These novels will comfort and support you when everything seems wrong. The BuzzFeed team asked their followers what books get them through tough times in their lives. Nexter chose top 11 books to read when you’re depressed. 

1. TOP 11 BOOKS THAT HELP TO
OVERCOME HARD TIMES
by Nexter.org

2. These novels will comfort
and support you when
everything seems wrong.
The BuzzFeed team asked their
followers what books get them
through tough times in their
lives. Nexter chose top 11 books
to read when you’re dipressed.

3. 1. LOOKING FOR ALASKA BY JOHN GREEN
 “This book definitely got me through hard times in my life.
There is a quote that always stuck out to me: ‘It always
shocked me when I realized that I wasn’t the only person in
the world who thought and felt such strange and awful
things’ .” – Volleyballgal67
 “The idea of continuing on through the labyrinth of life no
matter how awful it gets is inspiring.” – brediculousss
 “My freshman year of college I lost a friend to suicide,
and reading Looking for Alaska really helped me deal with
it.
I wasn’t talking about it to anyone, and to see a character
yell and express the questions I didn’t know if I could even
ask made me feel less alone.” – alishak421060eb2

4. 2. A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN BY BETTY SMITH
 “My mother and stepfather were alcoholics when I was
growing up. Money was often short, food was there but not
great. They could be verbally abusive at times. Reading
Francie’s story really let me see that my own choices could
lead me to the light at the end of the tunnel. Her
perseverance and the strength of her mother through their
hard times were truly inspirational to me.” – olliesteigs
 “I go back to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn at least once a year.
I’ve been reading it since I was about the same age Francie
was at the beginning of the book. It’s so beautifully written
and it always reminds me that each hardship is
temporary.” – Christine Jackson, via Facebook

5. 3. HARRY POTTER SERIES BY J.K. ROWLING
 “When I was admitted to my third psychiatric
ward for serious mental illness, I reread the series
for about the tenth time. I got through all seven
books in about six weeks, and it distracted me
from horrible thoughts and terrible home
sickness.” – emilym4b62b5daa
 “The Harry Potter series got me through my
dad’s battle with leukemia and after he passed
away. Reading about someone who did such
great things but who had been through such
hardships in his life really helped get me
through everything. J.K. Rowling really is
magic.” – Kristen Herhold via Facebook

6. 4. THIRTEEN REASONS WHY BY JAY ASHER
 “This book shows both sides of suicide.
You can relate to Hannah because of all
the hurt she experienced but also see
how much it really changed Clay, and not
for the better. It really just helped me
realize that suicide doesn’t end when it
happens. It can trigger those same
emotions in someone else.” –
knottynautical

7. 5. SERIOUSLY…I’M KIDDING BY ELLEN DEGENERES
 “I had gone through a bad breakup and a
friend had gifted me Ellen Degeneres’
book Seriously…I’m Kidding, and it was
the perfect thing at that time. During a
period of time of what felt like endless
tears, this book was the perfect relief. It
just reminded me that wallowing in
your sadness is not going to solve
anything or make things better, so you
might as well try laughing.” – rose

8. 6. EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE BY
JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER
 “I was in a not-so-great relationship in college
and was gifted this book. I read it in a day
because I could oddly relate to the
grandparents’ love story. It started to stir a fear
I had inside me: I wasn’t being truly loved in the
relationship I was in. It helped to give me a
voice in that relationship and speak up for
what I deserve.” – samanthar4a383b0f7

9. 7. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
BY STEPHEN CHBOSKY
 “This book helped when I was dealing with my
sexuality and feeling so lost. I felt abandoned by my
friends. This book told me it was okay to be me.” –
Jessica Navarro via Facebook
 “I’ve read this book and have given away my copy to
friends so many times that I’ve spent more on this one
book than some college textbooks.” – elijahhale

10. 8. MILK AND HONEY BY RUPI KAUR
 “Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur got me
through a pretty sad breakup a few years
ago. I sent it to my sister recently to help
her through hers!” – Meredith Mann via
Facebook

11. 9. TRAVELLING TO INFINITY BY JANE HAWKING
 “No matter how down I feel or how deep I
am into my depression, reading about this
woman and how much love she had and still
has in her heart after her marriage ended and
all that she sacrificed, it’s just truly
amazing. It always puts things into
perspective in a beautiful way.” –
allied49e5b98a6

12. 10. IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY BY NED VIZZINI
 “It was one of the first books I read that not only
addressed but took steps to de-stigmatize mental
illness and all of the many nuances that go along with
it. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who
is struggling with mental illness, or who wants to
know that it truly DOES get better, or who just wants
to feel understood.” – alainap47dc343c0
 “It taught me that it would be okay to admit that
something was wrong, and there was no shame in
getting help. A friend recommended it to me when
she realized I wasn’t okay, and then used it as an
icebreaker to ask me to seek help.” –
notadisneyprincess

13. 11. YEAR OF YES: HOW TO DANCE IT OUT, STAND IN THE
SUN AND BE YOUR OWN PERSON BY SHONDA RHIMES
 “She inspired me to do my own Year of Yes and to
step outside my comfort zone and do things I’d
normally say no to. This book inspired me to live
before I die. Don’t miss this one. It’ll no shit change
your life.” – mandid
 The way she talks about overcoming insecurity and
blossoming into the person she is today by saying yes
to things really resonated with me. It changed the way
I think for the better! I recommend it to anyone
who’s feeling stuck or unsure of themselves and
wanting to fix that.” – meghana405d383b4

14. VISIT NEXTER.ORG FOR MORE!
FOLLOW NEXTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
Original article: nexter.org/top-11-books-that-help-to-overcome-hard-times
facebook.com/nexter.org
twitter.com/Nexter_org