The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
A London writer in 1946 trades letters with the members of a book club on Guernsey. Warm and funny despite the wartime backdrop.
All moods
Feel-good reads
Sometimes you want a book that leaves you in a better mood than it found you. These are warm, funny and hopeful, with kind people and plenty of bookish settings. A few touch on grief and loss along the way, but all of them end with a lift. They are a little livelier than the cozy picks.
Books to start with
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Shelby Van Pelt
A widow who works nights at an aquarium forms an unlikely friendship with a clever octopus. Gentle, funny and quietly moving.
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry
Gabrielle Zevin
A grumpy island bookseller's life changes when a child is left in his shop. Bookish, sweet and short on cynicism.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Rachel Joyce
A retired man sets out to post a letter and keeps walking across England to see a dying friend. Gentle, funny and big-hearted.
The Flatshare
Beth O'Leary
Two strangers share an apartment on opposite shifts and begin leaving each other notes. A sweet, funny slow-burn romance.
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Robin Sloan
A laid-off designer takes the night shift at an odd San Francisco bookstore and uncovers a puzzle. Playful and bookish.
How to choose
Pick by the kind of lift you want. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is told in letters, set in 1946 with the German occupation of Guernsey in the background, so it is warm and witty but not free of hardship. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore both center on bookstores. The first begins with a bookseller already grieving his wife, and the second is a playful puzzle adventure.
Remarkably Bright Creatures and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry are the most tender: one follows a widow grieving a son who vanished decades ago, the other a retired man walking the length of England for a dying friend, so expect some tears alongside the humor. The Flatshare is the most romantic pick, though it also follows a woman recovering from an emotionally abusive ex. For the lightest touch, try Mr. Penumbra's.
Want something more personal?
Tell Bookworm what you liked and what you didn't, and get a short list chosen for you.
Get picks tailored to youMore moods like this
- Cozy & comfortingSome days you want a book that feels like a blanket and a hot drink.
- Laugh out loudFunny is hard to get right on the page, and it is a matter of taste, so this list mixes styles: comic fantasy, a diary, a Victorian boat trip, two sharp memoirs and a fairy tale with its tongue in its cheek.
- Love & romanceWhether you want slow-burn longing, sharp banter or a story that breaks your heart a little first, these love stories mix classics with modern favorites.