t be able to handle a trip like this alone. There’s a lot of tension between the mother/daughter pair – until Alice decides to tag along. Now Alice and Nora are exploring Europe together, learning more about each other and themselves in the process.

I’ll Push You, Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck (Tyndale House Publishers, June 6, 2017)

i'll push you patrick gray springBest friends since childhood, Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck were used to doing everything together. So when Justin acquired a neuro-muscular disease, taking away use of his arms and legs and leaving him wheelchair bound, the two were still determined to face life as a team. This included conquering the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile journey through Spain, where Patrick vowed to push along Justin every step of the way. I’ll Push You is a nonfiction account of their journey together, showing how deep a friendship can go, and how both men end up pushing each other through life in different ways. Feel-good, touching and honest, this is the perfect spring tale to lift your spirits.

Every Body Yoga, Jessamyn Stanley (Workman Publishing Company, April 4, 2017)

every body yoga jessamyn stanley springWho says you need to have a certain body type to enjoy yoga? Jessamyn Stanley is a yogi instructor who has devoted her life to showing how yoga can be performed by any kind of body. She’s also made a name for herself on Instagram, sharing her own struggles and her unique poses with the world. Every Body Yoga is a how-to guide that introduces yoga to anyone of any shape, size, or age. It’s also a book that challenges our perceptions of exercise and promotes body acceptance and health at any size. If you’ve ever wanted to try yoga but were scared that you wouldn’t be able to, then this is the book for you. And with those warm spring days and flowers blooming all around, now is definitely the time to bring this healthy practice into your life.

Buy this Book!

Amazon
Genre: Memoir, Young Adult
Rachel Carter

Rachel Carter grew up surrounded by trees and snow and mountains. She graduated from the University of Vermont and Columbia University, where she received her MFA in nonfiction writing. She is the author of the So Close to You series with Harperteen. These days you can find her working on her next novel in the woods of Vermont.

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