The Best Non-Fiction Books To Read This Spring

The past year has been an excellent time to get back into book reading, and honestly? There’s nothing quite like that feeling when you’re about two-thirds into a page-turner and suddenly realise that you’ve crossed the point of no-return and have no choice but to stay up late to devour the final pages. When you’re so absorbed into the story-telling that you physically cannot remove yourself from its grips and it almost leaves a grief-shaped dent in your hands once you’ve closed it.

And, whilst our to-read pile is ever-growing, there’s some excellent new releases coming this spring which we thought might be worth sharing with you.

We’ve kept this list strictly non-fiction because otherwise it might take you three days to wade your way through it (in which case you might as well have actually just read a book), but we hope you find something that wets the ol’ literary appetite.

So, without further ado, here’s our pick of the best books coming this spring…

Food Isn’t Medicine: Know The Facts By Dr Joshua Wolrich

I’ve followed Dr Josh Wolrich on Instagram for a couple of years and he is an absolute breath of fresh air on a social media app (and in a society) obsessed with weight loss. He calls bullshit on so many myths surrounding fatphobia and his book will help you untangle all the ugly ideas you have about yourself, food and your weight. A likely must-read on your journey of self-love and body acceptance.

Out on 15th April 2021.

Raceless: In Search of Family, Identity, and the Truth About Where I Belong by Georgina Lawton

Written by twentysomething journalist Georgina Lawton, this book follows Georgina’s exploration of her Blackness and heritage, having been brought up to believe her skin colour was in fact down to a throwback gene from a distant lineage. In it she explores her family history, Black communities around the world and the DNA testing industry. Oh and FYI? It’s already a best-seller on Amazon.

Out 18th February 2021.

Stronger: Changing Everything I Knew About Women’s Strength by Poorna Bell

Part memoir, part manifesto, Poorna Bell’s latest read delves into the conversation surrounding women’s strength and fitness. She says: “For anyone wondering what it’s about, it’s a mixture of interviewing people but also my own journey around physical and mental strength, getting stronger, talking about my own experiences with a heart condition, dealing with grief, but also really unravelling that experience of PE nightmares and then body issues, which starts from a young age, and deconstructing beliefs around diet, food and rebuilding that relationship with your mind, body and physical movement.”

Out on 29th April 2021.

Body Happy Kids: How To Help Children And Teens Love The Skin They’re In by Molly Forbes

Molly Forbes has long been another firm Instagram follow. Her positive approach to her own body is infectious and somehow makes you want to learn to accept your own too. She says of her debut book: “It will hold your hand as you learn how to dismantle diet culture around kids, giving practical tools, expert insight and evidence-based advice to raise children and teens who are friends with their bodies”. Just bloody brilliant.

Out 1st April 2021.

Working Hard, Hardly Working: How To Achieve More, Stress Less And Feel Fulfilled by Grace Beverley

If 2020 (and the start of 2021) has made you question everything about your job, your work/life balance and your career aspirations then you absolutely need Grace Beverley’s debut book in your life. Grace has over a million Instagram followers, launched two businesses whilst at Oxford uni and was listed on Forbes’s 30 under 30 list by aged 23. We’ll take some of whatever she’s having please.

Out 15th April 2021.

Consent: A Memoir

Compared to 2019’s chilling and uncomfortable My Dark Vanessa, this memoir tells the personal tale of Vanessa Springora’s stolen adolescence. The French publisher was abused as a teenager by a much older man, and this is her painstakingly honest account of her trauma and the impact it’s had on her life. The book – which was first published in France last year – led to an investigation by French police into her abuser and he is set to stand trial later this year.

Out now.

Perimenopause Power: Navigating Your Hormones On The Journey To Menopause by Maisie Hill

I bloody loved Maisie’s first book Period Power, which was an important bit of reading for me as part of learning to track my menstrual cycle and learn more about my own emotions and why I feel certain ways at different parts of my cycle.Whilst I’m not quite thinking about my own menopause just yet, I’ve no doubt this will be an incredibly insightful and helpful guide in navigating a whole new unexplored lift stage.

Out 4th March 2021.

Shy: How Being Quiet Can Lead To Success by Annie Ridout

I was a big fan of Annie Ridout’s first book The Freelance Mum, which helped me navigate the self-employment waters after the birth of my first son, so I’ve no doubt her second book will be a must read. Shy, explores why being reserved may in fact be an asset in the working world, but also offers ways in which we can harness it to our advantage. A handy guide for anyone who’s ever doubted their own ability.