Summer reads, spring reads, winter reads, and let’s not overlook fall. Everyone has a list, and the seasonal lists are among the most popular. They tell us it’s time to grab a copy of this book or that book because why not curl up, unfold, dive in or be enchanted by a novel and a novelist who knows how to capture our attention and won’t let go until the calendar says so.
Do these seasonal reading lists influence you? Or do you avoid the menagerie?
I thumb through (or swipe down) on the BookTokers and Instagram influencer posts because I am a huge fan of many, especially those who read across multiple genres and include books by diverse authors.
But there’s also another school of thought: reading a book no matter the season because you want to, or it’s on your TBR (or has been for four years — for example, and please excuse the plug, if my debut novel, Wild Women and the Blues, is still on that list, it’s time to read!)!
What draws us in? Sometimes it’s a title, a book cover, an author or word-of-mouth, and you can’t help yourself — the book must be read, and it must be read NOW!
This is all to explain that I initially intended to write an article about my recs for spring historical or general fiction reads. But as often happens when I set my mind on one thing, another thing creeps in. This time, I chose to run with that ‘other thing.’
Here are my top five must-read books from some of my favorite authors, regardless of the season. I’ve also included a few releases from my fellow Tall Poppy Writers that you absolutely need to add to your TBR!
Oh, and keep reading to the end, when I’ll include news about my next novel, set to release in February 2026.
Zeal: A Novel by Morgan Jerkins
Out now!
Jerkins wrote the spectacular fiction debut, Caul Baby. Her new novel begins in 2019 and sweeps back in time to tell the story of a past generation’s choices and an enduring love.
The Filling Station by Vanessa Miller
Out now!
Author Vanessa Miller follows the success of The American Queen with a story inspired by true events, set in 1921, and the Tulsa Race Massacre.
Can’t Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan
Out May 12, 2025.
A Kennedy Ryan romance is an unforgettable experience, and her third book in this series delivers the passion, love and romance that her fans eagerly anticipate. Sign me up!
Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams
Out July 29, 2025.
I’ve enjoyed her work for over a decade. This novel returns to Winthrop Island, where such titles as The Summer Wives, The Beach at Summerly, and Husbands & Lovers take place. If you know, you know!
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton
Out September 30, 2025.
Another auto-buy author for me, Cleeton’s latest centers on a mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day.
Here are a few more titles I recommend for your TBR:
Let’s Pretend This Will Work by Maddie Dawson (Out Now) — A quirky, big-hearted love story that works wonderfully.
Family & Other Calamities by Leslie Gray Streeter (June 1, 2025) — A successful journalist returns to her hometown just as her biggest mistake becomes headline news (and it’s funny and heartfelt).
Far From the A-List by Stephanie Burns (December 5, 2025) — Debut author Stephanie Burns offers a fresh, propulsive take on fame during the tabloid era of the ’00s in a novel about a former child star struggling to find herself beyond the characters she has played.
My next novel, Where the False Gods Dwell, will be available on February 24, 2026: Set in 1935 and inspired by the real-life legendary choreographer Katherine Dunham’s groundbreaking anthropological expedition into the heart of Caribbean dance culture, the novel imagines the experiences of three very different women who accompany her, hoping to find their destinies — yet they find themselves forced to survive a historic event: Hurricane Jérémie.
No cover yet, but cover reveal is coming soon!
Have a great spring!
