5 Books To Read When The Sunday Scaries Hit

We’ve all been there: 5pm on a Sunday, when last Friday night feels like an age ago and the reality of Monday morning hits. Instead of spending the rest of your evening either in a state of panic or doom scrolling until the early hours in a bid to put off the inevitable (work the next morning), why not turn to a good book? Team Service95 share the reads they turn to when the Sunday scaries hit – whether you’re in need of a hard relate, some mental clarity or a fictional escape, there’s something here for you...

1. My Year Of Rest & Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

“Think you’ve got a bad case of the Sunday Scaries? Trust us, the protagonist in this book has it so much worse... With the aid of a chaotic psychiatrist and an arsenal of pharmaceuticals, this darkly funny story follows a young woman’s attempt to escape the crushing demands of life via a year-long, drug-induced hibernation. Equal parts painful and compassionate, this novel will make you laugh, wince, and question your own fantasies of escaping the grind – or abandoning society’s expectations altogether.” – Ella Marlow-Gilks, Social & Content Manager

2. The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle

“Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now helps you to quiet anxious thoughts and shift attention away from worrying about the future by focusing on the present moment. It’s a great read for a mental reset and getting a bit of clarity.” – Samantha de Haas, Creative Production Manager

3. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

“A meditative read that ponders the act of creativity and its presence within all aspects of life. When the Sunday scaries hit, allow this book to both inspire and remind you of the importance of being creative and leaning into that process. The messaging of this book reminds us that we’re all naturally creative – and giving ourselves the chance to explore that in a non-judgmental way can be wonderfully freeing.” – Hena Sharma, Junior Picture Researcher

4. Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

“An immersive story that will transport you away from your current life. We join Avery, Bonnie, Nicky and Lucky, sisters bonded by a difficult New York childhood and now separated by oceans. Coco Mellors nails the sisterhood dynamic in all its complexity – the intimacies, frustrations, rivalries and love ring true. It’s a story of love, grief and hope with fully rounded characters who will stay with you long after you finish.” – Olivia Thompson, Head Of Marketing & Events

5. Evenings & Weekends by Oisín McKenna

“Set over the course of a weekend in heatwave-drenched London, this book follows an interlinked cast of characters in their early thirties who are, quite literally, living for the evenings and weekends (aren’t we all). McKenna is a spoken word artist whose evocative prose draws you into the minds of the protagonists as they navigate friendships, sexuality and the dawning realisation that adulthood will take their lives in very different directions. One to get you out of your head on a Sunday evening, for sure.” – Katie Teehan, Editorial Director