Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
I was so happy when I saw this prompt, because I have been reading so many joyous books over the past few months! This is basically my list of happy comfort reads, and ones I’d recommend if you need cheering up or just want to enjoy all the happy and heartwarming vibes!
1. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
You all know this already. This book is my happy place! Queer fantasy that fanfictions the living heck out of fantasy school tropes. I am trash for Baz Pitch.
2. The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett
Tiffany makes me happy. Tiffany is who younger me wanted to be but hadn’t read Tiffany yet and didn’t realise that’s who she wanted to be. Now, whenever I need a pick-me-up, I head for a bit of Tiffany. There’s very little the Nac Mac Feegle and a frying pan can’t fix.
3. Running With Lions by Julian Winters
I’ve only just finished this, but it was SO CUTE. Queer romance set at a football training camp. These are two of my favourite things in the whole entire world and this whole book just made me smile so much.
4. Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu
Deaf witch and non-binary werewolf team up to save their village from supernatural shenanigans. Also, romance. Need I say more?!
5. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
I think we’re all very well versed in Heartstopper right now, but oh my goodness, each of these updates makes me grin like an absolute idiot. All of the cast are joyous, all of the feels are heartwarming, and all of this story is a hug in a book.
6. Under A Dancing Star by Laura Wood
This needs so much more love! It’s a Much Ado reworking that nods to the glorious Branagh/Thompson film while being entirely its own story. Set in 1930s Italy, Bea finds herself with her uncle, cousin, and a houseful of artists… including Benedick. She takes on the challenge of having a perfect summer romance - but refuses to fall in love. Shakespearian romantic hilarity ensues!
7. The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
This is a recent addition to this list! This tells the story of Nishat, who comes out to her parents and then starts crushing on Flavia… who just so happens to be her competition in the school business contest. It is sweet, heartfelt, the sibling relationship between Nishat and Priti felt so authentic, and homophobia and racism are dealt with sensitively within the story too. A real heartwarming novel!
8. Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Otherwise known affectionately by my friends as ‘the gay prince book’. Sass, snark, definitely plays around with the whole enemies to lovers trope (albeit it loosely) and somehow has a preposterous premise that I was in love with straight away? When I first read this, I raised my eyebrows at the whole Prince-falls-in-love-with-the-President’s-son but honestly, I didn’t care about how implausible it was because it is just so HAPPY. And we all need happy. (I’ve also re-read this more than almost any other book apart from maybe Carry On. Which is saying something.).
9. You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson
This is such a recent addition to this list, but honestly, I did not stop smiling the whole way through this! Liz is such a brilliant heroine, and you’re rooting for her the whole way through! Liz enters the Prom Queen competition for the prize, which will be enough money to see her through college after she fails to get the scholarship she needs. But entering the prom contest means Liz has to make herself known - and the first person who seems to notice her is the new girl, Mack…
10. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
This is a very recent read but it has shot up to one of my all-time favourite books. It’s a graphic novel about a hero, a villain, and the new sidekick - Nimona. There is sass, there are adventures, the whole book trolls the heck out of hero/villain tropes, and I adored EVERY SINGLE SECOND. I had to keep putting it down because I was so gleeful, and as soon as I finished I went right back to the beginning and started again. It’s everything I love in a story, plus amazing illustration. I can’t believe it took me so long to get to it!
What are your go-to comfort reads that make you smile?
