Read Yourself Happy: How a Good Book Habit Can Ease Your Anxiety

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book as it seemed partly a memoir of reading but also a self help manual. However, after a couple of chapters and having settled into the author's style, I found it an easy and enjoyable read, recalling books I have read but also giving me the opportunity to add titles to my library reading requests. It was interesting to consider why we read and for Daisy to reassure us that we should return to books in times of need that have given us comfort as children or young adults - back to Ballet Shoes I go!!

Although Read Yourself Happy is a book about books and not one that I would normally choose to read, I did enjoy it. It is written in the style of a newspaper article with gentle musings on the author’s own experience of literature that she’s encountered, and how it has helped her. I did appreciate the opportunity to read about her recommended titles, and now have lots of options of books that I would like to read in the future.

Thanks to the Reading Agency and DK for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I was very keen to explore ‘Read Yourself Happy’ as emotional well being is very topical in these difficult times. It’s not a book I would normally pick up as I like ‘a good story’ but I would imagine that a lot of people choosing this would actively have been searching online or in a shop for a self help book.
I particularly liked that I could dip in and out, reading the chapters which interested me most first. I found the book recommendations brilliant and really helpful, whether or not you find yourself needing emotional support from the book I think the recommendations alone make the book a winner. I would heartily recommend ‘Read Yourself Happy’ both for those seeking self help for emotional difficulties and for those wanting to try a wider genre of books!

Read Yourself Happy was provided by the Reading Agency and DK,
I enjoy reading but I am not usually drawn to a book about books. but I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter covers a particular topic, e.g read it and weep, in which she describes her own experience, draws on other writers and research and provides pointers to other books to read.
In particular, I enjoyed her life stories, the book made me think about my life events and how my enjoyment from reading has helped me.
I would read other books by this author

Provided by the Reading Agency & DK
Read Yourself Happy has given me so much inspiration as to my future reading. Thanks to Daisy’s recommendations, I shall endeavour to make time to read every day as she has given so many different choices of books to try.

Provided by the Reading Agency & DK
Read Yourself Happy has given me so much inspiration as to my future reading. Thanks to Daisy’s recommendations, I shall endeavour to make time to read every day as she has given so many different choices of books to try.

Read Yourself Happy is the literary equivalent of curling up in a comfy chair with a big mug of hot chocolate. Daisy tackles the topic of anxiety with warmth, compassion and just enough anecdotes to make this personal and relatable. Scattered through is enough research to give the reader insight and understanding without feeling preachy or dry. And then there are the book recommendations, some of which I will ignore but some of which I will definitely be exploring further. This will be staying on my shelf as a useful reference and guide

Provided by the Reading Agency and DK. As someone who has often’ self- medicated’ by reading, I lapped up this book. It was gratifying to see how Daisy articulated the health-giving and life- enhancing benefits of having one’s head in a book. I appreciated how in each chapter she explored a different emotion or aspect of our lives. I’m especially grateful for the many book recommendations - I now have a lot more titles on my ‘must read’ list. I’m sure that I’ll be returning to consult this book for a long time to come.

Provided by the Reading Agency and DK, the book Read Yourself Happy is a great book which looks at different emotions and combines some autobiographical memories with suggestions of books to read for different occasions. She writes in a charming way about how worrying and anxiety has affected her life and how books have been a source of comfort since her childhood. I too have found this and have been a bookaholic since childhood

The book is split into chapters which have titles such as Comfort, Romantic, Sexy which makes it easy to read and also to dip into when wanting to look at one emotion. She mentions a number of different authors, and also gives a list of books at the end of each chapter. This means that there are lots of different books that she suggests, some of which I had read many years ago and never returned to. I now have a list of books which I hope to read over the next year, including 'Cold Comfort Farm', 'The incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm', 'One Day', and 'I capture the Castle'. Thank you Daisy for reminding me of these books.

By sharing with the reader various stages of her complex life, the author demonstrates how her deep love of reading has enriched and sustained her. She shares her varied interest in different genres of writing and reassures the reader that any and all books have a worth and justification for reading. Daisy is a great believer in the healing power of reading and finding the “quiet space” that reading provides the reader in this noisy and stressful world. Throughout her book, Daisy has shared with the reader her own personal struggles with anxiety, times of crisis, difficult family relationships, self-doubt and so much more. And throughout this book, Daisy sprinkles humour and common sense to make the reading experience warm and comforting.
This is definitely a “feel good” read. Daisy encourages the reader to explore new books and at the end of each chapter gives a list of suggested books for the reader to try.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book. I also found it a useful reference book for books to read in the future. A “Keeper”! Thank you Daisy Buchanan for your kindness in this book, I appreciate it.

Provided by The Reading Agency and DK.

I enjoyed ‘Read Yourself Happy’ by Daisy Buchanan. The stories that she tells about both her anxiety and the comfort that she finds in reading were very relatable. I wish, however, that she'd focused more on her personal experience and less on self-help because I found her claims about the benefits of reading to be a bit overstated. Buchanan describes reading as inherently mindful and connecting, but, in my experience, it can just as easily be used to numb or check out from the world around me.

That said, I enjoyed Buchanan’s voice and would like to try reading one of her novels soon.

In Read Yourself Happy, celebrated author and journalist Daisy Buchanan explores how reading can be a powerful tool to combat anxiety, boost mental well-being, and ultimately cultivate happiness. Known for her witty and relatable writing, Buchanan blends personal anecdotes with practical advice to show how developing a consistent reading habit can help soothe the mind and offer a much-needed escape from the chaos of everyday life.

Summary:
Buchanan’s approach is refreshingly personal and down-to-earth. She shares her own journey with anxiety and how books became her sanctuary during difficult times. Through humor and vulnerability, she discusses how immersing herself in stories—whether fiction or non-fiction—offered her a space to slow down, process emotions, and gain perspective on her life.

The book goes beyond just suggesting that “reading is good for you”—Buchanan offers actionable tips for incorporating reading into a busy schedule and emphasizes the importance of choosing books that align with your emotional needs. She discusses how different types of books—whether comforting, thought-provoking, or escapist—can serve different purposes depending on where you are emotionally.

Key Themes:
Reading as a Coping Mechanism: Buchanan highlights how reading can offer a sense of stability and comfort in an unpredictable world. She advocates for using books not just as an escape but as a way to gain emotional clarity.
Building a Healthy Reading Habit: The author encourages readers to establish a manageable and enjoyable reading routine, emphasizing that reading should be a source of pleasure, not pressure.
Finding the Right Books for You: Buchanan stresses that not all books will resonate with everyone, and that’s okay. She urges readers to explore different genres and formats to find what brings them joy and comfort.
Strengths:
Relatable and Honest Voice: Buchanan’s warmth and humor make the book feel like a conversation with a friend who genuinely wants to help. Her personal stories about how reading impacted her life give the book authenticity and heart.
Practical Tips and Suggestions: The book is full of realistic, achievable advice on integrating reading into daily life, even for those who struggle with concentration due to anxiety.
Emphasis on Individual Choice: Buchanan encourages readers to ditch the guilt associated with “not reading enough” and instead focus on reading what feels right for them, which feels refreshingly liberating.
Areas for Improvement:
While Buchanan’s conversational style is engaging, some readers looking for a more structured, research-driven approach to the mental health benefits of reading may find the book more anecdotal than scientific. A deeper dive into the psychological mechanisms behind reading and anxiety relief could enhance the book for readers interested in the science behind her advice.

Who Should Read This Book?
This book is perfect for anyone who loves reading but sometimes feels too overwhelmed by life to pick up a book. It’s also ideal for those seeking a fresh perspective on how to incorporate reading into their self-care routine, especially if they’re looking for a compassionate, lighthearted approach to managing anxiety.

Final Verdict:
Read Yourself Happy is a heartwarming and insightful guide to rediscovering the joy of reading as a form of self-care. Daisy Buchanan’s honesty, humor, and empathy make this book an uplifting companion for anyone looking to ease anxiety and cultivate happiness through the power of books. Whether you're a voracious reader or someone trying to fall back in love with reading, this book offers the encouragement you need to find comfort between the pages. 📚✨

The author draws from her own experience of life and the struggles she has had with it to produce a philosophy based around reading your way to happiness.

Despite the fact that I am a sceptic of mindfulness, well-being and all the things surrounding it, which I generally consider to be nothing more than psychobabble and mumbo-jumbo, I loved this book. It was much to my surprise that I found myself completely absorbed in what can really only be described as a mindfulness manual. It helped considerably that it was using literature as the means to an end, a subject which has always been close to my heart but even so, the book contained a lot of common sense, a great number of helpful ideas when it came to tackling mental health issues via the medium of reading and a spectacularly good list of reading suggestions. The book recommendations were divided into categories which matched the chapter headings and covered the power of reading to help with issues as diverse as addiction, freedom, humour, relatives etc. etc. The fact that the suggested reading material contained many of my favourite books means that I will definitely be looking out for some of the ones that I had never heard of. There was even an element of mystery as I knew I recognised the name Daisy Buchanan, but couldn’t for the life of me think of where I had come across her before. A friend finally solved the mystery and told me that I was thinking of her (less desirable) literary namesake. I won’t spoil the mystery by solving it for you if you are having the same dilemma.

I cannot think of a single negative comment to make, which is a rare event.

An excellent read for book lovers everywhere and probably for all those who need some inspiration to help dig themselves out of a downward spiral. Thoroughly recommended. Thank you Daisy.

The layout of the book made it easy to ‘dip’ into but in a way I found this challenging as the normal way of reading is from chapter to chapter.
I suppose I’m lucky and content in my life and this subject didn’t draw me in. Maybe if you felt life was ‘missing something’ the subject matter would be of more interest.

Read Yourself Happy offers a refreshing exploration through the world of books, with recommendations thoughtfully spread across its chapters. One of the book’s standout qualities is the flexibility it offers to the reader. Each chapter feels like an independent journey, allowing for easy revisiting and the freedom to read them out of order—making it an enjoyable, albeit different, way to discover the author’s book choices and their love of literature.
I particularly appreciated the author's candid and honest approach and care with many references at the end of the book, which added real charm to the book. Their frank reflections made me eager to learn more about the author's personal experiences with these books. There were also some podcast references which were a delightful addition, especially the mention of Adam and Joe's Vinyl Justice Police—which had me laughing out loud. Overall, Read Yourself Happy is a lovely, thoughtful resource, filled with curated book recommendations which did leave me wishing for more and more backstory. All in all, this book presents a unique style of engagement, which I feel will resonate with those who wish to share their love of books.

A tenderly, honestly written autobiographical exploration of how books and reading can influence and affect our lives. Every aspect is covered from anxiety to romance and everything inbetween. At the end of every chapter she gives a variety of reading recommendations. A book for bibliophiles and newcomers.

"Read Yourself Happy" is an engaging and positive book that offers a very different way of approaching self-help and personal growth. The author, Daisy Buchanan, has crafted a collection of delightful literary insights — from insightful poems and short stories, novels, and personal essays—these are definitely aimed at making you feel uplifted.

This book is so different because Buchanan's thoughtful writing and compilation, with every chapter grouped into thematic insights, such as "Comfort," "Laughter," and "Escape," make it easy to find the perfect text to suit your mood or needs. I really loved Buchanan's personal reflections on each piece; this gives depth and resonance, encouraging readers to connect with the book.

I have personally connected with"Read Yourself Happy" as a source of inspiration and happiness to help life tick along smoothly.

The most inspiring advice I have learnt from reading generally, and “Ready Yourself Happy” cements this for me is that we're never alone; however tough times can get, there is a way to work through the tough times. Someone somewhere has experienced whatever we are going through and written about it. During those tough times, a book is the most forgiving friend we could hope to find. This book about a book is a comfort book in itself, filled with more recommendations that have hugely increased my 'to read' lists. Also, “ Read yourself Happy” doesn't solely focus on books that ease anxiety - it includes chapters on reading for fun and laughter, books to make you cry and support you through depression and grief, reading to feel relaxed, or loved up, reading to understand family dynamics, reading for freedom from unhealthy addictions, reading to learn how to write stories, reading to learn and stretch your imagination, reading for courage, and reading for adventure and world travel.

I definitely would recommend “Read yourself Happy” for any book lover, and it would also make a great gift for anyone looking for some personal support!

Provided by the Reading Agency & DK

Daisy’s book ‘Read Yourself Happy’ really resonated with me. Like Daisy, I have been a bookaholic since I first started to read. I completely understand how you can use stories as a way to escape into other, completely different worlds or soothe yourself or cheer yourself up.
I loved the different categories of novels that Daisy divided her book into, especially the section ‘Read yourself romantic’. It was so interesting to read her interviews with fellow authors like David Nicholls.
And, best of all, ‘Read Yourself Happy’ has given me some great suggestions for future reading to suit the mood.