10 books to read for whenever you need a pick-me-up

10 books to read for whenever you need a pick-me-up

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Has life got you down in the dumps? These reads will leave you smiling in no time.

frankie x unidaysWe’ve teamed up with the folks at UNiDays to bring you stories about all the stuff you go through when you're studying. Did you know UNiDAYS members can nab a 15 per cent discount on their frankie magazine subscriptions? Well, now you do. Check the bottom of the story for more deets.

All of us have those days where we just can't seem to cheer up – no matter how many episodes of our favourite show we binge-watch. If you need an extra boost of positivity, we reckon that these 10 top-notch reads will zhuzh up your mood in no time flat. Spy our recommendations down below. 

Before The Coffee Gets Cold – Toshikazu Kawaguchi
If you could go back in time to chat with one person one last time, who would it be, and why? This is exactly what this Japanese novel focuses on, where customers inside a magical coffee shop get to choose to go backwards or forwards in time to have one last chat with someone – as long as they finish their coffee before it gets cold (hence the title). It's short, sweet and full of heart. 

Funny You Should Ask – Elissa Sussman
This one's got everything: romance, drama and a hypothetical dreamboat actor becoming the next James Bond – what more could you want? Following the life of a journalist who, ten years prior, wrote an impactful and life-changing profile of her long-time celebrity crush and then reunited with the said actor to pick up where they left off. We reckon that it's only a matter of time until this one finds itself on the silver screen. 

Pizza Girl – Jean Kyoung Frazier
If you need a reminder that all of our lives are just as complicated, messy and intricate as the person sitting next to us, we recommend picking up this coming-of-age novel. The book follows our main character, working as a pizza delivery girl, who soon becomes obsessed with and begins a dependent relationship with stay-at-home mum, Jenny. It's funny and it's something you can devour in one sitting, so we don't think you need any more persuasion to cast your peepers onto this one. 

Convenience Store Woman – Sayaka Murata
This semi-autobiographical novel features Keiko, a 36-year-old woman who has never had a boyfriend and has been working in the same convenience store for the last 18 years – and that's how she likes it. It's another quick, and we reckon that the novel's final message about accepting the life you want – not what others want for you – is the best way to live. 

The Sun Is Also A Star – Nicole Yoon
Any fans of romance need to give this one a read, pronto – or at least before you give the 2019 movie a watch. The novel follows two people living in New York City: a teenage boy pushed to become a doctor by his parents and a teenage girl facing deportation to Jamaica. We reckon you'll find yourself patting away the tears by the time you read the last sentence (in a good way, we promise!). 

The Heaven And Earth Grocery Store – James McBride
Set in Pennsylvania in 1972 (but also 1930 – you'll get it when you're reading), this novel follows what happens when a skeleton is discovered at the bottom of a well, leading to a mystery on who that skeleton used to be, how they died and – most importantly – how they ended up down there. What follows is a time-jumping journey about the importance of solidarity and community, which we need to be reminded of more often than not.  

Big Girl Small Town – Michelle Gallan 
Meet Majella O'Neill, a young woman living in a small village in Northern Ireland, where she wears the same outfit, eats the same dinner and watches the same TV show every single day. Following the death of her grandma, Majella's world is shattered and is made the centre of attention where she lives, much to her chagrin. It's original and sweet, which we reckon gives more than enough reason to check this one out. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt
If you loved watching My Octopus Teacher, then we recommend reading this novel since it also happens to feature an eight-legged marine critter (and we promise it won't make you weep). This mystery comedy follows a mother reeling over her son's disappearance over thirty years ago and keeping herself busy working at a local aquarium, where she meets Marcellus – a giant Pacific octopus who also happens to be a pretty stellar detective. Trust us, you won't want to put this quirky novel down. 

My Brilliant Friend – Elena Ferrante
You might've already heard about this iconic novel before (it's the first book in the Neapolitan Novels written by the pseudonymous Italian author Elena Ferrante), so if you've yet to dip your toes into this one then we recommend doing so ASAP. It follows two young girls taking care of each other while living in a poor Italian neighbourhood in the 1950s, and the book follows their lives from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. It's iconic for a reason, so hop to it! 

The Cafe By The Sea – Jenny Colgan
This novel takes place in Scotland and follows Flora, a woman who returns to her hometown in Scotland after living it up in the city of London. Along with her rowdy brothers, she brings life back into a dusty pink cafe after she discovers a love for cooking, where she begins to grapple with her past and future. It's cute and funny, which is always a killer combination in our eyes. 

frankie x unidaysWe’ve teamed up with the folks at UNiDays to bring you stories about all the stuff you go through when you're studying. Did you know UNiDAYS members can nab a 15 per cent discount on their frankie magazine subscriptions? Well, now you do. Check the bottom of the story for more deets.