Five Book Recommendations For Spring break

Whether you’ll be relaxing on the beach or stuck here in Iowa, reading is a great way to spend your free time over break. Spring break is meant to be a short escape from all the stress that school and activities bring, and diving into new stories is sure to distract you from all of the busy thoughts in your head. It is an especially good use of your time if you want to avoid staring at a screen all day. Reading can be beneficial for you in so many ways, so take this opportunity to expand your mind and take one of my recommendations.

The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther

Young Adult Romance 

This book is the kind of warming, feel-good read for when you are in a new place or trying to take your mind off the unpredictable weather here in Iowa. It has that desirable summer feel that makes it perfect for vacation and can equally restore your faith in love, family, and fun. This story follows Meredith Fox, a highschooler, who lost her sister 18 months before the story starts. Meredith is finally going back to Martha’s Vineyard, the place where she spent all of her summers up until her sister’s death, to attend a family wedding. She participates in her family’s annual game of Assassin to honor her sister who was known for her incredible gameplay. She ends up forming an alliance with one of the young groomsmen staying on the island which spirals into an epic summer love story. This book is full of exciting side quests, heart-heart conversations with relatives, and a myriad of Taylor Swift references. While there aren't any earth-shattering messages, it is a perfect light read to take your mind off the worries of the real world. The incredibly romanticizing location combined with the tense competitive environment make this one undoubtedly worth the read.

Looking for Alaska by John Green (or any other John Green novel)

Young Adult Literature

John Green’s books are perfect for someone who wants to start reading more but doesn’t know where to start. His books are easily consumable, they are not hard reads and they aren’t overwhelming with fantasy mumbo jumbo or overly exaggerated romance plots. They are the happy medium of interesting and intellectual with a tasteful amount of romance. Looking for Alaska follows Miles “Pudge” Halter as he moves away to boarding school in his search for “the Great Perhaps,” this idea of obtaining peace that Miles is obsessed with. When Miles’ socially awkward and inexperienced self meets the confident, crass Alaska, his painfully dull life bursts into color and then falls apart completely and Miles is forced to dissect his own values, feelings, and views on life. This book is raw and slightly unsettling, it can make you cry and laugh and is the perfect spring break read to make you think and feel. 

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Memoir 16+

If you’re looking to spend your break on a deep dive into the lives of child actors, or maybe you just watched the Ruby Franke documentary and need to know more about this culture of using children for profit, then this is a great book to invest in. McCurdy’s memoir dives into the cruel, devastating reality of being a child actor. Jennette McCurdy gives an honest and heartbreaking retelling of her own story and the struggles she faced with sexual abuse, eating disorders, and exploitation. It is not a read for the faint of heart, it explains these experiences with honest and nauseating descriptions. It is broken up into Jennette’s life before and after her mother’s death, and how her relationship with her mother influenced her growing up and as she became an adult. It touches on religious trauma, detached parents, substance abuse, with the main focus on the obsessive controlling aspects of her mother-daughter relationship and how it damaged her mental health. It is an eye opening and gut wrenching and a great read especially for those who are interested in the inner workings of celebrity lives. 

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Young Adult Fantasy

Fantasy novels take escapism to the highest extent, throwing you into a completely different world. This story follows six skilled outcasts on a dangerous heist mission. It has multiple perspectives, unique side plots, and a beautiful found family. Each individual is so different and the whole story is action-packed and fun. It does technically follow the series Shadow and Bone but I think you can go without reading it first, a quick google search on the worldbuilding and magic system should suffice (it’s not my favorite series so…don’t waste your time). It is genuinely so interesting with tons of plot twists and variety in story; the type of book I think anyone could enjoy. I’d also highly recommend reading the second book in the duology Crooked Kingdom, it is one of my favorite books and definitely worth your time. This read is so captivating that you won’t be able to put it down which makes it perfect for getting lost in over break. 

Happy Place/Beach Read/People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

Contemporary Romance 16+

Emily Henry’s romance novels are the ideal spring break stories. They all occur in a fun location, often also on trips, and are easy reads. There is nothing too heavy or overly intellectual that will scare you away from reading them, they are simply well-written romances that can appeal to a vast audience. Happy Place surrounds a couple who broke off their engagement and is concealing it for a Maine trip with their friends that had already been planned. Where the big question is if this forced proximity and fake relationship can pull them together again. Beach Read follows two polar opposite writers who end up in neighboring beach houses and decide to try and write each other’s next new novel. People We Meet On Vacation is about two best friends who used to take a week vacation together every year until their friendship was abruptly uprooted. Two years later, the two agree to take one last vacation together and try to rekindle their lost connection. All of these are written with ideal locations to escape into over break and are some of the most heartfelt love stories in recent publications. 

Between fantasy, non-fiction, and new adult romance, one of these books can definitely fulfill your craving to read over break. And even if you’re not normally a reader, spring break is the perfect chance to start. Hopefully one of these books interests you!