With spring break finally right around the corner, you’re probably finalizing your packing list or figuring out what you plan to do with an entire week off. Even if you’re not much of a reader, a perfect way to entertain yourself with no classes is to pick up a book. So, whether you’re staying in Storrs or going to Puerto Rico, I’ve compiled a list of books I’d recommend based on where you’re going for break.
If you’re going to the beach (or any body of water), you should read “Same Time Next Summer” by Annabel Monaghan.
When I think of beach reads, I think of romance books — they’re easy reads that you can probably devour in one sitting, and this fits the bill perfectly. It’s a second chance romance about a woman named Sam who goes home to Long Island to look at a possible wedding venue and ends up reuniting with the boy who broke her heart when she was 17. Oh, and she’s engaged to a different man.
It has a dual timeline, so you get to see these characters fall in love twice: once as messy teens and then again as adults. All around it’s a fun summer romance that would be perfect for reading near any body of water, but most definitely the beach.
If you’re going home, you should read ‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir.
Being home from break is obviously very nice because you’re away from campus and you’re probably happy to be eating home-cooked meals, but it can also get boring. That’s why this book is so perfect because it’s a bit on the long side (almost 500 pages), so having a week of no distractions is the best setting to start reading. Additionally, the movie adaptation is releasing on March 20, so if you finish the book, you’ll be set to go watch it.
The book follows Ryalnd Grace, who is sent into space to save humanity. The thing is, he doesn’t remember anything. Even if you’re not a big fan of science fiction, this book is very accessible, and a pro-tip: check out the audiobook because it is very well done.
If you’re staying at UConn, you should read the Shady Hollow series by Juneau Black.
No matter the reason, if you’re staying on campus over break, I’m recommending this six-book series, which is perfect for escaping Storrs in a different way. Six books might sound daunting, but they are at most 250 pages each, so you can definitely fly through these.
The series is set in Shady Hollow, a small town where woodland creatures live in harmony until bodies start dropping and Vera Vixen (a fox, in case you were wondering) has to solve the case. Tell me you don’t want to read cozy mysteries where all the characters are critters. These books are what I imagine living in the world of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” to be like.
If you’re going somewhere abroad, you should read “Evenings and Weekends” by Oisín McKenna.
It doesn’t matter what country you might be traveling to; although this book takes place in London, this literary fiction debut takes you into the lives of three friends over the course of one hot weekend in June. If you’re a Salley Rooney fan, you’ll love this, but even if you’re just interested in looking at other young adults living messy lives, this’ll be the book for you. It’s a story about friendship and secrets, and it really resonated with me as a girl in her early 20s who has no idea what she’s doing.
If you’re going on a road trip (or have a long car ride/train ride), you should read “The Road to Tender Hearts” by Annie Hartnett.
I’m a car sleeper and an Amtrak dissociater, but if you’re looking for something a bit more productive for a longer trip, this book is perfect. It’s about a man who wins the lottery and decides to drive from Massachusetts to Arizona to try and win back the love of his life. He’s accompanied by his adult daughter and his estranged grandchildren on his journey. This book is funny,chaotic and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s another that also has a great audiobook.
I will personally be getting into “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” by Ken Kesey, and “Our Missing Hearts” by Celeste Ng because that English minor grind never stops. Even if you don’t read any of these books, still pick one up over break! We’re in a literary crisis, after all!