Happy Books For Summer Reading

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Are you tired of things that suck? Me too! Summer is a perfect time to forget about your worries, so here are ten books to read in the sunshine.

Best Happy Books

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Adult Science Fiction

Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.

Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.

All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.

His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.

And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.

Or does he?

Why I recommend it: Read this book if you like plot twists because there are a lot of them. It's actually an impossible book to review because there are so many twists. Everything I want to say is a spoiler! The characters handle each twist with humor and optimism. It's kind of inspirational. These people are very, very determined to live. Every time they start to feel hopeless, they refocus and try a different way of solving their problems. Nothing is easy in space!

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The Very Secret Society Of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Adult Fantasy

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don't mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she's used to being alone and she follows the rules . . . with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he's concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn't the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn't know she was looking for.

Why I recommend it: It's freakin' adorable! The characters are where this book shines. They're so kind and genuine. They get along well and care deeply about each other. I want to be friends with them in real life.

There's a romance plotline, but I didn't hate it! The romance doesn't overwhelm the entire story because Mika and Jamie both have jobs and interests outside of each other. It's a slow-burn romance. Both characters are used to hiding themselves, so it takes them a while to open up. I like Mika and Jamie and was very happy that they found love when they badly needed it.

If you're looking for a whimsical book with a romance that won't make you gag, then this is the novel for you!

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Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

Adult Memoir

In Furiously Happy, a humor memoir tinged with just enough tragedy and pathos to make it worthwhile, Jenny Lawson examines her own experience with severe depression and a host of other conditions, and explains how it has led her to live life to the fullest.

Why I recommend it: This book definitely delivers the laughs that the title promises. Jenny Lawson suffers from several illnesses, and each chapter talks about the problems they cause in her life. Some of the chapters are deep and honest, but most of them are just hilarious.

I know what you're thinking: Being sick isn't funny, and you’re horrible for laughing at sick people. Usually, I’d agree, but if you live every day with a disease that can’t be cured, sometimes laughing is all you can do.

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Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

Adult Fantasy

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time.

The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success—not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

Why I recommend it: I'm not sure why a book about working at a coffee shop is labeled "cozy." Have you ever had a customer service job? "Cozy" is the last thing I'd call it. Technically, the book is "cozy fantasy." The "fantasy" part is where the customers are nice to the staff.

This book is subtilty hilarious. Most of the humor comes from watching the characters step outside of stereotypes. Orcs and succubusses succubi aren't usually the heroes of stories. It's amusing to watch the characters enthusiastically pursue their dreams while sidestepping everybody's expectations. There are even moments where Viv has to sidestep her own expectations. She's not a violent soldier anymore. Now she's a coffee shop owner and has to act accordingly. It's a heartwarming story.

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A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

Adult Literary Fiction

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him the bitter neighbor from hell, but must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Why I recommend it: Ove is a complicated guy, but his story shows that there are multiple ways to have compassion for others. He doesn’t have close friends, but he can tell what’s happening in his neighbors’ lives based on what kind of cars they buy. Even though he’s not social with his neighbors, he does take care of them in small ways. Sometimes small actions can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

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How To Be Perfect: The Correct Answer To Every Moral Question by Michael Schur

Adult Philosophy

Most people think of themselves as “good,” but it’s not always easy to determine what’s “good” or “bad”—especially in a world filled with complicated choices and pitfalls and booby traps and bad advice. Fortunately, many smart philosophers have been pondering this conundrum for millennia and they have guidance for us. With bright wit and deep insight, How to Be Perfect explains concepts like deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, ubuntu, and more so we can sound cool at parties and become better people.

Schur starts off with easy ethical questions like “Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?” (No.) and works his way up to the most complex moral issues we all face. Such as: Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people? How much money should I give to charity? Why bother being good at all when there are no consequences for being bad? And much more. By the time the book is done, we’ll know exactly how to act in every conceivable situation, so as to produce a verifiably maximal amount of moral good. We will be perfect, and all our friends will be jealous. OK, not quite. Instead, we’ll gain fresh, funny, inspiring wisdom on the toughest issues we face every day.

Why I recommend it: It's a philosophy book (obviously), but it's not a tedious philosophy book! Almost all of the philosophy I read in college was insufferable. I wish we had read this book instead.

I love the structure. The author asks a moral question at the start of each chapter and then examines how different famous philosophers would answer the question. Some of the questions are pretty straightforward. Then they become more complicated. It's an engaging way to structure a book because each philosopher has different answers to the questions.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's a quick read that makes philosophy less tedious.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Adult Literary Fiction

After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she's been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late.

Why I recommend it: It's adorable. I love that one of the characters is a hungry octopus that escapes from its tank and eats its fishy neighbors. RIP aquarium exhibits.

For a book about death and loneliness, the tone is surprisingly light. Marcellus the octopus has some funny observations about the world. There are also a bunch of quirky human characters who are all searching for love or family. The book tackles heavy topics, but it never feels depressing. It'll leave you smiling.

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Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Young Adult Fantasy

Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.

That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.

Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.

Why I recommend it: Carry On is ridiculous, but it’s ridiculous in the most epic way possible. Seriously, this book is over 500 pages, and I blew through it in two days because I loved it so much.

Rainbow Rowell does amazing things with fantasy tropes. She really lets you see how ridiculous and overused some of them are by flipping the tropes on their heads. Simon is an incompetent Chosen One. Baz is a loveable villain. The magic system is silly. The witches and wizards drive cars, own laptops, accidently forget their wands at home, rely on Google to solve their problems, and talk like modern teenagers. This book is full of literal laugh-out-loud moments.

This series is brilliant because of how average the characters are. They're normal kids who just happen to be wizards. It's a refreshing take on the genre. These characters aren't heroes. They're kids with magic. And dragon wings.

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A Psalm For The Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Adult Science Fiction

Centuries before, robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered, en masse into the wilderness, never to be seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend.

Now the life of the tea monk who tells this story is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They will need to ask it a lot. Chambers' series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

Why I recommend it: I wish I bought this book instead of getting it from the library so I could highlight it. It's a science fiction philosophy conversation between a monk and a robot. That probably sounds weird and boring, but it's interesting! I promise.

This novel is pretty much just a walk in the woods, so it's very low stakes. I appreciate the optimism about the future. The characters are good people (or robots) who respect each other's beliefs. They're not afraid of anyone they meet on their journey. They exist in a green, peaceful world. I like it.

If you're in the mood for a short, gentle story, this is a good one. It'll make you think about what you truly need in life.

Also, I accidentally convinced several of my coworkers to read this book because I wouldn't shut up about it at work. They liked it too!

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Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia Of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Adult Fantasy

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world's first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party—or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, and the Fair Folk.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily's research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones—the most elusive of all faeries—lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she'll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all—her own heart.

Why I recommend it: I feel like I've been searching for this book for years. (Not just because I can't spell the title.) I've been craving a medium-stakes fantasy book with fun characters and a world that doesn't require my whole brain to understand. This is the exact novel I wanted! I loved it!

The book has cozy vibes like a small town rom-com, but there's still danger because the faeries are unpredictably violent. They torture humans for fun. It's not always a light story. However, it's not a stressful story either. That's probably because it's written like a diary. You know that Emily and Wendell are alive and safe because they're writing diary entries about the scary stuff they experienced. Dead people can't write. (I don't think . . .)

You should believe the hype about this novel. It's a fun time.

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What's your favorite happy book?

Are you looking for more happy book recommendations? I have lists here and here.