Self-Care Reading List: 7 Books To Read Right Now

Whether you’re looking for a memoir that can make you reflect or a clever rom-com that gives you all the feels, here’s a reading list to feed your soul. File this under “self-care.”
Reading Time: 6 minutes

We get it—there’s already so much to do, from working to sleeping enough to exercising and eating right and making time for the people we love and, of course, self-care. All this while navigating crazy traffic. Must we squeeze reading time into an already-packed schedule?

Hear us out: We’d argue that reading is self-care. Science says it’s good for your brain (increases vocabulary, gives your brain a workout so it stays sharp) and overall well-being (takes your mind away from stressful thoughts, helps you wind down before bed—better sleep!). Reading also increases empathy and, depending on what book you choose, can make you laugh, cry, think, or simply relax. As a bonus, audiobooks—they count—can make your daily commute much more bearable.

We’ve rounded up a stack of books to add to your TBR pile, no matter what your mood. There’s a memoir that will make you cackle and relate so hard; another that’ll leave you in tears. There are also books in the genres du jour (healing fiction and cozy mystery), a critically acclaimed one that explores the complexities of female friendships, an intelligent rom-com, and a romantasy novel that features hot cadets, snarky dragons, and sexy scenes that are more scorching than dragon fire. Hey, science says it’s good for your health.

All I Ever Wanted Was to Be Hot by Lucinda Price

Best for: those who feel like they’ve been on a diet all their lives

Lucinda Price (a.k.a. Froomes) is an Australian writer and comedian who came of age in the 00s—the era of Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, Extreme Makeover, and a reality show starring Playboy Bunnies. As the media fed her a steady diet of blonde hair, ski-slope noses, and impossibly taut bodies, she made it her mission in life to become as hot as she could be. She bleached and nipped and tucked, with all her efforts culminating in an eating disorder in her 20s. Now recovered, she opens up about her journey in this part-memoir, part-cultural commentary, interrogating unrealistic beauty standards and the price that women have to pay in pursuit of hotness. While it sounds super serious, Price writes with such raw honesty and humor that it feels like you’re having a smart—sometimes unhinged—conversation with your funniest friend.

Available on Kindle.

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

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Best for: those who’ve had their heart broken

Maggie Smith (the poet, not the actress) turned her lemons into lemonade—or, in this case, betrayal into a bestseller—with this memoir. The title is a line from her viral poem “Good Bones,” which catapulted her into fame and was, in a way, tied to the unraveling of her marriage. The book is an unflinching account of the grief, pain, and unanswered questions that came with her husband’s infidelity, and offers glimmers of hope for what comes after. Told in lyrical vignettes, it has short “chapters” that are sometimes just a couple of lines long. Thank Smith for giving readers lots of space in between chapters to wipe away their copious tears.

Available via Fully Booked and Amazon.

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld

Best for: those who are looking for a clever rom-com

Sally Milz is a comedy writer for a Saturday Night Live-esque show. When her goofy coworker starts dating a gorgeous actress, Sally writes a sketch commenting on how this can happen to funny but unremarkable-looking men—but would never ever happen if the roles were reversed. Then along comes Noah Brewster, a dreamy pop star (with substance!), and he seems to be interested in Sally. The biggest obstacle? It’s not Noah’s fame or the Covid-19 era the latter part of the book is set in; it’s Sally’s view of herself and her refusal to be vulnerable.

It’s comfortingly predictable and kilig in that rom-com way, with witty dialogue and smart observations. You’ll end up rooting for Sally, and maybe even start rooting for yourself—good things can happen to you, but maybe you need to let go of your hang-ups and get out of your own way.

Available via Fully Booked and Amazon.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Best for: those who are worried about getting older and becoming invisible

One of the latest popular genres is the “cozy mystery,” which typically features amateur sleuths in an intimate community. In this category, we have The Thursday Murder Club, a bestseller written by beloved British TV presenter Richard Osman. 

The author has said in interviews that brilliant people tend to become invisible as they get older—and he thought about how that could work to their advantage. He takes this idea and runs with it in this novel: His sleuths are four seniors living in an idyllic retirement village in Kent, England, and indeed they’re able to get away with things that more “visible” people can’t. They’re utterly endearing, and you’ll laugh out loud as you’re reminded of the lolos, lolas, titos, and titas in your life. And you might just see that getting older can be a lot more fun than you imagined it would be.

Available via Fully Booked and Amazon.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum

Best for: those who need something to soothe their frayed nerves

The New York Times recently published an article about “healing fiction,” a genre that’s been around in Japan and Korea for ages but that has taken the world by storm only in recent years. These gentle reads feel like a warm hug, shielding you from the chaos of everyday life.

Fitting right into this genre is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop. Here, a burnt-out woman abandons her seemingly ideal life, which has all the markers of “success”: a husband and a thriving career in Seoul. Her next step? Opening her dream bookshop in a quiet neighborhood away from the frenetic city. Though she struggles in the beginning, she ultimately shows that you have the power to turn the page and start your story anew.

Available via Fully Booked.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Best for: those who are looking for something literary

Female friendships are curious and complicated. You can be each other’s biggest cheerleader while also being the fiercest rivals. My Brilliant Friend details such a friendship between Elena (Lenù) and Raffaella (Lina/Lila), set against the backdrop of a poor neighborhood in Naples in the 1950s. The two girls dazzle their teachers with their brilliance and potential, but due to differences in the friends’ circumstances, their paths diverge. (This is the first book of the Neapolitan Novels.)

The New York Times declared this the number one book of the 21st century, saying that reading “this uncompromising, unforgettable novel is like riding a bike on gravel: It’s gritty and slippery and nerve-racking, all at the same time.” That the author writes under a pseudonym and remains unknown adds to its appeal.

Available via Fully Booked.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Best for: those who want to escape to a fantasy world with bickering dragons and a sexy, brooding male lead

Winner of the Readers’ Favorite Romantasy (romance + fantasy) category on Goodreads, Fourth Wing is the first book in The Empyrean series. It follows Violet Sorrengail who, on the orders of the commanding general (i.e., her mother), is plucked out of scribe school and plunked down into the world of dragon riders-in-training. As if war college wasn’t brutal enough, she also has to deal with the ruthless wingleader Xander Riorson, who has a bone to pick with Violet’s mother—and is more than happy to take it out on Violet.

Is it derivative? Yes. Is it profound? Not really. But is it fun? Absolutely! With its snarky dragons, simmering sexual tension, and fast-paced storytelling, you’ll race through this book, and then run to get the sequel.

Availabe via Fully Booked and Amazon.

For more book recommendations, follow the author’s bookstagram account @go_and_get_booked.

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