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Everybody needs a Pick-Me-Up, whether it’s a playlist of their favorite songs, a hot beverage, or a delicious thing involving lots of butter and sugar. Here are a few books which have a similar effect.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary-Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Is there anything better than an epistolary novel with a bunch of quirky characters? Nope! This book transcends itself. This book is about bravery and standing up for what’s right, as well as acts of kindness, both large and small. The main character, Juliet, is a teapot-throwing author who begins corresponding with the members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. She begins writing a book about their experiences during the German occupation of Guernsey during World War II. They convince her to come for a visit, and healing and quirkiness ensues.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is a quirky loner. She becomes friends with the new tech guy at her work. They rescue a man when he has a heart attack. Despite the unlikeliness of the friendship between Eleanor and Ray, it’s a genuine connection, which puts Eleanor, who has a troubled past, on the path to healing. I read this in about two sittings.  

Elevation by Stephen King

I really love it when writers do something different from their usual shtick. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Scott is beginning to lose weight at an alarming rate. Facing “Day Zero” when he finally has no weight to hold him down, he begins to make things better for the people that he is leaving behind. This was not at all what I was expecting. It’s a feel-good story of the Nth degree.

The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher

Heidi’s husband, Henry, has been killed in a car accident. Still in mourning, she takes her son, Abbott, and her niece, Charlotte, to the family house in Provence. The house has a long history of miracles. Between the house’s miracles and the food, wine, and scenery of Provence, the whole group finds comfort. Not to mention, their next door neighbor, Julien, is a total fox.

The Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood

Phryne Fisher is 1920’s Melbourne’s only lady detective. When describing this to my mother, I described it as Murder, but Whimsical. Phryne is a cheeky femme fatale with a penchant for solving crimes. I love, love, love the whole series.

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