I’ve been dealing with anxiety recently and for some reason YA is one of the only things I’ve been able to consistently get into without getting too upset by some random little detail or another. But I’ve struggled to find recs for books that aren’t too intense, because dealing with end-of-the-world scenarios or dying teens is beyond what I can handle right now.
It doesn’t have to be lacking in stakes or conflict. I really enjoyed the third Simon Snow book by Rainbow Rowell, for instance (it’s admittedly less intense than the other books in the series), and that has vampires and action. But nothing too gloomy or dark.
I’m open to any subgenre, any kind of romantic pairing—or little to no romance at all—and a good voice with a sense of humor goes a long way. It also doesn’t have to be super-recent, but it’s fine if it is!
by AnitaDanish
13 Comments
You could try with [The Other Eight](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/77230730-forseti99?shelf=fiction), by Joseph R. Lallo. It’s about not-so-super heroes and their adventure to become a team.
I really loved Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
* [Catherine, Called Birdy](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24137.Catherine_Called_Birdy), historical fiction that I read as a teen.
* [A Thousand Words for Stranger](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129019.A_Thousand_Words_for_Stranger) by Julie E. Czerneda. This is first in a sprawling series. There are a few intense moments, but when I was reading it I was struck by how relatively low the stakes were. There are no end-of-the-world scenarios and no dying teens. There is a romance.
* Not necessarily YA, but you may like books by [Becky Chambers](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17650479.Becky_Chambers). She has a distinct cozy style, focusing on what everyday life is like for people in fantastical sci fi settings. My personal favourite is The Galaxy and the Ground Within.
old school, but Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers is a pretty wholesome, safe read from the 70’s. an era where it seemed like the most traumatic thing any fictional teen had to confront was moving or maybe parental divorce.
*The Witch of Blackbird Pond* is a children’s classic and a comfort read. It’s set in colonial New England and feels very cozy. There’s some intense moments but it’s suitable for kids and has a lovely ending.
For romance, perhaps To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han?
A bit younger than YA but I still love {{The Borrowers}}.
• Stig of the Dump by Clive King – a boy and his caveman friend go on adventures together.
• Uncle Series by J.P. Martin – a rich elephant getting into shenanigans.
• Beezus and Ramona Series – written from the pov of 9-year-old beezus, as she deals with her younger sister, ramona.
Happy reading, and have a blessed day! 🤗
Not YA, but a couple of low-stakes cozies:
Legends & Lattes (forgot the authors name)
Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide (to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons) by Quenby Olson
House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
And a YA that is fairly cozy, but does have a few deaths, but still makes you feel like a warm hug:
A Wizard’s Guide To Defensive Baking by T.Kingfisher
The Thief of Always by Clive Barker is very cool
The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart (could also try Thornyhold or Rose Cottage, also by Mary Stewart, they are adult novels but fairly cozy.)
Wings of Fire series by Tui T Sutherland
Gone Away Lake and Return to Gone Away by Elizabeth Enright, these are so fun and cozy and low stakes without being boring
The Children of Green Knowe by LM Boston (there’s a series of these, if you like this one, you’ll want to go find the rest of them. This is the first one. Note that if you are in the UK, I think these have different titles, and I can’t remember what the alternate title for this one is.)
A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher is humorous and fast-paced, with some nutritional value too.
Sourdough by Robin Sloan is a little wacky and has an interesting premise. I found it a fun and light read.
Not YA but the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett