Hello! My grandma (74) is looking for a heartwarming book that is free of any explicit content (no swearing, not spicy, no graphic details). She likes the WW2 era but she tried a book that described torture in a concentration camp so she is hesitant to try another book like that. She likes Karen Kingsbury’s books and she does better with standalones rather than series.
I basically only read fantasy or romcoms so I don’t know any recommendations for her. I would love any suggestions!! Thank you 🙂
by starlightreads
24 Comments
The Summer book by Tove Jansson 🙂
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
James Herriot’s books? I know he spent some time in the army during the war but I dint think the books get into that, but he does describe the era really well.
Number 1 ladies detective agency series
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Trustee from the Toolroom
A Town Like Alice
And others by Nevil Shute (Norway)
The Goblin Emperor By K Addison
A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn
The Maggie Hope series
https://www.goodreads.com/series/80741-maggie-hope
Elizabeth Stout’s books may be good fits.
I just read The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher. The main character is a British woman around age 70 and is looking back on her 20s, which took place during WW2.
Presumably she’s read these at some point but:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
I capture the castle
And newer and more WWIIy
The Family
Thr House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Not WW2, but a lovely story, has romance, no sexual content, etc. Love story is a gay romance, though, and is about orphans with strange abilities crossed with a very mild 1984 type society.
The Thursday Murder Club Series
Cassie and Ike by Mary Carr Hanna Clean, interesting and I’ve had a copy for 35+ yrs because I reread it. I’ve shared it with a lot of people
My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman is absolutely lovely and heartwarming!
Anything by Fannie Flagg
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt.
I promise.
What about A Man Called Ove? Main protagonist is an old widower who finds purpose, belonging, and community after his wife passes.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of my favourite books. It’s a little heart-wrenching in places but suitable for young adults, so nothing graphic.
The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. Two storylines connected by a painting. One is set in WWII, the other in modern day. Really good.
The Thread by Victoria Hislop. Essentially a family saga across 90 years, set in Thessaloniki, Greece, against the backdrop of the major events that shape the city (including a bit around WWII and Nazi occupation).
Nothing to do with WWII, but The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom is a beautiful book.
“The good pilot Peter Woodhouse” by Alexander McCall smith
Try *Jennie* or *Thomasina* by Paul Gallico or the Larkin Family series by HE Bates starting with *The Darling Buds of May.*
Mrs Benson’s Beetle was lighthearted and heartwarming. A very original book, an easy read and just delightful!
Sarah’s Key (by the same author as All the Light We Cannot See) is a good historic warm read.
A Gentleman in Moscow maybe also.
James Herriot if she hasn’t read his stuff. Or the Mitford books by Jan Karon. Both are older so check if she’s read them.
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (it’s the start of a series). A retired widow decides to pursue her secret life ambition to be a spy. Funny, adventure, and heart -warming!