Books to Read While Social Distancing

Introverts! It’s our time to shine! Ok, I know that this whole social distancing thing is less than ideal, and TRUST ME I’VE HAD ANXIETY ABOUT IT. But, if we can look at any bright side here, we can know that we are doing our civic duty by staying home in our pajamas and reading. If you want to get real crazy (and the spring weather and pollen is cooperating), you could even go out onto your patio or balcony or local park (staying 6 feet away from anyone else) to read.

Many libraries across the United States are closing down, but luckily, in Lafayette Parish, our library remains open for drive thru services. All books listed below are (at time of publication) available from the library in either print, audio, CD, or ebook form!

Books about Friendship

Look, while we are all isolated in our own homes, it helps to know that there was once a better time when we were able to brunch for hours with our friends. These books feature strong friendships to remind you to call your BFF who lives alone or (worse) with five to seven kids.

*Code Name Verity* by Elizabeth Wein – Print, eBook; *Firefly Lane* by Kristin Hannah – Print, CD; *My Sister, the Serial Killer* by Oyinkan Braithwaite – Audio; *Queenie* by Candice Carty-Williams – All Formats; *Gold* by Chris Cleave – Print, Audio

Audiobooks to Make You Laugh

Spring cleaning, it is! If you’re looking to be active AND take your mind off of the world around you, audiobooks are a great way to go. Memoirs read by their authors are generally my favorite, but there are few fiction books in here that made me laugh out loud (and had great narrators).

*Modern Romance* by Aziz Ansari – All formats; *The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue* by Mackenzi Lee – eBook, Audio; *Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows* by Balli Kaur Jaswal – Print, Audio; *Yes Please* by Amy Poehler – All formats; *Crazy Rich Asians* by Kevin Kwan – All formats

Love Stories for the Ages

Social distancing will really put a damper on your Bumble dates, so pick up a book with a fresh romance that will have you laughing, loving, and probably crying (because I just have trouble picking books with completely happy endings…)

*The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Audio, Print; *Anna and the French Kiss* by Stephanie Perkins – Print, CD; *The Rosie Project* by Graeme Simsion- Print, CD; *The Sun is Also a Star* by Nicola Yoon – All formats; *The Light We Lost* by Jill Santopolo – Print, eBook

…Or Maybe You Need Murder?

Ok so love stories aren’t for everyone, and maybe you just want a good mystery or thriller to completely wrap you up in its story. Not recommended for people who are quarantining alone, but maybe you are braver than I am.

*Miracle Creek* by Angie Kim – Print, Audio; *The Huntress* by Kate Quinn – Print; *The Good Daughter* by Karen Slaughter – All formats; *The Broken Girls* by Simone St. James – All formats; *Sadie* by Courtney Summers – All formats

Go All in on Dystopia

I can’t look away from the news, which honestly feels like a dystopian nightmare at the moment. These books, which are part fantasy and part oh-my-god-could-this-really-happen?!, can distract you from all the pundits on CNN screaming about the end of the world.

*Red Queen* by Victoria Aveyard – Print, eBook; *Across the Universe* by Beth Revis – All formats; *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone* by J.K. Rowling – Print, CD, Movie; *The Astonishing Color of After* by Emily X.R. Pan – All formats; *The Night Circus* by Erin Morganestern- Print, eBook, CD

Books to Avoid!!

Ok so you DEFINITELY don’t want to read these books, because they might just hit a bit too close to home…