In desperate need of some lighthearted, uplifting fantasy romance escapism!! (please read TWs carefully as I’m going through a rough time at the moment and need to avoid them)
Hello everyone! I am in dire need of your help! I know that probably sounds very melodramatic but I’m going through a really rough time in my life and I feel like I am truly desperate to find some books that will cheer me up and bring me some comfort. Anything that you have to offer would be greatly appreciated!
Basically, I have been extremely stressed out, depressed and anxious recently due to my husband getting laid off from work, the financial strain that has put on us and the fact that we are now having to move in with my mother-in-law who doesn’t really like me as a result. All of this has also put me into a bit of a reading slump and made it difficult for me to get some much needed escapism. The problem I keep having is that I’ve been very sensitive, emotional and easily upset by books that deal with heavier topics recently. I also haven’t had the motivation to read anything that I can’t listen to on audiobook, nor do I have the time to do so what with packing and getting ready to move. All of that said, I will get to my actual request now. Thank you to anyone who cared enough to read all of this ❤️
What I’m looking for is a cozy, uplifting book with sweet, fluffy romance and a happy ending. Basically like a happy fairytale type of book with warm fuzzy vibes. I’m looking for something relatively low stakes, but not TOO low stakes. For example, The Spellshop was a bit too low stakes for my tastes but I really love things like Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, Half a Soul and Sorcery and Small Magics.
**Please pay special attention to TWs that I’d like to avoid because I really am not able to handle these things at the moment! I don’t want to read anything that deals with really heavy material such as war, graphic violence, grief, r*pe, animal abuse/death, the deaths of any major characters, suicide, suicide ideation, self harm, toxic relationships between MCs, graphic depictions of physical/mental abuse or substance abuse. I’d also like to avoid pregnancy and for the characters to be child free even if the children aren’t technically their own. I’m sorry, I know that’s a long list of TWs to avoid. That’s part of why I’m having such a hard time finding books to read. I’m just feeling so stressed out and overly sensitive right now and I’ve had to DNF quite a few books that were too upsetting for me. Normally I would be fine, but I just can’t seem to handle them at the moment.
Also, I know that T. Kingfisher is a popular recommendation on here but, for whatever reason, her style just doesn’t seem to fit with my personal preferences. I’ve tried reading multiple T. Kingfisher books but, unfortunately, haven’t been able to get into them. Please don’t take offense if you like this author. I have nothing against her! Her books aren’t bad, they just aren’t really my cup of tea.
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For reference, here are some cozy fantasy books that I like:
Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater
Ten Thousand Stitches by Olivia Atwater
The Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett
Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy
Winterfrost Market by Jenny Sandiford
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
by Sangu Mandanna
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick
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And here are some cozy fantasy books that I just thought were okay or couldn’t really get into for one reason or another:
T. Kingfisher’s books
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton
The Lord of Stariel by A.J. Lancaster
The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling