Feel-Good Stories to Brighten Dark Winter Nights

As the nights grow longer and darker, it’s important to remind ourselves that winter nights don’t have to be cold and gloomy. While a hot chocolate and a popular romcom might be the medicine for some, for us booklovers, we seek rich and engaging story that will keep us turning the pages for hours on end. Before you know it, it will be summer again.

So, with that in mind, pop on your PJs, get comfy on your sofas and check out our top seven reads for this winter. 

• The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion

Not a recent release (it was published in 2013), but the perfect feel-good novel for the winter season. Nominated for Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fiction in 2013, The Rosie Project is a heartwarming and hilarious story about a socially awkward professor who embarks upon a scientific project to find the perfect wife, only to discover that perfect isn’t always what looks good on paper. 

• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman

The debut novel of Gail Honeyman, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has sold millions of copies and won the 2017 Costa First Novel Award. It’s also set to be adapted for film produced by Reese Witherspoon, although a timeline and release date has not been finalised yet. The novel tells the story of Eleanor Oliphant, a quirky yet endearing thirty-something year old as she navigates loneliness and unexpected friendships – helping her to heal and find meaningful connection. 

• The House in the Cerulean Sea, TJ Klune

Nominated for Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2020, The House in the Cerulean Sea is a charming story about a caseworker who is given a curious assignment to investigate an orphanage on a remote island, which is home to six magical children – a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. This is a feel-good story about belonging and finding your family in unexpected places. 

• The Little Paris Bookshop, Nina George

The Little Paris Bookshop is a heartwarming story about the healing powers of books. If you’re a lover of books and storytelling, we think you’ll enjoy this novel from bestselling author Nina George. The story follows Monsieur Perdu, a literary apothecary, who prescribes books to readers to mend their broken hearts. The only heart he hasn’t been able to mend is his own. 

• The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, Abbi Waxman

Described as a love letter to book nerds, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill is a lighthearted read about only child Nina – an introvert who works in a bookstore and lives with a cat called Phil. Suddenly, she discovers a family she never knew about which turns her life upside down. But, the change pushes her to personal growth and to come out of her comfort zone. 

• The Authenticity Project, Clare Pooley

A New York Times bestseller and winner of the RNA Debut Novel Award, The Authenticity Project is a feel-good story about a group of strangers coming together to reveal their true selves through a shared notebook. These acts of honesty and authenticity lead to the formation of unexpected friendships and transform these characters’ lives for the better. 

• Beach Read, Emily Henry

While the title might suggest a summer read, we think this is a great novel for reading during dark winter nights when all you want to do is cosy up by the fire and enjoy a heartwarming, funny romance. Beach Read tells the story of two polar opposite writers living in neighbouring beach houses and struggling with writer’s block. They exchange genres to help each other find their creative spark, and find romantic sparks in the process. 

More feel-good reads for winter

If you’re looking for more uplifting reads to keep you busy during winter, why not take a look at our top-rated reviews for inspiration? You’ll find a variety of genres, including drama, fantasy, and romance. 

You can also check out the latest literary trends and our favourite reads by visiting our Victoria Freudenheim blog.