“Sleep is the only balm I know.”
Studies have shown that reading before bed is a great way of helping us get to sleep, and enjoy a better quality night’s kip once we’re under the duvet. Reading a good book helps us slow down, improve cognitive function, reduce mental chatter and help us switch our bodies off into a relaxed state. But, there are a few mistakes people can make when reading before bed. The most obvious of these is picking up the wrong type of book. Stories that put us on edge, heighten anxiety, or overwhelm us with complex facts might make for compelling reads, but they can hurt us getting to sleep. This is why we here at What We Reading have decided to present some of our favourite books to fall asleep to! For those who are unsure what material they should read before bed, here are some of the most cosy and relaxing books to help you sleep.
The Bear – Andrew Krivak
First up on our list of the best books to fall asleep to is Andrew Krivak’s 2020 National Book Award finalist, The Bear. Whilst it is ultimately about loss, the book’s magical realism and themes of fragility and the beauty of nature make it one of the best books to read before bed.
The story is set in the far-flung future and follows a girl and her father living in the shadow of a single mountain. The pair are the last two humans alive, and there are only a few remaining pieces of civilisation left. The father teaches his daughter how to fish and hunt, as well as the secrets of the stars and the seasons. But, after finding herself suddenly alone in an unknown environment, it is a bear that helps bring the young girl back home through the wilderness around her. If she can listen to it that is.
Nothing Much Happens: Calming Stories To Help Soothe Your Mind & Help You Sleep – Kathryn Nicolai
The Nothing Much Happens podcast is one of the world’s most popular podcasts, helping listeners get to sleep through sweet and relaxing short stories where, you guessed it, not much happens. And in her 2020 book, she curates some of the best short stories for easing the mind and falling asleep.
Featuring sixteen stories never-before-featured on the podcast, Nothing Much Happens comes with whimsical illustrations, meditations and recipes designed to aid in carrying readers through for a deep and restful sleep. From watching fireflies on the deck in the summer to visiting a cider mill in the autumn, Nicolai brings her decades of experience in yoga and meditation to present one of the most sensory-filled experiences in the reading world.
The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials #1) – Philip Pullman
For readers looking to sprinkle in some nostalgia with their bedtime reading, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy remains one of the most whimsical and magical go-tos. Whilst the film might have let the book down, there’s no denying that The Golden Compass remains a beloved classic.
Introducing readers to Lyra, The Golden Compass is full of big questions about life and morality but buried underneath the fantastical frozen lands of the North. A land of mythical beasts and where armoured bears rule the cold. The fantastical elements and enthralling storyline help make Pullman’s works some of the best young adult books to fall asleep to.
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt
After Tova’s husband died, she began working night shifts at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping the floors and keeping the building tidy. Keeping busy has always been how Tova has coped ever since the disappearance of her son, Erik, over thirty years ago. During her shifts, she begins to strike up a connection with Marcellus, the grumpy octopus that has been residing at the aquarium for years.
Having seen countless things over the years and knowing more than anyone could ever imagine, Marcellus works out what happened to Erik. And it is up to him to reveal the truth to Tova before it’s too late. Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures is a gentle exploration of hope, reckoning and friendship that follows this widow and her unlikely connection with the giant Pacific octopus. With its message of how looking into the past can help reveal a better future, it is the perfect contemporary book to read before bed.
Tom Lake – Ann Patchett
Another one of the best books to fall asleep to that looks at friendship and the power of connection comes from Ann Patchett in her 2023 work, Tom Lake. Set in the Spring of 2020, the story follows Lara’s three daughters as they return to the family’s orchard in north Michigan. Whilst out picking cherries, they badger their mother to tell them about Peter Duke, an actor who shared the stage and a romance with their mother.
The pair worked for a theatre company named Tom Lake, and readers are whisked along with the mother’s tale of her and Peter growing older, reflecting and looking back on their own experiences alongside the daughters as they listen in. A warm and hopeful story about family dynamics and our place in each other’s lives, the subtle emotions and profound optimism help make this book perfect for bedtime reading.
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Conversations With Friends – Sally Rooney
Frances is a twenty-one-year-old college student and aspiring writer. Cool-headed, sharply observant and always in control, she devotes herself to her studies and her best friend, Bobbi. The former lovers perform spoken poetry across Dublin’s literary scene, drawing them into the path of a journalist named Melissa. Frances is initially impressed by Melissa’s fancy home and her husband Nick, a handsome former actor who never managed to live up to his potential.
But, whilst their flirting begins friendly enough, the spark between Nick and Frances soon leads to a strange intimacy neither of them has been expecting. Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends is the tale of a messy quadrangle between two college students and a married couple that explores how complex relationships can help develop our identities.
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Stardust – Neil Gaiman
Another one of the best YA books to fall asleep to comes from Neil Gaiman and his beloved classic, Stardust. The story follows Tristan Thorn, a young man who will do anything to win the heart of the beautiful Victoria, even pull a star down from the night sky.
But, to pick out the star they both watch fall together, he must venture out beyond the ancient wall that guards their tiny village. He soon stumbles upon a realm of fairies and, rather than the rock from outer space he was expecting, a woman named Yvaine. Romance, fairies and fantasy – what more could you want for a great nighttime read?!
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).
