Six Books That Inspire Hope and Touch Your Heart
These book recommendations are ones that have touched our hearts, inspired hope, or have fed our souls in some way. It is so satisfying to read a book that speaks to emotions deep within or sparks a memory from long ago. Now, these book choices do include the hardships and difficulties of life, but ultimately they give a feeling of hope, closure, and contentment in the end. My children tease me that every movie or book I love has to end with everyone riding off into the sunset singing Kumbaya. They are not wrong! So these books are among my favorites! We hope you will enjoy these great books also. Happy Reading!
Karen's Book Picks
Saving Ceecee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman
Cecilia Hunnicut is a 12 year old girl with an almost absent father and a severely mentally ill mother who loves her but is incapable of taking care of her. Ceecee deals with constant disappointment during her childhood but soon discovers there are people who will love her no matter what. This book will have you feeling so many emotions. Some of the delightful characters had me thinking of my dear grandmother and of the love that she poured into me and my siblings. Truly, you will laugh and you will have tears. The themes of family, unconditional love, resilience, forgiveness, and acceptance are ever present. If you are a fan of The Secret Life of Bees, The Help, or the movie, Steel Magnolias, this one is a must read. And it will most definitely feed your soul.
This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection by Carol Burnett
This book is a compilation of stories from Carol Burnett’s life from the time she was a child living with her grandmother throughout her career and lifetime. There are stories of friendships that developed, funny and poignant pieces about her time on different shows, and stories about her family, both the happy and sad times. I highly recommend listening to this one as an audiobook since Carol Burnett is the one reading the book! It makes it even more enjoyable to hear her tell the stories. If you watched her on TV or remember her over the years you will enjoy knowing more about her and her amazing life. It brought back so many memories of watching her show during my childhood.
Kristin's Book Picks
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Evvie Drake Starts Over is a charming story about second chances after loss. Evvie finds herself a widow on the very day she decides to leave her husband. Her friends and family believe the reason she hardly leaves the house is due to her unrelenting grief over losing her husband. Dean, who is grieving the loss of his major league career as a baseball pitcher, rents a room from Evvie. Dean and Evvie subsequently form an unlikely friendship. The story follows their developing friendship and the struggles they both face overcoming their respective losses. As their friendship turns into something more, the path to love and new lives for them both is met with complications. The ending is what you hope for but the path to get there is much different than you think it would be.
The Book Of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
Jamie's Book Picks
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Night Circus is one of my favorite books of all time. It has a charm and beauty to it that is completely unique, and it will just make you feel happy. The Night Circus is a about a circus that opens at dusk and closes a daybreak. It arrives in a town unannounced and stays as long as it will, only to disappear as suddenly as it came. It follows no schedule. It’s inhabitants are mysterious. But what makes it so special is the magic in this circus is real. The story centers around two magicians in the circus and a young boy who feels for the first time in his life that he has found a place he belongs. The writing is lovely and whimsical, the story is engaging, and the characters are lovable. This is one of the few books I would recommend to anyone, so I hope you’ll check it out!
The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
I know this series is famous. I know most people have heard of it and kind of know the story. But, if you’ve never read it, I urge you to give it a try. I can’t write about books that inspire hope without talking about these. These books are about a boy who finds out he is a wizard and his entire life changes. But the reason I recommend them is because they changed my life too. I teach teenagers every day, and I love them because it is so wonderful to watch them become who they will be. They are daring, clever, kind, and determined, and I see all those kids I’ve loved reflected in Harry and his friends. At its core this is a book about friendship and love and goodness, about how those things will always win in the end. Albus Dumbledore says to Harry in The Prisoner of Azkaban, “Happiness can always be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on a light.” This book is a light for me when I need a familiar friend to read. I hope it will be for you as well.
Now It's Your Turn!
What books have you read that inspired hope within you, touched your heart in a special way, or fed your soul? Has there been a book that spoke to you, brought back a beloved memory, or stayed with you long after you put it down? We would love to hear about your picks for those extra special kind of books! Please leave us a comment below!
Other Book Recommendations
If you need more great books to add to your must read list then check out these posts as well.
- Unique Beach Reads That Will Make a Great Vacation!
- Need More Mystery in Your Life? Discover a New Mystery Series to Read!
- Fantastic Poetry Books Everyone Will Love!
- An American Sampler: The Best Books from Each Region!
- Make Some Time to Have Some Jolly Good Tea, British Inspired Books, and TV
- Never Read a Dystopia? This List Has the Perfect One for You!
Note: The links included are affiliate links. That means, if you purchase something through the link, What A Good Day will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The opinions are my own. We appreciate your support!
Note: Content of this post is from Karen @whatagoodday.com. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. I’m happy for you to share this post but be sure to link to this post. Thank you.
Stress relief! There are many ways, but my friends help me. Just to talk, text, email or in person. Friends a a blessing!