JP’s Six 5-Star Spring Reads
By: Julie Pederson / Southern Hospitality Company
I’ve realized something about myself lately. No matter how long my to-do list gets, or how many tabs I have open in my brain at any given moment, I always end up reaching for a book at the end of the day. Usually with a glass of wine, occasionally with a snack I didn’t plan on eating, and almost always with a promise of only one more chapter.
This spring’s reading list ended up being one of my favorite stretches in a long time. Every once in a while, you hit a season where every book feels like a winner, and somehow, that happened for me these past few months. These six completely pulled me in for different reasons. Some made me emotional, some made me think, and a few had me sitting there staring at the wall after I finished the last page wondering what in the world I was supposed to do with myself next.
If you’re looking for a good spring read to throw in your beach bag, keep on your nightstand, or stay up way too late finishing, these are the ones I can’t stop recommending.
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
This book completely caught me off guard in the best way. The story follows Sam Hill, a boy born with ocular albinism that causes his eyes to appear red, and the way he moves through life carrying both the judgment and kindness of the people around him. It starts with his childhood but follows him well into adulthood, showing how friendships, heartbreak, faith, and resilience shape who he becomes.
What I loved most was how human it felt. Sam isn’t written like some perfect inspirational character. He’s flawed, funny, frustrated, hopeful, and deeply relatable. His friendships with Ernie and Mickie were some of my favorite parts of the entire book. There’s something about the way Dugoni writes relationships that feels incredibly real and tender without being overly sentimental.
It’s emotional without trying too hard, and by the end, I felt like I’d known these characters personally. This is one of those books that quietly stays with you long after you finish it.
The Women by Kristin Hannah
I don’t even know where to start with this one other than to say it absolutely wrecked me emotionally. Kristin Hannah has a way of writing women that feels so layered and honest, and this may be one of her best yet.
The story follows Frankie McGrath, a young nurse during the Vietnam War, who impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps expecting adventure and purpose, only to find herself completely changed by what she experiences overseas. But honestly, what hit me hardest wasn’t just the war itself. It was what happened when the women came home and realized so much of their sacrifice had been ignored or forgotten.
I learned a lot while reading this, but more than that, I felt deeply connected to Frankie. You watch her grow up in so many ways throughout the story. There’s friendship, heartbreak, trauma, resilience, and moments that made me genuinely angry on behalf of these women.
This is the kind of book that reminds you why stories matter. I couldn’t stop thinking about it after I finished.
James by Percival Everett
This book was brilliant. Truly one of the smartest and most memorable things I’ve read in a long time.
James is a reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but told through the perspective of Jim. And honestly, once you read it, you almost wonder why it was never told this way to begin with. Everett takes a familiar story and completely transforms it into something deeper, sharper, and far more powerful.
The writing is incredibly intentional. At times it’s funny, uncomfortable, heartbreaking, and biting all at once. James is observant and intelligent in ways the people around him fail to recognize, and that tension drives so much of the novel. I found myself underlining passages constantly because there were so many lines that made me stop and think.
Even though it’s literary fiction, it never felt heavy in a way that made it hard to get through. The pacing moves well, and the emotional impact sneaks up on you in the best way.
This one absolutely deserves all the praise it’s gotten.
The Women on Platform Two by Laura Anthony
This book felt incredibly timely while also telling a story rooted in history. It follows two women in Ireland whose lives become connected through the fight for reproductive rights and the personal choices that shape generations of families.
What I appreciated most was how balanced and compassionate it felt. Even when characters disagreed or made difficult decisions, they were written with empathy and depth. Nobody felt one-dimensional. The story moves between timelines and perspectives in a way that slowly reveals how connected these women really are.
It’s emotional and thought-provoking without ever feeling preachy. There were several moments that genuinely surprised me, and I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished reading.
This is one of those quieter books that slowly works its way into your heart.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
I had heard people rave about this book for years, and somehow it still exceeded my expectations.
The premise alone is fascinating. Addie makes a deal to live forever, but in exchange, nobody can remember her once she leaves their sight. Imagine moving through centuries knowing every conversation, every connection, and every moment disappears almost instantly for everyone except you.
The writing is beautiful without feeling overly flowery, and the story somehow manages to feel both incredibly large and deeply personal at the same time. There’s romance, loneliness, art, history, and this constant ache underneath everything Addie experiences.
I loved the atmosphere of this book. It feels dreamy and melancholy in a way that completely pulls you in. And then somewhere along the way, you realize it’s really a story about what it means to leave a mark on the world and to be truly seen by another person.
It’s magical, emotional, and unlike anything else I’ve read recently.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
This book felt like sitting on a front porch listening to someone tell stories about life in the way only Southerners can. Quietly wise, deeply human, and full of little moments that somehow end up meaning everything.
Theo of Golden centers around a small-town artist named Theo who has a habit of showing up exactly when people need him most. Through a series of interconnected stories, you get glimpses into the lives of the people around him, each carrying their own struggles, regrets, heartbreaks, and hopes. Theo becomes this steady thread woven through all of it, offering perspective without ever trying too hard.
What I loved most about this book was its simplicity. It doesn’t rely on huge twists or dramatic moments to make an impact. Instead, it reminds you how meaningful ordinary kindness can be. The writing feels thoughtful and intentional, almost like each chapter was meant to slow you down a little.
It’s the kind of book that makes you reflect on your own life while you’re reading it. On community, faith, friendship, aging, purpose, and the small ways people shape one another without even realizing it.
I closed the book feeling calmer than when I started it, which honestly feels rare these days.
I always love hearing what other people are reading because my “to be read” pile clearly isn’t long enough already. If you’ve read any of these, I’d love to know what you thought. And if you have a favorite book you couldn’t put down recently, send it my way because apparently I’m always looking for my next late-night “just one more chapter” situation.
–JP/ Southern Hospitality Company
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