Spring Reading

In the seasonal spirit of new beginnings and renewal, try these debut titles by both new and established authors (and one classic) to give your reading a breath of fresh air.

“The Bandit Queens” by Parini Schroff
In this darkly humorous comedy of errors, members of a micro-loan group in an Indian village collectively work to free themselves from their oppressive spouses. Everyone thinks Geeta killed her husband, and she feels like the odd woman out in a group of sharp-tongued village “mean girls.” But then Geeta discovers that being known and feared as a “self-made” widow gives her freedom and even improves her business. Soon, other members of her micro-loan group are asking for help sloughing off their own worthless husbands. You’ll cringe as the village women endure abuse and misogyny and laugh as they barb, bumble, blackmail and bond with each other. — Megan Mathis
 

“Get a Life, Chloe Brown” by Talia Hibbert
Is it possible to change your life without, you know, changing your whole life? Chloe is a chronically ill entrepreneur who wants to turn over a new leaf after a health scare by making a list of slightly daring, slightly out of character goals. Not on the list is her building’s handyman, an artist who offers to help her learn to rebel. Watching these two learn to find joy and share pain together is a real delight – their problems are real but so are their solutions. Great for fans of romcoms that deliver on both the rom and the com! — Sara McBride


“A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting” by Sophie Irwin
Kitty Talbot has no other option but to hunt for a man with a fortune in order to support her four younger sisters and pay off the debt that was left in the wake of her parents’ deaths. Kitty and one of her sisters, Cecily, set off for London to stay with her mother’s best friend, “Aunt” Dorothy to find more fruitful ground in order to snag a rich husband. She first sets her cap for Archie de Lacy but she hadn’t reckoned on his older brother, Lord Radcliffe. Lord Radcliffe is determined to run Kitty off, but Kitty is made of sterner stuff and they soon come to an understanding…Kitty will look elsewhere for a husband but Lord Radcliffe must provide her assistance in her endeavors. The assistance comes in the form of being a dance partner, lessons in how to curtsey and a few other things this country miss needs to learn to navigate a London Season and the marriage mart. While Irwin’s smart and fun debut definitely gives the reader old school Regency romance vibes (think Georgette Heyer) with the witty repartee and sweet romance, it is still written with modern sensibilities in mind with a strong female lead who has smarts and a take-charge attitude. — Chantal Wilson


“The Water is Wide” by Pat Conroy
Start your spring off right with this classic from South Carolina’s own “prince of scribes,” Pat Conroy. First published in 1972, “The Water is Wide” details Conroy’s experience as a young schoolteacher on isolated Daufuskie Island, where a two-room schoolhouse serves a small Gullah community. The island’s children have been woefully underserved by the school district, an injustice which enrages this dedicated teacher and spurs him to pull out all the stops in the classroom and to eventually battle the school board on their behalf. Though early in his writing career, Conroy’s exquisite and unmatched descriptions of the South Carolina Lowcountry are gloriously present, as is his constant compulsion to fight for the underdog and his ruthless commitment to speak the truth. Readers will fall in love with the children of Daufuskie and with their unconventional, passionate educator. — Sarah Cameron