I don’t know about you, but I’m such a mood reader, and in summer I like reading books that uplift me. Not necessarily romance novels, but books that leave me with an overall feeling of well-being. That is why I came up with the idea to write a blog post about feel-good books to improve your mood.
Whether you’re in a reading slump or you’ve been feeling down lately, the list I came up with should uplift your spirits.
Let’s take a look at the following feel-good books you can read to improve your mood this summer.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A heartfelt story that features an octopus (yes, you heard right!) as one of the main characters, a widow, and a lost soul. Their interactions will not leave you unmoved, and they are guaranteed to uplift your mood. Yes, it’s different than most books I’ve read, but one that deserves a spot on this list.
All Adults Here by Emma Straub
The author depicts a close-knit sense of community in this feel-good book. It is also a multigenerational story of a family of three adult children and their mother as they navigate through questionable life decisions. Quirky and brimming with humour, this book is a must-read by the author. By far my favorite of hers!
Anna K by Jenny Lee
This modern-day Anna Karenina retelling is a cute teen love story. We get a glimpse of New York’s privileged young people’s issues with first loves and first heartbreaks, and how they cope with it all. If you’re looking for a romance novel that will grab you from the first page, this one might be for you.
Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean
Mika, a thirty-something year-old is struggling to keep a job, a man, and her relationship with her parents is tense. But when she gets a call from her sixteen year old daughter she placed for adoption while she was a teenager herself, Mika is desperate to reconnect with her. Emotionally charged yet funny, this book guarantees a few laughs.
Maame by Jessica George
A contemporary fiction book about a young woman who is trying to fit in, Maame is an easy read that will take you out of a reading slump. With great flow, likeable characters, and lots of humour, this is a book that will remain imprinted on your mind for years after you’ve read it.
Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand
Many readers love the author, but this is the only book I enjoyed. I’ve read a couple of her other works, but I did not care for them. Barefoot is a feel-good, engrossing story about three women who spent a summer on Nantucket. While they all had issues they were desperately trying to escape, the calming air and sand of the island helped them relax and deal with their problems in a memorable way.
Unforgettable Summer by Catherine Clark
This is actually two books in one: So Inn Love and Better Latte Than Never. These two novels are not only great summer reading, they will help you reminisce of your younger days. It makes you long for when everything was so much more intense yet simple at the same time. Grab these books when you need to escape your reality for a few hours. If you’re by the beach while reading it, even better!
Love And Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
I read this book a few years ago, before I went on my trip to Italy a couple of years ago. And let me tell you, eating gelato while in Tuscany gave me serious Love and Gelato vibes. Minus the love, since it was a girls’ trip. But it was still one of my most memorable vacations.
With a cute storyline, many food references, and a cast of lovable characters, Love and Gelato is a perfect summer feel-good book. And now there’s a Netflix movie adaptation as well!
The Little Italian Hotel by Phaedra Patrick
This is my latest addition to my read books, and it is another book that gives you wanderlust vibes. The main character is heartbroken after 25 years of marriage. She was supposed to go on an Italian vacation with her husband to renew their vows, but he has other plans in mind. So she invites four strangers to join her and commiserate in her grief. You’d think this book should go on my Sad Books post, but the ending is quite uplifting. I won’t give it up and spoil it for you, but it is a feel-good book that will improve your mood, trust me.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
I love everything about this book: the premise, the characters, as well as the writing style. When you’re in a reading slump, or feeling particularly blue, this novel will help you get out of your funk. It is one of my favorite books I’ve ever read, partly because of the way it made me feel. Although I read it almost two years ago, I still remember how positive I was feeling while reading it. I think it didn’t even take me a whole weekend to read it, I devoured it. That’s how engaging and great it is. If you’re a book nerd like myself, this book will definitely become one of your favorites as well.
Concluding Words
I hope you enjoyed my post about feel-good books to improve your mood. These books would always help me feel better, even just thinking about them, so I hope they will work for you as well.
As you may have noticed, I haven’t posted my monthly reviews in a couple of months, but I will bring them back if it’s something you’re interested about. I noticed that they are your least favorite posts, but I do post the occasional review on Goodreads, but mostly on Netgalley.
I will leave you with that, and I’ll catch you in my next post. Until then, keep reading fellow bookworms.
