Leave the real world behind with these escapist romance and fantasy books

We all need a break from reality every now and then. 

Escaping into a good novel is the perfect fix. Why dwell on everyday anxieties when you can blast off into intergalactic battles, ride dragons and fall in love somewhere it’s always sunny? 

You might think “escapist” only applies to a certain type of light and fluffy read. But any book across any genre can be an escape depending on your tastes and preferences. 

Here’s what we recommend, from fantasy to science fiction to romance. Or, if you’re looking for something more specific, check out USA TODAY’s recommendations for joyful books or reads that feel like a hug.

Escapist books to read next

In these books, you can step into a magic society or a high-stakes quest that couldn’t be farther from real life. Here are 8 books that make for the perfect escape.

Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman

LitRPG (literary role-playing) books are having a moment thanks, in part, to “Dungeon Crawler Carl.” This highly addictive subgenre combines sci-fi and fantasy storytelling with video game mechanics like stats and quest logs. In “Dungeon Crawler Carl,” a man and his ex-girlfriend’s cat survive an alien invasion and must now participate in a video game-like dungeon reality television show with intergalactic viewership.

‘These Summer Storms’ by Sarah MacLean

Why not escape from your family drama into someone else’s this summer? “These Summer Storms” follows Alice, the estranged daughter of a tech billionaire, returning to her family’s private island after her father's unexpected death. Per the patriarch’s final wishes, the family must embark on a wild inheritance game and spend one chaotic week together.

‘Water Moon’ by Samantha Sotto Yambao

In this cozy fantasy, a young woman inherits an enchanted Tokyo pawnshop that appears to most people as a simple ramen restaurant. But for those who are lost enough to enter, it’s a lifeline to pawn away past choices and deepest regrets. The story opens when Hana Ishikawa inherits the shop only to find both her father and the shop’s most precious acquisition are missing.

Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson

The Mistborn series is the best place to start with Sanderson’s fantasy books. There’s also the wildly popular Stormlight Archive series which, at over 1,000 pages each, is a whole lot of fiction to escape into. The original Mistborn trilogy is set on the grim planet of Scadrial and framed around a mysterious prophecy and powerful allomancers who can wield metals to perform magic.

‘Done and Dusted’ by Lyla Sage

What could be a better escape than hot cowboys? Sage’s bestselling Rebel Blue Ranch series will transport you into a swoony Western romance. In “Done and Dusted,” Emmy Ryder begrudgingly returns to her picturesque Wyoming hometown after an accident makes it impossible for her to continue riding horses. It’s there she reunites with Luke Brooks, her brother’s best friend and the town’s resident bad boy.

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I hardly hear a fantasy series praised more for escapism than “Throne of Glass,” except maybe Maas’ other series, “A Court of Thorns and Roses.” “Throne of Glass” follows Celaena Sardothien, an assassin summoned to the castle to win her freedom and serve as the King’s Champion. There are eight books, including “The Assassin’s Blade,” a five-novella collection set before “Throne of Glass.”

‘From Blood and Ash’ by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In this bestselling romantasy series, a young Maiden has lived a solitary life from birth, with the fate of an entire kingdom resting on her shoulders. As she waits for her Ascension, a golden-eyed guard comes into her life and makes her question everything she thought she knew. At the same time, a fallen kingdom threatens a return to power.

‘Legendborn’ by Tracy Deonn

This series follows Bree Matthews, a 16-year-old looking to escape her grief while at a residential program for gifted high schoolers. But when she witnesses a magical attack on her first night – a flying demon and a secret society of students hunting the creatures – she unlocks her own magic. Now, she’ll have to infiltrate the secret Legendborn society and use her powers to face the truth about her mother’s death.

Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at [email protected].