If you need some reading suggestions for the spring, check out our list of new and popular titles that are perfect for your spring break vacation or upcoming book club meeting. With everything from historical fiction to mysteries to memoirs, there’s something for everyone. All titles are linked to our catalog, but feel free to stop by the Adult Reference Desk for help finding a book on this list.
Fiction
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The story of four women and their loves, longings, and desires: Chiamaka, a Nigerian travel writer living in America; Zikora, a successful lawyer; Omelogor, a financial powerhouse in Nigeria; and Kadiatou, a housekeeper raising her daughter in America.
The Jackal’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian
In this Civil War love story, inspired by a real-life friendship across enemy lines, the wife of a missing Confederate soldier discovers a wounded Yankee officer and must decide what she’s willing to risk for the life of a stranger.
Homeseeking by Karissa Chen
This sweeping and heart-rending debut brings to life more than sixty years of Chinese history through the tale of childhood sweethearts separated by war and reunited decades later in America. The narrative moves between Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Los Angeles as it explores the Chinese diaspora and the lives of the two lovers, Haiwen and Suchi.
The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison
Abe Winter and Ruth Warneke’s seventy-year marriage, born from a disastrous college blind date, faces a new crisis as Ruth’s health deteriorates. Abe cares for her while their family questions his abilities, forcing the couple to navigate love, loss, and enduring partnership in their golden years.
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan
Cate Kay, a reclusive bestselling author, has concealed her identity for years, but when a devastating tragedy from her past resurfaces, she’s forced to confront the secrets that derailed her dreams.
The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
Scientist Beth Darlow has discovered the unimaginable: she’s built a machine that allows human consciousness to travel through time. But her unscrupulous CEO’s plans put her project in danger as she discovers there may be unexpected consequences to her technology.
More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova
Maddy Banks, a NYU student recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder, must learn to navigate her new reality as she struggles with how her diagnosis affects her identity, relationships, and dreams.
We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes
Lila Kennedy is juggling a broken marriage, rebellious daughters, a crumbling house, and an elderly stepfather when her estranged father unexpectedly shows up after thirty-five years, forcing her to confront unresolved feelings and learn unexpected lessons about love and family.
Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen
Historical novelist Rosen explores how Ruth Handler, along with head engineer Jack Ryan and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, created a doll like no other, tracing the development of Barbie from Ruth’s initial idea through the mega success that threatened to permanently derail her vision.
The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahashi
Your table awaits at the Chibineko Kitchen, where a soul-nourishing meal in the company of the resident cat will provide you with a unique opportunity to briefly reunite with departed loved ones.
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
As Gail navigates the chaos of her daughter Debbie’s wedding preparations—including a job loss, exclusion from family events, and the unexpected arrival of her ex-husband Max—she faces a crisis that threatens the wedding and forces both parents to confront unresolved issues from their past.
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson
Ebby Freeman’s life unravels when her brother is killed, and a centuries-old family heirloom is shattered. Years later, she uncovers how that lost, shattered heirloom may hold the secret to her future.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Hana Ishikawa inherits a hidden pawnshop in Tokyo where people trade their regrets, but when a precious item is stolen and her father vanishes, she embarks on a magical journey to recover what’s lost.
The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang
In 19th-century China, Little Flower, a maidservant with bound feet and a rare talent for embroidery, navigates life under the cruel daughter of the Fong family. But when scandal casts them both into the Celibate Sisterhood, Little Flower’s newfound status attracts deadly risks and tests of loyalty.
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
After her twin brother Johnny’s tragic death, James returns to their hometown to settle his affairs, where she begins to uncover the dark secrets that he left behind, some of which may involve his best friend and her ex-lover, Micah.
Mystery & Thriller
The Note by Alafair Burke
May Hanover reunites with her childhood friends Lauren and Kelsey for a carefree trip to the Hamptons, but when a drunken prank goes disastrously wrong, May becomes the focus of a police investigation and begins questioning whether her friends are hiding dangerous secrets.
Clever Little Thing by Helena Echlin
Charlotte’s young daughter Stella has undergone a dramatic personality change after the death of her babysitter, Blanka. Charlotte, pregnant with her second child, begins to worry that Blanka has possessed Stella, and embarks on a chilling and obsessive quest to uncover the truth.
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
A year after his wife Abby mysteriously disappeared, author Grady Green is still consumed by grief. He retreats to a remote Scottish island in an attempt to get his life back on track, only to encounter a woman who looks exactly like the wife he lost.
The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia
Stephanie, traveling on a business trip, and Jasmine, fleeing an abusive relationship, don’t know each other but are on the same flight to California. A few days later, they both text friends the same message about the same man—and then they both vanish.
Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi
When Claire makes a surprise visit to the office of her fiancé, Noah, she’s shocked to learn that he doesn’t work there—and that he has another life with another girlfriend and another house. Noah completely ghosts Claire, but she becomes obsessed with uncovering all his lies, plunging her back into her own troubled past.
A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall
When Theodora Scott visits her fiancé Connor Dalton’s secluded family estate, she uncovers eerie ties to her forgotten childhood. She becomes determined to unravel the deadly secret that the powerful Daltons will stop at nothing to protect, even if searching for the truth puts her life at risk.
Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
As new mom Camilla returns to work, her life is upended when she learns that her husband is the gunman in a London hostage crisis. Then he disappears, leaving her to decipher his cryptic goodbye note and make a critical choice.
Head Cases by John McMahon
Gardner Camden, a puzzle-solving analytical genius in the FBI’s Patterns and Recognition unit, faces a ticking clock when a presumed-dead serial killer is found murdered, forcing him and his misfit team to unravel riddles left by a vengeful mastermind while battling the imminent disbandment of their unit.
She Doesn’t Have a Clue by Jenny Elder Moke
On a private island off the Seattle coast, bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine reluctantly attends her ex-fiancé’s wedding while juggling her latest manuscript, but when the bride is poisoned, she teams up with another past love to uncover the killer among the guests.
Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder by Bellamy Rose
When spoiled hotel heiress Pomona Afton’s grandmother is murdered, the family learns that their assets are frozen until her death is explained. Locked out of her penthouse and bank account, Pomona moves in with handsome Gabe and is determined to solve the murder to get her life back.
Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow
Having been falsely convicted of murder himself years ago, prosecutor Rusty Sabich defends his romantic partner’s adopted son against the same accusation despite his limited experience as a defense attorney. During the case, Rusty questions whether the system can provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty in this trilogy conclusion.
Nonfiction & Biography
A History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity Shaped Us, from Cholera to Covid-19 by Edna Bonhomme
Historian Bonhomme offers a well-researched account of epidemics and explains how, throughout history, they have created and deepened racial, economic, and sociopolitical divides in society. She takes readers to Port-au-Prince, explores the COVID era, and explains the effects of Cholera, AIDS, and Ebola.
Memorial Days: A Memoir by Geraldine Brooks
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Brooks writes about the sudden death of her partner, the bestselling author Tony Horwitz. Faced with the overwhelming demands that follow a death, she had no time to process her grief. Three years later, she flew to a remote island off the coast of Australia, where she was finally able to mourn and write this memoir of love and loss.
Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown
Renowned culinary icon Alton Brown blends humor and insight in this collection of personal essays, as he shares personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes stories, reflections on food culture, and memorable experiences from his work on television and in the kitchen.
Source Code: My Beginnings by Bill Gates
The software giant explores his personal journey, recounting his early influences, friendships, family, and first steps in computing that paved the way for his revolutionary career and later philanthropic focus, offering an intimate look at the experiences that shaped him.
Shift: Managing Your Emotions—So They Don’t Manage You by Ethan Kross
Presents a research-backed approach to understanding emotions as valuable information rather than simple “good” or “bad” feelings. The author also debunks myths about mindfulness and offers practical strategies to help readers manage their own emotions for improved decision-making and resilience.
Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue by Buddy Levy
Award-winning author Levy writes about the aviation pioneers and adventurers who tried to tackle the North Pole, as polar airships replaced dogsled teams in Arctic exploration in the early decades of the 20th century. Included are the stories of Walter Wellman, Dr. Frederick Cook, Robert Peary, Roald Amundsen, and Umberto Nobile, whose exploration led to one of the world’s greatest rescue missions.
Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live by Susan Morrison
Lorne Michaels has become a revered presence over his fifty years at the helm of Saturday Night Live. This volume provides unprecedented access to Michaels and SNL to tell the definitive story of how he created and maintained a comedy institution.
Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery, and Murder by Matthew Pearl
In this rousing history, author Pearl recounts a 19th-century family’s shipwreck on a tiny Pacific Island, where they unexpectedly encountered a ragged man named Hans. While his wilderness expertise was initially welcomed, a series of incidents made the family question what dark secrets he could be hiding.
Ends of the Earth: Journeys to the Polar Regions in Search of Life, the Cosmos, and Our Future by Neil Shubin
Bestselling author Shubin explores the polar regions, uncovering insights about life’s adaptability, climate change’s impact, and the global significance of the poles, blending scientific discoveries with vivid adventure stories while reshaping our understanding of Earth’s future.
On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer by Rick Steves
Stow away with travel guide author Rick Steves for a glimpse into the unforgettable moments, misadventures, and memories of his 1978 journey on the legendary Hippie Trail from Istanbul to Kathmandu, which ignited his love of travel and forever broadened his perspective on the world.
Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood by Dawn Turner
Novelist and former Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner tells a story of second chances, lost and found, in a memoir centered on the decline of Chicago’s once-storied Bronzeville neighborhood. Lake Forest and Lake Bluff libraries will be hosting events with the author on April 25th and 26th. Visit www.readbetween.org for more information.
Three Wild Dogs (and the Truth): A Memoir by Markus Zusak
In this heartrending memoir, novelist Zusak recounts his family’s love affair with three rowdy rescue dogs: Reuben, Archer, and Frosty. Writing after the last of the three died, Zusak processes his grief on the page, revealing the chaos, love, and unexpected lessons learned while exploring the deeper connections between humans and animals.