Nothing keeps you warm like a book.
November’s brisk breeze brings with it the inevitable: shorter days and colder nights. Between the end-of-year workload and the impending return of winter, you might find yourself looking for refuge in your spare time, and tucked between the pages of books is the perfect place to hide. I get it, I’m right there with you.
So, as the ground slowly starts to freeze and we all long for blankets, hot drinks, and distractions, I’ve made a list of book recommendations to keep you warm. Although they come from a variety of genres, all of these books have a similarly cozy, homey energy to them. They are also all standalone novels, so by the end you can feel the satisfaction of finishing a story perfectly wrapped-up by the author.
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Genre: Romance
My second recommendation takes the description “warm” and “homey” literally. Set at a Muskoka resort, Fern Brookbanks returns home for the summer after her mother’s death so that she can take over the family business she had previously abandoned. While she tries to navigate this unexpected new chapter, Will Baxter, a man who’d spent one adventurous night with her before disappearing, miraculously reappears to help. This story is funny and heartwarming as Fern grows begrudgingly closer to Will and gets to know her mother in a different light. Fortune creates endearing relationships filled with love and care, and in doing so reminds one of the cozy aesthetic in Gilmore Girls’ Stars Hollow.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Genre: Fantasy
One of my personal favourites, The Night Circus follows a competition between two magicians within a mysterious traveling circus. Each night they add to the circus, creating beautiful scenes, stories, and shows for the spectators all while falling deeper and deeper in love with one another. Morgenstern spins this tale like a spider’s web, with beautiful prose and delicate, interwoven stories that form one complex piece of art. Although the narration follows several intersecting plot lines, it isn’t hard to follow, and this creates a novel that ties into itself perfectly. Not only is it a wistful read, but by the end it leaves readers with a feeling of satisfied awe, as if they’d experienced the circus itself.
Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper
Genre: Fantasy
I wrote a review on the book recently and rated it 4 stars for its wit, its aesthetic, and the fun I had while reading it. Emmy Harlow returns home to Thistle Grove for a competition between the magically-inclined founding families. It takes place in the height of fall, with beautiful descriptions of the autumnal aesthetics. It features three young women getting revenge on the guy who wronged them by joining forces in the witchy competition for power, and while doing so, two of them begin to fall for each other more with each scheme. Between the fun plot and the immaculate fall vibes, this book is the perfect cozy read to grasp onto as we fade into winter.
Poetry by John Keats
Genre: Poetry
There are many anthologies of Keats’ work to choose from, several of which are available in campus libraries, and they include many poems that are not only iconic but are heartwarming and relatable. Keats’ poetry has the tone of late-night thoughts and personal musings encased in graceful imagery. Of his poems, I most highly recommend “To Autumn,” “On leaving some Friends at an early Hour,” “Ode to Psyche,” and, most famously, “Ode to a Nightingale.” The beauty of Keats poetry is that it feels incredibly intimate, and reading it feels like having a deep conversation with a good friend, which is about as cozy as one can get.
To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
Genre: Classic
If you are looking for a quick read, To the Lighthouse packs real meaning into a short story. It follows the Ramsey family and their close friends as they spend their holiday on the Isle of Skye. The plot itself doesn’t contain a lot of action, rather it focuses on the nuances between men and women in a family dynamic, and uses lots of metaphor and imagery to convey its meaning and atmosphere. This story is calm yet thought-provoking, a tone that reflects onto the reader. If you are looking to curl up on the couch for a couple hours with some Earl Grey tea and a blanket, this may be the perfect book to check out.
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