“Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.”
Sometimes, life pulls us in so many directions that we crave the comfort of simpler times. That longing for the past – the warmth of childhood memories, the excitement of big milestones or even the charm of old-fashioned storytelling – is what makes nostalgia so powerful. If you’re looking for a way to embrace the cosy feeling of days gone by, there’s no better escape than a book. Whether it’s a classic story that feels like a warm embrace or a novel that captures a childhood adventure, books have the ability to take us all back. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would pull together our favourite books for nostalgia lovers. From beloved classics to modern novels that carry the same timeless charm, these nostalgia books are perfect for curling up on a quiet afternoon or revisiting on a rainy day and feeling like you’re home again!
Anne Of Green Gables (Anne Of Green Gables #1) – L.M. Montgomery
First up on our list of the best books for nostalgia is L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. This timeless classic follows Anne Shirley, an imaginative, spirited orphan mistakenly sent to live with her siblings, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, on their picturesque farm in Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. The Cuthberts were originally hoping for a boy to help with the farm’s chores, but are soon won over by Anne’s charm, wit and fiery personality. As Anne navigates the joys and challenges of growing up, she forms lifelong friendships, gets into mischief and ensures she leaves a lasting imprint on this small community.
Anne of Green Gables is a book that brims with nostalgia, capturing the innocence and awe of childhood. Its lush descriptions of rural landscapes, Anne’s unshackled enthusiasm for life and her wholesome and relatable struggles evoke a longing for a simpler life within every reader.
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The Reading List – Sara Nisha Adams
Widower Mukesh lives a quiet life in the London Borough of Ealing after losing his beloved wife. He goes to the shops every Wednesday, visits the Temple, and worries about his granddaughter, Priya, who spends her evenings locked away in her room reading.
Aleisha is a bright but anxious librarian who one day discovers a list of novels she has never heard of scrawled onto the back of a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. Intrigued, she decides to read every one of these books, being whisked away from her painful realities at home. When Mukesh arrives at the library looking to rebuild his bridges with Priya, the reading list is passed on to him. In the process, these two lonely souls create their own connection as the fiction they share helps them escape their grief and rediscover joy again.
Little Women (Little Women #1) – Louisa May Alcott
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is another one of the most classic books for nostalgia that follows the lives of the four March sisters – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – as they grow up in Civil War-era New England. Guided by their resilient mother, Marmee, the sisters navigate the joys and hardships of family life, love and personal ambition. From Jo’s fiery independence to Amy’s artistic aspirations, each of the sister’s journeys reflect struggles that we all confront and the triumphs that resonate across generations.
The nostalgia of Little Women lies in its depiction of close-knit family relationships, simple but lasting moments and life lessons grounded in morality and compassion. The novel captures the beauty of growing up, the bittersweet passage of time and the enduring power of love and sisterhood.
Tales Of The City (Tales Of The City #1) – Armistead Maupin
Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City is a vibrant and heartfelt exploration of life across San Francisco in the 1970s. The story opens with Mary Ann Singleton, a young woman from Ohio who impulsively decides to stay in the city following her holiday. She finds a home at 28 Barbary Lane, a quirky apartment complex owned and operated by the eccentric Anna Madrigal. Maupin takes readers through the lives of Mary Ann and her collection of eclectic neighbours as they all navigate love, friendship and identity in a world rapidly changing around them.
What makes Tales of the City one of the best nostalgia books is its vivid portrait of a bygone era filled with freedom, exploration and community. The book captures the magic of discovering oneself in a time of cultural upheaval, evoking a sense of longing for the camaraderie that comes with found friendships and family.
The Ocean At The End Of The Lane – Neil Gaiman
A middle-aged man returns to his hometown and visits a farmhouse where he once knew a girl named Lettie Hempstock. Sitting by a pond that Lettie claimed was once an ocean, he recalls an event from his childhood – a time when he was seven years old and found himself ensnared in a mysterious and dangerous series of events involving otherworldly forces. Lettie and her family protect him, blending the ordinary with the fantastical in ways he was never able to understand as a child.
Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane’s nostalgic appeal comes from its poignant exploration of childhood innocence and the ways in which we see the world when we are younger. Gaiman deftly evokes the bittersweet nature of growing older, blending the magic of childhood imagination with the melancholic realisation of how much we forget as we age.
Wonder (Wonder, #1) – R.J. Palacio
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Auggie has been homeschooled due to his medical condition. Nevertheless, his parents decide it’s time for him to attend Beecher Prep by the time fifth grade rolls around. As Auggie grapples with bullying, friendship struggles, and his desire to fit in, the novel explores themes of kindness, acceptance, and the power of empathy. Told from different perspectives, readers are able to see how Auggie’s presence impacts those around him.
Wonder evokes nostalgia by tapping into universal childhood experiences – the longing for acceptance, the awkwardness of growing up and the importance of friendship. The novel’s emphasis on the innocence of youth, as well as the growth that comes with learning to see beyond physical appearances, makes this one of the best books for being reminded of what it was like starting school and fitting in.
The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is another poignant and thought-provoking book for nostalgia that explores the infinite possibilities of life’s choices. Nora Seed, struggling with depression and deep regret, finds herself in a magical library between life and death after attempting to take her own life. Each book in the library represents a different version of her life, as she had made other choices. Led by her childhood librarian, Mrs. Elm, Nora sets out on a journey across these alternate lives, searching for fulfilment and purpose.
The nostalgia in The Midnight Library comes from its themes of ‘what could have been’ and its appreciation for life’s small, meaningful moments. By revisiting her past decisions, Nora is able to muse on the things that shaped her. Through Mrs. Elm, a comforting figure from Nora’s childhood, readers are given a reminder of simpler times when life felt full of endless opportunities.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
