Photo by Siora Photography
April showers bring plenty of opportunities to dive into some spring reads. From a breezy deep-dive into local Swiss tourism to journal entries of a junior doctor turned comedian, we’ve got a juicy round-up this month of several books bound to keep you entertained. Check out our top picks below:
Slow Train to Switzerland
by Diccon Bewes
Slow Train to Switzerland charts the dawn of tourism in the Alpine Republic. Following in the footsteps of Thomas Cook’s first Conducted Tour of Switzerland, author Diccon Bewes (a British travel writer expat who lives in Bern) compares and contrasts the Switzerland of 1863 with the one we know today. In the process, he shows us what has changed (sadly, glacial retreat is a real standout) and what remains (incredible landscape, Swiss ingenuity). Slow Train to Switzerland is a breezy read that will fascinate anyone who is treading these same paths 160-odd years later, albeit in a panoramic, climate-controlled train carriage…
Get your copy here.
Matt’s pick
Where The Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
The debut novel of a retired wildlife biologist, Where the Crawdads Sing is a murder mystery set against an astonishing natural background. It’s the story of Kya Clark, abandoned by her family at six years old and left to fend for herself in the wild marshes of North Carolina. The little girl learns to live in complete solitude, at odds with the small uptight coastal town which borders the marshlands. The novel beautifully interweaves science, biology, nature, and human behaviour into a story of love, belonging and murder.
Get your copy here.
Clara’s Pick
The Duke and I
by Julia Quinn
It’s a Downton Abbey tries to meet Pride and Prejudice type story. A romance between a young, innocent, curious and eager-to-learn lady and a dark, brooding (rich) heir with daddy issues. It’s entertaining and saucy in places. A good book to take to a terrace for some light reading on a sunny spring day 
Get your copy here.
Nix’s Pick
This is Going to Hurt
by Adam Kay
Scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, Adam Kay’s This is Going to Hurt provides a no-holds-barred account of his time on the NHS front line. Hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking, this diary is everything you wanted to know – and more than a few things you didn’t – about life on and off the hospital ward.
Get your copy here.
Tanya’s Pick
Home Body
by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur constantly embraces growth, and in home body, she walks readers through a reflective and intimate journey visiting the past, the present and the potential of the self. home body is a collection of raw, honest conversations with oneself – reminding readers to fill up on love, acceptance, community, family, and embrace change
Get your copy here.
Valentina’s pick
Note: Some of these links are affiliates, which means that if you make a purchase, a small percentage comes to support the activities of The Lausanne Guide.