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Spring 2025 book picks: 6 new releases — and where to read them
What are booksellers in two coastal Massachusetts travel destinations recommending this spring? Here's their list.
As spring settles into Massachusetts, local booksellers are diving into fresh literary finds – and enjoying the most of the season’s warmer weather, too.
We caught up with two independent bookstores at some of the state’s most beloved coastal destinations to learn what’s on their reading lists as they welcome in the spring season.
In Provincetown, Derek McCormack, manager at the Provincetown Bookshop, is gravitating toward titles that are joyful, cozy, and nature-inspired.
Over on Martha’s Vineyard, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore owner Molly Coogan is embracing springtime with selections that are perfect beach reads.
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In the spirit of the season, the booksellers matched each book recommendation with the perfect spot to read.
Below, find 6 bookseller-recommended books for the 2025 spring season, plus a bonus pick from the writer of this article and the Book Club newsletter.
Hover over each book cover to see its genre. Click on the book cover to see what the bookseller said about their pick and where they recommend reading it.
| Book | Genre | Where to read | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert” by Bob the Drag Queen | Historical Fiction | Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown | “This wickedly funny from a RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite blends history, hip-hop, fantasy, and farce. A super playful read with well-considered ideas.” – Derek McCormack, manager, The Provincetown Bookshop |
| “Murder by Cheesecake” by Rachel Ekstrom Courage | Mystery | The Provincetown Public Library Lawn | “A ‘Golden Girls Cozy Mystery’, this caper finds the four ladies of the hit television series at the center of a scandalous murder. For lovers of the iconic quartet, this is a joy to read and hard to put down.” – Derek McCormack, manager, The Provincetown Bookshop |
| “Turning to Birds” by Lili Taylor | Essays | Beech Forest Nature Preserve, Provincetown | “The actress Lili Taylor, known for projects like Mystic Pizza and Outer Range, takes the reader through her personal journey discovering birds and birding. A great non-fiction title to enjoy while outdoors.” – Derek McCormack, manager, The Provincetown Bookshop |
| “Such a Good Mom” by Julia Spiro | Mystery | Norton Point, Edgartown | “New mother Brynn Nelson has a picture perfect life on Martha’s Vineyard, but when the body of a family friend washes up on the beach, she’s forced to question everything she thought she knew and even begins to wonder whether she can even trust herself to separate fact from fiction. This is the perfect beach read – a twisty thriller that will have you guessing until the very end.” – Molly Coogan, owner, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore |
| “The Road to Tender Hearts” by Annie Hartnett | Literary Fiction | On the ferry to New Bedford | “This darkly funny road trip novel finds an unusual cast of characters, including an orange cat who can predict death, traveling across the country and, with the accumulating miles, discovering second chances at joy, purpose, and family connection.” – Molly Coogan, owner, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore |
| “The Blue Book” by Elin Hilderbrand | Guidebook | Brant Point Lighthouse, Nantucket | “This travel guidebook (which comes out on May 6, 2025) offers insider tips and recommendations to discover Nantucket, from the Queen of Beach Reads herself, Elin Hilderbrand. Also included are scenes from Hilderbrand’s novels set at locations she recommends and watercolor illustrations throughout.” – Annie Jonas, Boston.com staff |
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