Feel Good Fiction

New and recommended books with an uplifting message or an upbeat tone.

Updated October 6, 2025
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The language of food
Abbs, Annabel
Paper Book
'A sensual feast of a novel, written with elegance, beauty, charm and skill in a voice that is both lyrical and unique. The Language of Food is an intriguing story with characters that leap off the page and live, but what sets it apart from it's contemporaries is Abbs' outstanding prose' ...
Happy medium
Adler, Sarah
Paper Book
AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "The perfect alchemy of romance, humor and quirky originality."--Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year and The Good Part A clever con woman must convince a...
Good material
Alderton, Dolly
Paper Book
Every relationship has one beginning. This one has two endings. Andy loves Jen. Jen loved Andy. And he can't work out why she stopped. Now he is. . . 1. Without a home 2. Waiting for his stand-up career to take off 3. Wondering...
Chef's kiss : a novel
Alexander, T. J.
Paper Book
"Like a dish of comfort food you'll want to devour." --The Washington Post "It's hard to say which aspect of TJ Alexander's novel is sweeter: the slow-burn romance or the drool-worthy desserts." --Time A high-strung pastry chef's professional...
Other birds
Allen, Sarah Addison
Paper Book
The New York Times Bestseller From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes an enchanting tale of lost souls, lonely strangers, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home. Down a narrow alley in the small coastal town of...
Summers at the Saint
Andrews, Mary Kay
Paper Book
" Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. ... Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as "the Saint." If you grew up coming here, you were "a Saint." If you came from the...
The book haters' book club
Anthony, Gretchen
Paper Book
"This sparkling novel starts with high energy and unique characters that move from one surprise to another." --Ann Garvin, USA TODAY bestselling author  All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover... That was what Elliot--the beloved...
What you are looking for is in the library
Aoyama, Michiko
Paper Book
THE TWO-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING JAPANESE NOVEL The Top Ten Times bestseller A Time Magazine Book of the Year 'An undeniable page-turner' New York Times 'I ADORED this uplifting, hopeful novel ' Daily Mail 'It...
Legends & lattes : a novel of high fantasy and low stakes
Baldree, Travis
Paper Book
An Instant New York Times Bestseller A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2022 A Library Reads Pick An Indie Next Pick A Goodreads Best Fantasy Choice Award Nominee The much-beloved BookTok sensation, Travis Baldree's novel of high...
No two persons
Bauermeister, Erica
Paper Book
One book. Nine readers. Ten changed lives. New York Times bestselling author Erica Bauermeister's No Two Persons is "a gloriously original celebration of fiction, and the ways it deepens our lives." (--Nina de Gramont, New York Times bestselling author of The Christie...
Peg and Rose solve a murder
Berenson, Laurien
Paper Book
Murder, She Wrote meets The Golden Girls in the award-winning author's brand-new series! Two cantankerous septuagenarians, opposites in every way, put aside their differences to stop a killer... if they don't throttle each other first! Rose Donovan looks for the...
Libby Lost and Found : A Novel
Booth, Stephanie
Paper Book
Libby Lost and Found is a book for people who don't know who they are without the books they love. It's about the stories we tell ourselves and the chapters of our lives we regret. Most importantly, it's about the endings we write for ourselves. Meet Libby Weeks, author of...
The collected regrets of Clover
Brammer, Mikki
Paper Book
What's the point of giving someone a beautiful death if you can't give yourself a beautiful life? From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying...
Mastering the Art of French Murder : A Charming New Parisian Historical Mystery
Cambridge, Colleen
Paper Book
Fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Marie Benedict, Nita Prose, and of course, Julia Child, will adore this magnifique new mystery set in Paris and starring Julia Child's (fictional) best friend, confidante, and fellow American. From the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall, this...
We need no wings : a novel
Cardinal, Ann Da?vila
Paper Book
"We need more novels that deepen our understanding of these later stages of a woman's life and put wings of hope on our hearts. The book soars, her best so far, a transcendent read." --Julia Alvarez, internationally bestselling and award-winning author To be free, we must learn...
Hello stranger
Center, Katherine
Paper Book
The enchanted hacienda
Cervantes, J. C.
Paper Book
The other side of disappearing
Clayborn, Kate
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Georgie, All Along and Love Lettering, a pitch-perfect, radiantly transporting love story about an unexpected road trip, true crime obsessions, and hard won vulnerability..."Poignant, observant, tender, and deeply romantic. Clayborn takes what she...
Community Board : A Novel
Conklin, Tara
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics delivers a wise, timely, big-hearted novel of unplanned isolation and newly forged community. Where does one go, you might ask, when the world falls apart When the immutable facts of your life--the...
Just haven't met you yet
Cousens, Sophie
Paper Book
The stunning new love story from the bestselling author of This Time Next Year ''Impossible to put down'' CATHY BRAMLEY ''A sure-fire hit!'' LAURA JANE WILLIAMS ''Packed full of holiday sparkle'' JOSIE SILVER ______________________...
A grim reaper's guide to catching a killer
Dara, Maxie
Paper Book
Kathy Valence is forty-two, mid-divorce, and pregnant with her ex's baby. She's also a modern-day grim reaper employed by S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences), but frankly that's the easiest part of her life right now. Or at least it was, until her latest...
Birding with benefits
Dubb, Sarah T.
Paper Book
A divorcee embarks on her "year of yes" and crosses paths with a shy but sensitive birdwatcher who changes her life in this charming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Ali Hazelwood. Newly-divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure...
Emily Wilde's encyclopaedia of faeries
Fawcett, Heather
Paper Book
'A darkly gorgeous fantasy that sparkles with snow and magic, this book wholly enchanted me' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Enter the world of the hidden folk - and discover the most whimsical, enchanting and heart-warming tale...
This summer will be different
Fortune, Carley
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ∙ A glorious and tantalizing escape from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune. This summer they'll keep their promise. This summer they won't give into temptation. This summer will be different. ...
Lessons in chemistry
Garmus, Bonnie
Paper Book
THE FUNNY AND INSPIRING, MULTI-AWARD-WINNING BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD, now a major Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson A Book of the Year for- Guardian, Times, Sunday Times, New York Times, Good House Keeping, Woman & Home, Stylist, TLS Oprah...
Maame
George, Jessica
Paper Book
" Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman. It's fair to say that Maddie's life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie...
The making of another major motion picture masterpiece
Hanks, Tom
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER * AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * From the legendary actor and best-selling author: a novel about the making of a star-studded, multimillion-dollar superhero action film...and the humble comic books that inspired it. Funny, touching, and wonderfully thought...
The women a novel
Hannah, Kristin
Paper Book
"Women can be heroes, too." When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in...
Really good, actually
Heisey, Monica
Paper Book
THE NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER LONGLISTED FOR THE COMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE 2025 The Times Popular Fiction Book of the Year 'A heartbreaker of a book' THE TIMES 'Alarmingly relatable' MARIAN KEYES 'Hilarious and profound' DOLLY ALDERTON ...
Funny story
Henry, Emily.
Paper Book
FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR & GLOBAL TIK TOK SENSATION, EMILY HENRY 'One of my favourite authors' COLLEEN HOOVER, It Ends With Us 'Emily knows how to craft a love story like the all-time greats' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, Daisy Jones...
The secret book of Flora Lea
Henry, Patti Callahan
Paper Book
In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days...
The five-star weekend
Hilderbrand, Elin
Paper Book
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hotel Nantucket: After tragedy strikes, food blogger Hollis Shaw gathers four friends from different stages in her life to spend an unforgettable weekend on Nantucket. Hollis Shaw's life seems...
The prospects : a novel
Hoffman, KT
Paper Book
'Tenacious, sexy, effervescent, doggedly hopeful, and endlessly charming, with characters to root hard for and an irresistible voice - I completely adored it' Casey McQuiston, author of Red, White & Royal Blue 'Endearing and tender'<...
The Kamogawa food detectives
Kashiwai, Hisashi
Paper Book
" A bestseller in Japan, The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai is a celebration of good company and the power of a delicious meal. The Kamogawa Food Detectives, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is the first book in...
Love & other disasters
Kelly, Anita (Romance author)
Paper Book
The first openly nonbinary contestant on America's favourite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut! 'Sweet and sexy and wholly delicious. I'm head over heels for these two delightful disasters . . . Anita Kelly writes with...
The burnout a novel
Kinsella, Sophie
Paper Book
Tangled up in you
Lauren, Christina
Paper Book
My roommate is a vampire
Levine, Jenna
Paper Book
Two strangers. One apartment. Will it be love at first . . . bite? Cassie Greenberg needs a new place to live, and fast. When she finds an affordable apartment in a beautiful neighbourhood, she knows there must be a catch. Of course, her new roommate...
Same as it ever was
Lombardo, Claire
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * NAMED A BEST BOOK BY PEOPLE AND PARADE * The New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had ("wonderfully immersive...deliciously absorbing"--NPR) returns with another brilliantly observed family drama in which the...
Pony confidential
Lynch, Christina
Paper Book
Pony has been passed from owner to owner for longer than he can remember. Fed up, he busts out and goes on a cross-country mission to reunite with the only little girl he ever loved, Penny, who he was separated from and hasn't seen in years. Penny, now an adult, is living an ordinary life when she...
The booklover's library : a novel
Martin, Madeline
Paper Book
A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together. In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the...
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
McBride, James
Paper Book
In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the...
The no. 1 ladies' detective agency
McCall Smith, Alexander
Paper Book
The first book in the multi-million copy bestselling No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series The one where it all begins Mma Ramotswe is the proud proprietor of the finest ladies' detective agency in all Botswana (also the only one). She spends her...
Savvy Sheldon feels good as hell
McCoy, Taj
Paper Book
"This feel-good, uplifting read is filled with positive messages about self-care and self-love. It is sure to please foodies, home-makeover buffs, and anyone looking for a light-hearted romantic read." -USA Today   A sexy romance about a plus-size sweetheart...
Lula Dean's little library of banned books
Miller, Kirsten
Paper Book
'Clever and astute ... a cracking read' The Belfast Telegraph 'One by one, residents read the books and find their lives changed in unexpected ways' Hello Magazine * * * From the author of The Change, comes a novel about book banning and those brave enough to...
Summer Romance
Monaghan, Annabel.
Paper Book
'Summer Romance brims with heart, wit, and longing -- the signature ingredients of my favourite beach reads. Anything Annabel writes, I'm reading it' - Carley Fortune Benefits of a summer romance: it's always fun, always brief, and no one gets their...
Someone else's shoes
Moyes, Jojo
Paper Book
A story of mix-ups, mess-ups and making the most of second chances, this is the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else's shoes?
Sandwich
Newman, Catherine
Paper Book
Instant NEW YORK TIMES bestseller One of Barnes & Noble BEST BOOKS OF 2024 STYLIST Book of the Month- 'A gem' GUARDIAN Book of the Week- 'Wise and exquisitely written' ANN PATCHETT- 'Sandwich is joy in book form' ...
Sunshine nails a novel
Nguyen, Mai
Paper Book
Adam and Evie's Matchmaking Tour
Judge, Paramjit S.
Paper Book
'Cinematic, spicy and emotionally wise' Annabel Monaghan 'Contemporary Romance at its best' Sarah Adler 'Romantic, funny, tender, sexy' Meg Shaffer 'The perfect match for any Romance lover' Jamie Harrow A...
You Are Here
Nicholls, David.
Paper Book
A highlight for 2024 for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Independent, New Statesman, i, Observer, Grazia, GQ, Irish Times, Sunday Independent, Prima, Good Housekeeping'Magnificent' MARIAN KEYES'A beautiful book'...
The vulnerables
Nunez, Sigrid
Paper Book
'A sharp-eyed and tender novel about human connection' (PAULA HAWKINS) from the bestselling, National Book Award-winning author of The Friend'A must-read about unlikely friendships' SUNDAY TIMES STYLE'One of my favourite authors' NATALIE PORTMAN'A novel that truly,...
The mostly true story of Tanner & Louise
Oakley, Colleen
Paper Book
A Good Morning America Buzz Pick * A Marie Claire Book Club Pick for April * A Reader's Digest Book Club Pick for April * A LibraryReads Pick * One of Southern Living's Most Anticipated 2023 Releases * One of Today's Most Anticipated 2023 Releases An...
Killers of a certain age
Raybourn, Deanna
Paper Book
Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. But now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates their real-world...
The Paris novel
Reichl, Ruth
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A "mouthwatering" (The New York Times) adventure through the food, art, and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris--from the bestselling author of Save Me the Plums and Delicious! "An enchanting and irresistible feast . . . As with a...
Fifth Avenue glamour girl
Rosen, Renée
Paper Book
In New York City, you can disappear into the crowd. At least that's what Gloria Downing desperately hopes as she tries to reinvent herself after a devastating family scandal. She's ready for a total life makeover and a friend she can lean on - and into her path walks a young, idealistic woman named...
The celebrants
Rowley, Steven
Paper Book
New York Times Bestseller A TODAY Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick A Big Chill for our times, celebrating decades-long friendships and promises--especially to ourselves--by the bestselling and beloved author of The Guncle. It's been a...
West with giraffes
Rutledge, Lynda
Paper Book
"Few true friends have I known and two were giraffes . . ."
The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club a novel
Simonson, Helen
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER * "Historical fiction of the highest order . . . an absolute joy of a book, warm and romantic, and with so much to say about the lives of women in the years following World War I."--Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of Hello Beautiful A timeless...
Cassandra in reverse
Smale, Holly
Paper Book
Vera Wong's unsolicited advice for murderers
Sutanto, Jesse Q.
Paper Book
The sunset years of Agnes Sharp a murder mystery
Swann, Leonie
Paper Book
Sipsworth
Van Booy, Simon
Paper Book
Over the course of a single week, a woman who is ready to die finds an unexpected reason to live 'A gorgeously odd tale about finding yourself again, unexpectedly. If you want a little piece of joy in your reading life, buy it' Jojo Moyes 'Loaded with charm, resilience...
Remarkably bright creatures
Van Pelt, Shelby
Paper Book
**THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK OVER 60,000 5 STAR REVIEWS GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF 2022 GLAMOUR BEST BOOKS OF 2022 'Remarkably Bright...
The excitements a novel
Wray, C.J.
Paper Book
" A brilliant and witty drama about two brave female World War II veterans who survived the unthinkable without ever losing their killer instinct...or their joie de vivre. Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain's most treasured World War II veterans. Now in their...
Sylvia's second act
Yablon, Hillary
Paper Book
More days at the Morisaki Bookshop : a novel
Yagisawa, Satoshi
Paper Book
In this charming and emotionally resonant follow up to the internationally bestselling Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, Satoshi Yagisawa paints a poignant and thoughtful portrait of life, love, and how much books and bookstores mean to the people who love them. Set again in the beloved...

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