Books, movies, songs—new and familiar—are often a source of comfort when we’re feeling anxious, stressed, or momentarily going through a rough patch. But whether we’re having a bad day or a good day, a funny fiction, laugh-out-loud film, or a funky tune can make us smile and lift our spirits.
We asked library staff what’s a feel-good book, movie, or music album they enjoy whether they’re feeling happy or feeling blue. Here are their picks!
Karla
Right Place, Wrong Person – RM (available in hoopla)
Whenever I feel anxious, stressed, or just can’t seem to go to sleep—I listen to this album. There’s just something about the background music and the juxtaposition of RM’s deep vocals mixed with the genre-less or fluid mix of jazz, rock, hip-hop, punk, and pop that calms me. It has an almost casual feel, but it’s also full of soul, emotion, exploration, and artistic expression. Each layer within each song carries a different emotion, realization, experimentation, all while maintaining a playful quality. What I get from it is a sense of “human”—RM’s lyrics are relatable, serious, goofy, angry, in love, sad, stressed, full of self-discovery, and within all that, simply honest and raw. To me, it feels like meeting up with a childhood friend as adults—hugging each other and knowing that we’ve grown into ourselves, experienced things we thought only happened in movies, and are still learning what “it” all means, who we are, what we like, and what life is like as adults.
If you like a song or the album, I highly recommend watching the music videos for some of the songs on YouTube. Come Back to Me, LOST!, Around the World in a Day, Groin, Domodachi, Credit Roll, and Nuts all have a visual component.
Asbed
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming
I’m not going to lie, this is my first foray into romance novels. And so far I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit! Though I will admit it was a lot more risqué than I’d have ever thought. It’s been fun getting to know the main character as she goes from scared little town girl to savior of everyone she has ever met, all with a scary (and attractive) demon in tow. Definitely not for the lighthearted as it has been a fun, wild, and spicy ride.
Shauna
20th Century Masters: Best Of Billie Holiday – Billie Holiday (available in hoopla)
The Complete Anita O’Day Verve-Clef Sessions – Anita O’Day (available in hoopla)
It may sound a little contrary, but when I’m stressed or worried or feeling blue, I always feel better when I wallow a little by listening to a few good torch songs. My go-to music is one of the “day” ladies—Billie Holiday or Anita O’Day. These two great jazz vocalists of the 20th century (and beyond) lived lives famously full of challenge and conflict, but listening to them sing about their troubles always calms me and helps me feel a little less alone in life’s struggles. It also probably helps that I usually am compelled to belt out some verses by singing along with them—I highly recommend expressing tough feelings in song!
Rachel
Wallace & Gromit: Three Amazing Adventures (Film)
This compilation of Nick Park’s original three shorts featuring the famous canine Gromit and his human Wallace has everything: Cheese, a highly literate dog, and the British. All of it expertly rendered in stop-motion. In my opinion, there’s no greater recipe for levity.
Teresa
Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn: A Walk on the Wild Side with Andy Warhol’s Most Fabulous Superstar by Jeff Copeland
In the early ’90s I was a manager/publicist for Warhol drag star Holly Woodlawn whose autobiography my friend and then coworker Jeff Copeland wrote that was published by St. Martin’s Press. I traveled with Holly to book promotional signings and cabaret gigs for her (Holly was a man but we commonly used the feminine pronoun), which is the very short list of my then duties (and very, very short version of the story of working with her). Anyway, Jeff Copeland recently wrote a memoir Love You Madly, Holly Woodlawn: A Walk on the Wild Side with Andy Warhol’s Most Fabulous Superstar, published by Feral House Press that was just released on 2/11/25. Holly, for those who don’t know, is the “Holly” in Lou Reed’s song “Walk on the Wild Side.”
The timing of his book is very poignant and ironic given that I lost 98 percent of my archive of when I worked with Woodlawn, except for a boxful of photos. At Jeff’s urging I was also (finally) completing my manuscript of working with Holly (we both worked with her during the same time period). That story is not lost as it lives on my laptop (that I did take when I evacuated).
Vroman’s has the book on its shelves and here’s a pic of me pointing out the photos where I’m featured.
Asbed
Spy X Family by Tatsuya Endo (available in hoopla)
The “family” in this series consists of a loner spy, a socially awkward femme fatale, and a psychic orphan all agreeing to play family for their own personal reasons. The premise for this manga series sounds a lot more serious than it actually is as they eventually (read: quickly) learn to get along and enjoy their new family life together. Sometimes they are saving lives, sometimes they are catching bad guys, sometimes they are overworked and didn’t get their homework done on time. Overall a fun off-the-wall, slice-of-life manga series that will have you laughing and hoping for nothing but the best for this odd trio.
Magela
We Bare Bears (Film)
Even when I’m feeling glum, We Bare Bears always manages to crack a smile on my face. It’s a feel-good cartoon with many heartfelt funny moments. I especially love watching it with my kids. Nothing beats hearing the sound of my children’s laughter as we watch the bears get in and out of funny scenarios.
Young
Chicken Run (Film)
I’ve seen this movie a couple of times and just watched it again recently, and each time it always gives me a good chuckle. There’s something about chickens with teeth that speak with a British accent that I find simply comical. Chicken Run is about a chicken named Ginger who is cooped up with other hens whose job is to lay eggs for Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy. When she learns that the Tweedys are going to make them into chicken pot pies, she hatches a plan for them to fly the coop. This is a fun, inspiring, and uplifting movie—it just might inspire you to pursue that pie-in-the-sky dream of yours! If you’re a fan of Wallace & Gromit stop-motion animation movies and quirky British humor, then I highly recommend this eggcellent movie!