Best Books to Read Before Bed…….You know how people say don’t scroll your phone before bed, it messes with your sleep? Yeah, well, guilty. I’ve done the doom-scroll right until my eyeballs felt fried. But here’s the thing—I eventually swapped that habit for something a lot gentler: the best books to read before bed. And I’m not talking about heavy, brain-hurting books where you’re trying to memorize family trees like it’s Game of Thrones. Nope. I mean the cozy, light-ish ones that wrap you up like a blanket burrito and make you feel like you’re drifting off in the safest little cocoon.
The first time I realized reading before bed was magical was when I accidentally fell asleep mid-sentence in The Secret Garden. Woke up drooling on chapter 8, but also? Best sleep of my life.
So yeah, I thought I’d share some books that actually work for bedtime. Ones that calm your brain down instead of throwing it into a caffeine-level frenzy.
Why Reading Before Bed Hits Different
You know how brushing your teeth is just part of your “time to shut down” routine? Reading before bed kinda works like that, except for your brain. The right book tells your nervous system, “Yo, relax. We’re not answering emails anymore. No, Susan from accounting can wait.”
But—and this is key—it has to be the right book.
Read a thriller with a serial killer in the first chapter? Yeah, enjoy your 3 a.m. pacing session, because sleep’s not happening. Same with super dense business books. I once tried reading The Lean Startup before bed. Fell asleep, sure… but also woke up dreaming I was pitching a product to Jeff Bezos while riding a unicycle.
So here’s my unofficial guide—stuff I’ve read (or reread) that doesn’t send me spiraling into insomnia.
Cozy Fiction That Feels Like a Warm Cup of Tea
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
This book is basically a lullaby in novel form. It’s dreamy, whimsical, and slightly mysterious—but not so stressful that your heart rate spikes. Perfect for when you wanna slip into a magical world and not worry about your world for a while.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Yes, it’s old. Yes, it’s wholesome as heck. And honestly? That’s the whole point. Anne’s endless optimism and hilarious tangents are the literary equivalent of someone tucking you in with a “you’re doing great, sweetie.”
Fun fact: I tried reading this on a flight once and accidentally passed out with my head on a stranger’s shoulder. He was cool about it though.
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
This one sounds heavy, but it’s actually weirdly comforting. Eleanor’s quirks and the quiet humor in the writing makes it feel like chatting with an oddball friend who somehow helps you feel okay about your own oddball-ness.
Short Story Collections (because sometimes you only have 10 minutes before your eyelids give up)
Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Every story is like a small emotional appetizer. Beautiful but not overwhelming. Perfect if you know you’ll be asleep in 15 minutes and don’t want to wake up lost in the middle of chapter 37.
Tenth of December by George Saunders
His stories are a little quirky, sometimes sad, but never too much. It’s like sitting around with a friend who tells really good stories at a campfire. Just enough weirdness to keep you intrigued without frying your brain.
Nonfiction That Won’t Bore You to Death
Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig
If your brain is an anxious mess at night (hi, welcome to the club), this book is basically the equivalent of someone holding your hand and saying, “Same.” It’s bite-sized, kind, and reassuring.
The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
This one is like Pinterest, but in book form. Cozy blankets, candles, warm drinks—it’s basically teaching you how to be a professional “cozy person.” Honestly, I read this and immediately wanted to buy fuzzy socks.
Poetry (yes, really, don’t roll your eyes)
Devotions by Mary Oliver
Her poems are short, simple, and somehow manage to make you feel both grounded and dreamy at the same time. Reading her before bed is like taking a deep breath you didn’t know you needed.
The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Okay, I know—Rupi Kaur gets memed on a lot. But I swear, reading her stuff before bed feels like someone’s writing little Post-it notes of encouragement just for you. And hey, they’re short, which is bedtime gold.
Quirky Options That Still Work about Best Books to Read Before Bed
Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd
Yes, it’s technically a parody children’s book. But sometimes, you need a laugh and a reminder to put the dang phone down. Also, bonus points if you read it out loud in a dramatic voice.
Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
Graphic novels/comics before bed? Criminally underrated. Calvin and Hobbes is playful, nostalgic, and won’t keep you up stressing. It’s basically therapy disguised as comic strips.
My Own Weird Little Ritual
Here’s the truth: half the time, I don’t actually make it more than five pages before my eyelids betray me. And I don’t care. That’s the beauty of bedtime reading—you’re not trying to finish a book in one night. You’re just trying to ease your brain off the ledge of “should I text them back or wait so I don’t look desperate?”
Also, I keep two different books by my bed. One fiction, one nonfiction. Why? Because my moods are unpredictable. Some nights I want to escape into a circus made of stars, other nights I want a cozy manual on blanket fort architecture (aka hygge).
Quick Tips So You Don’t Sabotage Your Bedtime Reading
- Don’t pick a book with cliffhangers every two pages (looking at you, Gone Girl).
- Get a dim lamp, not a blinding white LED, unless you enjoy feeling like you’re being interrogated by the FBI.
- Don’t tell yourself “just one more chapter.” That’s how 2 a.m. happens.
A Few Places to Check Out These Books
- If you like recommendations with more personality than “Top 10 Books,” check out Modern Mrs. Darcy’s blog. She’s basically the fairy godmother of book lists.
- For funny bedtime book chatter, the Book Riot podcast sometimes goes off on tangents that feel like the group chat you didn’t know you needed.
Final Thought: Best Books to Read Before Bed
Reading before bed isn’t about being productive or learning ten new skills. It’s not homework. It’s a little nightly gift to yourself. Like brushing your teeth, but for your soul.
So yeah, find your cozy book, get under the covers, and let your eyelids do the rest. And if you wake up with a hardcover imprint on your cheek? Congrats, you’re doing it right.
Suggested Outbound Links:
- A fun piece on travel-inspired movies to pair with these books
- A quirky personal blog about [accidentally booking the wrong flight](https://www.the Everywhereist.com/)
