This Christmas, you might find one under your tree. One of those books that can be devoured under a blanket, with a cup of tea in hand. “Feel-good” novels are at the top of bookstore sales, particularly at this time of year.
The literary genre appeared in the 2000s. Over time, “books that feel good” have found their audience. Readers, mainly, who devour these stories mixing emotions and humor.
In Touraine, the “feel good” has its fans. It was enough to attend the dedication of Gilles Legardinier, on December 14, 2024, at La Boîte à Livres, to be convinced of this. A long line formed from the entrance to the store to the middle of the bookstore, where the author signed his works and happily interacted with his readers. “We don’t see that for all the dedications”confirmed Joël Hafkin, the owner of the bookstore.
The long queue, at La Boîte à Livres in Tours, to meet Gilles Legardinier, who has just released “I started by dying”.
© Photo NR Pascaline Mesnage
Readings to escape from your daily life
Roseline, 47, and her little sister Angèle, 41, would not have missed this event for the world. “It was my daughter-in-law who introduced me to it four years ago, with her book It can't fail. I then introduced it to my sister,” says the first. “I had a stroke five years ago, which prevented me from resuming my activity. I've always been a big reader, but now I've really found books that allow me to escape. » And to cite the names of the authors who occupy his library: Agnès Martin-Lugand, Guillaume Musso, Marc Lévy, Sarah Bussy… “We escape from our daily lives, it feels really good. I read two to three a week. »
Roseline and her sister Angèle met Gilles Legardinier, their favorite author, at the Boîte à livres.
© Photo NR Pascaline Mesnage
This literature, which attracts “especially women and of all ages”today constitutes a large part of the sales of La Boîte à Livres confirms Ludovic, from the French literature department of 20e century. “Because the story does good, it is always very positive, romantic and sentimental. The author sometimes starts from dramatic situations but ends up with something positive, which feels good. There is a great capacity to transmit emotion. »
Laugh out loud
Aurore, 30 years old, crossed in the line for the dedication, discovered Gilles Legardinier at high school, the year of her baccalaureate. “I read one of his books in one night, we go from laughter to emotion”enthuses this young mother. Since then, she has discovered other feel-good authors. “I tried to change my style, but it didn’t suit me. »
The “feel-good” section of the Boîte à livres in Tours.
© Photo NR Pascaline Mesnage
Five years ago, Christy, 57, introduced Gilles Legardinier to her friend Catherine, 62. “I passed the addiction on to himsmiles the fifty-year-old. Even when I'm alone, I sometimes laugh out loud while reading his books. » Immersing yourself in a “feel-good” novel in the evening or on the weekend allows Christy to escape, “without thinking”.
An author and also a brand
At La Boîte à Livres, Ludovic knows that the notoriety of these authors is created on social networks. “Their names almost become a brand. Afterwards, people buy everything, they are addicted. »
Jennifer, a 46-year-old from Tours, discovered the book this way Completely burnt out and devours since the Grimaldi, Sabard, Ponte, early in the morning “from 5:30 a.m., before starting my day. I buy them to keep in my library. I need to keep them with me. I just have to watch one and I'm back in the story. »
