I need a book for a book club consisting of five women between the ages of 30-55. We just finished Anne Patchett's "The Dutch House," and while we loved it, the book was heavy and sad for many of us due to its resemblance to some of our family situations.
I was going to pick Mary Kay Zuravleff's "American Ending" next, but I know enough about the book to know it's going to be tragic, so I think I'll hold out on that one.
I'm sorry if I'm being nitpicky here, but my issue in the past with some "happy" books is that they've been idyllic to the point of being uncanny. I don't want a Disney or Hallmark-type story where everything is perfect. I want a real story. I just don't want it to be too sad. Is that a big ask? lol
Due to the preferences of certain members, I'll ask for recs in any genre besides Horror or Romance
Thank you in advance!
by gatheringground
2 Comments
Live laugh love?
This is difficult since so much literary fiction seems to pride itself on bittersweet endings. I looked over my shelves of literary fiction & it was hard to find anything that didn’t have a sad or mixed ending. But if you’re willing to dip into a little fantasy, you might consider Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (has a romantic relationship in it even though it’s not romance), The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune, or A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.