Now that winter has us firmly in her grasp, perhaps you are looking for a warm, cozy, feel-good read. Books with nothing dark or too scary, just heartwarming. Books that have characters you grow to love, despite, or perhaps because of, their sometimes quirky characteristics. Here are some books to warm your heart:
Books Good for Adults and Teens
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune- Given a curious classified assignment to evaluate the potential risks posed by six supernatural orphans, a case worker at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth bonds with an enigmatic caregiver who hides dangerous secrets. This book is an excellent choice for adults and teens. Also available as an eBook, a downloadable audiobook on Hoopla and Overdrive, and on Playaway.
Memoirs of an imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks- A creative tale imparted from the perspective of long-time imaginary friend, Budo, traces his awareness of his advancing age and constant thoughts of the inevitable day when 8-year-old Max, an autistic boy, will stop believing in him, a progression that is complicated by a teasing bully and Max’s abduction by an overly-possessive therapist. This is another great book for a parent and teen to share. Also available as a downloadable audiobook and on CD.
Second Chances
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin- When his most prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, is stolen, bookstore owner A.J. Fikry begins isolating himself from his friends, family, and associates before receiving a mysterious package that compels him to remake his life. Also available as a downloadable audiobook and an eBook.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick- Finding a mysterious charm bracelet among his late wife’s possessions, sixty-nine-year-old Arthur Pepper breaks from his routine life for the first time since her death and embarks on a quest to learn about his wife’s life before their marriage, a journey that leads to unexpected self-discoveries. Also available in Large Print, a downloadable audiobook, and an eBook.
Found Family
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman- A socially awkward, routine-oriented loner teams up with a bumbling IT guy from her office to assist an elderly accident victim, forging a friendship that saves all three from lives of isolation and secret unhappiness. A celebration of friendship and connection. Also available as a downloadable audiobook and an eBook.
The Maid by Nita Prose- When she discovers the dead body of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black in his suite, charmingly eccentric hotel maid Molly Gray finds her orderly life upended as she becomes the prime suspect in the case and is caught in a web of deception that she has no idea how to unravel. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late? Also available as a downloadable audiobook and an eBook.
The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson- Confined to a nursing home and about to turn one hundred, Allan Karlsson, who has a larger-than-life back story as an explosives expert, climbs out of the window in his slippers and embarks on an unforgettable adventure involving thugs, a murderous elephant, and a very friendly hot dog stand operator. This is a delightful mash-up of A Man Called Ove and Forrest Gump. Also available as a downloadable audiobook and an eBook. You can also check out the movie version, the highest grossing Swedish film of all-time, on Hoopla. If you don’t know Swedish, no worries, there are English subtitles.
Offbeat Pairs
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt- After her husband dies, widow Tova Sullivan starts working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, where she forms a special bond with a giant Pacific octopus who holds the key solving the mysterious disappearance of her 18-year-old son, Erik, over thirty years ago on the Puget Sound. Also available as a downloadable audiobook and an eBook.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry- Agreeing to a holiday escape to the country, literary agent Nora keeps running into a bookish, hardheaded, arrogant editor she knows from Manhattan, and wishes she didn’t, even as she discovers they have more in common than previously thought. Books and an enemy to lovers romance, what could make a heart warmer. Also available in Large Print, a downloadable audiobook, and an eBook.
News of the World by Paulette Jiles- In the aftermath of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, an elderly widower and itinerant news reader, is offered fifty dollars to bring an orphan girl, who was kidnapped and raised by Kiowa raiders, from Wichita Falls back to her family in San Antonio. Available as a downloadable audiobook on Hoopla and Overdrive and an eBook, also available on both Hoopla and Overdrive. And be sure to check out the Oscar nominated DVD version starring Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel and Tom Astor.