Gentle, relaxing reads but not silly and predictable?

[Thoushallnotbreak]

I'll admit that it has been over 7 years since I've had time to read a fiction book.

I'm looking for recommendations for books (preferably a series that I can into) that are gentle and relaxing reads without being chick-lit, silly and predictable stories.

I would love a new book

I enjoyed the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold fry. A bit unlikely (as per the title!) but well written and a nice easy read.

The Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson

I’m enjoying the caper court series, recommended on here

The Cazalet chronicles.

Well I do like a bill bryson for an easy read.

It’s not fiction, but I loved ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ by Helen Russell. It’s one of my go-to relaxing reads.

It may not be your cup of tea, but I find ‘Coming Home’ by Rosamunde Pilcher a very relaxing piece of fiction! It’s set in the thirties and forties and isn’t the most demanding, but I just find it warm and comforting, especially at this time of year.

Or there’s always Jilly Cooper - the earlier ones are my preference. Rivals is my favourite!

Seven sisters series by Lucinda Riley. Kate mosse and Kate Morton too. They are immersive , well written fiction books.

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn.

It is a real life account of her and her husband's walk around the South West Coast Path when they had been made bankrupt.

Totally beautiful prose, lovely relationship, quite moving at times. But utterly gentle throughout and with gorgeous vivid descriptions of sea and coastline and nature.

I'll recommend Maeve Binchy for gentle with some humour. Well observed characters and not all about everyone coupling up.

I like Stephen McCauley for this. American writer, not unlike Anne Tyler. Gentle, almost soapy but more complex with a dry wit. Lots of the characters are gay men but he writes good female characters too. Some of them are a bit too cynical for me but I loved The Object of My Affection, True Enough and the most recent one, My Ex Life.

I am currently reading Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club. It is a lovely read so far. Def not too taxing, and a gentle read.

Old baggage by Lisa evans is a lovely gentle read and set in the 1930s so a bit of a change of scene from current modern dramas

Agatha Christie fits the bill perfectly. Pure escapism but not silly or chick lit. And there are so many you could be reading on a day till you die :o

Just to clarify I love a bit of chick lit

The Chocolat Series - whimsical, a teeny touch of magic, but not silly IMO. There's four in the series.

Lockdown reading hits
The Familiars
Where the Crawdads Sing
Girl in the White Kimono

Nina Stibbe is a brilliant writer, funny and heartwarming and not at all saccharine.

It’s not a series but it’s nice and short so could be a good intro back into reading
Lanny by Max Porter

Marian Keyes for chick lit with depth.

Alexander McCall smith - all books.

Chick lit with a twist- Lucy Dawson

@Spudlet

It’s not fiction, but I loved ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ by Helen Russell. It’s one of my go-to relaxing reads.

It may not be your cup of tea, but I find ‘Coming Home’ by Rosamunde Pilcher a very relaxing piece of fiction! It’s set in the thirties and forties and isn’t the most demanding, but I just find it warm and comforting, especially at this time of year.

Or there’s always Jilly Cooper - the earlier ones are my preference. Rivals is my favourite!

I’m re-reading Rivals now, it’s her best for sure! It’s my go to comfort read.

Rosamunde pilchers Shell seekers. Such a lovely gentle read, I read it at least once a year.

I originally only downloaded this book onto my kindle as it was In 99p sale. But I absolutely loved it - it’s main character is a hen, but don’t let that put you off. It’s such a great story, of parenthood, dreams, identity, courage selflessness
I’ve now bought a hard copy as I enjoyed it so much.

www.goodreads.com/book/show/17707648-the-hen-who-dreamed-she-could-fly

Definitely The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Lovely, warm and funny but also very definitely not chick lit. Gorgeous setting too.