There’s something about a good, heavy, thought-provoking read. But there’s also something about a light read. One that doesn’t rob your emotional capacity, or doesn’t feel too heavy to read before bed, but still manages to hit those meaningful themes with tenderness and care. One that makes you laugh, whether through the dialogue or the character quirks. I think it might actually be a more literary feat to write a light read that still manages to be complex and, this year, I’ve been on a hunt for books that get this balance just right.

Here are a handful of my favourite light-but-not-fluffy reads I’ve devoured this year. Happy reading!