Books To Curl Up With When You Need To Escape The Horrors

A lot of the people in my network have been talking about how difficult they’re finding it to stay focused amid ::gestures around broadly:: well, everything. And while I don’t advocate for simply tuning out and ignoring everything that’s going on in the world, I am a massive proponent of temporary escapes. For some this might be reality TV or listening to a podcast. But for me it’s always been reading. I love reading all kinds of books (really), but the vast majority of my reading list generally consists of escapist fiction — murder mysteries, crime thrillers, rom-coms, and beach books. 

Lucky for you, this means I’m perfectly poised to offer some easy, enjoyable recommendations when you just want to float away in a cloud of someone else’s life. Without further ado, here are five books you’ll love when you’re looking for a little mental getaway: 

1. Rom-Com: Unlikely Story by Ali Rosen

I know I already recommended this in a recent newsletter, but when your friend writes a novel you simply have to celebrate her at every possible turn! If you loved You’ve Got Mail you will adore this fun and easy romantic comedy. Ali is a chef (she first got into writing via cookbooks!) so all of her books are imbued with delicious morsels as plot points — and, bonus! recipes at the end inspired by the story itself. I wish I didn’t live alone because I would be baking the black and white cookies as we speak if I wasn’t afraid I’d eat the entire batch myself in one sitting. Unlike the protagonist in this story, Nora, who generously gifts her baked goods to her best friends. Nora is a relationship therapist who never prioritizes herself, and wonders if falling in love with the faceless man who edits her weekly column is just another sign that her own personal life is doomed. When the ex-boyfriend of a former client moves in downstairs and makes it clear that he blames Nora for his breakup, she can’t believe her own bad luck. Follow Nora as she figures out how to stand up for her own needs, hopefully finding true love in the process. 

2. Murder Mystery (Light): Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson

If you enjoy a murder mystery but maybe don’t want the “I’ll leave the light on” vibes right now, this is the perfect pick for you. It’s got all the twists and turns of your usual murder mystery, delivered under the guise of comedic genius (which makes sense, as the author Benjamin Stevenson is a stand-up comedian). We meet Ernest Cunningham, an author who writes “how to write murder mystery” guides, as he finds himself caught in the middle of a real-life murder. He hilariously appoints himself ad hoc detective, using his murder mystery “rules” to unmask the flesh-and-blood killer in his midst. I read this entire novel with a smile on my face, as Stevenson’s clever writing carried me through the story with constant entertainment. And lucky for you, there’s even a sequel out already! Of course I always recommend you start with the first in a situation like this, but if you love it (which I’m sure you will), Everyone On This Train Is A Suspect awaits you next. 

3. Fun Beach Read: I Didn’t Know I Needed This by Eli Rallo

I’m generally not a non-fiction girlie, but Eli Rallo’s “new rules for flirting, feeling, and finding yourself” is a delightful missive from a twenty-something that women of any age will enjoy and feel inspired by. As someone nearly ten years Rallo’s senior, I still found her stories about life and love throughout her formative years incredibly relatable. And I was drawn to her openness and honesty more than anything — a quality that I continue to work on into my thirties and thus admire endlessly when I see it in others. Rallo weaves her experiences into a narrative that outlines the hard lessons she learned as a young woman with an open heart. And now that she’s into her twenties and engaged (!!!), I eagerly await her next chapter, which I hear she’ll be releasing later this year. Congrats Eli, you have another fan rooting for you from afar xx

4. Romance: Forever the Highlands by Samantha Young

Want something a little heavier on the romance? I got you. The latest installment of Samantha Young’s Highland Series was recently released, and it’s just as delicious as the rest of them — so naturally I’m going to recommend them all ;-) This contemporary romance series takes place in the Scottish highlands, so it serves up beautiful scenery alongside its swoon-worthy story. Each novel showcases a strong woman finding her sexy match, usually in the form of a big, burly, masculine, and caring Scot (kilt sold separately). These books are actually a continuation of Young’s Adair Series which is how I originally got hooked, so if you’re looking for a full-on binge go ahead and start there. But in this final installment we’re reintroduced to Fyfe Moray, a friend of the Adair family and tech genius, as he grapples with his feelings for his brother’s best friend Eilidh (I dare you to pronounce that properly without Young’s help). Anyone who’s ever had a forbidden crush (guilty 🙋‍♀️) will adore this love story, and I can genuinely recommend every single book in both of these series for anyone looking for some quality, passion-filled escape. 

Want to start from the beginning? This is the very first first…thank me later. 

5. Crime Thriller: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston 

As an avid thriller reader, it genuinely thrills me (see what I did there?) when I see women excelling in a genre that is still very much dominated by men. And Ashley Elston’s debut adult novel does not disappoint. My personal preference is to keep as much as possible under wraps when I open a new thriller, so I’m going to give you as little info as possible about this story other than to tell you that it goes beyond the usual tropes of a domestic thriller and kept me guessing about where it would go next. It includes questions about the true identity of the protagonist alongside the prototypical shadowy figure pulling the strings (there has to be some of the expected, right?). I love that Reese’s Book Club recommended this one and as an avid lover of this genre I co-sign the choice. 

6. Mystery Romance: The Witness by Nora Roberts 

Oh, you didn’t know this genre was a thing? Thank me later, because it’s actually my favorite and I invite any therapists in the audience to break down what this means about my pathology. You probably know Nora Roberts as one of the matriarchs of the romance genre, but what you might not know is that she also writes crime novels under the pen name J.D. Robb — a reminder that women are still always searching for unique ways to get ahead in a man’s world. Given her varied skill set, it’s no surprise that when she meshes these two genres together she does it with expertise that keeps you hooked while also making your heart melt. 

I’m going to recommend one of the first ones I ever read in this crossover genre — one that I still consistently come back to when I’m looking for something fun and familiar (yes, I’m a re-reader too). Despite being published more than a decade ago, I still find myself connecting with Elizabeth Fitch when we meet her as a teenager, rebelling against her stoic mother for the first time at the age of sixteen. Her seemingly typical rebellion takes a horrifying turn when she witnesses a gruesome murder and is forced to flee. When Elizabeth finally meets someone who might actually protect her, will she be able to accept his help — and his love? Read it and find out.