Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
We all need an escape now and then; it’s great to read books that deal with issues we and others face, but sometimes you just need something to help your brain switch off. You can find pure escape in various genres, too. For some, escape might mean a romance set somewhere or somewhen far away, for others it’s stepping into a fantasy world where good always wins, and sometimes you need to escape into a horror that offers something dark but still removed from our world. With that in mind I have tried to include some variety here, though the list does skew towards the romance side a little, there are titles here for non-romance readers, too.
Top Ten Books That Provide a Much-Needed Escape
To Steal a Heart by Kate Bateman
Genre: Historical Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: February 23rd, 2016
Review
This isn’t a ‘fluffy’ book, but this story of a spymaster and a thief weaves in the French Revolution and the dangers for these characters really well, and it’s a lovely, adventurous story to get swept up in.
Chasing the Duke by Tracy Sumner
Genre: Historical Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: December 7th, 2020
Review
Yes, it’s another historical romance, but the tone is different for this one. I think where HRs can provide escape into another time, Christmas novels often have a ‘magical’ element that adds to that sense of escape whatever the genre, and I loved this one!
Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter
Genre: Contemporary
Age: Adult
Format: Paperback
Published: December 31st, 2020
Review
The term ‘Chick Lit’ seems to have largely fallen out of favour, but it can be useful to use for books like this. There’s a light romance, but the book isn’t really a romance, more focused on Nell’s overall life rather than any love interest. It’s a very funny and deeply relatable book, and Nell completely comes to life. It’s humour will definitely provide a nice, relaxing escape when required.
Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Genre: Fantasy
Age: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Published: November 7th, 2023
Review
As per the last time I included this book on one of these lists, I have yet to read Legends & Lattes, but I thoroughly enjoyed this prequel, and it’s a great fantasy escape with a vivid setting of Murk, a sleepy beach town. It’s pretty funny in places, but overall it’s more of a relaxing read.
Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim
Genre: Fantasy
Age: Young Adult
Format: Paperback
Published: July 6th, 2021
Review
This fantasy novel reads like a fairy tale, and Lim’s writing is the kind that completely takes you away – it’s easy to get lost in this book, and it’s one of those it’s hard to put down without thinking often of it and what might happen next.
Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome by Garth Marenghi
Genre: Horror – Humour
Age: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Published: November 3rd, 2022
Review
Some people probably think horror + escape don’t really go together, but they absolutely can! Though some horror deals with darker themes, there’s plenty of it that is designed to offer more of an escape from the day-to-day life. TerrorTome nails it on the head, and is a perfect horror satire. The audiobook is especially excellent and if you’re a horror fan, I definitely suggest taking a chance on this book, which manages to gently poke fun at the genre while honouring it at the same time.
The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: January 1st, 2023
Review
More Christmas Romance! Again, the use of Christmas in romance books often gives it an extra dash of ‘magic’ – it’s easier to believe in coincidences when there seems to be a white-haired, jolly, bearded guy hanging around! That isn’t to say these books can’t sometimes touch on some trickier themes, but in The Christmas Swap we’re as swept away by the location and time of year as Margot is.
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Genre: Contemporary – Fantasy
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: August 23rd, 2022
Review
This book feels like sinking into a hot bath – it’s warm and fuzzies guaranteed, and Mika’s life when she joins Nowhere House, and the family she finds within, will have the reader constantly smiling. A brilliantly lovely book.
Stars Collide by Rachel Lacey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: May 2nd, 2023
Review
Another sapphic romance – this is another wonderful story, and definitely a great escapist element with the two popstars on tour. Eden and Anna both compliment each other so well, and it’s lovely to have a coming out story featuring an older (aka non-teenager) woman.
Becoming Human by Holly Grey
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age: Adult
Format: ebook
Published: September 21st, 2020
Review
This book comes up on these lists quite a lot. It’s truly because it’s a beautiful, leave-you-feeling-warm kind of book, with a sweet sapphic romance at its core. Jack and Marin are both wonderful characters to spend time with, and again the book touches on some slightly heavy themes, but does it with a light touch and in a way that doesn’t take away from the escapist feel. There are some tense moments, but overall, things work out wonderfully.
As always, if you’ve read any of these or have any escapist recommendations, please let me know – I’d love to hear from you!
Unwrapping Words 