Spring is finally here, and it’s the perfect time to appreciate the little things. I like to treat this season as a gentle reset for myself, taking walks in the sun, romanticizing longer days, and making more time for hobbies that ground me. One of the most important ones for me is reading, so here are a few of my personal favourites for you to add to your spring TBR!
Books that make you go “oh….that makes so much sense”
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
by Yuval Noah Harar
This book explores how humankind evolved from apes to its present day global dominance through the cognitive, agricultural, and scientific revolutions. This book had been on my reading list for years, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up! If you’re someone who constantly asks “why?” you’ll love this read. It made me pause every few pages and rethink ideas around culture, power, and whether progress has actually made us happier as a collective. It’s a thought provoking read that stays with you long after you finish.
Guns, Germs, and Steel
by Jared Diamond
This book explains how some societies came to dominate others. The argument is based on the fact that geography and environment, rather than race or genetics, ended up shaping the division of global power through access to agriculture, technology, and disease immunity. I picked this up while browsing the UBC Library for a history project and didn’t expect to get so into it. It breaks down how a lot of luck influenced the world we live in today, answering those big “why is the world like this?” questions we all ask. While some parts can feel quite dense, it really made me think differently about how societies function today.
Books that help you become 1% better every day
Atomic Habits
by James Clear
This book offers a short and simple framework for improvement by focusing on small, consistent changes rather than big dramatic transformations. Of course, I had to include this one. It’s one of the most recommended books I’ve seen in the past few years, and honestly, I understand why. What I love most is how it breaks down habit-building into tiny steps that don’t feel overwhelming. If you’re looking to build new habits this year, this is hands down my favourite self-help book to start with.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
by Mark Manson
It challenges the modern-day idea that constant optimism leads to happiness by arguing that real growth comes from accepting our quirks, flaws, boundaries, and uncomfortable truths. This is my comfort pick! It’s funny, painfully relatable, and a refreshing read in a world where we care way too much about other people’s opinions. What I love the most is how it made me sit down and rethink my long-term priorities.
Books where tears were shed
King of Sin series (Ongoing
by Ana Huang
This series is a collection of interconnected contemporary romance novels set in New York. Each book is centred on a powerful, very morally grey character and themed around one of the seven deadly sins. This quickly caught my attention when I wanted something romantic but less emotionally intense. The first book, King of Wrath, follows Dante and Vivian and is a rollercoaster of secrets. I also appreciate that Ana Huang consistently writes about interracial couples! King of Gluttony, coming out in March with a South Asian female lead, feels especially refreshing for us romance novel lovers.
The Empyrean series (Ongoing)
by Rebecca Yarros
My favourite series follows Violet Sorrengail, who enters the Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider, a place where survival depends on strength, strategy, and the dragons who choose their riders. If you’ve been on BookTok lately, you already know the chokehold Violet and Xaden have on all of us! It gets messy, intense, and emotionally devastating quickly. Between the brutal training, Basgiath’s secrets, and some morally grey choices, this series had me stressed, emotional, and deeply attached. And of course, Tairn and Andarna deserve their own shoutout!
Let us know if you have any book recommendations to share by commenting below 🙂
