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Need an escape? Try one of these novels!

We all need some escape every once in a while, even more so when we’re cooped up indoors and hounded by frightening news stories. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of fun, escapist novels for you to enjoy! From more recent releases to well-loved classics, these books are sure to give you a break from the stresses of life during a pandemic. 

Newer Releases

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

There’s no getting around it, this book has an odd premise: a woman named Lillian is hired by an old friend to take care of her two step-children…who burst into flames whenever they get upset. If you can put yourself into its world, this short-but-sweet book will totally sweep you away. The first-person narration is hilarious and engaging, and the unfolding of Lillian’s relationship with the combustible children is poignant and sweet. This book is quirky, sometimes a little sad, but never boring.

Audiobook available from Overdrive and in the Libby app: https://brdc.overdrive.com/media/4765901

nothing to see here book cover

 

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella

This is a sweet and often funny novel from the author of Confessions of a Shopaholic. It follows Sylvie and Dan, a couple who have been happily married for ten years and seem to be perfect for each other. But when their doctor tells them that they could live another 70 years, they panic and fear that their marriage will grow stale. Sylvie and Dan concoct a series of surprises to keep things exciting, but when mishaps reveal untold secrets, they begin to wonder how well they really know each other…

eBook available from Overdrive and in the Libby app: https://brdc.overdrive.com/media/3442625

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

This novel is like a soap opera in book form. When Rachel Chu’s boyfriend, Nick Young, invites her to spend the summer with him at his home in Singapore, she is stunned to discover he is Singapore’s most eligible bachelor and the heir to a staggering fortune. Rachel must now contend with cruel, gossiping socialites, Nick’s disapproving mother, and the shock of being thrust into a world of opulence and wealth she has no idea how to navigate. Whew! All she wanted was to hang out with her boyfriend! This book is over-the-top funny, entertaining, and, well, crazy. It’s also the first book in a trilogy, so if you like this one definitely check out the other two!

All three available from Overdrive and in the Libby app: https://brdc.overdrive.com/search?query=Crazy%20Rich%20Asians

crazy rich asians book cover

 

Classics

The Jeeves and Wooster series, by P.G. Wodehouse

These books are the absolute epitome of mindless, hilarious entertainment. You could crack open any one of these little novels and laugh yourself silly, even though many of them are basically the same plot transposed onto different settings or characters. The average Jeeves and Wooster book goes something like this: Bertie Wooster, a bumbling British socialite, gets into some kind of ridiculous but troublesome situation (getting accidentally engaged, incurring the wrath of his formidable aunt, committing some frightful social faux pas, etc.) due to his shenanigans. Jeeves, Bertie’s unflappable manservant and the brains of the operation, swoops in quietly yet haughtily to save the day. Sprinkle in a quirky supporting cast, truly delightful prose and hilarious turns of phrase, and you’ve got yourself the perfect little escape from your daily troubles.

Many, many audiobooks available from Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/series/jeeves-and-wooster/1200720593/titles

Two eBooks and one audiobook available from Overdrive and in the Libby app: https://brdc.overdrive.com/search?query=Jeeves%20and%20Wooster

jeeves and wooster book cover

 

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

What could I say about this book that hasn’t been said numerous times already? It’s a classic for a reason! Hitchhiker’s Guide is a sci-fi comedy novel about a man named Arthur Dent who is rescued from the destruction of Earth by his friend Ford Prefect, an alien who has been living on Earth pretending to be an out-of-work actor. I could wax poetic about how funny and weird this book is, but my words are utterly inadequate compared to Douglas Adam’s knack for description. Here’s a tiny sample: “The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t.” If you like books that surprise you, make you think, and make you completely lose it laughing, this book is for you. Go forth and lose yourself in the wackiness!

Available as an eBook and an audiobook from Overdrive and the Libby app: https://brdc.overdrive.com/search?query=The%20Hitchhiker%27s%20Guide%20to%20the%20Galaxy

hitchhikers guide to the galaxy book cover

 

The Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie

Another classic British series, these novels are delightful mystery stories starring Agatha Christie’s famously fastidious detective, Hercule Poirot. This Belgian gentleman detective (sometimes begrudgingly) works with Captain Arthur Hastings and a cast of supporting characters to solve robberies, kidnappings, murders, and crimes of all sorts. Poirot is the star of 33 novels, beginning with The Mysterious Affair at Styles and most famously in Murder on the Orient Express. If you find satisfaction in picking up clues and piecing together a compelling mystery, these books are for you. If you just want to sit back and enjoy the ride as Poirot does all the legwork, that’s cool too. There’s a reason these books have been adapted so many times! (I highly recommend the BBC series starring David Suchet!) These are some of the most well-loved whodunits ever written, from the master of mysteries herself.

eBooks and audiobooks available from Overdrive and the Libby app: https://brdc.overdrive.com/search?query=Hercule%20Poirot

Audiobooks also available from Hoopla: https://www.hoopladigital.com/series/hercule-poirot/2031/titles

hercule poirot book cover

 

There you have it! I hope you can find a little stress relief somewhere in these (digital) pages, whether it’s in a mystery, a soap opera, or just something funny and light. Take a break, take care of yourself, and stay healthy!