Bad days happen. Sometimes they involve a series of mishaps or things going wrong, such as commuting issues or technology that breaks down for no reason. Sometimes we wake up with a low mood, with no particular trigger for our bad day. And sometimes, if you suffer from depression, every day can be a bad day.

One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that taking ownership of our health, mental and physical is important. Doing what we can to maintain our wellbeing helps, even in a small way. Exercise, eating well (most of the time) and avoiding alcohol works for me. Reading too, gives my busy brain a short holiday and helps me to see that life isn’t all bad. Light can be found, even in the darkest places.

Here are 5 of my favourite uplifting reads:

The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson

My favourite living writer is Bill Bryson. I’ve read and re-read every one of his books multiple times, for the simple reason that they are hilarious!

No one makes me laugh like Bill. Yes, he’s a bit rude for some tastes, and his travel books all follow a similar format: he travels to a location, finds a hotel/bed and breakfast, goes out for a meal and explores the area. But each trip is made memorable by his observations and frequently hilarious exploits. Laughter really is the best medicine, and I’ve often found myself laughing out loud at Bill and his sharp wit. (Sometimes on public transport!)

His most famous book is Notes on a Small Island, his tour of England which is considered one of the finest works on British identity ever written. But my favourite has always been The Lost Continent : Travels in Small Town America, because a) it’s funnier, and b) I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps, flying to America, renting a car and driving from state to state, in search of the perfect small town. Does he find it? I’ll leave it to you to find out, but this book is a heartwarming exploration of home, memories, good food and history that only gets better with each re-read.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Trigger warning: it begins with an attempted suicide.

Come back!

I’ve long been a fan of Matt Haig, since reading his memoir Reasons to Stay Alive in 2020. He’s refreshingly honest about his mental health, and his Instagram page is frequently a source of guidance, support and some very funny observations.

His novels are worth a read too. In this one, Nora is going through a terrible time. She’s recently lost her Mom, been made redundant from her job in a record shop, her wedding has been called off, she’s fallen out with her brother. Believing that she has nothing left to live for, she decides to end her life.

Waking up in a library, the friendly librarian tells Nora that every book on the shelves is another version of her life, determined by the choices she’s made. If she can find a better version of her life, she can stay there. If not, she is free to pass on to the afterlife. In one version she’s a rock star, in another she’s a scientist, in another we find out what would have happened if she’d married her fiance. And so it goes.

This is a divisive book – those who dislike it REALLY dislike it – but I loved it. It was funny, sad and kept me gripped from the beginning. It’s the perfect introduction to Matt Haig, and worth a read before the (long gestating) movie version is released.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink”

Great novels start with a great first line, and Dodie Smith’s 1948 novel has one of the most famous. Through a 6 month period in 1934, Smith’s heroine Cassandra Mortmain keeps a journal filled with thoughts, observations and humour about the life of her eccentric family. It’s the quintessential coming of age tale, filled with first love, longing and ambition. It’s a lovely, easy read, and perfect for bad days.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The perfect uplifting read for book lovers, because it’s about reading! The power of a good book underpins this lovely story set in rural Depression-era Kentucky. And its based on a true story too!

The Packhorse Librarians were a remarkable group of women, who distributed books on horseback to the residents of their town, often travelling for miles in terrible weather. Dedicated to their roles, the women distribute knowledge, facts and works set in faraway lands to people who have never had access to books, changing lives and perceptions in the process.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

One night in 2019, I was fed up. I’d been re-reading the same types of books for months and I was stuck in a reading rut. I found myself idly googling for inspiration, and came across the concept of Reading Challenges. In case you’ve never done one, a Reading Challenge is just that : a series of reading prompts (usually 52 – one book for each week of the year), that encourage the reader to read widely and sample new genres. Since then, I’ve never looked back! It was from here that Book and a Brew was born, and the reason I rarely re-read these days – why bother when there are so many great books out there?

Where’d You Go Bernadette was the first book in the first Reading Challenge I read (I think the prompt was A Book That Became A Movie). I finished it in 4 days! Strangely enough, I don’t remember it being particularly brilliant. But it was enjoyable, and a new experience for me. I think my brain was so starved of something new to read that I devoured it ravenously.

Maria Semple’s short-ish, easy read is a mystery novel with humourous elements. Bernadette is quite simply, a square peg in a round hole. A talented architect with a genius level knack for design, she’s also a wife and mother to 15 year old Bee. Disliked by the other mothers at school, feeling lonely and desperate, she disappears without trace. Spoiler alert: it’s not a murder mystery. Double spoiler alert: read the book before you see the film, which blithely ignores the mystery element and spoils the whole thing in the first few minutes. Read it as a cosy mystery with tragi-comic elements, and you may just find yourself ploughing through it as quickly as I did.

What are your favourite uplifting reads?