We love everything about spring, from the fancy floral spring brunches to the pretty pastel jewelry. That is… except for transitionary weather. In order to get those lovely May florals, we have to endure our fair share of April showers. Luckily for those of us who love a good cozy read, rainy April is the perfect month to catch up on our fave lit. Scroll on for 18 new books out in April to splurge on for a rainy day.
1. It’s All Easy: Delicious Weekday Recipes for the Super-Busy Home Cook by Gwyneth Paltrow ($20): If you loved It’s All Good ($19), you’re going to swoon for this new massive healthy-living haul of over 125 recipes from the pop culture health queen herself. This collection features recipes that take little to no prep time, making it the perfect read for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
2. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter ($24): The musical that’s sweeping the nation is now available in hardback, along with hilarious commentary by creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and an exclusive look at the notebooks, emails and interviews that went into making this Broadway show a spectacle for the ages.
3. One With You: A Crossfire Novel by Sylvia Day ($10): With the Crossfire series optioned for television by Lionsgate, it’s clear that this is a love story hitting a generation right in the feels. The final book in the quartet, One With You will reveal all the secrets you’re dying to find out. For those of you who can’t wait for the release on April 5, read an excerpt of the first chapter here.
4. The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love and Loss by Anderson Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt ($17): After Gloria Vanderbilt’s brief illness at the age of ninety-one, she and her son, CNN reporter Anderson Cooper, decided to commit to a year-long conversation about life, love and dreams. This powerful memoir is as funny as it is inspirational, and will definitely have you calling your mother after you’re through with it.
5. The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R King ($18): Move over, Watson: This story is all about Holmes’ romantic life. But fans of the classics need not worry, there’s enough crime, drama and detective work to satisfy every Sherlock junkie — plus King’s fantastic ability to keep us guessing just might make you want to read it all in one go.
6. Something to Food About: Exploring Creativity With Innovative Chefs by Questlove and Ben Greenman ($19): Actor, food guru, producer and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon drummer, Questlove is a man devoted to the pursuit of art. In his latest book of photo essays, he explores the culinary world like only he can, with 10 in-depth interviews with America’s top chefs.
7. The Scrapbook of My Life by Alfie Deyes ($11): With over five million subscribers on YouTube, Alfie Deyes offers an inside look into the everyday life of a YouTuber. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that he’s once again opening up his exciting life to the public with his latest memoir slash diary, The Scrapbook of My Life.
8. Think Big: Overcoming Obstacles With Optimism by Jennifer Arnold, MD and Bill Klein ($17): Stars of TLC’s The Little Couple Jennifer and Bill share their tips on staying optimistic through adversary, something that the couple knows quite a bit about, in this packed-to-the-brim non-fiction book.
9. Asking for It by Louise O’Neill ($11): When 18-year-old Emma O’Donovan attends a summer party, she has no idea that she’ll end up unconscious on her parents’ doorstep with no memory of what happened the previous night. A gripping YA novel about the effects of rape and public shaming, this must-read is culturally relevant and impossible to put down.
10. Saving Montgomery Sole by Mariko Tamaki ($18): A dorky girl in a small town, Montgomery Sole loves hanging out with her two best friends in Jefferson High’s Mystery Club. From dealing with bullies to tackling gym, this story is relatable to all — and the perfect pleasurable April read.
11. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater ($13): The fourth book in The Raven Cycle series, Stiefvater’s final installment answers the question we’re all itching to find out: Does Blue really cause her lover’s death?
12. Stop Here, This Is the Place by Susan Conley ($13): When Winky Lewis, a photographer in Portland, sent Susan Conley a photograph she had taken of life in Maine, Susan sent back a story to match. This sprouted a year-long conversation of art and prose about growing up, living life and stopping to remember — all compiled in this beautiful must-read.
13. Extreme Prey by John Sandford ($19): Pulitzer Prize winner John Sandford knocks it out of the park once again with his latest political thriller about an attempted governor assassination. Fair warning: You might end up sleeping with the lights on after reading this one.
14. The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time by Arianna Huffington ($15): Co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington is a strong advocate for sleep. In this scientifically rigorous and personal non-fiction, Arianna divulges all the reasons that we should really strive for a good night’s rest.
15. I Want My Epidural Back: Adventures in Mediocre Parenting by Karen Alpert ($11): Honest, hilarious and totally relatable, Karen Alpert’s exposé of mediocre parenting will have you rolling with laughter and nodding in agreement at the same time.
16. As Time Goes By by Mary Higgins Clark ($19): When television journalist Delaney Wright gets asked to cover a sensationalized murder, it’s the career boost of a lifetime. But with a secret bursting in her mind and her work taking over her life, let’s just say life can get a little complex.
17. Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld ($19): Can you imagine the Bennet sisters doing CrossFit and earning online degrees? In this classic-made-modern experiment, Curtis Sittenfeld crafts an awesome retelling of a Jane Austen phenomenon — including a modern day Mr. Darcy that will make you fall in love all over again.
18. Miller’s Valley by Anna Quindlen ($19): A story of family heritage and saucy secrets, this newest novel from Anna Quindlen has such an inspiring protagonist, we wouldn’t be surprised if you quoted her for an Instagram caption.
What is your favorite rainy day read? Tweet us your picks by mentioning @BritandCo.
(Photo via Getty)