Let’s face it, 2020 was a bit of a downer. It turns out that a global pandemic really isn’t much fun, curtailing all sorts of joyful things from weddings to festivals to simply meeting for a coffee. Still, one thing it couldn’t take away from us was our books. Reading became a bastion of solace for many, a place to escape from reality and perhaps travel the world.
So, here are some uplifting tomes to take with you into 2021. Featuring both old and new books, you’ll find something for everyone but there is one common theme running through them – a happy ending.
1. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Let’s start with an old favourite, shall we? Jane Austen’s best known work is a hug of a novel. Featuring characters you will fall deeply in love with, a heavy sprinkling of Austen’s inimitable wit, and a dose of self acceptance, it is difficult to come away from this book without a smile on your face. This book calls for dark January evenings, a mug of tea and a blanket.
Get it here.
2. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale (hardly a cheerful read), The Testaments provides a bit of relief. If watching totalitarian regimes crumble ticks your boxes, then pick this one up. Where we saw women struggle in the awful Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale, here we have the satisfaction of seeing them destroy it.
Get it here.
3. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
This is a perfect book to read as spring begins to show its head. Set in a gorgeous castle with a glorious castle in the Italian Riviera, this book will sweep you away and you will feel the vitamin D seep through its pages and into your soul. It feels warm, and happy, and strong all at the same time. A beautiful read.
Get it here.
4. The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien
By this point, most of us will have either read the books or seen the films. But if there was ever a time to revisit them, it’s now. Tolkien’s epic tale of good vs evil in a world so very different to our own is everything you need for true escapism.
Get it here.
5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I first read this book as a teen and, to this day, I don’t think I have read a funnier book. It is silly, and wise, and wholesome. If you haven’t experienced the joy of this book yet, I envy you! Read it now – and you’ll find out the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Get it here.
6. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Ok, I know it’s unusual for a thriller to feature on a list of uplifting books, but this one genuinely is. It is morbidly funny, unique and superbly readable. It’s also short, which is great when you’re stuck in a rut and want to feel the achievement of finishing a book.
Get it here.
7. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
When I want my mood to be improved and my serotonin levels boosted, I often reach for a childhood favourite. The characters in Alice can’t help but make you smile – even the not so nice ones. You’ll be grinning like a Cheshire Cat by the end of it.
Get it here.
8. Chocolat by Joanne Harris
In a similar vein to The Enchanted April, Chocolat effortlessly sweeps you away to another place – this time, to the south of France where Vianne is winning villagers’ hearts with her mystical chocolate-making skills. The tastes and smells burst from the page and you will finish the book with a warm heart and smiling eyes.
Get it here.
9. Becoming by Michelle Obama
What is there to say about this one? Michelle Obama is an amazing woman, and her life story is equally as amazing. You will find this inspiring, and hopefully it will encourage you to get out and achieve those things you thought you couldn’t.
Get it here.
10. The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith
Another laugh out loud funny book. This is the diary of Mr Pooter, a pompous and self-important man who experiences embarrassment after embarrassment. This light-hearted will leave you smiling for days.
Get it here.
Do you have any recommendations of great, uplifting reads? Leave them in the comments!
You might also be interested in:
Top 10 Non-Fiction Books To Expand Your Mind
Top 10 Books Of 2020 (So Far…)
These Novel Thoughts 
Such a lovely list of really uplifting reads! I think I’ve read all of them apart from „Enchanting April”- as it appears in such great company, I think I must add it to my reading list 🙂
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Ooh yes do read it – if you liked the others you will love The Enchanted April too!
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