Books to get lost in for a burnt-out brain

[natura]

I'm post-breakup, post-international move, physically exhausted, flooded with cortisol, perimenopausal, and both my heart and my brain feel utterly broken.

I want to get lost in a story that's engaging but not too demanding, easy but not vacuous...

Think Ann Patchett, Donna Tartt, Jodi Picoult, that kind of thing.

Anyone got any good suggestions?

I liked Demon Copperhead and anything Rebecca Yarros but especially Fourth Wing if you want some fantasy!

And sorry to hear about your break up OP.

The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard

i like Graham Norton's books

Sorry for your troubles ,hope things are on the up soon x

Lisa Jewell- The House we Grew Up In.

Barbara Kingsolver - The Poison wood Bible

Daphne Du Maurier- My Cousin Rachel also Rebecca

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles @natura and hope things improve for you soon. Your hunch that a good book or two wouldn't hurt is a good one.

As recommended by pp, Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel are both immersive enough to be easy to get into, but not fluffy or silly in any way.

It's many years since I read any of Mary Stewart's books, but I remember her being hard to put down. The Moonspinners and Wildfire at Midnight were both good reads.

If you haven't already discovered Jodi Taylor's The Chronicles of St Mary's, now might be the time. They are set in an institution devoted to the investigation of historical events in real time, which means they have to go to the Battle of Hastings, or the destruction of the library at Alexandria or wherever, in little travel pods. Nothing works properly, disaster lurks round every corner but somehow, aided by tea and biscuits (they are very British) they get through it.

I totally agree with the St Mary's recommendation-they are fabulous escapism and v well written. In fact anything by Jodi Taylor is good-the Elizabeth Cage and the Frogmore farm books are great too.

Piranesi by Susannah Clarke. Will take you to another place. Dreamy, substantial but not vacuous. One of my favourite books.

All The Colours of the Dark, Chris Whitaker, kind of a literary thriller, really immersive writing, short chapters, I found myself looking forward to picking it up each day and thinking about the characters when going about my day!

The Whalebone Theatre - Joanna Quinn

Oh gosh these all sound fabulous, thank you so much. And lots here that I'd never even heard of, which is always a delight.

Funnily enough I have a brand-new copy of Rebecca on my bookshelf that I'd completely forgotten about, so maybe I'll start there – but after a dig around online there are now a whole bunch on my list to follow on with!

And thank you for your well-wishes, @Tortielady and @Newmum738. It's a shitty old time just now, and I know it will pass – just have to wade through the impact of the blast for a while and try to step as softly as I can...

My friends and I are currently reading it and we are all obsessed, the tv hasnt had a look in since i started it. Definitely one to get lost in

If you like Jodi Picoult, Diane Chamberlain is worth a try.
Also Dorothy Koomson and Marion Keyes. How about The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCoullough (not sure if I’ve spelt that correctly), Maeve Binchey’s Light A Penny Candle or Gone With The Wind?
Or reading/re-reading children’s fiction can be very comforting. Maybe something like the Little House On The Prairie?

You may not want romantic fiction in the circumstances, but Georgette Heyer is light and witty and there is often more going on than just the romance.

I’ve just finished Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield - which I chose deliberately as an escape from both life and the modern world. It was really enjoyable and just what I needed.

The Strike books. Completely immersive.

South Riding by Winifred Holtby
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark
Mr Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo
The Observations by Jane Harris
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Old Baggage by Lissa Evans

If you like spy stories, try Len Deighton - there’s a great series of nine books, first one is called Berlin Game. Really good, gripping, well-written.

I so agree with this. If you haven’t read anything by Jodi Taylor before, I envy you if you click with her. You’ve got so much to catch up on.

I adored the Frogmorton series, completely different to the brilliant St Mary’s Chronicles and the protagonist in that, Max, is completely different to the protagonist, Elizabeth Cage, in a different series. In fact I am currently listening to a narration of the latest audiobook in the series, Bad Moon, and loving it. All written by Jodi.

I’ve recently discovered another prolific writer, Ellie Griffiths and loving the Ruth McDonald books (a forensic archaeologist)

I do think escaping into a brilliant, well-written but not heavy book will really help so well done and good luck with everything

Thanks for the recommendation!

For escapism I enjoy a thriller - love Ann Cleeves, for instance.

Hope you're feeling better .

My suggestions -
The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho, both by Pip Williams. Absolutely charming books.

Agree with @Abracadabra12345 's recommendation for the Elly Griffiths novels. Light, engaging and you wind up caring about the characters!

Sorry you’re having a tough time - books are an amazing way to give your brain a rest for a while.

I’m on holiday at the moment and have just read a few easy to read and good books.

All the colours of the dark (Chris Whittaker) as mentioned already. Short chapters which is great when the brain is burnt out - it was my first book and allowed me to decompress from work.

My friends (Fredrik Backman) - loved this so much. Easy to read and get fully absorbed into.

Night Road (Kristin Hannah). This book had me sobbing throughout and I loved it. It had a different feel to the other Hannah books I’ve read but I loved it all the same. It reminded me of Jodi Picoult so if you like her books, this would be a great choice.

Also picked up Jojo Moyes’s Someone Else’s Shoes from the hotel “library” and, while not my usual type of book, it was an enjoyable and easy summer read that I finished in a day.