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Whether you’re gearing up for a rowdy week in Florida or bracing for seven days of entertaining an elementary schooler, spring break looks different for all of us. One thing we can all agree on, though? A good book makes everything better, whether you’re lounging poolside or sneaking in a few pages after your kiddo finally goes to bed.
Below, nine books with Colorado ties to fill your time, all of which you can find at Tattered Cover Book Stores.
Save Me, Stranger by Erika Krouse
Save Me, Stranger is a masterclass in humanity that’s raw, emotional, and effortlessly funny. Denver-based author Erika Krouse delivers a collection of stories that show the depth of emotion and stress on everyday people, from a cleaning woman to a terminal patient, when they are put in challenging places. Each unique storyline lingers long after you’ve put the book down, so much so that you just might find yourself pondering the lives of strangers around you. Read this book for hope, laughter, and a cathartic connection to the world around you. —Kat Long, director of events
The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth
Queer. Denver. Horror. Need I say more? The Haunting of Room 904 is a dark paranormal murder mystery set in the Mile High City that puts a spin on your average haunted house tale. Rather than delivering cheap scares, it uses a deep emotional narrative rooted in queer and indigenous communities. If you’re looking to be truly haunted by a ghost story that’s both heartfelt and heartbreaking, you’ve found it. —Ben Mayne, Aspen Grove retail manager
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Every time a new Stephen Graham Jones book is announced, I immediately add it to my TBR list and count the days until I can get my hands on it. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter is a terrifying historical-fiction novel told in journal entries. It’s also his first vampire novel—but don’t expect Dracula. Jones adds his own twisted take, making this release stand out in an often-crowded genre. You won’t want to put down this terrifying new book from one of the masters of modern horror. —BM
Read more: Meet Colorado’s Most Prolific Killer, Horror Author Stephen Graham Jones
Chaos by Constance Fay
The third book in Denver author Constance Fay’s Uncharted Hearts series raises the stakes on the traditional enemies-to-lovers trope. Follow along as a space mercenary falls in love with a biohacked soldier designed to kill everything in his path—until he meets her. With amazing world building and a fast-paced plot, it’ll hook you from the start. Although Chaos is the third book in the series, you don’t need the background lore: It can also be read as a standalone. —Scott Patnesky, Aspen Grove store manager
Scot and Bothered by Alexandra Kiley
Following the success of her debut book, Kilt Trip, Alexandra Kiley’s back with another Scottish romance. This story of second chances sees Brooke hiking the Skye Trail with Jack, the man who almost ruined her writing career. Atmospheric and brimming with tension, Scot and Bothered will transport you to the Scottish countryside this spring break. —SP
Sweet Nothings: Confessions of a Candy Lover by Sarah Perry
If you think candy is just a sweet treat, then you haven’t yet stepped into the mind of Fort Collins–based Sarah Perry. In Sweet Nothings: Confessions of a Candy Lover, she transforms everything from Twizzlers to peanut butter cups into 100 essays that weave in paeans with microhistories and nostalgic childhood musings. This isn’t just sweet talk, but rather lessons, memories, and philosophical ideas that are thoughtful, colorful, and retrospective. —Jennifer Martin, buyer
This Is Your Mother: A Memoir by Erika J. Simpson
New-to-Denver author Erika J. Simpson weaves faith and reflection into a story that’s as complex as memory itself. In This Is Your Mother, which releases May 6, Simpson uses Biblical references and shifting perspectives to capture a complex mother-daughter relationship. Her mother’s faith and optimism are unshaken against financial turbulence and health issues that follow the family as they move from home to home. The dual timeline reveals how the past shapes the present and leads the author to a final understanding of her mother as a person, rather than a parent. —Kathy Baum, buyer
The Labyrinth of Souls by Leslie Vedder
This new middle-grade fantasy from Colorado’s Leslie Vedder, author of the Bone Spindle series, follows outcast Ix Tatterfall. With big secrets and a knack for finding trouble, she might have just stumbled into a group of peers with abilities like her own. Discover the darkly fantastic Kingdom of Spinar as Ix finds her place in a world of danger. —Jill Osborn, buyer
Bitsy Bat, Team Star by Kaz Windness
This new picture book from Denver author and illustrator Kaz Windness is visually vibrant and wonderfully told. Featuring adorable and relatable characters, Bitsy Bat explores themes of friendship and competition. Serving as a follow-up to Bitsy Bat, School Star, Windness’ newest release highlights neurodivergent characters and celebrates differences. —JO
