Comforting and Uplifting Fiction
Need a good book while traveling? Take a look at these titles to help with your mental health and wellbeing.
Here’s a list of fiction titles that support well-being by offering emotional comfort, inspiration, perspective, or a calming escape. As a librarian, I would recommend them all depending upon what you like to read. These books make great gifts too.
These books are heartwarming, gentle, and affirming—perfect for lifting your mood.
- The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
- A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
- The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
- Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Emotionally Insightful and Empathetic Reads
These novels deepen your emotional intelligence and help you better understand yourself and others.
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
- The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
- The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman
Peaceful and Reflective Fiction
Perfect for calming the mind and nourishing the soul with quiet beauty.
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
- The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
- Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
- The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Sun-mi Hwang
Whimsical and Imaginative Escapes
Let your mind wander into enchanting, hopeful worlds that offer rest from real-life stress.
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
- The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan
These books can ease anxiety, spark reflection, and create a sense of connection—all vital parts of well-being.
For more inspiration check out my website: KathyHusserTempe.com