But other times, you just want the equivalent of a warm hug or a soothing cup of tea in book form. It could be No Plot, Just Vibes. Or it could be all about the relationship, until Something Happens. A romance with little conflict — or if there is conflict, it’s an external one and not strife between the protagonists — and lots of joy oozing through the pages. A book with a cozy setting, whether it’s a winter village or an island getaway. Maybe even a hint of a cozy mystery — whether there’s a dead body or a tiny bit of office sabotage, it’s fun to follow the characters as they hunt down the answer to a question while also falling in love. The range of definitions for “cozy romance” is broad, but there’s always one requirement: no matter what, the lovers get their happily ever after. So here are a few books that might appeal to anyone looking for that warm hug, mug of tea, or shy glance in book form. (Note: as the person writing this list, note that I am going to go ahead and ignore the requirement put forth in cozy mystery in which explicit sex isn’t allowed. You can totally have a cozy romance that also includes very cozy sexytimes.) What do you think makes a “cozy romance”? What are your favorites?
