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Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Books that are balm for the soul

56 replies

flatsevenup · 20/02/2026 17:08

Currently reading Mark Boyle’s book, called The way home, Tales from a life without technology, and I honestly can’t remember how long it it is since I read a book so soothing and comforting. Think also a Year in Provence and Simple Abundance, a day book of comfort and joy. Please recommend me books that you have read that made you feel all is well in the world.

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Chociceicles · 16/03/2026 17:22

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 16/03/2026 15:04

I felt the same about The Salt Path - turns out I wasn’t alone!

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Me too!

Sorry to derail the positive intentions of the thread though...

Beechtrees19 · 16/03/2026 15:20

Chociceicles · 14/03/2026 21:01

I thought Wintering sounded great but then it turned out to a be smug un-self-aware irritant that just made me feel worse!

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I loved it.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 16/03/2026 15:04

Chociceicles · 14/03/2026 21:01

I thought Wintering sounded great but then it turned out to a be smug un-self-aware irritant that just made me feel worse!

Show quote history

I felt the same about The Salt Path - turns out I wasn’t alone!

bringmelaughter · 14/03/2026 22:47

The midnight library by Matt haig. Even better listening to Carey Mulligan reading it as an audiobook. I return to it time and again whenever I need soothing.

NamechangeRugby · 14/03/2026 22:43

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/03/2026 18:22

Tuesdays With Mortie - Mitch Albom

I also re-read Danny Champion of the World every few years.

Oh yes, both. Also

Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom.

I reread it, think I may have cried a little bit each time and yet... shifted my perspective on life just a nudge to be incredibly comforting.

Chociceicles · 14/03/2026 21:01

honeyfox · 24/02/2026 21:21

Anything by Katherine May, Wintering and Enchantment are lovely.

I thought Wintering sounded great but then it turned out to a be smug un-self-aware irritant that just made me feel worse!

KeyLimeCake · 14/03/2026 21:00

NamechangeRugby · 24/02/2026 22:35

Leonard and Hungry Paul, by Ronan Hessian

Wonderful read - I knew it would be on a thread like this.

BunfightBetty · 14/03/2026 20:59

Agree with many of these. Also, I sometimes reach for a Maeve Binchy when I need some comfort. They’re in no way taxing, but they’re full of heart and I find they can restore my faith that, by and large, most human beings have so much good in them.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/03/2026 20:52

The Adrian Mole diaries

canuckup · 14/03/2026 20:30

James Herriot

CharlesPetrescu · 14/03/2026 20:18

Crampton Hodnet by Barbara Pym and Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield- both are gently comic novels set in a bygone era

SheilaFentiman · 14/03/2026 20:16

Noshadelamp · 14/03/2026 17:30

Most recent beautiful book I read was The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier.

Love this too

efeslight · 14/03/2026 19:59

Raising Hare, about a woman who lives in the countryside and looks after a baby hare

highlandponymummy · 14/03/2026 19:34

The James Herriot books

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 14/03/2026 18:22

Tuesdays With Mortie - Mitch Albom

I also re-read Danny Champion of the World every few years.

MrsFionaCharming · 14/03/2026 18:10

Tea By The Nursery Fire by Noel Streatfield

NamechangeRugby · 14/03/2026 18:04

ExBert80 · 14/03/2026 17:33

Sigh, more books to add to my kindle…reaches for my debit card…

You might get a lot of these for free on whatever library app they have near you (if in the UK)

ExBert80 · 14/03/2026 17:33

Sigh, more books to add to my kindle…reaches for my debit card…

Noshadelamp · 14/03/2026 17:30

Most recent beautiful book I read was The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier.

leporello · 14/03/2026 17:22

Anne of Green Gables, Wodehouse, Jane Eyre and anything by Jane Gardam but especially Bilgewater and A Long Way From Verona.

BuffaloCauliflower · 14/03/2026 16:54

EmmaStone · 24/02/2026 22:19

I felt like that after reading Still Life by Sarah Winman.

I opened the thread to recommend this book too. I feel like it changed me a bit. Can’t wait to forget it enough to read it again (I’m rarely a re-reader)

WinterFrogs · 14/03/2026 16:51

LuckyPeonies · 24/02/2026 22:34

Anything by ‘Miss Read’. Village Diary, the Fairacre and Thrush Green series, Tyler’s Row, etc. They are gentle, soothing, and humorous, just lovely.

I have been reading these this year and I agree with you completely! I'm currently on Village Diary

ScrollingLeaves · 09/03/2026 23:38

Thank you for this lovely thread.

MrsW9 · 09/03/2026 23:37

I've just seen that I've written almost exactly the same as another poster. It truly is a wonderful book.

I also love 'A Month in the Country' by J.L. Carr. Its emotional range is subtle amd complex, so it's not simply the feeling that all is right with the world, but there is something very healing about it.

MrsW9 · 09/03/2026 23:31

The Summer Book, Tove Jansson. Wonderful.

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