--- title: "Zen Books to Read when You Need Help Relaxing for the Girls Thats Wound up ..." description: "Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets by Lisa Quinn; Honeydew by Edith Pearlman; Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max; The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo; Fools by Joan Silber; More ..." url: "https://books.allwomenstalk.com/zen-books-to-read-when-netflix-and-chill-doesnt-work/" category: "books" last_updated: "2026-05-19" --- # Zen Books to Read when You Need Help Relaxing for the Girls Thats Wound up ... Netflix and chill doesn't always work. Sometimes it doesn't go the way you want it to, sometimes you're not actually into it, and sometimes you come away from it feeling … completely unfulfilled. It's a crappy situation but, fortunately, there are lots of ways to deal with your frustration and find your zen. Reading's a good pick – books can get pretty steamy, after all. Failing that, they can help you chill on your own. ## 1. Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets by Lisa Quinn ![Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets by Lisa Quinn](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/di/uf/s1qndsdj570ee5bd3b48c669808825_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Subtitle: Your Ultimate Guide to Domestic Liberation. I think that's a pretty good book to read when Netflix and chill doesn't go your way, right? ## 2. Honeydew by Edith Pearlman ![Honeydew by Edith Pearlman](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/ob/hl/gffpbjnm570ee5bd5c094082270040_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Edith's stories are quiet, calming, and a little meandering. She makes it easy to find your zen place, even when you're frustrated. Especially then, actually. ## 3. Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max ![Assholes Finish First by Tucker Max](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/mz/x8/fotrurav570ee5c28b549450741776_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Or any other Tucker Max book. Why? Because your hookup life could always be worse. ## 4. The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo ![The Gospel According to Coco Chanel by Karen Karbo](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/ws/o2/p0qerm2e570ee5c07d665773445747_600x822.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Well, when you need some gospel, there are worse places to get it. Wouldn't you say? ## 5. Fools by Joan Silber ![Fools by Joan Silber](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/yv/q1/dr0w90ve570ee5bf85835354243568_600x900.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) This is a truly excellent collection of short stories. It's also packed full of sex, betrayal, theft – all sorts of vicarious excitement! ## 6. The Snuggie Sutra by Lex Friedman and Megan Morrison ![The Snuggie Sutra by Lex Friedman and Megan Morrison](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/e8/ub/asm3tvkf570ee5c10e007263469328_600x855.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) I mean, there are lots of ways to make this book work for you when things don't go according to plan. ## 7. Food: a Love Story by Jim Gaffigan ![Food: a Love Story by Jim Gaffigan](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/bl/x0/jk8ee5uz570ee5c00293f224794526_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) This is here because Jim Gaffigan is funny and also, food will never let you down. ## 8. Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny ![Single, Carefree, Mellow by Katherine Heiny](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/y8/b2/rh80klso570ee5c03c752071024815_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Believe me when I tell you that this is exactly the book you need to read when Netflix and chill flames out. You'll find your own tale somewhere in one of these stories. ## 9. Walks on the Beach by Sandy Gingras ![Walks on the Beach by Sandy Gingras](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/fw/im/sv0gisoy570ee5c1e7c23994608519_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) If you can't be at the beach, at least you can picture it. That might ease your frustration. ## 10. The Folded Clock by Heidi Julavits ![The Folded Clock by Heidi Julavits](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/e1/di/ckafkbfz570ee5c2a39c1260642813_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Read this when you want to get lost in someone else's life for a little while. It's a nice vacation away from your own. ## 11. The Mermaid of Brooklyn by Amy Shearn ![The Mermaid of Brooklyn by Amy Shearn](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/xk/pt/pr5zgrtj570ee5c2ba4b2409738702_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) The protagonist in this book is so relatable and the story so fresh, you'll stop worrying about your bummer of an evening after the first few pages. ## 12. Secrets of Gorgeous: Hundreds of Ways to Live Well While Living It up by Esther Blum ![Secrets of Gorgeous: Hundreds of Ways to Live Well While Living It up by Esther Blum](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/s7/nh/mda08ubt570ee5c2f3d40047027027_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) If the person you're into doesn't want to chill with you, spend your time getting gorgeous with yourself. Besides, then you'll be ready for next time. ## 13. Can't and Won't by Lydia Davis ![Can't and Won't by Lydia Davis](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/yp/zg/itls2u6y570ee5c4c2b4a284012913_600x900.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Tell me you don't identify with the title at least a little. You'll identify with at least one of the stories in this book, too. ## 14. What if?: Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe ![What if?: Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/o3/m1/qt1gxl4w570ee5c4814fa428065790_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Well, if your mind's elsewhere anyway, you might as well keep it entertained. ## 15. 1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment by Barbara Kipfer ![1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment by Barbara Kipfer](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/dt/dv/wtvghyhs570ee5c50f6fc999756048_423x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) Who cares if things don't go according to plan? Learn to live in the moment and it'll never matter. ## 16. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver ![Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/s8/hh/z4dr0kgg570ee5c53a214250388513_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) The descriptions and feelings in this book will make you feel sexually fulfilled even if you … kind of aren't. ## 17. Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston ![Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston](https://resize.allw.mn/1028x0/filters:format(webp)/filters:quality(70)/content/ib/vy/di5nu5la570ee5c584e00380063614_500x500.jpg) Get it here: [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com?ref=allwomenstalk.com) I get lost every time I read this. Every single time. 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