Great *plot-driven* comfort reads/ listens

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Legends and Lattes

The description reminds me of a series I enjoyed a while back, Tea Princess Chronicles, by Casey Blair.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5SCWGW8?binding=kindle_edition&ref_=ast_author_bsi

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

I loved this book!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Connie Willis, eg to say nothing of the dog

This is my go to!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Connie Willis, eg to say nothing of the dog

This is my go to!

Such a great comfort read. If I’m having trouble falling asleep I fall asleep to this.

[Anonymous]

I’m all about audiobooks, too.

I loved The Second Ending, by Michelle Hoffman. The main character is a 48 year old married empty-nester who is zany and smart in a way that I loved. Story has depth (nice focus on music) but is still a fast, plot-driven read. Reminded me of Where’d You Go, Bernadette in some ways.

Speaking of which, I LOVED Today Will Be Different, by Maria Semple. I listened on audio and at times laughed so hard I cried actual tears. Eleanor Flood, Timby, Bucky, Alonzo - seriously funny characters. I wish Semple would write more books!!

I don’t usually do romance novels, but I really liked both of Elissa Sussman’s books. Funny You Should Ask is the more popular one, I think. Once More With Feeling was also good. Light and plot-driven, but with more depth than many other I’ve tried (and given up on) in the genre.

[Anonymous]

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (#2 is out, too)

Lulu Dean's Little Library of Banned Books

Maybe not a total comfort read but an audiobook I recently enjoyed:

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are ok with sci fi then Becky Chambers— start with a long way to a strange angry planet

This is great advice.

Similarly if you’re at all happy in the fantasy genre, the Goblin Emperor but I suggest the audiobook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Connie Willis, eg to say nothing of the dog

To Say Nothing of the Dog is light but boy, some of her books are definitely not. Doomsday Book is one of the saddest books I've ever read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are ok with sci fi then Becky Chambers— start with a long way to a strange angry planet

I love Becky Chambers, but her books really aren't plot driven. Long Way to a Small Angry Planet has more plot, but the two sequels, particularly the third, are more meditations than plots. Same with Monk and Robot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are ok with sci fi then Becky Chambers— start with a long way to a strange angry planet

I love Becky Chambers, but her books really aren't plot driven. Long Way to a Small Angry Planet has more plot, but the two sequels, particularly the third, are more meditations than plots. Same with Monk and Robot.

Her novella “to be taught, if fortunate” is absolutely plot driven, as well as short and quite painfully beautiful. So is Small Angry Planet, though you’re right the sequels vary in plot— I’d say the galaxy and the ground within has a lot of plot even though not a lot of action.

[Anonymous]

I am super sensitive and cannot handle any trauma but love a good story. Here are my recent favorites. All of these I LOVED, and had good stories and characters and are light but not fluff.

Fredrick Backman:
My Friends
Anxious people

How to age disgracefully
Wrong place wrong time
Slow dance
Listen for the lie
The good part
The second chance year
Nora goes off script
Just another missing person
Now is not the time to panic (GREAT)
How Lucky

Audio:
Daisy Jones and the Six (amazing on audiobook)
Tom Lake (Meryl Streep narrates!)

[Anonymous]

If you don’t mind Victorian novels, barchester towers has a wonderful audiobook version, is long (that’s a plus for me but j realize not for everyone) and is genuinely funny and interesting and super comforting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t generally listen to audiobooks, so I can’t comment on that, but I think you might enjoy these stories:

I think you’d like the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. Written during the Cold War, they’re about a grandmother who decides she wants more excitement in her life, so she goes to the CIA and volunteers as a spy.

For humor, I love these romcoms:

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I loved the Mrs. Pillowcase series as a late teen/early 20s. It’s really good!

Never see it mentioned these days so had to give this a +1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, here's the dilemma: The world is burning, I am holding on with my (pinky) fingernails, and I can't handle anything beyond "comfort" or escapist books. But. So often nothing really happens at all in the stories in this genre. They're, uh, boring, which is exactly what is unhelpful in these times.

Do folks have any good recs for "comfort" reads that at the same time are well-written and diverting? I guess I would define this as plot-driven stories, with good character development, but with a (relatively) happy ending (e.g. no horrific abuse or children in peril, etc.) In fantasy/sci-fi, I'd include T. Kingfisher books and the City of Brass series (S. A Chakraborty) in this category. In contemporary fiction, my recent recs would include Wedding People and Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I am happy with any genre, and am eyeing the "cozy mystery" genre--but am not especially intrigued by basic procedurals, so do not know where to start? (Something witty, well-written, and character-driven?)

Help, DCUM! Bonus points for good audiobooks (I still need to fold laundry as our civil rights are stripped!) I am more than happy to add my recs as I find them...

I recently enjoyed The Wedding People so here are my audiobook recommendations:

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez (rom com, she has lots of them, I just ignore the ones read by Julia Whelan because I can't stand her voice, and make sure you listen to the ones that are related in the right order)
Going Zero by Anthony McCarten (a group of people try to disappear off the grid to win money - definitely not the same genre as The Wedding People but an easy and entertaining listen)
The Unhoneymooners (this one was a bit more formulaic than normal but still good)
Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner (I like everything by her)
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict (different genre, historical fiction, but very good - same with The Paris Wife, which I read decades ago and still remember)
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (again, or anything by her)
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (not a rom com but I thought it was really good and the narration was great)
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn (more historical fiction, my other favorite by her is The Alice Network)
Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (I don't think this was heavy but I wouldn't call it super light either, just an amazing novel with great storytelling)
The Five-Star Weekend (or really anything by Elin Hilderbrand, they're all kind of the same)
Project Hail Mary (I am not a sci fi person but both my husband and I loved this one!)

I love audiobooks (I also read, but since you mentioned audiobooks I figured I'd send those) so let me know which ones you like and I can come up with more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t generally listen to audiobooks, so I can’t comment on that, but I think you might enjoy these stories:

I think you’d like the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman. Written during the Cold War, they’re about a grandmother who decides she wants more excitement in her life, so she goes to the CIA and volunteers as a spy.

For humor, I love these romcoms:

I’ve Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

I'd say pretty much everything by Sophie Kinsella.

Another author I like even more is Sophie Cousens.