Popular Cozy Books
Kirsten and I were talking about the definition of cozy books. There are a lot of definitions, but we feel that a cozy book will be enjoyed most if it is read in autumn or winter. Cozy books are most often mysteries, fantasies, and romances.
These books will leave you feeling like you had a warm hug. Unlike a feel-good book, these books often have a little more substance before you reach your happy ending. We gathered our favorite cozy reads and we hope that you love these as much as we do.
The Best Cozy Books
Best Cozy Mystery
Still Life by Louise Penny – Jump to section
Best Cozy Fantasy
Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Jump to section
Best Historical Fiction
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton – Jump to section
Best Cozy Romance
The 100 Loves of Juliet by Evelyn Skye – Jump to section
Best Cozy Classic
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery – Jump to Section
*Cozy Reads Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Cozy Mysteries
Still Life
Author: Louise Penny
Year: 2007
Genre: Mystery
More info: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #1
Age Range: 13+
Plot
This is the first book in the New York Times Best Selling series of Chief Inspector Gamache. I fell in LOVE with the Inspector, the town of Three Pines, a small Canadian village just north of the US, and its residents. Louise Penny CAN WRITE.
The mystery was great (and I didn’t solve it) but what got me the most was Penny’s writing style and reflections on the human psyche. This first Louise Penny book has Chief Inspector Armand Gamache searching a piece of art for clues after its painter, Jane Neal, turns up dead.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best detective books I have ever read. You will fall in love with Three Pines and the people who live there. The wonderful community in this series is the best of what cozy books should be. If you love mystery novels and have not read this series, What are you waiting for?
Find this book in: Louise Penny Books in Order / Feel-Good Books / Best Mysteries of all Time /
Maisie Dobbs
Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Year: 2003
Genre: Historical Mystery
More info: Maisie Dobbs #1
Age Range: 13+
Plot
Maisie Dobbs is not your typical private investigator. For a start, she is a woman working as a PI in 1929. She is a psychologist and a detective who trained under renowned Maurice Blanche a former member of Scotland Yard. She branches out and decides to start her own business.
Maisie’s first case seems like it should be a simple case of infidelity. Instead, it leads her to a murder and back to WWI where she was a nurse. She is smart, thoughtful, and fun to read.Â
Why Kirsten loves it
I read this cozy mystery novel in one day. It was so refreshing to see post-war England through Maisie’s eyes as she entered a field dominated by men. I cannot wait to read more books in this fabulous series.
Find this book in: Detective Books / Historical Mystery Books / British Mystery Books / Jazz Age Novels
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers
Author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
Year: 2023
Genre: Mystery
More info: Vera Wong #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 13+
Plot
Vera Wong lives above her tea shop in Chinatown in San Francisco. When she finds a dead body in the shop, she calls the police immediately but also cleans up a bit, uses a Sharpie to trace the body, and takes the flash drive out of the man’s dead hand.
She is sure that she can do a better job of finding the murderer than the police. She comes up with a plan to find the killer and finds four suspects who she grows to care for.
Why Jackie loves it
I loved this mystery book and have recommended this cozy book too many times to count. Vera is easily one of my favorite amateur detectives and the story is simultaneously funny and heartwarming!
Find this book in: Ultimate List of Beach Reads 2023 / Books Like a Man Called Ove / Fiction Books About Tea / Best Cozy Mystery Books
Fantasy Cozy Books
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Year: 2023
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Secret Projects #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 13+
Plot
This is the book that you would get if The Princess Bride had a book baby that empowered women everywhere to be the heroes in their own story, seek out adventure, and be brave enough to become who they were intended to be.
Tress has grown up on her tiny island with her one friend Charlie, who is also the Duke’s son, to keep her company. When the Duke takes Charlie away and he doesn’t return, Tress sets off to rescue him from the Sorceress who lives on the deadly Midnight Sea. She will encounter pirates, talking rats, betrayal, love, and friendship on her voyage.
Why Jackie loves it
If you love fantasy books of any kind, stop now and make time to read this fantastic book. It earns all the stars! While technically this is a fantasy book for adults, it is appropriate for a young adult or teen audience as well.
Find this book in: Pirate Books / YA Fantasy / Best of 2023 / Adult Fantasy Novels
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Author: Heather Fawcett
Year: 2023
Genre: Fantasy
More info: Emily Wilde #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 13+
Plot
Emily Wilde is an expert on the study of faeries who is writing the first encyclopedia on faerie lore. She has traveled to the village of Hrafnsvik to study the Hidden Ones. She is much better with her dog and faeries than she is with people so she is not happy when Wendell Bamblely shows up uninvited. He is her handsome and lazy rival who is not opposed to making things up as he goes along.
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of the best fantasy books of 2023! I knew I needed to read it as soon as I saw the name, but everything about it was wonderful. This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. The sequel, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Overlands is already of of my favorites of 2024.
Find this book in: Fae Books / Cozy Books / Best Books of 2023 / Adult Fantasy Romance Books /Adult Fantasy Novels / Books With Neurodivergent Characters
The Night Circus
Author: Erin Morgenstern
Year: 2011
Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 14+
Plot
The scene has been set for a magical competition between the pupils of two very powerful magicians. The stage: The Night Circus. The pupils, a man & a woman, are unsure of the rules, unsure of how to win, or when the competition will end.
As the competition continues, the opponents fall in love – a situation that only complicates their predicament. They are never quite sure of the rules or how to win.
Why Jackie loves it
Every word captivated me from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. The story was magical- both literally and figuratively and the descriptions are so vivid. This is one of my all-time favorite books. I have read this book a few times and each time, I get something different from the story.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is magic in a way that I never imagined it before. The story has twists and surprises that left me wondering how I didn’t see what was right there all along.
Find this book in: Best Romance Novels of all Time / The Best Carnival and Circus Books / Books Like the Hunger Games / Books Like the Night Circus / Cozy Books / Best Adult Fantasy Novels
The Spellshop
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Year: 2024
Genre: Romantasy
More info: New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 14+
Plot
In this cozy, heartwarming romantic fantasy story, Kiela escapes the fire at the Great Library of Alyssium and saves a few magical tomes along the way. She ends up back in her parents’ cottage on a faraway island with Caz, her assistant who happens to be a friendly spider plant.
There, she uses the books she rescued to save the creatures and inhabitants of her new home. Along the way, she falls for her handsome neighbor. As she uses the illegal magic to help the townspeople, she might just be putting them all in danger.
Why Kirsten loves it
The world-building on this charming romantasy reminds me of Animal Crossing in some ways. It’s not a scary, dark world, but a charming, sweet village where magical creatures roam and magic is embraced by all. It was the coziest fantasy romance I have ever read. The cottage core vibes truly swept me away. #gifted by Bramble.
Find this book in: Adult Romance Fantasy / Cozy Books / YA Fantasy Novels
The Enchanted Hacienda
Author: J. C. Cervantes
Year: 2023
Genre: Magical Realism Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
After being fired and dumping her boyfriend on the same day, Harlow Estrada flys back to her family flower farm in Mexico. But it’s no ordinary farm. The Estrada women have magical gifts that allow them to heal the hearts, interpret the dreams, and erase the memories of their customers, except for Harlow who believes she was never blessed with magic.
But when watching the flower farm while her mother and aunt are away, magical blooms start to open. When she meets a handsome man and feels drawn to him and his family, she learns of their grandmothers’ connection – and begins to feel one of her own.
Why Kirsten loves it
I felt like I was reading an adult version of Encanto, at least in the beginning. Then, I became so immersed in this cozy romance that I completely lost track of time. It the perfect story to read on a fall day.
Find this book in: Magical Realism Books / Cozy Books
Cozy Historical Fiction
Plot
A young girl is abandoned on a ship headed to Australia. When she arrives, the only thing in her possession is a suitcase with some clothes and a book of fairy tales. The dock master and his wife adopt Nell and tell her the story of her arrival in Australia on her 21st birthday. She goes back to England on a quest to find her lost identity.
Unsuccessful, her granddaughter later takes up the search and tries to assemble the pieces of her grandmother’s mystery and unlock the secrets of her past.
Trigger Warnings
Child Death, Infertility
Why Kirsten loves it
I was swept away by this story and found myself dreaming of Cornwall while reading. This gothic fiction is a perfect book for fall.
Find this book in: Kate Morton Books / Cozy Books / Family Saga / Books set in Cornwall / Historical Mystery / British Books / Best Cozy Mystery Books
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society
Author: Mary Ann Shaffner and Annie Barrows
Year: 2008
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This story about the island of Guernsey’s occupation during WWII features a book club that started to deceive the German soldiers. The members of the book club quickly become friends. Can you think of a better book for book clubs than one about a book club?
When a young novelist finds out about their society, she begins a correspondence and eventually visits them to learn more. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society must remain secret for their safety rather than by choice.
Trigger Warnings
War, Death
Why Jackie loves it
The story is told entirely in letters and was recently turned into a Netflix movie! I love this heartwarming novel. If you have not read this cozy book, I highly recommend it to anyone who loved The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner.
Find this book in: Secret Society Books / Books About WWII / Friendship Books / Books About Books / British Books / Epistolary Novels / Books with Food in the Title
The Bronze Horseman
Author: Paullina Simons
Year: 2009
Genre: Historical Romance
More info: Bronze Horseman #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
This epic love story can almost rival that of Jamie and Claire in Outlander. This saga takes place over decades and all over the world. This is an epic love story that begins in Leningrad during WWII.
Tatiana Metanova meets Alexander, an officer of the Red Army. Amid the terror of the war, the two fall in love, but Alexander is keeping a secret that can devastate them all.
Why Kirsten loves it
This is a fantastic story from a historical fiction perspective because of the attention to detail. I learned a lot about everyday life in that era. Like Outlander, it’s a whopping 1000 pages but I couldn’t stop!
Find this book in: Historical Romance / Books About WWII / Books Like Outlander / Cozy Books / Books with Colors in the Title
Cozy Romance Books
The Hundred Loves of Juliet
Author: Evelyn Skye
Year: 2023
Genre: Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
After a terrible divorce, Helene moves to a small town in Alaska to write a novel. When she meets Sebastian, a handsome fisherman, he is the personification of all the dreams she ever had of her perfect man.
Helene is determined to find the truth about her instant connection to Sebastian, but he’s determined to keep it from her.
Why Kirsten loves it
I don’t want to spoil exactly how this Romeo and Juliet retelling is connected to the original story, but it’s a lovely romance with many mini-romances scattered throughout.
Why Jackie loves it
This book will keep you turning the pages and smiling at the end. Kirsten and I both think this is one of the best romance books of 2023.
Find this book in: Best Books of 2023 / Cozy Books / Second Chance Romance / Best Books for Book Clubs to Read / Nonlinear Narrative Novels
The Bookshop on the Corner
Author: Jenny Colgan
Year: 2016
Genre: Fiction
More info: The Bookshop on the Corner #1
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
This contemporary fiction book was the first book I read by Jenny Colgan and is different from her others. It is not centered around food but rather, books.
When Nina, a librarian, finds herself without a job, she embarks on a journey with a mobile bookshop in Scotland. There is nothing not to love in this sweet and cozy book.
Why Kirsten loves it
If you are ever in a reading slump, please pick up this story! I felt like I was with Nina puttering around the lanes of Scotland in her bookmobile. The romance in the story was charming as well! This remains my favorite Jenny Colgan story.
Find this book in: The Best Jenny Colgan Books Ranked / Novels About Scotland / Books About Books / Books about Bookstores / British Books
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
Author: India Holton
Year: 2021
Genre: Fantasy Historical Romance
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Plot
A fantasy historical romance about pirate assassins with magical powers? SIGN ME UP!
I gravitated toward this story because of the gorgeous cover, but I was hooked from the first page. I loved all the women in The Wisteria Society. I loved how they could fly around their homes like ships, how they stole and plundered with abandon, and how they did it all while making sure they were the picture of polite womanhood.
Why Kirsten loves it
The love story was charming, but it was the antics of Cecilia and her quest to save her fellow society members that kept me turning the pages. This cozy book has a little bit of everything. We recommend this book to anyone who loves The Princess Bride.
Find this book in: Historical Fantasy Romances / Cozy Books / Pirate Books
Classic Cozy Books
Anne of Green Gables
Author: L. M. Montgomery
Year: 1908
Genre: Classic
Age: 10+
More info: Anne of Green Gables #1
Plot
I was immediately drawn to Anne upon first reading this story. She is smart, precocious, and has a way of making everyone love her while simultaneously finding new ways to get into trouble.
Anne is an orphan sent to live with siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert who wanted a male orphan to help them on the farm. Anne was sent to them instead. She is bright, loquacious, and wins their hearts.
Why Kirsten loves it
I cherish this entire book series and the TV miniseries inspired by it. I vividly remember watching Megan Follows as Anne completely transfixed. I was so enamored, that I remember asking my grandmother to get me the books to read!
Why Jackie loves it
This is one of my all-time favorite books. Something is comforting about this cozy book that makes me read it repeatedly. It is a beautiful book about friendship and found family. Because of this book, I hope to visit Prince Edward Island one day.
Find this book in: Coming-of-Age Books / Friendship Books / Realistic Fiction / Books with Green in the Title / Fun Books for Teens
Plot
The classic story by Alcott has survived for generations for a reason, the way she wonderfully encapsulates what it’s like to be in a family. The highs and lows of the personal and collective lives of Beth, Jo, Amy, and Meg are an endearing testimony to the bonds of sisters.
Why Jackie loves it
I remember reading this coming-of-age novel with my grandmother when I was young. It features a family of four girls who are trying to support each other and their mother while their father is away at war.
Find this book in: Literary Classics / Books about Motherhood / Coming-of-Age Books for Teens / Fun Books for Teens
Plot
Peter Pan is the flying leader of Neverland, a mythical world on a star, where he fights pirates, plays with mermaids, and frollicks around with the lost boys. When he decides he needs someone to tell him stories, he recruits Wendy, John, and Michael to come live with him. But while the Darling children love their new life at first, they soon begin missing their family and lives at home.
Why Kirsten loves it
Peter Pan is one of my favorite childhood stories. The magical world of Neverland with its pirates, mermaids, and faires captured my imagination and never let me go. I’ve seen every Peter Pan movie and I devour Peter Pan retellings like chocolate.
Why Jackie loves it
The story of Peter Pan and his adventures with the Darling children have inspired countless spin-off books, movies, and theatrical productions for a reason. It’s a must-read classic children’s book for everyone.
Find this book in: Pirate Books / Classic Kids Books / Cozy Books / Tween Fantasy Books / Books for 12-year-olds
Helpful Tips
- With cozy books, warm beverages are a must! Reach for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or a hot toddy while reading.
- These books are best consumed on a cold night while snuggled under a blanket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cozy book?
Cozy books make you feel like you have had a warm hug. These feel-good books have content that makes you never want to leave your reading spot as you race to finish them.
Related Content
Epilogue
Whichever time of year you reach for a cozy book, these suggestions are sure to fit the vibe. What is your favorite cozy novel? Did it make the list? If not, let me know below so I can read it and review it!
The Best Winter Books to Snuggle up with
If you love this list of cozy books, you will love our list of Winter Books as well.
The Best Fall Books to Keep You Cozy in Autumn
If you love this list of cozy books, you will love this list of Autumn books as well,
