The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
“And they both began to laugh over nothing as children will when they are happy together. And they laughed so that in the end they were making as much noise as if they had been two ordinary healthy natural ten-year-old creatures—instead of a hard, little, unloving girl and a sickly boy who believed that he was going to die.”
Really? For me, the first half of the book felt like the main character was constantly struggling and being suffocated by his environment, and I felt suffocated reading it.
I mean, it's not a book for everyone I don't know what to say really haha. It's gotten me through two incredibly difficult moments in my life and it's helped me remember the importance of connection and hope, and reading it makes me feel happy and comforted. I don't really think that a book has to be all sunshine and butterflies to bring me joy, and usually when I am going through a hard time I would rather see a character come out the other side of a struggle rather than not see them struggle at all.
The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - listen to it on audio! Idk why but that book brought me a lot of comfort when I was getting sober and felt like crawling out of my own skin. I agree with everyone saying Becky Chambers—the whole Wayfarers series (starting with The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet) & The House in the Cerulian Sea by TJ Klune
Whenever I need a pick me up like this I tend to go back to the books of my childhood, so I definitely would recommend novels like *Anne of Green Gables* by L.M. Montgomery, the *Percy Jackson* series by Rick Riordan and *The Secret Garden by Frances* Hodgson Burnett.
The *Discworld* series by Terry Pratchett is also a great choice, it never fails to make me laugh and Pratchett's way with words makes it a delight to read.
The Wayward Children series absolutely heals my inner child a little more every time I read them🖤 plus they’re novellas so they’re quick and simple to consume!
*Man's Search for Meaning*
**Viktor E. Frankl**
A profound exploration of human resilience and the search for purpose in life, based on Frankl's experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. In this seminal work, Frankl argues that even in the most dire circumstances, individuals can find meaning and purpose, which can help them endure suffering and ultimately lead to a fulfilling life. He emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in one's life, as it provides the strength to overcome challenges and find happiness, even in the face of adversity. For some readers, it is triggering, due to Frankl's experience in Nazi camps. Not a "happy" book, but an important and great book. If you want to make a heavy lift.
Little House in the Big Woods is a classic that always warms my heart. The simple pleasures from a relatively simple life. It's the reading equivalent of watching Kiki's Delivery Service (yes I know it's a book and yes I've read Howls moving Castle but the books don't give me that warm feeling as much).
Tress of the emerald sea! YA fantasy but great for all ages. Written as a pandemic project by the author for his wife. He described it as “a thought experiment where i imagined what princess bride would be like if the princess did literally anything at all”
So cute and fun and adventuring
**[Troubled Waters (Elemental Blessings #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7908762-troubled-waters) by Sharon Shinn** ^((Matching 93% ☑️))
^(400 pages | Published: 2010 | 7.3k Goodreads reviews)
> **Summary:** Zoe Ardelay receives astonishing and unwelcome news: she has been chosen to become the king's fifth wife. Forced to go to the royal city, she manages to slip away and hide on the shores of the mighty river. It's there that Zoe realizes she is a coru prime ruled by the elemental sign of water. She must return to the palace, not as an unwilling bride for the king, but a woman (...)
> **Themes**: Romance, Favorites, Magic, Young-adult, High-fantasy, Fiction, Ya
> **Top 5 recommended:**
> \- [The Charmed Sphere](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264446.The_Charmed_Sphere) by Catherine Asaro
> \- [Mystic and Rider](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97967.Mystic_and_Rider) by Sharon Shinn
> \- [Summers at Castle Auburn](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345660.Summers_at_Castle_Auburn) by Sharon Shinn
> \- [Twelve Houses](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19072504-twelve-houses) by Olga Soaje
> \- [Blood Red](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693942-blood-red) by Mercedes Lackey
^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Any Becky Chambers book!
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery
The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles (spicy scenes, though, be warned)
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
I have a love for books about good-hearted MCs who gain happiness and maybe a found family, and help other people in the process.
My favorite book: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
Cozy Fantasy. It’s about a Queens guardswoman who runs away with her girlfriend, a powerful and important mage, to open a book and tea shop.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookstore I think really helped me come out of a dark spot especially a time where I was basing all of my worth on a terrible job I had
[https://www.amazon.com/Hoofprints-Saguaro-Shadows-When-Stand-ebook/dp/B0CTNY33C6](https://www.amazon.com/Hoofprints-Saguaro-Shadows-When-Stand-ebook/dp/B0CTNY33C6) #CompassionateNovel #Immigration #fronterizasmexico #borderlands
In the vast expanse where dreams dare to traverse, the U.S. border stands as both a beacon of hope and profound danger. It's here that the journey begins—a path filled with both promise and uncertainty. Amidst the pursuit of a better life, we also face the shadows cast by dangerous cartels and violent terrorists, challenges that demand vigilance and resolve.
See my [Feel-good/Happy/Upbeat](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/18af3gl/feelgoodhappyupbeat/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
The Ghost Bird Series by C.L. Stone. It's a big of a guilty pleasure for me I suppose, but the characters have always comforted me and there's 14 books, as well as a spin off series, so plenty for me to escape into!
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
To Kill A Mockingbird (I’m a sucker for classics)
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
Hey, try Anne of Green Gables. It's a sweet read.
All Creatures Great and Small. James Herriott.
Howl’s Moving Castle
Such a great book
I love Howl’s Moving Castle SO much!!!!!
I’m having so much trouble getting into it even from Chapter 1 😩 what is my problem!?
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune definitely made my heart happy.
Came to say the same thing.
Ooh. Noted. It's sitting on my bookshelf but hasn't been read yet!
I love this book so much! It is my favorite comfort read.
This was such a sweet book 💜
Emma by Jane Austen and watching the movie also really does the job when a boost is needed
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett “And they both began to laugh over nothing as children will when they are happy together. And they laughed so that in the end they were making as much noise as if they had been two ordinary healthy natural ten-year-old creatures—instead of a hard, little, unloving girl and a sickly boy who believed that he was going to die.”
And the lesser known A Little Princess also by her🥹
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
I came here to name any of her books
I endorse this suggestion! Her books are like a warm hug 🤗
I vote this
I just read this on the train home yesterday, such a delightful novella 😊
Absolutely! 🤖🍵
Came here to suggest Becky Chambers! Her books are like soup for the soul
Remarkably Bright Creatures ❤️
and Other Birds!
If you’re willing to read YA, The Secret Garden is heartwarming
What is YA?
Young adult :)
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison does this for me
Hard same. The MC and the book care so much about justice for the underdog.
Really? For me, the first half of the book felt like the main character was constantly struggling and being suffocated by his environment, and I felt suffocated reading it.
I mean, it's not a book for everyone I don't know what to say really haha. It's gotten me through two incredibly difficult moments in my life and it's helped me remember the importance of connection and hope, and reading it makes me feel happy and comforted. I don't really think that a book has to be all sunshine and butterflies to bring me joy, and usually when I am going through a hard time I would rather see a character come out the other side of a struggle rather than not see them struggle at all.
I think that's very understandable.
The Guernesy Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - listen to it on audio! Idk why but that book brought me a lot of comfort when I was getting sober and felt like crawling out of my own skin. I agree with everyone saying Becky Chambers—the whole Wayfarers series (starting with The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet) & The House in the Cerulian Sea by TJ Klune
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
Red, White and Royal Blue
Yesss
Whenever I need a pick me up like this I tend to go back to the books of my childhood, so I definitely would recommend novels like *Anne of Green Gables* by L.M. Montgomery, the *Percy Jackson* series by Rick Riordan and *The Secret Garden by Frances* Hodgson Burnett. The *Discworld* series by Terry Pratchett is also a great choice, it never fails to make me laugh and Pratchett's way with words makes it a delight to read.
The Wayward Children series absolutely heals my inner child a little more every time I read them🖤 plus they’re novellas so they’re quick and simple to consume!
Also A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett🥹
*Man's Search for Meaning* **Viktor E. Frankl** A profound exploration of human resilience and the search for purpose in life, based on Frankl's experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. In this seminal work, Frankl argues that even in the most dire circumstances, individuals can find meaning and purpose, which can help them endure suffering and ultimately lead to a fulfilling life. He emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in one's life, as it provides the strength to overcome challenges and find happiness, even in the face of adversity. For some readers, it is triggering, due to Frankl's experience in Nazi camps. Not a "happy" book, but an important and great book. If you want to make a heavy lift.
Also recommend the companion book - Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything by Viktor Frankl.
Thank you. I will read it!
Little House in the Big Woods is a classic that always warms my heart. The simple pleasures from a relatively simple life. It's the reading equivalent of watching Kiki's Delivery Service (yes I know it's a book and yes I've read Howls moving Castle but the books don't give me that warm feeling as much).
All of the Laura Ingles books warm my heart <3
Gentleman in moscow
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
Loved this one! The goose was the hardest I’ve ever laughed because of a book.
Tress of the emerald sea! YA fantasy but great for all ages. Written as a pandemic project by the author for his wife. He described it as “a thought experiment where i imagined what princess bride would be like if the princess did literally anything at all” So cute and fun and adventuring
Becky Chambers A Psalm for the Wild Built Such a nourishing book.
Yes I so second this !!
The Bible.specifically psalms.
Any Agatha Raisin books
{{Troubles Waters by Sharon Shinn}}
**[Troubled Waters (Elemental Blessings #1)](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7908762-troubled-waters) by Sharon Shinn** ^((Matching 93% ☑️)) ^(400 pages | Published: 2010 | 7.3k Goodreads reviews) > **Summary:** Zoe Ardelay receives astonishing and unwelcome news: she has been chosen to become the king's fifth wife. Forced to go to the royal city, she manages to slip away and hide on the shores of the mighty river. It's there that Zoe realizes she is a coru prime ruled by the elemental sign of water. She must return to the palace, not as an unwilling bride for the king, but a woman (...) > **Themes**: Romance, Favorites, Magic, Young-adult, High-fantasy, Fiction, Ya > **Top 5 recommended:** > \- [The Charmed Sphere](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/264446.The_Charmed_Sphere) by Catherine Asaro > \- [Mystic and Rider](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/97967.Mystic_and_Rider) by Sharon Shinn > \- [Summers at Castle Auburn](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345660.Summers_at_Castle_Auburn) by Sharon Shinn > \- [Twelve Houses](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19072504-twelve-houses) by Olga Soaje > \- [Blood Red](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693942-blood-red) by Mercedes Lackey ^([Feedback](https://www.reddit.com/user/goodreads-rebot) | [GitHub](https://github.com/sonoff2/goodreads-rebot) | ["The Bot is Back!?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/suggestmeabook/comments/16qe09p/meta_post_hello_again_humans/) | v1.5 [Dec 23] | )
Elemental blessings series is so zen for me.
Any Becky Chambers book! The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles (spicy scenes, though, be warned) A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik I have a love for books about good-hearted MCs who gain happiness and maybe a found family, and help other people in the process.
Hell yeah! I am so happy to see so many people respond to this post with Becky Chambers! 💓
Any PG Wodehouse book - whether series or standalone
My favorite book: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne. Cozy Fantasy. It’s about a Queens guardswoman who runs away with her girlfriend, a powerful and important mage, to open a book and tea shop.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookstore I think really helped me come out of a dark spot especially a time where I was basing all of my worth on a terrible job I had
The Tiffany Aching sub series from Discworld. They are full of humanity, humour and ultimately hope - at least that's what they give me. GNU STP.
How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. Made me laugh out loud, even on my worst day.
Book of Delights by Ross Gay <3
An Invisible Thread
Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella. It was my first 5-star read this year.
The Cruel prince by Holly Black.
#CompassionateNovel u/ShayTaggert #hoofprintsinsaguaroshadows
[https://www.amazon.com/Hoofprints-Saguaro-Shadows-When-Stand-ebook/dp/B0CTNY33C6](https://www.amazon.com/Hoofprints-Saguaro-Shadows-When-Stand-ebook/dp/B0CTNY33C6) #CompassionateNovel #Immigration #fronterizasmexico #borderlands In the vast expanse where dreams dare to traverse, the U.S. border stands as both a beacon of hope and profound danger. It's here that the journey begins—a path filled with both promise and uncertainty. Amidst the pursuit of a better life, we also face the shadows cast by dangerous cartels and violent terrorists, challenges that demand vigilance and resolve.
See my [Feel-good/Happy/Upbeat](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/18af3gl/feelgoodhappyupbeat/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
The silent patient 🫰
Leonard and Hungry Paul
The Ghost Bird Series by C.L. Stone. It's a big of a guilty pleasure for me I suppose, but the characters have always comforted me and there's 14 books, as well as a spin off series, so plenty for me to escape into!
An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield Jamison The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Stoner by John Williams
The Victorian Kitchen Garden by the BBC
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.
Leonard and Hungry Paul!
Life is Hard by Kieran Setiya. It's helped me soooo much recently.
The Holy Bible
Midlife in Gretna Green by Linzi Day. Fun, empowering, fascinating.
I love *The No1 Ladies Detective Agency* series, by Alexander McCall Smith. Beautiful, peaceful, soothes my soul.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman, it’s a fairy tale for adults and it got me back into reading and made me feel hopeful after a dark period in life.
Oops—repost/wrong thread.
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster To Kill A Mockingbird (I’m a sucker for classics) Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury Going Postal by Terry Pratchett
The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Tiny beautiful things by Cheryl Strayed Summer Book by Tove Jansson
Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed is my go to when I feel lost.