Top 8 Cozy Sci-Fi Books That Feel Like a Warm Hug (2025)

Let's be honest: the real world can be stressful, and sometimes the last thing we want to read about is a gritty, high-stakes galactic war or another grimdark dystopia. This desire for comfort is precisely why the “cozy” genre, supercharged by platforms like TikTok, has become one of the biggest trends in reading. We're actively seeking out stories that are low-stakes, optimistic, and fundamentally kind.

This trend, which started with “cozy fantasy” (think of the runaway success of Legends & Lattes), has now confidently blasted off into a new frontier. Cozy sci-fi takes everything we love about its fantasy sibling—the “found family” vibes, the slice-of-life plots, and the focus on community—and trades in magic for technology. It proves that science fiction doesn't have to be cold, sterile, or centered on conflict. Instead, it can be a source of profound comfort.

The power of this subgenre is undeniable. A perfect example is Becky Chambers' A Psalm for the Wild-Built, a novella where the entire plot consists of a tea monk and a robot having a gentle, philosophical road trip. It’s a story defined by its warmth and compassion, and it went on to win the Hugo Award. Readers aren't just looking for escapism, they're looking for hope.

If you’re ready to trade in your space battles for “found families” and your galactic empires for quiet conversations over a cup of synth-coffee, you've come to the right place. We've gathered eight of the coziest sci-fi books that feel like wrapping up in a warm blanket, even if that blanket is on a spaceship.

What Are the top cozy science fiction books?

The Home for Wayward Creatures (The Home for Wayward Creatures Book 1), by E.C. Garrett (2025)

A perfect example of the new “cozy sci-fi romantasy” trend, this 2025 release is as hilarious as it is heartwarming. Henrietta “Henri” Laselle looks like a normal woman in Kansas City, but she’s secretly a half-witch, half-alien running the galaxy’s only animal rescue from a portal in her basement. Her life is a chaotic mix of managing a talking bear, a pygmy kraken, and other bizarrely adorable alien creatures.

When someone steals her pets, Henri is forced to team up with a swoon-worthy “cinnamon-roll” dragon shifter to get them back. This book is pure, unadulterated fun. It’s a low-stakes, high-humor adventure with strong found-family vibes, a sweet slow-burn romance, and, most importantly, a ton of magical and alien pets that will make you smile.

Floating Hotel, by Grace Curtis (2024)

This book is like The Grand Budapest Hotel in space. It’s a delightful, slice-of-life story set aboard the Grand Abeona Hotel, a luxury hotel that floats through the galaxy. The novel isn't about one single plot but instead weaves together the lives of the misfit staff and the eccentric guests who visit. At the center of it all is Carl, the hotel's devoted manager, who sees the Abeona as his only true home.

Floating Hotel is light, witty, and full of charming character vignettes. You’ll meet the staff on their breaks, overhear guest complaints, and uncover the small, interlocking mysteries of the hotel. It’s a perfect read for when you want to escape to a whimsical, comforting world where everyone is running from something but has found a place to belong.

The Mimicking of Known Successes (The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti Book 1), by Malka Older (2023)

This novella blends a cozy, Holmesian mystery with a second chance sapphic romance, all set in a “gaslamp” colony on Jupiter. Humanity lives on platforms high in the planet's atmosphere, and the aesthetic is delightfully retro. The story follows Mossa, a brilliant Investigator, who arrives at a remote university to solve a missing-person case. To do so, she must enlist the help of her ex-girlfriend, Pleiti, a quiet scholar of Earth's ecosystems.

The mystery is engaging, but the true heart of the book is the beautifully understated romance between Mossa and Pleiti. As they work the case, they are forced to confront their past and what they still mean to each other. It’s an atmospheric, intelligent, and deeply romantic story that feels like settling in with a good mystery on a rainy day.

A Psalm for the Wild-Built (Monk & Robot Book 1), by Becky Chambers (2021)

If you’re feeling burnt out by the modern world, this book is the antidote. A Psalm for the Wild-Built is set in a solarpunk utopia where humanity has learned to live in harmony with nature. Centuries after robots gained sentience and vanished into the wilderness, a tea monk named Dex, suffering from a gentle crisis of purpose, decides to venture off their normal route. They have a quiet encounter with Mosscap, a robot who has returned to ask a single, profound question: “What do people need?”

This book is the literal definition of a warm hug. There are no high-stakes battles or galactic threats. The entire plot is a quiet, philosophical road trip between a kind human and a curious robot as they brew tea, discuss the meaning of life, and learn to simply be. It’s a beautiful, hopeful story about finding your place in the world when all your needs are already met.

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers Book 1), by Becky Chambers (2016)

This is the ultimate “found family on a spaceship” novel. The story begins when Rosemary Harper, a woman running from her past, joins the multi-species crew of the Wayfarer, an old tunneling ship. Her new crewmates include a compassionate reptilian pilot, a pair of lovable and chaotic engineers, a kindly doctor/chef, and a thoughtful algaeist. Their mission is to punch a hole in space to build a new hyperspace lane, but the job itself is just background noise.

The real story is about the crew. It’s a slice-of-life look at their day-to-day lives, their friendships, their cultural misunderstandings, and how they build a home together. The book is less a space opera and more a workplace comedy that’s full of heart, empathy, and genuine kindness. If you’ve ever wanted to just hang out with a diverse alien crew and feel like you belong, this is the book for you.

Quarter Share (Trader's Tales from the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper Book 1), by Nathan Lowell (2013)

If you love the “slice-of-life” part of cozy fantasy, this is its sci-fi equivalent. After his mother dies, 18-year-old Ishmael Wang is left with nothing and must leave his planet. He signs on to a deep-space freighter, the SC Lois McKendrick, taking the lowest-ranking job available: a “quarter share” hand in the galley. His new life isn't about saving the galaxy; it's about learning to make coffee for the crew, mastering the ship’s social etiquette, and studying for his next exam.

Quarter Share is wonderfully mundane in the most comforting way possible. The stakes are entirely personal: Can Ishmael keep his job? Can he make friends? Will he earn his “half share”? It’s a “workplace” story that focuses on competence, quiet ambition, and the simple satisfaction of a hard day's work, all while drifting between the stars.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop, by Meredith Katz (2019)

This charming novella is a quiet, gentle romance between a human and a robot. Clara is an AI repair technician who wanders from place to place, never putting down roots. Sal is a sentient, “outmoded” robot who has been dutifully running the same tea shop for hundreds of years, long after her original owner passed away. She is slowly breaking down, but her loyalty keeps her going.

When Clara arrives in town, she is fascinated by Sal and her shop. What follows is a tender, slow-burn story about companionship, grief, and the healing power of finding someone (or something) that just understands you. It’s a beautiful, uplifting, and incredibly cozy F/F romance that explores what it means to love and to move on.

The Tea Master and the Detective, by Aliette de Bodard (2019)

For those who like their cozy stories with a dash of mystery, this is the perfect cup of tea. Set in a rich, Vietnamese-inspired galactic empire, this novella is a brilliant sci-fi retelling of Sherlock Holmes. The role of Holmes is played by Long Chau, an eccentric and abrasive scholar, while Watson is The Shadow's Child, a grumpy, traumatized mindship (a sentient spaceship) who now brews mind-altering teas to survive.

When Long Chau commissions the ship to help her investigate a strange death, the two are drawn into a mystery that is far more personal than it first appears. Despite the “murder mystery” label, the story is incredibly cozy, focusing on the gentle, developing respect between the two leads and the deep importance of kindness.

Final Thoughts on the Top Cozy Sci-fi Books

I feel like I've just wrapped myself in the galaxy's softest blanket. For so long, I felt that science fiction was my go-to for big, stressful ideas—worlds ending, ships crashing, and humanity fighting for survival. But after diving into these stories, I feel like I've discovered a beautiful secret: the future doesn't have to be scary.

I feel that what makes these books so revolutionary isn't just the lack of war; it's the active, powerful presence of kindness. These stories propose the radical idea that the most futuristic concept of all isn't faster-than-light travel, but empathy. They're a quiet, essential reminder that connection is the most important technology we will ever have.

After visiting these worlds, I feel genuinely optimistic. I feel like I can take on my own day-to-day challenges, knowing that somewhere out in the fictional cosmos, a robot is learning about friendship, a crew is bickering like a real family, and someone is building a home. I feel like I’m ready to brew a hot drink and join them.

If you are looking for more reads check out our top rated sci-fi books list.