Featured Image/Illustration by Paloma Canonica
Recently I read a list featuring the Best Uplifting Books and when I read over the list I thought what I normally do….those are the ones they are featuring? So it got me to thinking of the books I’ve read I felt were feel-good, charming or uplifting books. So here’s my own list. These are the books I’ve read over the years that have given me happy feelings. I know I have plenty more waiting for me on my shelves, but based on what I’ve read, here are my picks for the Best Feel Good Books:
The most recent one to make this list: Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession. It was so completely charming and wonderful!
At the same time I was reading Leonard and Hungry Paul, I was listening to How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper. They are both very complementary to each other. Narrated by the lovely Simon Vance, he made this story even more completely delightful. I loved the moments with Andrew and Peggy when they were together, and this book made me smile a lot. There are a few sad parts, but there’s a lot of love and warmth and it makes this one a very delightful read.
Below are all the other books I consider to be the best feel good books:
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows. The audio is an absolute must listen to and I still felt the same as when I read this one, where I just wanted to crawl inside the pages and just be with everyone on Guernsey.
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. Maeve can always make you feel good, warm and like you’re sitting next to a good friend in a comfortable and warm place.
Fin & Lady by Cathleen Schine. This was such a wonderful story! It pulls at your heart and it was so wonderful. The audio makes for a great accompaniment.
Relativity by Antonia Hayes. There was something so lovely and uplifting about this story. That summed up how I felt about it – uplifted.
Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J. Pearce. This was the book that was mentioned in that original list I saw and was the reason for me creating my own list. This was definitely a feel good story!
The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy. There is a great group of characters in this one, a very nice story.
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. I felt like I was living in a delightful rom-com the whole time I was reading this one.
The Trouble with Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon. Oh my heart blew up for this one. I said it was years since I’ve read a book as wonderful as this one was. Grace and Tilly forever!
Lost and Found by Brooke Davis. Utterly charming and heartwarming and gives some of the feelings I had when reading The Trouble With Goats and Sheep.
On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman. Just a very funny and enjoyable book. I think anytime you need a little smile and a lift, a Lipman book is a good one to fit that need.
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I just remember holding nothing but fondness in my heart for this book.
Frances and Bernard by Carlene Bauer. This is a wonderfully imagined story done all through correspondence and is completely enjoyable in audio.
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay. Another epistolary novel, I completely enjoyed it, again another fantastic one in audio performed by Hilary Huber.
Boy Wonders by Cathal Kelly. This one put a smile on my face – how he ties his childhood memories with pop culture moments is a perfect one to read if you need a smile and a laugh.
Malagash by Joey Comeau. There’s a slight tinge of sadness here, but overall this is such a sweet and tender story. It’s a hidden gem for sure.
The Sparrows of Edward Street by Elizabeth Stead. The writing is so witty and clever and Aria Sparrow has great pluck! Such a delight to read.
I could be missing some, and then there’s probably some that might stretch beyond the “feel good”, or “uplifting” but I included the ones that just made me feel completely happy when I was reading them.They all made my heart feel warm and fuzzy.
Have you read any of these? Which ones would you recommend as uplifting books that I may have left off here?
