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When you close these books you feel happy to be alive, secure that life is worth living, and motivated to get out there and live an awesome life.

Some of these books may deal with the dark side of life, but they still convey that overall it is good to be alive and leave you feeling uplifted.
1

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4.27 avg rating — 336,794 ratings
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4.47 avg rating — 11,909,717 ratings
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3.89 avg rating — 210,246 ratings
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3.81 avg rating — 280,785 ratings
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14

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4.27 avg rating — 966,918 ratings
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15

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3.81 avg rating — 1,042,968 ratings
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3.95 avg rating — 1,794,135 ratings
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17

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3.92 avg rating — 3,789,080 ratings
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18

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4.61 avg rating — 1,930 ratings
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19

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4.34 avg rating — 7,897 ratings
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20

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4.06 avg rating — 264,538 ratings
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21

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4.16 avg rating — 213,234 ratings
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22

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3.64 avg rating — 5,539 ratings
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23

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4.22 avg rating — 1,354,039 ratings
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24

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4.24 avg rating — 569,815 ratings
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25

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4.26 avg rating — 98,735 ratings
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26

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4.25 avg rating — 11,626 ratings
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27

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4.10 avg rating — 1,376,600 ratings
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28

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4.05 avg rating — 119,123 ratings
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29

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3.85 avg rating — 92,682 ratings
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30

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4.04 avg rating — 254,963 ratings
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31

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4.57 avg rating — 34,256 ratings
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32

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4.34 avg rating — 2,635,796 ratings
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32

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3.78 avg rating — 81,093 ratings
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34

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4.13 avg rating — 56,155 ratings
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35

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4.24 avg rating — 346,157 ratings
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36

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3.70 avg rating — 96,698 ratings
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37

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3.94 avg rating — 597,055 ratings
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38

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4.42 avg rating — 1,396,050 ratings
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39

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3.60 avg rating — 14,230 ratings
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40

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4.04 avg rating — 37,064 ratings
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41

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4.29 avg rating — 202,451 ratings
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42

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4.68 avg rating — 41 ratings
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43

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4.02 avg rating — 93,384 ratings
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44

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4.17 avg rating — 30,803 ratings
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45

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3.81 avg rating — 10,849 ratings
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46

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4.32 avg rating — 24,440 ratings
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47

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 176,163 ratings
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48

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4.05 avg rating — 216,251 ratings
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49

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4.81 avg rating — 42,761 ratings
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50

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3.97 avg rating — 1,093,951 ratings
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51

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4.28 avg rating — 480,325 ratings
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51

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4.03 avg rating — 20,354 ratings
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53

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4.37 avg rating — 1,296,803 ratings
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54

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3.86 avg rating — 24,160 ratings
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55

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3.96 avg rating — 199,346 ratings
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56

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4.19 avg rating — 124,691 ratings
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56

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3.83 avg rating — 49,781 ratings
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58

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4.39 avg rating — 457,121 ratings
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59

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4.23 avg rating — 237,710 ratings
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60

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4.34 avg rating — 195 ratings
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61

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3.86 avg rating — 400 ratings
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62

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4.14 avg rating — 40,868 ratings
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63

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4.35 avg rating — 1,230,987 ratings
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64

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4.55 avg rating — 753,543 ratings
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65

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3.98 avg rating — 36,496 ratings
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66

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4.06 avg rating — 121,425 ratings
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67

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3.91 avg rating — 308,244 ratings
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68

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4.68 avg rating — 19 ratings
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69

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4.08 avg rating — 132,430 ratings
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70

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4.47 avg rating — 38 ratings
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71

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4.09 avg rating — 82,954 ratings
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72

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4.08 avg rating — 100,537 ratings
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73

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3.94 avg rating — 201,852 ratings
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74

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4.15 avg rating — 816,978 ratings
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75

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4.10 avg rating — 357,738 ratings
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76

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4.01 avg rating — 611,152 ratings
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77

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4.13 avg rating — 22,813 ratings
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78

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4.17 avg rating — 23,378 ratings
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79

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3.88 avg rating — 156,111 ratings
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80

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4.13 avg rating — 51,816 ratings
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81

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4.03 avg rating — 380,544 ratings
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82

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4.02 avg rating — 88,424 ratings
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83

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4.12 avg rating — 25,488 ratings
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84

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4.19 avg rating — 5,586 ratings
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85

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3.63 avg rating — 118,077 ratings
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86

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4.49 avg rating — 121,779 ratings
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87

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3.81 avg rating — 91,984 ratings
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88

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3.86 avg rating — 47,216 ratings
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89

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4.10 avg rating — 9,759 ratings
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90

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3.76 avg rating — 14,241 ratings
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91

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4.05 avg rating — 83,419 ratings
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92

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3.77 avg rating — 331,862 ratings
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92

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4.05 avg rating — 267,972 ratings
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94

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4.39 avg rating — 1,023,033 ratings
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95

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4.04 avg rating — 589,465 ratings
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96

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4.11 avg rating — 13,105 ratings
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97

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4.36 avg rating — 227,441 ratings
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98

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4.31 avg rating — 538,190 ratings
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99

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4.17 avg rating — 200,932 ratings
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100

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4.25 avg rating — 59,031 ratings
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360 books · 316 voters · list created April 12th, 2010 by April (votes) .
73 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


April 1050 books
8 friends
Charlotte 511 books
14 friends
Natalia 1033 books
12 friends
Susan 344 books
5 friends
Ragnheiður 1342 books
32 friends
Nadia 1728 books
1 friend
Patrik 710 books
0 friends
Rei ⭐ 3378 books
279 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Cheryl (new)

Cheryl Oh, thank you for this list! I've been exposed to so much dystopia and melodrama and explicit & gratuitous nasty stuff in books that my friends and groups are reading lately I'm just exhausted.

Is there a way to save this list to my profile or some place handy so I can refer to it readily?


message 2: by Susan (last edited Feb 07, 2011 09:33PM) (new)

Susan Cheryl wrote: "Oh, thank you for this list! I've been exposed to so much dystopia and melodrama and explicit & gratuitous nasty stuff in books that my friends and groups are reading lately I'm just exhausted.

I..."

It should be on your "Listopia Votes" and "Your Lists" on your profile, if you've voted on this list. Also check out this list: Best Stress Free Books!


message 3: by April (new)

April Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Oh, thank you for this list! I've been exposed to so much dystopia and melodrama and explicit & gratuitous nasty stuff in books that my friends and groups are reading lately I'm just exhausted."

Exactly! That's why I started this list- to get good fiction recommendations that wouldn't depress me. I've been reading some of the books on this list. Last year, I started reading the Newberry Award winning books- starting from the most recent. That has been so fun. They are for kids, but they are some very well-written books that aren't too dark.


message 4: by Cheryl (new)

Cheryl Thank you!


message 5: by Chana (new)

Chana Thanks for inviting me to vote on this list. Fun!


message 6: by Alexa (new)

Alexa Yes, I realised that most books I have read have a strong dystopic element - so I actively made the effort of searching for a list of 'Uplifting' reads. However, having read some of the books on the list - I can say that I do not agree!

The Goldfinch? (Masterpiece but far from uplifting)
No Terry Pratchett! No Night Circus!


message 7: by April (new)

April Hi Alexandra,
I hope you'll add fiction you've found uplifting and vote for the books on the list that you think fit the bill. Thanks for stopping by!


message 8: by Marie (UK) (new)

Marie (UK) OK so explain to me THE HANDMAIDS TALE - uplifting someone needs their bumps read


message 9: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited May 16, 2020 01:22PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) It says in the description "Some of these books may deal with the dark side of life, but they still convey that overall it is good to be alive and leave you feeling uplifted', so maybe that's why it's on this list. Among other things, it can make you feel happy that it is not true to life...


message 10: by April (new)

April Kara wrote: "Yes, I realised that most books I have read have a strong dystopic element - so I actively made the effort of searching for a list of 'Uplifting' reads. However, having read some of the books on th..."

Hi Kara! Please add the books to the list that you find most uplifting. I know everyone will find different books uplifting.


message 11: by April (new)

April Booklovinglady wrote: "It says in the description "Some of these books may deal with the dark side of life, but they still convey that overall it is good to be alive and leave you feeling uplifted', so maybe that's why i..."

Hi Booklovinglady!
(I'm a book loving lady too!) This is an open list that everyone can add to and vote on. I hope you'll vote for the books you find uplifting and add your own choices as well.


message 12: by Tate (new)

Tate why is the tunnel on this list?


message 13: by Alexa (new)

Alexa April wrote: "Booklovinglady wrote: "It says in the description "Some of these books may deal with the dark side of life, but they still convey that overall it is good to be alive and leave you feeling uplifted'..."

True. Still looking for uplifting reads as I've ventured into the territory of horror.


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