Just need something undemanding to read in the middle of the night!

[NeedingEasyReading]

Have NC for this as going through a tough time. I'm not sleeping very well and reaching for my Kindle in the middle of the night before I nod off again.

My usual crime and psychological thrillers aren't doing it for me at the moment sadly. Amazon is full of 'you read this so here's more of the same'.

Does anyone have any recommendations for really easy reading that doesn't require much brainpower at 3am? I'd be happy with cheesy 'girl inherits a café in Cornwall and gets it together with the local author' or 'divorced woman holidays in Italy and decides to buy a bookshop' type things as long as they aren't really badly written. My guilty pleasure is Danielle Steel (if only all problems could be solved with a cashmere sweater and pair of slacks!) but I've run out of those.

Any suggestions of books/authors would be appreciated.

Louise Bagshawe
Jane Green

I know you said ‘not’ badly written but I quite like MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth or Agatha Raisin series - they’re not well written but there is comfort in returning to them.

or actual Agatha Christie!

Surely Maeve Binchy and Rosamund Pilcher.

I read lots of free trashy romance on my kindle when I was going through this.
Some of it was dire but some quite entertaining.
I even got into some paranormal romance (vampires and werewolves)
They were all fairly forgettable so I can't recommend anything in particular I'm afraid but at least it won't cost anything.

Losers club series.

Lisa Jewell writes really good books. They are well written & clever but not overly complicated. Though some of them are very addictive and you won't want to go to sleep!

I was going to say the same. Totally brilliant. Especially the spoils of time trilogy.

I absolutely love the Cornish murder mysteries. I forget the author but for example one is called the Cornish Wedding murder...or something along those lines.

Bit more gritty James Patterson has a series which goes up in numbers...first one is called 1st to Die. As I said these are more gritty but the chapters are really short so I find them easy to read!

Some fab recommendations here! I'd add Jane Fallon to the list for some really fab fun chick lit - My Sweet Revenge is a particular favourite of mine. Five French Hens by Judy Leigh is also great - I've not read any of her other stuff but imagine it would also be good!

'If ever there was a girl with the wrong name, it was Prudence...'

The Outlander series
A Discovery of Witches series
I capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
Early Jilly Cooper, her more recent stuff just doesn't cut it for me.

Eva Ibbotson !

Caro Fraser the Caper Court series of books. They are about goings-on in a lawyers office.

How about Lissa Evans? I've recently read Small Bomb at Dimperley which would definitely fit the bill, I liked her Crooked Heart etc series too.

I was just about to post this. I'm having a shit time with work and anxiety at the moment and dug up some of my Mum's Marvel Binchy's from the 90s. Then found a load more on Kindle Unlimited. Even when there's some problem or peril you know it will probably be ok in the end somehow. Especially if the protagonist is living in Dublin 4

I was just about to suggest these exact same authors! ☺️

Ooh and actually Mrs Tim of the Regiment by DE Stevenson; similar vein to Provincial Lady; fictional diaries.

She also wrote Miss Buncle's book which is on my to be read pile - that's supposed to be a lovely book.

Do you do audiobooks? I like to drift off to an Agatha Christie narrated by Hugh Fraser.

The Perveen Mistry books set in 1921 Bombay (Mumbai) are excellent; author is Sujata Massey.

The Bangalore Detectives Club books are lighter but cute and interesting.

Don't forget the Agatha Raisin books; mindless but fun.

Totally agree. Audible lets you set a timer; I set it for 30 minutes and am generally asleep before it shuts off.

Beth Moran
Jessica Redland
Beth Rain
Fiona Gibson
Portia Macintosh

All comfy easy reads

I like to listen to any audio book narrated by Stephen Fry. Very relaxing voice to fall asleep to

Sophie Ranald on kindle unlimited I didn't know they were linked though so jumped around in the order but they're very readable in my humble opinion

If you would rather listen to, rather than read, then I would also recommend the Nothing Much Happens podcast. I’ve got it on right now. 👍🏻

Danielle Steele
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Coleen McCullough
Elizabeth Howard
Miss Read

Are all worth a look too for easy reading