21 Best Novels for When you Need Fluff Reads
I am one of those readers that feels that there is a time and place for all books. And while I definitely have genres that I am more drawn to than others, my list of favorites includes books from literary fiction to some very fluffy reads.
Sometimes, I want the words of literary fiction to wash over me, and other times, I just need a mental break. My mental getaways don’t usually include watching television (reality) but they do include reading some great fluffy books. Between Kirsten and I, we have read so many great books that make us feel good without making us think too much. We have included them in our list of fluffy books. Let us know if your favorite is on the list. If not, we need to know which books to add.
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Contemporary Fiction Fluff Reads
A Palm Beach Wife by Susannah Marren
This story about a Palm Beach socialite whose marriage and finances are falling apart was fluffy and fun. It’s VERY heavy on the designer names, fancy restaurants, and chic surroundings, and I ate up every over-the-top description.
I spend a tiny bit of time in Palm Beach each winter, so it was amazing to hear about the places I can vividly picture in my head. If you aren’t into fashion or name-dropping, this will not be for you. But it’s a candy delicious treat for a fashion-lover like me and a perfect pick from a list of fluffy books!
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
Ready for some over-the-top wedding shenanigans? Kevin Kwan delivers! When a young man decides to bring his girlfriend home to Singapore for a wedding, she has no idea what to expect.
She didn’t know he was crazy rich, that his family was crazy, and that everything in Singapore is more, more, more. The details within these pages were so vivid, I could picture everything! This is perfect for a list of fluffy books!
This one makes it onto our list of the best books about weddings, too!
Fitness Junkie by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
A great book that had me laughing out loud and wondering who in the world does these crazy diets!!
I also loved how the story found a 40-something finally embracing her own badassness and standing up for herself. This contemporary fiction is the perfect poolside read.
When Life gives you Lululemons by Lauren Weisberger
What I really love about Weisberger’s characters is that they are so dynamic and multi-dimensional. Emily Charlton (AKA Miranda Priestly’s first assistant) is back and at the center of this story. She is living in LA as a high-profile celebrity image consultant.
When clients start dwindling, Emily takes refuge at her friend Miriam’s house in the CT suburbs. When Karolina Hartwell- wife of a senator, ex Victoria’s Secret model is arrested for drunk driving with children in the car, the three women will come together.
The story doesn’t stop moving from the first page to the last. And while completely entertaining, the book also looks at love, life, and friendship as well as some of the realities of getting older (we can’t all stay 20 forever!). There are so great words of wisdom in these fun-to-read pages and is a must-read from our list of fluffy books.
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
One week before her wedding, Georgia discovers that her fiancé has been keeping a secret from her. Not sure if she can get over it and go through with the wedding, she heads home to her family vineyard.
When she arrives, she does not find the solace she is looking for. Rather, her parent’s marriage is in shambles, her brothers are a mess and they are at risk of losing everything. This book about wine is such a fun book for book clubs to read and discuss. How do the characters develop? Did the book end the way you thought?
Historical Fiction Fluffy Books
My Lady’s Choosing: an Interactive Romance Novel by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris
What is so great about this book is that it can go anywhere you want it to. Choose your adventure…and choose your own man. It’s exactly like those books we all loved as children, except with VERY adult content.😉
You can pick as many or as few stories as you want. Personally, I found my happy ending with a Scottish man who was clearly modeled after Jamie Frasier! We love this pick from our list of fluffy books.
The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1) by Julia Quinn
I watched the show and LOVED it so much. I previously read some of the others in the series but I really wanted to read this first book in the Bridgerton book series and I have to say, it was my favorite.
There is something about Daphne and Simon that I adore. This book is a perfect historical romance. The Netflix book adaption smashed records and caused a boom in book sales.
Daphne Bridgerton is the fourth of eight children and is beginning her first season in the ton. As young women of marrying age search for a husband, Daphne is not quite like other girls.
When the eligible Simon Bassett suggests they begin fake dating to allow them both a chance to breathe. However, things do not always go as planned. To make matters more complicated, Lady Whistledown always seems to know the truth and the information ready for everyone to read. This is one of our fake dating books of all time.
Are you a fan of Bridgerton? We’ve got a list of books like Bridgerton you will love! And if you love romance books, we have Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton Books in Order: Complete Guide to 20 Books.
Fluffy Books: Romance
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
This book has a cult-like following for a reason. The first book in the series is a loose fairy tale retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in the world of Prythian. Magical creatures, humans, and fae are all prominent in the book.
When Feyre kills a wolf in the words, a creature arrives to her house to drag her to a magical land that she has only heard about in stories told to terrify children. Now, she is to remain a captor of Tamlin, a fae, as retribution.
This is a fast-paced, addicting, fantasy romance series with a love triangle that develops by the end of the novel. Book two is jaw-dropping! This series is on its way to becoming a classic that you will want to binge in one week.
While this book is technically a YA fantasy series, the books become very steamy and we see this as one of the best fantasy books for adults as well. We are so excited this is going to be one of the Hulu book adaptations.
Find this book in Books Like ACOTAR / Sarah J. Maas Books / Enemies-to-Lovers/ YA Fantasy / Best Romance Novels of all Time.
The Cafe by the Sea (Mure Island Series #1) by Jenny Colgan
Jenny Colgan churns out another light beach read with heart. Cafe by the Sea is set on the gorgeous island of Muir in Scotland.
Scotland shines in this story about life in a town set in its ways and trying to resist the pull of modern life. There is a romance in this story, but the pull was more on the heroine reconnecting with her old life and family. Jenny Colgan is the queen of bakery romance novels and you can check out our list of The Best Jenny Colgan Books Ranked by Super Fans
Playing with Matches by Hannah Orenstein
The New York dating scene is not the same as it was during the Sex in the City years. Tinder and other dating apps are taking over and matchmakers are back in fashion again.
Sasha is a 20-something new matchmaker who seems to have it all until her romantic life implodes and she left trying to pick up the pieces. The characters and the storyline had me totally engrossed. This Rom-Com is perfect for the beach and for a list of fluffy books.
The Wedding Sisters by Jamie Brenner
This wacky story about three sisters who get engaged at the same time is laugh-out-loud funny. When their parents decide that the best way to save money is to throw them a joint wedding, well…let’s just say it’s a wild ride! How can there not be some serious drama?
Full of heart, sisterhood, and love, this contemporary fiction family drama story is one of Brenner’s best works. Of all the books featuring weddings on this list, this is probably one of my favorite feel-good books for the wedding season and it is a perfect pick for a list of books about sisters!
Finding Fraser by KC Dyer
This is an adorable contemporary fiction read about a woman who goes to Scotland to find her man. The criteria- he has to look and be like Jamie Fraser.
That shouldn’t be too hard, should it? Isn’t every man tall, handsome, and completely perfect? Instead of finding her Jamie…she ends up finding her inner Claire instead. Totally cheesy but very fun for our list of books like Outlander and an adorable pick from books set in Scotland.
Fluffy Royal Reads
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Look no further than this royal romance. If you haven’t read this romance loosely based on Wills and Kate’s love story, read no further. This is the end-all, be-all of Royal Reads.
This novel spans from the time Bex and Prince Nick meet in college until the night before their wedding. It goes through the ups and downs of the relationship and ends on a cliffhanger. But do not worry. The Heir Affair is already out and you can read that one next. Of all the royal reads, this is the one we recommend most often.
The Royal Treatment by M.J. Summers
The May book challenge was a royal read. This royal read and funny and entertaining. It was the perfect light read to indulge in before the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Tessa Sharpe is the Royal Watchdog and hates everything about the Prince. Now, in order to save his reputation and his thrown, Prince Albert must invite Tessa to live at the castle with him for two months. This hilarious royal read will leave you smiling and is perfect for a list of fluffy books.
The Royal Secret by Lucinda Riley
I love guilty pleasure royal romances, but this is so much more! Part romance, part mystery, this book has something for everyone and is an amazing beach read.
A young journalist is given a mystery to uncover after an old actor passes away, but her investigation quickly turns deadly. I felt all the feelings on this one. There were a couple of times when I was truly angry at the author, but in the end, I really enjoyed this mystery book about royalty!
The Frog Prince by Ella Lothlorian
Did you know there are a whole lot of displaced royals out there? These descendants of former royalty have high standards to live up to but no throne to sit on.
When Leigh meets and begins dating one of these ex-royals, her world shifts when her boyfriend’s throne is reinstated! This royal book got me back into reading when I was the mom of a newborn. It’s like chocolate in book form!
Fluffy Books with Fake Movie Stars
When It’s Real by Erin Watt
A regular girl plus a bad-boy pop star who needs to reform his image equals the perfect getaway from reality. The story is predictable which is what makes it perfect for a list of fluffy books. Erin Watt’s Paper Princess Series is a great fluff read that was on our first list.
Movie Star by Lizzie Pepper by Hilary Liftin
A fictionalized account of the TomKat relationship that was the talk of the town for quite a few years.
Told from the perspective of the wife, Lizzie Pepper, we get a faux look at the world of Scientology and Hollywood. It’s over the top in the best way possible. We knew a list of fluffy books needed to include this one.
More Steamy Fluffy Books
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
I was not prepared for this book! Reader beware that it is the Rosie Project with a sprinkle of Pretty Woman and a whole lot of 50 Shades.
It is not offensive in the least but, I listened to this one, and let me say that I am very glad that my kids were not in the car. I did not realize that some of the scenes would be graphic.
It is a great romance with a neurodiverse main character named Stella who hires an escort to teach her about relationships and I loved it. This contemporary romance is definitely on its way to classic status and has a well-earned place on our list of books like The Love Hypothesis.
Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey
Hot & Hammered Book 1
So, I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into when I started reading this romance. It was definitely a lot steamier than I had anticipated. When Travis Ford, an injured and retired baseball superstar, returns back home, he is in a state of depression.
Georgette Castle, the best friend’s little sister, knows just how to smack some sense into him. While Georgette is able to get Travis to stop wallowing in self-pity, he decides to help her family take her more seriously. Having a job as a clown can make that difficult.
Opposites attract in this great grumpy sunshine romance that has many a 17+ scene but, it’s a fun summer read. If you love this one, we have a whole list of books like Fix Her Up!
How to Date A Douchebag: The Study Hours by Sara Ney
This series is laugh-out-loud funny. Each book is a stand-alone featuring a dedicated bachelor from a University’s Wrestling team. They are each tamed by a woman in a totally predictable way, but these books set in college are hysterical.
For starters, the author has funny pick-up lines between chapters that are utterly hilarious, but the dialogue between the characters is witty too. If you love a college romance novel, be sure to pick this one up!
Are your favorite fluffy books on this list?
Ultimate List of Romance Books: 50+ You Need to Read Now
If you love this list of fluffy reads, head over to our ultimate list of romances.
