Caring for another person can be fulfilling, exciting, enjoyable, but also tiring and stressful. Taking a break from your responsibilities is important so you can recharge and look after your health. Breaks can take many different forms and taking half an hour out of your daily routine to read your favourite book can make a huge difference to your wellbeing.

Leeds Libraries have many of these books available to loan or through their free e-book/audiobook app so be sure to check out their website or visit a library near you if you have a spare moment.

Whether you read to learn, unwind or simply lose yourself, these book are a mix of caring related, educational and books to make you feel good. If you have a favourite book you think should be on this list, let us know. 

Recommended reading

• Finding peace in a frantic world by Danny Penman
• Mindfulness for Carers: How to Manage the Demands of Caregiving While Finding a Place for Yourself by Cheryl Rezek
• Radical Acceptance: Awakening the Love that Heals Fear and Shame by Tara Brach
• Prajna: Ayurvedic Rituals for Happiness by Mira Manek
• Lost Connections: Why you’re depressed and how to find hope by Johann Hari
• How to be a person in the world: Ask Polly’s Guide through the Paradoxes of Modern Life by Heather Havrilesky
• The Little Book of Calm by Paul Wilson
• The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy
• Cooking On A Bootstrap by Jack Monroe
• Happy by Fearne Cotton
• Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring by Penny Wincer
• The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
• It’s Not OK to Feel Blue (and Other Lies) by Scarlett Curtis
• Becoming by Michelle Obama