Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Made Us Smile

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Make Us Smile 

There have been plenty of these over the years so it’s a bit of a challenge to whittle it down. Thanks to That Artsy Reader Girl for another great Top Ten Tuesday topic!

Pete’s Five 

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson

This is a heartwarming romance with plenty of tension, engaging side characters, and an absolutely fantastic payoff. Every character’s voice is distinct, but Major Pettigrew and Jasmina Ali are more memorable than most people I’ve met.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

There is no sci-fi book that can parallel the warm-fuzzy sensation and heartwarming moments of this one. By the end, you will miss all of its incredible humanoid characters.

Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith

Ali Smith always makes me smile, but this short book stands out as one of her less cynical works. At its center is a modern reimagining of Ovid’s Metamorphoses with two characters whose bond and adoration for each other just glows from the page.

You Shall Know Our Velocity! by Dave Eggers

Whimsical and fast-paced from the start, this misguided journey abroad of two well-meaning friends with some excess cash is an absolute joy.

The Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

Technically two books, this 600-page volume is some of the best “cozy” fantasy I’ve ever read. It features a colorful cast of characters always setting off on new adventures in a classical fantasy setting. 

Indiana’s Five 

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman 

It’s probably considered overrated at this point but Ove’s curmudgeonly ways made me smile on more than one occasion, as they reminded me of a few grumpy and loveable people I know. 

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman 

I loved Eleanor’s social quirks and the way she saw the world around her. While the novel on the whole was also incredibly sad, Eleanor’s character brought out a smile at the beginning and end. 

The Tale of the tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo 

From the use of the word “Reader” to the mouse who loved stories, how could you not smile at one as unexpected and adventurous as Despereaux?

Twenty-one Truths about Love by Matthew Dicks

Written in a list format, this was a mostly light-hearted novel about a man who in over his head trying to run a failing bookstore, helping his wife through her pregnancy, and dealing with the general stress of being a human. 

Chemistry by Weike Wang

The unnamed narrator’s bluntness drew me in right from the start and her all too relatable ambivalence made this novel a hit with me.