✨Exploring Emotions Through Stories ✨
Books have an incredible ability to meet us exactly where we are emotionally. They can lift our spirits, make us laugh, soothe our stress, or make us feel understood in moments when we don’t have the words ourselves. That’s why I’m so excited to introduce a brand-new series here on Reading Under the Northern Lights: Books for Every Mood.
The series will run throughout 2026. Each month we’ll explore a specific emotion and the books that pair perfectly with it. Whether you’re craving comfort, looking for a laugh, or hoping for a story that reflects something you’re going through, there will be something here for you.
What This Series Is All About
Each post will focus on one emotion, mood or feeling. I will be highlighting books that capture that feeling and explaining why they’re such a good fit. The goal is to help you find stories that resonate with your heart right now.
A Sneak Peek at the First Post
The first post drops tomorrow, and we’ll be diving into something I know so many of us can relate to: Books to Read When You’re Feeling Burned Out.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, and life being, well…life, burnout can sneak up on anyone. The books I’ll be sharing are gentle, relaxing, low-pressure reads designed to comfort without demanding too much from you.
Emotions We’ll Explore Together
Here’s a look at some of the moods and feelings we’ll be covering between now and the end of 2026:
- Burned Out
- Joyful or Happy
- Sad or Heavyhearted
- Angry or Frustrated
- Nostalgic
- Grateful
- Courageous or Brave
- Grieving
- Heartbroken or Betrayed
- Lonely
- Discouraged
- Resentful
- Guilty or Regretful
- Mischievous or Silly
These aren’t in any particular order, so let me know in the comments which one you’d love to see next. I would love to tailor the schedule based on what resonates most with you.
Why I Decided to Write this Series
Reading has carried me through some of my brightest moments and some of my hardest. I have many memories of books speaking directly to my heart and I wanted to share two that immediately come to mind.
The Middle Grade Book That Emotionally Destroyed Me (In the Best Way)
I had picked up a classic middle grade novel for my kids. The book is a John Newbery Medal winner written in 1977. I remembered seeing this book in my school library when I was a kid but had never actually read it. Before handing it over, I figured I’d give it a quick read.
What I didn’t do was read the blurb on the back.
Big mistake.
I was in way deeper than expected and by the end, I had tears streaming down my face. At one point, I threw the book on the floor because I was so upset (not my proudest reader moment).
The point is: this book hit me so hard, so unexpectedly, that I still think about it. That’s the power of a story syncing perfectly with (or completely ambushing) your emotions.
The Horror Novel That Met Me in My Grief
The second moment that springs to mind came in January 2024, about a month after my father passed away. I picked up a horror novel I had been waiting on from the library. Normally, I never would’ve chosen a book about a woman navigating life after her parents’ deaths while my own grief was still so sharp… but two things convinced me:
- I’d been waiting forever for that hold, and
- The author mixes humor into his horror, so I assumed it would feel “safe enough.”
The story follows the characters as they navigate loss and generational trauma. I remember thinking, “Oh no. This is not what I signed up for.”
But here’s the surprise: it was exactly what I needed.
This is the book that showed me that horror and grief pair together beautifully, like chocolate and peanut butter. Horror often centers around a “monster” or traumatic events, making the emotional stakes incredibly relatable when you’re grieving. The book was very on-the-nose about its themes, but the connection has stuck with me ever since.
Both of these experiences happened because I walked into the books blindly. That said, it’s amazing when you can intentionally choose a book based on how you’re feeling and what you want the story to do for you.
If you can guess either of the books from these descriptions, drop your guesses in the comments! Otherwise, stay tuned as both of these titles will appear in the series.
I can’t wait to share this journey with you as we explore how stories can help us understand, soothe, and celebrate our emotions, one page at a time.
✨Want to Follow Along? ✨
If you don’t want to miss new posts in the series, make sure you’re subscribed to the blog. You’ll get updates straight to your inbox whenever a new mood-based recommendation list goes live!
Books for Every Mood series:
~Kerri
Leave a Reply