Books to Read When You Feel like Everything is Bad and We’re all Just Worm Food

In times where my endless angst and nihilism take hold in my life, I often turn to literary fiction to soften me, to remind me that while I overarchingly believe very little matters and we are all just worm food, there is so much good in the world, and that matters. Kindness matters. Connection matters.

I am not one for sappy books or heartfelt moments, refer to that first paragraph, but I am rather oddly tethered to this earth almost solely by stories of unlikely friendships and acts of kindness amongst strangers. Bonus points if there is a grumpy old man and a dog.

Here are some books that make my grinch heart grow three sizes broken into categories because I think that’s a funny way to do it instead of summaries, but if I receive feedback saying I need summaries I will reupload this with said changes and pretend like I did it that way from the start because I am perfect. Grumpy Old Men With a Soft Spot for an Unlikely Pal

1. A Man Called Ove, By Fredrik Backman

• I know this isn’t helpful, but I’m sorry, Tom Hanks is not Ove. Not nearly fussy looking enough.

2. Fairy Tale, By Stephen King

• Don’t be dissuaded by King’s typical work, this is literary fiction at its finest and one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s a twist on Grimm Fairy tales, which I know what you’re thinking, but it’s completely unlike any other take on this trope. It’s beautiful and moving and so engaging. I am desperately hoping this gets picked up as a film so it can win every award in the world.

Highly Particular Older Women Who Finally Receive The Love and Acceptance They Deserve

1. Britt-Marie Was Here, By Fredrik Backman

• I would read “My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She’s Sorry” First. They’re independent books, but they’re cannon, and I think it was so much more impactful to see her as a side character before you learn her story. Such a good book. As always for Backman.

2. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

• This book feels like a love letter to all the neurodivergent women who have been categorically misunderstood to just be unreasonable and fussy. I love you Eleanor.

A Human and an Animal Become Really Lovely Friends

1. Amazingly Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt

• This book has some of the best character development I’ve ever seen. It’s so tender but not in a cheesy way, it’s such a feel good read.

2. Fairy Tale, By Stephen King

• See above, I love this book so much I am going to keep mentioning it. It has everything you could want.

Harmless Hijinks and Everyone is Nice But Not in a Boring Way

1. Anxious People, By Fredrik Backman

• This book has the Backman everyone is connected and everyone is just doing their best and everyone is kind classic style I love so much from him. Accidental Hostage situation is such a funny prompt for such a shockingly deep book. Backman perfectly balances humor and humanity.

2. The Accidental Adventures of a 100 Year Old Man, by Jonas Jonasson

• A man who has never experienced anxiety in his 100 years of life and everyone is so kind and silly.

Books That Remind You That Everything isn’t All Bad

1. The People We Keep, by Allison Larken

• This is a really lovely reminder of all the people who have loved you and offered you love in your life.

2. Beartown, By Fredrik Backman (TW: SA although it’s handled really well, this isn’t like a Colleen Hoover SA warning, but just so you know)

• All of Backman’s work has this central theme surrounding the good in everyone in such a lovely not at all preachy way. It’s seamless and exceptional. This book is about a hockey town, but it’s so much more. I could not care less about much than hockey and I love this entire series.

3. By the Book, By Jasmine Guillory

• This is the sweetest romance book ever and the main character is so likeable it just feels happy, I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was so wonderful.

Oops Thought About Global Warming and Or the Political Sphere and Now My Tummy Hurts

1. The Anthropocene Reviewed, By John Green

• John Green is the ultimate, the world will be okay and you will be okay and things are still bad but there’s beauty in all of everything, author and I love him very much.

2. Groundskeeping, by Lee Cole (This book isn’t a political book by any means, but if you have loved ones with opposing political views, this book touches on that in a way that really helped me reframe the dissonance I felt within those relationships.) BONUS CATEGORY Grumpy Old Man With a Soft Spot For an Unlikely pal and an A Human and An Animal Become Really Lovely Friends

1. My Grandmother Told Me to Tell you She’s Sorry, By Frederick Backman

2. Fairy Tale, By Stephen King

I hope you consider picking up one of these titles next time you feel a little too much like worm food. Every single one of these books has felt like such a gift to have the opportunity to have read.