From BookRiot:
If there’s ever been a time to escape into book with happy endings, it’s now. 2020 is not the time for novels that ambush us with anything less than that. Romance novels are a good bet – a happy ending being the defining attribute of the genre – and so, in a way, are murder mysteries, where we know the killer will be caught and justice will be done. At Book Riot, we’ve put together a list of books with happy endings for a heartwarming read. No spoilers here, so I won’t tell you why the ending is happy – though in some cases, like those romance novels, it’s more obvious than others.
. . . .
THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER BY EMILY X. R. PAN
Although the theme of this book is grief, the ending is redemptive – after losing her mother to suicide, Leigh Chen Sanders finds herself through family history, art, and love.
THE BOOKISH LIFE OF NINA HILL BY ABBI WAXMAN
This book made me feel like I’d been hugged when I finished it. It’s the perfect tonic for these times – the story of a young, introverted bookworm whose life is turned upside down when she discovers a whole family she never knew she had. She also meets a boy at her trivia night and has to help her bookstore fight closure, but beyond all the adventures it’s the warm and witty voice that really does it for me.
. . . .
THE COLOR OF BEE LARKHAM’S MURDER BY SARAH J. HARRIS
Jasper is face blind. He also has synaesthesia, which means he sees the world in more colour than neurotypical people: feelings can be red, and voices can be cobalt blue, like his mother’s, whom he deeply misses. This one is a mystery with a happy ending – it’s not just about solving the mystery of Bee Larkham’s murder, but also about Jasper growing, and his dad learning to
Link to the rest at BookRiot
I’ve often found that many “happy endings” books can be dreary for a bit since the ending needs to be justified by the ending. To me, the happier the ending, the rougher thew journey should be to get there.
Good point, RD.
Happy endings must be earned by both characters and readers – otherwise we have fluffy books with no substance.
If there is no descent into hell, how can there be a knocking on the doors of heaven?
Things must go very wrong.
It’s my job as a writer to leave the characters exhausted. Then happy.