Okay, so “best book lists by mood” is apparently a real phrase people search for on Google, which cracks me up because… same. Like, some mornings I wake up and I’m like, “I’m in a chaotic goblin-gremlin mood, I want a story where someone accidentally burns pancakes but also maybe falls in love.” Other mornings it’s more: “Everything sucks, I need a book that feels like a weighted blanket.” And sometimes—rarely but beautifully—it’s: “Let’s feel smart and deep today.” (Doesn’t last long. Usually interrupted by TikTok.)
Anyway, I’ve spent way too many years chasing the perfect book for whatever emotional dumpster fire or golden sunshine vibe I was in, so I figured… why not just write it out?
Think of this as the Spotify playlist version of reading lists. Except with books. And fewer annoying ads.
Also—quick warning—this isn’t gonna be one of those prim, polished lists where every recommendation comes with a “critically acclaimed” sticker. Some of these books are messy. Some are cheesy. Some are cult-y classics your English teacher made you read while you doodled in the margins. But they work. Mood medicine.
When You’re Feeling Sad (Like, can’t-even-get-out-of-bed sad)
First off: hi, I see you. Sad days are brutal. And I know the usual advice is “read something uplifting!” but honestly? Sometimes you just want a book that sits in the pit with you. Like a friend who’s not gonna try to fix it, just vibe in the misery until you’re ready to crawl out.
- “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman
Ove is basically your grumpy neighbor who low-key has a heart made of marshmallow fluff. I cried, laughed, cried again. It’s sad-comforting, the way hot soup feels when you’ve got the flu. - “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman
Oh my god, Eleanor. Awkward, lonely, blunt to the point of painful. Reading this made me feel less weird about the times I ate dinner alone in my car (yes, multiple times).
If you want pure comfort—like the literary equivalent of mac and cheese—reread Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Don’t argue, that’s the cozy one. Fight me.
When You’re Feeling Restless (Like, itching to run away from your own life)
You know those days where you’re halfway to booking a one-way ticket to Iceland, even though you have exactly $27 in your checking account? Yeah. Books can scratch that itch cheaper.
- “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed
Classic “woman hikes alone to figure out her life” memoir. I read it when my own life was mid-meltdown, and I swear I felt like I walked a hundred miles in bad boots. - “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho
Yes, it’s woo-woo. Yes, everyone quotes it like they discovered it on a stone tablet. But sometimes you need a reminder that chasing your “Personal Legend” is worth it. - “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac
A little chaotic, a little “I should’ve brought a toothbrush.” But if you want to feel restless energy bottled in words, this one is basically caffeine.
When You’re Feeling Hopeful (and you don’t want to lose the vibe)
Protect that spark, okay? It’s rare. The right book can make it burn even brighter.
- “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
Alternate lives, big choices, regrets. I read this one with a cup of tea and immediately texted my best friend like, “What if we’re actually living 10,000 versions of ourselves?” - “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery
Don’t roll your eyes. Anne is chaos and sunshine bottled into one freckle-faced redhead. Anytime I need to remember life can be full of little joys (trees! raspberry cordial! accidentally insulting your neighbor!), I pick this up.
When You’re Feeling Heartbroken (ugh)
Heartbreak books need to be carefully selected. Too fluffy and it feels fake. Too tragic and you’re crying harder than you already were (like, who asked for that?).
- “Normal People” by Sally Rooney
This one’s like… heartbreak distilled into millennial dialogue. They love each other. They mess it up. They maybe still love each other. It’s frustrating but in that delicious, cathartic way. - “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert
Say what you will, but sometimes you need to live vicariously through someone eating carbs in Italy. - Bonus: poetry. Specifically, Rupi Kaur’s “Milk and Honey.” Because sometimes three lines of text hit harder than a 400-page novel.
When You’re Feeling Brave (or at least trying to fake it)
You know when you’re about to quit a job, confess your feelings, or finally tackle that IKEA dresser that’s been in the box since last year? Yeah, you need a hype book.
- “Daring Greatly” by Brené Brown
Brené is basically everyone’s collective therapist/aunt. I read this before giving a wedding toast and didn’t faint. Victory. - “Educated” by Tara Westover
True story, wild ride. If Tara can claw her way from survivalist upbringing to Cambridge, you can absolutely handle your stuff.
When You’re Feeling Nostalgic (a.k.a. “life was better when Lunchables were currency”)
Sometimes you just wanna curl up in your childhood brain again.
- “Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
Don’t even pretend you didn’t cry. - “The Outsiders” by S.E. Hinton
Stay gold, Ponyboy. (Honestly, this one hits different as an adult.) - “Matilda” by Roald Dahl
Because part of you still wants telekinetic powers to deal with terrible bosses/landlords.
(Image suggestion: a stack of worn paperbacks, maybe with a crumpled school lunch bag next to it. Nostalgia vibes.)
When You’re Feeling Just Plain Weird: Best Book Lists by Mood
Sometimes you want books that feel like fever dreams.
- “Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami
Talking cats. Fish falling from the sky. Don’t ask, just read. - “Good Omens” by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
Angels, demons, the apocalypse, but make it funny. - “House of Leaves” by Mark Z. Danielewski
Warning: this book is basically a haunted labyrinth in physical form. It messed with my head so bad I had to stop reading it at night.
When You’re Feeling Motivated (rare unicorn mood)
Capitalize on it, my friend.
- “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
The internet won’t shut up about this book because… it actually works. Tiny changes, big results. - “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert
Yeah, her again. But this one’s all about creativity and chasing ideas before they ghost you. - “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero
Slightly cheesy, but sometimes you need someone yelling “stop doubting yourself and go for it!”
When You’re Feeling Literally Nothing (the numb void)
Okay, this one’s tricky. If you’re in a “meh, nothing matters” headspace, you don’t want anything too heavy. You want books that spark without demanding.
- “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams
Absurd humor. Weird space adventures. Exactly what numb brain needs. - Short stories. Try “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri or “Tenth of December” by George Saunders. They’re bite-sized hits of “oh yeah, words are cool.”
Final Thoughts about Best Book Lists by Mood
Honestly? The best book lists by mood are personal. You might hate half my picks. That’s fine. Make your own list. Scribble it on a napkin, tape it to your fridge. Books are like snacks—different cravings, different days.
Just… don’t ever let anyone shame you for what you’re reading. (Yes, even if it’s a cheesy vampire romance at 2 a.m.)
Now, your turn: what’s your go-to “sad day” book? Seriously, I need new ones. Drop it in the comments—or text me if you’ve got my number.
Outbound Links:
- Paulo Coelho interview — The Guardian
- Sylvia Plath bio & works — Poetry Foundation
- Original “Crying in H Mart” essay — The New Yorker
- James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter — James Clear
- Matt Haig’s blog — Matt Haig
