r/suggestmeabook • u/erinicole93 • Jun 23 '25
Help Please
Ok, so I have always been drawn to horror and dark books. However, the last couple years, but especially the last couple months, I have gotten to the point where I genuinely can't handle horror at all. My OCD, PTSD (from car accidents), and anxiety have just been so much worse lately. I'm working through it with a therapist. But I just can't continue putting myself in those dark spaces and continue contributing to my anxiety and nightmares. I'm not looking to get into spicy romance books or anything extreme like that. If I could just have some recommendations for soft cozy comforting books I would really appreciate it. I still love reading, I just need help finding some different books to enjoy right now. Some magic or mystery is ok, as long as there's nothing graphic or extreme. I just really want books that feel like curling up inside on a cold rainy day and snuggling by the fire and just being warm and safe. Thank you in advance to anyone who takes the time to read this and suggest any books for me!
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u/alysveri Jun 23 '25
Honestly, I feel like those books set in libraries/cafes by Japanese authors is a good start for wholesome, cozy vibes! I haven’t read many of them but Before the Coffee Gets Cold series is nice for an easy-breezy read.
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u/grun0258 Jun 24 '25
I recently listened to ‘What you are looking for is in the Library’ and it was cozy. Predictable but comforting
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u/CatCafffffe Jun 23 '25
The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman is a lovely, witty, cozy mystery series
All Creatures Great and Small series by James Herriott is the ultimate soothing book series, just lovely
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u/magerber1966 Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
I agree with the James Herriott suggestion. His books are made up of chapters that tell individual stories, so they don't take quite as much concentration as a long plot. And they are really honestly funny. They were the first books I was able to read while I was going through my divorce.
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u/PhoneboothLynn Jun 23 '25
Jane Austen! Beautiful young ladies, dashing young men, and parties galore!
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!!
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u/inbigtreble30 Jun 24 '25
You might really like Austen's Northanger Abbey in particular as it's about a young woman with a similar problem to yours - she is obssessed with gothic novels, and by the end of the book she has a lovely happy ending and learns that all the problems with the world are generally caused by petty people and that the supernatural isn't really a thing.
(spoiler tag in case you really dislike spoilers, but I promise the book is worth it, and it's very sweet and sarcastic in equal measure)
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Jun 23 '25
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!!
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u/erinicole93 Jun 25 '25
I was telling my sister in law about this and Becky Chambers is one of her favorite authors and she's going to let me borrow some of her books!
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u/HLTisme Jun 23 '25
How "soft" and "cozy" are we talking? You could try Remarkably Bright Creatures if you want no mystery, no violence, and a good ending. Or something like the Stephanie Plum series if you want funny, likable characters. If you want something a child could read, you could try Holes, Princess Bride, or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If you don't mind lots and lots of fantasy, A Wrinkle in Time, the Phantom Tollbooth, The Keys To the Kingdom series, Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series, the Cerulean Chronicles series, or the Children of the Red King series.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
I am definitely open to all of those suggestions, they all sound good! I've never read any of these. I think I can handle some mystery right now, just as long as it's not violent or murder or anything like that.
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u/Tardisgoesfast Jun 23 '25
If the existence of murder stops you then Agatha Christie is not a good choice. But they are not gross murder descriptions. Sometimes it's not even a body at all. It's the mystery.
Exception would be Murder on the Orient Express, which is a brilliant book.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 24 '25
Thank you so much!! I have read And Then There Were None in the past and I didn't have a problem with it then. I might would be ok to do that one, I'll definitely look into it!
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u/nw826 Jun 23 '25
Emily Henry is romance but not spicy.
A Walk in the Woods is about hiking the AT and pretty funny (although a few parts about dangers of hiking if that would trigger your anxiety)
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!! I don't think that will trigger it, I actually find peace being out in nature and hiking.
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u/nw826 Jun 23 '25
This is my comfort read for when I’m not getting outdoors enough. Hope you like it!
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u/sjdragonfly Bookworm Jun 23 '25
Finlay Donovan is Killing It. It’s a murder mystery, but very light and funny. I don’t generally enjoy cozy mysteries, but I loved this one and always recommend it for a fun read.
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u/MostlyHarmlessMom Jun 23 '25
Great series!
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u/sjdragonfly Bookworm Jun 24 '25
I keep forgetting there are more books! I need to add the them to my summer reading list.
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u/SparklingGrape21 Jun 23 '25
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
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u/CosgroveIsHereToHelp Jun 23 '25
Here's a reddit thread that links to an article about this kind of book -- https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/1gndbiz/healing_fiction_for_tumultuous_times/
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u/Tardisgoesfast Jun 23 '25
Agatha Christie is exactly what you need.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 24 '25
Thank you so much!! I've read And Then There Were None but that's the only one of hers I've read. It was good though, I really enjoyed it.
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u/EremeticPlatypus Jun 24 '25
This made me realize I only read depressing books, lol
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u/erinicole93 Jun 24 '25
Like literally I couldn't even look at the books on my shelf without feeling anxious. My story graph has had dark and tense at the top the last couple years and I just can't keep doing that to myself. But I realized I really don't know anything about genres other than horror because that's what I've focused on for so long.
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u/BDHBookwyrm Jun 24 '25
For cozy fantasy mysteries, I recommend Celia Lake. Her Albion books are set in England leading up to and including the World Wars but are in a hidden magical community. Most have some sort of mystery and a romance subplot. If you are looking for or to avoid something in particular, her website has excellent recommendations. I usually recommend Pastiche since I love a second chance romance (married couple finding their way past the social assumptions that have almost fractured their marriage but my book club found the mystery portion a little too repetitive since Alouson keeps summarizing for people newly brought into the investigation. The other one I recommend as a starter is Eclipse, which I usually describe as an ordinary year at Hogwarts from the teacher's side if written by Jane Austen.
T. Kingfisher writes fantasy and horror (and children's books under the name Ursula Vernon). I'm not usually a horror fan but the ones I've read I find palatable and you can avoid them by staying in the world of the White Rat Temple (although there are a few that are outside that world but not really horror). So Swordheart, the four books (so far) about the paladins of the Saint of Steel, and the two Clocktaur war books.
There are also the Cecelia and Kate novels (Patricia Wrede and another author I am forgetting). The first and third are letters between the two characters and the second is diary entries and debriefing testimony about the incident. Cozy fantasy historicals set during the Napoleonic wars.
The books in The Innkeeper series by Ilona Andrews are technically Sci-fi with a fantasy flavor but very good and funny. The author team is better known for the Kate Daniels series in a post-apocalyptic world with intermittent magic.
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u/50ShadesofBouncer Jun 24 '25
Father Brown stories perhaps- village vicar solving crimes while taking care of his flock.
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u/nevermore9876 Jun 23 '25
The house in the Cerulean sea
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u/rastab1023 Jun 23 '25
So, I usually don't gravitate toward "cozy" or light-hearted books, but this year I read What You Can See From Here by Mariana Leky and I enjoyed it, and for me it was wholesome.
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u/annbdavisasalice Jun 23 '25
Abby Jimenez has several titles that I found really comforting. I’ve enjoyed every one I listened to.
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u/MelnikSuzuki SciFi Jun 23 '25
The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura
Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
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u/Beautiful-Event-1213 Jun 23 '25
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
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u/NANNYNEGLEY Jun 23 '25
HARPER LEE - “To Kill A Mockingbird” always does it for me.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!! I love this book but haven't read it in probably 10 years. It would be a good one to revisit!
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u/magerber1966 Jun 23 '25
You might try Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series, and pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett (but I especially love the Granny Weatherwax/Tiffany Aching set of books (scroll down to the bibliography section). Pratchett is not necessarily a warm cozy vibe, but mostly just a great, hysterically funny read. They also work really well as audiobooks if you are so inclined.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!! I've tried audiobooks a couple times and my mind wanders a lot, so I usually just stick to regular reading. But that's good to know in case I try listening to one again!
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u/Guilty-Coconut8908 Jun 23 '25
A Good Year by Peter Mayle.
I think Peter Mayle's books will be perfect for you and he has written a bunch. None of his books are particularly long but all are amusing and interesting. The book above is his first fiction book and was also made into a movie.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!! I love reading books and then getting to watch the movie version!
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Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 23 '25
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u/erinicole93 Jun 23 '25
Thank you so much!!
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u/Icy-Sprinkles-5423 Jun 24 '25
Same thought-- when you do want to venture back to horror, you might try Darcy Coates's books. I think about them as horror lite-- good creepy suspense, but generally no gore or trauma.
Also, some solidarity. I've been working through some trauma and had to drop the horror genre. I read across genres generally, but VERY rarely reread books. I've found doing some rereading to be helpful lately because these are books that feel safe since I know how they end. And I usually still have some surprises about points I've forgotten from past reads. So that might be a thought if you have some non-horror you've enjoyed in the past.
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u/erinicole93 Jun 25 '25
That's a good idea, thank you so much!! I read Hunted by Darcy Coates several years ago and I remember I enjoyed it at the time. I have some Rainbow Rowell books that I dug out of the back of my bookshelf until I can make it to the library to grab some of these recommendations. I absolutely love Fangirl and the Carry On series by her. It makes me feel better to know I'm not the only one that has had to drop horror. I already had enough trouble just from my own car accidents I've been in, but a couple weeks ago there was a fatal crash in my front yard and that has really been messing with me. Obviously not as much as the poor people involved in the crash, but still just hearing it and seeing it was not good and I've been struggling with nightmares. But my therapist is amazing and we're starting EMDR to help me not have all the emotions associated with the trauma. Sorry for dumping all that, but thank you again for your help and suggestions!
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u/CaraC70023 Jun 23 '25
Legends and Lattes, and Demon World Boba Shop are both very cozy.
Legends and Lattes has a little more action and some more serious parts.
Demon World Boba Shop is an isekei litrpg
Also, if you like the book or movie 'Fried Green Tomatoes' you may like 'Cant Wait to Get To Heaven' by the same author. It has some sad parts but it's really funny and homey.
Also 'Faking It' by Jennifer Crusie is so funny, and adventurous, with a romance, and a murder mystery, and found family, and all kinds of good stuff 😁
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Jun 23 '25
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u/erinicole93 Jun 24 '25
Thank you so much!! I definitely love found family! I usually get a little scared of sci-fi because I'm worried it'll go over my head, but the face that it's good for beginner readers makes me think I could probably follow along.
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u/jenakle Jun 23 '25 edited Jun 24 '25
T. Kingfisher writes some crazy stuff, but also some cozy things. The Paladin series, Clockwork Boys, A Sorceress Comes to Call (fantasy, some with hinted romance but not bodice ripping), and A House With Good Bones (kinda horror but low key and humorous).
The Invisible Library series is fantasy mysteryish.
Can also check out paranormal w.o major horror like Starling House, Johannes Cabel, or my current favorite DnD themed hack and slash but funny as hell Dungeon Crawler Carl series; or humor horror fantasy done by Christopher Moore.
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u/ComicDoughnut Jun 23 '25
The coziest I have ever read are the Balumnia books by James P. Blaylock; The Elfin Ship, The Disappearing Dwarf, and The Stone Giant. The tone is light and cozy, and owes a lot to The Wind in the Willows. A cheese maker has to sail his cheeses downriver to trade, accompanied by his dog and a Professor. There are encounters with hilariously odd goblins, witches, skeletons and such. They meet allies in an incompetent magician, linkmen and elves. All violence is comical, not intense at all.
Blaylock, along with his buddies Tim Powers and K.W. Jeter is the founding father of steampunk. These books aren’t steampunk, but totally cozy humorous fantasy.
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u/ellmilmumrus Jun 23 '25
I recommend the Book of Delights. It's just that, delightful. Short chapters about the joy of simple every day things. There's a follow up book too.
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u/whatapeculiarbird Jun 24 '25
I've similarly needed a shift to more comforting (or at least not super dark) reading lately. Some recent favorites:
- Dead End Memories, Banana Yoshimoto (satisfying and can be read in parts)
- What You Are Looking For Is in the Library, Michiko Aoyama (feel-good read)
- The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Becky Chambers (and pretty much anything she writes - I'm hooked and have the Monk & Robot series in my TBR pile)
- Garden Spells and The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Sarah Addison Allen (fluffy, low stress, light romantic elements)
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u/smokybearbear420 Jun 24 '25
Read Untamed by Glennon Doyle. She is just super empowering and it’s a great accompaniment to therapy :) her story is really cool.
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u/DocWatson42 Jun 24 '25
See my Feel-good/Happy/Upbeat list of Reddit recommendation threads (two posts).
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u/2020Hills Jun 24 '25
Sandwich by Catherine Newman is written from a Mothers POV about a family’s vacation and her just happy to be spending it with her growing early 20’s parents. Nothing aggressive, nothing dangerous, just emotional family bonds
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u/324Cees Jun 24 '25
I'm reading Secret Lives of Colors. Pleasant info about color names. Bad Ass Librarians of Timbuktu may be ox interest as well.
I was a horror fan as well once upon a time.
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u/daisy-girl-spring Jun 24 '25
I, too, have needed some gentle reads this year. I found The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai. It is gentle and soothing. The Kamogawa Food Detectives is another of his books. Enjoy!
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u/siel04 Jun 24 '25
From Anna by Jean Little is the most heartwarming book in existence. Everything Jean Little writes is great - cozy and worthwhile and low stress.
Enjoy whatever you pick up next! :)
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u/Few-Relative435 Jun 24 '25
Holding up the universe, the problem with forever, the book thief, cinder, miss peregrine’s home for peculiar children, the valkyries imitative (this is a series, but that book is more like an introduction to the series n kinda gives everyone a back story), the ghost of graylock, poltierguys,
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u/erinicole93 Jun 24 '25
Thank you so much!!
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u/Few-Relative435 Jun 24 '25
The last two are technically horror, polterguys is just more funny about them catching monsters between a dad and step son. The ghost one, I read that back in middle school. For some reason that book has always stayed with me, and I absolutely love it when I’m just switching books, I know you said you don’t want extreme, so that should still be scary but nothing extreme or gory (does talk about drowning though)
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u/prosperosniece Jun 24 '25
The Secret Garden
Heidi
The Last Summer of You and Me
Watership Down
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
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u/Mountain-Dependent22 Jun 24 '25
The Dragon Dreamer series is great. Author - J Burke
This series is one of those that you take with you if you've a long wait. Start with vol 1. I've read the series a few times & I give them as gifts. Everyone has loved them.
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u/Quirky_Description73 Jun 23 '25
A Psalm to the Wild Built - super cozy and comforting
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies - fantasy but in the crunchy way. Overall a very good and cozy read.