A good book is the perfect companion for chilly weather; it gives you a great excuse to disconnect from the world for a while. When life gets overwhelming, the best cure for stress is a cozy book that won’t take too much of your time or brain power but still influences your life in a positive way, increases your mood, and gives you a new perspective on life.
Here are some of our favourite recommendations for when you want to feel warm inside and enter a new world for a while.
Pride and Prejudice (1813) - Jane Austen
One of my all-time favourite books it’s Pride and Prejudice. Based on the 19th century it follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates the societal pressures and romance. She and her sisters go through different stages of exploring new relationships, not just romantic. She learns the danger of hasty judgement after meeting the wealthy but arrogant Mr. Darcy. This book is perfect to set the mood for a quiet, immersive read that would transport you to the regency era.
2. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) - V. E. Schwab
This book is a perfect combination of old and new. It’s about a French woman who, in 1714, makes a desperate bargain to live forever to escape an unwanted marriage. However, the dark god she makes the deal with curses her to be instantly forgotten by everyone she meets. The novel spans across centuries and continents, and it explores Addie's struggle to survive and leave a mark on the world when she can’t physically leave any physical or mental trace in anyone's memory. Reading this book was a transcendent experience; it explores themes of love, self-discovery, and how much we value being remembered.
3. Little Women (1868) - Louisa May Alcott
This coming-of-age book has been a staple of classic literature for over a century. This book follows the lives of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they grow from childhood to womanhood. This novel it’s set in New England during and after the American Civil War, the novel explores themes of family, love, personal sacrifice, and the clash between ambition and duty. When you feel like you want to disconnect from your own problems and dive into old style drama this book its the best choice.
4. Cien Años de Soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) (1967) - Gabriel Garcia Márquez
This book is a must read when you need a little magic in your life. This book follows the rise and fall of the BuendÃa family and their fictional, isolated town of Macondo. It serves as both an allegorical history of Latin America and a cornerstone of magic realism. The narrative follows seven generations of the BuendÃa lineage as they experience war, political turmoil, impossible loves, and inevitable decline. As a Colombian, this novel feels like a warm hug; it completely transports you into a different reality and allows you to perceive life differently.
5. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (1999) - Stephen Chbosky
This book is one of those that hits you with every single emotion when you need it the most. Charlie is a quiet, observant high school freshman in the early 1990s that it’s appointed by his therapist to write a series of letters to an anonymous "friend", which also serves as the format for the book. The novel explores the intense emotional journey of adolescence, including themes of friendship, trauma, young love, mental health, and the transition from the sidelines of being a "wallflower" into participating in life. This book has become a recent classic that resonates with most people. Even if you are not a teenager, this book offers important life lesson that would give you reassurance that everything would be okay.
6. Anne of Green Gables (1908) - L.M Montgomery
This book is probably one of the most cozy book series out there. It's a story set in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The story follows the life of an orphan child named Anne Shirely, an imaginative and fiercely spirited 11-year-old orphan, who mistakenly gets sent to live with elderly siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island. She eventually wins their hearts over and learns to navigate her new life through adventures, school, and friends.
7. The Little Prince (1943) - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
This book follows a pilot who gets stranded in the desert after his plane crashed and befriends a young prince from a tiny asteroid. Though the premise of the book is simple, the book creates this larger than life atmosphere by using amazing dialogue between the little prince and the pilot. The novel explores themes of love, and the loss of childhood imagination. The conversations they have are beautiful, and the readers get to read lessons about love, responsibility, and human connection.
8. The Hundred Dresses (1944) - Eleanor Estes
The hundred dresses is a short children's book about a poor Polish girl in Connecticut mocked by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress daily. Despite wearing the same dress everyday, she claimed to have 100 dresses at home that were beautiful. The remorse hits when Wanda’s family moves away after she submits 100 brilliant drawings of unique dresses she drew herself. The book is short, but is such a cozy read with amazing Illustration by Louis Slobodkin, which makes the read feel so nostalgic and airy. Great to read on a rainy day or a day in the fall.
There is a timeless magic in these stories that remind us of what it means to be youthful, imaginative, and human. There engaging stories that are set in wonderful written worlds, that transfer you into a new reality, teach you great lessons, and help you exercise your wonderful imagination. So, whether you're settling down for a nice cozy break, or just looking for great reads, these 8 books are perfect for you. Curl up on a quiet, rainy, fall day, and pick out any one of these gems to start!
Wanna check out more recommendations? Checkout these blogs!
Take a look at some of our lists of recommendations. All curated to help you learn, relax and explore different topics! ✨
Looking for something new to read? We compiled a list of books that will give a warm feeling inside, they would have you in your feels and cultivate your creativity. Hopefully you will find your new favourite read here!