Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite

Sometimes the biggest life changes begin in the middle of an ordinary day. In You Must Believe in Spring by Steven Hutton, Evan and his girlfriend, Ellen, are trying to figure out their future after discovering that she is pregnant. The news wasn’t planned, and the two don’t immediately agree on what should happen next. Evan, however, has already started imagining their unborn child, whom he privately calls Helen, and picturing what it would be like to become a father. His mind rarely stays in one place for long. A walk through the neighborhood, a conversation over a meal, something he sees outside, or even a quiet moment at home can send his musings toward childhood, relationships, politics, sex, family, or death. Meanwhile, Ellen is dealing with her own uncertainty about motherhood, marriage, and how much she wants her world to change. Their families and friends also become part of the decisions ahead of them. Evan knows that if he wants the life he has begun to picture, he may have to spend less time inside his own head and more time paying attention to the people right in front of him. Can he learn to live in the present when his thoughts are always racing toward what might happen next?

You Must Believe in Spring by Steven Hutton caught my eye with its beautiful flower cover and interesting title. Evan was such a dynamic character because he could be complicated and completely ordinary at the same time. His mind was constantly working, and I liked how something as small as a comment or a detail he noticed could lead to thoughts about fatherhood, mortality, his childhood, or the future. Hutton’s writing is richly descriptive without limiting that detail to scenery. Old houses, country roads, and especially the spring light are easy to picture, but the emotional atmosphere comes through just as strongly. Even everyday moments can carry tenderness, anxiety, longing, or dread because of the significance Evan gives them. The pace is deliberately unhurried and reflective for much of the novel, which fits a man who spends so much time thinking about everything around him. I found myself feeling for these characters more than once. L. M. Montgomery wrote, “That is one good thing about this world … there are always sure to be more springs.” That quote came to mind because spring takes on a deeper meaning in the novel, representing hope and the possibility of beginning again. This would be a good choice for readers who enjoy heartfelt stories about relationships, family, and the unexpected turns life can take.