Cozy Reads Staff Picks (12/16/25)

‘Tis the season to curl up by the fire with a good book! Here are some of the cozy reads we will be picking up this winter.

AMANDA’S PICK: THE DIVINE GARDENER’S HANDBOOK: OR WHAT TO DO IF YOUR GIRLFRIEND ACCIDENTALLY TURNS OFF THE SUN BY ELI SNOW

This book is a joyful science fantasy adult debut about love, ambition, and toxic work culture, perfect for fans of Tamsyn Muir and Rebecca Thorne.  A gardener dreams of a job in the Divine Gardens, tending to the plants overseen by God. Her only way in is to win an annual flower pageant—one that’s been dominated by the Divine Gardens’ head gardener for five years: an insufferable woman with an undeniable affinity for plants. When she plays dirty and wins, she jumps headfirst into the gardens and her rivalry with the head gardener who she can’t stop thinking about. Pranks, backstabbing, and a lot of heated glaring unite them, until they’re both drawn into a plot to take down God—who’s really just some guy with a great garden. In their own words, the author’s inspiration for these character’s relationship was, “what if, instead of arguing, my Autistic side and ADHD side fell in love?” What follows is a joyful, layered relationship between two lovable, flawed characters.

EMILY’S PICK: MOSS’D IN SPACE BY REBECCA THORNE

After making cozy fantasy her thing, LibraryReads author Rebecca Thorne has shifted to space travel sci-fi, but still cozy! In this first book in a new trilogy, starship captain Torian searches for a hospitable planet where her sick sister can breathe more freely, and begins to collect a motley crew of found family, including the sentient moss that has integrated with her starship. Featuring a slow-burn romance with lots of pining between Torian and her ex-captain Amelia, Rebecca Thorne takes the cozy lesbian dynamics readers love and sends them out of this world! Fans of Martha Wells’ Murderbot series, Travis Baldree’s LEGENDS & LATTES, and endearing found family stories will be blown away by this series opener.

MARGO’S PICK: SEA OF CHARMS BY SARAH BETH DURST

It doesn’t get much cozier than Sarah Beth Durst’s fantasies! As a big fan of THE SPELLSHOP and THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE, I’m overjoyed to return to this lovely, heartwarming world. SEA OF CHARMS follows our beloved supply runner Marin, who sails from island to island to deliver goods with her crew—Perri the sea serpent and Ree the sailor shrub (my favorite!). When Marin embarks on a trip to the capital only to find a revolution underway, her routine travels quickly turn into a rescue mission. To get her friend Dax to safety, a deal is made—Marin will keep him as a member of her crew, if he will pretend to be her boyfriend at the End-of-Harvest Festival back home. But from his stubbornness to his charming smile, it’s not long before Marin realizes he might be saving her, too. Just like all of the books in The Spellshop series, you’ll be met with the coziest atmosphere at sea, characters trying to find themselves, and the most comforting found family. It’s like a big hug, a warm fire, and a freshly baked loaf of bread. If you are a fan of Travis Baldree or TJ Klune, this is a must read.

HALLIE’S PICK: FLIRTING WITH MURDER BY AMANDA SELLET

If you’re in the mood for a blanket, a hot drink, and a mystery with a heartwarming dose of amateur detective work, then look no further! FLIRTING WITH MURDER is THE AGATHAS meets THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB and the ultimate cozy mystery with a perfect splash of romance.

Most people visit Florida for theme parks and beaches, but Virginia visits for murder… well, a fake one. She’s at her grandmother’s pink condo, where a crew of theater retirees like to roleplay murder mysteries in a game they call “Killing Me Softly.” But things get delightfully complicated (and cozier!) when the cute guy she had a charming airport meet-cute with turns out to be the grandson of one of the condo residents. Virginia is determined to outsmart him in the game, but their rivalry takes a sharp turn when they stumble upon an actual dead body! Now, the stakes are real, and they are forced to team up, combining wits to find the true killer and save their beloved grandparents’ tight-knit community. This is a hilarious whodunit with perfect banter, unforgettable characters, and a whole lot of mischievous plotting.