I don’t know about you, but I could really use a break from… *gestures at everything*. That’s what inspired me to put together this list of books to read when you need a break from reality. Whether it’s transporting you to a fictional future where science has advanced beyond our wildest dreams, or reimagining the distant past to make it more magical, or simply tweaking the current reality to make it a bit more fun, these books will give you a break from whatever reality is getting you down right now.
The Martian by Andy Weir
Blurb: “Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there. After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first. But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. In The Martian, he draws on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and his relentless, dogged refusal to quit—to confront one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next.” Read my full review of The Martian here.
Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Blurb: “In the midst of the Napoleonic Wars in 1806, most people believe magic to have long since disappeared from England – until the reclusive Mr Norrell reveals his powers and becomes an overnight celebrity. Another practicing magician then emerges: the young and daring Jonathan Strange. He becomes Norrell’s pupil, and the two join forces in the war against France. But Strange is increasingly drawn to the wild, most perilous forms of magic, and he soon risks sacrificing his partnership with Norrell and everything else he holds dear. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is an utterly compelling epic tale of nineteenth-century England and the two magicians who, first as teacher and pupil and then as rivals, emerge to change its history.” Read my full review of Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell here.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Blurb: “It’s an ordinary Thursday morning for Arthur Dent… until his house gets demolished. The Earth follows shortly after to make way for a new hyperspace express route, and Arthur’s best friend has just announced that he’s an alien. After that, things get much, much worse. With just a towel, a small yellow fish, and a book, Arthur has to navigate through a very hostile universe in the company of a gang of unreliable aliens. Luckily the fish is quite good at languages. And the book is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy… which helpfully has the words DON’T PANIC inscribed in large, friendly letters on its cover.” Read my full review of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy here.
A Game Of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Blurb: “Sweeping from a harsh land of cold to a summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, A Game of Thrones tells a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens. Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; a child is lost in the twilight between life and death; and a determined woman undertakes a treacherous journey to protect all she holds dear. Amid plots and counter-plots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, allies and enemies, the fate of the Starks hangs perilously in the balance, as each side endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.” Read my full review of A Game Of Thrones here.
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel
Blurb: “It is fifteen years after a flu pandemic wiped out most of the world’s population. Kirsten is an actress with the Traveling Symphony, a small troupe moving over the gutted landscape, performing Shakespeare and music for scattered communities of survivors. But when they arrive in the outpost of St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who digs graves for anyone who dares to leave. Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.”
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Blurb: “Henry DeTamble is a dashing, adventurous librarian who travels involuntarily through time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. Clare Abshire is an artist whose life moves through a natural sequential course. The Time Traveler’s Wife is the celebrated and timeless tale of their love. Henry and Clare’s passionate affair is built and endures across a sea of time and captures them in an impossibly romantic trap that tests the strength of fate and basks in the bonds of love.” Read my full review of The Time Traveler’s Wife here.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Blurb: “Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an Outlander—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in the year 1743. Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens her life, and may shatter her heart. Marooned amid danger, passion, and violence, Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.” Read my full review of Outlander here.
Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Blurb: “Original, experimental, and unparalleled in their charm, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass have enchanted readers for generations. The topsy-turvy dream worlds of Wonderland and the Looking-Glass realm are full of the unexpected: A baby turns into a pig, time stands still at a “mad” tea-party, and a chaotic game of chess turns seven-year-old Alice into a queen. These unforgettable tales—filled with sparkling wordplay and unbridled imagination—balance joyous nonsense with poignant moments of longing for the lost innocence of childhood.” Read my full review of Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland here.
Her Body And Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Blurb: “A wife refuses her husband’s entreaties to remove the green ribbon from around her neck. A woman recounts her sexual encounters as a plague slowly consumes humanity. A salesclerk in a mall makes a horrifying discovery within the seams of the store’s prom dresses. One woman’s surgery-induced weight loss results in an unwanted houseguest. Earthy and otherworldly, antic and sexy, queer and caustic, comic and deadly serious, Her Body and Other Parties swings from horrific violence to the most exquisite sentiment. In their explosive originality, these stories enlarge the possibilities of contemporary fiction.” Read my full review of Her Body And Other Parties here.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Blurb: “A pilot crashes in the Sahara Desert and encounters a strange young boy who calls himself the Little Prince. The Little Prince has traveled there from his home on a lonely, distant asteroid with a single rose. The story that follows is a beautiful and at times heartbreaking meditation on human nature and the wisdom of the heart. The Little Prince is one of the best-selling and most translated books of all time, a classic fable universally cherished by children and adults alike.” Read my full review of The Little Prince here.
The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project by Lenore Appelhans
Blurb: “In The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project, Riley lives in TropeTown, where everyone plays stock roles in novels. Riley, himself a Manic Pixie Dream Boy, is sent to group therapy after going off-script. Riley knows that breaking the rules again could get him terminated, yet he feels there must be more to life than recycling the same clichés for readers’ entertainment. Then he meets Zelda, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl (Geek Chic subtype), and falls head over heels in love. Zelda’s in therapy too, along with several other Manic Pixies. But TropeTown has a dark secret, and if Riley and his fellow Manic Pixies don’t get to the bottom of it, they may all be terminated.” Read my full review of The Manic Pixie Dream Boy Improvement Project here.
Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
Blurb: “Lolly Willowes, always so gentle and accommodating, suddenly announces that she is moving, alone, to the countryside. To her overbearing family in London, it is a disturbing and inexplicable act of defiance. But Lolly will not be swayed, and in the depths of the English countryside she gradually discovers not only freedom and independence, but also, unexpectedly, her true vocation: witchcraft.” Read my full review of Lolly Willowes here.
Mythos by Stephen Fry
Blurb: “In Mythos, the ancient stories of the Greek gods are brought thrillingly to life by one of the great storytellers of our time. Beloved writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry retells the legendary myths of ancient Greece with warmth, humor, and extraordinary narrative flair, introducing readers to the dazzling world of gods, titans, and heroes. Fry’s retellings balance faithful respect for the original myths with a modern voice that makes these ancient stories feel immediate, vivid, and irresistibly entertaining. His distinctive wit and curiosity illuminate both the humor and the darker complexities of the myths, offering fresh insight into stories that have shaped art, literature, and culture for thousands of years.” Read my full review of Mythos here.
Nothing To See Here by Kevin Wilson
Blurb: “Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, in Nothing To See Here, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth.” Read my full review of Nothing To See Here here.
Pride And Prejudice And Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Blurb: “Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is an audacious retelling of English literature’s most enduring novel. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she’s soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield. It’s the perfect read for literature lovers, zombie fans, and anyone who loves a reanimated Austen.” Read my full review of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies here.
Reputation by Lex Croucher
Blurb: “Abandoned by her parents, bookish and sheltered Georgiana Ellers is spending the summer with her stodgy aunt and uncle at their home in the English countryside. At a particularly dull party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy member of the in-crowd who delights Georgiana with her disregard for so-called “polite society.” Lonely and vulnerable, Georgiana quickly falls in with Frances and her wealthy, wild, and deeply improper friends, who introduce her to the upper echelons of Regency aristocracy, and a world of drunken debauchery, frivolous spending, and mysterious young men. Set against a backdrop of lavish parties, handsome men on horseback––and in a time when one’s Reputation was everything––this edgy, hilarious romantic comedy explores sex, consent, belonging, and status.” Read my full review of Reputation here.
The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Blurb: “The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a breathlessly addictive mystery that follows one man’s race to find a killer, with an astonishing time-turning twist that means nothing and no one are quite what they seem. Aiden Bishop knows the rules. Evelyn Hardcastle will die every day until he can identify her killer and break the cycle. But every time the day begins again, Aiden wakes up in the body of a different guest at Blackheath Manor. And some of his hosts are more helpful than others. With a locked-room mystery that Agatha Christie would envy, Stuart Turton unfurls a breakneck novel of intrigue and suspense.” Read my full review of The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle here.
That Time I Got Drunk And Yeeted A Love Potion At A Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming
Blurb: “Brie’s never been particularly coordinated… or lucky. Who else would accidentally throw a drink at someone’s head only to miss entirely and hit a stranger behind them? And who else would have that stranger fall madly in love with them because it turns out that the drink she threw was a love potion? Yeah, probably just Brie… Running her cheese business and dealing with a pirate ship full of demons that just moved into town was hard enough. Now on top of it, in That Time I Got Drunk And Yeeted A Love Potion At A Werewolf, she has to convince a werewolf that she’s not really his fated mate. Though even she’s got to admit… having a gorgeous man show up and do all her chores while telling her she’s beautiful isn’t the worst thing to happen to a girl.” Read my full review of That Time I Got Drunk And Yeeted A Love Potion At A Werewolf here.
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
Blurb: “Jay Gardiner has given himself a fool’s errand—to find the remains of his deceased father in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Monastery Beach. The dive begins well enough, but the sudden appearance of a giant squid puts Jay in very real jeopardy, made infinitely worse by the arrival of a sperm whale looking to feed. Suddenly, Jay is caught in the squid’s tentacles and drawn into the whale’s mouth where he is pulled into the first of its four stomachs. He quickly realizes he has only one hour before his oxygen tanks run out—one hour to defeat his demons and escape the belly of a whale. Suspenseful and cinematic, Whalefall is a thriller about a young man who has given up on life, only to find a reason to live in the most dangerous and unlikely of places.” Read my full review of Whalefall here.
Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender
Blurb: “Aimee Bender’s Willful Creatures conjures a fantastical world in which authentic love blooms. This is a place where a boy with keys for fingers is a hero, a woman’s children are potatoes, and a little boy with an iron for a head is born to a family of pumpkin heads. With her singular mix of surrealism, musical prose, and keenly felt emotion, Bender once again proves herself to be a masterful chronicler of the human condition.” Read my full review of Willful Creatures here.
An Ancient Witch’s Guide To Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward
Blurb: “Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and a sprinkle of magic.” Read my full review of An Ancient Witch’s Guide To Modern Dating here.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
Blurb: “All Reyna and Kianthe want is to open a bookshop that serves tea. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters… all complemented by love and good company. Thing is, Reyna works as one of the Queen’s private guards, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives isn’t so easy. But after an assassin takes Reyna hostage, she decides she’s thoroughly done risking her life for a self-centered queen. Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea is a cozy tale of mishaps, mysteries, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum.” Read my full review of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea here.
Chasing Odysseus by Sulari Gentill
Blurb: “The Herdsmen of Ida hold a sacred trust. It is they who have fed the citizens of Troy through all the years of the siege, via the tunnels beneath the citadel walls. Now Troy has fallen, and the Herdsmen are accused of betrayal. Desperate to free their people from the mark of treachery, weak-eyed Hero and her beloved brothers chase Odysseus, wily strategist of the Greeks, in search of the truth. But Chasing Odysseus is plagued with misfortune and peril, and it is through this that they must travel to confront the Sacker of Troy and reinstate the honor of the Herdsmen.” Read my full review of Chasing Odysseus here.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston
Blurb: “A disillusioned millennial ghostwriter who, quite literally, has some ghosts of her own, has to find her way back home in The Dead Romantics. For ten years, she’s run from the town that never understood her, and even though she misses the sound of a warm Southern night and her eccentric, loving family and their funeral parlor, she can’t bring herself to stay. Even with her father gone, it feels like nothing in this town has changed. And she hates it. Until she finds a ghost standing at the funeral parlor’s front door, just as broad and infuriatingly handsome as ever, and he’s just as confused about why he’s there as she is. Romance is most certainly dead… but so is her new editor.” Read my full review of The Dead Romantics here.
Mammoth by Chris Flynn
Blurb: “Narrated by a 13,000-year-old extinct mammoth, this is the (mostly) true story of how a collection of prehistoric creatures came to be on sale at a natural history auction in New York in 2007. By tracing how and when these fossils were unearthed, Mammoth leads us on a funny and fascinating journey from the Pleistocene epoch to nineteenth-century America and beyond, revealing how ideas about science and religion have shaped our world. With our planet on the brink of calamitous climate change, Mammoth scrutinises humanity’s role in the destruction of the natural world while also offering a message of hope.” Read my full review of Mammoth here.
A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais
Blurb: “Destiny Whip is a former child prodigy, world-renowned enigmatologist and very, very alone. A life filled with loss has made her a recluse, an existence she’s content to endure until a letter arrives inviting her to interview for the position of Scruffmore family historian. She decodes the invitation’s hidden message with ease, and its promise to reveal her family secrets proves too powerful a draw for the orphaned Destiny, who soon finds herself on Eerie Island. In the midst of cryptic ciphers, hidden passages, and the family’s magical line of succession, Destiny is certain of two things: one of the Scruffmores is going to die and she’s running out of time to stop it. Interspersed with riddles and puzzles that both Destiny and the reader must solve, A Most Puzzling Murder is a one-of-a-kind mystery that will leave you guessing and gasping until the very last page.” Read my full review of A Most Puzzling Murder here.
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
Blurb: “For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. One Last Stop is a magical, sexy, big-hearted romance where the impossible becomes possible as August does everything in her power to save the girl lost in time.” Read my full review of One Last Stop here.
The Traveler by Joseph Eckert
Blurb: “It’s a day like any other when Scott Treder first jumps forward through time. One moment, he’s on his way to work, fingers drumming the steering wheel. The next, he’s tumbling headlong down the road, his car gone, a dozen panicked voicemails from his wife waiting on his cell. This one moment―this first spontaneous slip―marks a change in the course not only of Scott’s future, but that of the world. From this point on, at precisely 7:52am every morning, Scott inexplicably travels forward in time in ever-doubling intervals. First one day lost in a blink, then two, then four, until weeks, even years, are passing him by in an instant. The Traveler is the story of a reluctant time-traveler and his extraordinary son, and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break.” Read my full review of The Traveler here.
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