Inside: Want to get to bed earlier? Then add reading to your nighttime routine! Reading before bed will relax and ready your body for sleep. Here are the best fiction books to read before you fall asleep.
I recently got out of a year-long relationship with legal TV dramas. And let me tell you - I feel great about it.
I knew I needed to cut and run months ago - but something kept me coming back night after night. Cuddling in bed with my husband and our laptop was magical, entertaining, and felt like the guilty pleasure I'd been craving all day. The guilty pleasure that I "needed".
But what I discovered was this: what I really needed was more and better sleep. And a new bedtime routine was in order.
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Sleep Is More Important Than Entertainment
While binging a show to end the day is always exhilarating, it also mean I stay up later. Which means I get less sleep.
You and I both know we mamas need our sleep!
According to a study done by the University of Sussex, reading before bed reduces stress by 68% - and the reduction in stress makes sleep deeper and more restful. So mama, it’s time we turned off the T.V., put our phones down, and slammed our laptops shut.
It's time we start thinking about alternatives to screen time before bed.
So grab that dusty paperback and get to reading.
Or, if you don't have a book lying around you want to read, stick around - I've got some suggestions for you.
17 Best Books To Help Moms Relax Before Bed
Here is a quick run-down of the list. Further on in the article I've written a little blurb about each if you want more info. Enjoy!
- The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
- The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy
- Fever by Mary Beth Keene
- The German Wife by Kelly Rimer
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
- Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
- The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
- The German Midwife by Many Robotham
- Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keene
- Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin
- Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin
- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
- Camino Island by John Grisham
- Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
1. The Mitford Series by Jan Karon
If you need a feel-good, easy read - this is a MUST. There's somewhere around 15 books in the series so you could hunker down with this storyline for awhile. The characters are lovely, the setting idyllic, and the plot carries you along the happenings of a small mountain town stuck in their ways and happy to be incubated from the rest of the world. This is the perfect way to end a long day. Dive on in, my friend.
2. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emma Orczy
It took about 20 pages to get used to the language and style, but once I was in, I was hooked! Action, adventure, romance. It’s all there. Give this one some time, and you won’t be able to put it down.
3. Fever by Mary Beth Keene
This novel, based on a real women known as "Typhoid Mary", offered the perfect blend of history and intrigue. As the first identified healthy carrier of Typhoid, Mary Mallon lived a confusing existence navigating how to fully live her own life while simultaneously being aware of the danger she posed to those around her. Fascinating!
4. The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer
Novels and historical fiction set in WWII are my absolute favorite. There is something so fascinating about seeing the darkest evil and some of the most beautiful stories of light come out of the same time period.
This novel offered a perspective I had not spent a lot time thinking through. I won't go into too much detail - it is worth the read for everyone, but especially if you love novels set during WWII.
5. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
This is an eccentric story about the collision of two very different worlds - the perfectly scripted with the mysterious and obtuse. It is a slow paced, emotionally charged novel that will keep you engaged in the storyline all the way through.
6. Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
If you have not read Harry Potter - where have you been? If you have, it might be time for a re-read 🙂 I was first introduced to the Harry Potter series while sitting crossed legged on the plush rug of my 3rd grade classroom - my teacher’s English accent making the storytelling all the more magical. Instantly I was hooked. Grab a copy and get lost in the land of butterbeer and Quidditch.
7. The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers
This was my first Francine Rivers novel, and to say I was hesitant is an understatement. Christian romance was not a genre I was interested in jumping in to! This book, however, was so fun to read. It read a bit like a Hallmark movie at times, but that only added to the charm. It is definitely worth grabbing for a light, fun bed time book!
8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
When I first read The Great Gatsby I did so begrudgingly - no book is less enticing than one required by your English teacher. But let me tell you, I was not disappointed with F. Scott Fitzgerald! If you somehow got out of high school without reading this one, it’s about time you grabbed it.
9. The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
This book follows two couples through decades of friendship, forgiveness, heart ache, changing families, faith, and lasting love. It is a beautiful story that had me in tears.
10. The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham
Yet again, another novel set in WWII. This one follows the journey of a young German who offers her midwifery skills to Jews. For this she is put into prison, but she doesn't stop there. As she serves as a midwife in the camps, Anke Hoff is noticed by some high ranking Germans and is asked to use her skills for a more dangerous task. A must-read. It'll keep you coming back each night.
11. Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keene
This was my favorite book of the year back in 202o when I read it. It still tops the list. It's a bit dark, but so, so good. Thought-provoking, intriguing, and entertaining.
12. Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin
Charles Martin has yet to disappoint. He offers entertaining, interesting, and fun reads. This one was no different (and maybe my favorite of his so far!). It follows the story of a Texas Ranger and his struggle to understand love, how to let go, and to accept a new direction in life. If you need a book that keeps you coming back every night, this is it!
13. Peace Like A River by Leif Enger
This was given to me by a dear friend for my 30th birthday - and what a treat it was! It was thought provoking, at times encouraging, and magical. It is an unusual story, but one that I know you will thoroughly enjoy.
14. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A classic. And a fabulous one, at that. If you have seen the movie and loved it, you have to grab the book. It’s sweet, romantic, and just lovely. The movie doesn’t do it justice. It took me a minute to get into the story, but keep going because once you do it is a delicious treat. Austen’s satire and wit is such a treat to read!
15. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
If you have ever wondered what it would feel like to be plopped right smack dab in the middle of the Clue board game, here is your chance. I loved every second of reading this book. The mystery, the lightheartedness, the, at times, cheesy scenarios. This clever little book leaves you continually guessing, questioning, and speculating. This is just a fun read I know you’ll love.
16. Camino Island by John Grisham
Even if you are not a John Grisham fan (who are you?!?) you might be into this little novel. Different from his regular law thriller, Camino Island is a light, fun read. Grisham is a master storyteller. Any book of his I pick up I struggle to put down. So maybe this isn’t such a good night time read after all?! Enjoy.
An aside: while we are on the Grisham train, let me tell you about a book you should avoid reading before bed: The Reckoning. I literally could not close the book - it kept me up later than a Suits binge fest!
17. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
Compelling, infuriating, and engrossing. The book follows a group of siblings who are unfairly thrown into an orphanage in Memphis TN in the 1930's. The storyline sheds light on the criminal adoption practices of a children's home where many of the wealthiest in Memphis adopted their children.
Mama, it’s time to grab a book.
Is it time to put the kids down yet???
It's Friday as I write this (our usual movie night) but I've got to say I'm craving a deep dive into a good novel now. All this book talk has got me thinking about a warm shower, hot tea, a blanket, and a paperback!
Which one of these bedtime books are you going to start with? I’d love to hear and know what you thought about it.
Alright mama, let’s get to reading more and and sleeping better.
I’m rooting for you,
