Editor’s note: All of these reviews are particular to those who have read and formed their own opinions about the books. If a book title still interests you, we encourage you to read it and form your own opinions. 

With many book recommendations out there and different personal preferences, it’s hard to tell which titles are worth reading and which are not. As spring arrives, we would like to help you clean up your “to be read” list. Based on feedback and general reviews from the Pascack Hills community, here are some books to add to your shelf and ones that should maybe make their way to the library donation box.

“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab

“The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab is currently #1 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list. It follows the story of a young woman, Adeline LaRue, who is gifted the power of immortality; but, cursed with the fact that no one will remember her until she unexpectedly runs into a bookstore clerk who is not like the others. 

With a 4.2/5 rating on Goodreads, this meaningful story of finding yourself and not being afraid to express your creativity is definitely a fan favorite and worth the read. 

“One of the things I loved about Addie LaRue was that it had elements of fantasy, historical fiction, and romance,” Hills English Teacher Virena Rossi said, “It also explored what it means to make your mark in life through those elements. And I thought the prose was pretty great, too.”

“People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry

Emily Henry has recently become one of the most influential and popular authors on the popular Tik Tok community page, “BookTok,” with her titles such as “Book Lovers,” “Beach Read,” and “People We Meet on Vacation.” While Henry is commonly known for writing heart-warming romance novels, this novel also exemplifies themes of learning to trust others again and contemplating where or not second chances can show growth or if  a tiger never changes its stripes. 

This New York Times bestselling novel has a 3.9/5 rating on Goodreads and is often admired by many on “Booktok”’ as a perfect summer novel. 

“It’s one of my favorite books ever,” said Hills sophomore Victoria Turelli, “The slow burn plot is written to a tee; Henry does an excellent job of avoiding making it too slow.”

“The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt

The 2014, Pulitzer prize winning novel, “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt follows the story of a 13 year-old boy and the dramatic changes that he goes through after witnessing a terrorist attack. The novel has a 3.9/5 rating on Goodreads. 

Many enjoyed Tartt’s other stories such as “The Secret History” and “The Little Friend” but, a common review of her writing seems to be; that while the book has a good message and captivating plot, it often takes the reader a bit of effort to get through the entire book. 

Hills Librarian Karoline Scheck said that while she is an avid reader, she simply could not get herself through “The Goldfinch.” 

“It’s on my list of books that I just couldn’t finish,” she said. 

While this novel may have won a Pulitzer Prize, it may be one to skip over if you often find yourself having difficulty getting interested in your books. 

“Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin

Famous for her other publications such as “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry,” the 2022 Book of the Year, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin has taken the world by storm. This is one of Rossi’s favorite books, and follows  the story of two college students who are working on video games together. 

“’Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ is a love story, but not like one you have ever read before,” Hills Librarian Karoline Scheck said, “I was drawn into the lives of these characters whose collaboration and ambition brought them joy and wealth, betrayal and duplicity.” 

Many reviewers of “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” often state that this novel is very similar to Hanya Yanagihara’s “A Little Life,” but half the length. This novel is perfect for someone who loves to be enthralled and infatuated with their books. 

For some, this spring can be an opportunity to try a new book recommendation or donate one that has been sitting on a shelf at home. Some titles they may admire, while others can be swapped amid the season’s cleaning.