Crib Notes: 6 Soothing Reads for Anxious Times

My Twitter timeline is teeming with lockdown reading recommendations. Time to tackle War and Peace! Finally a chance to read Proust...in French!  However, if you are a tired, time-poor parent, reading something so ‘improving’ might seem as ambitious as sourcing dried yeast in Sainsburys right now. Nevertheless, reading can be a much-needed distraction from worrisome headlines; a source of companionship if you are lonely; a mood-lifter if you are sad, and a joy ride if you are bored. In this issue of Crib Notes, I have chosen six of my favourite comfort reads. From historical romps to wickedly funny short stories, these are low-effort, high-enjoyment books which can be dipped into during episodes of Octonauts and put back down in time for finger-painting. Whether you are struggling to balance WFH with baby-wrangling or trying to fill endless days, empty of coffee dates and toddler groups, you will find something here to suit your reading needs. 

A NOTE ON SENSITIVE CONTENT: After having my baby, I found some subjects more upsetting. For some reviews, I have flagged ‘sensitive’ content so that you can take your mental and emotional state into consideration when choosing what to read. 

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6 Soothing Books for Anxious Times

When You Read This by Mary Adkins

A novel told through emails, online therapy sessions and accidental text-messages, When You Read This is a hilarious, pitch-perfect rom-com about finding love in an age of autocorrect. For four years, Iris Massey worked side-by-side with PR mogul Smith Simonyi, helping rap artists of shorter stature and celebrity plastic surgeons perfect their branding. But Iris died of a rare type of cancer, leaving Smith bereft. Months later, Carl – an overbearingly keen intern with terrible email etiquette – uncovers a ‘dblog’ that Iris wrote before she died, musing on a life unfulfilled. Smith immediately sets out to publish Iris’s blog, but to do so, he must get the approval of Iris’s sister Jade. Thrown together by mutual loss, Smith and Jade begin to grow close, and in doing so, each of them is forced to confront their own emotional baggage. Delightful – I adored this millenial update on You’ve Got Mail!
When to read: I normally shudder whenever I encounter the term ‘UpLit’ referring to cheering reading books, but with its charm and sparkling wit, When You Read This is a genuine mood-booster. 
How To Consume: Sneak in a few chapters on Kindle or the Kindle app if you’re particularly pressed for time. If you want to support a bookshop, opt for the gorgeous paperback edition.
Sensitive Content: When You Read this is, amongst other things, a novel about bereavement, though it handles the subject sensitively.
What to Read Next: Maria Semple’s gloriously zany Where’d You Go Bernadette?