Softly Restarting: Healing Reads That Helped Me Rest and Reflect

For a while, everything felt like too much. The noise, the pace, the pressure to create, produce, keep up—it just wore me down. So I paused. Not a dramatic stop, just a gentle powering down. I didn’t have the energy for updates, projects, or posting. But in the quiet, I turned back to the one thing that’s always felt like a lifeline: books. Specifically, healing reads—stories that didn’t demand anything from me but simply offered comfort, solace, and a deep understanding of my struggles.

This soft restart isn’t about rebranding or coming back better than ever. It’s about beginning again with intention, softness, and care. I wanted to share a few of the healing reads that guided me during the in-between times. The ones that reminded me who I am, even when I felt like I had nothing to give. Remember, a soft restart is a valid and gentle way to navigate your healing journey.

📚 The Comfort Reads

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

 This book is a warm blanket. Full of whimsy, gentle magic, and found family, it reminded me that kindness isn’t weakness. That it’s okay to choose softness in a world that expects sharpness.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

 Returning to Avonlea was like visiting an old friend. Anne’s wild imagination, dramatic monologues, and big feelings mirrored the part of me I was trying to reconnect with. She reminded me that wonder is worth holding on to.

💌 Healing Reads That Let Me Feel My Feelings

Starfish by Lisa Fipps

 This verse novel took me straight back to the raw, honest, and unfiltered emotions of middle school. I cried. I also felt seen. Healing isn’t a straight line, and this book acknowledges that, making it okay to not have it all figured out.

Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri

 A memoir in stories, full of fractured memories and bold truths. It reminded me that our stories don’t have to make sense to be sacred. That healing often means owning the messy parts as well.

These emotional and deeply personal stories were healing reads in the truest sense—gentle mirrors to my inner world.

🌙 The Slow Burn Stories

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

 This quiet sci-fi is for anyone who’s ever asked, “What’s the point of it all?” It’s philosophical, slow, and incredibly kind. It helped me breathe again.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

 Time travel, regret, and second chances, all wrapped in the softest melancholy. This one made me slow down and think about how I show up in my own life.

If you're looking for healing reads that invite reflection and rest, these two are a perfect place to start.

A Note If You’re Also Softly Restarting

If you're healing, hiding, or just trying to figure things out again—I see you. Your restart doesn’t have to be big or bold. You don’t have to explain your quiet. Rest is part of the rhythm, not a break from it.

I’m still figuring out what this new pace looks like. But I’ll be here, reading slowly, creating gently, and showing up when it feels good. If you’re with me, welcome back. Let’s take this next chapter softly, with all the healing reads we can carry.