As with many people Life™ has happened and I am absolutely brain-dead. I do not have it in me to get overly invested, or have my mind blown, or linger about the themes, or lay awake at night reflecting on the amazing-ness of the writing or the depths of the characters or the struggles, the highs and lows of the experience.
Likewise, I do not have the energy to slog trough books without punctuation, nonsensical transitions, or get upset at every choice the characters make.
Basically I am looking for a book or two that are absolutely okay. Books that you read, and when you finish it place it on your bookshelf and never think about it again. The kind of book that 5 years from now will have a different cover, and I buy it again, and when I am halfway trough reading it I realise I've read it before. The kind of book that was fine but when people ask your thoughts about it there is nothing else to say but 'I enjoyed it, I guess'.
by between3and31
11 Comments
Lol this is such a funny request!
I went back and looked at my list of books I’ve read on StoryGraph, and the one I gave 4+ stars to (wanting to fulfill the “enjoyable” part of your request) but remember the least is *Small Miracles* by Olivia Atwater. It’s an angel/demon thing I think inspired by Good Omens. I remember thinking it was fun and nice.
Any cute book by Maeve Binchy.
*Worry* by Alexandra Turner, it’s set in 2019, and it’s funny, but it’s shelf life will be very short.
Sally Rooney is my author for this
Debbie Macomber’s books are sweet, simple and make the Hallmark Christmas movies look twisty and complex.
Don’t come at me, Reiders, but I feel this way about the two Taylor Jenkins Reid books I’ve read (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and The Six).
Maria Semple’s books are like this to me, also.
Any of Blake Crouch’s standalones. Dark matter, Recursion and Upgrade are all the same book reskinned.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
Gil’s All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez
Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes
Breathless by Amy McCullouch
The Devil In The White City by Erik Larson
Series recs:
The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne definitely fits the bill. There’s 9 I think?
The Wandering Inn series if you wanna commit to the longest published fiction in existence.
The collected works of Anne McCaffrey.
I feel this way about most John Scalzi books– they’re thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable, easy reads, fast-paced, and then I’m onto the next thing. Try *Starter Villain* or *The Kaiju Preservation Society.*
Other People’s Pets by R.L. Maizes
The Midcoast by Adam White
Snow Hunters by Paul Yoon
Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon
Lee Childs Jack Reacher books are non stop page turners.
Asimovs I ROBOT trilogy is non stop page turning brilliance.
Plus Terry Pratchett’s Discworld is known as the Greatest Fantasy satire around the world.
Not highbrow but so well written and funny.
Honestly, some of Dan Brown’s stuff is a fun read.
Terribly written, but he can spin a decent story.