5 New Must-Read Books This Spring!

Jacket weather is out and light sweater weather is in -- Spring is officially here! It’s time to be outdoors among the wild flowers and bees; there’s no finer time for a picnic. That also means there’s no better time to curl up and read a good book, especially during a (much-needed) Spring holiday. A number of riveting reads are being released this Spring. Pick up one of these to keep you entertained while relaxing on a picnic blanket...

American Warby Omar El Akkad

Dystopian novels are once again in fashion (do they ever go out of fashion?) and El Akkad has written a new masterpiece to join the collection. American War takes place in the year 2074, when the U.S. is in the midst of a Civil War and oil is now outlawed. The novel follows a young Southern refugee as he tries to grapple with the horrors around him. While none of us would ever want to experience a second Civil War, the idea of what would happen if one were to occur is intriguing. The title of El Akkad’s novel drops the “Civil” which clearly suggests that war is, indeed, never civil. (Release Date: April 4)

The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Storiesby Penelope Lively

If American War sounds a bit too intense for you, then The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories may be a better fit. This amusing set of short stories focuses around personal histories. The title story follows a purple swamp hen as he enjoys life in Pompeii -- right before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. If you enjoy reading imaginative fiction and delving into stories of the past, then this is your read for the beach. (Release Date: May 9)

Borneby Jeff VanderMeer

If you love mad science experiments, then this one is for you. Borne takes place in a future where abandoned experiments run rampant. Rachel and her lover, Wick, attempt to survive by taking refuge against the mutant bear Mord. One day, she finds a shape-shifting creature she calls Borne. I haven’t even read the book but Borne sounds like a weird mix between Lilo and Stitch and The Hunger Games. This is a combination I didn’t know we needed, but judging from the description, it’s a brilliant one. (Release Date: April)

Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Bodyby Roxanne Gay

Gay has become one of the prominent voices in feminist literature thanks to her witty book of essays, Bad Feminist, and her columns for the New York Times. In Hunger, Gay gets personal. The memoir focuses on her struggles with food and her body. Her writing takes a far more intimate turn as she reflects on the struggles of self-image and taking care of one’s self. Hunger is bound to be one of this year’s most moving reads. (Release Date: June)

The Most Beautiful: My Life with Princeby Mayte Garcia

Are you a Prince fan (R.I.P.)? Then this memoir is a must-read. Penned by Prince’s first wife, The Most Beautiful is an honest and refreshing look at Prince’s personal and professional life. Since Garcia knew Prince on a truly intimate level, The Most Beautiful takes a different turn then most Prince biographies. (Release Date: April)

Which books are you planning to read this spring?

(Photo via Michael McGourty/WENN)

- Sarah Osman, YH Contributing Writer