I feel like this is a lot to ask, but you know those books with the bright, cutesy cartoon covers about some meet-cute romance usually set in some cottage or beach or cafe or small town? Those, but not romantic. Or romance is present but not central.
Something focusing on friendship and family or self-discovery, but not heavy. Something funny, or at least lighthearted. I've been reading a lot of horror and mystery/thrillers lately and I just want to chill and be silly. An example I loved is The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Also, I am not into Murderbot.
Thanks!
by Large_Advantage5829
5 Comments
Check out How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley. I feel like it fits this.
Austen’s stuff is nice, but a little dense in its language. Try PG Wodehouse. He was a fantastic writer, and I’ve never found a work of his I didn’t like
quickest pick I can think of is Third Eye by Felicia Day; about a Buffy The Vampire Slayer type character that grew up without ever becoming the teenage savior she thought she would be
I always feel like Liane Moriarty writes in a way that makes me feel like I’m reading a rom-com, but it never is a rom-com. The premise of her latest, Here One Moment, is a little dark, but I found it to be an oddly light read.
Jodi Picoult is NOT my favorite… I feel like she writes emotional blackmail. But I actually really enjoyed Wish You Were Here. It was the first book I read that had COVID as a plot point. A woman is stranded in the Galapagos during COVID. There’s a bit of romance. Some fun “situations.” But it’s not really about the love story, more like a story of self-discovery.
Taylor Jenkins Reid gets lumped into the frothy beach read category, but IMHO her books have a lot more depth. I really liked Malibu Rising, and Daisy Jones and the Six is one of the best audiobooks ever produced (and I don’t even like audio books!)
The Rosie Project is fairly unique in that the main character is a man. And while romance is completely the main focus, it’s a LOT more. The MC is pretty clearly neurodivergent, and I *love* him. It’s just a different take on the genre. There are some behaviors and plots that are a little… maybe didn’t age that well? But man it makes me laugh.
The happiest, sweetest, most feel good book I have read in ages is House in the Cerulean Sea. I’m not huge into magical realism but if you just need a bit of faith restored in humanity (even if it’s only in fiction) this is The Book.
Finally, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is a whodunnit, but with a “reliable narrator.” It uses a VERY light hearted voice that’s absolutely hilarious. No real romance, really, just situations with very funny MC narration.
Have you read Legends and Lattes?