I know it's a niche theme, but after finishing the Sorpanos, I really liked how every character is addicted to something that provides them comfort. That thing makes them miserable, but they'd rather die than lose it. For Carmela, its Tony's blood money and power. She doesn't want to get a job, either and so she stays with Tony even though the guilt and relationship makes her miserable. For Vito, he flees the mob and spends one day in carpentry before realizing he can't do an honest days labor and chooses to risk his life to go back to the mob. For Christopher, it's drugs. Every character avoids friction and discomfort more than death and big, deeply personal changes are uncomfortable so the characters stay miserable and unable to change their ways.
One book I liked that had a similar theme is "Revolutionary Road", where April has a plan to revitalize their lives by moving to Paris. Frank initially agrees but when it gets closer, he chickens out and stays in suburban comfort with his miserable family at his miserable job because he never has to really test himself or change.
I'm going to read "Walden" which has the same lesson, but told through a positive experience of radically changing his life to live much more simply.
I would love a book with these themes. The contrast between comfortable and positive uncomfortable change
by SeaBag1947