5 Phenomenal Books To Read On A Rainy Day

You’ll never get tired of reading them

I love rainy days. It’s the perfect time to sit on the couch and read a book for several hours.

As American author and cartoonist Bill Watterson says, “Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.”

If you’re looking for dark and atmospheric books to read on a gloomy day, look no further!

Here are five of my favorites:

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my all-time favorite classics.

The story is about a man who falls in love with a portrait of himself. As a result, he wishes for eternal youth and beauty. But, in doing so, he unknowingly corrupts his own soul.

This gothic novel is great for a gloomy day because it is full of dark themes on morality and obsession. It’s also under 250 pages, so you can read it in only a few hours.

If you’ve been meaning to read The Picture of Dorian Gray but haven’t yet, a rainy day is the best opportunity. Pick this book up immediately!

“The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.” ― Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus is amazing.

Set in Victorian London, the book is about a magical circus that is only open at night. It follows characters who work or visit the circus, including two magicians who are training for a duel to the death (but accidentally fall in love).

The lyrical prose of this book makes the story feel enchanting and whimsical. The Night Circus is ideal for when you are stuck inside and want a book that will help you escape reality. I especially recommend the audiobook. It’s narrated by actor Jim Dale and is fantastic.

If you want a captivating and atmospheric read, you need to pick up The Night Circus. You won’t regret it!

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.” ― Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

I read Station Eleven earlier this year, and I can’t believe I waited so long to read such a great story.

Set in the near future after a deadly plague wipes out 99% of the world’s population, the story is about a traveling group of actors and musicians who perform Shakespeare plays around the country.

Station Eleven is incredible. I loved the way Mandel weaves together different characters and timelines. The book is slow-paced which gave me time to appreciate the writing and themes.

If you like apocalyptic survival stories, you must read Station Eleven!

“First we only want to be seen, but once we’re seen, that’s not enough anymore. After that, we want to be remembered.” ― Emily St. John Mandel, Station Eleven

This Savage Song by V. E. Schwab

This Savage Song doesn’t get nearly enough of the attention it deserves.

The book takes place in a fantasy world where monsters are born out of violent human acts. It follows two characters: Kate, a monstrous human with a ruthless father; and August, a gentle monster who just wants to be human.

There’s nothing better to read on a rainy day than a dark fantasy book. The world-building in this book is unique and creative. I love Schwab’s descriptive writing and her morally-gray characters. I also appreciated that this book focuses on a strong friendship bond, as opposed to romance.

If you are looking for a thrilling fantasy with a dystopian-esque setting, pick up This Savage Song!

“People are users. It’s a universal truth. Use them, or they’ll use you.” ― Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.

The story is told in two parts. Using printed words for Ben’s story and illustrations for Rose’s, Selznick tells the story of two deaf children’s experiences living in two different eras.

Wonderstruck is such a quick read. I loved how Selznick switched between each character’s story seamlessly. At the end, the two stories connect in the most meaningful and touching way. The highlight of this book, by far, is the stunning illustrations; they made the story come alive.

Needless to say, I highly recommend Wonderstruck. Read it as soon as possible!

“Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way you’d be able to find whatever you were looking for.” ― Brian Selznick, Wonderstruck

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