It’s the start of a new year—and maybe something more. During senior year, Marcus and Cog, two students from different friend groups, begin spending time together. From shared lunches and walks home to movie nights and winter break outings, their friendship quickly deepens. As rumors swirl and everyone assumes they’re already boyfriends, Marcus and Cog start to wonder if their growing connection might turn into something real.
It’s cold out, y’all. It’s blustering. Heck, it’s probably snowing. And the world is a disaster to boot. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we all need to stop doom-scrolling, put away our phones and the news for a few, lovely minutes, and dive into something cozy, and queer, and visually engaging. We need stories that we can sink into like a warm soup or a hot cup of tea. Stories that feel familiar and like a good bath.
Cozy stories don’t all have to be happy and easy all the way through, though. Some of these stories engage with real-life anxieties or problems. But all of them are cozy overall, promising hopeful endings, cozy environments, queer found family, romance, and joy. Go visit a marketplace where a tea dragon is waiting to be discovered. Set out to gather magical mushrooms for a special bakery order. Dive into local theater, visit a college hockey rink, or rise straight up the stairs for a futuristic romance. All of these stories are warm and rich—cinnamon rolls dripping with butter or nice hot chocolate with a touch of cinnamon—with queer characters finding their way, finding their people, and finding the places where they belong.
The Baker and the Bard by Fern Haught
This YA fantasy is the ultimate in cozy. Two bakery apprentices, Juniper and Hadley, set out on a journey to fulfill a weird order and soon find themselves entangled in the plot to uncover who is stealing the town’s crops late at night. This read is charming, sweet, and overall delightful, with a dose of cozy cottagecore energy to boot, and features everything from a fey named Thistle to a pet snake named Fern.
Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen
Well, first, just look at the bear prince on the cover! Doesn’t get much cozier! The author of notable graphic novel The Magic Fish now brings us the story of a girl who develops a crush on the mascot of her local theater, Peri the Bear, through online messaging. She becomes the theater’s intern in hopes of meeting the real person behind the mascot’s social media profile. It deals with real issues but is centered on romance and the feeling of belonging.
Check Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
This wholesome series centers on Eric, a young figure skating champ who decides to play for his university’s hockey team. Needless to say, he isn’t entirely prepared for the role, but with the help of his new team, he learns to deal with the physicality of hockey, all while developing a crush on the team captain. This book by a Nigerian American author, which immediately faced ban challenges, is a cozy story about friendship and positivity.
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
I’ll be honest with you: this one isn’t pure cozy, as it does have its darker moments. But overall, it’s a rich sci-fi that you can absolutely sink into and let it pull you through all day long. Mia just recently joined a space crew, and while she pretends to be into their work, her real goal is to find the girl she fell in love with years ago at their boarding school in the stars. This is gorgeously illustrated, and perfect for anyone who wants their cozy books to last longer than just the one bite.
Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh
From the coauthor of Lumberjanes, we get a superb premise: three very thirsty mermaids decide to head up onto land in order to get their hands on more drinking and more good times…only to get stuck with their legs still on the next morning. Pearl, Tooth, and Eez need to figure out how to get their mermaid tails back, all while making new friends, in this ridiculous, funny, cozy found-family tale.
Bingo Love by Tea Franklin, illustrated by Jenn St-Onge, colored by Joy San, and lettered by Cardinal Rae
Back in 1963, two young women met at church bingo. It’s been decades since then, and Hazel and Mari have both gone their own ways, getting married and having children. But now both in their 60s, these two women run into each other again at a bingo hall, and their love finally might have room to grow. This is a lovely, Kickstarter-funded story that has grown a faithful and beloved cult following.
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill
O’Neill’s Princess Princess Ever After was a cozy, warm cup of tea, and her newest is the same, illustrated in a lovely, brightand colorful style that itself is a delight. The Tea Dragon Society covers the story of a young apprentice who stumbles on a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. It’s an adorable story soaked in lovely world-building about this world of dragons and the ways to care for them. As a bonus, there are already two sequels to dig into!
Want more cozy? Check out our gathered-together 20 must-read cozy fantasy books, our list of the best cozy books of 2025, and our list of the best cozy mystery series.
English (US) · 