Short Books Perfect for a Spring Afternoon

As we come upon that beautiful time where the warmth of spring has not yet transformed into the heat of summer, it's the perfect time to get outside with a great book. Here's some of my favorite short books perfect for an afternoon in the park or an evening on the porch.

The empress of salt and fortune

Vo, Nghi, author.

SCIENCE FICTION Vo Nghi
Fantasy

"A young royal from the far north, is sent south for a political marriage in an empire reminiscent of imperial China. Her brothers are dead, her armies and their war mammoths long defeated and caged behind their borders. Alone and sometimes reviled, she must choose her allies carefully. Rabbit, a handmaiden, sold by her parents to the palace for the lack of five baskets of dye, befriends the emperor's lonely new wife and gets more than she bargained for."--Provided by publisher.

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This fantasy novella series is so charming and whimsical, with each volume following a cleric as they travel across the lands, collecting stories that would otherwise become forgotten to time.
- Bailey

Every heart a doorway

McGuire, Seanan, author.

SCIENCE FICTION Mcguire Seanan
Fantasy

Eleanor West's Home is a refuge for kids who have gone and returned from fantasy worlds. When Nancy arrives at the Home, changes are stirring and as tragedy strikes, Nancy and her friends may break Eleanor's rule of "no quests."

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This portal fantasy series is perfect for an afternoon reading--whether that's outside on a bench or under a blanket during a rainstorm. This series is dark yet whimsical, and feels like fairy tales written for adults.
- Bailey

The magic fish

Trung, Le Nguyen, author.

GRAPHIC NOVEL Trung
Young Adult, Graphic Novels

"Real life isn't a fairytale. But Tíên still enjoys reading his favorite stories with his parents from the books he borrows from the local library. It's hard enough trying to communicate with your parents as a kid, but for Tíên, he doesn't even have the right words because his parents are struggling with their English. Is there a Vietnamese word for what he's going through? Is there a way to tell them he's gay?"--

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This lovely graphic novel is perfect for spring, with a beautiful color pallet and a delightful story of a boy trying to share himself through stories.
- Bailey

The secret lives of church ladies

Philyaw, Deesha, author.

FICTION Philyaw Deesha
Literary Fiction, LGBTQ+, Short Story

"The Secret Lives of Church Ladies explores the raw and tender places where black women and girls dare to follow their desires and pursue a momentary reprieve from being good. The nine stories in this collection feature four generations of characters grappling with who they want to be in the world, caught as they are between the church's double standards and their own needs and passions"--

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Every single story in this collection is beautifully crafted, emotionally impactful, with characters you'll feel connected to even in just a few pages. This was truly a delight to read, perfect for taking a pause between weekend errands.
- Bailey

The Tea Dragon Society

O'Neill, Katie (Cartoonist), author, illustrator.

jGRAPHIC NOVEL O'Neill
Graphic Novels, LGBTQ+

After discovering a lost Tea Dragon in the marketplace, apprentice blacksmith Greta learns about the dying art form of Tea Dragon caretaking from the kind tea shop owners.

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This adorable graphic novel series is ultimate spring vibes--full of whimsy, bright colors, and beautiful stories of friendship, reading it feels like a late-spring picnic.
- Bailey

A psalm for the wild-built

Chambers, Becky, author.

SCIENCE FICTION Chambers Becky
Science Fiction

"In A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Hugo Award-winner Becky Chambers's delightful new Monk & Robot series gives us hope for the future. It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en masse, into the wilderness, never to be seen again; centuries since they faded into myth and urban legend. One day, the life of a tea monk is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They're going to need to ask it a lot. Becky Chambers's new series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?"--

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This series is the warm hug you didn't know you needed--the hope you feel on the first warm day of March or seeing a dear friend after a time apart. This beautiful, wholesome story will remind you of what matters most; hope, love, and curiosity for one another.
- Bailey

Heartstopper

Oseman, Alice, author, artist.

GRAPHIC NOVEL Oseman Heartstopper
LGBTQ+, Young Adult, Romance, Graphic Novels

Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet and charming coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. This edition features beautiful two-color artwork. Absolutely delightful. Sweet, romantic, kind. Beautifully paced. I loved this book. -- Rainbow Rowell, author of Carry On Shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn't think he has a chance. But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.

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This lovely graphic novel series is full of hope and joy as spring blooms while Nick and Charlie fall in love. This is perfect to read in one sitting with a sweet beverage or ice cream in hand.
- Bailey