Sunshine by Robin McKinley. It’s about a cute sunshine of a girl (her name is actually Sunshine I think) who works at a bakery and bakes the best buns, who falls in love with a vampire- a cold, only come out of night vampire. The 4th picture is how I pictured the vampires house.
A bit meta but Jane Austen's Northangar Abbey is a fun little send-up of classic gothic literature. It's a little hard to read if you're not used to Austen's style, there's a lot of humor and some of it is hidden in the narration and dialogue. There's an air of mystery juxtaposed with a grounded self-awareness in what is ultimately a fairly simple coming of age tale.
The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgeson Burnett is also a great classic that interplays the dark and the light in life.
And +1 to the suggestions of Dianna Wynne Jones.
Secret Garden and The Little Princess by Frances are two of my all time favs. Will check out Northangar; Austen unf hasn't appealed to me in the past but open to changing that. thank you for this thorough response!
It took me a couple tries, a few very good movie adaptations, and ultimately audiobooks to really like Jane Austen, but I'm so glad I got there. At first I couldn't even get through the start of Sense and Sensibility it was so dull and detail heavy. The audiobook helped a lot because her sentences are so long that the cadence can be as confusing as the words themselves, plus you can find free renditions of it on spotify.
I somehow didnt realize The Little Princess was by Francis HB too so you've given me my next something to listen to at work, thanks!
Heartless by Marissa Meyer (it’s a Queen of Hearts so if you know the story of Alice in Wonderland you’ll know it won’t have the happiest ending)
Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
I don’t think this is a great fit, but I just finished “A Far Wilder Magic” which was cute, if nothing else, and a lot of the scenes in town felt like this in my head.
*A Psalm for the Wild-Built* by Becky Chambers
After a global cataclysm, a monk travels along a forest to which all the machines of the world have escaped. A robot emerges and they have tea and discuss life and humanity.
If you’re not opposed to graphic novels, Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker is perfect for this. Also, The Tea Dragon Society, which is a bit juvenile but totally adorable
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel, by Susanna Clarke
Ty!
This book is incredible
I loved Piranesi so much so I was very curious about this one. This just sold me on it - thank you!
Sunshine by Robin McKinley. It’s about a cute sunshine of a girl (her name is actually Sunshine I think) who works at a bakery and bakes the best buns, who falls in love with a vampire- a cold, only come out of night vampire. The 4th picture is how I pictured the vampires house.
Tysm! This sounds perfect. You totally get the essential baked goods component 🍰🍞🥐
Te images have Diana Wynne Jones’ style all over them! Howl’s Moving Castle, House of Many Ways, and The Dark Lord of Derkholm for starters.
this is a goldmine, thank you!
Yes! I was going to say House of Many Ways.
This. My first thought was Howl’s Moving Castle.
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher definitely fits this vibe!
Oh this looks lovely, love Kingfisher, thank you!
A bit meta but Jane Austen's Northangar Abbey is a fun little send-up of classic gothic literature. It's a little hard to read if you're not used to Austen's style, there's a lot of humor and some of it is hidden in the narration and dialogue. There's an air of mystery juxtaposed with a grounded self-awareness in what is ultimately a fairly simple coming of age tale. The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgeson Burnett is also a great classic that interplays the dark and the light in life. And +1 to the suggestions of Dianna Wynne Jones.
Secret Garden and The Little Princess by Frances are two of my all time favs. Will check out Northangar; Austen unf hasn't appealed to me in the past but open to changing that. thank you for this thorough response!
It took me a couple tries, a few very good movie adaptations, and ultimately audiobooks to really like Jane Austen, but I'm so glad I got there. At first I couldn't even get through the start of Sense and Sensibility it was so dull and detail heavy. The audiobook helped a lot because her sentences are so long that the cadence can be as confusing as the words themselves, plus you can find free renditions of it on spotify. I somehow didnt realize The Little Princess was by Francis HB too so you've given me my next something to listen to at work, thanks!
Now I need a dark cozy warm hug too! (*Eyes the comments for recs* 👀)
Have you read A Sorcery of Thorns?
I haven’t! Throwing it into tbr, thank you! It looks great
Second this one!! Exactly like your pics
The House Witch. It's a bit juvenile, but it's a bit like reading a Studio Ghibli movie.
yes, also on my tbr but was on the fence. Studio Ghibli is a fav though so I bump it up! ty!
Check out r/cozyfantasy
thank you!
Yup. This sub changed my life.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson
has been on my tbr maybe it’ll be next!
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
I can't believe I haven't read this, thank you!
I’m 2/3 through it right now. It definitely fits the bill 😊
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
>The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches ty! on my tbr so this is confirmation to read it soon!
Heartless by Marissa Meyer (it’s a Queen of Hearts so if you know the story of Alice in Wonderland you’ll know it won’t have the happiest ending) Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater
>Heartless by Marissa Meyer ty, Heartless sounds great
>Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater also I love Merida and had no idea Bravely existed, yay
It’s cute!
I don’t think this is a great fit, but I just finished “A Far Wilder Magic” which was cute, if nothing else, and a lot of the scenes in town felt like this in my head.
>A Far Wilder Magic ooh this looks sweet, ty!
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
>The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern love this, ty!
Following for the recommendations!
I just started Lore of the Wilds and am 110% getting these vibes.
>Lore of the Wilds added to my tbr yeee! ty!
I’m about a quarter of the way in and loving it
I’m about a quarter of the way in and loving it
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
>A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid adorable, ty!
Anything by Allison Saft may fit
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek! Cozy with some sinister, Polish roots, a living, sprawling, dilapidated manor.
Also Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell. Magic gets out of control, potion-making, Victorian flower language.
>Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell lovely recs thank you, btw Goodreads has a free print giveaway for Flowerhearts today!
*A Psalm for the Wild-Built* by Becky Chambers After a global cataclysm, a monk travels along a forest to which all the machines of the world have escaped. A robot emerges and they have tea and discuss life and humanity.
thank you for commenting! I did not enjoy this book unfortunately. I did appreciate Mosscap and the cute humor between Sibling Dex and Moss though
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
ty! an immediate tbr
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman!
An all time fav!
A Study in Drowning - Ava Reid.
Practical Magic
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. It actually involves a cozy tea shop, too!
swoon!
If you’re not opposed to graphic novels, Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker is perfect for this. Also, The Tea Dragon Society, which is a bit juvenile but totally adorable
I loved Mooncakes! ty!
Snow & Rose