Did you know that reading can help reduce stress, tackle sleep issues, lower blood pressure and heart rate? We love reading at Brown Paper Packages, so much so that we’re starting our own wellbeing book club! Keep an eye out for updates on our social media...
There’s no better feeling than curling up with a good book, getting immersed in the story and feeling like the characters are becoming your best friends. Here’s our list of the best feel good books out there, to give you hope, make you laugh and provide a safe literary space to escape to.
1. The Midnight Library - Matt Haig
In Matt Haig's latest novel, we meet Nora. A character who finds herself in a library. A library between life and death. Every book in this library provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. This book is hopeful and uplifting. It encourages the reader to be grateful for the life they have now and not the life they could have had.
2. Anxious People- Fredrik Backman
This is an wholesome comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.
3. Karamo - Karamo Brown
In this moving memoir, Queer Eye's Karamo reflects on every adversity he has overcome, as well as the lessons he's learned along the way. "It is only by exploring our difficulties and having the hard conversations—with ourselves and one another—that we are able to adjust our mind-sets, heal emotionally, and move forward to live our best lives."
4. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober- Catherine Gray
In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray discusses the normalisation of alcohol in society and talks to top scientists about why we drink and what it does to our brains and bodies. This book is an enlightening insight into what can be gained and not lost from a sober lifestyle.
5. Becoming – Michelle Obama
In her memoir, Michelle Obama chronicles the experiences that have shaped her- from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address.
Its an honest and witty account of victories and disappointments both public and private.
6. The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night Time - Mark Haddon
This novel is about Christopher, a 15 year old on the autism spectrum. Christopher loves lists, patterns and the truth. He hates the colours yellow and brown and being touched.
After discovering his neighbour's dog has been murdered, Christopher sets off on an adventure which will turn his whole world upside down.
7. Wonder - R.J. Palacio
Wonder tells the story of 5th grader Auggie who starts at a new school. Auggie wants nothing more than to to fit in- but his new classmates can't get past his extraordinary face. The novel is told from different perspectives and encourages the reader to think about what it means to be kind, empathetic, accepting and compassionate.
Auggie is a hero for our modern world, and one who "proves you can't blend in when you were born to stand out."
8. Love in Colour: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold - Bolu Babalola
In Love in Colour, Bolu Babalola retells the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology with intricate detail in her debut collection.
Babalola focuses on magical folktales from West Africa, as well as reimagining iconic Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from countries that no longer exist in our world.
Why not create your own book gift box by heading over to our build a box section, and review our latest wellbeing book titles. Click here
Let us know what you've been reading recently by tagging us @brownpaperpackagesuk and remember to keep an eye out on social media for book club updates!
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