Welcome to our appeal series.

We’re highlighting a variety of books to help our readers find that next great read. In each post you’ll find books that share similar appeal (or story elements) like pacing, tone, storyline, writing style and/or characters.

This blog post includes Gentle Reads.

What are Gentle Reads?

“Gentle Reads” is a term used to describe novels that contain no sex, violence or offensive language. The stories typically take place in small towns, are upbeat and often contain humorous and/or inspirational elements.

Enjoy!

Charming Stories filled with Colorful Characters

1. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

A “literary matchmaker” who takes joy in pairing readers with perfect books moves from the city to a sleepy village where she becomes a bookmobile driver and rediscovers her sense of adventure while searching for a happy ending of her own.

Appeal

• Character: Quirky
• Tone: Atmospheric, heartwarming and romantic
• Writing Style: Engaging and well-crafted dialogue
• Theme: Books about books

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2. Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg

Series: Story of Arthur Truluv, book 2.

A baking class instructor, her haunted assistant and a youth reeling from a family tragedy discover the power of community while navigating complicated choices and uncertain futures.

Appeal

• Character: Likeable
• Storyline: Character-driven
• Tone: Heartwarming and moving
• Writing Style: Engaging
• Theme: Life in small towns

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3, The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living by Louise Miller

A pastry chef for an exclusive Boston dinner club loses her job in the wake of a disastrous fire and escapes to her best friend’s Vermont hometown, where her mouthwatering desserts give way to a new job, a blue-ribbon competition, a potential relationship and new understandings about belonging.

Appeal

• Character: Quirky and well developed
• Storyline: Intricately plotted
• Tone: Amusing and heartwarming
• Writing Style: Engaging and lush
• Theme: Eat, drink and be merry

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4. Chronicles of a Radical Hag (with recipes) by Lorna Landvik

A bittersweet, seriously funny novel of a life, a small town, and a key to our troubled times traced through a newspaper columnist’s half-century of taking in, and taking on, the world.

Appeal

• Character: Likeable
• Tone: Amusing and heartwarming
• Writing Style: Engaging and thoughtful
• Theme: Life in small towns

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5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

Appeal

• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Character: Courageous and likeable
• Storyline: Intricately plotted
• Tone: Bittersweet and moving
• Writing Style: Engaging

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6. Jeeves and the King of Clubs by Ben Schott

Descriptors: Humorous Stories, Fast-Paced, Engaging and Witty

When his butlers and valets club is revealed to be an arm of the British intelligence service, Jeeves begins tracking a Fascist spy while navigating school-chum capers and affairs of the heart.

Appeal

• Genre: Humorous stories / spy fiction
• Pace: Fast-paced
• Writing Style: Engaging, witty and wordplay-filled
• Theme: Comedy of manners

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7. The Second-Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith

Series: Paul Stewart, book 2

In this delightful sequel to the best-selling comedic novel My Italian Bulldozer, Paul Stuart’s travels take him to a French village, where the local restaurant’s haute cuisine leaves a lot to be desired.

Appeal

• Genre: Humorous stories
• Tone: Romantic and upbeat
• Writing Style: Witty

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More Great Gentle Reads

This is part of a series of blog posts designed to help you find that next great read.

Featured Image Credit: Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay.