84 New Mood-Based Reading Recommendations (Across Genres)

Posted by Sharon on July 10, 2024


Those of us with serious reading habits are already aware of this basic truism: The books we choose to read are often dictated by mood.
 
As in: Sometimes you’re in the mood for a comforting read. Or a love story, or a funny story, or a story that will sweep you away. And sometimes you might be looking for all of the above! In fact, lots of dedicated readers keep multiple books on the nightstand, actual or virtual, for just this reason. 
 
Today’s specially curated collection is dedicated to this concept of mood-based reading recommendations. Our editors have personally sorted through the stacks to create 21 categories featuring specific reading moods and hankerings. It’s highly informal, extremely genre-agnostic, deeply unscientific, and a lot of fun. Scroll down and see for yourself.
 
As always, click on the book cover images for more details about each title, and add any good leads to your Want to Read shelf.
 

I'm in the mood for...feel-good tales of found family

 

I'm in the mood for...books that feel a little like a fever dream

 

I'm in the mood for...books that will make me shiver

 

I'm in the mood for...laugh-out-loud reading

 

I'm in the mood for...dark and twisty tales

 

I'm in the mood for...a good coming-of-age story

 

I'm in the mood for...books set somewhere bucolic

 

I'm in the mood for...books set under the sea

 

I'm in the mood for...books about books

 

I'm in the mood for...books about adventure and misadventure

 

I'm in the mood for...books about working and paying bills

 

I'm in the mood for...books about our robot overlords

 

I'm in the mood for...books about sweeping family dramas

 

I'm in the mood for...books about engrossing true topics 

 

I'm in the mood for...books about something completely fantastical 

 

I'm in the mood for...books about a wee bit of magic (and a curse)

 

I'm in the mood for...books about vacation rentals gone wrong

 

I'm in the mood for...books set at weddings

 

I'm in the mood for...books that will make my mouth water

 

I'm in the mood for...books with titles from song lyrics

 

I'm in the mood for...books set in space

  


Now it's your turn! Let us know what kind of mood reader you are (and what books you select to fit your moods) in the comments below!


Comments Showing 1-26 of 26 (26 new)

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message 1: by Law (new)

Law I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy.


message 2: by Law (last edited Jul 10, 2024 03:32AM) (new)

Law By the way, this list is missing some books. Bad Cree made me shiver. Perhaps read The Wishing Game for a book about books. For sweeping family dramas, try Maame, which was enjoyable. Is Tom Lake any good? I plan to read it.


message 3: by Liliana (new)

Liliana The Book That Wouldn’t Burn is a good fantasy book about books.


message 4: by James (new)

James Gilbert I need to do some serious catching up as I haven't read any on this list! The Wager and Tress of the Emerald Sea are 2 that I've been wanting to read for some time now.


message 5: by Audrey (new)

Audrey Fun list and you know it is a good one when you almost have a book from every category on your own want to read list.


message 6: by Karen (new)

Karen My mood reading: when I’m feeling sad or hopeless, I want books that bring me hope and belief in the goodness of human kindness through the love of God/the universe/creator. Like a Roseanna M White book, or something like The Sensible Shoes Club.


message 7: by Racheli (new)

Racheli Zusiman "Remarkabley Bright Creatures" is not set under the sea, but in an Aquarium, but it's a great and lovely book.


message 8: by Snonono (new)

Snonono Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

You might like All Systems Red by Martha Wells! Sci-fi, novella length, and if you like it there's more in the series.
"Robot overlords" is a bit misleading but it does feature bots of all kinds as well as humans.


message 9: by Allison (new)

Allison Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

Ghost Station by SA Barnes was awesome!!!


message 10: by Claire (new)

Claire Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."
The Book of Doors was really good. Has fantastical/magic elements. It's been one of my favourite reads so far this year!


message 11: by Grey (new)

Grey Eli Harpo was really wonderful. Very feel good


message 12: by Derz (new)

Derz Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

Gideon the Ninth


Wondrously Bookish Cristina I've read 20 of these books and none have been under 3 stars, so I'm confident the other 'want to read' ones will be just as enjoyable.


message 14: by Bee (new)

Bee I am obsessed with these mood based lists! They really help me to hone in on and narrow down what to read next!


message 15: by Kimberly (new)

Kimberly Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

Neither are on this list, but if you're looking for sci fi/fantasy, consider The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin and Rosewater, by Tade Thompson.


message 16: by Tracee (new)

Tracee That was a great list! More mood compilations like this in the future would be appreciated.


message 17: by Robert (new)

Robert Gluck Always happy to see Martha Wells' excellent "All Systems Red" plugged, however, it is not about "our robot overlords"; in fact, it is the exact opposite. It is a about a quasi-robot striving to free itself from its human overlords.

That said, if you haven't read it, read it! You'll love it.


message 18: by Brooke (new)

Brooke Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

Another vote for All Systems Red, and I really loved Legends and Lattes.


message 19: by Reneé (new)

Reneé Lasswell Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

I'd recommend the Book of Doors. I enjoyed the adventure of it.


message 20: by Barbara (new)

Barbara Racheli wrote: ""Remarkabley Bright Creatures" is not set under the sea, but in an Aquarium, but it's a great and lovely book."

One of my all time favorite books.


message 21: by Joann (new)

Joann Hoon Pirko I get moods for books about old or abandoned/inherited houses with a secret.


message 22: by Mand (new)

Mand Wtf? Incredibly Bright Creatures is not “a book set under the sea”.


message 23: by Renee (new)

Renee Austin Law wrote: "By the way, this list is missing some books. Bad Cree made me shiver. Perhaps read The Wishing Game for a book about books. For sweeping family dramas, try Maame, which was enjoyable. Is Tom Lake a..."

Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

Tom Lake is fabulous. Listen to the audio read by Maryl Streep


message 24: by John (new)

John For "books set in space," I highly recommend A Memory Called Empire. It's sort of like a mystery/detective story set in space!


message 25: by Angie (new)

Angie Cloud Weich Law wrote: "I read 3 books on this list. Weyward was depressing, Fourth Wing was overhyped but Happy Place was alright. Can you recommend me a book to read from this list? I prefer sci-fi and fantasy."

Anything by John Scalzi


message 26: by Celia (new)

Celia Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (who also wrote The Martian) is good SciFi.
If you're looking for a feel good book, Arthur: The Dog Who Crossed a Jungle to Find a Home hits the spot.


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