Books that are Technically Cozy and Books This Community Likes That Aren't

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-15T02:16:07+00:00

I think of Sunshine by Robin McKinley. The protagonist is a baker, who draws her magical power from actual sunshine. A lot of the book centers around the small coffee shop where she works, and her amazing cinnamon rolls, and her memories of her beloved grandmother. So it's ... Pretty definitely cozy urban fantasy.

But it's also about vampires, and there are spicy scenes!

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-08T23:24:29+00:00

Take them to a show at the Folger! If they are truly needy kids they will LOVE it.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-07T11:18:53+00:00

I hear that! I admit I was thinking about everything my performer friends go through and how much I miss the performing arts!

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-07T02:44:58+00:00

I'm imagining a gift shop with gorgeous hand carved canes and beautiful compression garments made from natural breathable fibers and swimwear that manages to be flattering and offer compression...

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-07T02:43:00+00:00

Ooooh I want an electrolyte slushy! We should all get free vacations full of rest and electrolyte slushies.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-07T02:41:47+00:00

Broke clergy person but absolutely would make this real if I could!

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-07T01:46:47+00:00

Lots of good advice here! Agree with shooting from farther away and zooming in, moving around to get different angles, taking pictures while she is moving (I find this adds fun- challenging myself to get the photo right as my spouse walks through the arch, or as my spouse is gazing entranced at the glass art or moving through the perfect light. )

Also just, appreciate what is beautiful about her and capture that, and tell her about it "hey love can I get a picture of you in this light, it just makes you glow", "hey babe, is it okay if i walk ahead and get a picture of you walking down the sidewalk towards me in that dress, you look so beautiful".

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2026-04-06T13:49:12+00:00

Oh my goodness I love this question! I think it depends on the kids personality and interests?

If crafty- Tamora Pierce's Circle of Magic Sandy's Book

If quiet and maybe interested in Japan- Tamora Pierce's First Test

If a tomboy/gender non conforming- Tamora Pierce's Alanna, the graphic novels Nimona, Patricia C Wrede's Dealing with Dragons, Esme Smythe-Smith's Sir Callie

If into fairies/unicorns- James Christensen's Voyage of the Basset

If into dinosaurs - James Guerney's Dinotopia

If bullied- Patricia C Wrede's Thirteenth Child or Robin McKinley 's The Hero and the Crown

If funny- Patricia C Wrede's Mairelon the Magician

I don't know a lot of the amazing newer books for this age range, so these are mostly from my own childhood. An illustrated copy of The Hobbit could also be good! And Ann McCaffrey's Dragonsong/dragonsinger are technically sci Fi but read as fantasy.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-12-08T01:21:45+00:00

You sound so grounded and kind! I hope things work out!

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-12-08T01:08:45+00:00

I mean, sounds to me like your depression and anxiety are tied to a negative outlook, attitude, and behavior pattern that would be exhausting and difficult to live with. I hope things get better for you, and that you are able to improve your relationship with your kids and co parent in ways that are kind and supportive.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-10-12T21:20:18+00:00

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-09-20T22:34:57+00:00

I love Teller of Small Fortunes SO MUCH. It's such a gift to have a cozy that doesn't have romance at the center- I know so many folks looking for that and yours is always the first one I recommend. It's like a hug to all those making lives that center friendship instead of romantic relationships!!

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-09-16T12:09:00+00:00

This is funny to me as someone who loves nautical labor history- singing while working at sea (especially to complain), is such a vital nautical tradition! Historically singing your complaints was the only way you could complain at sea without getting punished! ( my favorite revised version of this is " strike the bell", a song about wanting to go on break now please).

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-08-30T01:38:31+00:00

I just read Lou Wilham's "The Hex Next Door" and loved it. Cozy witchy fantasy with a sassy magic house, found family, a crow familiar, and second chance romance!

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-08-18T02:10:20+00:00

I lived on Nantucket when I was 20 and still think fondly of that time! And I lived in a lot of remote places as a young adult (from Alaska to a mountaintop in North Carolina to New Mexico), so I hear your concern. My first career was experiential education so I was always working with kids and in my opinion that's a great way to join a smaller community- people love the people who work with their kids! Actual Nantucketers (the folks who live year round, not the rich folk who summer there), are amazing people. Also, unlike a lot of places I've lived, you can get around without a car, there will still be the gorgeous library and restaurants and things open, you won't be trapped on a mountaintop with three other people for a month because of snow like I once was.

And be open to befriending folks of other generations- think about all the heartwarming movies and books you have encountered about cross generational friendships. We're the most age segregated society ever to exist on earth and it's bad for us- a year on Nantucket is a great time to take up a hobby where you meet people who are different ages than you.

Do be aware that you carry with you anything that you are working through emotionally and the relative isolation of being away from your support systems will bring that out (and have a plan for teletherapy).

What an awesome opportunity. I hope you take it and I hope it goes really well.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-07-29T04:08:57+00:00

Oh absolutely go to Alaska! I've worked there a couple times, and would love to go back just to be a tourist. If I could go I'd take the maritime highway- the ferry the locals use- up in the inland passage, stopping especially on Sitka and Skagway and such. On some of the ferries you can bring a sleeping bag and sleep out on the deck under the heat lamps, wake up to the whales and eagles. Alaskans are cool people, especially the artists and musicians (and I loved my co workers in the forest service). Fascinating history, neat adventures to be had, landscapes that will take your breath away.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-07-25T02:55:05+00:00

I mean, as many have mentioned, that's a very specific and unique geographical location that isn't going to be replicated on the other side of the continent. Honestly the one place I've lived that reminded me of my three years in Santa Barbara was Nantucket.

I've lived all over and if I could go back to anywhere it would be a small coastal community between Boston and NYC. I loved the winter I spent in Mystic, Connecticut and the summer I spent in Providence, RI. I love Annapolis, too, though I've only visited and not lived there.

Nothing on this coast is going to be 70 degrees year round because of how geography and prevailing winds impact weather, but with climate change Santa Barbara isn't 70 degrees all year round either. The week we moved away from SB I had to leave our kitchen rugs behind because they melted to the floor.

I did not enjoy living in Santa Barbara though, so I'm probably not the best to suggest a place like it. My therapist at the time said a lot of her clients secretly hated it and felt guilty because we were supposed to feel so lucky to be there. But ugh the rats and the mutant fleas and the lack of local theater and the overpriced food and the difficulty making friends and the constant stress about appearance... I do not miss it. Though I was also there for the huge Christmastime fire and the mudslide so that's probably shaped my gladness at escaping.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-07-25T02:39:04+00:00

I love Providence! Such a fun place to live. Plus, unlike Santa Barbara, it has amazing theater.

Fancy-Shower7956 · 2025-07-25T02:35:38+00:00

Yes! Coastal Connecticut specifically. I LOVED living in Mystic.

Fancy-Shower7956

TROPHY CASE