Has the current state of the world left you feeling anxious? These days, the endless cycle of news on the virus’ spread (on top of all our normal, everyday problems) is sending many of us into a spiral of anxiety or sadness that is hard to climb out of. If you are also experiencing this overwhelm, then it may be time to take a break from the news and escape from the world for a bit.
And what better way to escape from the world than by visiting the worlds of some of your favorite books or discovering a new world in a book you haven’t yet read? So if you’re looking for a way to forget about your troubles for a while, then here are 10 of the best books to escape into when you need a break from real life!
1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
When you’re looking for books to read when you need an escape from real life, there’s no better series to turn to than Harry Potter! This series is a classic, a beloved favorite of many, many people, and is the perfect book series to pull out when you’re looking for a world to escape into for a few hours of your day.
If life today feels miserable to you, just wait until you read about Harry’s miserable existence with the Dursley family! And as you continue to read, you’ll be catapulted alongside Harry into the world of magic, witches, and wizards. Pretty soon, you’ll forget all about real life as you get caught up in the friendships, the epic battles, and the little magical elements that make this series so special!
With seven books in the original series, you’ll have a splendid time ignoring all your troubles in the real world while going on this delightful adventure with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. So start at the beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and then work your way through the rest—these books are sure to be a nostalgic and comforting read when everything else in your world feels out of control!
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2. The Chronicles of Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
Looking for amazing books that take you to another world? If so, you can’t miss the Chronicles of Narnia series! Not only do you get to escape real life through reading, but the children in the story are also escaping their real life through finding the land of Narnia in the back of a wardrobe.
The first book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, finds the four Pevensie children staying at a country house to avoid the bombings of London during World War II. Talk about a place you need to escape from! Then, when they’re playing hide and seek in this country house, Lucy stumbles into the back of the wardrobe and on through into the magical world of Narnia.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a story if lots of things didn’t go wrong…so enter the White Witch, Aslan the lion, and a whole magical world filled with fun talking creatures as the children race to free the world from the witch’s evil spell! If you’re going to escape into a book, you won’t find any book with a better world to escape into. These books are filled with magic and fun and are great for readers of any age!
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3. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
There’s really no better place to escape to when you need an emotional break than the regency world of Pride and Prejudice! This novel is a beloved classic, and when you’re looking for the best escapism books it should definitely be on your list.
Although this book takes place in the real world, its regency setting helps make it feel removed from our everyday troubles. You’ll find the regency world feels both a little surreal and serene when compared with our modern day hustle and bustle, so this is the perfect setting to allow yourself to be drawn into the romantic world of Jane Austen.
And really, if we’re being honest, there’s no more iconic couple in literature than Elizabeth and Darcy—so why not visit (or revisit) their world and watch as their romance turns from disdain to love? This book is witty, sweet, and sparkling and will make you sad and happy by turns as you follow the Bennet sisters’ romances. But in the end, your heart will glow as everything works out and everyone who is worthy gets their happily ever after!
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4. The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien
If you’re looking for fantasy escape books, then the Lord of the Rings books are an amazing series to read. Who wouldn’t want to exchange the troubles of real life for those in the world of Middle-earth? After all, we know it all works out in the end (because this is a story and how else could it end?).
Starting with The Fellowship of the Ring, you can go along with Frodo and his companions as they make their perilous journey to destroy the Ring in the Cracks of Doom. This epic fantasy work is sure to keep you both entertained and enthralled as the characters fight against evil and strive for good to return to their world!
The Lord of the Rings series offers the type of encouragement we all need to continue to fight for good in our lives, while simultaneously being one of the best books to read if you want to escape from real life for a time. So go ahead and pick up these books and make your escape to the world of Middle-earth!
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5. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Want to read a book that will make you smile and forget about the real world for a little while? If so, then The Wind in the Willows is the book for you!
This book was a childhood favorite of mine, but holds up just as well on a re-reading as an adult. As you enter the world of The Wind in the Willows, you’ll discover the adorable main characters including Mole, Ratty, and Badger…and of course the infamous Mr. Toad. This delightful cast of characters goes on all sorts of adventures up and down the river, including going boating, going on picnics, and stealing motor cars!
On the whole, the best way to describe this book is “heartwarming.” Your imagination will be captured by the adventures and misadventures of these cute creatures, while the book itself explores the ideas of friendship, folly, and more. If you’re looking for books that take you away and whisk you into a delightful new world, then Kenneth Grahame’s masterpiece is a book you won’t want to miss!
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6. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
As you make a list of the best books if you want to escape reality, you should definitely make sure Howl’s Moving Castle is high up on the list! This book takes you to an alternate world where magic reigns and all sorts of unexpected things can happen.
The cast of characters in this book, including Sophie and the Wizard Howl, are all incredible and entertaining. But really, there’s no better reason to read this book than to enjoy the banter of the fire demon Calcifer! He’s my absolute favorite character in this book, and possibly even my favorite character of all time.
As you read through this book, you’ll follow the exploits of Sophie as she goes from young girl to old lady in an instant when she’s cursed by the Witch of the Waste. So she sets off into the world and soon wheedles her way into the enchanted castle that moves across the hills…which is, of course, Howl’s moving castle. But will Sophie be an old lady forever or will she find a way to break the spell? Will the Witch of the Waste continue tormenting the inhabitants of this world? And will Howl continue to be heartless forever?
All these questions and more are answered in this magical world that Diana Wynne Jones has created. If you haven’t read this book before, now’s the perfect time to escape into this enchanting world—and if you have already read it, then there’s no better time than now to re-read and find yourself in this world again. I can guarantee this book will put a smile on your face!
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Liked this book? Discover these other amazing books like Howl’s Moving Castle!
7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
When things in the world look pretty dire and you need a laugh, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is the book to turn to! This book rightfully has a cult following, so there’s no better book to escape into when you need to get away from your problems for a bit.
After all, what could be more dire than having your house demolished to make way for a freeway? Having the entire Earth demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, that’s what! And when you put it like that, Arthur Dent’s problems are definitely way worse than any problems we’re going through in real life.
So join up with Arthur Dent and his alien friend Ford Prefect as they hitchhike through the galaxy and meet other strange and wonderful characters. And who knows…you just may find the meaning of life!
This book is chock-full of funny scenarios that will make you laugh even while things continue to get worse and even more strange for the characters in the story. You’ll also discover a wealth of actually helpful advice and quotes—especially the ever-useful “Don’t Panic!” So when your world starts to feel out of control, turn to this book to escape for a while…and be thankful you’re not stuck hitchhiking around the galaxy!
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8. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
If fairy tales and dragon stories are your way of escaping the pressures of the world (like they are for me!), then you should definitely grab a copy of Dealing with Dragons. This book may be aimed primarily at younger readers, but it’s a truly delightful read for people of all ages who love fantasy and dragons.
One of the aspects that makes Dealing with Dragons so compelling is that it takes fairy tale elements and turns them on their head. You have a princess, but she runs away to live with a dragon (rather than the typical trope of being captured and sitting around waiting for a knight or prince to rescue her).
This princess, Cimorene, is delightfully headstrong and independent and loves activities that princesses aren’t “supposed” to, like fencing and Latin. She doesn’t fit in anywhere in her current kingdom, so why not try to fit in with a dragon? And that’s exactly what she does. But with things going wrong in the dragon kingdom, Cimorene and her human and dragon friends must try to figure out what is happening before it’s too late!
Dealing with Dragons and the whole Enchanted Forest Chronicles take you into a world of dragons and kingdoms where you can escape reality and enjoy this glimpse into another world. There are many laugh out loud moments throughout the book, so this is a perfect lighthearted read to pick up when you’re feeling down!
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9. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
There are lots of books that help you escape reality, but for those looking for a gentle and sweet read then Anne of Green Gables is the book to turn to. If you have read this book as a child or young adult, it will be a nostalgic read for you…and if it’s your first time reading it, then it’s about time you discovered this cute classic!
This tale of the orphan Anne Shirley and her adjustment to life at the Cuthberts is endearing, poignant, and completely entertaining by turns. Anne is constantly dreaming, making her own imaginative worlds and castles in the clouds, and also falling headlong into trouble at every opportunity. But just as she quickly captures the Cuthberts’ hearts, so will she (and her antics) quickly capture your heart while you read!
So if you want a heartwarming tale of an orphan finding a loving place in the world, plus all the mischief that comes along with this young girl adjusting to her new life, then Anne of Green Gables is the perfect read for you. And there are tons of sequels to read as well, so you can quickly find yourself immersed in the beautiful and imaginative world of Anne with an E!
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10. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Little Prince is one of my favorite books and is an excellent book to read when you want to escape into a world of timeless charm! This fairly short tale tells the story of the narrator (the Aviator) as he encounters a little boy who lives on an asteroid in space.
With darling illustrations and gentle narration, this story draws you into the world of the little prince as he journeys across the universe and meets different types of people. But he soon finds that all these people don’t understand the meaning of life, instead remaining preoccupied with trivial things…
Eventually the prince meets the aviator who shares his childlike wonder in the world, and in the end this cute story offers a little bit of life philosophy as it strives to teach us to focus on the important things in life like friendship and love alongside the mingling of sadness and hope that is always present in life.
If you’re feeling a bit jaded or merely sad, then this bittersweet tale is an excellent way to escape and enjoy the adventures of this little prince as he journeys to find connection and the meaning of life. It’s a great reminder to us all, wrapped in a delightful allegorical tale that readers of all ages will enjoy!
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