What unprecedented days we are living in. And I gotta admit, it’s making me a bit frazzled. Routines are up in the air. The news cycle is bonkers. I’m spending way too much time on my phone. And my brain can’t decide where to settle.
It’s times like these when I really need to get off social media and escape into a book.
(I will resist from belaboring the hardship of libraries being closed during this critical juncture.)
If you, too, are in need of a break, these titles might help you find a virtual vacation. These are the perfect books to escape into, and they’ll whisk you away from your coworkers (er, family members and roommates) right now. No plane ticket necessary!
Heads up: links to book titles are affiliate links. If you buy through a link, it will not raise the cost to you, but it will send a few pennies my way.
10 Books to Escape Reality
1. The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern
Gosh, this book. It takes place in the dreamiest circus you could ever imagine, where the lines between reality and magic are blurry at best. Two magicians begin a competition, and the circus is their battleground. I read this years and years ago, and it’s high on my list of books to reread. If you’ve already read The Night Circus, check out Morgenstern’s latest book, The Starless Sea. I have to admit, I didn’t love it as much, but it is definitely a book that will allow you to escape into entirely new worlds.
2. A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles
During the Russian revolution, a count is put on house arrest. Except his home is a luxury Moscow hotel. Witty and atmospheric, this book might be just what you need if you’re looking for how to find meaning in a life of confinement. (I’m just sorry you don’t have a luxury bar in your basement.) This one is so wonderful, it made the list of my favorite books of all time. (Want to check out the other titles? Click here! Bonus: some of them are backlist favorites, so they *might* still be available as e-books from your library.)
3. Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
So if you’re really worried about COVID-19, maybe skip this one for now. If you want to see how your life could be worse? Check this one out. This story takes place after a flu epidemic ravages the country. A band of artists and actors circles Lake Michigan, bringing Shakespeare and orchestral music to the small bands of survivors. This book is incredibly immersive. I read it last summer when I was stuck in my apartment alone for a week. It was possibly terrible timing, as I began to suspect that I may be the only person left in the world. Read at your own risk – but it is an excellent book.
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Want spookier titles? Click here.
- In the mood for something cozier? Click here.
- Want some top-notch titles, in all genres? Check out my top books of 2019.
4. Recursion – Blake Crouch
This book made my list of Top Books of 2019. I read it in the fall, and I still find myself thinking about it. A scientist is attempting to invent a way to access memories in people with Alzheimer’s. Meanwhile, a disorder called False Memory Syndrome is wreaking havoc across the country, as people wake up with memories of lives they never lived. This is one of those books that I started reading and then began ignoring all life responsibilities so I could find out what happened. It’s not a light read, but it sure is a book to escape your real-life problems.
5. Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
Fifty years in the future, our world is in shambles. Most people live in poverty and retreat into the Oasis, a virtual reality simulator where people live, go to school, and work. When the creator of the Oasis dies, he leaves control of his company in the hands of whoever wins an elaborate competition. This book is great for so many people – it’s chock-full of 80s references and video games, if either of those are your thing. For the record, I am not into any of that, and I loved this. Even my husband, who doesn’t read a ton of contemporary fiction, tore through it in a day. (The movie is okay, too.)
6. Daisy Jones and the Six – Taylor Jenkins Reid
This huge hit of a book follows the astronomical rise (and demise) of Daisy Jones and the Six, a fictional 70s band. It’s told as one long interview with the band members, a format I really enjoyed. The audio is supposed to be excellent as well. If you’re looking for books to escape your world, this one will draw you into the glamorous, gritty world of rock and roll. I will admit, I am the one person in the entire world who did not fall down and worship at the feet of this book. But so many people love it that I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention it. (PG-13 warning for sex, drugs, and rock and roll)
7. Cinder – Marissa Meyer
Whoops. This is another book with an epidemic. But it’s worth it, I promise. In this YA retelling of Cinderella, Cinder is a cyborg who works as a mechanic. She accidentally gets tangled up with the Prince of New Beijing, who is trying to keep his country afloat while juggling a marriage arrangement to the Lunar Queen. (Yes, you read that right. The queen lives on the moon. This is dystopian YA, after all.) The premise sounds wonky, I know. But as someone who doesn’t read a ton of sci-fi, I loved this one. Bonus: there are three very long sequels, so this series could keep you busy through the duration of social distancing. If you’d like a similar feel without the pandemic trigger warnings, check out the Selection series. It’s a combo of The Hunger Games meets the Bachelor.
8. The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster
If you haven’t read this classic children’s book, now is the time. Milo, a listless and entitled young boy, comes home from school one day to find a tollbooth in his room. He drives through into the Lands Beyond, where he meets a watchdog named Tock and joins in the search for the princesses Rhyme and Reason. This one is whimsical and clever. Kids will catch some of the wit; adults even more.
On my to-read list:
Just a warning, I haven’t read these books yet. I recommend these titles only because they come from other trusted sources!
9. The River – Peter Heller
This was one of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide picks last year, and I’ve been excited to read it since. Two friends go on a canoe trip, but their plans go dangerously wrong when they encounter a wildfire and a missing person. This is supposed to be both a thrilling tale of survival and a beautiful story of friendship.
10. City of Girls – Elizabeth Gilbert
This frothy-smart novel was recommended all over the place this summer. An older woman tells the story of her life in the NYC theater world in the 1940s. It’s supposed to be lush and fun and the perfect book to escape reality for a while. (PG-13 warning for sexy scandals)
Looking for more book recommendations? I’ve compiled a list of my absolute favorite books – these are my very top recommendations. Want a copy? Click here to get access!
All right, friends. Stay home when you can, stay safe, and stay sane!
Read one of these books? Have other recommendations for books to escape? Find me on Instagram @annaleighsaxton and tell me all about it!
