10 Relaxing Reads To Quiet Your Anxious Mind.
If you’re like me, and you’ve been gifted an anxious mind🤓, you probably don’t need more fodder for worried thinking. You might be in need of a nice, calming, uplifting read.
I made the shift a couple years ago to starting the day with relaxing books like the ones here, instead of harshly transitioning into the day with news or phone scrolling. And a lovely shift it’s been.
Whether you need a softer start to your day in the form of morning coffee and a calming read or need some helping quieting your mind as you cozy on into bed at the end of the day, I have some suggestions for ya!
So here it is!
10 relaxing reads to help calm your anxious mind.
1.) The House in the Cerulean Sea
By T.J. Klune
If you’re in the mood for…Queer Fantasy Romance.
A mix of fantasy and romance. Linus Baker, a caseworker from the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, is tasked with assessing an orphanage where 6 supposedly dangerous magical children live.
The orphanage is led by kindhearted Arthur Parnassus, who you no doubt will fall in love with. A magical story about love and found family, it’s one I’ll be revisiting forever!
2.) Wildwood Chronicles
By Colin Meloy, Illustrated by Carson Ellis
If You’re in the mood for…Hipster Fantasy with beautiful pics
A series of three books written by the lead singer of The Decemberists and illustrated by his artist wife, Carson Ellis.
These books take place partly in Portland and partly in a magical forest just beyond the Portland city limits.
Two friends, Prue and Curtis get wrapped up in the up-rest brewing in the forest, or Wildwood. A romping, fantastical adventure pursues!
I love how this book has the vibe of an adventure book you might’ve read in middle school, but you can totally immerse yourself in it as an adult.
Not to mention the GORGEOUS illustrations throughout. So delightful.
3.) To All the Boys I've Loved Before
By Jenny Han
If you’re in the mood for…Cozy Family Time, Low Key High School Drama, Baking.
Follow Lara Jean Covey a high schooler who writes letters to all the crushes she falls for, as a way to process and move on. She then keeps them tucked away in a box, for her eyes only.
But one day the letters get mysteriously sent out. DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!
The storyline is fun, but what I love most about this book is the cozy vibe between Lara Jean, her two sisters, and her Dad.
I just wanna jump in, bake chocolate chip cookies, and gossip about all the high school love life drama with them.
4.) The Cafe By The Sea
By Jenny Colgan
If you’re in the mood for…Cozy Scottish Island and Lots of Baking.
Flora Mackenzie left her hometown, the Scottish island Mure, for London after the loss of her Mom a few years back.
But when her job takes her back to the beautiful island, she rediscovers her passion for cooking and baking.
And I don’t wanna give it away, but there might be a cafe by the sea on the horizon for her…
Get ready to spend time around the wood-burning fireplace at the Mackenzie farmhouse, daydreaming about artisanal cheese fresh from Fintan’s dairy, and of course, craving some fresh baked goods from Flora’s kitchen.
Yum.
5.) Nothing Much Happens
By Kathryn Nicolai
If you’re in the mood for…Soothing Short Stories.
Nicolai sets beautifully simple, and relaxing scenes, where, like the title suggests, nothing much happens.
This is another one with beautiful illustrations, a definite plus. There’s something so delightful about sitting down and flipping through something beautiful.
Get siked for titles like “Autumn at the Cabin” and “A Rainy Day Making Soup.” Aaand the stories are divided by season, so pick away based on what vibe you’re craving.
6.) Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
By Robin Sloan
If you’re in the mood for… A Mystery book about Books
Clay Jennon starts as a night shift worker at Mr. Penumbras 24 hour bookshop, a shop off the beaten path in San Francisco.
He quickly realizes that something is kinda fishy. His curiosity leads him on an investigative journey to try to discover what kind of secrets are being hidden and what exactly is going on at this shop.
Low stakes, not stressful, but just enough to keep you interested. Plus, what’s not comforting about hanging out around a bunch of books.
7.) The Long Way to a small, angry planet
By Becky Chambers
If you’re in the mood for… a Cozy Science Fiction Space Opera
Join the rag tag Wayfarer crew made up of a combo of creatures & humans, as they’re contracted to tunnel wormholes through space.
This is another one that has a found family vibe to it, which I’m very partial to.
There’s something about the expansiveness of the setting that makes this one feel relaxing to me. It’s definitely not one of those apocalyptic space stories.
After reading it I felt comforted imagining that the Wayfarer crew was flying somewhere throughout the universe above.
8.) The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
By Mackenzi Lee
If you’re in the mood for…Historical Fiction/Romance
Young British lord slash troublemaker, Henry Montague is supposed to be embarking on a grand tour of Europe with his sister Felicity and his best friend/crush, Percy.
What’s supposed to be an educational, strictly planned trip turns into something else completely.
Things get derailed quickly and the tame year abroad turns into an adventure across Europe!
9.) The Extraordinaries
By T.J. Klune
If you’re in the mood for…Quirky Characters, friendship and love
I wouldn’t normally pick up a book about superheroes, but after reading House in the Cerulean Sea, I was on a TJ Klune kick.
I’m so glad I ended up picking this series up. I’m in love with these characters.
In a world where there are a handful of folks with superpowers (extraordinaries), lovable, earnest and hilarious teen Nick Bell writes fan-fiction about the extraordinaries.
But a series of events lead him to becoming much more entrenched in the real world of the extraordinaries than he ever could’ve imagined in his fan-fic.
10.) The Thursday Murder Club
By Richard Osman
If you’re in the mood for…A british mystery
I was seriously researching cozy retirement villages after I read this, because they made it seem that good.
A group of four new friends in a British retirement community solve Murders weekly in the puzzle room.
The Thursday Murder Club ends up becoming more than just a side hobby, when the crew gets involved in solving a real, current murder case.
I wanna be buddies with all these characters.
Ready, Set, GO BE COZY!
Add these to your reading list and check ‘em out. Experiment with adding these or whatever books float your cozy boat, either to start your day off softly or ease into sleep with a quieter mind-space.
I hope they bring you some comfort and help your mind feel a little bit more rested.
If you want some more lightheartedness, coziness and anxiety relieving goodness, you might wanna sign up for my weekly newsletter, The Detangler. It’s like detangling spray for your anxious knots. I’d love to have you join!
Hi! I’m Ellie, a private practice therapist offering online therapy to empathetic women & couples in Maryland. I help women manage anxiety & stress and couples strengthen their relationships.
Check out my website to grab your anxiety relief freebie, or take my quiz to get a customized anxiety relief tool. If you live in Maryland or Virginia, reach out to see if we’re a good fit for therapy.
