28 Books To Help You Beat The Year-End Slump

Two women, one fateful meeting and a summer holiday that exposes the relentless demands placed on every version of womanhood: the young woman, the wife, the mother. Consider it your ticket out of autopilot and straight into the hope of second chances and reclaiming your life. It’s for the woman who once dreamed of an Eat, Pray, Love-style escape – before the school run, work emails or dinner prep yanked her firmly back to reality.

When Sorcha O’Donovan crosses paths with musician Con Daly, neither could imagine how far their choices would ripple. Decades later, the band that made him famous is reuniting – but Con’s been missing for years, and some truths need to be uncovered. A sweeping, heartbreaking story of love, fame and the secrets that outlast them both – it’s the book version of a long weekend away.

Enemies-to-lovers gang, rise up! Annie Andrews, owner of Gingerbread Bakery, is at total odds with Mac Sullivan – the infuriatingly upbeat bar owner down the street. Little does she know Mac yearns for her, and arguing with her is just his way of getting her attention (swoon). But could a wedding in this small town change their dynamic (read: forced proximity)? It’s a Hallmark movie in book form – the ultimate cosy end-of-year read. Perfect for a cosy night in, a blanket, and something sweet within reach.

The author of Eat, Pray, Love is back with a memoir about a love story that spiralled into a nightmare. It’s so raw and revealing, you’ll feel like this is your closest friend confessing her deepest secrets to you over coffee. You’ll see yourself in this story if you’ve ever been held hostage by something – an emotion, a substance, a relationship, a person. And it might just inspire you to go after the freedom you’re so desperately craving.

Set in a Tokyo café, this magical story explores the interconnectedness of lives (COVID-19 taught us this already!) and the choices we make. The novel explores themes of regret, love and the importance of making the most of every moment through the experiences of four characters. The lesson? Although life can be fleeting, joy can still be found in the little moments that make up our lives. Call this therapy in a teacup.

Unsolved crimes, unheard voices, unfinished stories. True Crime South Africa podcast host Nicole Engelbrecht re-examines 10 haunting South African cold cases – uncovering leads, interviews and chilling truths that refuse to stay buried. You’ll read it in one night, but it’ll stay with you forever.

Introducing the prequel, sequel and stand-alone companion to Bunny – the book that took the world (and #BookTok) by storm. This time, we’re back with Sam, who’s gone from surviving her creative writing clique (they call themselves “Bunny”) to publishing a wildly successful novel about it. Sounds like mission accomplished, right? Not quite. One of her not-so-fictional frenemies, furious about her portrayal, kidnaps her so the Bunny girls can tell their side of the story.

Stress, burnout and self-doubt – they’re not the enemy. Ignoring them is. Drawing on more than two decades of science and hands-on practice, Sutton shares 12 tools and 12 powerful stories from high achievers who’ve learned to turn pressure into progress. This book shows you how to use small and simple shifts to fuel your best performance – and thrive without burning out.

The secret to nipping burnout in the bud, says Dr Shah, lies in utilising the very complex energy trifecta – “the interconnected relationship between your gut, immune system and hormones.” Merging the latest scientific insights with her medical experience, she advocates for changing what you eat, changing when you eat and discovering the why behind your stress. Be prepared to feel like a whole new person.

You’ve heard of shortcuts – now get ready for smart-cuts (aka direct, actionable insights from trusted sources in one easy guide). Kruger has done the hard work of uncovering the best strategies for success and distilled them into 226 smart-cuts. Think of this as your brain’s gym session: short, sharp insights that’ll get you thinking – and acting – bigger.

Let’s be honest – money is deeply emotional and can only be truly understood by exploring our individual psyches. In this follow-up to his bestselling The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel swaps cookie-cutter advice for psychological tools that help you navigate your relationship with money. This book will help you use financial literacy as a wellness tool.

Nick Maggiulli argues that most wealth strategies fail because they don’t match the rung of the financial ladder you’re currently on. In this book, he breaks down six distinct levels – and the smart, practical strategies for each one. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme (although we were secretly hoping), but an innovative, grounded approach to building wealth and climbing your way to financial freedom. Chalk up those hands – it’s time to start climbing.

If work stress is at the heart of your burnout or fatigue, this book is here to help you decode and boost your wellbeing intelligence (WBQ). This is not just for you but for any struggling colleagues, too. You’ll get tried and tested insights from counselling psychology that’ll help you create a career that supports – not drains – your mental health.

For every woman who’s raked her feet over the coals of hell – scorched and scarred, yet unwavering on her pilgrimage to success. This powerful debut follows Mbali Langa, a diplomat from Mamelodi township, as she faces the seductive pull of power in Brussels and confronts how far she’s willing to go in pursuit of her dreams.

For decades, women have been told we’re weaker than men. But what if that’s only because the metrics of strength – and therefore success – have always favoured men? After all, science shows women surpass men in endurance, flexibility, immunity, pain tolerance and longevity. Part science, part social commentary, this is a fascinating and empowering celebration of women’s bodies that’ll have you waking up a little smugger and more confident each morning.

Being single at this time of year can be tough – and often invites a flurry of well-meaning but probing questions from family and friends (yes, we’re all aware of the relationship-status elephant in the room). But Dr DePaulo – a single woman herself – and her research are here to remind you that you don’t need a plus-one to live a happy, fulfilling life (science backs it up). Like turning a wedding cake topper on its head, this book flips the idea that singledom is merely the prelude to the start of your life.

A compilation of stories about faith, religion and the power of belief that tracks two real-life characters – an elderly Rabbi from Albom’s childhood and a reverend from a Detroit neighbourhood. Through conversations and interviews with both men, the book explores faith not as an abstract concept, but a powerful force that can bring light to the darkest of days.

Using vivid imagery and carefully selected words, this poetry anthology illustrates the power of resilience and hope, encouraging readers to never give up, no matter how tough the going gets.

In this moving book, Zukav takes readers on a journey to evolve from understanding power as the ability to manipulate into acknowledging power as the alignment of the personality with the soul (aka authentic power). Expect to walk away with a better understanding of how human interactions are formed at a far deeper level.

We saw him on our TV screens for years as the presenter of Idols SA and now ProVerb (Tebogo Thekisho) is here to give you a BTS look at his journey to holistic health. Drawing from his own personal experiences he provides informative insights on 10 different types of health (mental, physical, emotional, social, spiritual, financial, intellectual, occupational, family and creative). It’s insightful, informative and inspirational all at the same time.

This book stresses the importance of living mindfully and in the present, explaining in great detail how slowing down helps us observe the beauty of life and be aware of our own thoughts and emotions. It also offers practical nuggets on how to practice mindful living (think: meditation, self-compassion and gratitude) and explores topics like dealing with stress, overcoming depression and cultivating meaningful relationships. 

From the much-beloved and ever philosophical Alain De Botton, comes a book that will leave you self-aware and better equipped to deal with life’s never-ending challenges. It covers everything from the importance of understanding your emotions, taking responsibility for your own well-being and practising self-care to the need for compassion, the power of forgiveness and the need for self-reflection.

Oftentimes when sh*t hits the fan, rest becomes the last thing on our minds. Not anymore! This book explores the science of rest and the different rest strategies we can enlist to recover from stress – from the types of holidays to go on and the under-utilised power of play to how to create restful environments wherever you are and how to be mindful of rest.

Writing is one surefire way to offload those niggly emotions that weigh heavily on us. And this book – curated for journalling enthusiasts and authors-in-the-making – makes a solid case for writing as a necessary exercise for overall wellbeing. Bonus: it also offers guidelines on how to navigate the writing process.

Self-explanatory, expect to find various simple and creative ways to help take care of your mind, body and soul when life gets busy (which is always, it seems!). This little book doesn’t promise results but preaches implementing small changes that will gradually improve your quality of life and make progress in achieving the ever-elusive ‘balance’.

Discover how “glimmers” – a tiny moment of magic or joy that lifts your spirit – can help you change your life. Bridget Mcnulty, who lives in Cape Town, divides this book into seasons and themes (so you can start the book based on the season you’re in, making the glimmers more relevant). Within these chapters, she provides practical tips and reflections on happiness to make these micro-moments have a huge impact.

Uplifting in all the right places and an absolute joy to read, this book is a reminder to take time out to appreciate the small things in life (Yep, you’ve heard that one before!). Why you ask? These small moments can bring you contentment and act as a momentary escape from the struggles and anxieties of life. 

The Little Book of Happiness is a compilation of wise words from some of the world’s renowned personalities – from ancient philosophers and celebrated writers to modern-day figures. Expect to have your thinking patterns transformed, your mood boosted and to work at your inner joy.