The best cosy fantasy books to curl up with right now

Why read this: A Sunday Times bestseller and the ultimate comfort read, Rewitched is perfect for those craving witches, found family and a London bookshop setting with serious Gilmore Girls energy. Belladonna Blackthorn is burnt out – juggling work at Lunar Books, a toxic boss and a secret magical life she’s not really giving enough attention. But when her thirtieth birthday triggers a coven trial that could strip her of her powers, Belle has one month to rediscover her spark. With dark forces circling and an infuriatingly watchful coven guardian at her side, this is a warm, witty story about self-worth, second chances and reclaiming your magic.

If you're looking for: Contemporary fantasy, witches, found family, self-discovery, autumnal atmosphere, 90s/00s vibe

Great for fans of: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, The Ex Hex by Rachel Hawkins, Gilmour Girls, Charmed.

What the experts think: ‘Pure, cosy joy’ – Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.  ‘A warm and witchy autumnal delight’ – Julie Leong, author of The Teller of Small Fortunes.

Why read this: Cosy fantasy with cinnamon-bun softness and real emotional depth, Uncharmed explores what happens when perfection begins to crack. Andromeda Wildwood runs a magical London bakery and prides herself on doing everything flawlessly – even if it drains her powers. When she’s tasked with mentoring a troubled teenage witch and forced into close quarters with a gruff cottage owner, Annie’s carefully controlled world begins to unravel. As outside threats close in, she must decide whether perfection is worth the cost. Brimming with baked goods, woodland charm and hard-won self-acceptance, this is a tender story about embracing the messiness of life.

If you're looking for: Modern day witches, found family, baking and food, gentle romance, high standards vs. true self, charming atmosphere.

Great for fans of: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

What the experts think: 'Beautifully crafted, sparkling with autumn magic – the literary equivalent of the most delicious cinnamon bun' – Beth O’Leary.

Why read this: Lucy Jane Wood returns with a warm, fairytale-infused cosy fantasy about finding your way back to the parts of yourself you would rather ignore. Sage Hemlock wants nothing more to do with magic, but when a mysterious historical book unleashes a curse on her small town, fairy tales begin spilling into real life – complete with an enormous beanstalk and a friend who is starting to look suspiciously like a handsome prince. To put things right, Sage must embrace the powers she has spent years trying to escape before her world is lost to a fairytale forever.

If you're looking for: Cosy fantasy, light academia, grumpy x sunshine, reluctant heroine, small-town mysteries, accidental curses, fairytale-inspired magic.

Great for fans of: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood, Practical Magic. 

Why read this: Reimagining Rumpelstiltskin with warmth, humour and a slow-building romance, A. J. Lancaster creates a magical world filled with eccentric charm. Princess Gisele has spent her life waiting for an evil fae sorcerer to claim her, but it’s been decades, and he still hasn’t shown up. So Gisele marches into the fae realm to hunt down her ‘Malediction’. Yet instead of a monster, she finds a scholarly, cat-eared sorcerer and his meddling, sentient house, who want nothing to do with her. Unfortunately, the magic that binds them won’t let them go that easily. 

If you're looking for: Fairy-tale retellings, magical houses, slow-burn romance, fae magic, whimsical worlds.

Great for fans of: Rebecca Thorne, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett and The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst.

Why read this: Sarah Beth Durst returns to the beloved world of The Spellshop with another warm-hearted fantasy brimming with charm. This time, the story follows an independent sailor whose carefully ordered life is disrupted by a rescue mission, a fake relationship and the possibility of opening her heart again. While the romance sparkles, the novel's real strength lies in its sense of community, adventure and found family. 

If you're looking for: Cosy fantasy, fake dating, found family, magical creatures, romantic fantasy, seafaring adventures, uplifting reads.

Great for fans of: The Spellshop, The Enchanted Greenhouse, Travis Baldree.

Why read this: For readers who like their fantasy warm, whimsical and full of heart, The Faraway Inn offers an inviting escape into a B&B where magic is hiding behind closed doors. When Calisa arrives to spend the summer at her great-aunt’s run-down inn, she sets about restoring it with help from the groundkeeper’s handsome son. But eccentric Auntie Zee isn’t the only unusual thing about the place. As Calisa gets to know the inn and its residents, she discovers an otherworldly secret that could change everything. Blending magical mystery, gentle romance and the irresistible appeal of a place you’ll want to move into, this is YA fantasy at its cosiest. 

If you're looking for: YA fantasy, found family, gentle romance, mystery, whimsical magic, otherworldly secrets, comforting reads.

What the experts think: ‘Filled with magical mysteries, whimsical surprises, and a dash of sweet romance, The Faraway Inn is the perfect cosy read’ – Axie Oh, author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea. ‘Whimsical, charming, and heartfelt’ – Kristy Boyce, author of Dating and Dragons.

Why read this: High fantasy, low stakes – and a double-shot of heart. Legends & Lattes follows Viv, an orc barbarian who swaps her sword for a coffee machine to open the city of Thune’s first café. No one in Thune even knows what coffee is, but Viv is determined to build something lasting – pastries, friendships and perhaps something more. With gentle humour and a deeply comforting found-family arc, this TikTok sensation helped define the cosy fantasy boom. It’s about fresh starts, soft sapphic romance and the simple magic of choosing your own future.

If you're looking for: slice-of-life fantasy, sapphic romance, found family, coffee shop settings, low-stakes adventure, comfort reads.

Great for fans of: TJ Klune, Katherine Addison and T. Kingfisher.

What the experts think: ‘The most fun I've ever had in a coffee shop.’ – Ben Aaronovitch, author of the Rivers of London series.

Why read this: Cosy fantasy meets dragons and defiance in this sapphic adventure about choosing love over loyalty. Reyna, bodyguard to a volatile queen, and Kianthe, the realm’s most powerful mage, dream of opening a bookshop serving excellent tea and cakes. So they run – to a mountain town on the edge of dragon country. What follows is a joyful blend of domestic bliss and looming danger, as murderous royalty and magical mishaps threaten their hard-won peace. Brimming with banter and warmth, this is comfort reading with just enough adventure to keep the teacups rattling.

If you're looking for: bookshops and tea, sapphic romance, dragons, cosy adventure, healthy relationships, found family.

Great for fans of: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, TJ Klune.

What the experts think: 'It's warm and sweet and pairs perfectly with your favorite cup of tea!' – Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Spellshop. 

Why read this: Tender, funny and quietly profound, Under the Whispering Door turns a tea shop on the edge of the afterlife into the cosiest place imaginable. When workaholic Wallace dies and finds himself at Charon’s Crossing, he’s forced to reckon with the life he barely lived. Guided by Hugo, the gentle ferryman who brews excellent tea, Wallace has one week to make peace before he must pass on. What unfolds is a queer love story wrapped in warmth and wit – a reminder that it is never too late to change, even at the end.

If you're looking for: afterlife fantasy, queer romance, found family, gentle humour, emotional healing, tea shop settings.

Great for fans of: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, The Good Place TV show.

What the experts think: ‘It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect’ – V. E. Schwab.