9 Escapist Novels For When You Want To Check Out Of The World Because, The News

When there's a lot going on in the world or your life, it can give you the urge to escape. To close your laptop, walk out of your office/flat/entire life and into the sunset. It's a pretty drastic option and while, yeah, it might seem plausible when you're tagging your friends in existential crisis memes, unfortunately that's just not what being a big grown up looks like. So, short of figuratively burning everything to the ground, what can you do when your brain needs a break? I’ve selective nine excellent escapist novels to take your mind off your worries.

Reading can provide you with a change of scenery and time away from troublesome thoughts. But it's not just a distraction, taking a break from your universe and plunging headfirst into someone else's can do wonders for your mental health. A 2009 study by the University of Sussex found that reading reduced participants' stress levels by 68 percent, and was the most effective method of stress-reduction when compared with listening to music, having a cup of tea, or walking. Dr David Lewis who conducted the research told The Telegraph, "By losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author's imagination."

And it makes sense that reading something especially far removed from your own life could help heighten that sense of relaxation. So whether it's an easy read set in a romantic location, a fantasy series from another planet, or a sci-fi novel that sends you flying into the future, here are some of the best new escapist releases that will transport you to an entirely different place or time.