20 Books That Offer Pure Escapism

by Paul Rudnick

If wild queer comedy can somehow be used to thwart evil and bring about world peace, this is the book that will save us. Full review >

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by Leslie Gray Streeter

Funny and silly and incurably romantic. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Full review >

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by Becky Jenkinson

This debut novel is a cozy, magical breath of fresh air. Full review >

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by Meg Shaffer

Catnip for anyone who ever wished they could walk around in their favorite book. Full review >

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by Jasper Fforde

A rollicking jumble of plot devices, dad jokes, literary references, existential dread, and pure, joyful silliness. Full review >

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by Will Maclean

Original, mind-bending, terrifying fun. Full review >

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by Rufaro Faith Mazarura

A delightful, warm romance with an exciting, sports-filled, wintry setting. Full review >

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by Jenny Jackson

This easy read combines a literary rom-com with an acute portrait of midlife among millennials. Full review >

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by Emma Straub

A delightfully nostalgic novel about how the things we loved in the past have the power to shape our future. Full review >

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by Amy Coombe

Get ready to fall for your new favorite cozy fantasy. Full review >

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by Barry Blanchard

Vicariously thrilling for armchair—and actual—alpinists. Full review >

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by Susan Baur

An impassioned memoir of self-discovery and enchantment. Full review >

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by Ben Hatke ; illustrated by Ben Hatke

A beautifully melancholic, ultimately hopeful romance of a travelogue. Full review >

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by Eric Idle

A sunny celebration of a life well lived in the South of France—except for the bloody plumbing. Full review >

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by Dave Karger

Lively insights into memorable movies. Full review >

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