By Kaylie Seed:
With uncertainty at an all-time high right now, I think it’s important to find some joy in the world. Books bring joy to so many people and whether you enjoy a good thriller or a romantic comedy, books are an escape. Authors have done us a service in creating a place for us to go while we hide away from our real lives for a little while. I’ve compiled a small list of books that are bound to bring a smile to your face and to bring a little sunshine into these gloomy days.
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
Oona Lockhart has no idea what kind of ride she is in for when she turns nineteen on New Year’s Eve in 1982. Each year Oona jumps through time into a different year of her life, unaware of where she will end up next. This fun book takes readers through different decades with different pop-culture references while Oona lives out her life in a very unexpected way.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
This adorably quirky novel follows genetic professor Don Tillman as he searches for love in an unconventional way. Don is socially awkward and thinks that the best way to meet a woman is to create a questionnaire that he hopes will help him find the woman of his dreams. Enter Rosie: the complete opposite of what Don is looking for and yet they somehow work together. This quirky romantic comedy is bound to keep you smiling until the very end but the best part is that there are two more books in this trilogy: The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Result.
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
The lonely, crotchety, old man named Ove is what some would call “the neighbour from hell”. Quick to aggravate, Ove keeps to himself until his new neighbours move in and turn his life around. Ove reminds the reader that having a thick outer shell doesn’t always mean that our insides match the outside. It’s a reminder that we need to be kind as we never truly know what others have been through. A Man Called Ove is a heart-warming tale that is bound to make your heart just as warm as your favourite cup of tea.
Procrastibaking by Erin Gardner
Many people have taken up new hobbies to help pass the time during these uncertain and unfamiliar days. Baking is a delicious hobby to get into and Procrastibaking came out at the perfect time. Erin Gardner filled Procrastibaking with enchanting and easy to follow recipes that are sure to keep you busy (or to keep you from doing the things that you should be doing - which is totally okay in our books!). Either way you will have a smile on your face as you bake your way through this recipe book.