Happy Reads for Quarantine…
Let’s face it, 2020 has been a tough year for all of us. Never before have I craved positive stories as much as I have these past few months. I’ve (probably temporarily) lost my taste for anything that feels too sad, too dark, too messy. Right now I’m looking for happy endings, uplifting life lessons, storylines that leave me feeling contented and hopeful. At the end of the day I want the equivalent of a ray of sunshine on that last page. So I’ve skipped over so many great books that just weren’t quite happy enough to tempt me during this most recent lockdown order in Seattle, and I’m sharing a few I think will bring a smile to your face. They certainly did to mine. Happy reading!
1. What You Wish For by Katherine Center
I adore ALL of Katherine Center’s books, and her newest release came at a perfect time. I loved the setting (a quirky private school on Galveston Island in Texas), and the spot-on dialogue and deliciously awkward situations for the romantic leads were just perfect. I devoured this novel like warm custard. It was just as comforting.
2. The Cul-de-Sac War by Melissa Ferguson
Romantic comedy is my go-to plane reading and (what I’ve learned this year while staying home and NOT flying around the world) apparently it’s my go-to quarantine reading as well. I enjoy Melissa Ferguson’s clean and super cute romantic comedies. This one involves a not-very-talented Shakespearean actress who has to learn to tapdance, an escalating feud with her handsome contractor neighbor, and a giant mastiff. I giggle out loud at Ferguson’s novels and frankly, this year I’ll take all the laughter I can get!
3. Of Literature and Lattes – Katherine Reay
I’m a big fan of Reay’s women’s fiction books, whether they’re her earlier Jane Austen inspired novels or her more recent series set in charming Winsome, IL. I find her writing to be refined, her characters empathetic and detailed, and there’s always a hopeful ending. Yay! Reay’s newest story is no exception. It’s set in a coffee shop in Winsome and has a sweet yet complex second-chances love story at its core (my favorite kind!)
