The joy of getting lost in a good book is unparalleled. Enveloped by new worlds, and challenged by fresh ideas; you laugh, sometimes cry; find comfort, and relief, and sometimes simply find yourself lost in the beauty of clever wordplay.

However, after resonating so closely with a book, or when you’re struggling to get back into the habit, it can be difficult to decide exactly what to read next . So, we’ve created a list of our favourite life-affirming books we think you should read right now . Books that feel thoughtful, comforting, and endlessly inspiring.

Between our selection of fiction and non, poetry and prose, we’ve included a range of genres to make sure there’s something for each of you.

Thirteen Ways to Smell a Tree by David George Haskell
Feeling a bit disconnected? This book leans on the sense most aligned with our emotions and memories in an effort to reconnect us with ourselves and the world around us. A short, contemplative, yet highly practical read told through thoughtful prose and scientific discovery.

Another Way to Split Water by Alycia Pirmohamed
Language dances across the pages to paint the most striking imagery throughout this book of poetry. Exploring the ebb and flow and impact of ancestral memory told in stories throughout different generations. Exploring womanhood, belonging, faith, intimacy, and the natural world.

Wintering by Katherine May
A poignant and comforting meditation on the power of choosing to repair ourselves through rest and retreat.

If you’ve read and enjoyed Wintering as much as we did, you may also be looking forward to May’s upcoming release, Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age .

Home Body by Rupi Kaur
A raw collection of poignant conversations with oneself. Short poems, accompanied by simple illustrations, each page feels like a gentle reflection of the human condition. We love a powerful collection of short poems, as they’re a wonderful book to keep by your side for whenever you feel the need for a bit of honest comfort.

How to be a Good Creature: A Memoir in Thirteen Animals by Sy Montgomery
A reflection on the personalities of thirteen different creatures and the lessons to be learned from ones outside of ourselves. This life-affirming and gently profound book will have you smile, cry, and remember how beautiful it is to be alive.

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
A magical and utterly timeless piece of literature. There’s a reason so many people talk about, teach, dissect, and write songs in reference to this book. If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, this is your sign to pop over to your local bookshop and dive in.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
A thoughtful novel exploring the importance of valuing the people (and creatures) who decorate our journey through life. Funny, hopeful, and not without moments that may have you shed a tear, this book is a beautiful reminder of how acts of love – both grand and small – can transform our lives.