Post written by contributor Karnam Vashisht
Books hold healing power. The minute you open its pages, you forget everything else in your life. All your troubles fade to the back of your head, and just for some time, you can truly rest and take a breath.
In the chaos of life, books are an anchor that keeps you calm. It is truly magical how much a good book can comfort you, can keep you sane. When things aren’t going exactly as planned, or when life isn’t being its kindest, it is books that we readers turn to. We try to find solace in them so that we can carry on.
Here’s a list of books that we think will make you a good companion the next time you need some emotional support.
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney is a book about friendships and trying to find your place in the world.
The book centres around two friends, Alice and Eileen, who found each other in college and quickly developed a deep friendship. The story is set a few years later, when Alice has moved away from Dublin. The two still communicated via emails, where they ruminate about the condition of the world, how all art is now commodified, and basically everything that is wrong with the world.
At the core of the novel is their love for each other and despite the characters being almost 30, it is still a coming-of-age story of sorts. It is Eileen trying to find a place in this world when all her life she has been treated as an inferior. It is Alice slowly getting back on her feet, finding her solace somewhere far from her friends. It is Simon, his unwavering faith and his desire to do better in this world. And it is Felix, with his callous attitude, yet a softness for the people around him. The characters are raw, flawed, and beautifully fleshed out. It is comfortable to read about these characters who are just as human, diffident, and in search of affection as us. In a world that is chaotic, tiring, and often lonesome, reading about these relationships brings forth a comfort that maybe we are not all truly alone.
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang
Sometimes the only thing that can comfort you is reading a book way past your bedtime. To consume a book page after page, breathe in the words, because you simply cannot stop. I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang does exactly that.
Sadie Wren is struggling, but she would rather swallow glass than admit it. She has to be perfect, all the time. However, Sadie’s emails, or more correctly, hate-mails to the other students, get anonymously leaked. The emails were her safe space. Her screech into the void because Ms. People Pleaser could not confront others to save her life. What follows is pages of pure entertainment, as Sadie tries to do damage control. But at the centre of it all is Julius, her nemesis, and probably the only person who isn’t surprised at receiving a hate email from Sadie.
This book is an academic rivals-to-lovers executed to perfection. But, like all of Ann Liang’s books, there is so much more than that. Sadie Wren is sinking; she needs help, and more importantly, she needs to breathe. But all her life, she has been so focused on being the best, on being the one who helps her family, that she has nothing left for herself. It is a story of being burnt out and still trying to find the spark. The book is beautiful, complex, and yet funny. The perfect book to read when all you want to do is think about someone else’s problems and forget about your own.
Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Enemies-to-lovers? Between the son of the American President and the Prince of England? Nothing screams comfort quite like this.
Made into a famous movie, Red, White, and Royal Blue is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. Characters that are incredibly lovable and humane this book is for everyone who is looking for a silver lining.
Alex is chaotic, messy, and has a heart that is on fire. Henry is definitely not the one for him. But the Henry he knows is not the real one, and the more time the two of them spend together, the more they realise how much they have in common. What blossoms is a beautiful friendship based on late night calls and text messages turn into hour long conversations.
Soon, Alex and Henry realise what they truly mean to each other, but some romances are more difficult than others. And the one between the First Son of America and a Prince is definitely one of them.
With a beautiful ensemble of characters, the book is rife with incidents that make your heart flutter and break. The email exchanges between Alex and Henry are so imperative and make the story so much more richer. Red, White, and Royal Blue is like a comforting cup of coffee, not the one that wakes you up, but the one that calms you down.
Not Here to Be Liked by Michelle Quach
A coming-of-age novel about a girl who has worked all her life for the spot of editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, and a guy who gets the spot simply because he is more likeable.
Not Here to Be Liked is a story about understanding what you want in life, and unearthing parts of yourself you didn’t even know existed. Eliza Quan is perfect. She works hard. She gets the good grades. She had all the qualities. So what if she’s a little assertive, a bit too serious. She has the talent, and at the end of the day that’s what matters. But apparently, it wasn’t enough. Len DiMartile, ex-jock, the one with the easy personality, is the one who gets the spot. What follows is Eliza spiralling into a mess of hate, anger, and disappointment.
Her frustration carries forward the momentum of the story as she cries about patriarchy and how she was denied her spot all because of her personality, but there is so much more than that. What Eliza doesn’t know is that soon she will be the leading face of a feminist movement in her school with the school asking her to team up with Lin, as a show of good nature and civility. Eliza’s life spirals further out of control as she realises that she might be falling for the face of patriarchy.
The book is light-hearted, and yet manages to touch on the subtility of being a feminist in this society. The casual incidents of Eliza being called a ‘fem-n*zi’ and being made fun of, might seem benign in the start, but what they showed were how people didn’t like a women with a voice. At the centre of it all is the blossoming romance between Eliza and Lin. The book is perfect when you want to have a good laugh and want characters to root for.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
An 18th century Englishman touring Europe with his best friend and sister before being forced to take over his family estate? Romantic tension? Hilarious commentary? The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is the perfect book when you are looking for some comfort.
Henry ‘Monty’ Montague is the epitome of spoiled brat. His devil-may-care attitude is nothing short of a pain. His best friend Percy is the only one who can get through to him. Probably because Monty has been crushing on Percy forever.
The book follows Monty, Percy, and Felicity, as the tour through Europe. The book is filled with grand events, beautiful writing, and hilarious dialogues. But behind the façade of his nature, Monty is fragile and afraid. When Percy’s medical condition comes to the front, he is forced to let go of his childish antics and step up. The book is deeply entertaining, and surprisingly intense. It is wonderful to see Monty’s character develop as he takes a step back and sees beyond himself. The friendship, and later the romance between him and Percy is soft and irresistible. Each character has something unique to offer to the story. The perfect read to brighten up a gloomy day.
Haven’t read many but I’d say any percy jackson or Cassandra clare book gives me comfort just cause I read em once and fell in love with the characters in a single read. Reading your article, it seems you love and understand these characters to the core~
I Hope This Doesn’t Find You by Ann Liang seems real fun. Would love to try Not here to be liked.