This Reddit thread shares the books people chose on their hardest days, and you might find your next favourite book here

Teary days and bouts of depression affect us all. Life is a tapestry of ups and downs, often leaving us longing for an escape. Strangers on the internet share this struggle, and while some have it harder than others, we find comfort in a simple truth: a good book can bring solace.

We stumbled upon a Reddit thread filled with recommendations perfect for those tough times. Books from various genres, not just humour, can unexpectedly lift our spirits. Engaging with beloved characters and their journeys allows us to momentarily drown out the noise of our surroundings.

So, if you're seeking a little light during a dark time, here are 17 excellent book recommendations to explore:

“Henderson The Rain King by Saul Bellow. The simple message of someone fumbling through life and looking for meaning really hit home for me when I read it. It may be time to re-read it.” –emburke12

“When I was in a very low place, I read P.S. Your Cat Is Dead by James Kirkwood and laughed SO hard. It helped tremendously.” –Jumpy_RocketCat_2726

“I read The Night Circus recently while I was very, very ill with bronchitis for about 5 weeks. It is inspiring in a magical way. It really helped me with the depression I was experiencing from being isolated and in pain by providing a really immersive, distracting world. It was like my brain got to go on a trip and I was completely disconnected from my own reality." –u/BrewskiBehb

“All the Bright Places is the book I read when I was going through my worst depressive episode. Even though it's super sad, it really showed me new perspectives of depression and what it's like. I don't know, I guess it was just reassuring that it's not just me. Also just a great read :)” –u/okayish_poet

“I struggle to feel my feelings so when I am having a hard time I like to read something that will make me feel bad rather than letting my feelings triumph when they overcome. The ones that come to mind are Judith McNaught paradise and jr ward lover awakened. Both have triggers (miscarriage and SA respectively). If you just want a happy upbeat romp Lyndsay Sands Love is Blind is a favourite” –u/Aspiegirl712

“The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison really helped me in the early days of the pandemic. It's about the ill-favoured fourth son of an emperor who suddenly rises to the throne after his father/older brothers are killed. Despite being ill-equipped for the job, he is determined to rule in a just, compassionate manner, even as he struggles with trauma and self-doubt. Just a really lovely, hopeful novel about the power (but also limits) of kindness, and what is possible when people in power lead with humility.” –u/literarylottie

“I like this recommendation. I would say if the OP wants to they can just start with The Handbook. The Enchiridion. Really try to think about what it means to not control everything but the things you can control are enough. I know when I went through a dark time it opened up what I had to focus on and gave me a lot of room to work on.” – u/tylercaulfield

“The Great Gatsby is one of my comfort books. Other comfort books for me (they’re kind of weird, so sorry if none of them work for you) are All Quiet on The Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brian The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (really anything by her) The Awakening by Kate Chopin” –u/SierraDL123

“If you like fantasy or horror, T. Kingfisher's books never fail to lift my mood. There's usually a romantic subplot, but nothing explicit. Her characters are interesting, the writing is witty, and the stories are so much fun. I tend to describe her books as creepy and cozy. Love her.” –u/RedBeardtongue

“The Little Prince always, always, always teaches me something new when I read it. It’s beautifully written and makes me feel better when I’m going through it.” –u/deleteduser

“East of Eden, grapes of wrath, cannery row, sweet Thursday, travels with charley. I read all of them in about 3 weeks after the death of a good friend and felt like i was being enveloped by a group of my best friends” –u/coke_gratis

“Just finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven. 5 stars. Loved it. It’s not really a “feel good” book, more of a “everything happens for a reason, you’re exactly where you need to be” book.” –uLongjumping-Coast-27

“Psalm For the Wild Built, by Becky Chambers. It’s sweet, gentle, and short. It tells a story about the friendship between a monk and a robot.” –u/smfu

“ I read "Reasons to stay alive" twice this year when I was feeling really bad and I love it so much. I also have The Comfort Book and The Midnight Library but reasons is my favourite because it's his journey with mental health” –u/deleteduser

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