Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Spring 2026 To-Read List

By Sophie L.

As a new season comes, so do new books to add to your TBR list. Spring is a time of change, so it may be time to change up your taste and try a different genre! My to-read list this spring is filled with romance, fantasy, comedy, drama, and a bit of historical fiction. Here are the top ten books I’m itching to read as we move into verdant springtime.

1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This novel explores the universal story of navigating high school, told through a series of letters that reveal the life of Charlie, who is a freshman in high school and a wallflower. “We accept the love we think we deserve,” is a famous quote from this book. Such a beautiful quote must have a beautiful story, and I can’t wait to unravel it. 

2. Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

Shiori is the princess of Kiata who has forbidden magic running through her veins. When she loses control of her powers, her stepmother turns Shiori’s six brothers into cranes and warns the princess that for each word she speaks, one of her brothers will die. Now she must save her brothers, reclaim the throne, and learn to embrace the magic she was taught to suppress. Also, this story has Chinese and Japanese folklore? Count me in!

3. Kamisama Kiss by Julietta Suzuki

Kamisama Kiss follows Nanami, recently homeless, who inherits a shrine and becomes a local deity. With her new role comes many responsibilities and a cranky fox yokai, Tomoe, who becomes her familiar. This series is such a classic shoujo romance, and Nanami is such a likeable MC! I’m definitely reading this.

4. Lovely War by Julie Berry

Set in the dreary days of World Wars I and II, this book is about four humans whose fates and hearts lie in the hands of the gods. Their stories, which we follow through the goddess Aphrodite as she tells them to the gods Hephaestus and Ares, prove that love can transcend even the great evil that is war. I love stories that focus on multiple romances!

5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

In The Book Thief, Death acts as a narrator, telling us the story of Liesel, whose book-stealing and story-telling skills bring light to herself and those around her amidst the horrors of WWII. This book is definitely full of angst, and when I need a good cry, I’m 100% picking up this book.

6. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Ōima

When Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl, joins the elementary class of Shoya Ishida, a bully, he and his friends begin tormenting her. However, when the cruelty goes too far, Shoko switches schools, and Shoya turns into a scapegoat, going from the bully to the bullied. Six years later, Shoya and Shoko’s paths cross again. Shoya struggles to make amends with Shoko and confront his classmates who turned on him. I’ve heard really good things about this series, and I’m curious about Shoya’s character growth.

7. The Red Palace by June Hur

Hyeon, an eighteen-year-old palace nurse, and a young royal police investigator pair up to solve the mystery of a series of grisly murders in the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Throughout the treacherous search for the murderer, Hyeon begins to find herself entangled with dangerous political schemes and the young inspector. This book is basically a blend of my favorite genres, so I’m really excited to check it out!

8. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

This is for fans of Spirited Away! The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea follows Mina as she traverses through the Spirit Realm to awaken the Sea God from an enchanted sleep. She is accompanied by a mysterious man named Shin and a band of gods, demons, and spirits. When I saw this book for the first time, the cover took my breath away, and I had to stop to admire it. It’s simply stunning, and the plot sounds absolutely sublime!

9. Phantom Busters by Shoco

Phantom Busters is a shonen action comedy manga! Four boys, Eugene, Mogari, Kaoru, and Kotaro, create an exorcist club at school to fight spectral foes. Mogari can eat ghosts, Kaoru can see ghosts, Kotaro can talk to ghosts, and Eugene is a straight-A student who doesn’t believe in ghosts. When the four boys put together their abilities, they set out to exorcise evil. This is a really fun read, especially for comic lovers, and the art style is magnificent!

10. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Ending with a classic, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, is about Bruno, a German boy, who befriends a Jewish boy during the time of the Holocaust. However, their friendship will lead to devastating consequences that will make you cry. Though it’s a sad story, I’m interested to read about the enduring innocent friendship of these two boys even in one of the darkest points of history.

[Librarian note: Check out our 5 Questions With...interview with author Axie Oh!

5 Questions with...Axie Oh!

by Enola

 

Photo credit https://www.axieoh.com

Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing an amazing New York Times bestselling author, Axie Oh, for the Winter Park Library’s Teen Book Guild “5 Questions With…” series. She is an author of many great books, such as XOXO, ASAP, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, and The Floating World duology starter. Axie Oh writes many YA novels inspired by Korean culture, history, K-dramas, K-pop, and folklore. 

  

Q: What inspired you to write your books like ASAP, or The Girl Who Fell Beneath, and are any of the characters based off of people you know?

 

For ASAP, I was inspired by my love of K-pop, visits to Seoul (the vibrant capital city of South Korea), and second chance romances, like the classic Persuasion by Jane Austen. For The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, I was inspired by my love of fairytale retellings and Korean myths and legends, as well as Hayao Miyazaki’s film Spirited Away. 

 

The characters aren’t based off anyone in particular except for, perhaps, Mina’s older brother, Joon, from The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, who was somewhat based off my older brother.

 

Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer and what’s something readers might not know about one of your books?

 

I wanted to be a writer after high school, when I entered college. I took classes in fiction writing and poetry and started to share my work with others (friends, peers, teachers, and online). Readers might not know that it took eight years for The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea to become published. I first wrote it in 2014, and it wasn’t published until 2022. Around twenty or so editors passed on publishing the book before it found its home with the perfect editor and publisher.  

 

Q: What was the most challenging scene or book to write, and why?

 

The most challenging scene in The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea was a scene that occurs in chapter three, when Mina meets Shin, Namgi, and Kirin for the first time. I had to juggle introducing three new characters, one of whom is masked for most of the chapter, while also making the scene exciting and move the plot forward. The hardest book for me to write so far was The Floating World because I sold it on what was basically a concept (a retelling of Korean celestial maidens set in a steampunk fantasy world) and then had to discover the characters, world, and plot from there! 

 

Q: Which character out of all your books are you most attached to and do you have a favorite line or chapter in one of your books?

 

I’m definitely attached to Mina from The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, and one line that I like that I don’t see quoted as often is from the first chapter: Behind them, the dragon rises silently out of the water, its long neck extending into the sky. Seawater falls off its dark blue scales, dropping like coins onto the boat’s deck.

 

The line that I write when I sign books is: Don’t chase fate. Let fate chase you. 

 

Q: Do you have any advice or words for aspiring authors?

 

Your first reader is always yourself: write the story that calls to you, with characters that you can’t stop thinking about. Please your inner reader before you please anyone else. On a practical level, start with a messy first draft, and try to reach “the end” even if you have to skip whole scenes. After you’ve reached the end and know the story beats and characters arcs, you can go back and revise the story to make it really shine. 

 

 

Thank you so much to Ms. Oh for taking the time to do the Winter Park Library’s Teen Book Guild “5 Questions With…” interview, I greatly appreciate it. 

 

I hope you enjoyed getting to read her answers as much as I did, and learning more about her amazing books and her author career. You can check out ASAP, XOXO, Rebel Seoul, The Floating World, and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea at the Winter Park Library!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Romance Books I Look Forward To Reading This Year

by Enola

Romance is one of the most popular genres in books. Everybody reads some kind of romance, whether it’s a romantasy, a mystery with a side of a romance, a Christmas romance, or a rom-com. I happen to like all four. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought I’d share the top ten romance books I look forward to reading this year based on their descriptions. I mean, what better time to talk about all books romance, right?

  1. Kiki’s Delivery Service Film Comic based on the novel by Eiko Kadono

Kiki is a thirteen year old half-witch who chooses a new town to live in for a year as per witch tradition. She ends up in Koriko, a seaside village, where it’s a little hard to get the locals to trust her. She has a cat companion named Jiji, and she also meets Tombo, a boy her age who has a crush on her. I literally want to read this book as soon as possible.

 

  2. Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Love & Gelato sounds like the perfect romantic summer read! What’s more enchanting than reading an Italian romance with some gelato by your side? I think this book sounds very cute and wholesome, and I definitely want to give it a read. The story follows Lina, who is spending the summer in Italy fulfilling her mother’s dying wish for Lina to get to know her father. But, when Lina is given her mother’s old journal, she sets out to find a secret and possibly love. 

 

  3. P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

This novel by Kasie West is a sweet and funny romance novel where high school student Lily writes down some music lyrics on her class desk only to return the next day to find someone has written the rest of the lyrics and also included a message. She becomes pen pals with this mysterious person. The more they share, the more Lily realizes that she might have a crush on him, but she has no idea who he is. I think it sounds like a delightful and romantic read. 

 

  4. Witty in Pink by Erica George

Calling all Jane Austen fans! This book is a historical romance about two frenemies. Briggs Goswick is the male lead in this story but Blythe can’t stand him. Actually, he doesn’t care much for her either. Blythe describes him as a man-child but an attractive man-child. As Blythe is busy trying to save her family’s name and fortune, she soon discovers Briggs is also financially broke. Blythe must come up with a plan to save her family from ruins. Briggs is also in a desperate need of money so they have to help each other out. It sounds like a funny enemies to lovers, which I think I’ll really enjoy.

 

  5. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Of course it’s a curse! Poor Sophie Hatter is cursed by the Witch of the Waste and becomes an old woman. Lucky for Sophie, the solution is (kind of) simple. All she has to do is head to Howl’s Moving Castle. Once there, Sophie meets Howl, who might just be her soulmate, and Calcifer, a fire demon who Sophie makes a deal with. The goal? Find the Witch of the Waste and face her head-on. This fantasy sounds like the perfect mix of friendship, adventure, and romance, making it perfect for people looking for a nice read.

 

  6. Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen

I’ve seen this book quite a few times and I’ve always thought it looked sweet and wholesome. So, finally, this year I’m making sure I read it! Angelica and the Bear Prince follows main character Angelica, a high-schooler who finds herself worn out. Angelica starts to receive encouraging messages from the local theater mascot, and in hopes to discover who exactly is behind the bear costume, Angelica gets an internship at the theater. This read sounds very sweet and also sounds like a nice palate-cleanser, as it is also a graphic novel.

 

  7. My Favorite Color is Mistletoe by Eva Austin

I like Christmas books. Something about reading festive books during the holiday season with a cup of hot chocolate in hand is very magical, and I’ve heard a lot of good reviews about this one. The story follows Audrey, who is going through a breakup, and now dreading all the couple’s activities at her family’s annual Christmas gathering. She agrees to fake date Jax but soon enough Audrey realizes maybe she can find love. It sounds like a wholesome Christmas read which I’ll read during the holiday season.

 

  8. Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been wanting to read this book. It seems right up my alley with a good mix of fantasy and romance. This book is also a Netflix series, which is great. The story follows Alina Starkov, a solider who, when her regiment is attacked, suddenly releases magic unknown to her to save them. This plunges her into a world of magic as she trains with the Grisha, her country’s magical elite. The only problem seems to be their leader, the Darkling, who believes she is the only one who can destroy the Shadowfold once she masters her gift. 

 

  9. Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

I really enjoyed Mint To Be written by this author last holiday season, so I’ve been wanting to give her other novel, (featuring characters from Mint To Be) a shot. The story follows Lucy Kane, who works at her mom’s coffee shop in Briar Glen called Cup o’ Joe. Unfortunately, business hasn’t been too great, but it usually gets better during the fall—or at least it did because now Java Junction, a coffee chain, just became Cup o’ Joe’s neighbor and rival. The worst part is that Jack Harper, Lucy’s crush, is the owner’s son. I think this read will be great for October. It also sounds quite funny.

 

  10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This classic novel which I’ve been wanting to read is set in Regency England and follows the rivalry, and eventual romance of Elizabeth Bennet, one of the five Bennet daughters, and the arrogant Mr. Darcy. I plan on reading it very soon. The reviews for this are amazing, and people are always recommending it.

 

This concludes my “Top Ten Romance Books I Look Forward To Reading This Year”. I hope this helped you find some books to add to your TBR. Happy reading! 

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken

Reviewed by Emmanuela
Grade 8

In a world of magic, Tasmin Lark was born without it and hunts ancient relics with magical sources. After her foster father's disappearance seven years ago, her main goal is to protect her brother, Cabell, and break his life-threatening curse. She learns of a ring that can break any spell and seeks it to save her brother. On her quest, she is forced to work with her rival, Emrys Dye, who also wants the ring. Along the way, they meet a sorcerer, Neve, and together venture to Avalon, a world steeped in death and decay. Tasmin faces dark secrets and must reveal her own to protect those she loves and escape the shadows of death.

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken is the perfect blend of mystery, a hint of horror, and a touch of romance that kept me turning the pages. I loved the intriguing language and plot; the twists and characters kept me engaged. The story starts fast, and I had to push through, but I'm glad I did because from the middle to the end—especially the end—it got so good I bookmarked pages to revisit because I loved them.

This book put me through a whirlpool of emotions--made me scream and cry--which made this book absolutely superb. I CAN NOT WAIT to read the second book. Tasmin is brave, strong, and stubborn. Her love for her brother just seemed more unconditional every step of the way. Emrys is like a two-sided, charming character that I honestly didn't like at the beginning, but he DEFINITELY grew on me (I might have gotten a little attached). 

*SPOILER ALERT* These two characters make the enemies to lovers theme so electrifying and thrilling. Cabell really disappointed me, and I really didn't expect things to happen the way they did. And the twists were NOT obvious, The amount of cliffhangers that made me keep reading was INSANE. 

In the past, I've had a hard time finding books that actually keep me engaged, and that actually match my tempo, and this book is literally just the best book. 

PS- PLEASE DONT STOP READING…IT GETS BETTER- TRUST.

​

*MAIN COMPONENTS OF THE BOOK*

​Fantasy

Adventure

Horror (if you haven't read yet...brace yourself. Words go a long way.)

Romance (made me giggle and squeal, SO CUTE) 

Betrayal (made me cry and cover my mouth for a whole segment..I WAS SPEECHLESS) 

Twists and turns (probably the main reason I kept reading)

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Books I Read in 2025

by Enola

For all the book-lovers out there, having a favorite read of the year is a common thing. There is always one book that truly stands out to each reader. One that makes us happy. One where we love the characters. One that excites us and keeps us on the edge of our seats. One we can’t stop thinking about. But unfortunately, the biggest problem is when somebody asks “What’s the top book you read this year?” We usually reply, “I have multiple” or our brains go blank and we can’t decide which is our favorite. It’s hard! There are a lot of great books out there. So, I’m putting together my top ten best books of 2025.

 

 

1. Once Upon A Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

            Starting off with an absolute fantasy-favorite and bestselling book, I absolutely loved Once Upon a Broken Heart. I’d recommend it to anyone. The book was magical and romantic with a fairytale-like setting and such interesting, complex characters. The story follows Evangeline Fox, who makes a dangerous deal with the notorious Prince of Hearts in order to stop the man she loves from marrying her stepsister. This then leads to a dangerous journey of love, curses, and magic. If you love romantasy that will whisk you away into a whole new world that you can get lost in, this is definitely the book for you.

 

2. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

            Yet another Stephanie Garber book made it onto my list and for a good reason. This romantasy is whimsical and mysterious; you can’t predict a thing! The book follows protagonist Scarlett Dragna as she partakes in the magical and mysterious performance known as Caraval and explores the Isla De Suenos--the island on which it takes place--with a mysterious young man named Julian Santos, as they quickly try to win this year’s game. With action, mystery, old secrets, and whimsy, this is the perfect book for all fantasy (and romance) fans. I loved it and flew through this book. The plot twists were absolutely mind-blowing (don’t worry, no spoilers here). I definitely recommend it.

 

3. Glorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            This outstanding second book in The Grandest Game trilogy, the popular TheInheritance Games spinoff, is a beautiful combination of romance and mystery. It is definitely a book that will blow your mind. Full of twists and turns, danger and romance, this book was very fun. It was so interesting! The book is told through the perspectives of Lyra Kane, Gigi Grayson, and Rohan as they partake in the annual Grandest Game and solve all the puzzles that come along with it. A must-read for mystery fans! I absolutely loved it.

 

4. Mint To Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

            Tis the season! Would this really be a “Top Ten Best Books I Read in 2025” without at least one Christmas rom-com? I don’t think so. Mint To Be follows two leads, Emma and Aidan, two childhood best friends whose relationship is strained when Emma leaves for boarding school without saying goodbye, only to return for the holidays with her boyfriend. Emma’s return forces her and Aidan to reconnect. The book is a small-town holiday romance and perfect for readers looking for a short read to get them into the Christmas spirit. I definitely enjoyed it this holiday season.

 

5. ASAP by Axie Oh

            Romance readers, K-pop fans, and K-drama fans, you need to read this book…ASAP! ASAP by Axie Oh is a very adorable K-pop romance about Sori, a rich trainee and the daughter of a K-pop company owner, as she deals with family expectations, duty, the industry, and returning feelings for her ex-boyfriend, K-pop star Nathaniel. It was very wholesome, light-hearted, and entertaining. I really liked it. It was a great short and sweet novel.

 

6. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            When I tell you this book was AMAZING, I truly mean it. The Inheritance Games series is my second favorite series of all time. I will forever recommend this to everyone and anyone, whether you are a fantasy, romance, sci-fi, dystopia, or mystery reader, though keep in mind this book is mystery with a sprinkle of romance. This mystery follows a teenage girl named Avery Grambs, who randomly inherits billions from a stranger, Tobias Hawthorne, as she tries to figure out the mystery of why she of all people was chosen to inherit everything. The book was super interesting and complex, it will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat! This was a book I could not put down. The whole series was amazing (The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, The Final Gambit, The Brothers Hawthorne, Games Untold, and The Grandest Game Trilogy) but I chose to talk about only a few of the books so I could make room for other amazing books.

 

7. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

            Yet another book from Axie Oh made it onto this list. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is not a book to miss! Blending fantasy, Korean mythology, and romance, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea is an interesting and fantastical retelling of The Tale of Shim Cheong, a classic Korean folktale. The story follows Mina, a girl who (in this version of the story) sacrifices herself instead of Shim Cheong, in order to save her older brother, Joon, and his love, Shim Cheong, from the wrath of the Sea God. The story then follows her journey through the Spirit Realm, where she meets Shin, a mysterious spirit. I loved this book especially since I am a fan of mythology. All the mythology fans, here is your sign to pick another mythology book (aka, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea).

 

8. The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            If you loved The Inheritance Games series and decided to start The Grandest Game trilogy, prepare yourself for a high-stakes spinoff where nothing is as it seems. With dangerous secrets, intricate puzzles, limited time, and a hidden threat, The Grandest Game is a very entertaining and action-packed story. This book is told through the perspectives of Lyra Kane, Gigi Grayson, and Rohan as they each make their own alliances and fight to win. The Grandest Game is the perfect mystery to pick up if you’re looking for unpredictable plot twists, romance, mystery, and danger. This book will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.

 

9. True Beauty by Yaongyi

            All right graphic novel fans, this one is for you! True Beauty is a fun and entertaining story about a girl (Jugyeong Lim), navigating high-school (and later college), beauty standards, makeup, and romance. For most of her life, Jugyeong was bullied and laughed at for her looks, but soon, she learns makeup and is able to use it to make herself beautiful. She changes her style, face, and likes just to be liked, and Jugyeong becomes a popular girl at her new school, Saebom High. But things get complicated when Jugyeong is caught in a love triangle with Suho Lee, the cold and smart student, and Seojun Han, the handsome bad-boy. I had so much fun with this series, even though I’ve only read volumes 1-7 so far.

 

10. Games Untold by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

            We finally made it to the last book on this list and the spot goes to…Games Untold, yet another book in The Inheritance Games saga! This novella was very entertaining, with multiple short stories featuring characters from the world of The Inheritance Games. It featured stories focused on Nash and Libby Hawthorne, the four Hawthorne brothers, Toby Hawthorne, and more! It was a fun and short read. I definitely recommend it to fans of The Inheritance Games and mystery fans alike.