Spring hasn’t quite sprung in some places (we’re looking at you New York), but in preparation for those April showers we’ve compiled a robust reading list of book releases this month. Posted in order of their release date, young adult, nutrition, biographies, and new fiction books all made the list—which leads us to the question: which one will you read first?
I Refuse by Per Petterson
Courtesy of Graywolf Press
Release Date: April 7
The hugely popular Norwegian novel has been translated into English and will see its U.S. release this month. The book follows two men who unexpectedly meet and recall their boyhood when they were once friends thirty-five years ago.
Between You & Me by Mary Norris
Courtesy of W.W. Norton
Release Date: April 7
Copyeditor Mary Norris has been working at The New Yorker since 1978 and decided it was time to put her knowledge into a book. Going over the most common grammatical problems, Norris combines practical advice with great humor.
Very Good Lives by J.K. Rowling
Courtesy of Little, Brown
Release Date: April 14
While this is not a new novel (sigh), readers will get some very sound advice from this book. Due to popular demand, Rowling’s commencement speech given at Harvard University in 2008 is being published in book form. Sales of the book will go toward the financial aid program at Harvard, as well as benefiting Rowling’s charity Lumos.
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
Courtesy of St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: April 14
Romy Grey telling the truth about Kellan Turner cost her friends, family, and a community. When a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party and news of him assaulting another girl gets out, Romy has to decide whether to speak up even though no one believed her before. Along the same lines as Speak, the thrilling novel will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Dead Lands by Benjamin Percy
Courtesy of Entropy Mag
Release Date: April 14
The post-apocalyptic reimagining of Lewis and Clark’s expedition details a super flu that has taken out most of the world. Few survivors remain—living in outposts like the Sanctuary—and when a rider comes from the wasteland and claims civilization is thriving out west, Lewis Meriwether and Mina Clark attempt to reunite the nation.
Eat. Nourish. Glow. by Amelia Freer
Courtesy of Amelia Freer
Release Date: April 14
Due to the demand Sam Smith caused with his Instagram post a few weeks ago, Freer’s diet book is getting its U.S. debut this month! Featuring great advice on how to detox your life and mouthwatering recipes, there’s something for everyone.
God Help the Child by Toni Morrison
Courtesy of Knopf
Release Date: April 21
Morrison’s first novel since 2012 explores how childhood trauma can shape adult life. Dealing with secrets and lies, the novel follows a woman, Bride, and her relationships with Booker, the man she loves; Rain, the child who talks to Bride about the abuse she’s suffered; and, Sweetness, her own mother who has to realize what you do to children matters.
Missoula by Jon Krakauer
Courtesy of Knopf Doubleday
Release Date: April 21
The author of Into the Wild recounts a series of on-campus sexual assaults in his new non-fiction book. Krakauer decided to write the book after realizing he was uninformed about non-stranger rape when it happened to a young woman he and his wife are close to.
Early Warning by Jane Smiley
Courtesy of Random House
Release Date: April 28
The Pulitzer Prize winner’s new novel captures the transformative period that takes place after the patriarch of the Langdon family suddenly dies in 1953. With no one to help their mother tend the Iowa farm, one must stay behind while the others scatter to different coasts. The book follows the children as they grow up in post-World War II America and through to the early 1980s.
A Work in Progress by Connor Franta
Courtesy of Simon and Schuster
Release Date: April 21
The YouTube star’s memoir reveals how growing up in the Midwest and his struggles with identity, body image, and sexuality shaped him as a person. His core message to young people is don’t to be afraid of who you are and go after what you want.
In a World Just Right by Jen Brooks
Courtesy of Simon and Schuster
Release Date: April 28
After a tragic accident, lonely Jonathan Aubrey is able to create different worlds at will. After trying out worlds as a hero and learning new moves at a dance club, he creates one in which Kylie Simms is his girlfriend. In this new world, he has friends, passing grades, and the girl of his dreams. When his two words collide and he tries to kiss the real Kylie Simms, he must figure out where everything belongs or risk losing it forever.