Gentle, relaxing reads but not silly and predictable?

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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

The Big Stone Gap series ?
I love Precious Bane by Mary Webb it's so beautifully observed.

The Alphabet series by Sue Grafton, she doesnt get a lot of recognition in this country but her books are fabulous. Set in California in the 80s about a feisty female private detective. She really transports you there and her writing is wonderful, funny and irreverent, I'm just re-reading them at the moment. The series goes up to Y, she sadly died a few years ago before she could complete Z

Perhaps the Dandy Gilver series by Catriona McPherson. This is a cosy mystery series set in 1920's and 1930's Scotland. The main character is a mature woman who I wouldn't describe as silly and the books are easy to read but with some depth. They are best read in order. The first one is After the Armistice Ball.

Anything by Barbara Pym. Her observations of British manners, based around vicars, tea and academics are lovely.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.

The Agatha Raisin series by MC Beeton fits the bill perfectly!

Maeve Binchy - A Week in Winter or Lilac Bus

Anne Tyler - Back When We Were Grown Ups

jerrywesterby, I absolutely agree with you about Sue Grafton. There was a whole generation of American female crime writers in the 90s who seem to have slipped out of sight.

Along with Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, Jeri Howard, Nevada Barr, Jan Burke, Karen Kijewski, Dana Stabenow, Marcia Muller, Linda Barnes, all excellent writers with a strong feminist focus.

In the UK, a favourite of mine is Lauren Henderson’s Sam Jones series, which is witty and wicked. I’ve recently re-read the entire series; sadly, Lauren Henderson no longer writes crime. There’s also Gillian Linscott’s Nell Bray books, which are beautifully written.

Another American series I love is Jane Dentinger’s series of theatrically-based mystery novels. Beautifully written and elegant.

If crime isn’t your thing though, and I know I digressed, Madeleine St John’s Women in Black is excellent. Not lengthy and things turn out well for the women.

Elizabeth Gaskell' s Wives and Daughters is a really lovely book, I'm rereading it now and it's just so good. It's not an 'easy' read but it's not difficult either. It's immersion in the early Victorian age with a feminist edge.

I don't read chick lit (not disparaging it, lots of people enjoy it, but I just never find anything I can be bothered to spend my precious time on) and I can't get into Jilly Cooper at all (I know, that's sacrilegious to say on MN!).

If I want a cosy easy read I go for PG Wodehouse or Nancy Mitford. Love both, and can't believe I waited so long to read Mitford (thanks MN!). I also love Bill Bryson's travel books.

Or I read children's books- Chalet School, Swallows & Amazons, Moomins etc.

There's also a couple of lovely books for adults by Tove Jansson- The Summer Book and The Winter Book.

The Salt Path, and the Filigree Street books mentioned upthread are on my "To read" pile.

I found I couldn't read at all when my children were small- lack of sleep destroyed my concentration for several years. When I wanted to get back into it, then I found short stories a good way to build up my reading stamina again.

@Jux

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley.

And its sequel, The Lost Future of Pepperharrow.

Both available on audiobook, and beautifully read by an excellent narrator.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. Lovely, funny, gentle, ordered.

If you don't have much time to read, have you considered audiobooks? I like them very much. These are some I've enjoyed recently:
the Rotherweird trilogy,
The Help,
My Dear I Wanted to Tell You
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.
Circe by Madeline Miller is a new take on an old story.
Someone Like Me by Miles Kington is funny and good for listening in short chunks.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman is lovely.
If you're OK with urban fantasy, David Aaronovitch's Rivers of London series is brilliant, and well-read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (although his perky cockney girls are a bit grating).
If you like fantasy, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is good. Start with Equal Rites as an introduction to the witches or Guards! Guards! as an introduction to the City Watch, then if you like them you can start at the beginning with The Colour of Magic.

I've recently really enjoyed Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell and Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford - classic, gentle, entertaining, well written and definitely not the dreaded chick lit.

Yes cosmop Lovely books . I reread Jane Austen too, along with Claire Tomalin's biography , brilliant.

James Herriot books are on offer today on Kindle - lovely, gentle and easy to read.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, or any of his books about his youth on Corfu (was it Corfu?). They are delightful.

The Summer book by Tove Jansen. Absolutely lovely, not a 'dificult' read, but it will stick with you like a nice dream.

I also love Ali Smith's books and Kate Atkinson , life after life is my favourite of hers. Also Marianne Keyes, funny and human. Her best one is the brightest star in the Sky.

Oh, I can't remember what it was about now, but I remember having a very stressful/upsetting time and reading a James Herriot I found on a bookshelf at work in my breaktimes to keep myself distracted/calm. It absolutely did the job :)

Mary Wesley is great as well. Start with An Imaginative Experience.

Oh that’s my favourite Marian Keyes one too @Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket I raved about it to my mum but she didn’t like it. Rude.

I agree with a lot of these suggestions. I also love Lianne Moriarty, Kristin Hannah & Alison Lurie.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Ibbotson

I particularly enjoyed the Countess Below Stairs (the Secret Countess)

I'm currently working my way through Amanda Prowse books as most of them are 99p on kindle. I need easy gentle absorbing reads as real life is a bit of a teenage turmoil at the moment!
'The things I know' is my favourite so far.

I also highly recommend Mary Wesley as mentioned above.

I've just downloaded a Sue Grafton book (A is for Alibi) on Kindle based on these recommendations, they sound right up my street and I'd never heard of them before. Really looking forward to reading it.

Agree with so many of the suggestions. I also like Angela Thirkell's High Rising books, Josephine Tey, Dodie Smith, Fannie Flagg, Agatha Christie, Diary of a Provincial Lady... so many.

DancelikeEmmaGoldman Women in Black is great isn't it - lovely book. I enjoyed the film too.

I'm intrigued by the Jane Dentinger books now too!..

I read the James Herriot books years ago . I used to read them in my lunch break and often laugh out loud. I got all my workmates into reading them.

The Tales of the City series by Armistead Maupin is a really comfort read for me.