Novel Hour Live Replay – Spring Reading Book Recommendations
A Spring reading challenge, Spring romance book trope recs and 2025 Spring romcom releases
Novel Hour Live Replay – Spring Reading Book Recommendations
Air Date: March 6, 2025
Co-hosts: Laura from What to Read Next and Victoria from
We go live on YouTube at 12 PM ET for Novel Hour, our weekly book chat, and immediately after, we’re here on Substack for the after-show! It’s casual, fun, and all about diving deeper into the topics we just discussed. Mark your calendars and join us every week!
🔗 Missed the Aftershow? Watch the replay here
Spring Reading Resources
Want more spring book inspiration? Check out these additional guides & resources from our co-hosts!
Spring Reading Guides & Challenges:
Spring Reading Tropes & Recommendations:
✨ Join the Spring Reading Challenge & Discover New Books!
Episode Overview
Spring is here, and we’re diving into fresh reading inspiration! 🌸📚
We kicked off with breaking bookish news—an update on the Sophie Lark controversy after The New York Timespicked up the story. Should her publisher take more accountability? Will she self-publish? We shared our thoughts and want to hear yours!
Then, we jumped into spring-themed reading recommendations:
✔ Francesca’s Spring Romance Tropes – From flower shops to second chances, she broke down three seasonal backlist reads and trope inspiration.
✔ Victoria’s Spring Reading Challenge – Three fun prompts to freshen up your TBR (plus, a downloadable guide on Substack!).
✔ Laura’s New Spring Rom-Com Releases – Three 2025 romcom releases to watch for, featuring weddings, fake dating, and a whole lot of pastel covers.
And of course, we wrapped up with what’s coming next! Next week, we’re talking Books Set in Ireland for Irish Heritage Month. 🍀📖
Let us know in the comments:
What’s your favorite spring read?
Are you joining the Spring Reading Challenge?
Thoughts on the Sophie Lark drama?
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Show Notes
Francesca’s Spring Book Tropes - Books Mentioned
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto – A grumpy florist and an optimistic wedding planner with a complicated past are forced to work together on a high-profile celebrity wedding. As tension and old feelings resurface, they must navigate heartbreak, ambition, and the chaos of the wedding industry.
Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle – A florist with a touch of magic can infuse love into her floral arrangements, but when her old high school flame returns, she’s forced to confront past regrets—while fake dating someone else. A charming mix of second chances, small-town charm, and light magical realism.
Along for the Ride by Mimi Grace – Two enemies are stuck together on a cross-country road trip that was notsupposed to include car trouble, forced proximity, and undeniable chemistry. Banter-filled, fun, and filled with unexpected twists, this enemies-to-lovers romance is perfect for spring.
What are your favorite tropes to read in the Spring?
Victoria’s Spring Reading Challenge Breakdown
Victoria’s Spring Reading Challenge is designed to be light, fun, and flexible, making it the perfect way to refresh your TBR for the season. Whether you’re looking to gamify your reading or just add a little seasonal inspiration, these three prompts will help you choose books that fit the fresh, renewal-filled vibes of spring!
How It Works:
Read one book per prompt—or challenge yourself by reading multiple books for each!
The challenge runs March through May, so you can pace yourself or binge all at once.
You can mix and match fiction & nonfiction—it’s all about finding books that fit the themes!
Spring Reading Challenge Prompts & Book Recs
Prompt #1: A Book with a Pastel-Colored Cover
Spring is all about soft, dreamy pastels—so why not judge a book by its cover this time? Pick a book with light pink, baby blue, mint green, lavender, or another pastel shade.
Example Picks:
Prompt #2: A Story About Personal Growth or New Beginnings
Spring represents fresh starts, transformation, and renewal—so find a book where the main character is starting over, reinventing themselves, or going through major personal growth.
Example Picks:
The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser (new beginnings in a Scottish bookshop)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (an inspiring read on creativity and self-discovery)
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (a heartwarming story of self-growth)
Prompt #3: A Memoir by Someone from a Different Culture Than Yours
Spring is also a great time for new perspectives and learning. Choose a memoir written by someone with a different background, lived experience, or cultural heritage than your own.
Example Picks:
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (Korean-American identity & grief)
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (growing up biracial in apartheid-era South Africa)
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (activism & fighting for girls’ education)
Challenge Tips & How to Participate
Make it your own! You can double up on prompts or pick multiple books for each category.
No pressure! Read what fits your mood and enjoy the journey—no strict rules here.
Join the conversation! Share your TBR and progress in the comments or on social media.
Laura’s 2025 Romcom Release Recommendations
Didn’t You Use to Be Queenie B? by Terri-Lynne DeFino – Once a celebrity chef, Regina is now hiding in the shadows after a public downfall. When she mentors a struggling line cook who lands a spot on a high-stakes reality cooking show, she’s forced to decide whether to stay in the background or reclaim her place in the culinary world.
Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine– A romance author who doesn’t believe in love is forced into an Alaskan writing retreat—where she’s definitely not falling for the grumpy local who keeps rescuing her. A rom-com full of forced proximity, opposites attract, and plenty of steamy moments.
Just Our Luck by Denise Williams – When a struggling bakery owner finds a winning lottery ticket, he tracks down its rightful owner—a woman in the middle of a major life rut. The viral moment leads to unexpected fake dating, unexpected chemistry, and a whole lot of fun.
Do you have any favorite upcoming Spring releases on your TBR?
Join Us Next Week!
📅 March 13: Books Set in Ireland (Irish Heritage Month)
📅 March 20: Badass Women in History (Women’s History Month)
📅 March 27: Trans Joy Books (Trans Day of Visibility)
👀 Want even more? Head over to the After-Show! We’re diving deeper into bookish hot takes, what we’re reading and watching, and more fun discussions.
See you next week! 💛
Novel Hour is our weekly live book chat, hosted every Thursday at 12 PM ET on YouTube, followed immediately by this Substack After-Show. We’re three book-loving friends who co-work daily and come together each week to talk all things books, from new releases and reading challenges to bookish controversies and pop culture tie-ins.
Join us LIVE every Thursday for fresh bookish discussions, and if you’re a on Substack, catch the After-Show for exclusive content and bonus recommendations!