The Best Books to Laze Around With

[Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash]

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As if a bookworm ever needed the excuse to laze around with a good read and nothing else to do, August 20th is National Lazy Day. That’s right. You aren’t just indulging a desire to curl up with a book. You are marking a very important celebration in self-care!

This August, pair your favorite way to while away the day with some incredible fiction and nonfiction reads, from introspective humor on life to lighthearted novels that will leave a smile on your face…a smile that will last long after you have to get up and back to the real world.

Tea & Blanket: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

For the simplest cottagecore laziness, there’s nothing better than just snuggling into a soft sofa with a warm blanket and a cup of hot tea. (Yes, even on a hot summer day, although iced tea will work just as well!)

Braiding Sweetgrass is a beautiful botanist’s reminder of all the things that the natural world can teach us, and how to slow down and live in better harmony with the plants around us. More than just an informative read, this is a truly inspiring one.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books A Million | Bookshop

Laze in a Graveyard: It’s Your Funeral! by Kathy Benjamin

A graveyard might not seem like the perfect place to while away an afternoon, but this can be a deeply peaceful place to be lazy and a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the world around us, because life is short.

It’s Your Funeral! is the perfect companion for this kind of lazy day as it approaches a difficult subject with lightness, humor, and truly useful information. Perfect for those who are not afraid to approach life a little differently, think about how to make the most of where we are now, and take the stress out of the future.

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A Park Bench & a Picnic: My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella delivers another wholesome, cheerful chick-lit classic with this addition to her collection, and it’s just as sunny as a lazy day in the park with a picnic.

Following Katie Brenner, a young woman who wants her life to look as good as other peoples’ Instagram feeds, this cheerful read takes her through the ups and downs of realizing that not everyone’s life is as perfect as social media. It also provides a great hashtag to add the less-than-perfect picnic photo you’ve taken of the day!

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books A Million | Bookshop

A Hammock on the Beach: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The truly indulgent, lazy days can be spent reading in a hammock, swaying in the beach breeze, and reading about the rich, the fabulous, the ultimate party, and the secrets of a family that will all come spilling out.

Set in the ‘80s, this period story ends in a roaring wildfire—something that not many parties do (thankfully), that will seem far away from the beach, and as indulgent as a delicious cocktail.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books A Million | Bookshop

Essential Bathtub Reading: Basic Witches by Jaya Saxena

Finally, for those who prefer to do their lazing in the tub, Basic Witches will help you elevate your bath time (and all the other little rituals of life) to a new level. Mixing magic, humor, and the modern world, this is the perfect read for feminists and spiritual seekers who prefer to keep it light—and brilliantly incisive.

Practical tips, lifestyle advice, and simple spells are the ideal way to spend an hour (or five) soaking in the tub.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Books A Million | Bookshop

What are your favorite books for a lazy day? Tweet @quirkbooks and let us know!