The cosiest book you ever read

[MellowBird85]

As autumn approaches, I’d really like to find a proper cosy book - the type that you can curl up by the fire with while the rain lashes against the windows but not too twee iykwim? I wouldn’t mind something based in the 18th or 19th century (but not essential). I went on GoodReads and found a list of “Books to Read on a Rainy Day” and all the classics were at the top of the list - Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride & Prejudice, etc. I’m willing to give these a go but just thought I’d get some opinions on here first. TIA

Another vote here for The Secret History (Donna Tartt) partly because it's about the start of the academic year at the start, then moves into a vividly portrayed snowy winter. It's also a real page turner once you start on it, so you'll be all cosy reading it for a while.

Mary Wesley is another who writes fairly comforting sorts of books.

Yet another vote for Rosamund Pilcher. The Shell Seekers is lovely.
Elizabeth Goudge The City of Bells is also very cosy

I’m rereading The Children’s Book at the moment. Lots of lovely descriptions of Bohemian Victorian family homes etc. Although I’m not that far in and I think it gets fairly trenchy later on.

What a lovely thread. My favourite place is a window seat in a coffee shop in a city reading in the winter

Have you read The Snow Child? It's gorgeous, set in Alaska, a bit magical, completely addictive

The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch.

Two (completely separate) male friends, and I (female ladywoman), coincidentally happened to read it around the same time. We all thought it was great!

Also. The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes.

I think i might stash some of these suggestions, along with some chocolate in a box ready for a rainy day.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. I read it every winter.

I Capture the Castle.

Jeeves and Wooster. Nothing cosier than Jeeves.

I remember The Hand that First Held Mine being quite cosy as well, although I can’t remember why I thought that.

I think one of the problems with autumnal feeling books, is that Halloween means theres a temptation to make books set in autumn get a bit scary /spooky, winter cosy books are easier !

Sorry the ones I suggested aren’t autumnal, but they’re good for a cosy read.

I Capture The Castle
Fingersmith
Northern Lights
Stardust

@Coldhandscoldheart - Stella Gibbons wrote Cold Comfort Farm as an 'antidote' to Precious Bane, which she hated!
"I saw something nasty in the woodpile!"

James Herriot

Also

Tom’s Midnight Garden
Danny the Champion of the World
A Christmas Carol
Goodnight Mr Tom
Olive Kitteridge
The Amateur Marriage
Northanger Abbey

Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor. Similar to Gone with the Wind but set in England in the 1600s. Such a good read!

I came on to recommend Rosamund Pilcher!

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher. I read it every winter.

Came on to recommend this

The Wideacre Trilogy by Philippa Gregory? Historical fiction, gripping and evocative. They're on my re-read list for autumn/winter.

Little Women! It's the ultimate cosy book. The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell is one for older kids but is lovely, wintery and a bit of a fairytale. Sarah Waters, already mentioned for her cosy historical settings and any ghost stories :)

Coming Home by Rosamund Pilcher. Love it.

Anything by Milly Johnson but my personal favourites are
Here come the girls
Sunshine over Wildflower Cottage
The Yorkshire Pudding Club

Alexander McCall Smith 44 Scotland street books are very cosy, but quite intelligent too

When you say cosy The Seafront tearooms by Vanessa Greene springs to mind, it’s a lovely read and one I’d read again.