By Kaylie Seed
The first few months of 2020 have already shown that the literary world has some great potential for new authors to launch their careers through some dynamite debut novels. Springtime brings out a longer day, more sunshine, and of course those rainy days where we want to curl up with a good book… Yes, that’s a huge cliché, but oh so lovely! What’s awesome about springtime is the opportunity to take your reading outdoors so you can soak up some Vitamin D while also keeping up with your newest read. Here are some must-read books that you should add to your Spring To-Be-Read (TBR) list:
Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey (Canadian)
Canadian author Samantha M. Bailey’s debut novel Woman on the Edge is a thriller that grabs the reader’s attention from the very first line. Imagine being on the subway platform when suddenly a woman you don’t know thrusts her baby into your arms and then falls to her death. Bailey has done a stunning job at creating this novel and uses subject matter such as postpartum depression as a way of opening up dialogue between readers. Bailey’s exceptional prose and realistic characters makes Woman on the Edge a book that is bound to keep the reader on the edge of their seat for the entire ride.
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
Stephanie Wrobel’s debut novel Darling Rose Gold follows the story of Rose Gold and her mother Patty after Patty has been released from prison following years of abusing her daughter. Rose Gold allows her mother back into her life, but she is no longer the weak darling her mother wanted her to be. Will Rose Gold get her revenge? Wrobel intricately weaves together a mother-daughter relationship that will keep the reader turning pages well past their bedtime.
The Upside of Being Down by Jen Gotch
First of all, more yellow book covers please! Not only is Jen Gotch’s memoir stunningly appealing, her message about mental health is one we all need to read. The stigma behind mental health and mental illness is becoming smaller and smaller as we break down barriers by talking about our own struggles in life. Gotch continues to break down barriers by creating a memoir about her own personal struggles with mental health and illness with a very important message: Gotch believes that we can thrive because of our struggles and the things we can learn from them. This is a must-read book regardless, but in light of recent events stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, this should be on everyone’s TBR list.
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald (Canadian)
Andrew David MacDonald, a Canadian author, has created a compelling story from a unique perspective. When We Were Vikings is the story about twenty-one-year old Zelda who is a Viking legends enthusiast. Zelda lives with the daily struggles of having fetal alcohol syndrome and after her brother Gert is caught up in the wrong crowd, Zelda takes it upon herself to set about on a quest to save her family. When We Were Vikings is bound to make you both laugh and cry as you learn more about these loveable yet flawed characters.