Need a Happy book for an adult male who likes My Little Pony, Star vs The Forces of Evil and Ubisoft’s Child of Light.
Things they have in common:
* female protagonist
* lighthearted tone
* Happy ending
* lots of female characters
He said he didn’t like Game of Thrones because everyone was terrible. It seems he likes characters with bubbly personalities, are likable and girl ensemble cast. Any suggestions? I’m completely clueless. It seems he likes books that are targeting young people but I don’t want to offend him with a middle grade book. So I think YA is safest. But I don’t know what to suggest. Any ideas?
Edit: he says high stakes are fine as long as hero wins in the end
by New_Independent_6982
3 Comments
Maybe something like Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson? Set in his larger Cosmere of books but by all means can be read as a standalone, female protagonist with an interesting cast of characters and a whimsical fairytale vibe.
Gail Carriger’s Finishing School series, beginning with *Etiquette & Espionage*
I also highly recommend Shannon Hale’s work on Ever After High; if he likes them, the Suzanne Selfors books are fun as well, though I’d steer clear of the Once Upon a Twist books; those are definitely aimed at a much younger audience.
*Space Opera* is like reading a Monster Energy Drink. Frantic, wild, witty, but also can be a bit “much” if you’re not in the right from of mind. Billed as “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Eurovision” and they are not wrong.
*Piranesi* is a quick read. About a man who lives in a mysterious house/castle. The house is just as much of a character as anyone, and has some mystery involving who the MC is and how he got there.
*The House in the Cerulean Sea* by T.J. Klune is a very Tim Burton-esque magic realism book. Very sweet and self aware of it’s qwirkyness.
*All Systems Red* by Martha Wells is the start of the “murderbot” series. Most all of the entries here are under 200 pages. Fast paced, funny, adventure stories with excellent lead character who is uncovering a sci-fi tinged conspiracy.
*The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet* and the rest of the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers is very friendly, happy, and fairly drama free. All the characters are very likeable and the setting of the book basically follows different characters as they traverse through their jobs/social interactions. Not great for “hard sci-fi” but a good light read for people who like a hint of fantasy in their relationship driven stories.
*A Psalm for the Wild-Built* by Becky Chambers is 2021’s “cozy cup of coffee” book. Insightful and touching, feels a little like reading a self-help book however.
*Ten Thousand Doors of January* is an excellent book about a young girl who is trying to track down her parents who have disappeared into another dimension.