As winter draws to a close, it’s time to put down the cozy holiday stories and welcome a new roster of refreshing reads. Luckily, The Pitch has compiled a well-rounded list of spring-themed books for avid readers to enjoy during this coming spring break. Our top 10 favorite spring reads vary in genre, page length, and theme, but all have one common factor: with charming characters and uplifting endings, they are the perfect books to welcome in the new season.

#1 The Secret Life of Bees 

By Sue Monk Kidd 

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd, takes place during the 1964 Civil Rights Movement, in the southern United States. The story revolves around 14-year-old Lily Owens, constantly haunted by the blurred memory of her mother’s death. In turn, Lily grows up with her abusive father and is cared for by her Black nanny, Rosaleen. After Rosaleen finds herself in conflict with the three of the deepest racists in town, the two flee to a small town in South Carolina, which holds clues to Lily’s mother’s past. Taken in by three Black bee-keeping sisters, Lily flourishes in her new environment, for the first time finding herself surrounded by strong female figures. Throughout her personal growth, she discovers the truth about her mother is closer than it may seem. The Secret Life of Bees is inspirational and heart-warming, with a hint of mystery and empowerment, earning five out of five feathers.

#2 All the Best Liars

By Amelia Kahaney

Set in the stifling California desert, All the Best Liars is a thrilling novel that follows three ex-best friends, Brie, Syd, and Rain, as they navigate the complicated world of high school. That is, until a deadly fire burns down Brie’s house and the girls’ lives are changed forever. Packed cover-to-cover with suspense, drama, and mystery, All the Best Liars keeps readers on their toes and wanting more. Those who have felt the jealousy of a trio friendship will empathize with Syd, as she steers through relationships, tests her loyalty, and digs up the truth about the fire on that fateful night. With its constant plot twists, relatable characters, and novelty that will keep readers hooked until the last page, All the Best Liars deserves five out of five feathers.

#3 The Penderwicks 

By Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks is a charming book series made up of five novels that detail the coming-of-age story of four forever-bonded sisters. In Jeanne Birdsall’s first Penderwicks installment, The Penderwicks, the Penderwick family heads off on vacation to a mystery rental cottage in the Berkshire mountains. Adventure awaits, hidden within the walls and endless gardens of Arendal Hall, the gorgeous Connecticut mansion the sisters spend their vacation exploring. While the younger Penderwick sisters, Sky, Jane, and Batty, all begin to bond despite their differences, eldest sister Rosalind struggles with the burden of looking after her sisters and managing a crush on a particularly charming gardener. Rosalind’s willingness to take on a motherly role for her sisters after losing their mother to cancer gives the book a heartwarming touch that ties the adventurous story together. The Penderwicks is full of messy soccer matches, enchanting storybooks, mysterious boys, uptight homeowners, and personality, making it a favorite spring read to welcome the return of warm weather and crisp blue skies. It earns a nearly perfect four and a half out of five feathers.

#4 Himawari House

By Harmony Becker

Himawari House is a dreamy, nostalgic graphic novel that follows Nao, a young Japanese-American girl exploring her culture. The story joins her as she seeks to rediscover her identity, found by spending a gap year in a Japanese shared house. With delicately poised artwork and characters so vivid they seem to come alive on the pages, Himawari House is equal parts engaging and beautiful. Author Harmony Becker’s fictional anecdotes are candid and amusing, seamlessly framing the connection Nao makes while living at the house and leaving the reader feeling like they’ve lived another life alongside her. The novel’s originality and grace earn it nothing less than five out of five feathers.

#5 A Long Petal of the Sea

By Isabel Allende

When the Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War in 1939, hundreds of thousands of Republican rebels were forced to flee and seek refuge in any country that would take them in. A Long Petal of the Sea follows two of these refugees, introspective and practical Doctor Victor Dalmau and dauntless, spirited pianist Roser Bruguera, a couple united in a marriage of convenience. As they sail to Chile and create a life in the unfamiliar country, Roser and Victor’s lives become further intertwined, and they build a family of love and trust despite their unusual marital circumstances. A Long Petal of the Sea tackles political unrest in two countries spanning 60 years, and leaves readers contemplating the true meaning of “home.” Allende’s love for her home country of Chile shines through in the way she breathes depth and humility into her characters, earning A Long Petal of the Sea four and a half out of five feathers.

#6 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

By Gabrielle Zevin

Set in the 1980s and spanning over 30 years, from the West Coast to the East Coast and back again, Gabrielle Zevin’s vibrant novel follows two lifelong friends who share a passion for creating video games. Ambitious, ingenious college graduates Sadie and Sam reconnect after years apart, by creating a video game that skyrockets them to fame. The two experience the extreme highs and lows of their sudden success, each grappling with their own internal struggles. Zevin writes with exceptional charm and ingenuity, crafting a story that sways between dreamy and devastating. Held up by the rawness of imperfection and accentuated by its readiness to tackle stigmatized topics such as disabilities and trauma, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is an unforgettable, thought-provoking novel about what it means to love and be alive. With its brilliance, but somewhat considerable length, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow receives four and a half out of five feathers.

#7 To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

By Jenny Han

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the quintessential teenage romance novel. It’s cute, and clever, with wholesome characters and a charming plot. While angled toward younger readers, this novel is suitable for all ages, and the ideal comfort read. When the relatable and endearing Lara Jean’s secret love letters are inexplicably sent to every boy she has ever loved, she must juggle the repercussions and learn how to open her heart. Author Jenny Han weaves a lovable, light-hearted story sure to delight readers and remind them that taking a chance can be a blessing in disguise. Due to its delightful characters and timeless storyline, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before receives four out of five feathers.

#8 The Lowland 

By Jhumpa Lahiri

American author Jhumpa Lahiri published her second novel, The Lowland, in 2013. The realistic fiction novel follows Subhash and Udayan, two brothers raised in East India during the 1950s and ‘60s. While one brother finds community in the growing revolution movement, the other discovers his passion for biology in the United States. Lahiri beautifully captures every aspect of their lives, from early childhood to their elderly age, in 400 well-crafted pages. Her prose poetically illuminates the unconditional love between siblings and the occasional arising jealousy between kin. The Lowland is a delicate, addictive book with a story every reader can find meaning within. Whether it’s a lesson in appreciation of family, going out of your comfort zone, or letting go of those you love, this book will turn a stranger’s life into your closest companion. The Lowland deserves four out of five feathers.

#9 A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

By Holly Jackson

The first book in an addictive murder mystery trilogy, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder follows high school senior Pippa Fitz-Amobi as she investigates an old missing persons case from her hometown. Pippa is the stereotypical “good girl”: a perfect student, high achieving, applying to the best colleges. It makes sense that she would go all-out for her senior project, diving into investigating a local murder from five years ago, at her very same school. Victim Andie Bell was popular, pretty, and then presumed dead. Her boyfriend, Sal Singh, was implicated after his subsequent suicide, but Pippa doesn’t believe this explanation. She launches her own investigation, employing the help of Sal’s younger brother, encountering new friends, enemies, unexpected twists, and plenty of danger. With a twisty plot that will draw you in from the first page and a heartwarming hint of romance, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is the perfect bingeable read for your spring reading list and earns four out of five feathers. After all, there is nothing like a little murder to start off spring.

#10 The Help

By Kathryn Stockett

Set in the 1960s, when having African American “help” was normalized, aspiring journalist Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan dares to uncover truths of their employment. Skeeter, discovering her journalistic passions, and disdain for “proper lady” life, begins work on a local housekeeping column, of which she knows nothing. Turning to her best friend’s Black maid, Aibileen, Skeeter starts on a journey of understanding privilege, hard truths, and found family. Through the lens of Aibileen, and later on Aibileen’s friend Minny, Skeeter unveils their trials, having raised numerous children for her white employers. As Skeeter begins to understand the dark stories found behind the aprons, she sets her sights on publishing a full book on the African American maid’s stories. Little does she know the repercussions of her actions and the astounding change she will have on her Mississippi community. With well-articulated prose and profound themes, The Help earns four out of five feathers.