Uplifting but not Twee book needed

[BaconAndAvocado]

My friend is coming out of hospital after major surgery and I'm in the process of making her a goody bag.

She loves reading and I'd like to get her a book with no harrowing storylines but still positive.
Nothing too cloying or overly sentimental.
Literary but not heavy.

But if a tall order!
Any suggestions?

Flowers for Mrs Harris (filmed as Mrs Harris goes to Paris), Paul Gallico

The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennet

Any Barbara Pym. Witty and well written.

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce - my favourite book of 2022. Not one I'd have picked up but it was our book club book and I adored it.

' Can you keep a secret?' , by Sophie Kinsella. Funny, caring, feel good and one of the best books I've ever read.🤗🤗🤗

I was also going to suggest Barbara Pym. Excellent Women is exactly the sort of book I’d want to read while convalescing.

I just finished The Carer by Deborah Moggach and I think it fits the bill. First time I’ve been able to read 100 pages without getting distracted too.

The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. It's a movie now, but the book is terrific, very well written, and the story is incredibly engaging (and uplifting, though it has its sad and poignant places).

If she likes historical novels, the Aubrey and Maturin novels are fabulous - the Master and Commander film with Russell Crowe is based on these. I love them!

Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession might fit the bill.

I came onto the thread to say this!

Just ordered the beetle one-thank you!
Hope your friend gets well soon OP x

You lot are my kind of readers! I loved Miss Benson's Beetle as well. I also like Aubrey and Maturin. I'll check out some of the other suggestions here for sure!

A Gentleman in Moscow, or indeed any other book by Amor Towles .

That is a funny one. My favourite book of hers is Can I have your number? It's one I go back to as I really love it. Light hearted, funny and a lovely story.

Dear Mrs Bird is uplifting.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. It’s uplifting, funny, quirky, and not twee.

I found that quite harrowing without spoiling it tho it was original and non-cloying I'd agree

PG Wodehouse always lifts me up and is far too witty to be considered twee.

I add my vote for Wodehouse. Evelyn Waugh is also hilarious, especially Decline and Fall and The Sword of Honour.

Aldous Huxley: Chrome Yellow

Kipling’s Kim is a wonderful novel - full of colour and life and vivid characters.

E M Forster: A Room with a View

George Orwell: Coming up for Air

I’ve always found Virginia Woolf’s Orlando weirdly uplifting, but maybe I’m odd.

And you can’t go wrong with Jane Austen.

It’s a travel book, but Fermor’s A Time of Gifts is my go-to when I feel low.

The Secret Countess or The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson. Or AJ Pearce's series - first one is Dear Mrs Bird. Heartwarming and gently funny with a tiny bit of jeopardy but you know how it will all work out in the end and you want to reread them immediately you've finished.

@tallsmallmum I saw Miss Benson's Beetle recommended on here as uplifting and ok I've only read the first chapter but I feel misled 😂

Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson - a beautiful book in the form of a father writing to his son.

Alexander McCall Smith - his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series for gentle good humour and a very different sense of place to wintry Britain.

@YouNeverCanTellWithBees ok so maybe parts of it aren’t uplifting in the traditional sense of the word! But the ending is, I think.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (and others by him)

The Maid by Nita Prose

Any book by Clare Chambers

The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

Thanks all.
Some brilliant suggestions, some of which I've read and loved.

In the end I bought Before the Coffee gets Cold.
The content and cover were appealing, as well as the length wh I can isn't too overpowering.

A Gentleman in Moscow is one of my all time favourites ❤️