When the going gets tough, the tough hide under the covers with a good book. Isn’t that how the saying goes? We polled PEOPLE’s resident bookworms to find out what we’re all reading to get ourselves through election week, the holiday season or any of those times when you just need a break.
Some of us de-stress with a good fantasy or romantasy read, where the world we’re dipping into bears little resemblance to the one we’re living in. Others prefer to revert back to childhood and page through a familiar children’s book — bonus decompression points if you can do it with a real-life child snuggled up with you. Still others go for cozy mysteries, escapist thrillers or laugh-out-loud nonfiction.
Whatever your bookish coping mechanism, we hope there’s something on this list to salve your soul when you need it.
‘The Wind in the Willows’ by Kenneth Grahame
If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen memes featuring this cozy classic. If not, pour a cup of your favorite warm beverage and settle in: your shoulders will start unclenching within pages.
‘Strega Nona’ by Tomie DePaola
TikTok has decreed it: Fall is the season of Strega Nona, in which we’re all making soup, wearing layers and doing all things cozy. Whenever you’re feeling beset by the world, it’s a time-tested strategy.
‘Coyote Doggirl’ by Lisa Hanawalt
From the award-winning cartoonist and producer of Bojack Horseman comes this self-aware homage to Westerns, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid — but with Lisa Frank vibes. Perfect for whenever you need a good distraction, it’s short, silly and colorful.
The ‘Bruno, Chief of Police’ Series by Martin Walker
Following a retired soldier-turned-policeman living in the South of France, this cozy mystery series fits the bill if you like a little excitement with your downtime. As the staffer who recommended this one put it, the detective at the center always has “plenty of time to cook delicious meals and drink wine with his friends in the South of France.”
‘The House in the Cerulean Sea’ by T.J. Klune
In this novel that’s “1984 meets The Umbrella Academy with a pinch of Douglas Adams thrown in,” according to one reviewer, six magical children meet an orphanage master who’s determined to keep them safe — at any cost. It’s a beautiful, inspiring story of found family.
‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle
For those who prefer to lean all the way into inspiration when the road gets rocky, you can’t do much better than this modern classic of a memoir by the “patron saint of female empowerment.”
‘The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ by Alexander McCall Smith
Fans of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple will find another kindred in the “delightfully cunning and enormously engaging” Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective. She enters her profession to “help people with problems in their lives,” which is about the most feel-good mission we can imagine.
‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott
Many of us turn to comfort food when we’re having a tough day, and this classic is like a bowl of something cozy in book form. Whether you’re a Meg, a Beth, a Jo, an Amy or some combination of all the sisters, it’s time to give this classic a reread.
‘Me Talk Pretty One Day’ by David Sedaris
The only better way than reading to enjoy these spit-take funny essays is listening to the audiobook. But word to the wise: Don’t do so in public, unless you want to generate some seriously strange looks as you laugh all the way through.
‘The Pumpkin Spice Café’ by Laurie Gilmore
A small-town cafe, a grumpy-but-gorgeous farmer — this book is what happens when you turn a pumpkin spice latte into a story. It’s perfect for fans of Hallmark movies and sweet storylines, and a fast enough read for one comforting night.
‘The Fortnight in September’ by R.C. Sherriff
This “delightfully nostalgic and soothing” book about a family’s annual vacation to the seaside on the coast of England might inspire you to start your own yearly travel tradition. At the very least, it’ll transport you into someone else’s for awhile.
The ‘Legacy of Orisha’ Series by Tomi Adeyemi
Legend of Orisha SeriesTomi Adeyemi
Escape into a completely different world with the fantastic Legacy of Orisha series. It’s a fantasy inspired by West African mythology that has all of the deep world-building, heart-pumping adventure and gripping narrative that you need to keep your head firmly in a different realm for as long as you need.
‘We’ll Prescribe You a Cat’ by Syou Ishida, translated by E. Madison Shimoda
This Japanese bestseller has made it stateside just in time for cat-lovers and dog people alike to discover the healing magic of felines. It’s a heartwarming testimony to the power of the human-animal connection, best read with your own pet (stuffed works too, in a pinch) snuggled up by your side.
‘Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop’ by Hwang Bo-reum
A sensation in the author’s native Korea, this novel follows a burnt-out Seoul woman who moves to a quieter area and opens a bookshop to rediscover her sense of purpose. There, she cultivates a place for “lost souls to rest, heal, and remember it’s never too late to scrap the plot and start again.” If that’s not what we all need, we don’t know what is.
‘The Wedding Date’ by Jasmine Guillory
Two people get stuck on a elevator together and decide to go to a wedding together — and that’s just the beginning of this swoony, sexy romance. For those who need their comfort with a side of spice, look no further than the masterful Guillory.
This post was originally published on here
