The best cosy fantasy books to curl up with right now

Why read this:  A Sunday Times bestseller and the ultimate autumn 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 say:  ‘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 say: 'Beautifully crafted, sparkling with autumn magic – the literary equivalent of the most delicious cinnamon bun' – Beth O’Leary.

Why read this: If your ideal fantasy involves seaside cottages, sentient houseplants and a little low-stakes rebellion, The Spellshop is pure cottagecore bliss. Librarian Kiela has spent years guarding powerful spellbooks – until revolution forces her to flee with a stack of stolen magic and her assistant, Caz, a gloriously opinionated spider plant. Back on her childhood island, she opens a secret spellshop to help struggling locals, even though sharing magic is punishable by death. With jam-making, merhorses and a slow-bloom romance, this is a gentle yet quietly radical tale about community, kindness and building a new life from the ashes.

If you’re looking for: cottagecore fantasy, small town setting, slow-burn romance, found family, cosy rebellion.

Great for fans of: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, The House in the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune.

What the experts say: 'It’s as comforting as homemade jam on a fresh baked muffin!' Rebecca Thorne, author of Can't Spell Treason Without Tea.

Why read this: For readers who like their cosiness threaded with a bit of darkness (and dark academia), Modern Divination blends intimate magic with Cambridge spires. Aurelia Schwartz has spent her life following strict rules to protect her secret witchcraft – but when her powers begin to fade and a witch-killer starts stealing magic, caution is no longer enough. Forced into alliance with her maddeningly arrogant classmate Theodore Ingram, Aurelia is drawn into a world of hidden spells, yearning and slow-burning romance. Atmospheric, clever and steeped in autumnal melancholy, this is cosy fantasy with sharp edges and a deeply romantic heart.

If you’re looking for: Dark academia, witches and witchcraft, contemporary fantasy, secret societies, slow-burn tension, university setting, danger and mystery

Great for fans of: The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake, A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

What the experts say: 'With high stakes, deft romance and intriguing magic, Modern Divination is a gem of a book' Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King.

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 say: ‘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 say: '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 say: ‘It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket. Simply perfect’ – V. E. Schwab.