The Perfect Reads For Each Season

When you choose your next read, you can use various methods. You can cross one off from your TBR, shop for a new haul, or ask for some recommendations. Now, I am a huge mood/vibe reader. And I often match my reads with the vibes of the season I am in. If this sounds like you too, you have come to the right place. Here is a list I have compiled of the most perfect reads that have settings and plots unique to each of the four seasons!

Fall: 

You could call me biased when I say fall is the best season, but I think "correct" would be the better term. With equal measures of coziness and spookiness, this season has so much to offer. This selection of books has some of my absolute favorites. 

1) The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book genuinely has some of the most vivid details and descriptions I have ever seen in a book. You can almost smell the scents and taste the magic in this book. It follows a whimsical, magical, and ultimately mysterious traveling circus. The story shows the story of two young magicians, bound together in competition but also fated for love. The atmosphere of this circus is incredibly enchanting, tying together elements of charm with a cool magical world, which makes it a perfect autumn read. 

2) Caraval by Stephanie Garber 

This book is filled with so many plot twists and intrigue, the world-building is perfection. The two main figures are Scarlet and Donatella, two sheltered sisters who never really had a taste of the real world. This all changes however when Scarlet receives a highly coveted invitation to the extraordinary Caraval performance: an immersive game on an enchanted island where the audience are the main players. You never know if what you're seeing in the story is your reality or just another figment of your imagination. There are secrets upon secrets and the setting is perfectly developed, it has you feeling like you're right in the game playing along. 

3) One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig 

This gothic fantasy is the perfect story to pick up in the middle of the spooky season. The story follows Elspeth Spindle, an otherwise normal girl haunted by a huge secret and inhabited by a mysterious/monstrous force. It's a world where a chilling mist can give you magic, and those inflicted with such powers become a feared target. You live by tradition and caution, always trying to ward away evil. The characters and the plot of this tale are so unique and intriguing. I found that I simply could not put the book down. 

Summer: 

There are truly few things better than empty summer days you can fill with sunshine and relaxation. In your newly stress-free world, these books remain perfect page-turners for summer reading. 

1) One Italian Summer by Rebeca Serle 

Katy Silver, hailing from Los Angeles, has just gone through the unimaginable grief of losing her mother. In a journey to soothe and heal herself, she travels to Italy on a vacation previously planned by her and her mother. The book follows emotional tales of loss and grief, and the relationship dynamics of mothers and daughters. Taking place on the beautiful and picturesque Amalfi Coast, you get descriptions of Italy provided to you with lovely detail. Katy explores this stunning country but also herself and the complexities of the relationships she has with her family members. 

2) Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez 

This is honestly such an adorable romance book taking place in the heart of the summer season. It follows Justin, a software engineer (who may just get the award for being one of the most likable, kind, and thoughtful male main characters), and travel nurse Emma. They both have been plagued by unluckiness when it comes to dating and after meeting online, they agree to go on a series of dates during the summer to break their dating curse. The book covers serious topics and vulnerabilities while also managing to make you laugh out loud at the banter and dialogue between the two. The romantic summer setting just adds to it and I found myself rooting for them from the beginning. 

3) The Switch by Beth O´Leary 

If you are looking for a charming book following plotlines of unique paths to love, then this is the right book for you. The novel follows Leena and Eileen, a lovable granddaughter and grandmother duo. These two find themselves at a complicated crossroads, facing the conflicts that come from being in their twenties and also seventies. So they devise a solution: they´ll just switch lives. Eileen goes to find love in the bustling city of London whereas Leena moves to her grandmother's rural Yorkshire town. It´s filled with warmth, sweetness, and the journey of finding yourself. It is the perfect lighthearted read for this summer. 

Winter: 

I feel like we don´t truly appreciate the winter season and everything it has to offer. From cozy holiday vibes to all the snowy activities and warm and homey aesthetics part of this season, using your winter breaks to read some enjoyable books is a must. 

1) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This classic is such a sweet read, and it combines the world of classical literature with digestible and comforting storytelling. It follows the lives of four unique sisters apart of the March family and their fates. Each character gets their own character development, and it is their differences and their dynamics together that create such a nice story. Themes of family, love, and domesticity remain true throughout the book, which in my opinion classifies it as a perfect read for this time of year. 

2) The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

This wintery tale follows the basis of a Russian folktale where an older couple living in the Alaskan wilderness has their lives forever altered by the appearance of a young girl from the wilderness. It all starts one day when out of their feelings of loneliness, the two playfully build a girl made of snow. But the next morning shows a snowy landscape without her, and instead of the snow girl, an actual child appears. The story is filled with longing and wistfulness in the heart of winter and it incorporates all the lovable components of this snowy season. 

3) The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

This winter read has components of traditional Russian folklore and is set in medieval Russia. We see the main character Vasya Petrovna and her special powers that allow her to communicate with mythological creatures. The themes of the book follow her rebellious spirit and defiance against what is seen as ¨normal.¨ It incorporates magical realism with familial elements to create the perfect book for a snowy day. 

Spring: 

The time when gross and gray slush turns into bright flowers and sunny days is such a lovely time of year. It's like everyone becomes happier and more motivated. It´s like taking a fresh breath of air when you need it most. These bright and bubbly feelings manifest themselves into some very sweet stories. 

1) Better than the movies by Lynn Painter 

This is genuinely one of the cutest rom-coms I have read, and the vibes in this book are perfect for this time of year. It follows Liz Bauxum, a young girl figuring out girlhood without her mother by her side. She is a hopeless romantic, and searches for the love she once saw in her mom´s romantic comedies. She finds herself drawn to a boy named Michael who just moved back into town, and enlists the help of the boy next door (Wes) to get his attention. It just so happens that Wes is incredibly charming and funny, and their friendship eventually blossoms into more. This lively story has the perfect amount of humor, banter, and sweetness.

2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 

Call me old fashioned but Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet have to be one of my most favorite love stories of all time. Pride and Prejudice follows the wealthy and haughty Mr. Darcy as he falls for the strong-spirited but less fortunate Elizabeth Bennet. They have to fight against pride and problematic familial dynamics. This classic ties together so many elements in an engaging and easy-to-read manner. I guess love and spring just make sense together, and the nature of this story would be perfect to read during the spring season. 

3) Picking Daisies on Sundays by Liana Cincotti 

Fake dating? Childhood best friends? Rekindling an old relationship? Genuinely the recipe for the perfect book. In this book we see hopeless romantic Daniella fall for her childhood best friend, Levi. But after rejection and a following vow to never see him again, the two drift. That is until they see each other four years later at a club, where he asks her to be his girlfriend for his sister's wedding. If you´re looking for an adorable romance novel with all of these elements, then definitely pick this one up this summer!