"Whenever someone mentions Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, my heart churns at the thought of this book. I smiled, I rooted, and I bawled my eyes out all while reading it. But it wasn’t just during the book. I remember lying in my bed as I wiped my tears away, trying to process the story I just set down. Imagine me blankly staring at the ceiling. I didn’t read another book for at least another month—what I experienced was a book hangover. That was five years ago. I’d be lying to you if I said I don’t think about this book at least a few times a year. It’s one of my all-time favorite book hangovers, and it’s at the top of my list when someone asks me what my favorite book is. So, have you ever experienced a book hangover?
If you have never experienced this phenomenon or are looking to find the best hangover books, we’ve rounded up some of our editors’ favorites. We’re sharing titles, why these books gave us the worst hangovers (in the best way), and what a book hangover is, exactly. They’re not exactly the bedtime stories you would read to the kids, but I highly recommend a hangover book during a ‘me-time’ session. So, grab a glass of wine, cozy up in your favorite weighted blanket, and escape into a story that will give you the best hangover.
What is a book hangover?
A book hangover is the phenomenon someone experiences after finishing a book. The ‘book blues,’ per se. It’s the residual connection or feeling readers have after closing the final chapter—whether it be the storyline, characters, or the emotional rollercoaster the book set you on. And it’s not a bad thing. Experts say having a book hangover allows you to have “all the feels” and activates empathy. Plus, not all hangover books have a sad storyline! The rom-coms can give you the ‘I miss it already’ feeling, too. You’ll find that some of these books are book club picks, are bestsellers, and even have their own movie adaptations.
How to know if you’re experiencing a book hangover
While having a book hangover isn’t an official medical diagnosis, some symptoms may include continuously thinking about the book, having a hard time moving on to another storyline, being emotionally tied to the story and its characters, having a hard time letting go, searching for a similar novel, and more.
Five ways to get over a book hangover
It’s hard to say how long a hangover over a book will last. A few hours? Days? Weeks, even? However long it takes to cure the book blues, here are some tips on how to get over one.
1. Be patient with yourself
You’re allowed to grieve over a storyline. And if you’re a crier like me, give yourself some time to process that great book you just put down.
2. Dive into reading another book
What better way to end a book than by starting a new one? Pick up the latest rom-com or read a more lighthearted novel to get over your hangover.
3. Talk it out
Book clubs or talking it through with a friend who also read it is one way to get over a book.
If you were drawn to the writing or the types of characters within your book, try reading others written by the same author. The best hangover cure is moving on to the next title in the series! Maybe prepare yourself to experience another hangover once you’ve finished the series, though.
5. Reread the book
Can’t get over the book quite yet? A simple solution is to reread it. It doesn’t have to be right away either. Some books bring you back to a happy place. Storylines, character buildup, and plot twists that give you that hangover feeling are ones that are reread-worthy.
The best hangover books to add to your TBR list
The Everymom editors shared the books they couldn’t put down—and then couldn’t stop thinking about. From romance novels to thrillers to contemporary fiction picks and more, check out the best editor-approved reads to guarantee your next book hangover.
Romance novels
A little bit of romance and drama can be fun when you’re not truly living it. Whether its spice level is off the charts or it’s so funny you can’t put it down, here are a few books you’ll love time and time again.
“This is the only contemporary romance I’ve read that gave me butterflies and anxiety sweats simultaneously. Tia Williams knows how to write good tension, and this second-chance romance was sexy, tragic, and hopeful. I couldn’t put it down and needed a good month of palate cleansers after finishing.”—Steph, Branded Content Editor
“Without knowing it, I read Yours Truly (the second book in the Part of Your World series) first. It was the best mistake ever. I felt like I could relate to both characters, Briana and Jacob. Plus, I personally feel like the main characters are green flags in the relationship that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I immediately read the rest of the series. I just can’t get enough of Abby Jimenez’s books!”—Patty, Editorial Assistant
“I love a character who beats to her own drum, especially when it’s ‘out of character’ for a particular era. In this story set in the ’60s, a young 20-year-old Marilyn is shipped off to live with her great-aunt Ada for the summer. Life isn’t all about courtship. I love how both women are so different yet the same. I’d love to say more, but you just have to read this one.”—Patty, Editorial Assistant
Fantasy books
Pick up a fantasy book for the perfect escape. Experience dragons, characters, and mythical creatures you can only muster up in your head!
“Truthfully, this entire series will leave you doubled over in agony (but like, the good kind). Raven Kennedy is incredibly talented at writing complex yet compelling characters (and great spice). You end up forming an emotional attachment to every single character and are deeply invested in their journeys. It’s a pretty rough ride, so make sure to read the trigger warnings before diving in. But if you’re looking for a book that breaks your heart and rebuilds it piece by piece, The Plated Prisoner series is your girl.”—Steph, Branded Content Editor
“If you haven’t already jumped on the SJM bandwagon (or haven’t gotten to her Throne of Glass series yet), brace yourself. Although the first few books are harder to get through, the end is so, so worth it. Kingdom of Ash wraps up every storyline and character arc in a way that’s almost impossible to recover from.”—Steph, Branded Content Editor
Literary Fiction
These books are so focused on the characters and themes that you might identify with them on a deeper level, and they’re so complex that they don’t necessarily fit into one genre. This book list will definitely give you the hangover vibes you’re looking for.
“You’ll want to read this book before it comes to Netflix in 2025! I felt surprisingly connected to the non-human narrator who has so many meaningful observations about the humans he encounters, including his caretaker—a 70-year-old widow named Tova.”—Kathy, Senior Editor
“A new release in spring 2025, someone described this book as one to read if you’ve been searching for the next Where the Crawdads Sing—a title that probably gave me my worst book hangover of all time. With that description (plus multiple recommendations from friends), I was sold and not disappointed. The author explores grief, loss, and love alongside a mystery that had me ignoring my family so I could finish this book in two days.”—Kathy, Senior Editor
“Honestly, I went into this book thinking it would be a fun beach read, but it was so much deeper—and different—than what I expected. Main character Phoebe arrives at a coastal hotel during a serious life crisis, only to find she’s the only guest not attending a wedding there. Then she has an elevator encounter with the bride-to-be, and the story blooms from there. Still thinking about this one!”—Kathy, Senior Editor
“In contention for my favorite book of all time, Hello Beautiful follows a family of sisters—the Padavanos—in Chicago through years of love, loss, and complicated relationships (to say the least). It leaves you wondering, “What would I do in this situation?” “Could I ever forgive this choice?” Familial love is at the book’s heart. After I finished, I read and devoured Napolitano’s two other novels, Dear Edward and Within Arms Reach. I loved them, too, but Hello Beautiful is one I recommend to friends over and over again.”—Kathy, Senior Editor
When Old Hollywood Star Evelyn Hugo asks journalist Monique Grant to write her last interview before she dies, Monique and the rest of the world have no idea what they’re in store for.
“I didn’t understand what all the hype was until I picked this book up. After finishing it in less than 48 hours, the book hangover was real.”-Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
“Like the book, I have an older sister, so I was naturally drawn to it at its mention. Two sisters live completely different lives yet have one goal—to survive—in German-occupied, France. I couldn’t help but imagine myself in their shoes. Kristin Hannah’s way of storytelling is poetic, profound, and just darn cry-worthy.”—Patty, Editorial Assistant
“Author Kristin Hannah may be the queen of the book hangover. I’ve needed recovery time after every book of hers I’ve read—Winter’s Garden, The Four Winds, The Women, The Nightingale—but this one was the longest journey I’ve taken with her. In 1974, a family heads to Alaska to live off the grid—an impulsive decision by the family patriarch who recently returned from Vietnam. Like in most books by Hannah, your heart will be broken, mended, and broken again as you read. But you’ll care so deeply about her characters, especially teenager Leni, you’ll need a light read to chase this one.”—Kathy, Senior Editor
Mystery/Thriller
Whether set in the past or in modern times, these novels are the definition of page-turners.
“The Shadow of the Wind is definitely a shadow you won’t be able to shake off. It takes you back to Barcelona in 1945 after the Spanish Civil War. Join the journey of love, heartbreak, and loss. It’s a beautifully written story that you can’t miss out on.”—Patty, Editorial Assistant
“I’m not a huge Colleen Hoover fan—I didn’t love It Ends With Us (don’t come for me)—but I couldn’t put down Verity. In the book, Verity is an author who writes novels so disturbing, fans want to “throw the book across the room.” There’s a scene in this book where I wanted to do the same. I still wonder, what was real? What was true? I’m looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation coming in 2026.”—Kathy, Senior Editor
Non-Fiction
When someone’s life story resonates with you so much, it can become a guideline on how to (or how not to) live your life. This one, in particular, is a wholesome story that gives one of the best hangovers out there.
“I read The Last Lecture when I was a senior in high school. It’s one that I think about to this day. College Professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and Disney Imagineer Randy Pausch gave his ‘last lecture’ after he was given a terminal diagnosis. This book makes you rethink life and how to seize every moment. I learned that no dream is out of reach.”—Patty, Editorial Assistant
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.