When the news is too much and the world feels heavy, these books remind you that people are fundamentally good, connection is possible, and hope is not naive.
1. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
An astronaut wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of how he got there. The Earth is dying and he is its last hope. Science-powered optimism at its finest. You will cheer out loud.
2. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
A woman with rigid routines and zero social skills slowly, painfully, beautifully opens up to human connection. Not a romance — a story about learning to accept help. You will root for Eleanor with everything you have.
3. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
A retired man walks 600 miles across England to visit a dying friend. Along the way he encounters strangers whose stories change him. Quietly profound.
4. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
An abandoned girl raises herself in the marshes of North Carolina. Part mystery, part coming-of-age, entirely a testament to resilience and the healing power of nature.
5. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
A blind French girl and a German soldier during WWII. Their stories converge in Saint-Malo. The prose is luminous. The humanity in wartime conditions will stay with you.
6. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
An illustrated fable about kindness, courage, and asking for help. Takes 30 minutes to read. The wisdom stays for years. Buy it for yourself, then buy copies for everyone you love.
7. Circe by Madeline Miller
The witch of Greek mythology tells her own story — and it is one of transformation, self-discovery, and choosing your own power. Mythic in scope, deeply personal in execution.
8. The Humans by Matt Haig
An alien takes over a human body and discovers that humans are strange, illogical, and deeply worth saving. Funny, philosophical, and genuinely life-affirming.