When the World Feels Heavy: Cozy Reads for Tired Hearts

There are certain seasons in life when the world feels just a little too heavy. (And isn’t that true now more than ever?) In moments like these, I’ve found myself reaching for books that feel like a warm hug. Not necessarily to escape reality, but to find a place to rest my weary heart.

I noticed this shift in my reading self around 2022. After we had finally, truly begun to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic, my body began to let go of the constant hum of fight-or-flight mode I’d been carrying. And with that release came a quiet realization: I didn’t have as much energy for heavy, hard stories.

That was the year Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes made its appearance, and I, subsequently, fell headfirst into cozy fantasy. Low stakes. Ordinary living. Characters who were simply searching for happiness, community, and growth. Since then, coziness has become a guiding theme in my reading — a gentle reminder that not every story has to be about saving the world.

I used to think I wanted to be like the brave heroines in stories. Someone who could overcome any challenge thrown her way and take on any adversary. But somewhere along the way, I realized that what I really wanted was something much simpler: a quiet and cozy home, an endless pot of tea, a room lined with books, and a few loved ones to share it all with. I basically had the reverse experience of Bilbo Baggins: I craved a hobbit hole rather than finding adventure. And I’ve found that the characters who are also chasing that kind of life — one built on warmth, small joys, and belonging — are the ones I end up appreciating the most.

So, in honor of that shift, I thought it only fitting that my first post back be a celebration of cozy reads. The stories that offer comfort, joy, and a reminder that sometimes, the gentlest tales are the ones we need most.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

The one that started it all for me. Viv, a retired orc barbarian, decides she’s done with adventuring and instead opens a coffee shop. That’s it. No epic battles, no looming doom — just pastries, friendship, and slow mornings. It’s warm, sweet, and quietly hopeful.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

This one feels like a hug in story form. Linus, a caseworker, is sent to evaluate a magical orphanage where six extraordinary children live — including one who may or may not be the Antichrist. What could be dark is instead luminous with kindness and found family.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

Mika, a lonely witch, finds herself drawn into an eccentric household full of magic, children, and unexpected love. Cozy fantasy meets cottagecore romance in the sweetest way.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

Sometimes coziness is found in old friends. Anne’s big imagination, her stubborn streak, and her delight in the everyday always remind me to pause and savor the beauty of the world. I even ended up naming my dog after spunky, courageous Anne.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

One of the newer cozy fantasies on my list, this story follows a woman who opens a magical bookshop after her old life falls apart. It has gentle magic, a touch of whimsy, and all the comfort of wandering through shelves of books with no hurry at all.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

This one is for those who like their coziness with a dash of folklore. Emily is a prickly scholar who prefers books to people, and her research into faeries brings her into all sorts of enchanting (and slightly chaotic) situations. It’s charming, funny, and a little bit like sitting fireside with an old fairy tale.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The ultimate comfort classic. Sophie, cursed into the body of an old woman, barges her way into the moving castle of the dramatic wizard Howl — and what follows is funny, whimsical, and unexpectedly romantic. If you love the Studio Ghibli film, the book has even more magic to sink into.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

A quiet, beautiful little gem. It follows a wandering fortune teller who sees the futures of others but struggles to find her own place in the world. The storytelling is gentle, lyrical, and brimming with small, intimate moments that linger long after you’ve finished.

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Closing Thoughts

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that reading doesn’t have to be about the biggest, most ambitious book on your shelf. Sometimes it’s about the gentlest one. The story that reminds you to breathe, to notice, to rest.

So here’s to new beginnings on this blog, and to many more cozy reading moods to share with you. If you’ve read (or want to read) any of these, I’d love to hear which ones bring you comfort, too.

And until then, here’s to tea, to blankets, and to books that feel like home.