20 Books to Read to Relax, De-Stress & Unwind


relaxing books to read to de-stress and unwind before bed book list novels

Sometimes all you want is a book to help you relax and unwind over bath or perhaps before bed. Here’s my list of the best relaxing books to help you de-stress and rid yourself of the worries of the day. I know that I’ve definitely been on the lookout for these types of books in these trying times. (So, if you have any suggestions on books to add to this list, please let me know!)

A lot of these are “happy” books, others are funny or inspirational, and a couple are calming but a bit bittersweet. They are pretty much all relatively effortless books to read, but not “fluff” by any means. These are all solid books that are worth reading.

Most of all, they are all crowdpleasers, since who needs the stress of reading a bad book when you’re trying to unwind? For some great books to help you end your day, see below!


The Giver of Stars
Jojo Moyes

What It's About:

Publication Date: October 8, 2019
  


Where'd You Go Bernadette
Maria Semple

What It's About:

Publication Date: August 14, 2012
  


The Island of Sea Women
Lisa See

What It's About:

Publication Date: March 10, 2020
  


A Man Called Ove
Fredrik Backman

What It's About:

Publication Date: July 15, 2014
  


Why Not Me?
Mindy Kaling

What It's About:

Publication Date: September 27, 2016
  

The Snow Child
Eowyn Ivey

What It's About:

Publication Date: February 1, 2012
  


The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
Mary Ann Shaffer

What It's About:

Publication Date: July 29, 2008
  


A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Bill Bryson

What It's About:

Publication Date: July 28, 2015
  


The Dutch House
Ann Patchett

What It's About:

Publication Date: September 24, 2019
  


Winter in Paradise
Elin Hilderbrand

What It's About:

Publication Date: October 9, 2018
  

Sourdough
Robin Sloan

What It's About:

Publication Date: September 5, 2017
  


The Lager Queen of Minnesota
J. Ryan Stradal

What It's About:

Publication Date: July 23, 2019
  


Once Upon a River
Diane Setterfield

What It's About:

Publication Date: December 4, 2018
  


The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger

What It's About:

Publication Date: September 1, 2003
  


The Rules of Magic
Alice Hoffman

What It's About:

Publication Date: October 10, 2017
  

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
Jonas Jonasson

What It's About:

Publication Date: February 18, 2024
  


The Rosie Project
Graeme Simsion

What It's About:

Publication Date: February 18, 2024
  


How the Penguins Saved Veronica
Hazel Prior

What It's About:

Publication Date: June 16, 2020
  


One Day In December
Josie Silver

What It's About:

Publication Date: October 16, 2018
  


Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance
Ruth Emmie Lang

What It's About:

Publication Date: November 14, 2017
  

relaxing books to read to de-stress and unwind before bed book list novels

relaxing books to read to de-stress and unwind before bed book list novels

relaxing books to read to de-stress and unwind before bed book list novels

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