The reading lists / A little comfort
Comforting books do not always avoid sadness. Sometimes they make room for it, then offer company on the other side. These picks lean towards connection and hope, with notes about the heavier subjects so you can choose the right sort of comfort.
If you’re choosing one
Remarkably Bright Creatures is our first pick for an unlikely friendship with a hopeful outlook. A Man Called Ove and Anxious People bring community and humor; Before the Coffee Gets Cold offers reflection. Project Hail Mary is a more adventurous option for readers who find comfort in ingenuity and connection.
The hopeful reader
An unusual friendship makes a welcoming way into a story about loss and possibility.
An aquarium cleaner and a very observant octopus form an unlikely bond. A story about loneliness, family and what can still be found.
The reluctant softie
For readers who like their warmth hidden beneath a very grumpy exterior.
A rule-loving widower discovers that his neighbours have no intention of leaving him alone. For readers who like a prickly exterior and a generous heart.
A reflective train journey
A quiet choice for someone who wants to reflect, not rush.
A Tokyo café offers a brief journey through time, provided the coffee has not gone cold. Four encounters about the things people wish they had said.
The people watcher
For a reminder that strangers usually have more going on than you can see.
An unsuccessful bank robber interrupts an apartment viewing. The people inside turn out to be far more complicated than a hostage situation suggests.
The problem solver
For readers who find hope in solving a seemingly impossible problem.
A lone astronaut has a world-sized problem and very little to go on. A good match for readers who enjoy working things out alongside a character.
No. Several books here include grief, and A Man Called Ove and Anxious People include suicide-related themes. Read the individual notes when choosing for yourself or someone else.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is a natural next option for its later-life protagonist and unlikely connection. Anxious People offers another Fredrik Backman story with humor and compassion.
5 books / Gifts for him
For the man who says he needs nothing.
Explore the list5 books / A little romance
Chemistry you can feel through the page.
Explore the list
