These novels are perfect for unwinding over the week-long recess
By Neyaira Stokes, Bulletin Contributor
Picking up a new book lets us live through a character’s journey—feeling their emotions, experiencing their highs and lows, and growing alongside them by the final page. After the stress of midterms, reading can offer a much-needed reset by helping us step into another perspective and reconnect with emotions beyond our own.
Whether you’re into romance, contemporary fiction, or psychological thrillers, here are a few personal recommendations to help you unwind over the week-long Spring Recess.
“The It Girl” by Ruth Ware (Gallery/Scout Press)
This psychological thriller is told from the perspective of Hannah Jones, a woman haunted by the trauma of her university experience. The story shifts between “Before” and “After” timelines, centered around the murder of her best friend, April Clarke-Cliveden. A decade later, Hannah begins to question whether the man she helped convict was innocent—and whether one of her former friends, possibly even her husband, was the real killer.
The novel is packed with twists and suspense that will keep you second-guessing until the final page. Just when you think you know who did it, the truth takes a turn. It might even have you wondering who your friends really are.
“Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck (Covici Friede)
Nothing like an old favorite, right? This American classic that many people read in high school is worth revisiting over the break. Set during the Great Depression, the novel tells the story of field workers George and Lennie, two friends who hope to one day secure their own piece of the “American Dream.” Alongside the other workers, the duo navigate the harsh conditions of life on the ranch while trying to avoid the scorn and antagonism of their boss’ aggressively insecure son.
Just when it seems George and Lennie’s dreams could become a reality, their hope for a quiet life on their own terms is upended by an unexpected tragedy. Now, George must make a painful decision in order to save his dearest friend from a grisly fate. The novel begs the question: How far would you go to protect the people closest to you?
“My Year of Rest And Relaxation” by Ottessa Moshfegh (Penguin Press)
Taking a year to just “sleep it off” doesn’t sound so bad, especially at this point in the semester—what could go wrong? In author Ottessa Moshfegh’s novel, a 22-year-old unnamed woman seemingly has it all: a degree from an Ivy League school, a fancy apartment on the Upper East Side of New York City, and a trendy job at an art gallery. Despite all of this, the lead character is consumed by a sense of emptiness.
The character plans to sleep away her misery, hoping to wake up a year later completely renewed. With the help of a questionable psychiatrist and an arsenal of sleeping pills, her plan takes unexpected turns. The novel captures the kind of burnout many 20-somethings have felt this semester and reminds us, however darkly, that taking breaks, and even the occasional spiral, can be part of the process.
“Bunny” by Mona Awad (Viking)
This book is sure to make your stomach turn with its gruesome, surreal detail. This darkly psychotic novel is unforgettable—and once you’re back on campus after Spring Recess, you might find yourself second-guessing the friend groups you pass.
The story follows Samantha Heather Mackey, a graduate student who feels worlds apart from the “Bunnies”—a cult-like clique of wealthy, hyper-feminine women in her fiction writing program. Despite her contempt for their identical looks, speech, and behavior, Samantha is pulled into their strange world and the disturbing rituals they perform under the guise of “thesis work.”
As the line between fantasy and reality blurs, “Bunny” becomes a chilling exploration of identity, obsession, and the hidden parts of ourselves we may not fully understand.