It’s that time of year again. That time when my entire existence is filled to the brim with ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. There is a lot of spooky content put out in October. I’m not complaining, but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, and I need a break from the darkness. So, today I am going to talk about lighthearted books to read when you’ve had enough spookiness.
There are so many good spooky book releases coming out this October. I created an entire post about it, which you can see here. These are the types of books I love to save for this month, and I rarely veer from them. But this year, because of a prompt in the Hocus Pocus Readathon, I am currently reading a contemporary YA book, and I am loving it. I’m reading American Royals by Katharine McGee, and I appreciate the break from spooky that it gives me.
If you have been reading this blog for a while, you might remember me mentioning last year that I didn’t read a lot of contemporary works. I stick to my fantasy and mystery reads. But you might also remember my goal to expand my reading horizons, and I have spent a lot of time reading books outside of my comfort zone. Because of this, I have found some of my favorite reads.
Well, that trend has continued into 2021, and I have a whole list of non-spooky reads that I would love to recommend for those who are over the spook, mystery, and gore that October brings. Or maybe you don’t like dark reads at all, this is the post for you.
Check out my previous versions of this list of lighthearted books from years previous by clicking here and here.
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Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia has to be one of my favorite lighthearted books I read this year. I adored the two main characters, Eliza and Wallace. The characterization of these two was incredible and their relationship was so well-written. And honestly, I think I just love reading about people who are successful in content creation. As a creator myself, I get a little jealous but still love reading it. This is a super sweet and fast read for anyone who loves fan culture and soft romance.
Click here to read my full review of Eliza and Her Monsters!
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Another story full of fan culture and romance, Geekerella by Ashley Poston is just as soft and adorable as Eliza and Her Monsters. This book is a contemporary romance about Ell, who is a major fan of the sci-fi franchise, Starfield. When Starfield gets a reboot with teen actor, Darien Freeman, Elle isn’t exactly pleased. But she does enter a cosplay contest that gives her a chance to meet this teen heartthrob. This book is a twist on the classic fairytale, Cinderella, and is truly a sweet read. No spookiness here, but a ton of pumpkins.
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
I mentioned this book in last year’s post, but I can’t get enough of it, so I’m mentioning Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann again. This book is about Alice, who just wants to have a good summer after her girlfriend broke up with her because she is asexual. But her plans are thrown out of wack when she meets Takumi at her summer job. I adored the relationship between Alice and Takumi. And the asexual representation was also *chef’s kiss*.
Bonus, if you want a whole list of books with asexual characters, check out this post!
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar
Another fantastic contemporary I read this summer was The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar. What can I say, I’m into the soft adorable romances. This book is about Nishat and Flávia, who have known each other for a long time, and are currently in a war of Henna shops. But soon, Nishat starts to develop a crush on her childhood friend. This book made me smile from ear to ear. I adored the characters and the messy chotic vibes from this book.
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
I read a lot of contemporary this summer didn’t I? You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson is perfect if you love high school drama and romance. When Liz learns she can win a scholarship by winning prom queen, she immediately enters the race. However she soon develops a crush on her competition. I flew through this story, it was lighthearted, sweet, and a great read. The characters were all so loveable, and the drama was relatable.
Click here to purchase this book on Amazon!
This list of lighthearted books to read when you’ve had enough spookiness is jam-packed full with soft romance stories with loveable characters. All of these books are sure to put a smile on your face. They sure did for me.
For me to love a contemporary book, I need really strong characterization. With the absence of any magic, worl-building, or mystery, I need something to hang on to, and a strong sense of character does that for me. So in all these recommendations,expect to get to know the characters well, and have a lot of fun doing it.
Let me know in the comments below what you will be reading to break up all your spookiness this month!
Eliza and Her Monsters and You Should See Me In a Crown are great!! The Henna Wars is on my TBR
I have been finding some really good contemporary reads lately!