I found The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires kinda soothing? In a way? I get why others don’t, tho’.

I could see why you do, as the climax/ending is very cathartic, but the gender politics just Got To Me. I had to put it down a few times, I was that furious.

Seconding Enchanted April, both book and film.

I tried a sample of The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires because that is a really great title, but it seemed strongly not for me. I don't think I got all the way through the sample.

Cozy mysteries also work for me. I've been doing a lot of reading as soothing. Oooh, also Alice Hoffman, early stuff. It's something about the cadence of her language as well as the magical realism.

Robin McKinley.

I second the cozy mysteries and early Alice Hoffman. I agree that her language seems magical. My favorite childhood reread is The Old Fashioned Girl, but I also find The Boxcar Chilren and The Five Little Peppers very soothing. Although thinking about it as an adult the Boxcar Children and The Five Little Peppers has terrible trauma in their lives and the older children had too many adult responsibilities! And the gender roles are very heteronormative. But sometimes I just want to live in a Boxcar and make it pretty with a cracked cup I found in the dump, and eat baked potatoes cooked in a fire with not enough utensils!

Aww, yes I loved the boxcar children as a kid. Any story about kids managing to fend for themselves—my side of the mountain was another fave.

Any story about kids managing to fend for themselves—my side of the mountain was another fave.

I love that genre too. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was one I read and re-read.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was one I read and re-read.

One of my faves. I think that is why I love the film Easy Living so much. There's an automat!

Oh yes, Mixed Up Files was definitely a favorite!!!