9 Cozy Books To Snuggle Up With This Winter
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If you’re anything like me, fall is for the dark academia girlies and winter is for the cozy fantasy girlies.
(Also girlies is me, I am the girlies.)
Last winter I had read so many fantasy romance novels, part of me wanted a break. So I complied a list of some non-romance winter book recs. But this year, I just want a cozy story set during winter.
So this list is curated based on the season in which the story is set. There may be romance, it may be more fiction than fantasy, or may even be a completely different genre like sci-fi or a thriller.
So let’s dive right in!
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Mini summary: A Russian folklore-inspired story featuring a brave girl, a chilling winter setting, and magical spirits that protect her village.
Why I recommend it: This is one of my best friend’s favorite stories. She loves it so much and I feel like a bad child for not having read it yet.
I bought a copy last fall and planned to cozy up and read it during the holiday season, but never did. And if you thought I would just read it in spring or summer, you thought wrong. I have waited another whole year to read this book.
If you’ve already read this book, did you love it? I’m beyond excited to jump into the pages of this book as the weather gets colder and colder.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Mini summary: A sweeping standalone fantasy with dragons, queens, and a rich, winter-perfect world of high-stakes adventure.
Why I recommend it: Over the summer, I found a copy of this book at the thrift store. And let me tell you, this book is intimidatingly big.
I’ve read some excellent reviews of this book by fellow book bloggers/booktubers. The fact that it’s also set in winter makes me want to do a weekend reading vlog just to see if I can actually read it in two days.
But I recommend it because the story sounds incredibly intriguing and thought out and if you love fantasy like I do, this might be the book for both of us!
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Mini summary: A beautifully woven tale of magic, ambition, and icy landscapes inspired by Rumpelstiltskin and Eastern European folklore.
Why I recommend it: I also had this book on my list of non-romance winter book recs. And similarly to The Bear and the Nightingale, this is another book I have been waiting to read in winter.
I also recently purchased Uprooted as well, because I genuinely think I will like it that much. If you’re looking for a different type of fantasy story with more classic fairytale elements mixed in, Spinning Silver might also be the book for you.
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Mini summary: a whimsical fantasy about a socially awkward scholar researching faeries in a remote, wintry village, where she uncovers local mysteries, dangerous fae secrets, and unexpected companionship.
Why I recommend it: You cannot go on booktube/gram/sphere without seeing this book recommended. I started listening to the audiobook version, but found the narrator really dull.
So I found a paperback copy on sale at Barnes & Noble and decided to take it as a sign and grabbed it!
I also very much enjoy stories where the fae aren’t highly attractive and powerful.
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Mini summary: A whimsical, heartwarming tale of curses, romance, and magic, perfect for cozying up with a cup of cocoa.
Why I recommend it: Honestly, read the book or watch the movie, both versions are perfect for snuggling up to on a cold winter evening.
I enjoyed the movie a bit more than I did the book, which shocked even me. Both, however, are equally whimsical and full of adventure.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Mini summary: Revisit Narnia, a snow-covered land where winter reigns eternal under the White Witch’s spell.
Why I recommend it: This book can be categorized as a classic for millennials and even some Gen Z.
My younger sister is Gen Z (to my millennial) and she loves re-reading this series in the winter. And she is less of a reader than me.
If you didn’t read these books when you were younger, take this as a sign to read them now!
The movies are quite charming as well, is if you’d prefer to watch definitely consider watching the movies as well.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield
Mini summary: A haunting and atmospheric novel set along the Thames River, where a young girl, seemingly dead, is pulled from the water and sparks a mystery that intertwines the lives of the villagers as they seek to unravel her true identity.
Why I recommend it: I curled up to this novel a few winters ago and managed to get so swept away, I read it in a matter of a few evenings.
This story is so intriguing and the pages kept turning purely because I needed to know what happened and how everyone was intertwined with one another.
Once Upon a Winter by H.L. Macfarlane
Mini summary: A collection of wintry fairy tales inspired by folklore, offering magical and heartwarming stories perfect for snowy nights.
Why I recommend it: This book is a collection of stories perfect for cold winter nights. For reading to an older child. Or simply when you’re looking for a short story to read, rather than a full-length novel.
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Mini summary: A Regency romance with fairies, lighthearted magic, and a protagonist with a delightfully unique perspective on life.
Why I recommend it: To be honest, I don’t remember if this book is 100% set during winter. It is such a cozy story with some winter weather elements that it is the perfect book to curl up with.
While it is part of the Regency Faerie Tales series, it is also a standalone and can be read without having to continue the series. I read this as a standalone and am happy I did.
There are definitely so many more good books to read during winter.
Winter is also my favorite time of year to make a hot cup of tea and snuggle up. Reading at the beach is nice, but reading curled up on the couch in winter is better.
What books do you love to read in winter?
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