Enter the Cozy Corner

Welcome to your ultimate source for comfort reads

The world we live in can be a stressful place. Sometimes, what we need is a good book to transport us to a gentler, more charming place. The popularity of cozy literature—in a variety of genres—is on the rise. Welcome to the Cozy Corner, your source for all things cozy. Here's a run-down of the various types of comfort reads you can sink into in the rapidly expanding cozy-verse. 

Cozy literature

Just because it's cozy doesn't mean it can't be serious literature. These titles offer many of the earmarks of cozy literature including quirky characters, small towns, and a focus on good food—along with generous dashes of mystery and magic.   

• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi—Questions linger about Theo, a pleasant but mysterious stranger, after his arrival in the southern city of Golden. A beautifully crafted story about the power of creative generosity.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt—A charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer—This charming novel set on the island of Guernsey in the wake of WWII celebrates the written word and finding connection in surprising ways.
• Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett—A lost young woman returns to small-town New Hampshire under the strangest of circumstances in this one-of-a-kind novel of life, death, and whatever comes after.
• The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin—Things have not been going well for A. J. Fikry. But when a mysterious package appears at his bookstore, it gives him a chance to make his life over.
• Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen—From the acclaimed author of Garden Spells comes an enchanting tale of lost souls, lonely strangers, secrets that shape us, and how the right flock can guide you home.
• Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum—When Yeongju's perfect life falls apart, she takes a leap of faith and follows her dream to open her own bookshop.

Cozy romance

If you like your love stories to be heartwarming and wholesome, perhaps with a touch of mysticism thrown in, cozy romance may just be your kink.

• The Pumpkin Spice Café by Laurie Gilmore—Jeannie is embracing a fresh start as the owner of a café in the coastal town of Dream Harbor. Logan is a local farmer who wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl.
• Love's a Witch by Tricia O'Malley—When Sloane, a witch, is summoned back to her Scottish hometown to break her family curse, she clashes with Knox, the mayor determined to protect his town from her haywire magic.
• Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles—Get whisked away to the rugged, sweeping Devon coastline in this gripping story about old secrets, learning how to trust, and finding where home is.
• Inheritance by Nora Roberts—When the uncle she never knew existed leaves Sonya a sprawling clifftop manor in his will, she soon learns that she's inherited far more than a house in this paranormal mystery romance.
• The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston—Book publicist Clementine's perfectly planned future hits a snag when she falls in love with her temporary roommate . . . only to discover he lives seven years in the past.
• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna—A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family (and a new love) changes the course of her life.
• The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst—This lush cottagecore tale is full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships and sweet jams. Picture a Hallmark rom-com fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic.

Cozy sci-fi

Sci-fi doesn't have to be grim. If you crave stories that expand the boundaries of our world without getting too dark, check out these optimistic, silver-lined sci-fi tales.

• Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky—The last remnants of the human race have left the dying Earth behind and settled on a newly discovered planet that can support human life. But all is not right in this new Eden.
• Moon Soul by Nathaniel Luscombe—When August decides to quit her job reading memories in the sand, she feels like she loses her identity. This novella traces her path to regain control of her life on a small desert moon.
• The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers—As a motley crew embarks on an exciting journey through space, one intrepid young explorer discovers the meaning of family in the far reaches of the universe.
• Quarter Share by Nathan Lowell—When his mother dies in a flitter crash, eighteen-year-old Ishmael Wang is left in a bind. To avoid deportation, he must enlist for two years on a deep space freighter.
• Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon—When the corporation that owns Colony 3245.12 decides to disband it, elderly Ofelia decides to stay. A population of one. But she soon realizes she's not alone after all.
• The Humans by Matt Haig—Posing as a math professor, a visiting alien is initially disgusted by humankind. But gradually he begins to see hope and beauty in the humans' imperfection and begins to question his dire assignment.
• The Left Hand of Dog by Si Clark—When Lem and her dog, Spock, leave the city for a few days of hiking, the last thing they expect is to be kidnapped by a crew of intergalactic bounty hunters aboard a ship called the Teapot.

Cozy fantasy

Several of these categories have already included titles that involve mystical or paranormal aspects, but these dreamy (and often romantic) tales immerse readers in a fully imagined alternate world. 

• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune—Case worker Linus's orderly life is upended when he travels to a remote island orphanage to determine whether the magical children who live there are dangerous.
• The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen—Hart is a lonely marshal who patrols the magical wilds of Tanria. Harried undertaker Mercy has had it up to here with Hart's sullen demands on her family's business.
• Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater—This delightful debut will transport you to a magical version of Regency England, where the only thing more meddlesome than a fairy is a marriage-minded mother!
• Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree—When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn't always what we seek. This wholesome series prequel feels like a warm hug.
• A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos—An unforgettable heroine, a rich and bountiful universe, intrigue and suspense. Lose yourself in the fantastic world of the arks in this award-winning YA bestseller from France.
• The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer—A mega-bestselling children's author resurfaces years after disappearing from the public view with a new book and a one-of-a-kind competition that will change the winner's life.
• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett—A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north in this delightful journey through fae lands and dark magic.

And, last, but not least, cozy mysteries!

Like the rest of the cozy genres, these mysteries often take place in bucolic small town settings and involve culinary delights. The unlikely crime-solvers at the center of these stories may also hold quaint day jobs. Here are some great titles to consider if you love a good whodunit, but aren't so keen on the bloody bits.

• Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman—In a peaceful retirement village, four unlikely friends meet weekly to discuss unsolved crimes. Then a real-life murder mystery finds its way into their capable hands.
• The Secret Detective Agency by Helena Dixon—London, 1941: Meet Miss Jane Treen. The coffee-drinking cat lover dressed head to toe in tweed just happens to be a secret super sleuth. The first book in a fun new series.
• The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman—A New Jersey widow with grown children grew tired of attending Garden Club meetings. She wanted to be useful. So, naturally, she became a CIA agent.
• The Game is Afoot by Elise Bryant—After rage quitting her job, Mavis is trying to be supermom. She's determined to do it all. Even if that includes investigating the murder of her daughter's soccer coach.
• The Charity Shop Detective Agency by Peter Boland—Fiona, Sue and Daisy are volunteers at the local charity shop in Southbourne. When their favourite customer is murdered, the ladies vow to bring the killer to justice.
• An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly—Meet Ireland's newest daring detective: she's a bookstore owner, a coffee lover, and a crime writer. Now Mercy McCarthy needs a little Irish luck as she takes on her first case.
• Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto—When she finds a dead man in her tea shop, Vera Wong is on the case. Nobody sniffs out wrongdoing like a Chinese mother with time on her hands.

Visit the Cozy Corner and get into your comfort zone this fall with a delightful foray into the expanding world of cozy lit.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon