AN ESCAPE OF THE LITERARY KIND. We asked two local books purveyors for recommendations across three categories: Books for when you need an escape; when you need a laugh; and when you need a change. Here's what they said! (Midnight Ivy Boutique, pictured)

When you hear the words "self care" and "book," it would be easy to slip down the slope and on over to “self help books.” That’s not what this book roundup is (but it’s totally cool if you want those, too – ask your local librarian or bookshop owner for recs!).

We asked the folks over at local indie bookshops, Dragon Tale Books (216 Main St. E, Menomonie) and Midnight Ivy Boutique (inside Market On River at 128 W. River St.), to give our readers recommendations for books across three categories: Books for when you need an escape; when you need a laugh; and when you need a change.

Not overtly self-help-y or self-care-y, but when you DO need a pick-me-up of the literary kind. Pick these reads up at Dragon Tale Books or another bookstore near you!

Visit the Dragon Tale Books (216 Main St. E., Menomonie) webpage online, dragontalebooks.store, to learn more and view the store’s weekly hours of operation • Visit the Midnight Ivy Boutique (128 W. River St., inside Market On River) webpage online, midnightivyboutique.com to learn more and view the store’s weekly hours of operation

Books For When You Need An Escape

• Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, translated by Philip Gabriel
• Pride and Prejudice (or any Austen) by Jane Austen
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarrows
• To Sir Phillip, With Love (or any Bridgerton) by Julia Quinn

Books For When You Need A Laugh

• Disappointing Affirmations: Unfollow Your Dreams! by Dave Tarnowski
• The Wee Free Men: A Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett
• Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books: A Novel by Kirsten Miller
• Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

Books For When You Might Need A Change

• From Blood & Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama