As the year draws to a close, as always, I find myself reflecting on the year that has been, on all the changes that the past 365 days – as the earth completed its orbital path around the sun – has brought into my life. The stories that inspired, adventures that challenged, and moments of growth that shaped me. Through it all, books have been a constant companion, helping me explore new worlds, embrace fresh perspectives, and reconnect with myself, and of course cozy reads that offer the escapes we all need.
I definitely went on a literary adventure of sorts this orbital year, and look forward to another year of exploration and growth—onward to new orbits and uncharted pages! How about you? What literary adventures did this last orbital year take you on?
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The Bookish Five: About Cozy Reads and Orbitals
(1 & 2) Book Beginnings and First Line Friday
Orbital
Orbital: A Novel by Samantha Harvey (Author)
Orbital deftly snapshots one day in the lives of six women and men traveling through space. Selected for one of the last space station missions of its kind before the program is dismantled, these astronauts and cosmonauts—from America, Russia, Italy, Britain, and Japan—have left their lives behind to travel at a speed of over seventeen thousand miles an hour as the earth reels below.
BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY is hosted by Rose City Reader. What book are you happy about reading this week? Please share the opening sentence (or so) on BOOK BEGINNINGS ON FRIDAY! Add the link to your blog or social media post and visit other blogs to see what others are reading.
Happy Friday and welcome to the FIRST LINE FRIDAY, hosted by Reading is My Superpower! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line.
3 Friday 56
THE FRIDAY 56 is hosted by Freda’s Voice (currently by Anne at HeadFullofBooks) To play, open a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% on your e-reader). Find a sentence or two and post them, along with the book title and author. Then link up and visit others in the linky.
4 Book Blogger Hop
The purpose of THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, and befriend other bloggers. THE BOOK BLOGGER HOP is hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
Do you have any reading goals for the new year?
Not really, just to keep reading – whenever, wherever, whatever!
5 Reasons I Need to Read More Cozy Reads Plus More Lists of Five …
From Orbital to cozy fantasy seems like a giant leap, but there is something cozy about Orbital as well from what I can see and also from what I have read so far.
Reasons Why Cozy Reads, Especially Cozy Fantasy is…
Cozy fantasy is having a big moment right now – well, has been having a moment for a long while now, tbh – and for good reason! It’s like the literary equivalent of a warm blanket, hot cocoa, and a gentle rain outside—a comforting escape from the often overwhelming realities of life.
And I realized I have read many without knowing I had but here’s why it’s trending and loved, and why I know I will be reading more cozy fantasies in the future:
- Low Stakes, High Heart:
Unlike epic fantasies with high stakes (saving the world and such!), cozy fantasy focuses on personal growth, community, and day-to-day joys. Characters might be saving their café from closure or solving a minor mystery—still compelling, but in a less stressful way. - Relatable Themes:
Themes like friendship, found family, self-discovery, and belonging strike a universal chord. These books remind us of the beauty in everyday connections. - Soft Magic Systems:
Magic in cozy fantasy reads often feels whimsical (a word and feeling I love!) and integral to the world, rather than something that needs pages of explanation. Magic in cozy fantasy is more like a delightful spice that enhances rather than overwhelms. - Escapism Without Exhaustion:
After a day of doom-scrolling (the news!) or dealing with real-world pressures, cozy books let readers escape to a gentler world without needing to remember sprawling maps or complex political systems. - Diverse Representation:
This genre has embraced inclusivity, showcasing a myriad characters and cultures. Readers see themselves reflected in the stories, adding to the warm embrace these tales provide.
Cozy fantasy offers books that are like “hugs” – a “safe place” for readers. You can visit magical lands knowing that while there may be challenges, things will resolve in a satisfying, feel-good way.
Five That I Have Read Without Realizing they were cozy fantasy!
Well, this genre term came into existence more recently after all though the books have been around forever…
- Faraway Tree Series by Enid Blyton. Blyton’s books were a childhood staple and I learned of whole different worlds, thanks to her books.
- The Moth Keeper by K O Neill (10 – 16 years, and up). I wonder where I have the review for this one but I loved it (a brief mention here)
- The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill (9 – 12 years, and up). This one delighted me
- Seraphin written and illustrated by Philippe Fix (5 – 8 years, and up). A picture book for everyone!
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (4+ years). One of my forever favorites.
Plus Five That I Want to Read (some for too long now)
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeires by Heather Fawcett
- The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes (8 – 11 years, and up).
- Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna.
- The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
And Now, the End of This Post
Dear reader, have you read Orbital? Or any similar reads? What about the cozy fantasy books mentioned here? Do let me know which one would you pick/recommend I read first (from the second set of cozy fantasy reads above)?
