Given the changes and challenges of the past few months, it’s likely that you’re in need of a literary pick-me-up – so here’s a list of feel-good favourites to download onto your Kindle. If you don’t have the app on your smartphone, tablet or PC, you can download it for free here. Grab a cup of tea, get comfy, and enjoy!

I Capture the Castle
by Dodie Smith

“One of the 20th Century’s most beloved novels is still winning hearts!”

Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle is as delightful today as it was when it was first published in 1949. With an unforgettable opening line – “I write this sitting in the kitchen sink” – a charming protagonist and narrator in 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, and an engaging coming-of-age storyline that’s both charming and funny, this novel deserves a spot on your feel-good reading list. Download it here.

A Walk in the Woods
by Bill Bryson

“The World’s Funniest Travel Writer Takes a Hike.”

International travel may be off the cards for the conceivable future, but that doesn’t mean you can’t explore the world through the written word – and what better way to do that than with Bill Bryson as your guide. In A Walk in the Woods, Bryson takes you on a hike along parts of America’s Appalachian Trail, a formidable 3 500km route in the Eastern United States. Described as “an adventure, a comedy, and a celebration”, A Walk in the Woods is the perfect way to satisfy your wanderlust while in lockdown. Download it here.

Emma
by Jane Austen

“The delightfully imperfect Emma and her Mr. Knightley have captured the hearts of generations of readers.”

What literary comfort food list would be complete without at least one Jane Austen novel? And given that its latest screen adaption was released just this year, the title to grace this particular list is Emma, Austen’s much-loved story with a beautiful, endearing and flawed heroine. Download it here.

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
by Alexander McCall Smith

“Fans around the world adore the bestselling No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series and its proprietor, Precious Ramotswe, Botswana’s premier lady detective.”

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, now’s the perfect time to start. The novel, which hit bookshelves in 1998, is the first in a series of 20 books and has been adapted for television and radio. The story’s protagonist is the eminently likeable Mma Precious Ramotswe, who, along with her sidekick Grace Makutsi, solves all manner of cases with her trademark warmth, wit and wisdom. Download it here.