6 books that feel like a hug

Lately, it’s been hard for me to pick up books that are too heavy. All I want to do is escape into feel-good fictional worlds, since the real world is still a trash heap and continues to get worse every day. I think we could all use a hug right now. So today I’m recommending to you six books that feel like a hug.

What does “feels like a hug” mean anyway? For me, it’s one of those things that’s hard to describe, but you know it when you read it. It’s the feeling when you’re reading that the book is wrapping you up in its pages and telling you it’s going to be okay. It might be a little sad, a little bittersweet, but it always leaves you feeling better than before. Since many of us can’t actually hug all the people we want to, I hope these books can act as a nice (though hopefully short-lived) replacement.

Oh, and before we go on, reminder that you should go vote in the 2020 Book Blogger Awards! Your girl is nominated for Best Adult Blogger and Best Recommendations, and I would love your vote. ❤ Although the other bloggers nominated for those categories are amazing so tbh it’s a win-win all around. Voting is open until this Sunday, August 16th!)

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The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

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This is the book that inspired this post, since every time I think about it, I can feel my heart growing ten sizes. It follows Linus, a social worker sent to check on a remote orphanage full of supposedly dangerous magical children. If you like the sound of found family, realistically written kids, standing up to authoritarian rule, and love in every form, then this is the book for you. I literally cried my way through the ending, not because it’s sad, but because I had never been happier.

(In fact, on my staff recommendation at work, I even say that this book feels like a hug, and a customer who bought it later told me that it’s the perfect description. So if you don’t trust me, trust them. 😉)

my review | goodreads | bookshop

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver

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The combination of that title and that cover should make this an obvious choice. This book follows a nonbinary teen named Ben who is kicked out of their parents’ home when they come out. Moving in with their older sister, they are forced to start over at a new school. Even though this book certainly deals with tough subjects like transphobia, anxiety, and unsupportive parents, it’s all handled with such care that it never (in my opinion) feels overwhelming. The best word I have to describe this book is soft, because it’s so full of bittersweet hope and healing.

my review | goodreads | bookshop

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

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This book comes out in only a month, get excited! (My review is like 85% written — I promise I’ll post it soon!) I really could include almost any of Nina LaCour’s books on this list, but this one feels most like a hug to me. It follows a girl named Mila who leaves the foster care system and goes to work at a farm by the sea, taking care of other foster kids. Character-focused and atmospheric, and with a hint of fabulism, it follows Mila’s journey of finding a home for the first time. Although this book also touches on heavier topics like abuse and trauma, it’s all about recovery and found family, and the beautiful writing turns even the simplest things into moments of beauty.

goodreads | bookshop

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

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Who would I be if I didn’t include Heartstopper in a recommendations post?? So in case you somehow didn’t already know, this is a webcomic-turned-graphic novel series following two teen boys, Nick and Charlie. They become friends at school, then gradually grow to become more than friends as their relationship deepens. Everything about this graphic novel is sweet and heartfelt and heartwarming. Nick and Charlie — and really all of the characters — are so supportive of each other, which is so lovely to see in a book about teenagers. I don’t know how to read these books without smiling the whole way through.

goodreads | bookshop

Hurricane Season by Nicole Melleby

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No, I’m not going to shut up about this book until more people read it, and that is a promise. This middle grade book follows Fig, a sixth grade with a bipolar, single dad, as they struggle to keep their family together under the threat of child protective services and her dad’s strange fascination with hurricanes. It’s really all about this father-daughter relationship, which is the most heartwarming thing. Their love for each other is so clear, even when they both mess up over and over. I’m pretty sure I actually hugged this book to my chest while I was reading it, so if that’s not enough to convince you that reading this book feels like a hug, I don’t know what will.

my review | goodreads | bookshop

The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum

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Not only does this book feel like a hug, but it’s such a soft and comforting hug that it stays with you long after it’s done. It’s been months and I still haven’t stopped thinking about this book. Following two girls, Ryann and Alexandria, who reluctantly become friends as they sit on a roof listening for radio signals from Alexandria’s astronaut mother, this book is quiet and character-focused and lovely. And there’s a whole cast of wonderful side characters and lots of found family feelings! Not to mention it has one of the most perfect endings I’ve ever read. In conclusion: read this book.

my review | goodreads | bookshop

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You might have noticed that I included links to Bookshop for all of these books! In case you didn’t know, Bookshop is an online bookseller that supports independent bookstores. I recently set up my own affiliate shop and will hopefully be updating it frequently, so maybe go check that out? Sadly, it is US-only at the moment.

What books have you read that feel like a hug? Have you read any of these or do you want to?

x Margaret

goodreads | twitter

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71 thoughts on “6 books that feel like a hug”

  2. I LOVE the idea of this post. I Wish You All the Best and The House in the Cerulean Sea seem great, I HAVE to pick them up! I love that a customer agreed that The House in the Cerulean Sea felt like a hug too. I’ve read Heartstopper and even if I didn’t love it (it felt a bit too cheesy in my opinion), it really felt like a hug.

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  5. The perfect post for these trying times. Sadly I haven’t read any of your recommendations yet, but I’m planning on fixing that soon. The House in the Cerulean Sea sounds so good and like just my kind of book. I can’t wait to get a copy 😄

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  9. Oh this is such a great recommendation post 🥰 The Heartstopper graphic novels are truly like a warm hug, they are all so wholesome 😊 I’m also so excited to read I Wish You All the Best, it sounds so fantastic and I have been wanting to read it for ages!

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  10. This is such an amazing post Margaret!!! I read The Weight of the Stars a few weeks ago and it really does feel like a hug 🤗 It’s kind of sad though too; I may or may not have cried at least once!

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  11. I love this list, Margaret!❤️I’ve also been craving heartwarming books lately and have been reading more fantasy than normal as well in an attempt to escape. I have The House in the Cerulean Sea on hold at the library right now, so this made me even more excited to read it! I didn’t know about Watch Over Me, but it’s now added to my TBR because I’ve really enjoyed other books by Nina LaCour in the past. Thank you for the recommendations, and happy reading! xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Olivia! ❤ I completely relate to your craving for heartwarming books and fantasy. Hooray, I can't wait for you to read The House in the Cerulean Sea!! And I'm so glad I could bring Watch Over Me to your attention — it's truly incredible, like all of Nina LaCour's books.

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  12. Heartstopper sounds like such a delightful book. Definitely need to get round to reading it. So many people have been telling me to pick up a Nina LaCour book. Where’s the best place to start with her catalogue?

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    1. Heartstopper IS delightful! And I really hope you love Nina LaCour’s books 😀 A great place to start is We Are Okay, which is probably the most popular (and my favorite) of her books. But if you’re in the mood for something a little more romcom-ish, I’d recommend Everything Leads to You!

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  13. Ah I love this idea! I’ve heard so much about heartstopper and I’m not someone who reads graphic novels, but that one just sounds so good! Maybe I’ll have to try it 🙂

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  14. I love, love, LOVE I Wish You All the Best, and I agree with what you said – it IS a soft book and I loved how Nathan was the epitome of a sunshine character. I loved all the character so much. I need to read Nina LaCour’s novels! I keep being scared I won’t like them, because I sometimes struggle with slower books, but I’m really curious. Great post!

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    1. IWYATB is the softest, and Nathan truly is sunshine incarnate 😀 Ahh I hope you love Nina LaCour’s books if you decide to try them out! They can be on the slower side, but they always manage to grab me with her writing and the strong characters. Plus, they’re pretty short! Thanks so much ❤

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  17. This is such a lovely list, Margaret!! I loved reading it. I’ve only read Heartstopper of this list (which I do love and am desperately waiting to get my hands on Volume 3) but have been super excited about TJ Klune and Mason Deaver. But also The Weight of The Stars sounds amazing. Can’t wait to read all of these xx

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  18. A book called the swan kingdom by Zoe Marriott (that nobody’s ever heard of but oh well 😅) always feels like a hug for me – it’s the only book I’ve reread over & over again & I honestly know the story so well at this point but I STILL love it? I feel like it was maybe the first YA thing I ever read? And I just remember finding it in a little charity shop for like no money at all 😂

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  19. I’ve only read two of these, and own another, so I definitely need to get on top of this! And seriously, we all definitely do need lots of hugs right now. I’m not usually a huge hugger in real life anyway, but even I’ve started to feel the lack of it!

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  20. We all need a big hug and I loved this list ! I have heard amazing things about all these authors and I read The Wicker King by K.Ancrum and I was a little hesitant to pick up the book The Weight OfThe Stars but I might try it now! Thank you! 🥰

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  21. absolutely love this list! i am 100% the person who only reads books that feel comforting and i can hardly ever stomach hard subjects or heavy reads.

    at first, the house in the cerulean sea didn’t really captivate me, because i am not a fan of middle grade and i thought it was not something for me. but considering the amount of people who love and say they cried reading this book makes me super intrigued. i love reading about found families, so i think i’m going to have to give this one a chance.

    i’ve read the wicker king by k. antrum and that one felt like a punch to the gut. it was hard to read at times and i felt myself feeling so bad for these characters the entire time. i’m glad the weight of stars is a bit of a lighter read!

    lovely list, margaret!

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    1. So glad you enjoyed this! 😀 Ahaha same, especially right now – I just want my books to be wholesome and comforting.

      You should absolutely check out The House in the Cerulean Sea! It’s actually adult, not middle grade, though the cover definitely looks like it could be 😉 If you like found family, I think you’ll love it.

      Oof now I’m nervous about reading The Wicker King! I’m sure I’ll like it, but it sounds like it’ll be intense. Thanks, Lais!

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  25. What a great list and lovely idea for a post! We all need these kind of books that make us feel warm and happy and just, yes to this. Heartstopper is the perfect fit for this! And ahh I can’t wait to read The Weight of our Stars, I have a feeling I’d love it so much ❤

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  27. I absolutely love this post!! Both the concept and the execution are perfection 😀
    Ahhh I have heard so many amazing things about The House in the Cerulean Sea and it feels like I have been waiting in my library queue for it for so long, so this is just another bit of proof that I need to read it as soon as I can.
    Watch Over Me is one of my most anticipated releases for this year and I am so excited to see it on this list!
    I totally agree with you that The Weight of the Stars is like a hug, and that it sticks with you. I read it a couple months ago now and I still feel warm inside when I think about it.
    My top recommendation for a book that feels like a hug is always going to be Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones.

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    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed! 😊 Ahh I can’t wait for you to read House in the Cerulean Sea – hurry up, library! And yesss that’s great to hear that you’re excited for Watch Over Me, since it’s a book I want EVERYONE to read. And I feel exactly the same about The Weight of the Stars!
      Ahh I can’t believe I didn’t think of Howl’s Moving Castle for this list! That’s such a perfect recommendation.

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  33. I so badly want to read The House in the Cerulean Sea! I’ve been hearing so much about, so I’m eager to get my hands on it.

    I haven’t read any of Nina Lacour’s books (yet) though I’ve been wanting to for a long time. Her work seems so emotionally heavy that I know I’ll need to be emotionally prepared for them.

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  34. I LOVE this post!! Thank you for all the recommendations! I haven’t read a book in a month :(( because I’ve had NO time but hopefully I can get myself out of this slump by reading a fluffy book. I’m thinking ‘The Weight of the Stars” so I’ll let you know how I like it !!

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  35. Love this post, Margaret!! Thank you so much for these wonderful recommendations, I’m definitely wanting to read heartwarming books that feel like a hug rn ❤ I'm especially excited to read The House in the Cerulean Sea – I've heard nothing but amazing things about it. And Hurricane Season sounds wonderful – I've been wanting to read more middle grade lately because they're always so sweet and warm my heart 😊

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  37. So many books that I really want to get to! The only one I’ve read is Heartstopper, and I completely agree! They are just so sweet and instantly make me happier!

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