I find Emma Straub to be good for that sort of well written light reading.

So funny-- I also snubbed my nose at Emily Henry, but her latest "Book People" is SO good! We must have similar taste because I also hate Jodi Picoult

I really like Jennifer Weiner's books. Not all have resonated, but these have:

1) In Her Shoes
2) The Summer Place (takes place during the pandemic)

And, you could also check Elin Hildenbrand

The great believers by Rebecca Makkai
The measure by Nikki Erlick (or the midnight library by Matt haig but they have enough similarities that you should space them out)

Oldie but goodie: fried green tomatoes at the whistle stop Cafe by Fannie flagg

Anonymous wrote:Would Liane Moriarty fit somewhere in between Emily Henry and literary fiction? I thought Big Little Lies was like that, but that's the only one I've read.

I think so but don't read all of her stuff at once--it starts to feel formulaic.

Early Morning Riser
Hello Beautiful

Would Liane Moriarty fit somewhere in between Emily Henry and literary fiction? I thought Big Little Lies was like that, but that's the only one I've read.

Elin Hilderbrand writes good popular fiction (I hate Piccoult and Hannah too).

Oldie but goodie: The Nanny Diaries.

Ann Leary"a The Good House and The Children are great.

J. Courtney Sullivan writes popular fiction that is well written, good stories.

If you're heading toward the menopausal period of life - two books I really enjoyed were The Change and Killers of a Certain Age. I think I got both those recs from DCUM actually.

Have you read all the oldies like The Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones, Crazy Rich Asians, etc? If not you have a whole heap of fun reading ahead of you!

Also, check out Emily Henry's other books - I have read several and liked them all.

Anonymous wrote:Did you like the romance of Funny Story? I loved Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. It's a trilogy actually.

Nora Goes Off Script - another romance.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - historical fiction

The Giver of Stars - historical fiction

I was just going to recommend Abby Jimenez books! She also has a pair of books and a single standalone book.

Another recommendation along those lines is Sophie Cousens. In Five Years was my favorite but I've read everything by her.

Did you like the romance of Funny Story? I loved Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez. It's a trilogy actually.

Nora Goes Off Script - another romance.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - historical fiction

The Giver of Stars - historical fiction

Book friends, for so many years I've read mostly literary fiction. And then a friend loaned me 2 popular fiction books, and I enjoyed them so, so much. One was Emily Henry's "Funny Story" and the other was a book call Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen.

The writing was good, and it was refreshing to just have a good story to get lost in.

So my request is... please, what are maybe 3 other books like this to try reading?

I do want good writing, and for whatever reason I hate Kristin Hannah and Jodi Piccoult, mostly because I think they're trying to be literary fiction but aren't good enough to be.

Thanks for any suggestions!