The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Fiction

I have heard so many mixed views on this one but I am still interested.

This sharp, big-hearted novel follows one unexpected wedding guest and the unlikely connections that help her begin again.

On a perfect day in Newport, Rhode Island, Phoebe Stone walks into the elegant Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels—alone, without luggage, and completely out of place. Everyone assumes she’s part of the wedding taking over the hotel, but Phoebe is actually the only person there who isn’t celebrating. She’s come to the Cornwall because it’s a place she once dreamed of visiting with her husband. Now she’s arrived without him, at her lowest point, intent on treating herself to one last indulgent escape.

At the same time, the bride has meticulously planned every moment of her wedding weekend, anticipating every possible problem—except Phoebe. And despite their differences, the two women find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other, sharing secrets neither planned to reveal.

Both hilarious and deeply moving, The Wedding People by Alison Espach explores how life rarely follows the route we expect—and how chance meetings can quietly, profoundly change the direction we’re headed.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Thriller

Debbie Mullen is known for giving advice to women facing troubled marriages. But when her own world begins to unravel—with a lost job, family troubles, and a husband keeping secrets—she decides she’s had enough.

For once, Debbie isn’t focused on fixing everyone else’s problems. She’s ready to stand up for herself, and some people are about to learn that actions have consequences.

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Romance

Debate and rivalry fuel the competition between Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, two of hockey’s biggest stars. As captains of opposing teams, they’re fierce competitors whenever they step onto the ice, each determined to outplay the other.

But away from the spotlight, their relationship is far more complicated. What begins as a secret attraction quickly grows into something deeper, making it harder to keep their connection hidden from teammates, fans, and the media.

With careers, reputations, and leadership roles on the line, Shane and Ilya must decide whether protecting their secret is worth the cost—or if it’s time to stop hiding and face the consequences together.

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Thriller

Eden Fox is finally on the verge of achieving her dream when a routine morning run turns her world upside down. Returning home, she discovers that her key no longer works, another woman is living in her house, and her husband claims the stranger—not Eden—is his wife. Suddenly, everything she thought she knew is called into question.

Months earlier, Birdy arrives in the seaside town of Hope Falls after unexpectedly inheriting an old house called Spyglass. While trying to rebuild her life after receiving devastating news, she uncovers unsettling secrets connected to her family history and a mysterious clinic that claims it can predict the date of a person’s death.

As the lives of these two women become intertwined, hidden truths begin to surface. Filled with twists, secrets, and shocking revelations, this suspenseful thriller keeps readers questioning what’s real until the very end.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Fiction

This was my favorite book of 2025 and you can read what I say about it there!

What if the letters we send and receive are fragments of a life carefully pieced together over time—small moments preserved, waiting to matter to someone someday?

The Correspondent is a quiet, beautifully observed novel about the comfort of books, the power of human connection, and the way words can carry meaning far beyond their moment. It explores the confidence of youth, the clarity that comes with age, and the mix of regret and grace that shapes a lifetime.

For Sybil Van Antwerp, letter writing has always been her way of understanding the world. Nearly every morning, she sits down to write—to her brother, her closest friend, a university president denying her the chance to audit a class, and even to authors whose work stirs strong opinions. There is also one letter she returns to again and again, a letter she never sends.

Sybil believes her life is settled and complete. She has been many things—mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, accomplished lawyer—and expects her days to continue much as they always have. But when unexpected letters from her past reopen old wounds, Sybil is forced to confront a painful chapter she has long avoided. To move forward, she must finally reckon with the words she’s been holding back and find the courage to offer forgiveness.

Sybil’s life, preserved in letters, may seem small at first glance—but she is a character who lingers long after the final page.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Fiction

One spring morning, a mysterious stranger appears in the small southern town of Golden. No one knows where he came from—or what he’s looking for.

His name is Theo, and he asks far more questions than he answers.

Drawn to a local coffeehouse, Theo discovers a collection of ninety-two pencil portraits lining the walls—sketches of Golden’s residents created by a local artist. One by one, Theo buys the portraits and returns them to the people they depict. Each simple act sparks a conversation, forges an unexpected connection, and quietly changes a life.

A tender story about both giving and receiving, Theo of Golden explores what it means to truly see one another. It’s a gentle, beautifully told novel about generosity, curiosity, and the small, unseen acts of kindness that connect us all.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Historical Fiction

Joan Goodwin has looked to the stars for as long as she can remember. Quiet and introspective, she’s content with her life teaching physics and astronomy at Rice University and spending time with her bright, curious niece, Frances—until she spots a call for the first group of women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, the life she’s accepted no longer feels big enough.

Chosen from thousands of applicants in 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center alongside a remarkable and unexpected group. There’s Hank Redmond, a skilled test pilot with nerves of steel, and John Griffin, a steady, good-natured scientist. Lydia Danes is fiercely driven and unapologetically demanding, while Donna Fitzgerald brings warmth even as she carries secrets of her own. And then there’s Vanessa Ford—brilliant, fearless, and endlessly intriguing—an aeronautical engineer who can fly anything and fix everything.

As the group pushes themselves toward their first missions, deep bonds form, and Joan discovers both a passion and a love she never anticipated. With her world expanding in ways she never imagined, she begins to rethink who she is and where she belongs in the vastness of the universe.

But in December 1984, during mission STS-LR9, everything changes in a single, devastating moment.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Science Fiction

Ryland Grace wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. He doesn’t know his name, his mission, or the stakes—only that he’s been asleep for a very long time and that the two people who were supposed to be with him are dead.

As his memories slowly return, Ryland begins to understand the horrifying truth: he’s the lone survivor of a last-ditch mission to save humanity. The ship he’s on was pieced together by nations across the globe and launched into deep space with one purpose—to stop a threat capable of wiping out life on Earth. And now, the responsibility rests entirely on him.

Facing an impossible problem millions of miles from home, Ryland must rely on science, ingenuity, and sheer determination to survive. And when he encounters an unexpected ally, hope flickers where none should exist.

Blending scientific intrigue with a thrilling space adventure, Project Hail Mary is a gripping story of discovery, resilience, and survival—pushing far beyond familiar territory into places no one saw coming.

People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry

Romance

Poppy and Alex couldn’t be more different. She’s adventurous and always looking for her next destination, while he’s happiest with a quiet life and a good book. Yet despite their differences, they’ve been inseparable friends ever since meeting in college.

For ten years, they shared an annual summer getaway, creating memories that became the highlight of each year. Then one trip changed everything, and the friendship they’ve always relied on came to an abrupt halt.

Now, feeling unfulfilled despite having the life she thought she wanted, Poppy realizes her happiest moments were spent with Alex. Determined to repair what was broken, she persuades him to take one more vacation together.

As they revisit old memories and unspoken feelings, both must confront the truth they’ve avoided for years. Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t losing a friendship—it’s admitting it could have been something more all along.

Heart the Lover by Lily King

Fiction

As a college senior, a young woman finds herself drawn into the lives of two brilliant classmates, Sam and Yash. Their friendship introduces her to a world filled with literature, intellectual debates, laughter, and dreams for the future. As the bond between the three deepens, emotions become complicated, and choices made during those formative years will leave lasting marks on all of their lives.

Years later, she has built a life far removed from those unforgettable days. But when unexpected news forces her to revisit the past, long-buried memories and unresolved truths come rushing back. Confronting the decisions she once made may be the only way to find peace with the person she has become.

A thoughtful and emotionally rich novel about friendship, love, regret, and second chances, this story explores the relationships that shape us and the lasting impact they can have across a lifetime.

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Fiction

On a remote island near Antarctica, Dominic Salt and his children live in near isolation as the last caretakers of a vital seed bank designed to protect the future of plant life. As rising seas threaten their home, a violent storm brings an unexpected arrival—a woman named Rowan who washes ashore under mysterious circumstances.

As the family helps Rowan recover, her presence begins to change the atmosphere on the island. Yet both Rowan and Dominic are hiding important truths. When unsettling discoveries reveal that not everything is as it seems, trust becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.

With powerful storms closing in and tensions mounting, the island’s inhabitants must work together to safeguard the seeds entrusted to them while confronting the secrets and losses that continue to haunt them. Set against a dramatic and unforgiving landscape, this story blends suspense, survival, and the enduring bonds that connect people in extraordinary circumstances.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Classics

First published in 1847, Wuthering Heights is the only novel written by Emily Brontë. Set on the windswept Yorkshire moors, the story takes its name from the isolated manor where much of the drama unfolds.

At its heart is the intense and complicated relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw. Their deep love for one another is shaped by pride, circumstance, and painful choices, leaving both unable to find lasting happiness. As the years pass, the consequences of their unresolved feelings ripple through the lives of those around them, creating a powerful tale of love, loss, revenge, and heartbreak.

In conclusion

If you need to find something that just makes you laugh or gives you joy this is the perfect book list!

What book do you consider a comfort read?

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