Comfort reads are a mainstay of the romance community, and there are so many different kinds that I return to when I need restorative reading and mental solace. There are romances that reaffirm acceptance for who we are, and romances that allow us to ride along as the characters burn everything down. There are stories that transport us away from our own emotional and mental bruising for awhile, and books that wrap us in virtual warm blankets while we read.
I still do wish for a blanket made of books, sometimes.
I’m feeling very emotionally and mentally bruised this week, and I’ve heard from a number of you who can’t look away, who are hurt and anguished and exhausted and angry. So I wanted to share our recommendations of recent books that make for soothing, restorative reads. This is our virtual safe space, and all of us are welcoming you with blankets and tea, quiet and understanding, and hope for happier ever after.
The first book that comes to my mind is Amanda’s review of A Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe: “…this book is a gem. It gave me those starry-eyed, book-drunk feelings.”
Amanda: I’d also recommend The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang. Both books are dreamy and are such great romances with acceptance at their core.
Sarah: I could certainly go for starry-eyed, book drunk feelings and stories about acceptance. Brooke, who guest reviewed The Kiss Quotient said similar things about it, too.
And speaking of guest reviews, Tara Scott lovesThe Music and the Mirror by Lola Keeley.
Along the same lines: the newest Tessa Dare was exactly what Elyse was looking for when she read it. She said The Governess Game was “as good as puppies.”
Oooh, puppies.
Amanda: I also turn to graphic novels when things get a little too heavy for me. Some colorful and fun recs that I love are I Hate Fairyland and Space Battle Lunchtime.
If your library has Hoopla, they typically have a ton of great digital graphic novels that you can read right there on your computer. Instant gratification, for the win!
Sarah: Oh, and Lumberjanes!
RedHeadedGirl: The Royal We!
Sarah: Oh – and A Taste of Pleasure by Chloe Blake, too.
Amanda: For a goofy, turn-your-brain-off-for-a-while read, what about Slouch Witch, Sarah?
Sarah: Ooh, yes. That was a fun book to read. You’re very good at this, Amanda.
Amanda: It’s not like it’s my job or anything.
Sarah: Heh.
…
What about you? What recent books have you turned to for re-reading and solace? Any you’d like to add or suggest? And if you’re looking for burn-it-all-down rage reading, we have a recommendations post for that, too.
(And please take care of yourselves, k?)
Mary Balogh’s books, for me. They’re usually about overcoming trauma, which may or may not be your jam when you’re not feeling good, but I especially love SOMEONE TO WED (easily the standout from her new Westcott series), A SUMMER TO REMEMBER (the Bedwyn prequel, which has fewer heavy themes) and ONLY A KISS (in which the heroine is brooding and traumatised by war and the hero is the optimistic soul who helps her see the way forward, which is such a refreshing take). If I’m in the mood for heroines who give as good as they get I reread Julia Quinn, but Balogh’s slow-burn, quieter romances always get me. Again, fair warning that they are rarely light and fun, but I think they fit the bill on soothing and cathartic.
Roni Loren’s “The One You Can’t Forget” is a lovely, cheerable romance for two people over coming trauma l (that mercifully does not involve rape ).
This is YA and the romance is SUUUUUPPPPERRR slow burn and not at all steamy, but I still highly rec Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn. It is light and luminous and makes me so happy, and the ship is excellent.
My ultimate fallback is always Jane Austen, but I can also escape in almost anything by Lois McMaster Bujold, Robin McKinley, or Sir Terry Pratchett.
Also, if you like fanfic (MCU), Infinite Coffee and Protection Detail by owlet on Archive of Our Own is amazingly healing, plus funny and heart-melting. owlet is Virginia Mohlere, and her original fiction is also amazing (like this: http://lunastationquarterly.com/story/the-thing-in-the-walls-wants-your-small-change/).
Morning Glory is so great! I thought of it when reading A Notorious Vow – both terrific heartwarming books where the main characters respect each other all the way, while slowly falling in love.
I frequently turn to Jennifer Crusie, because she’s very funny, her heroines aren’t afraid to get angry and stand up for themselves, and the heroes are pretty beta (at least when it comes to the heroine). AGNES AND THE HITMAN is my favorite of her novels, but I love pretty much all of them. WELCOME TO TEMPTATION and FAKING IT are favorites, as well.
Some other favorites:
FREDERICA by Georgette Heyer (her books sometimes feature creepy age differences or unpleasant caricatures, but I don’t remember anything troubling in this one)
THE BROTHERS SINISTER series by Courtney Milan – I’ve been rereading this over the past week or two and really enjoying it.
The first two CROWS books by Shelly Laurenston – the third one didn’t really work for me, but I love the heroines in the first two books, and the emphasis on found family and community
This was exactly what I needed! Thanks! You’ve build such a beautiful community. It means so much, especially at times like these!!
Last night, I started listening to “A Study in Scarlet” by Sherry Thomas. I’ve already read & loved it. Listening to it was like catching up with an old friend. The protagonist is intelligent and that counts in Sherry Thomas’ world.
So many comfort books – this is the week for curling up and reading (if it wasn’t for work).
For Pure Comfort
Montgomery, L.M.– MY BLUE CASTLE – A rainy afternoons re-reading.
Stevensen, D.E. -MISS BUNCLE’S BOOK – It lends itself to reading aloud – and characters!
Almost anything from Carla Kelly – her heroines are strong, her heroes think. Some of the situations are hard, but they are overcome with hard work and some coincidences. My paperbacks are tattered, but I can always curl up with one of her ‘dukeless romances’. Favorites are: MRS. McVINNIE’S LONDON SEASON, REFORMING LORD RAGSDALE, MRS. DREW PLAYS HER HAND, and BEAU CRUSOE.
For Laughter
Crusie and Mayer – AGNES AND THE HITMAN – This lends itself to reading aloud – especially the Cranky Agnes columns. And then there’s the healing power of food and the deadliness of frying pans.
Laurenston, Shelly – THE MANE EVENT – There is a scene, with a chocolate dessert (in a restaurant, what were you thinking?) it makes me laugh out loud every time
Lucille, Kelly – KEEPING HER – The stick-to-it-ness of the characters and occasional guffaws makes me read it again and again.
Grace, Viola – CHUBBY IS THE NIGHT – Viola Grace novellas are like popcorn, they are lovely and you can find yourself reading too many in a row. This is one of my favorites (who can resist goblin sing-alongs at Burning Man?).
For the couples and how they get together
Chase, Loretta – MR.IMPOSSIBLE – They talk, they interact, she’s smart and he knows it (soo refreshing).
Charles, KJ – THINK OF ENGLAND – I like it and it makes me happy to read it, again and again.
Dean, Alyssa – THE LAST HERO – A category romance that has remained on my shelves while so many have been donated. Its an ‘opposites attract’ in the best way story.
Gale, Avon – POWER PLAY – I can imagine these two men together, forever. They just work as a couple and make me wish for other couples like them.
Echoing Carol’s comment, thank you for understanding what we need right now. I was so shaken by the end of the day yesterday that I couldn’t even read. I got home from work, turned on the new Get Booked podcast, and played with my cat while I listened.
My comfort reads are usually old school kids’ books, especially something British. I might be diving into a Famous Five adventure this evening.
My daughter just started 3rd grade and is suddenly a voracious reader (which warms my book lovin heart!). It has prompted me to do a lot of rereading of my kid lit favorites – Bridge to Terabithia, The Witch of Blackbird Pond (I trace my love of historical to this one!), The Westing Game and A Wrinkle in Time so far.
I realized what they have in common and what stuck with me as a kid is themes of acceptance for yourself and that following what you believe to be right will win out in the end. A helpful and safe message at any age I think. Especially right now I have to believe that the right thing to do is always the right thing to do and that good people win out. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed.
I usually turn to Mary Balogh and Julia Quinn favorites when things get tough. However, this week, Dirty Dancing at Devil’s Leap by Julie Anne Long is providing some much needed comic relief.
Work is challenging and watching the news is disheartening. I’m beginning to believe rational thought has become a super power, rarely seen.
I had to completely step away from the news and social media yesterday. I’ve been escaping into re-reading the “Blades of Rose” series by Zoe Archer. They’re so deliciously rompy and crazy sauce.
Sophie Kinsella – any of the really cheesy ones, like “I’ve Got Your Number” or “Twenties Girl.” They are like a dose of sunshine.
This thread is already my favorite thing of today. Thank you, y’all.
And oh, gosh, yes, Emily. When you said The Westing Game, a forgotten part of my reader brain went, “YES, THAT!” When Carrie and I were discussing this post yesterday, she specifically mentioned children’s books as well, specifically Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel.
Such a welcome post! Thank you Sarah, Amanda, Elyse, Carrie, RedHeadedGirl!
So many things I comfort re-read, but this week I’ve been rereading some recent books. I’ve been mainly reading m/m romance (loved hearing Sarah with Will & Jeff this week) so I’ve reread:
– A Fool and His Manny (Amy Lane)
– Kris Jacen’s books (Wait for Me, Learn with Me, Explore with Me, Challenge Me)
– I just read Macy Blake’s Sweet Nothings: The Chosen One prequel, so had to reread the first two books in the series. Paranormal, multiple mates, with magic and shifters
Each of these is gentle/low angst in its own way, despite bad things happening.
@SB Sarah and Carrie- Arnold Lovel is wonderful! And to my little boys I’m reading the Pete the Cat books and Superfudge by Judy Blume out loud – more kid comfort reads!
Having young kids is so much work but a very welcome distraction from the news.
Oops… *Lobel
Oh, friends. If there was ever a time for a post like this, it is *NOW*.
Julie James is my #1 go-to. No question or hesitation on that. When I need a comforting read, it’s competence porn, snappy dialogue, and grown-up respect-based sexy times all the way!
Comfort reads for me usually include a heavy dose of humor, so with that in mind, here’s my most recent comfort rereads:
Natasha Boyd’s “The Accidental Tryst” – two strangers accidentally grab each other’s phones in an airport. It’s sweet, funny & takes place mostly in Charleston, SC, which is always a plus in my book!
Kasey Michael’s “Everything’s Coming Up Rosie” – a madcap comedy romance. Happy, warm, fuzzy, & there are squirrels! And a big, silly dog!
Pippa Grant’s “Stud in the Stacks” – a librarian hero, Tarzan, & unicorn poop. What’s not to love?
Dee Ernst’s “Better Off Without Him” – a little darker in tone than the others (when you lead with divorce that’s inevitable), it’s also rich, satisfying, has great supporting characters (including the pets), & best yet (for me, at least) features a solidly middle-aged couple! The summer vacation dating scenes a priceless.
Lucy Score’s “The Worst Best Man” – class differences, a kidnapped groom, & the perils of social media.
I’m seconding SusanH’s recommendations for Jennifer Crusie’s “Agnes & the Hitman” & “Welcome to Temptation”, & adding “Anyone But You” to the list.
Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series, fluffy Loretta Chase, Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper, cozy mysteries, Katie Ruggle, Bujold’s Captain Vorpatil’s Alliance and A Civil Campaign, Earthsea, & more but I don’t remember.
Hmm, I don’t know if my comfort reads will work for anyone else because, upon reflection, they are pretty violent in places. But in case they might help someone, here they are.
The Shadow Queen/Shalador’s Lady by Anne Bishop. The heroine learns to deal with past trauma and builds a healthy, respectful territory in the ashes of a giant war.
Embers by Vathara, for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender. A ridiculously long fanfic in which Zuko discovers new powers, recovers from his awful childhood, finds new family, and tries to help people in his own way, separate from Aang.
@Jeanette–OMG! Are you Me???? So many of my faves.
I have to add almost anything by Ilona Andrews or Shelly Laurenston and What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken; Accidental Goddess, Games of Command, and Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair; Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen and Lord Vorpatril’s Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold. Most recently, I finished The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires–thank you, sale gods. Also, seconding Heyer and Pratchett. Basically, laughter, whether it’s sly or slapstick, and low anxiety plot lines are my comforts.
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately scanning my Kindle looking for comfort reads that I haven’t read too recently. They are getting harder to find in the current political climate, but it beats scanning twitter for the latest outrage. I start and then can’t look away. Sigh….
After an evening full of MSNBC, I find myself watching the Colbert Report with a gin and tonic in my hand. I swear Stephen Colbert has saved my sanity this month. But I am also rereading some of my old category romances – Linda Howard, Evelyn Vaugh, Jennifer Crusie. I had been rereading some Kristin Ashley rock chick romance, and I generally love the alpha heroes. In the middle of one scene between the hero and the waffling heroine, I abruptly thought “No means no”. Stupid heroine. Stupid guy. Then I remembered a scene from Nora Roberts “The Obsession”, where the hero stands in the heroines door and says something like “Until you say yes, I don’t come in”. Sigh. Thank you Nora. (The rest of the book is one big trigger warning. But there is house porn! Home remodeling and refinishing furniture, and the hero leads a band, is a mechanic and is named Xander!). I think self care means more reading, less news. Thank you for this topic.
Comfort reads- Lisa Kleypas historicals like Devil in Winter and Devil in Spring. Nora Roberts Bridal Quartet, Nalini Singh -Shield of Winter. Amanda Quick, Devil’s Bride- Stephanie Laurens, Jennifer Crusie- Agnes and the Hitman. Laura Florand, Julie Garwood,Shelly Laurenston, and Suzanne Wright. I have several more ready on standby.
As for kids, Ramona Quimby, Westing Game, and Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
I have been in comfort reads protection mode for some time now.
@OK – A second vote for MORNING GLORY by LaVyrle Spencer. The scene where she cuts his hair is a favorite. And the joys of a library card.
@PamG – We must be book souls. ACCIDENTAL GODDESS by Linnea Sinclair is a long time favorite re-read.
I love this post so much! Thank you!
My comfort reads are anything by Lucy Parker, Molly Harper or Julie James. Love the dialogue and humor. Also anything by Susanna Kearsley because she has this amazing ability to suck me in to the story and make me forget about my problems. Same for Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnations series. They have action, humor and Napoleanic spies…what more do you need? I try and find comfort reads that have a lot of humor and heart with not too much trauma in either the heroine or heroes backstory. Sometimes there is so many awful things going on in the world that you just need an escape.
Had to comment again because I saw on another blog that Tamora Pierce’s Alanna: The First Adventure is apparently 35 years old today, and I can’t imagine a more timely comfort read. Shoutout to her Immortals quartet too for my first true introduction to slow burn romance, and what was probably my earliest OTP.
My comfort reads:
Anything by Julia Quinn – just the right balance of humor and angst.
Pretty much anything by Robin McKinley, especially Spindle’s End.
The Grey Horse and Tea With the Black Dragon by RA MacAvoy.
Anything by Juliet Marillier.
The Pink Carnation books by Lauren Willig – they make me laugh out loud.
LM Montgomery’s short stories.
Eight Cousins and Rose In Bloom by Louisa May Alcott.
If you can find the complete series of SOAP on DVD, grab it, it will do you so much good. Lots of sex positivity and LOTS of laughs.
Geek that I am I have also been doing deep dives into Star Wars, both old and new canon. Yes I’m goin’ back to 1977 in my mind…
OMG those kittens.
I had to put down the books on the TBR pile and pick up White Hot by Ilona Andrews for a comfort reread. Rogan’s a dragon but a dragon who believes in consent.
I’m also listening to Pretty Face by Lucy Parker in the car and boy does that book hit some truths about how women are perceived and listened to.
Oh, and thank you for this post. It is much needed today.
Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, both by Patricia Briggs. Smart, independent, survivor female protagonists and supportive alpha (non-asshole) heroes.
@EC Spurlock what is SOAP?
@Natalie Looove Summers at Castle Auburn! Wondering if you have other suggestions because that one is random and so up my alley!
For me classic mysteries like Agatha Christie, et al, do the trick. It feels good to me that the questions get answered and the guilty are identified.
The entire Virgin river series I add a comfort ttead for me. Al also the Psy-changling novels
There’s a series called Brew Ha Ha by Bria Quinlan that’s sweet and funny. Worth the Fall is my favorite. They’re sweet and flirty, almost like a YA but with adult characters.
I also fall back on Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series, like many others have suggested. Penny Reid is also great for a bit of humor. His Road Home has a bit more of a serious note, but is such a great story.
I’ve been rereading some Nalini Singh this week, and it has been lovely: Slave to Sensation, Archangel’s Legion, and my absolute favourite of hers, Rock Hard. And I hadn’t realized that I was gravitating towards this, but they’re all about women who have great strength even when sometimes they think they don’t. Sometimes my subconscious knows just what is needed.
Two classics I turn to for comfort are GAUDY NIGHT by Dorothy L. Sayers and THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL by Baroness Orczy.
Cozy mysteries, I’m rereading Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh who’s one of my reread authors. Any of her works but Clutch of Constables is a particular favorite.
Diana Wynne Jones especially Conrad’s Fate, Deep Magic, Howl’s Moving Castle, her books along with Pratchett’s make me feel better about the world. With all the politics stuff going on, I’ve been rereading the Guards books because Vimes and is willingness to go no at the world helps.
I had the newest October Daye book to read and then I just couldn’t do it. I know it will be well written but also intense and I’ll read it another time.
Instead I read Hot and Badgered and now I’m loving The Governess Game, also I read Mr. Impossible for the first time. They’ve been just what I needed and I think I might reread Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance again soon. I enjoyed Hot and Badgered more than the first Crow book I read, it was a lot, but worked. I love all the clear families in the world and how important taking care of each other was to everyone, along with the love of food. I’m going to go find more of those books.
In terms of romance, Mary Balogh especially the Survivor’s series, Loretta Chase-Viscount Vagabond and the Devil’s Delilah are my go tos, Heyer-Cotillion and Carla Kelly-Summer Campaign.