Something lovely please

[Backingvocals]

I’m in a reading rut. Please help. I need something compelling, not stressful (no thrillers), a reasonable amount of literary merit (nothing with one of those wishy washy covers or anything that’s described as “a tale of life, love and chocolate” or similar - I’m trying not to say no chick lit as I hate that phrase but really that’s what I mean).

I have loved Poisonwood Bible, The Signature of All Things, lots of Dickens ....I guess these are plot and character driven. I quite enjoyed the Essex Serpent. Wanted to love Golden Hill but not sure I’ve got the stamina for it right now (lots of life stress).
Anything you can recommend that I can fall in love with?

I really wanted to like the shardlake series but found it really boring.

Vinegar girl isn't great but it couldn't be easier to read

Yes Gilead is really lovely, but it is and you have to be prepared for a meandering, thoughtful read.

Shardlake are just easy to knock chapters off and are quite enjoyable - they are my idea of a beach read, reasonably intelligent and well researched but not taxing at all.

I loved Where’d You Go Bernadette, smart and funny and quite like Elinor Oliphant.

I loved Rush Oh by Shirley Barrett as well, comic, romantic, historical, bittersweet but not sentimental.

I second the previous recommendation of Ann Patchett's and Maria Semple's books.

Ordinary Grace by Willuam Kent Kreuger is a wonderful novel.

William.

The Keeper Of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan is lovely!

And I meant to say Gilead is slow, not leave you hanging there!

Already mentioned but Keeper of Lost Things and All the Light You Cannot See are Boyle lovely books. Easy reading but not drivel. Loved both.

Both not Boyle... Don’t know where that came from!!

Another vote for Elinor Oliphant.

I keep recommending The Night Circus on these threads. About time for me to reread it, I think.

Ooh i have The Night Circus. Not read it yet. Thank you for reminding me!