http://www.bookbub.com/blog/books-readers-love-spring-2024? [go to the article online to save any of these to BookBub’s wishlist — if you do, it will notify you when they’re on sale]
21 Books Our Readers Are Loving This Spring
By BookBub
April 05, 2024
Save any books that interest you from this article to your BookBub wishlist and we’ll notify you when we have a deal on them.
With the days getting longer and warmer, it’s hard to resist grabbing a book and sitting outside to catch up on your reading. Here are 21 new books your fellow readers have been delighting in, and what they have to say about each one.
(Editor’s note: Reviews have been edited for length and clarity.)
Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
A reader says: “Ernest is at a crime-writing festival aboard a train that crosses part of Australia with other mystery writers when a murder occurs. All the suspects know how to solve a crime, but they also know how to get away with murder. This was one of my most anticipated 2024 reads, and I loved every minute of it! There are nods to Agatha Christie and other Golden Age mystery writers, with the murder occurring on a train ride being just the beginning.”
Meet Me at the Lake
Brianna says: “I love Carley Fortune’s writing — she reminds me a lot of Emily Henry, and this book is a perfect read for anyone else who loves Henry’s lyrical, beautiful romances. The lakeside setting was so peaceful and nostalgic, and I thought Will and Fern’s storyline was compelling and realistically rendered, both in the past and present. She’s an automatic-buy author for me — her writing is easy to get lost in, and she writes heroines who are achingly vulnerable and still so hopeful.”
No Better Time
Deb says: “When I saw that this book was about the 6888th Women’s Army Corps, I had to read it. I’ve read two other books about these amazing women and wanted to learn more. I love when authors continue to find new perspectives about the same event or people. The 6888th were African American women who joined the Army to help the cause and did they help! Their huge task was to fix the logjam of mail and packages in Europe. They found a way to get the mail to the correct addresses through determination, perseverance, and hard work.”
Great Expectations
Nancy says: “I am a sucker for first-person narratives. I get caught up in their voice. Plus, I love a book about the pivotal experience in a person’s life, that moment in time when the world upends their youthful ideals and forces them to compromise or readjust or hold on to their values.”
Watch Where They Hide
A reader says: “If you enjoy a good solid mystery, this book will be just the ticket. Jordan Manning is an up-and-coming journalist who has the desire to be a true investigative journalist. She also has the skills to do this. This was an intricately plotted mystery that was well-written and provided clues to the reader as you read along. I enjoy trying to solve the mystery, and this book allowed me to work alongside the main character.”
The Ladies Rewrite the Rules
A reader says: “In the spirit of her earlier dazzling Regency romp, Mr. Malcolm’s List, another misguided hero has published a list — a directory of spinster heiresses and wealthy widows. One of those widows isn’t having it and sets in motion a sparkling, humorous, but heartwarming new path to love with ladies calling the shots.”
The Road from Belhaven
Judith says: “Set in late 19th-century Scotland, Livesey weaves a mesmerizing tale of a young woman burdened with the gift of second sight. In pitch-perfect cadence and luminous prose, Livesey transports us to an insular world where she delves into the complexities of human relationships with depth and nuance, and where the flawed lives of her characters have much to say about the intricacies of familial ties and loyalties.”
Sylvia’s Second Act
A reader says: “The story starts off when we meet Sylvia, our heroine, who walks in on her husband having sex with a neighbor. Sylvia hasn’t been happy for a while, and when her husband tells her they lost her life savings due to bad investment, Sylvia decides to leave her husband, and start off on a second chance at life. Sylvia is 63 years old, and convinces her BFF, Evie (a widow in her 70s), to move to New York in hopes to work again as a wedding planner.”
Relative Strangers
A reader says: “A modern take on Sense and Sensibility. A story of family drama, sisterhood, family secrets, and romance. I liked the writing, the story flowed well, and I enjoyed the varied array of characters. It’s lighthearted but full of drama. I thought it was quite clever. By the end I was rooting for all the Bae-Woods women. A solid read!”
What Happened to Nina?
Dayna says: “How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her daughter? For Leanne Fraser, there are no limits to her determination. Author Dervla McTiernan sets up a suspense-filled thriller centered around the search for a missing young woman. What Happened to Nina? alternates perspectives for each chapter, including characters from two families along with the police detective.”
The Trouble with You
A reader says: “What a wonderful book! It’s about a young woman’s search to find herself in post–World War II New York. When tragedy strikes, Fanny is left as a young widow with a young child. Bound by the strictures of the day which frown on women working, Fanny struggles to support herself. When she takes a role as secretary to a woman who writes soaps, she finds that she likes working and not being dependent on a man for everything. But pressure is on for her to find a husband and go back into her proper role.”
One in a Million
A reader says: “A marriage going bad. A horse race meaning a lot to the family. A death that they don’t know who did it. The twists and turns of the story will keep you wanting to read the story. The dynamics of the characters will keep you guessing.”
Swift and Saddled
Kirstie says: “Ada and Wes are the most relatable and perfect couple I’ve ever read. Their personal struggles are some that I’ve dealt with in the past, and their mutual respect, compassion, and understanding warmed my heart so much. I love how Wes understands Ada and caters to her needs. His love shows through so heavily, and it’s beautiful. I can’t quite articulate how much I love this work of art. ”
Welcome Home, Caroline Kline
Sam says: “Caroline Kline has been couch surfing in Manhattan after her boyfriend broke up with her days before their planned relocation to LA. Caroline’s dad also has a crisis of his own following a bad fall, and begs Caroline to move home to her Jersey Shore hometown for a while to take care of him — and take his place on the all-men’s softball team he loves more than many things. Moving home brings up a lot of complicated feelings for Caroline, especially after she runs into her first crush and they reconnect.”
The Finders Keepers Library
Jen says: “I couldn’t put this book down! Best book of the year so far! Savannah goes ‘home’ to her aunt’s house to recover from a broken engagement to Mr. Wrong. He refused to be there for her in sickness and in health. She finds her aunt dealing with some inner struggles as well as her childhood best friend, now a single dad trying to help his daughter recover from the loss of her mother.”
Take Two, Birdie Maxwell
A reader says: “A fun Hollywood romance! Birdie is a PR nightmare and I’m always here for that, in real life Hollywood and in fiction. The banter between Birdie and Elliott was fantastic. And I enjoyed Birdie finding herself and figuring out the direction she wants her life to go!”
I Am Rome
A reader says: “Absolutely loved I Am Rome! Well-researched, interesting, and super entertaining story of Julius Caesar from his youth to his adult life. Fraught with mind bogglingly perilous politics, a target by many of the most powerful Senators, Julius develops into the man history knows today. An unputdownable book, will keep you reading to the very end!”
Say You’ll Be Mine
A reader says: “This was our book club book for February and it was a really cute read! This was a great debut for Naina Kumar. I really enjoyed the story, and the characters were relatable, fun, and likable. I am excited to see what this author does next!”
A Great Country
Zoe says: “Astute, fast-paced, and thought-provoking! A Great Country is a nuanced, absorbing tale set in Pacific Heights, California that takes you into the lives of the Indian American Shah family as their lives get turned upside down when the youngest member of the family, 12-year-old Ajay, is brutally arrested and they must each individually confront their conflicting feelings and experiences with systemic racism, prejudice, privilege, controversy, reputation, and ableism.”
The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
A reader says: “I love Janice Hallett’s unique writing style. Her books are complex mysteries written in epistolary style, told through texts, emails, transcripts, news reports, and other mixed media. From what might initially appear fragmented, she skillfully weaves layered, intelligent, and suspenseful stories with well-developed characters. She is an auto-buy author for me, and this did not disappoint!”
When the World Goes Quiet
A reader says: “I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel and I love that the author used her family’s real life experiences as a guide. I haven’t read as much about World War I so it was interesting to learn more about that time frame. Evelien is an intriguing character faced with heartache and devastation, but her courage and desire to know what happened to her husband, Emiel, keep her going even as she crosses a line for information.”
Abycats' Thoughts 