A Guide to What to Read this Spring

In this lively episode of All of It, host Alison Stewart and Get Lit producer Jordan Loft celebrate the arrival of spring's major book publishing day, highlighting a wide array of new releases across genres. From gripping thrillers like A Killer in the Family and The Ending Writes Itself to poignant poetry collections such as Julia Alvarez’s Visitations and powerful memoirs like No Obvious Distress, the episode showcases the diversity and depth of contemporary literature. Listeners share their personal favorites, including Ada Calhoun’s St. Mark’s is Dead, a nostalgic look at New York’s East Village, and Svetlana Sachkova’s The Undead, a chilling political fable set in Putin’s Russia. The segment also previews upcoming titles like Maria Semple’s Go Gentle and Xochil Gonzalez’s Last Night in Brooklyn, while spotlighting the Get Lit book club pick, Lake Effect by Cynthia Dupree Sweeney. With recommendations spanning historical fiction, magical realism, and literary nonfiction, the episode serves as a vibrant guide for readers seeking meaningful, timely, and entertaining reads. The episode emphasizes the cultural significance of book publishing as a communal and reflective practice, with listeners contributing personal stories tied to the books they love. The conversation underscores how literature captures identity, history, and social change—whether through the lens of post-WWII Germany’s Brown Baby Project or the intimate drama of a woman discovering her hidden powers in a French village. The episode closes with a strong call to action: listeners are encouraged to engage with the Get Lit newsletter and borrow the featured book through the New York Public Library. The tone is warm, inclusive, and celebratory, reflecting a deep appreciation for storytelling and community connection.