Hi all, I’m a pretty constant audiobook reader who read 140 books in 2025. On Dec 28, my dad died completely unexpectedly and I’m in rough shape. I have to go back to work tomorrow and I’ll be taking public transportation. I really need a light, easy book where nobody dies, there’s no grief. There can be light tension / suspense as long as it resolves quickly. I tried “Just for the Summer “ by Abby Jimenez, but it already has a dead father and I just can’t.
Not too picky on genre, although fantasy is my least visited genre.
Any help, especially if I can get it on Libby, would be so appreciated.
by jotsirony
3 Comments
I’m so sorry 🙁 It’s so hard (and can feel flippant IMHO) when even romcoms have the MC dealing with death.
**Asiri and the Amaru by Natalia Hernandez** might fit your bill. Most of the tension comes from a sort of silly misunderstanding, it is quite comedic and from what I recall, there is no death/grief on page. The FMC >! leaves her father and she briefly visits the underworld at one point!<, however, which may be an issue for you if you don’t want any interaction with parents/any mention of death whatsoever.
It is fantasy romance – I find fantasy to be quite a different kettle of fish – but of course if spec fic isn’t your jam then maybe not.
As I recall, The Love Proposal by Camilla Isley and The Accidental Honeymoon by Portia McIntosh also had very little death/grief, but it’s been a while since I’ve read them.
ETA: I am not sure what country you are in – Libby depends on your library, where I am – but it is on KU. I totally missed the audiobook bit, apologies but not sure if *Asiri* is on audio.
The people over at r/RomanceBooks and r/MMRomanceBooks are also voracious romance readers and are amazing at recommendations.
I’m sorry about your father. My daughter was in the same place you are in Oct 2024. She is a big reader but found it very difficult after her Dad died suddenly. She found going back and rereading some of her favourite books worked for her. She really enjoys Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer books. They are similar vibes. She also enjoyed Diana Wynne Jones books which are fantasy.
I was looking through my Goodreads and Audible and could not find a single book that I was absolutely sure didn’t have a death at least mentioned.
I hope you are able to find something that suits your needs. And again I am very sorry for your loss.
Edit. Someone posted a link to this page before. It can tell you if a book you are considering has things you want to avoid.
https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/
I like to read the Japanese slice of life genre when I am not in the mood for any sadness of anxiety inducing topics. There’s The Easy Life in Kamusari, and Dallergut Dream Department Store.
In another genre, there’s the Howl’s Moving Castle series which is just whimsical.
I also think The Wind in the Willows is very cozy and comforting.