Joy of giving, joy of receiving feel-good books for Christmas

To recover from a trying year, the contributing readers of the "20 Minutes" Books platform have selected seven recent novels among the most heartwarming.

Aurélie Valognes at the Books Paris 2019 fair -

LAURENT BENHAMOU / SIPA

Giving a good book is always a good gift idea, especially when you know it's a heartwarming novel.
The contributing readers of the “20 Minutes Books” platform have selected some of the best feel good novels published in recent months.
Eight novels for all ages from 14 to 144 years old.

Want to change your mind during these end of year celebrations?

Why not immerse yourself in one of these feel-good novels which allows you to have a good time, by the fireplace or under the duvet, without rehashing the bad memories of the past year.

Comforting books, optimism without being blissful, books that bring happiness to those who offer it.

And to those who receive it to read it.

1. “Born under a lucky star” by Aurélie Valognes (Mazarine)

"At least we have become aware of the extreme fragility of our lives and our balances," author Aurélie Valognes confided to

20 Minutes

this summer

, speaking of the lessons to be drawn from the health crisis

But also the fact that there is, for everyone, a margin of maneuver which must be taken advantage of.

The idea that was born from all this, and here we are in the optimism, is I will not start living tomorrow, I must live today.

"Even if her latest novel,

Born under a lucky star

, on the adventures of a young dunce at school," is not overflowing with optimism for once ", it is still the one that our contributor Anne-So “Echos de Mots” recommends for its “quality feel good” aspect.

2. “Royale (despite me)” by Rachel Hawkins (Nathan)

Another work recommended by Anne-So "Echos de Mots":

Royale (despite me)

, a brilliant and hilarious novel for teenagers, in two volumes "which combine royal traditions and modern manners", according to our contributor.

The plot pits two young American women against members of the Scottish royal family.

“Between bursts of laughter and racing hearts, to read this duology is to embark on two pretty stories which are good for morale but which also open our eyes to the difficulties and challenges of a life in the spotlight .

3. “Kissing you in the snow” by Emily Blaine (Harper Collins France)

A romance that begins with a kissing contest.

The queen of French romance is in charge for a book called

T'embrasser sous la neige

A nice wish in times of Covid… And a dream of meeting between two beings “dented by life”, as our contributor Marjolit underlines, who will “relearn to live, love and smile”.

The double narration used by the author plunges us into the intimacy of one another.

Consequence: "We do not want to let go and we miss the characters once it is finished.

4. “Shopaholic celebrates Christmas” by Sophie Kinsella (Belfond)

A pure feel good comedy on the preparation of a New Year's Eve that our favorite “shopaholic”, recurring heroine of a series of books at Belfond, wishes it perfect.

“I felt the Christmas atmosphere, notes Laure“ Happy Manda ”.

This desire that we have to want to make everyone happy and joyful.

Poor Becky!

Everything is going wrong but to the delight of his reader.

Christmas will be a great time to read

Shopaholic Celebrates Christmas

, but it can be enjoyed all year round without moderation.

5. "The forgotten Christmas people" by Manon Kaljar (Hugo Roman)

A Capra-inspired Christmas tale that smacks of commitment, in which a homeless food aid volunteer meets a fallen star one winter evening in the street.

Even if this romantic story to perfection is written by a woman, "we find ourselves only in the head of a man and strangely, we like it!"

", Underlines our contributor Noémie" Holli Goli ".

The author has chosen her hero as the narrator, which changes many romances written in the feminine, but for all that, “the magic operates” indeed.

6. "These little things that make a life" by Pierre Antilogus and Jean-Louis Fetjaine (Fleuve)

Thanks to the birth of a child, two grandfathers will get to know each other in a book with a rather pretty idea, but above all very funny.

"I like the originality of the characters and the fact of having chosen to make two grandfathers the central protagonists of such a comedy", insists our contributor Audrey57 who appreciates "the angle a little different from other novels ", Where" behind this aspect of benevolence and happiness, also hide stronger messages which show us that these little things of everyday life are perhaps the most important to live ".

7. "These little things that drive us ..." by Claire Norton (Robert Laffont)

Not to be confused with the previous novel, despite its similar title and even if it too is recommended by Audrey57.

Here, the protagonists are young and meet each other in the early morning at the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, in Paris.

Alexandre, Aude and Nicolas do not know each other.

They could have remained simple strangers but the cry of a young girl who is about to jump from a bridge, will bring them together.

“I enjoyed spending time with them, witnessing their transformation and I didn't want to leave them.

A successful, benevolent and luminous novel, ”notes our contributor.

8. "The Cat that fell straight" by Caroline Bee (L'Opportun)

Our youngest to end the year well: a tenderly wacky first novel about a cat who exerts a beneficial influence on a single thirty-something who is a little shy, to the point of turning her life upside down.

The story is told alternately by the young woman and by the cat.

“I laughed a lot, but I was also very moved by the characters and their adventures”, testifies our contributor “La Parenthèse de” Céline.

20 Minutes would like to

thank its readers Anne-So "Echos de Mots", Noémie "Holly Goli", Marjolit, Laure "Happy Manda", Audrey57 and "La Parenthèse de" Céline for the quality of their contributions.

Culture

"At home, confinement has extinguished any spark of creation", confides Aurélie Valognes