We’ve all felt that restless itch—staring at the ceiling, scrolling mindlessly through social media, wishing for something to capture our imagination. The perfect cure? A great book that sweeps you into another world.
If you are looking for books to read when you are bored, here are seven remarkable reads that will make you forget you were ever bored:
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor’s life is carefully structured and utterly solitary—just how she likes it. Or so she thinks. When she and a coworker help an elderly man who’s collapsed on the street, tiny cracks appear in her carefully constructed walls.
This warmly funny yet deeply moving story explores loneliness, trauma, and the quiet courage it takes to let others in.
Project Hail Mary
by Andy Weir
Imagine waking up alone in a spaceship with no memory of who you are. As astronaut Ryland Grace’s memories slowly resurface, he realizes he’s Earth’s last hope against extinction.
With clever science, unexpected humor, and a surprising friendship across species, this sci-fi adventure will have you turning pages well past bedtime.
The Thursday Murder Club
by Richard Osman
In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly to solve cold cases for fun. When a real murder happens on their doorstep, this eclectic group of septuagenarians puts their detective skills to the test.
Charming, witty, and surprisingly touching, Osman’s mystery proves you’re never too old for adventure.
Good Omens
by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The apocalypse is coming, but demon Crowley and angel Aziraphale have grown rather fond of Earth and aren’t ready for the party to end.
Their mission to find the misplaced Antichrist (an ordinary eleven-year-old boy) leads to a hilarious romp through prophecies, witch-hunters, and British eccentricity. This collaboration between two fantasy legends sparkles with wit and imagination.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
by TJ Klune
Linus Baker, a by-the-book caseworker for magical children, is sent to investigate a mysterious orphanage on a remote island. There he meets six extraordinary children and their enigmatic caretaker who challenge everything he thought he knew.
Whimsical, heartwarming, and gently profound, this modern fairy tale about found family feels like sinking into your favorite armchair with a cup of hot chocolate.
Born a Crime
by Trevor Noah
Before he became a celebrated comedian, Trevor Noah was literally born a crime—his very existence as a mixed-race child illegal under South African apartheid. Noah’s remarkable childhood stories blend humor with heartbreak.
They offer intimate insights into a complex historical period through the eyes of a boy trying to find his place in a divided world.
And Then There Were None
by Agatha Christie
Ten strangers with dark secrets are lured to an isolated island mansion. As a storm cuts them off from the mainland, they begin dying one by one, following the pattern of a sinister nursery rhyme.
Christie’s masterpiece of suspense will keep you guessing until the final page, proving why she remains the undisputed queen of mystery nearly a century later.
Next time when you are looking for what books to read when bored, reach for one of these books. Whether you crave laughter, tears, thrills, or wonder, these stories promise to transport you far beyond your reading nook.
What book do you reach for when boredom hits? Share your favorite escape in the comments!
