My Spring TBR: Cozy Fantasy & Romantic Subplots

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Spring has arrived, and I am going to be honest with you: I have been in a reading slump. 

Not the dramatic, staring-at-my-bookshelf-in-despair kind, but the slower, quieter kind — where I keep picking things up and putting them back down, or finishing something and feeling underwhelmed instead of excited for whatever comes next. 

If you’ve been here a while, you might remember I shared something similar after a disappointing read earlier this year, and I thought I was out of it. Reader, I was not fully out of it.

But here’s what I’ve been thinking about: part of the slump might just be genre fatigue. 

I’ve been heavy in epic fantasy and spicy romance-forward reads for a while now, and as much as I love both, I think my brain is quietly begging for a change of pace. 

So this spring, I’m making an intentional pivot. I’m leaning into cozy fantasy and cozy romantasy — softer worlds, lighter stakes, romantic subplots that simmer instead of scorch — and I’m genuinely hoping the shift is what I need to fall back in love with reading again.

I’ve also been playing around with the idea of theming my TBR lists by season. 

I did a Winter TBR [link below], and now this. I already have a domestic thrillers TBR in mind for summer, and I think there’s something really satisfying about matching the mood of what you’re reading to the season you’re in. 

We’ll see how it goes. For now, here’s what I’m planning to read this spring.

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva

The title alone had me. I mean, how do you not pick that up? But beyond the charming premise, this one is pulling me in because of the forced proximity trope, which is genuinely one of my favorites. 

There is something about two characters being stuck together that just works every single time, and I have high hopes that this delivers on that front. 

It also just sounds like the perfect Saturday afternoon read — the kind you settle into with a cup of tea and don’t put down until it’s dark outside. 

That’s the exact energy I am chasing this season.

A Deal with the Elf King by Elise Kova

This one has been on my TBR for a while — longer than I’d like to admit, honestly. 

It’s one of those books that kept circulating in spaces I follow, and I kept telling myself I’d get to it eventually. 

Well, eventually is now, because I finally picked up a copy at my local Barnes & Noble and there is nothing that accelerates a book up the TBR quite like physically owning it. 

This one leans a little less cozy than the others on this list, but it still fits the vibe of where I’m at: a fantasy romance with a slower burn and a world I can get lost in.

A Tale of Mirth & Magic by Kristen Vale

This was a full impulse buy, and I have zero regrets. 

I saw the cover, thought “huh, this could be fun,” read the synopsis, and immediately added it to my cart. 

Sometimes that’s all it takes. What has me especially excited is that it’s giving me Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon vibes — and if you know, you know. 

Fingers crossed it delivers on that energy, because Tusk Love was such a good time and I would love something that scratches that same itch. 

This one feels like a fun wildcard in the lineup, and I am here for it.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

I recently picked up Sarah Beth Durst’s newest cozy fantasy, The Faraway Inn, and realized I’d been meaning to read her work for ages. 

She comes up constantly in cozy fantasy recommendations online — in threads, in forums, in “if you liked this, try that” lists — so it felt like the perfect time to actually dive in. 

I’m starting with The Spellshop first and saving The Faraway Inn for later, and honestly, having both lined up feels like a little treat. 

There’s something so satisfying about having a guaranteed next read waiting for you when you finish one you love.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

I know, I know. I’m late to this one. 

But here’s the thing — when I bought my copy, the cashier at the store asked if I’d read it yet, and when I said no, they lit up and told me I was in for a lot of fun. 

That kind of enthusiasm from a stranger is honestly all the recommendation I need. 

Legends & Lattes feels like a cozy fantasy essential at this point — maybe even one of the books that helped define what the genre is for a lot of readers — and I am finally, finally jumping on that train. Better late than never.

Here’s to a Slower, Cozier Season

I’m going into this spring TBR with genuine optimism. 

Not the kind where I put pressure on myself to love everything and blast through the list, but the quieter kind — where I’m just hoping to rediscover the feeling of being really, truly absorbed in a story. 

I think cozy fantasy might be exactly the reset I need right now, and I’m excited to find out.

If you’ve read any of these, I would love to hear what you thought — no spoilers though, please! 

And if you’re putting together your own spring TBR, drop it in the comments. I’m always looking for more books to add to the ever-growing pile.

Not quite as themed, but my Winter TBR if you’d like to check it out next!