In the chaos of everyday life, discovering comfort in a good book can offer a calming retreat. Sometimes, we crave stories without complex plots filled with serene vibes. 'No plot just vibes' refers to novels with minimal plot events. Instead, these novels prioritize in-depth character development and explore the human condition over a conventional plot structure.

Here is a carefully selected list of five books to help slow down the pace and give you a quiet, mindful reading. 

Em and the Big Hoom by Jerry Pinto

This novel delves into the lives of Imelda and Augustine, also known as Em and the Big Hoom, along with their son and daughter. Set in Mumbai and narrated from the son's perspective, the story intricately explores his innermost feelings. Em, the hyperactive, beedi-smoking mother, often hospitalized due to her mania and unsuccessful suicide attempts, contrasts with the Big Hoom, the steadfast, dependable father striving to maintain stability within the family. Together, they form an extraordinary family. This novel earned the prestigious The Hindu Literary Prize in 2012.

The narrative artfully embraces life's minor and significant aspects, capturing fleeting and intrusive thoughts. The book gives us a broader view of how unconventional families work. 

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

A young woman sleeps for a year to escape life's difficulties. She is guided by an ineffective psychiatrist who prescribes her strong medications. Despite having a comfortable life, the main character struggles with a profound emptiness beyond parental loss or strained relationships, reaching a deeper sense of malaise.

This novel does not have a clear plot to follow. Instead, it is worth reading for the main character's wild, sad, and clever thoughts that become more unusual as her life story unfolds. 

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Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

Cleo, a 24-year-old British painter living in New York, meets Frank, a successful man 20 years her senior, a few months before her student visa expires. Their impulsive marriage changes their lives and those around them unexpectedly.

The book explores the experiences of Cleo, Frank, and their friends and family as they navigate relationships, marriage, and life's challenges, blending humor and tragedy. 

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone

In a dying world, two rival time-traveling agents discover a letter that sparks an unexpected correspondence. Initially a taunt, it transforms into an epic and romantic exchange with the potential to alter both the past and the future. The novel explores their journey across time and space. As rivals face potential death, the story explores how their relationship evolves beyond enmity. 

Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

The story follows young Oskar, who finds his late father's key. In a secret mission, he explores New York City's five boroughs in search of the lock that the key opens. Oskar meets the survivors of the 9/11 attack in this challenging quest, resulting in an exciting, emotional, sometimes funny, and ultimately healing adventure. The story also includes letters from Oscar's grandfather to his son and Oscar's grandmother to Oscar. These letters reveal details about their lives through the perspectives they choose to present.

Jonathan Safran Foer addresses the traumas embedded in the country's difficult history with a blend of humor, tenderness, and awe.

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