Feel-Good Novels to Lift Your Spirits Before the Year Ends
By: Tina M
Tags: Book Review, Book Recommendations, Authors, Books, Novel

Let’s be honest: 2020 has been nobody’s year.

With a pandemic ravaging every corner of the globe, now more than ever, people around the world are seeking avenues of solace: of quiet comfort and sweet escape. Fortunately for book-lovers, slipping away from the bonds of reality is a thing we’re pretty familiar with, for what better way to find that proverbial escape hatch than by flipping through the pages of a beautiful new book?

While there’s certainly no dearth of information on Christmas tales and religious advent books, Christmas-themed novels may not necessarily be everyone’s cup of tea — but ending the year on a positive note most certainly is. If you’re looking for a list of feel-good novels that, while lacking in Christmas themes, certainly make up for it in feels, you’ve come to the right place!

Without further ado, here’s a list of heartwarming novels that are sure to pull you out of a reading slump, gently wash away the aches and grime of the real world, and grant you a moment of beautiful respite.

1. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

“Change often starts with the smallest of whispers. Like-minded people building it up to a roar.”

Image source: www.bookishsanta.com

Caseworker Linus Baker of the Department in Charge of Magical Youths (DICOMY) is a quiet, fastidious, middle-aged man who lives with his cat and a collection of old records. His work at the DICOMY involves investigating orphanages that house magical children and ensuring the wellbeing of these wards. If there is one thing that’s clear from the outset, it’s that Linus Baker does his job with unflinching solemnity: he is serious, solitary, knows every word of the Department’s Rules and Regulations by heart, and is the complete antithesis of what has now become the cookie-cutter mould for (chiefly YA) fantasy protagonists. However, when Linus is unexpectedly assigned a classified case involving an island orphanage that houses some of the most dangerous children in existence, he must make a choice that could very well decide the fate of the world. And thus begins a series of events that will take readers on what can only be described as a uniquely spiritual journey; one that will leave your heart simultaneously aching yet full to the brim.

The House in the Cerulean Sea has been hailed as one of the best new novels of 2020, and the praise is justified. Every character has been crafted with such careful thought, every relationship burns with aching authenticity, and the world itself is so compelling that you can’t help but be swept right in. And while The House in the Cerulean Sea has a number of strong suits, it is the characters that will linger in your heart and mind for weeks to come. From a group of endearing yet hilarious children to the vividly authentic voices of queer and middle-aged protagonists, beautifully crafted backstories, and characters who are allowed to simply exist as opposed to subsist as placeholders for tropes, T.J. Klune has created something truly special.

If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits, fill you with hope and give you all the feels this winter, The House in the Cerulean Sea could very well be the book for you!

2. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

“A person was like a city. You couldn’t let a few less desirable parts put you off the whole. There may be bits you don’t like, a few dodgy side streets and suburbs, but the good stuff makes it worthwhile.”

Who hasn’t wished, even for a fleeting moment, that they could go back in time and undo past mistakes? Retrace those hasty footsteps and choose a different path? The premise of Matt Haig’s 2020 bestseller, The Midnight Library, hinges on this tempting possibility.

When 35-year-old Nora Seed tries to end her life, rather than have her grief, loneliness and crippling self-doubt end with the numb release of the afterlife, she finds herself in a library that lies beyond the edge of the universe, nestled in the space between life and death. Each book in this mysterious, infinite library contains a different version of Nora’s life: which one will she choose, and which path will ultimately lead her to happiness and fulfilment?

Matt Haig has made no secret of the mental health issues that have plagued him all his life. In many ways, his personal struggles have enabled him to create a truly unique masterpiece that offers hope and solace to those of us who are battling similar demons, serving as a reminder to find beauty and kindness in each new day. Aside from Nora’s journey and the sheer elegance of Haig’s storytelling, the novel is especially memorable for its incorporation of varied themes and motifs. In The Midnight Library, sci-fi twirls beside fantasy, skimming along the solid marble foundation of philosophy in an almost self-aware sort of way, yet without once breaking narrative stride.

The Midnight Library is simultaneously heartbreaking yet brimming with warmth, transporting readers to a magical library and a world of hope, healing, survival and self-love. If you’re looking for a new novel that will uplift you without any frills, definitely consider adding this to your reading list!

3. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

“When I was your age, television was called books.”

Image source: www.amazon.in

Although it’s very likely that you’ve already read this classic, no list about beautiful, magical, feel-good novels could possibly be complete without William Goldman’s 1973 novel, The Princess Bride. Written as an abridgement to the fictional S. Morgenstern’s classic tale, the story is told as an embellished “good parts” version of Morgenstern’s pre-existing tale (in essence, it is an abridged version of a book that doesn’t exist).

Often described as “the coolest fairytale in existence”, The Princess Bride is more than just a fantasy romance or adventurous romp through a Renaissance-era world. This novel truly has it all — epic sword-fights, true love’s kiss, vengeance, loyalty, betrayal, humour, honour, monsters, miracles, and a precocious child who wanted a good bedtime story — and yet, it never once appears to be weighed down by this abundance of themes.

Some books are simply meant to be observed with quiet reverence; to be given the space to pull you in and fulfil a need you didn’t even know you had — but to analyse it, to study it, to break it down and explain the sum of its parts, could risk destroying the sanctity of its memory. Yet if one were to go the critical analysis route, one would notice the striking subtleties in Goldman’s prose; one would see, upon a few re-reads, how a book that is simultaneously about nothing and everything cleverly tackles issues of moral philosophy and the many shades of human ethics through satire and witty commentary. But given that no one wants to deconstruct one of the most beloved feel-good novels in existence (especially considering the sheer amount of misery we’ve already witnessed this year), all I’ll say is this: If you’ve been longing to re-read The Princess Bride, now’s as good a time as any!

4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

“Perhaps there is some secret sort of homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers. How delightful if that were true.”

As an editor, librarian, and voracious reader, Mary Ann Shaffer spent her life surrounded by literature. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was Shaffer’s attempt at fulfilling her lifelong dream of publishing a novel. Today, the book is hailed as a modern classic: a contemporary epistolary novel (one told entirely through letters) that transports readers back to 1946 Europe, weaving characters and backstories across London, Guernsey, and the unheard memories in between.

The story is fairly straightforward: British writer Juliet Ashton is struggling to emerge from the ashes of the Second World War and rebuild her life in post-war London. As she attempts to navigate the complexities of the ‘new normal’ of her life and career (in particular, deciding what to base her next novel on), she receives an unassuming letter from Mr. Dawsey Adams regarding an old book of hers. Mr. Adams is from Guernsey: a beautiful English Channel island off the coast of Normandy, recently liberated from Nazi occupation. Through a series of subsequent letters and telegrams, Juliet begins to correspond with other residents of Guernsey — all delightfully eccentric in their own right — and begins to learn about their wartime experiences, small acts of kindness that kept them human through Nazi occupation, and their peculiarly named literary society. Their heartwarming stories prompt Juliet to consider writing a novel about books that made people smile during the worst of times.

Written as a series of letters that positively teem with equal parts humour, heart and determination, this novel is a celebration of the power of the written word, highlighting its ability to lift readers through even the darkest of times. Be warned, however, that this book is as unflinching in its wartime recollections as it is in its charming humour. While they haven’t been presented in a gory, violent or even voyeuristic manner, the characters reference some heartbreaking details as if they were everyday happenstance — and they were. To survivors of World War II, the unceasing fear of air raids, food shortages, and even a lack of basic amenities such as soap and drinking water were everyday occurrences. Yet these descriptions possess both dark corners and rays of light. Little details such as Juliet’s joy at being able to purchase a new dress, breathe in clean air, or even travel by train with the curtains drawn back to appreciate the rolling hills outside, grant the story a sense of haunting authenticity. In fact, it’s almost impossible to be reading this book with a straight face — you’re either going to laugh out loud or sob away. Either way, this story will fill you with hope, gratitude, and a renewed desire to be kind to someone today. And that, in my opinion, is one of the best reasons to want to pick up a book.

Unfortunately, author Mary Ann Shaffer became terminally ill during the course of writing this manuscript, and she asked her niece, Annie Barrows (author of the children’s series Ivy and Bean, as well as The Magic Half) to help her complete the novel. Sadly, Shaffer passed away only a few months before her first novel was finally published, yet her legacy lives on through her work. Ten years after its publishing, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was adapted into a film starring Lily James (currently streaming on Netflix), and readers and writers — myself included — cannot stop recommending this novel to anyone in need of a simple but engaging new read.

5. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

“I implore you to be more open minded, hermano. If we close ourselves off to the possibilities that lie outside of what tradition has dictated, we are destined for extinction.”

Image source: www.goodreads.com

When his orthodox Latinx family refuses to accept his true gender, protagonist Yadriel sets out to prove himself by performing a secret brujo ceremony to release his cousin’s spirit. Unfortunately, he winds up accidentally summoning the wrong spirit: instead of finding the ghost of his murdered cousin, Yadriel ends up resurrecting resident bad boy, Julian Diaz — and this spirit has absolutely no intention of leaving. Left with little choice, Yadriel must now help Julian tie some loose ends, somehow convince him to leave, and try his hardest not to lose his heart in the process. Part coming-of-age quest for acceptance, part budding romance, this is the kind of book that will put the widest smile on your face, leaving you feeling whole and uplifted for hours to come.

Cemetery Boys is equal parts witty and delicate, painting some wonderfully authentic protagonists through believable, almost tender prose. It is thoughtful and heartfelt as well as fast-paced and intense, all at the same time — and I for one couldn’t help but fall in love with these characters. Author Aiden Thomas has tackled some deeply sensitive issues through beautiful characterisation and storytelling, acknowledging the heartbreaking realities of queer trauma, yet telling Yadriel’s story from a place of pure love and joy. Although the prose is decidedly YA for the most part, it is also delightfully quotable — from hilarious hijinks to poignant moments that will take you by surprise, Aiden Thomas has written some incredibly compelling dialogue.

In many ways, this novel is both a celebration of Latinx traditions as also a stark examination of latent transphobia; a truly original blend of culture and queerness that weaves a thoroughly captivating, honest story that will leave you sobbing in the best way possible. If you’re looking for a light yet empowering, own-voices story that centers on honouring your truth, definitely consider giving Cemetery Boys a read.

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”

Some books simply cannot be summarised; they resist all efforts at scrutiny, their beautiful contradictions laughing in the face of real-world analysis. The Night Circus is one such novel.

Featuring a non-linear narrative told through multiple viewpoints, Erin Morgenstern’s ‘The Night Circus’ is one of the most delightfully paradoxical novels in existence. While the dust jacket hints at a dark and deadly competition, interestingly, that isn’t even remotely what this book is actually about. And while there is indeed a love story, the crux of the tale is far from that of a fantasy romance. The only constant is the novel’s central setting — the mysterious Night Circus, or Le Cirque des Rêves — one that “arrives without warning” and is only open at night. Yet given the magical nature of this traveling circus, the story’s only anchoring element leaps through space and time, revealing secrets and backstories through elaborate, fantasia-imbibed prose and secondary worldbuilding.

The Night Circus has been described by many as “Harry Potter for adults”, and while I don’t disagree with this comparison, I do believe it must be pointed out that The Night Circus may not be everyone’s cup of tea. While some may revel in its vibrant peculiarities, others might find this approach heavy-handed or even frustrating. In essence, The Night Circus is a phantasmagorical fairytale strung through a kaleidoscope of colourful contradictions, wrapped in magical surrealism yet simultaneously steeped in reality. With prose that absolutely sparkles, this novel is beautiful, colourful, ethereal, enchanting, and could just be the otherworldly read you need to wrap your fingers around that figurative escape hatch. Love it or hate it, one thing’s for certain: this novel demands to be read. Is it the definitive feel-good read to lift you out of the doom and gloom of 2020? Well, I suppose you’ll have to read it to find out!

And there you have it: six unexpected, uplifting reads to help inject a little hope and magic into your day, keep you warm through a chilly Christmas, and welcome the New Year with a smile. From contemporary bestsellers to epistolary classics, surreal fantasy to budding romances, we hope this list had a little something for everyone!