Spring Reading List featuring Classic Literature and Feel-Good Movie Recommendations
A Seasonal Reading Guide for Literature Lovers and Movie Recommendations for Spring
Dear Reader,
As we welcome spring, I thought it would be a lovely time to share my Spring Reading List with you.
I realized something about myself as a reader recently.
Earlier, I wasn’t someone who picked books based on seasons. But last December, when I read Frankenstein and then Crime and Punishment during the cold days of January, I could feel how the seasonal atmosphere uplifted my reading experience.
The cool air and kinda heaviness of the atmosphere seemed to match my reads.
So this year, I decided to be a little intentional about planning my reading list according to seasons.
So, I created my Spring Reading List along with some media recommendations that give me soft, blossoming, second-chance kind of vibes.
Follow along…
My Spring Reading List
These books are part of my Personal Reading Project for this year.
If you’d like to see the complete list, you can check it here:
Charlotte’s Web
Author: E. B. White
I am about to wrap this one up. I would have finished it earlier, had I not been travelling these past few days.
The story follows Wilbur, a runt rescued by a girl named Fern. But when Fern’s father refuses to let her keep him, Wilbur is sent away to her uncle’s farm.
Wilbur experiences loneliness after parting ways with Fern. And then he meets Charlotte, a spider who becomes his closest friend.
I guess, there is something beautiful about reading a story set on a farm… that is not Animal Farm. 😛
And no, it’s nothing against Animal Farm by George Orwell. In fact, I am reading that too as part of our February book club pick. And I already know I will love it.
Anne of Green Gables
Author: L. M. Montgomery
This is another book I’ve been reading since last year.
It’s taking me time because it’s an ebook and I’ve realised I can only manage shorter ebooks. 😅
But I’m truly enjoying it.
Anne, as a protagonist, is full of imagination and dramatic conversations. She is such a cute, drama queen. Reading her feels like spending time with someone who refuses to see the world in dull colours.
And I mean it. She has this magical power to add charm and colour to a dull day merely by her conversation.
If you enjoy full-of-life characters and heartwarming storytelling, you might love this one.
Little Women
Author: Louisa May Alcott
I paused this book last year because I wanted to read it along Doestoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, because I generally prefer reading heavy themes along with some lighthearted books.
Both books are a part of my this year’s Reading Project.
It’s a coming-of-age story of four sisters navigating girlhood, sisterhood, love, ambition, and growing up.
And I must mention, the conversations Mrs. March has with her daughters are a gem. 🤌
The Hobbit
Author: J. R. R. Tolkien
It is the only book on this list I haven’t started yet.
Ever since I watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy (I haven’t watched The Hobbit movies yet), I’ve wanted to read the entire series in chronological order.
And I cannot think of this book without imagining those cozy little homes and their beautiful fictional town called the Shire.
It is one of my favourite fictional places.
There was one more reason I picked it up, though. I wanted to celebrate Tolkien Reading Day (March 25th) by reading it. 😌
Those are the books on my Spring Reading List 2026.
Now, let’s move to some media that feels like spring to me.
I associate the spring season with floral landscapes, lightness, blossoming and second chances to grow.
The following picks carry those vibes and energy for me. 🌻
Media Recommendations
Little Manhattan
Director: Mark Levin
I watched this a couple of days ago.
Ten-year-old Gabe Burton is just an average kid growing up in Manhattan until Rosemary Telesco walks into his karate class. But before Gabe can tell Rosemary how he feels, she reveals that she won’t be going to public school any more. Gabe has a lot more to learn about life, love, and girls.
It’s heartwarming to watch Gabe navigate feelings of love, friendship, confusion, his small fights with Rosemary, and also his courage.
The movie takes you back to childhood. The time when love felt overwhelming. And maybe it still is.
Yes, that’s love for you, my friends.
This movie reminds you that love is not just cutesy. It also requires vulnerability and bravery.
And yes, Gabe’s smile is a treat to watch. At least it was for me. 🤌
About Time
Director: Richard Curtis
This one is about second chances.
The night after another unsatisfactory New Year’s party, Tim’s father tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. They can’t change history, but they can change what happens and has happened in their own lives. Thus begins the start of a lesson in learning to appreciate life itself as it is, as it comes, and most importantly, the people living alongside us.
It is a time-travel film that’s not science fiction but about learning to appreciate the life we already have and making the decisions we won’t regret later.
There’s this quote often attributed to Confucius:
We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.
I like to think of this movie as this quote in visual form.
Also, every time I watch Rachel McAdams on screen, there’s something magnetic about her presence. She has me glued to the screen every time I watch her.
(Except Aloha. I couldn’t finish that one. Maybe, will talk about it in a later edition. 😛)
Me Before You
Director: Thea Sharrock
Based on a novel by the same title, which I haven’t read yet.
Lou Clark, a directionless 26-year-old from the English countryside, takes a job at the local castle as a caregiver and companion to a wealthy young banker, Will Traynor. Wheelchair-bound from an accident two years prior, the once adventurous Will has all but given up — that is until Lou determines to show him that life is worth living.
The film explores what it means to truly live, not just exist.
I resonated deeply with its quotes, and enjoyed the chemistry between Lou and Will.
And here’s something interesting I found.
While browsing its Letterboxd page later, I came across a review pointing out that Lou and Will dance to Ed Sheeran’s song and it begins with “When your legs don’t work like they used to before…”
And now I can’t unsee it.
At the time I watched it, I didn’t even register that. This doesn’t feel like a good creative choice to me too. 🥲
Still, if you focus more on the emotional arc and the performances, I would say it’s a decent one-time watch.
Jane Austen’s Novels
Talking about spring and not mentioning Jane Austen feels like an injustice to me.
Her countryside imagery, her heroines walking through fields and the serenity of it all… they scream spring season to me.
I have read Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility and Emma by her.
The first two, P&P and S&S remain among my favourite classics. And while I did feel Emma could have been slightly tighter in structure, it still makes for a lovely Spring read.
You can read my detailed thoughts on Sense & Sensibility and Emma here:
And yes, talking about their adaptations… they are beautiful too.
The Pride & Prejudice (2005) film starring Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen focuses more on their romantic chemistry, and the cinematography and music are also breathtaking. I enjoyed watching it.
But I would encourage you to watch its miniseries adaptation too.
The Pride & Prejudice (1995 BBC Miniseries) is widely considered one of the most faithful adaptations. When I was searching Reddit a couple of months back for best book-to-movie adaptations, I found it among the top ones. And I trust Reddit when it comes to pop culture hidden gems recs.
I would like to confess here that I am also yet to watch it.
You can connect with me on Letterboxd, StoryGraph and Goodreads also.
That’s all I had for this Spring edition. I will share a couple of more Spring recommendations in March.
I would like to know what gives you Spring vibes?
Books, films, music, anything.
Help the community by sharing your recommendations in the comments. :)
And before you go, I have also shared a short book recommendations video on my YouTube channel. If you enjoy hearing me talk about books and the lessons I take from books and life, you can subscribe to it too. 😉
I would love to have you onboard.
Have a beautiful weekend.
I’ll see you on Sunday with the Book Club prompts for our February pick, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
Stay tuned.
Bookishly Yours,
Kanika :)
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Have you watched enola holmes?? I LOVED that series