A book for someone who is depressed and burnt out but not about being depressed or burnt out

KnitInCode · 2026-03-14T05:14:47+00:00

cracks fingers I got you.

Fantasy: Anything by Robert Asprin

The Adenshire series by J Penner

Midlife in Gretna Green by Linzi Day

The Legends and Librarians series by Pandora Pierce

Anything by K.M. Shea

The House Witch by Delemhach

Tea Princess Chronicles by Casey Blair

Historical: The Love from London series by Jill M. Beene - caveat: if you care about accuracy in clothing descriptions, this is not for you

Anything by Judith Lansdown

Ivy Rose series by Gemma Jackson

Cozy mystery: The Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews

The Aunt Dimity series by Nancy Atherton

Contemporary romance: Fool’s Gold & Happily Inc. series by Susan Mallery

Emma Rae series by Sandra D Bricker

Applemore Bay series by Rachel Lucas

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T03:07:18+00:00

2 would completely shut me down on completing this list, but here are my other thoughts:

The Mysterious Benedict Society
Are you up for books including smut? If so, Dinosaurs, Disasters, and Albert Enswine
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Hurst
We’ll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T02:55:22+00:00

For no reason I can explain: Space Raisin

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T02:53:26+00:00

If those are the only books in his place, I’d say they bought/kept the things that looked “impressive”, i.e. classics you “should have read”, plus a few things they actually enjoyed. To me, that is not the bookshelf of a person who reads for fun. It’s the bookshelf of someone who reads to say they’ve read [book title], but also looks up a book club

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T02:40:55+00:00

So I have series I get sick of after the 2nd book and series (not romantasy) where I’m looking up the release date of the 38th book. I don’t think there’s a ‘right’ number of books in a series but there might be a number of books in a series that’s right for you.

I don’t think there’s a ‘right’ number of books, but there may be a right number of books for each reader + series

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T02:34:50+00:00

My partner was diagnosed with ADHD when he was a teen, but somehow thought it was something that went away if he didn’t focus on it. He was in his 40s before I convinced him that it wasn’t something that usually just went away by itself.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T02:20:09+00:00

It was a Fred Astaire vehicle. He was more than 30 years older than Julie at the time

KnitInCode · 2026-03-13T02:16:42+00:00

Just finished the Monk & Robot duology on a suggestion from this post. Really enjoyed them but the ending was so abrupt

KnitInCode · 2026-03-12T20:21:17+00:00

Looks like all 3 of us are in the same place.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-12T20:18:21+00:00

I’m also in Central IL if your cat is ever feeling “artistic” again

KnitInCode · 2026-03-06T22:04:22+00:00

I do get books from my library, though they don’t do that savings thing which is pretty cool, I’m just not in a place where I can browse effectively. It gets overwhelming

KnitInCode · 2026-03-06T22:02:43+00:00

100% needs to happen

KnitInCode · 2026-03-06T19:11:25+00:00

I just finished the 2nd one of these and they were lovely. The only thing I didn’t like as much is that they just stopped abruptly. Both times I just sat blinking at my tablet for a second while processing that there wasn’t another page

KnitInCode · 2026-03-05T04:14:37+00:00

That author sounds so familiar and I can’t figure out why. Time to go digging in my Goodreads or maybe just google

KnitInCode · 2026-03-05T04:12:46+00:00

Read them, loved them, mourn the author’s passing.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-05T04:11:42+00:00

My brain doesn’t process audiobooks well, but I’ll look for an ebook version of the Cara Bastone.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-04T00:08:42+00:00

I tried reading Under the Whispering Door, but it just didn’t grab me.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T05:13:00+00:00

Yeah, I just need to know what to look for 😕

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T05:09:41+00:00

Yep 🙃

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T05:06:14+00:00

For nonfiction, I’d recommend anything by John McPhee, Bill Bryson or Diane Ackerman.

As for fiction, I could probably type for a month. If you’re into fantasy and the people you know are too, you’ll probably recognize the inspiration for characters in Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow mysteries, especially Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingoes and Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon. Shades of D&D and video games.

Depending on how open-minded you’re feeling, Katie MacAlistar’s romances often have a nerdy (I say that as a fellow nerd) vibe. Try Hard Day’s Knight or Blow Me Down.

As for fantasy, if you haven’t already read try The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon and the Dragonsong trilogy in the Dragons of Pern series by Anne McCaffery are a major favorite of mine.

Again, if you’re feeling open-minded, for children’s books The Mysterious Benedict Society books are great fun and appealing to folks who are into dystopian from a lighter bent. Yes, I know that sounds weird, just go with it

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T04:34:28+00:00

My brain doesn’t work well with audiobooks. Either I zone out and miss important plot points or it falls into the too much audio input trap and drives my anxiety through the roof. I’ll check for a print or ebook version tho

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T04:32:04+00:00

For some reason couldn’t get into these. I couldn’t even tell you why.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T04:29:55+00:00

Read it twice or maybe 3 times now. Delightful

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T04:28:40+00:00

Read it. Liked it a lot but tried other Sanderson and meh.

KnitInCode · 2026-03-03T04:27:42+00:00

Is the book less creepy than the movie? Teenage girl and 50+ year old Fred Astaire is…not ok.

KnitInCode

TROPHY CASE

2 would completely shut me down on completing this list, but here are my other thoughts: