More than ever, I’m turning to books as a place to get away from real life for a while right now. grabbing my book and knowing that I can escape what’s going on in the real world for an hour or so has saved my sanity.
The books I want to read well aren’t thrillers or dramas about dysfunctional families. instead, what I long for are fun, light-hearted stories where I know nothing bad will happen and where I’m guaranteed a happy ending.
You are reading: Best feel good books
If you need a pick-me-up (and frankly, who doesn’t?), these feel-good reads will put a smile on your face.
sara nisha adams reading list
I’m a sucker for reading books and this one really lifts my heart. Widower Mukesh wants to connect with his quiet granddaughter Priya and thinks books might be the answer, so he heads to the local library. There he meets bored teenager Aleisha and the two form a friendship over a shared reading list. What a joyous and uplifting read!
the language of food by annabel abbs
Based on the real life of cookbook author Eliza Acton, this is a truly charming historical novel that is filled with great recipes and food descriptions. At its core, the uplifting story of the friendship between Eliza and Ann Kirby, her kitchen helper, that crosses the class divide.
sarah winman still life
I love that there’s always something a little magical about the winman books (it’s best known for when god was a rabbit). Set in Italy in the years after World War II, this light-hearted book about love in all its forms tells the story of Ulysses and how a chance encounter with a woman named Evelyn changes the course of her life. the cast of characters is unforgettable and the magnificent descriptions of the sun-kissed Tuscan landscape and food will warm your soul.
the hundred years of lenni and margot by marianne cronin
lenni, 17, and margot, 83, meet in an art class at a hospital, and when they realize that between them they have lived 100 years, they decide to create a project, with one painting per every year. Told through stories and memories, we learn about the couple’s past. This multi-generational novel about friendship is something special: moving, joyful, and life-affirming.
the midnight library by matt haig
The day Nora decides to end her life, she discovers a magical library that offers her endless opportunities to rewrite the decisions she’s made and try different ways of living. This heartwarming story, which is like a book version of It’s a Wonderful Life, is full of heart and wisdom, just what we need for these strange times.
v for win by lissa evans
In this fun and uplifting read, Lissa Evans returns to the characters introduced in her previous novels, Crooked Heart and Old Baggage. It’s the end of World War II and Vera makes a living running a boarding house in Hampstead, while she looks after her 15-year-old protégé, Noel. when she witnesses an accident and has to appear in court, the deceptions she has built her life on are likely to be uncovered. wonderful things
hers merrily by aj pearce
If you loved dear Mrs. Bird, you’ll be thrilled there’s a sequel to the story of the plucky trainee emmy journalist. In this new book, we return to bomb-ravaged London, where Emmy discovers a story about a munitions factory where women are exploited. as full of humor, heart and moving as the prequel to it.
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the world at my feet by catherine isaac
ellie is a gardening influencer on instagram with 56,600 followers, but what they don’t realize is that she secretly suffers from agoraphobia and lives in a cabin at the bottom of her parents’ garden. I told her that she is such a relatable character that you can’t help but want the best for her and I was very surprised when the reason for her struggles was revealed. The ending moved me to tears.
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beth o’leary’s switch
if you enjoyed the shared apartment, you will love this new novel by the same author. this story has everything you want to lift your spirits: laughter, romance, and charming characters you connect with emotionally. After successful Leena is forced to take a sabbatical from work, she and Ella’s 79-year-old grandmother Eileen De Ella decide to switch lives. While Leena struggles to adjust to small-town life, Eileen tries online dating in London.
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saving missy by beth morrey
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Eleanor Oliphant’s success is completely fine has paved the way for books about offbeat characters, and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. missy is approaching 80 and lonely, until a chance encounter. a light-hearted read about the power of people to save one another.
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the clare pooley authenticity project
This story of six strangers brought together by a notebook in which people share their secret thoughts and feelings is a delightful read. When Monica finds a notebook in her cafe, she discovers inside it the story of neighbor Julian, a once-famous artist who is grieving his late wife. a reminder of the importance of friendship and reaching out to others.
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wonderful days by keith stuart
every once in a while, a book comes along that really moves you. days of wonder is a bittersweet novel about a single father and his daughter, hannah, that made me laugh and cry at the same time. Every year the theater manager, Tom, puts on a special performance for Hannah, who has a life-limiting heart condition, but as her health declines and the theater is threatened by developers, the pressure is on. him to achieve something very special. Featuring a cast of wonderful and believable characters, this is a magical story about love, hope, and not giving up.
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the lido page by libby
rosemary, 86, and kate, 26, are united in their campaign to save a local swimming pool. libby page’s debut is a moving story about friendship, community and the power of believing in oneself.
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five steps to be happy for her dove
Five Steps to Happiness is the debut novel by GH writer Ella Dove. The story of how actress Heidi has to find a new future after an accident that changed her life is based on her own experience. beautiful writing and engaging characters.
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the apartment shared by beth o’leary
I love the idea behind this witty romantic comedy: tiffy and leon share a flat and a bed, but they never meet because she works as an editor by day and he works as a nurse at night. it’s funny and charming, but there are also really touching moments. guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.
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dear lady bird by aj pearce
In london during the war, emmy dreams of being a war correspondent, but instead finds herself writing the agony aunt page column at the woman’s friend, where she can’t help but add her own advice. This charming and joyous debut is a love letter to female friendship and blitz spirit. a warm hug in the form of a book.
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ruth hogan’s keeper of lost things
In this charming novel, a celebrated writer spends years collecting lost objects and trying to reconnect them with their owners. Upon his death, he leaves everything to his assistant to continue his work.
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graeme simsion’s rosie project
Funny, charming and touching, this debut is a gem of a novel about a rather awkward college professor’s search for love. I loved this offbeat romance, and while its sequels don’t quite match the original, they’re also worth a read.
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harold fry’s unlikely pilgrimage for rachel joyce
One morning, Harold sets out to mail a letter and begins a journey that will change his life. there are moments that are excruciatingly moving but, ultimately, it’s an uplifting, big-hearted read.
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a walk in the woods of bill bryson
This comical memoir of Bryson’s misadventures as he and a friend attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail is so hilarious it’ll make your stomach hurt from laughing so hard. At a time when we can’t get out into nature ourselves, this is the next best thing.
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where did you go, bernadette by maria semple
Told through a series of emails and documents, this is the story of Bee and her crazy mother, who disappears on a trip to Antarctica. Maria Semple’s novel is hilarious, highly enjoyable, and truly original.
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nina george’s little bookstore in paris
A bookseller who prescribes novels to his troubled customers, but is unable to cure his own anguish, is the hero of this wonderful novel. It was a huge success across Europe and is a must-read for anyone who believes in the transformative power of books.
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a thousand stars and you by isabelle broom
A trip to Sri Lanka is Alice’s last hurrah before settling down to a domestic life with her future husband, Richard. There she meets Max, a veteran recovering from a traumatic injury and soon having to make some very difficult decisions. The “will they won’t” romance is very well done, but what I loved the most is the magnificent descriptions of Sri Lanka.
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