Eleven books to make your heart a bit bigger

When life throws its worst at you, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In How to Feel Better, bestselling author Cathy Rentzenbrink offers a generous and deeply compassionate guide to navigating life’s inevitable ups and downs. Short on self-pity and exceptionally big-hearted, this book acts as a comforting companion for anyone blundering through emotional upheaval. Rentzenbrink shares the practical advice that has seen her through heartache, alongside words of wisdom she hopes to pass on to her son. Featuring an inspiring addendum of tips from other authors on how they find comfort in hard times, this tender appreciation of life’s beauty provides the gentle, warm guidance we all need when trying to make sense of the world and heal our hearts.

The incredible friendship between rugby legends Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield has captured the hearts of the nation. Following Burrow’s motor neurone disease diagnosis, Sinfield’s unwavering support highlighted a bond that transcended the rugby pitch. With You Every Step distils this remarkable affection into a pocket-sized gift book, celebrating connection, empathy and the true meaning of friendship in their own words. Featuring heartfelt quotes from both men brought to life by award-winning illustrators, it explores universal truths about looking out for your teammates and finding strength in vulnerability. It is an inspiring, tear-jerking love letter to friendship that teaches us how the greatest victories in life are not found on a sports field, but in showing up for the people we care about when times are tough.

Linus Baker is a forty-year-old man living a quietly unremarkable life with his devious cat and beloved record collection. Working for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, his days are spent monitoring orphanages, until Extremely Upper Management assigns him a highly classified task: travel to a mysterious island orphanage housing six highly dangerous children, including the Antichrist. There, Linus meets their enigmatic and deeply caring guardian, Arthur Parnassus, who will do absolutely anything to keep his wards safe. TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea is a cosy, enchanting fantasy about discovering unlikely familial bonds in the most unexpected of places. An utterly absorbing modern fairy tale, Klune champions tolerance, found family and learning to protect the people you love.

Written by the person who gave us the very quote this article is based on, Harry Trevaldwyn’s debut novel is bound to make your heart swell, and your sides ache. Patch Simmons has made a grand declaration: this is the year he is going to get a boyfriend. When two mysterious new boys – chic New Yorker Peter and his best friend Sam – join the school drama club, Patch is absolutely certain that destiny has intervened. Armed with an alarming amount of self-confidence and the unwavering support of his best friend Jean, he sets out to make his romantic mission a success, deciding that minor details – like whether the boys actually like him, or even like boys at all – are problems to be dealt with later. Full of heart and non-stop laughs, it is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a cute romance and characters who refuse to be anything but themselves.

Sometimes our feelings can be utterly overwhelming, leaving us wondering if we are feeling too much or not quite enough. Curated by Charlie Castelletti, You're Never Too Much: Poems for Every Emotion is a stunning anthology that gives readers the permission to tap into every single feeling, always and all at once. Bringing together classic verses, beloved poets and bold new modern voices, this collection serves as a companion for every conceivable mood and moment. Whether you are falling deeply in love, nursing a broken heart, grappling with anxiety or searching for hope in a chaotic world, these poems will resonate deeply. It is an empowering, beautiful gift book that connects us to our shared emotional landscape, proving that opening up your heart can be the best way of knowing more about ourselves, as well as about others.

In the bustling heart of Seoul Station lives Dokgo, a homeless man who has lost all memory of his past. His subdued existence shifts entirely when he finds and returns a lost wallet belonging to Mrs Yeom, a retired teacher and convenience store owner. Touched by his kindness, she offers him a meal and, eventually, a job at her store. As Dokgo begins to interact with the store’s diverse customers, his quiet bravery and empathy transform not only the neighbourhood but also his own life. Kim Ho-Yeon’s million-copy Korean bestseller, The Second Chance Convenience Store, is a quietly hopeful and deeply joyful slice-of-life novel. It serves as a beautiful reminder of the immense power of solidarity, community and random acts of kindness, showing us how a single connection can offer a much-needed second chance.

In Danielle Steel’s uplifting novel, we meet Sabrina Thompson, a Los Angeles gallery owner who feels entirely disconnected from the world following the death of her husband. Seeking refuge, she escapes to the picturesque Château de Bonport in a charming south-west French fishing village. There she meets the château’s owner, Xavier de Bonport, a man reeling from the failure of his business and the subsequent collapse of his marriage. As the two draw inspiration from the village's rich history and each other, they begin the delicate process of healing. By throwing herself into the local community, Sabrina regains her sense of purpose, while Xavier recognizes the steps he must take to move forward. It is a thought-provoking story about how new beginnings and human connection can give us the courage to seek out joy.

Imagine arriving at a cosy photo studio nestled in the mountains, existing somewhere between this world and the next. Here, a kind guide named Hirasaka hands you a stack of photographs representing every single day of your life, capturing your most treasured moments alongside the ones you would rather forget. Before passing on, you are asked to select one picture from each year to place into a spinning Japanese lantern, allowing your life to flash before your eyes. Sanaka Hiiragi’s The Lantern of Lost Memories is a comforting, soul-nourishing novel that asks readers which day of their life they would choose to relive. As Hirasaka helps his guests travel back in time to take a fresh photo and find peace, we are reminded of the beauty of our own cherished memories. It is a wonderful, uplifting book to turn to again and again.

Decades after a tragic boating accident that drove their brother, Topher, to suicide, the three Ryan sisters return to their family's Long Island home for Thanksgiving. Each woman arrives carrying her own heavy secret: eldest sister Cait harbours hidden guilt about the accident, middle sister Alice is facing a crisis that threatens her career and marriage, and youngest sister Maggie is finally preparing to introduce her devout Catholic mother to the woman she loves. When an unexpected guest arrives for dinner, simmering tensions boil over and long-buried truths are forced into the light. Heather Aimee O'Neill’s beautifully crafted debut, The Irish Goodbye, explores the profound ripples of grief and the enduring power of sisterhood. It is an extraordinary, sharply funny family drama that asks what we owe to each other and how we can ultimately find forgiveness.

Nell’s life is a bit of a mess. In an era of perfectly curated Instagram feeds, she feels like a walking disaster, wondering how on earth she ended up here while everyone else is baking gluten-free brownies. But when she starts a secret podcast and strikes up an unlikely friendship with an eighty-something widow named Cricket, everything begins to shift. Alexandra Potter’s hilarious, yet poignant, novel is a reminder that life rarely turns out exactly as we imagined, and that is perfectly okay. It is a celebration of the unexpected connections that save us and the beautiful truth that you are never alone in your struggles. Nell’s journey towards mid-life happiness will make you laugh, cry and completely fall in love with the messy realities of life.

What if recovering from a devastating breakup came with a comprehensive manual? When Katie’s nine-year relationship ends abruptly, she arrives on her friends’ South London doorstep entirely lost. Armed with a well-washed gherkin jar repurposed as a martini shaker and an empty sketchbook, her three best friends decide to write her the ultimate handbook for processing grief and rebuilding her life. Sarah Handyside’s Instructions for Heartbreak is a razor-sharp, emotionally intelligent novel that celebrates the absolute wonder of female friendship. As the friends compile notes on everything from white-hot rage to buying new bedding, they realize the handbook holds the exact words they all need to hear. It is a funny, tender and hopeful exploration of women coming together to heal, proving that any problem is easier to survive, so long as you have your friends by your side.