Positive Recommendations!

I asked my Bookstagram followers to send me either a trope/genre they like for me to recommend them something or their own recommendations! Ultimately, the goal of this is to give some recommendations of cheery, positive books to read during this stressful time! Of course, some of these recs may not be 100% cheery, but I’ll warn you when those come. For the most part, though, I aim to deliver happiness and joy 🙂

My Recommendations:

friends to lovers

I recommend Solitaire by Alice Oseman (look at me recommending something that’s not Radio Silence), Hearstopper by Alice Oseman (either the FREE webcomic on tumblr/tapas or the print graphic novel!), or The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater!

hate to love

I recommend The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie (pirates!) or The Diviners by Libba Bray (1920s paranormal fantasy, with some absolutely wonderful romances, one of which is the cutest hate to love you’ll ever see). 

found family

If you haven’t read the All for the Game Trilogy by Nora Sakavic or The Raven Cycle, I’m not sure what you’re doing. But if you have, I also recommend, again, The Diviners, The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (heist fantasy in the vein of Six of Crows, but better if you ask me), and And I Darken by Kiersten White (historical retelling of Vlad the Impaler!). 

(my one comment on these is that while positive in the end, these all have some sadness! All for the Game is not a trilogy to take lightly btw and a list of trigger warnings can be found on Nora Sakavic’s blog—the best would be The Diviners, which while dark at times, is the lightest of the ones listed!)

fake dating

I wish I had more recs to give for this, but if you haven’t read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, 100% recommend it, even if I do find the film to be better (oops). It’s not as good, but I recently read Roomies by Christina Lauren, and at least that was fun! 

AND, if you’re not in the mood for a book, I recently rewatched The Proposal and fell head over heels in love with it all over again. It’s about a couple getting fake-married to prevent the main character from getting deported. 

Others Recommendations:

I can’t attest to all of these, but of the ones I can:

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: One of the most remarkable books I’ve ever read. Highkey considering rereading it right now. It makes me so happy!!!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han: This whole trilogy is absolutely adorable. I also recommend the films if you just want something cute and fun to take your mind off things! The movie is my go-to happy thing when I’m sad 🙂

Others recommend:

On the Fence by Kasie West

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Throw Like a Girl by Sarah Henning

My New Crush Gave to Me by Shani Petroff

(all of these are romance novels, I believe, which should be fun!)

Thank you all for your recs! I appreciate everyone chipping in to help with this little positive blog post! Stay safe and healthy, folks! Practice social distancing so we can help others! And for the love of God, please wash your hands like you’re Macbeth’s wife and you just killed a man. 

-Book Hugger