What is your favorite comfort book series? Those books you always go back to and re-read, that give you the warm and fuzzies, that get you through a tough time.
Was thinking about picking up my Harry Potter books, but figured I could try something new. Leave suggestions!
Ah, me too. Just finished a reread last week. :)
Mine too!!!!! It's always like you are reciting a poem whenever you read Tolkien's works.
Aw this makes me want to read it.
Currently re-reading, it's masterfully paced, the prose is beautiful, it's fun but also tense at times. It really is a perfect little book! If only the movies could have captured the magic...
Discworld.
Can’t ever go wrong with any of them, but especially the Night Watch ones, imo.
I’d say as a subset of the overall series, the Night Watch books are my favorite. But for the one solo that I’ll go to first, it’s got to be Mort.
Everyone loves the night watch but it's the one subseries I'm having a hard time getting into
I’ve been thinking of starting discword but I can’t figure out what order to read the books or where to find them
Start with Mort. They're easy to find at any bookstore or order on Amazon or something. It really doesn't matter that much where you start , but Mort is a common entry point. It is the fourth book overall.
Same
I’ve finally started the series! I’ve read The Color of Magic a couple times but later this week I’ll start The Light Fantastic & continue on from there ◡̈
Percy Jackson tbh lol. I’m almost 30 but I still love the books. If I want something longer, Eragon. If I’m ready to commit to reading 13 books, A Series of Unfortunate Events. I think my comfort books stem from what I liked reading as a kid (even though Unfortunate Events isn’t necessarily comforting or happy, I still enjoy it).
Finally I found someone else who likes eragon, its my favorite series from when i was a young teen and so it will always have a place in my heart
Eragon & the inheritance cycle is where it’s at!! Almost 30 and it remains one of my favourites. Have you read the new book Murtagh that came out in November?
Percy Jackson for me as well! I’m 25 and still re-read the series once a year
Same!! 26 here, read it every Xmas
I'm in my mid 30s and read Percy Jackson for the first time last year. Wow I missed a great series growing up! It's great and holds up in my opinion.
Anne of Green Gables!
This is mine!
My favorite book amongst the series has changed often over my life, but it’s a series I always come back to. I’ve been settled into Rilla of Ingleside as my most favorite of the series for many years now, but I know when I was younger it fluctuated a lot!
Yes! I recently re-read them since my childhood. Lovely books!
Yes! Anything by LM Montgomery works for me. Pat of Silver Bush and The Story Girl are my top comfort reads 🥰
Emily of New Moon is mine.
Yes! This series was the definition of "cosy" when I was a teen.
The Netflix series Anne with an E gives me the same feels.
Ok, I was scared to watch it because I was afraid it wouldn't be the same feels, but you've convinced me!
It deviates at one point from the books and adds new characters but I love the stories and new people! It's also a bit darker at times, but still has that countryside whimsy.
Same
Same😩❤️
Yess. I can’t even remember how many times I have re-read it
I was scrolling for this! Always Anne of Green Gables.
Agatha Christie books especially the Miss Marple ones
Mon Ami, the grey cells and St Mary Mead.
Do you have to read them in order? / how do you suggest starting them?
You don't have to read them in order, the only thing I would suggest is reading the book where the character is introduced first. For the Poirot books this is "The Mysterious Affair at Styles". And for the Miss Marple books the first novel is "Murder at the Vicarage" and there is a short story collection even before that called "Thirteen Problems" or something. The only reason why you should maybe read them first is because it introduces some characters which reappear in some later books but it doesn't really matter if you choose your own order.
A Series of Unfortunate Events. Love the melancholy
They're so quirky.
Lockwood & Co. by Jonathon Stroud. I’ve only read the full series once, but before I got the rest of the series for Christmas my sophomore(?) year of high school I had already read the first book five times. It’s a great series that I think deserves the same amount of fame as the Harry Potter series, and I don’t mean that lightly because I was also a huge Harry Potter fan growing up. :)
Such a good series! I was super disappointed when the TV series didn’t get renewed :(
Omg same!
I really enjoy Larry McMurtrey’s Lonesome Dove series. I read LD first but I crack up at young Gus and Call in Comanche Moon and Dead Man’s Walk. It really draws you into Texas history about 150 years ago. Texas Rangers fighting Comanches like Quanah Parker and Peta Nacona. Captives, settlers, rustlers, hangings. All told with Mr. McMurtrys peculiar wit.
I also like “Anything For Billy”
Yes!! Lonesome Dove is my favorite book. I still haven’t read the others in the series
I think you’d enjoy them although if you’re like me you’ll notice some continuity issues with certain things. Mostly I think it’s just that LD was written first and Mr. McMurtry forgot little details that he’d previously written
Just checked out Streets of Laredo from my library. Finishing up The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and I’ll start it. I’m excited!
Outlander!
This is mine! Read through twice. Almost through book 9 for the first time now. I don't want it to end!
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
All of Abby Jimenez’s books. Start with Friend Zone and go in order from there. Easter eggs throughout.
Pride and Prejudice, Twilight
Little House on the Prairie have been a comfort read since childhood.
The number one ladies detective agency books
Any book written by David Sedaris.
“Theft by finding “ as an audio book has become mine, found a copy of it on CD years ago and it just plays in the background on car rides
Anne of Green Gables. Great book. I read it every other year.
Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend! They truly have those magical, cozy Harry Potter vibes!
I picked these up at a thrift store after seeing them there for weeks and I'm excited to read them!
Sookie Stackhouse. I think too much now though and nit pick it.
Can’t believe this one hasn’t been mentioned yet, but Harry Potter. I’m a 35 year old man and those first few books especially bring me back 20 years.
OP mentioned Harry Potter lol. So I think replies are giving alternate suggestions!
See that now. Whoops!
Or if OP would like to shake it up, Harry Potter audiobooks! Listened to the Jim Dale narration for the first time recently and it is a game changer
Same! I’m 30, and I still love those books!
All Creatures Great and Small series. Heartwarming and engaging. Author is James Herriot.
The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
I've only read the first one and I loved it. How do the rest compare?
Tough to beat Shadow of the Wind, but the whole series is great, and has some backstory in other books. I think it’s all outstanding, I love the series.
Anne of Green Gables.
The Narnia books helped me keep sane when my mom passed. And I do find LaVyrle Spencer’s books to be very comforting.
Hunger games without a doubt
Nothing like the comfort of children forced to murder each other in a dystopian hellscape! 😊
Hey, there’s no need for comfort shaming here!
That's not what the story is all about you know!
The Maisie Dobbs mystery series!
The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
I started these recently and they are so sweet and cozy! I’ve read the first 5 so far.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide series
Oh man, how did I forget Douglas Adams?!!
Earths Children.
Jean Auel’s books?
My first thought too
The farseer trilogy
I don’t “always” go back and read anything, but I would qualify The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia as my comfort books should I need them.
Narnia! 🖤
The “Make Way for Lucia” stories by EF Benson.
Harry Potter during the winter months. Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles any other time out of the year. I can escape into those worlds and block out all of reality.
I'm so surprised to not be finding Neil Gaiman books on this thread! Stardust has to be an absolute favorite comfort read for me. For other authors, Uprooted by Naomi Novik and The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
The strange case files of origami yoda. I just love all of the characters they all have such strong personalities, but in a really heartwarming way. It’s so funny, and feels very real. I also love the message that you can be weird and different while still being loved and apprecited
I’m a school librarian and love to recommend this series!
Dune by Frank Herbert. Still my favorite book!
Anne of green gables
Sookie Stackhouse series
Nevermoor, as noted above, and the Lady Sherlock books by Sherry Thomas.
The Locked Tomb series by Tamsyn Muir
Amazing stuff.
Ranger apprentice 100%
The Thursday Murder club series. I also listen to the audio books when I’m going to sleep when I need comfort .
Pillars of the earth! It soothes me. Time moves along ❤️
Charles Dickens and Jane Austen books. Over and over. Then listen to the audiobooks and certainly watch the movies!
Yes yes yes
Gone With the Wind and Scarlett
Frankenstein (Not a series but still)
Dean Koontz’ Frankenstein is a series and it’s one I keep returning to. Love it!
I am 76. My comfort book is The Old Man's War. Get it?
By Scalzi? I read it a long time ago and one of the few things I remember is that when they became younger, there was a lot of fucking. Which made sense to me!
Harry Potter. Just been part of my life since I was 9 years old.
Also the hobbit and LOTR. Those are the two I usually turn to when I’m in a funk
Chronicles of Amber
Honor Harrington, Kate Shugak, Harry Dresden.
the Betsy-Tacy series by Lovelace
Classic Goosebumps!
Inspector Gamache in the 3 pines series by Louise penny.
Not a series, but almost any of Georgette Heyer’s books. They transport me to a different era with their humor, wit and romance. I have the physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks of my favorites.
The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazney
Outlander series
It used to be The Giver and twilight, but I think it'll be Throne of Glass. I just love the world and characters so much
The sherlock holmes novels and stories, the dynamic between Watson and Holmes is always endearing
and there's soo many spin offs (not all good jfc) i really loved the mary russell books, the beekeepers apprentice et al, and there was one where moriarty was the protagonist, they were also really fun
in truth i always found doyle's originals a bit meh the stories and the premise are of course excellent but doyle's prose is kinda stiff even for the victorians
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet
The Dark Tower series..I’ve read it four times through now and I just love it. I usually start in the early fall and there’s nothing better than curling up with the series and a cup of coffee on a cool fall evening
The Farseer Trilogy. Though I wouldn’t say it gives me warm fuzzies.
i've literally just started this again, she writes so well, some things you can just pour into your head and she's seems to be one of them
douglas adam's the same
and roald dahl
LOTR
The Vorkosigan Saga. They are a lot of fun without being comedy books and occasionly quite profound. I like the audiobooks a lot.
The Riddle Master of Hed. Something about it makes me read it at least once a year. My go to series when I’m down for some reason.
The Lunar Chronicles. I related to each of the four main female characters in some way, but the Cinderella fairytale has always been close to my heart and Cinder is one of my favourite adaptations of it. Although I have mostly outgrown YA, this series is one that I frequently come back to.
Harry Potter, Little House, Ramona Quimby
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
I used to be obsessed with this series back in high school! Forgot all about it
Stephanie Plum series. Very formulaic but I love them. Super easy, summer reading kind of books.
The Dark Tower
Harry Potter
Fablehaven
Wereworld
Earth's Children
LOTR
The Sword of Shannara
What is your top 3 out of the 9 in the dark tower? For me is: 1: wizard and glass 2:the drawing of the three 3: the wind through the keyhole Love from Argentina 💞
My top 3 are The Drawing of the Three, The Wastelands and Wizard & Glass, but Wolves of the Calla and The Song of Susannah are right up there. It's so hard to pick favorites lol.
Long days and pleasant nights from Southwestern US. 🌹🗝️🚪
My top two are probably
Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold
Chronicles of St Mary's by Jodi Taylor
The Liaden Universe.
It’s so big and sprawling it’s always nice to catch up with whomever is the focus of the latest.
Magic 2.0 by Scott Meyer. There's 6 books currently. All really funny, and memorable characters. The audiobooks are on a loop in my house.
The Wayward Children series
Not a series, but The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern is my comfort book, I’ve read it probably a dozen times!
The Wandering Inn
The Pendragon series by DJ MacHale
The hunger game books 1-3 for sure
Riyria Revelations by Michael J Sullivan.
Wheel of Time.
Just kidding. It’s not comforting, it’s escapism.
Not a series but pretty much anything by David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs
Robert E Howard’s Conan Of Cimmeria.
Any of Jenny Lawson's memoirs. She's hilarious and relatable.
Or a prayer for Owen meany
Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series
Redwall series!
Mason & Dixon. A goofy tall tale of the best friendship I’ve ever read told by the fireside on a cold winter night. Nothing compares.
The Hobbit, Anne of Green Gables, Chronicles of Narnia, old Nancy Drew novels, Chronicles of St Mary's, Frogmorton Farm series, and The Imaginarium Geographica series. I can't even tell you how many times I've reread each of these but well over 20.
The Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events, and the Miss Peregrine series
I’ve always loved Eragon, and I usually read it when I’m in a book slump
The Starbound trilogy 1000% is my comfort read. I've read it hundreds of times. The first book especially is my favorite. It is my roman empire and I will never not recommend this series. Each book alternates between the female and male lead and the way the authors do it is really good. Each book has a different duo of male and female leads but the books constantly intersect with eachother and the leads from the previous book always appear somewhere in the current book you're reading or are refrenced prior to you meeting them and in the 3rd book all of their destinies intersect and they all wind up at the same place and are all connected in some way, shape or form in a masterfully woven web.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The first five books of the Liaden series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Starting with Agent of Change.
The Mrs. Murphy mystery series by Rita Mae Brown. Love Sneaky Pie and the crew! ;-)
The Dark Tower…I love me some Oy!
Anything by Nora Roberts
The mortal instruments by Cassandra Clare
The Lunar Chronicles - Marissa Meyer. I’ve read this series I think around five times? And I’ll always remember I read the final 800 page book in less than two days because that’s how much I loved it. A fictional future woven with a bit of magic and nostalgic fairytales? Yes please.
Harry Potter always
Tove Jansson's Moomin novels have been my favourite for 40 years. They're gorgeous - magical and cosy and a bit wild (they get wilder and darker as the series progresses).
The author was primarily an artist and her illustrations in the books are wonderful too, just pen and ink but with so much atmosphere.
Don't know about reread, but any time I want to go to my safe place I pick up a Culture book by Iain M. Banks. Funny, action-packed, expansive world building, a bit philosophical, easy to read.
The kingkiller chronicles! I especially love reading about Kvothr’s time in the Edema Ruh and learning magic. Makes me feel fuzzy inside even though it doesn’t last long lol the overall series is still so good. (Now if only pat would finish the third book……)
I don’t often re-read, but I’d say my top three comfort series (in no particular order) are: Liaden series by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. Dreamhealers series by MCA Hogarth - similar “feel” to Liaden. Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold.
The Murderbot Diaries.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimon
(not a series but) Eleanor & Park - it's embarrassing at this point how many times I have read this especially because I am almost 26 years old. It's the most cheesiest high-school love story. But has helped me through break ups and it's just nostalgic as heck for me. 🫠
Series of unfortunate events and Percy Jackson - another peak nostalgia read fests.
Gone Girl - I might be a psychopath ☺️
Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Re-read it all the time.
The clique series by Lisi Harrison, I’ve read every book at least four times and it’s sometimes Ive always gone back to when I need a book to read
Besides HP, I’d say the Shopaholic series (way funnier and better than the movie) and the Angus, Thongs series (so slept on, way way funnier and better than the movie, and most people don’t realize it was a book series first!)
I have a minor in english lit but i still keep coming back to harry potter and percy jackson for comfort
Sherlock Holmes by ACD. I reread the stories every couple of years.
Harry Potter - I reread once a year, usually in the fall. In the car if I’m tired of listening to music I’ll put on the audio books.
Crescent city by Sarah j Maas
The Corinna Chapman mystery series by Kerry Greenwood.
Jack Vance, generally. In order of favorites (favorite on top)
Tschai
Cadwell series
Lyonnesse series
Dying Earth Series
Durdane Series
Demon Princes
The pegasus series. Genuinely think it's one of the most underrated fantasy series
Masters of Rome by Colleen McCullough
Flashman Papers series by George MacDonald Fraser
The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher
Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher
Jd robb
Murderbot Diaries and The Invisible Library series
The Burglar series by Lawrence Block
Jenny Colgan By the Sea series
wildwood
I don't re-read very much (I have anxiety about the size of my TBR) but I find John Williams' Stoner to be very comforting and life-affirming.
If I am looking for a comfort read I tend to pick something genre-y like a cosy crime (Agatha Christie) or a vampire horror novel (as opposed to a vampire romance novel, to be clear. I realise not everyone would find this comforting.)
The Spellman Files series by Lisa Lutz
The Fairyland books by Catherynne Valente, The Thickety series by J.A White, Gormenghast By Mervyn Peake, The Discworld Books
The long price quartet.
Probably the Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony or the Weiss and Hickman Dragonlance books. Both take me back to summers staying up till 3am with my bed's reading lamp as my only light.
The Vinyl Cafe series, my Dad loved the radio show and I read them over and over again right before bed to help me wind down. Feels like a nice warm hug.
Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson
Dork diaries or the maze runner I have all the physical copies in both completed series
Not a series but my comfort book is The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton. It was the first book I read with magic realism and a bittersweet plot. On my second read, I caught things I didn’t notice the first time!
Not a series but Matilda and the Outsiders. Carried me through school. But series wise? PJO or Dork Diaries, Nostalgia at its peak.
The "Abarat" series by Clive Barker
Circe. I want to live on that island sometimes
Clan of the cave bear series
The Hobbit, honestly just the first lines can help at times. "In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."