Goodreads Members' Favorite Books to Lift Your Mood

"Here at Goodreads World Headquarters, we ascribe to a hivemind system when it comes to books. Science has long known that the best method for finding a good book is a personal recommendation.

Updating this principle for the digital age, we recently asked Goodreads followers on Facebook and Twitter to name their ultimate feel-good books—guaranteed mood boosters for an uncertain age. Well, you guys really came through, and we appreciate it! (We need mood boosters here at the office, too.)

Gathered below are 45 recommendations from fellow Goodreads regulars. We noted some trends: Comforting classics from childhood are always effective. Charming and quirky characters are popular. Magical realism appears to be A Big Thing for folks. We also noticed quite a few stories about getting a fresh start in life, and in the nonfiction category, books by very smart and/or very funny people."