As spring begins in earnest and we prepare ourselves for Easter, there is no better time to curl up at home or install yourself in your local café with a book that makes you feel good.
The spring months are a time for hope, warmth and new beginnings. In that spirit, read on to see what we recommend you read this spring.
- Heartburn – Nora Ephron (chosen by Lucy)
An intricately woven bittersweet masterpiece, Nora Ephron’s Heartburn is the perfect short spring-time read, full of humour, inspiration and the prospect of new beginnings. The plot centres cookbook writer Rachel Samstat muddling through life after she discovers that her husband has been having an affair. Rachel takes us on a no-filter journey through her past relationships to her current broken marriage, finally musing on an uncertain future which fills her simultaneously with apprehension and hope. Ephron’s Bridget-Jones-esque digressive style is sardonically witty, yet sincere when it needs to be. If you like Nora Ephron as a screenwriter – of the classic romcoms When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle – you’ll love her as a novelist. Heartburn is unfortunately a bit outdated at times, so I’m giving a content warning of brief homophobic discourse.
- What It Takes – Sarina Wiegman (chosen by Sophie)
Nothing says a new beginning quite like the meteoric rise of the Lionesses. England’s ladies have, in the past few years, gained masses of new fanfare following their rise to becoming European champions, and reaching the World Cup final, eclipsing the men’s team with their inspirational team and powerful voices. But it’s their coach who has perhaps captured hearts and minds the most. Sarina Wiegman’s revolutionary approach to leadership has been instrumental in transforming the Lionesses into one of, if not the most, successful international teams England has ever presented. Her new book What It Takes talks about Wiegman’s experiences of leadership, and how the Lionesses have become the mainstream inspirational figures they find themselves today. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book and see just what goes into making such a fantastic team of players, whose work goes far beyond the football pitch!
