Rainy days are just the best days for us bookworms, aren’t they?

It gives us the excuse not to go anywhere. To wrap up in blankets, snuggling cosily with a warm drink, reading a book while hearing the rain pounding the windows. The world is gloomy, but it doesn’t matter because you’re encased in a fictional one.

But what to read?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered…

Here are a few recommendations from li’l old me, two for a range of genres for you to pick out and cosy up with on those dismal days.

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Without a doubt my favourite genre, fantasy books are always a perfect choice for me.

Amazon | Goodreads

This is for the people who fancy a huge fantasy to really sink their teeth into.

I loved this book. Obviously, otherwise I wouldn’t be recommending it. C’mon Ashleigh get your head together. This is definitely one for huge fantasy lovers. It sort of a slow going book – which isn’t to say it’s boring with no action, far from it. But everything is built together so well, and you just go along with Kvothe’s story. The premise behind this trilogy is that Kvothe is some sort of legendary figure, but he’s sitting down to tell his story over a period of three days. Each book is a day’s worth of story. It’s incredible.

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This is one of those subtle fantasies that kind of reminds me of Game of Thrones. Purely because it’s fantasy, but magic isn’t the main focus. It’s sort of just there in the distance, somewhere in this world.

But this is the story of a girl who turns 19 and returns to her kingdom to claim the throne…only to realise just how broken and corrupt her kingdom has become. This is such an in-depth, political (not the boring sort) fantasy story, and I’m pretty sure Emma Watson has already been cast in the film (when that eventually happens) so that’s something.

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Historical fiction being my second favourite genre, I just HAD to recommend some. I think it’s such an underrated genre, but it’s perfect for a dismal day with all the general gloom of war (since that’s what most historical fic books are based on).

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So this one is about a girl who is the niece of Hitler – yes, really. She idolizes him, but soon starts to realise that not everything he says is necessarily right or true. She starts to look into secrets, and of course, is in danger. I mean, who wasn’t in danger during that time period?

I really liked this one purely for the perspective of being close to Hitler. Obviously it’s fictional, but a lot of historical fiction based in this time period focuses solely on the victims trying to survive. But with this one, you get a good sense of just how manipulating Hitler could be, especially when it comes to covering his own lies.

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Amazon | Goodreads

This was a book I was sent for review a while ago, and it’s easily one of my favourite historical fiction books – it’s SO underrated!

Finding themselves as unlikely partners, this is the story of a boy in the Hitler Youth and a boy of Jewish Faith, going on a journey across a war torn country.This is such a beautiful story, showing how children can grow out of all the prejudices that have been forced against them and do what they can to survive. The descriptions are detailed – so be wary of gore – but it’s so heartbreakingly easy to imagine the effects of war.

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I don’t read contemporary that much, but I know it’s a lot of people’s favourite genre so I thought I’d throw a couple in.

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I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard of this book by now. But I had to include it because it became a new favourite of mine this year.

When Lou Clarke loses her job, she finds herself under the employment of the Traynors, looking after their paralysed son. This book is definitely the sort to pull at your emotions. Half the book I was laughing, the other half I found myself sobbing. Plus I found Lou Clarke to be such a lovable character, I just loved reading about her. I just finished reading the second book, so you’ll be seeing a spoiler free of that soon. There’s one for Me Before You already up if you want to see!

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Amazon | Goodreads

Now this book is kind of hard to describe. It’s a really short book, so you’d be able to finish this in one sitting…but how to describe it?

It’s the sort of coming-of-age story of a shy boy, or a “wallflower” going through high school and making new friends. Which I admit sounds quite boring when you say it like that, but somehow this story is just one I feel like everyone needs to read. And you can’t really go wrong when it’s this short a book.

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I’ve been very slowly making my way through classics lately, so I thought I’d add a couple in just in case the gloomy day makes you want to tackle a classic.

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Like a lot of classics, this is a complicated love story where class differences and appearances turn the tables for everything.

This one definitely has the darker sort of gloomy feel to it, which I think is perfect. It’s easy to get caught up in the drama. It’s almost funny how dramatic everything used to be. Everything meant so much more back then, and it’s genuinely so interesting to read about. Which is why I love this book so much. Granted, I struggled to read the dialogue of one of the characters since it was written how he’s say it in his accent, but it doesn’t take anything away from the overall story.

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Amazon | Goodreads

This was a recent read for me, but it’s a new favourite classic of mine, alongside Pride & Prejudice.

This book follows Catherine, a girl who I relate to way too much as she goes on her adventures to Bath and Northanger Abbey, collecting and array of acquaintances and dramatics.

For a classic, this was definitely an easy read and I personally think it shows the best of Jane Austen’s writing. The humor, there’s drama, there’s horror imaginings. It really is just a wonderful novel.

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I can’t say I’ve read many psychological thriller sort of books, but they all have that darker sense to them that might be great for a cosied up day.

Amazon | Goodreads

In Mara Dyer’s past, she goes through a bizarre accident that kills all her friends but leaves her alive. Even though she’s moved city, she sees her dead friends everywhere.

I mean, talk about keeping you gripped! It’s a wonder I haven’t finished this series yet, actually. I loved this first book. I had no idea what was actually going on all the way through, thanks to Mara being an unreliable narrator. You never quite know if the events actually happen, or if she’s seeing hallucinations. And with every answer, the plot deepens into something I wouldn’t be able to imagine.

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Amazon | Goodreads

Technically, this is a horror/psychological thriller cross. Because it’s up to you to decide which side you believe. A boarding school burned down years ago, but the case has just been reopened. This book is a collection of all the evidence – newspaper clippings, diary entries, interviews, you name it.

I’m always trying to get more people to read this book, I love it so much. It’s so unique, and so gripping. It doesn’t matter how big it is (about 400/500 pages), you speed through this book like it’s nothing. Or at least, I did both times I read it 😀

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And for the last one, a little something different. Though admittedly, I’ve only read a few SciFi books, so these are ones that are really popular already.

Amazon | Goodreads

There’s so much hype surrounding this book, and I must admit I’m part of it. It’s one of those books that’s formatted different, again as a case file. And quite frankly, it’s too complicated a storyline for me to even try and explain, but I’ve linked the Goodreads page above.

Great planning there, Ashleigh.

This is great if you want a quicker read, or if you’re like me and don’t read much SciFi but would like to try it. The technical talk doesn’t get too overwhelming, and the different formatting makes it really intriguing every time you turn the page. Sometimes, you have to hold the book upside down. I mean…what?

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Amazon | Goodreads

SciFi fairytale retellings. I mean, how great does that sound as a series? Well, with how well loved this series is, it definitely lives up to how great it sounds.

My favourite is Cress, but since that’s the 3rd book I figured I’d recommend the 1st. This is a cinderella retelling, full of cyborgs, lunar queens, and magical illusion sort of abilities. This series gets better with each book, so it’s definitely one I’m glad of reading!

 

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So there we have it!

Those were my rainy day recommendations!

Have you read any of the books mentioned?

Are there any on here that are on your TBR?

Are there any you haven’t heard of before, but would like to read now?

Also, are there any books you’d recommend cosying up with on a rainy day?

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

Come and visit me!

Snapchat: frolic_fiction