The Wind-Down List
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Time to read 6 min
Looking for the perfect wind-down read? We’ve curated the ultimate list for you!
September in Malta is a season of its own. The days are still drenched in sunlight, the air carries the warmth of summer, and the sea remains inviting but life begins to slow down in subtle, welcome ways. The rush of long summer days gives way to gentler evenings, and routines start to settle in again. It’s a time for balance: a season to hold on to the last golden stretches of summer while leaning into moments of quiet, calm, and reflection.
And what better way to mark this in-between season than with a book in hand? We’ve rounded up a thoughtful collection of wind-down books perfectly suited to September’s mood. Within this list, you’ll find sweeping modern classics that let you sink into richly drawn worlds, reflective gems that stir thought without urgency, and comforting escapes that feel like a soft exhale at the end of a long day. These are stories to accompany you through lingering sunsets and peaceful nights when you simply want to unwind.
So whether you’re stretched out on the balcony with a cool drink in hand, letting the last of the summer light fade, or curled up indoors while the evening finally cools, these cosy wind-down reads are here to guide you from late summer into autumn.
White Teeth
by Zadie Smith
White Teeth is a dazzling portrait of modern London, weaving together the lives of two families over multiple generations. With wit, humor and boundless energy, Zadie Smith captures the messy beauty of identity, belonging and the unexpected ways lives intertwine.
From the vibrant streets of London to the intimate spaces of kitchens and classrooms, the novel is brimming with atmosphere and character. It’s alive with voices, perspectives and cultural clashes that feel as chaotic and warm as real life itself.
With its richness and depth, White Teeth is a story you can sink into slowly, letting its vivid storytelling carry you along. It’s the kind of expansive novel that invites you to relax into its world, making it a perfect wind-down companion when you want to get lost in something big and rewarding.
The Friend
by Sigrid Nunez
When a grieving writer inherits her late friend’s enormous Great Dane, her life takes an unexpected turn. The Friend is at once a meditation on grief and a celebration of companionship, exploring the strange comfort animals and memory can bring in times of sorrow.
Set in New York, the story unfolds with a quiet, reflective pace that feels as intimate as a conversation whispered late at night. The dog becomes a grounding presence, anchoring the narrator through grief and the everyday rhythms of solitude.
With its tender prose and thoughtful tone, The Friend offers a gentle, contemplative reading experience. It’s a novel that encourages stillness, making it an ideal book to reach for when you want to wind down and be reminded of the healing power of connection.
Stoner
by John Williams
At first glance, William Stoner lives an unremarkable life: a quiet Midwestern professor devoted to literature, his career passes without fame or fortune. But Stoner reveals the extraordinary beauty within the ordinary, exploring love, disappointment and resilience with clarity and grace.
Through the hushed halls of academia and the private corners of his restrained marriage, John Williams crafts a novel that is both understated and profoundly moving. Each moment is rendered with delicate precision, giving weight to even the smallest details.
With its quiet rhythm and unhurried storytelling, Stoner has a deeply soothing effect on the reader. It’s the kind of book that reminds you of the richness in simplicity, making it a perfect wind-down read for evenings when you crave calm and reflection.
Transcendent Kingdom
by Yaa Gyasi
Gifty, a brilliant neuroscientist, is caught between the rigor of her scientific research and the shadows of her family’s past. In Transcendent Kingdom, Yaa Gyasi masterfully weaves together themes of faith, addiction and belonging in a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Moving between the laboratories of Stanford and the childhood home in Alabama where her mother struggles with depression, the novel captures the complexity of balancing intellect with emotion. Its voice is steady, thoughtful, and unflinching.
With its elegant prose and reflective tone, Transcendent Kingdom is the kind of story that encourages you to pause and think, even as it draws you into its world. It’s a wind-down read that leaves you thoughtful yet comforted, perfect for quiet evenings of reflection.
To the Lighthouse
by Virginia Woolf
Set during a family holiday on the Isle of Skye, To the Lighthouse flows between time, memory and shifting perspectives with Virginia Woolf’s signature lyrical prose. The novel drifts like waves, creating a story less about plot and more about the textures of thought and feeling.
The Ramsay family’s interactions - mundane, fleeting, and profound - unfold against the backdrop of the sea and the slow passage of time. Woolf captures both the stillness and turbulence of life with poetic precision.
Its meditative style and rhythmic language make To the Lighthouse a uniquely calming read. It’s the kind of book you can sink into slowly, letting the words wash over you as you wind down and ease into stillness.
A Year in Provence
by Peter Mayle
When Peter Mayle relocates to the South of France, he finds himself immersed in a world of rustic meals, eccentric neighbors, and charming misadventures. A Year in Provence is a memoir that delights in the everyday pleasures of a slower, simpler life.
From sun-drenched vineyards to bustling village markets, Mayle paints Provence with humor and warmth, capturing its seasons in vivid detail. Each chapter feels like a window into a life lived at a gentler pace.
Lighthearted, witty, and full of sensory detail, A Year in Provence offers a joyful escape from the ordinary. It’s a perfect book to wind down with, whisking you away to a place where time feels unhurried and life is savored.
My Year of Rest and Relaxation
by Ottessa Moshfegh
In this darkly comic novel, a young woman in Manhattan decides to withdraw from the world, determined to spend a year sleeping her way toward renewal. My Year of Rest and Relaxation is both unsettling and strangely soothing in its exploration of disconnection.
Set in the late 1990s, the novel is filled with sharp observations and a voice that is equal parts biting and vulnerable. Its languid pace mirrors the protagonist’s retreat, drawing the reader into her peculiar world.
Odd, offbeat, and absorbing, it’s the kind of book that allows you to step outside of the everyday and sink into stillness. Perfect for winding down when you want something both thought-provoking and strangely restful.
Big Magic
by Elizabeth Gilbert
With warmth and honesty, Elizabeth Gilbert explores the nature of creativity in Big Magic. Through personal stories and practical insights, she encourages readers to live with curiosity, courage, and joy, letting go of fear and perfectionism.
Her conversational tone feels like a friend offering encouragement over coffee, making the book both uplifting and comforting. Each chapter offers small bursts of wisdom that you can dip in and out of.
Inspiring without being heavy, Big Magic is the kind of book that leaves you lighter and more hopeful. It’s an ideal wind-down read for evenings when you want positivity to carry you into rest.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Set just after World War II, this epistolary novel transports readers to the island of Guernsey, where a community of book lovers forms an unlikely bond. Told through letters, the story unfolds with warmth, wit and heart.
Between tales of hardship and moments of resilience, the characters come to life with humor and charm, celebrating both friendship and the healing power of literature. The island setting adds a cosy, timeless feel to the narrative.
Heartwarming and hopeful, it’s the kind of book that makes you feel comforted and connected. A perfect wind-down story to curl up with when you want a gentle, uplifting ending to your day.
