Sometimes all you need on a rainy day is a cup of tea and a good book. As we arrive in autumn and the leaves (and the rain) are falling, we have a list of five heart-warming books that are perfect for snuggling up with under a blanket on those indoor days.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Nicola Yoon’s debut novel, Everything, Everything contains every ingredient needed to tug on those heartstrings. The story is centred around a young 18-year-old called Madeline who suffers with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). In easy-to-digest terms, everything (EVERY-THING) makes Madeline ill; as a result, she has never left her house. A reviewer for The Guardian noted that the way Yoon describes Madeline’s world makes the reader appreciate the little things in life, and I can promise you they’re not wrong.
I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
This award-winning novel follows brother and sister Jude and Noah. They’re inseparable (and not just because they’re twins); at least, at the beginning. Told through both their eyes, the story explores love: sibling love, LOVE love, and family love. I warn you, you have to go through some heartache with this one – but, yes, it is worth it. As artists, both twins have this beautifully metaphoric way of looking at the world, and art turns out to be a pretty significant theme throughout the novel.
Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone
Every Last Word is by far my favourite book at the moment. The novel is told from the point of view of the protagonist, Samantha. Sam has purely obsessional OCD and is consumed with a constant wave of anxiety and worries, despite being in the popular group at school. It all sounds very bleak, but once Sam’s new and fresh-faced friend Caroline introduces her to ‘Poet’s Corner’ and subsequently her own voice, she begins to feel more normal. This book gives you an insight into the sufferings of OCD and anxiety, but also allows you to appreciate words in a new and inspirational way (hint: if you like big, bomb-shell-type twists, this book is for you).
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simpson
Graeme Simpson’s novel The Rosie Project is a story with protagonist that has a Sheldon-Cooper-like quality (don’t worry, you learn to love him). Don Tillman is a genetics professor who has created a questionnaire with the intentions of narrowing down the female population to his perfect match. His plans go slightly off road when he meets Rosie, who goes against all of his desired outcomes but becomes a major part of his life. If you’re feeling like you’re destined to be forever alone, this one should warm your heart. Be sure to read the sequel, The Rosie Effect, too!
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
And last but not least, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. The novel centres around two high school teens: Eleanor and Park. Eleanor is new to the neighbourhood and is completely alone, even at home. Until one day, she decides to sit next to Park on the school bus. Remember your first love? The kind of love that feels like you have everything you could possibly need at the age of 16? This story is an exact depiction of that; it’s sad at times, heart-breaking actually, but the love and devotion that comes through these pages completely outweighs the tear-jerking bits.
Edited by Isabelle Walker