The Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2025
Spring is the perfect time to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and nature. Flowers start to bloom, the weather is mild, and it’s great for spending time outdoors. Before the summer heat kicks in, take advantage of this beautiful season. You don’t have to run or exercise to enjoy the outdoors—just relax outside. Boost your vitamin D levels naturally by sitting on your balcony, in your backyard, or at a local park. It’s a simple way to support your mental health, improve your immune system, and enjoy stress relief with nature.
Looking for the best books to enjoy this spring? Whether you’re relaxing under the shade of a big tree or taking a peaceful nature walk, these top spring book recommendations are perfect for the season. From bestselling novels to inspiring audiobooks for mindfulness, this curated list—selected by over 110 million Goodreads users—is filled with fresh reads you’ll love. We’ve also added a few of our own favorite book picks to help you unwind, boost your mental wellness, and make the most of your outdoor moments.
1. Everything Is Tuberculosis
John Green shares the powerful true story of Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. Despite his illness, Henry—with his thin legs and bright, goofy smile—quickly became close friends with John. This emotional story not only highlights Henry’s journey but also explores the medical history of tuberculosis, its impact on global health, and how today’s decisions can shape the future of disease prevention and treatment. It’s a mix of personal connection, public health education, and real-life experiences that shine a light on one of the world’s most dangerous infectious diseases.
2. Sunrise on the Reaping
The latest book in The Hunger Games series dives into the gripping backstory of Haymitch Abernathy. This new young adult dystopian novel takes place during the 50th Hunger Games—known as the Quarter Quell, where double the number of tributes must fight for survival. When Haymitch is chosen, he’s torn away from the girl he loves and thrown into a brutal competition designed for him to fail. But deep inside, there’s a spark of rebellion. As the Games unfold, Haymitch begins to fight—not just to survive, but to send a message that could change Panem forever. A must-read for Hunger Games fans, this action-packed prequel is filled with emotion, suspense, and resistance.
3. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
If you’re a fan of horror and historical fiction, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a must-read. This powerful historical horror novel tells the eerie tale of a vampire seeking justice on the Blackfeet reservation. The story begins when a 1912 diary from a Lutheran pastor is found hidden in a wall. What follows is a chilling discovery—a series of events linked to the tragic deaths of 217 Blackfeet people left in the snow. The novel unfolds through interviews with Good Stab, a Blackfeet man who reveals his mysterious past during confessional visits. With elements of Native American history, supernatural mystery, and psychological suspense, this book is perfect for fans of dark historical thrillers and vampire horror fiction.
4. Heartwood
Deep in the Maine wilderness, an experienced hiker disappears—and a gripping mystery begins. Forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, hiking the Appalachian Trail, vanishes just 200 miles from her final stop. As she faces harsh weather and isolation, Valerie writes raw, poetic letters to her mother. Beverly, a determined Maine State Game Warden, leads the intense ground search. At the same time, Lena, a 76-year-old birdwatcher living in a retirement community, becomes an unlikely armchair detective. As clues unfold, a disturbing puzzle emerges, suggesting Valerie’s disappearance may not be an accident. This psychological thriller blends outdoor survival, missing person investigation, and female-driven suspense—perfect for fans of true crime fiction and mystery novels set in nature.
5. Say You’ll Remember Me
There may be no such thing as the perfect man—but Xavier Rush is pretty close. Handsome, confident, and charming—until he speaks and reminds Samantha that even the most attractive guys can mess up. Samantha loves nothing more than proving a cocky guy wrong, unless he’s brave enough to admit he was wrong. After one unforgettable, passionate date, she realizes she’s falling for him. But with her family in crisis, she knows a relationship isn’t possible right now. Samantha pleads with Xavier to let her go. Still, no amount of time or space can erase the powerful connection they share. This is a story of second chances, emotional healing, and the fight to hold onto love—even when life gets in the way.
6. The Eights
For the first time in history, Oxford University opens its doors to female students. Four determined young women—Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—move into rooms side by side, ready to chase their dreams of education and equality. Nicknamed The Eights, they come from different backgrounds but quickly form a powerful bond. As they face life on the prestigious campus, they must confront gender discrimination, the lingering effects of the Great War, and the dangers of influenza outbreaks. In a world full of barriers, they find strength in sisterhood, resilience, and the shared fight for women’s rights and academic freedom. This is a moving and empowering historical fiction novel about friendship, ambition, and the cost of change.
7. Great Big Beautiful Life
Alice Scott is a hopeful writer chasing her big break. Hayden Anderson is a brooding, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. They couldn’t be more different—but both end up on Little Crescent Island with the same goal: to write the official biography of Margaret Ives. Once a tragic heiress and tabloid favorite, Margaret is the daughter of one of the most powerful families of the 20th century. She invites Alice and Hayden for a one-month trial to see who deserves to tell her story. But there’s a twist—Margaret only gives each of them fragments of her past, all while keeping them under a strict non-disclosure agreement. And as the tension builds, so does the undeniable attraction between them. This is a witty, slow-burn romantic comedy full of celebrity secrets, literary rivalry, and emotional sparks.
8. Notes to John
In November 1999, Joan Didion began meeting with a psychiatrist—and started keeping a deeply personal journal. For several months, she carefully recorded her therapy sessions, writing every detail for her husband, John Gregory Dunne. With her signature intelligence, precision, and literary style, Didion created a raw and honest account of her mental health journey. This intimate memoir reveals parts of her personality the world had never seen—yet her voice remains unmistakable: thoughtful, brave, and clear, even in the middle of emotional pain. It’s a powerful look at therapy, grief, and self-reflection, offering readers a rare glimpse into the private world of one of America’s most iconic writers.
9. Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
Cora Zeng works as a crime scene cleaner in Chinatown, scrubbing away the traces of murders and suicides. But nothing compares to the horror of watching her sister, Delilah, get pushed in front of a moving train. Just before running, the killer shouted two chilling words: “bat eater.” Since that day, Cora’s world has changed. She questions what’s real and what’s imagined, haunted by trauma and grief. But the fear in her gut grows stronger each time she finds bats at crime scenes—and when she realizes that all her recent jobs involve East Asian women, a disturbing pattern emerges. This gripping psychological thriller blends mystery, cultural horror, and mental health tension into a dark and unforgettable story.
10. My Friends
Most people overlook the three tiny figures hidden in one of the world’s most famous paintings—but Louisa can’t stop thinking about them. She’s determined to uncover the story behind the mystery. Twenty-five years earlier, in a quiet seaside town, a group of teens found escape on an abandoned pier—sharing jokes, dreams, and secrets. From that unforgettable summer, a painting was born. Years later, it lands in Louisa’s hands, sparking a cross-country journey to uncover the truth about its past. As she gets closer to the painting’s origin, Louisa begins to feel the weight of what she might discover. This is a beautiful blend of art, memory, and mystery—perfect for fans of literary fiction, emotional storytelling, and personal discovery.
11. The Emperor of Gladness
On a rainy summer night, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on a bridge, ready to end his life—until a voice from across the river stops him. It’s Grazina, an elderly widow battling dementia, who urges him to choose a different path. That moment changes everything. Hai soon becomes her caregiver, and over the next year, the two form an unexpected, powerful bond. Through empathy, emotional growth, and moments of deep spiritual reflection, their friendship begins to heal wounds from the past. This moving story explores mental health, suicidal thoughts, and how connection with others can help us find meaning. Together, Hai and Grazina help each other—and their community in crisis—find hope again.
12. Aftertaste
Konstantin Duhovny lost his father at ten—and ever since, he’s been followed by ghosts. Kostya can’t see them, but he can taste the favorite foods of the dead. Soon, he learns he has a rare gift: he can reunite grieving people with their loved ones from the afterlife, but only for as long as it takes to share a dish he’s cooked. To use this gift, he dives into the intense and competitive New York culinary world, offering comfort through food and closure. But something dark is rising beyond the veil. A supernatural threat is growing, and the one person who knows Kostya’s secret—and might have to stop him—is also falling in love with him. This unique blend of magical realism, love, grief, and fine dining is perfect for readers who enjoy emotional depth with a touch of the extraordinary.
13. Is a River Alive?
Is a River Alive? is a powerful and uplifting book that explores an ancient but urgent idea: rivers are living beings—and they deserve to be recognized as such in both imagination and legal systems. Author Robert Macfarlane takes readers on three fascinating journeys filled with inspiring people, breathtaking landscapes, and deep ecological wisdom. Travel through the cloud forests and mountain streams of Ecuador, the polluted waterways of India, and the untamed rivers of Canada. Woven into these adventures is the personal story of a fragile chalk stream near Macfarlane’s home—showing how local waters are connected to a global fight for environmental justice, river conservation, and climate resilience.
14. The Knight and the Moth
Sybil Delling is a Diviner—gifted with powerful visions from six mysterious beings known as the Omens. In her dreams, they reveal glimpses of the future, and people from across the kingdom seek her guidance. As Sybil and her sister Diviners prepare to end their sacred service at the cathedral, a mysterious knight named Rodrick arrives—skeptical of her powers and unwilling to believe in fate. But when Diviners begin to disappear without a trace, Sybil is forced to team up with him. The truth behind the vanishings lies with the gods themselves, and though she’d rather avoid Rodrick’s sharp tongue and dark gaze, Sybil knows that only a heretic can stand against a god. This is an epic fantasy adventure filled with divine prophecy, forbidden magic, and an enemies-to-allies romance that will keep readers hooked.
15. Problematic Summer Romance
Maya Killgore is 23 and still trying to figure out what she wants from life. Conor Harkness is 38, a successful biotech entrepreneur—and her older brother’s best friend. A romance between them? Totally off-limits. But when they end up stuck together at a luxury villa in Sicily for her brother’s chaotic destination wedding, the rules start to blur. As the wedding spirals out of control, Maya realizes that a forbidden summer fling with Conor might be exactly what she needs. Set against the backdrop of sun-soaked views and unexpected sparks, this age-gap romance is full of chemistry, complications, and irresistible tension.
16. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
Santo Domingo de la Calzada, 1532. London, 1827. Boston, 2019. Three young women, living in different centuries, are connected by the same land—and by something deeper, darker, and more powerful. Their stories twist like roots, reaching through time. One reaches for the sky, one digs into the earth, and one grows untamed. But they all share a secret—they all grow teeth. This haunting and lyrical novel blends historical fiction, feminist mythology, and magical realism, revealing the strength, rage, and transformation passed down through generations of women who refuse to be buried.
17. With a Vengeance
In 1954, Anna boards a luxury train from Philadelphia to Chicago—with revenge in her heart. Under false identities, she’s gathered the people who ruined her family back in 1942, planning to expose them and hand them over to the authorities at the journey’s end. But her carefully planned mission takes a deadly turn when one of the passengers is murdered. Now, it’s clear—Anna isn’t the only one seeking revenge. Someone else is onboard, carrying out their own brutal justice, and they won’t stop until everyone is dead. This chilling historical thriller combines locked-room mystery, high-stakes suspense, and a deadly journey of secrets and betrayal.
