You'd make a fine and truly creative librarian, Jamie! Like others, I've read a number of these books. Glad to see you also appreciate Carriger, Shaw and Goss.
Also grateful for your words about audiobooks. Since a texting driver slammed into me 8 years ago, I've had a bodily roommate called Painpal (no sympathy please). Thus, I must move slowly throughout daily chores to accomplish half of what I once managed. Audiobooks have been a savior. Plus, it's just cool to have a story in my back pocket as I work through a day.
Admittedly, I am a narrator snob, have favorites and will not listen to the best stories if the performer isn't up to my standards.
I'm also glad to know another audiobook fan. Honestly, there are days when an audiobook is the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning. (It's also a handy device to lure myself away from doomscrolling.)
And don't worry - you are in good company as a narrator snob. The narrator can make or break the experience. I have ditched many an audio book because I couldn't stand the narration. On the other hand, I have also bought books I wouldn't normally choose because I know and love the narrator. I've discovered some great reads that way!
Of course I applaud every word of your response. Not for today, but perhaps sometime during the winter, audiobook listeners might come together on Substack to mention favorite narrators. I'm guessing there might be some new discoveries.
Today is my version of your Boxing Day. I'm off to read your post about children's books then will be settling by the fire with my sketchbook.
I'm glad to have included Little Women - it came up for several people. Perhaps it's time for a reread!
Thanks for being here (as always) and for the additional suggestion. I can see why that would be the perfect winter read. Made me think of the Bear & The Nightingale series by Katherine Arden. I loved those!
Thank you Jamie! You worked so hard on this list. I appreciate you adding mine. I hope you get a nice couple of days to read and relax. I’m going to find a reading day, in fact I think I might incorporate this into my New Year’s resolution to do more often. At least monthly! 😄
Wow, what a list! I am astonished that I have already so many of these books.
I still remember the thrill I got when reading Harriet the Spy as a young adult and wishing the book had been written when I was a kid.
I just packed up all my semi-read library books to return. I was looking forward to diving into my personal library. There are so many books I got from the public library, liked, ordered for myself, then set aside while other books came along. Katherine May is one of these authors.
And now, a big clutch of suggestions for more, more, more!
Hi, Fran! Glad you are finding something new in the list, even though you have many of the picks already. I can SO relate to new books knocking other books further down the TBR. It's a tricky shuffle! In addition to buying books and borrowing from my public library, we also have several Little Free Libraries around town, and - because I walk dogs - I pass them regularly and am constantly finding new books to bring home. It's a real problem. 😉
We, too, have plenty of Little Libraries in Portland. Then there's this guy who has bookshelves all over his front yard. Take a book, leave a dollar.
I read something about Katherine May and the pandemic, probably in The New York Times, and I bought two of her books, Enchantment and The Electricity of Every Living Thing. They were pushed aside by shiny new books--so distracting!--but thanks to you I am picking up Enchantment to read next.
Great list! To Heroine's with sass I will add: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss. It is book one of the "Athena Club" trilogy and it is pure magic. It's Gothic classics - from a woman's point of view. Jekyl's daughter. Hyde's daughter. Justine Frankenstein and Catherine Moreau! Highly recommend all three in this series!
Jamie, I'm loving your compilation of cozy reads! This is wonderful. I may be doing the same as you and adopt your "day after" ritual to "just read" ☺️
Jamie! This is such a great list. I love The House in the Cerulean Sea! Great book. Also, thanks for mentioning my beloved Harriet. Here's another couple: One of the best novel/memoirs I've ever read that is frankly for all ages starting from middle school is Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, a memoirish story about his childhood moving from Iran to the US. It's one of the most brilliant self-aware funny pieces of writing, and at the end of February 2025 an adult reboot of Little Women called The Other March Sisters as told from the perspectives of the March Sisters with Jo kind of missing from the story. Written by my ex, Linda Epstein and two other writers, Ally Malinenko and Liz Parker, it's fabulous and queer and offers another view at these iconic characters. It's a great read. Oh, I could go on all day, but I won't! Thank you for the beautiful offering.
Wonderful!
Thank you! 😊
You'd make a fine and truly creative librarian, Jamie! Like others, I've read a number of these books. Glad to see you also appreciate Carriger, Shaw and Goss.
Also grateful for your words about audiobooks. Since a texting driver slammed into me 8 years ago, I've had a bodily roommate called Painpal (no sympathy please). Thus, I must move slowly throughout daily chores to accomplish half of what I once managed. Audiobooks have been a savior. Plus, it's just cool to have a story in my back pocket as I work through a day.
Admittedly, I am a narrator snob, have favorites and will not listen to the best stories if the performer isn't up to my standards.
I'm glad to hear you enjoy those writers too!
I'm also glad to know another audiobook fan. Honestly, there are days when an audiobook is the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning. (It's also a handy device to lure myself away from doomscrolling.)
And don't worry - you are in good company as a narrator snob. The narrator can make or break the experience. I have ditched many an audio book because I couldn't stand the narration. On the other hand, I have also bought books I wouldn't normally choose because I know and love the narrator. I've discovered some great reads that way!
Of course I applaud every word of your response. Not for today, but perhaps sometime during the winter, audiobook listeners might come together on Substack to mention favorite narrators. I'm guessing there might be some new discoveries.
Today is my version of your Boxing Day. I'm off to read your post about children's books then will be settling by the fire with my sketchbook.
What a great list! Many I haven't read and will now check out. Thanks, Jamie!
I'm so excited, Elizabeth! I hope you find something that strikes your fancy and delivers the reading experience you're looking for. 😊
What a delightful list! Thank you so much for putting this together! I was trying to think of cozy reads to recommend, and thought of Little Women, so I'm happy it made your list! This also made me think of another book I'd like to reread - it's not really a cozy read exactly, but it always feels like winter to me, the kind of book you want to read under a nice warm blanket! https://www.amazon.com/Snow-walker-Catherine-Fisher-ebook/dp/B006FOHXC8?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U17oEKYgx-HqZ8j7DmPGWzfQyJinU09wHJjlOCmaIAE3UW8PMeVAv6jiJ7Kk_yjcz_NAzDEgoF_p1f41vgSYmOwrr2lkj6K0E_G1UFaJsGOyfpuG74LqBkT1fsa4pOAvS-jB-wl8X2OHyYM6ga32VgAuynMNDzD9LaJ7kJW_3WeZMLkSP3Xuvmj0wM9jb655LKnLsIqK33_RkeBWcaDkypeNLxzu0HzWnlq-3IARe28.RmKRs4wbTQSmHmAbTNLioh2vq6KQimVe9GAKZa10E3g&dib_tag=AUTHOR
I'm glad to have included Little Women - it came up for several people. Perhaps it's time for a reread!
Thanks for being here (as always) and for the additional suggestion. I can see why that would be the perfect winter read. Made me think of the Bear & The Nightingale series by Katherine Arden. I loved those!
Ooh, I read the first of those and loved it! I need to pick up the other two :)
The quality holds up for the entire series. Definitely recommend. 👍😁💜
Thank you Jamie! You worked so hard on this list. I appreciate you adding mine. I hope you get a nice couple of days to read and relax. I’m going to find a reading day, in fact I think I might incorporate this into my New Year’s resolution to do more often. At least monthly! 😄
You're SO welcome & I was happy to include yours.
I love the idea of making a commitment to give yourself at least one Reading Day each month. That may be the best NY resolution I've ever heard!
Wow, what a list! I am astonished that I have already so many of these books.
I still remember the thrill I got when reading Harriet the Spy as a young adult and wishing the book had been written when I was a kid.
I just packed up all my semi-read library books to return. I was looking forward to diving into my personal library. There are so many books I got from the public library, liked, ordered for myself, then set aside while other books came along. Katherine May is one of these authors.
And now, a big clutch of suggestions for more, more, more!
Thank you. I think.
Hi, Fran! Glad you are finding something new in the list, even though you have many of the picks already. I can SO relate to new books knocking other books further down the TBR. It's a tricky shuffle! In addition to buying books and borrowing from my public library, we also have several Little Free Libraries around town, and - because I walk dogs - I pass them regularly and am constantly finding new books to bring home. It's a real problem. 😉
Have you read any of Katherine May's books?
We, too, have plenty of Little Libraries in Portland. Then there's this guy who has bookshelves all over his front yard. Take a book, leave a dollar.
I read something about Katherine May and the pandemic, probably in The New York Times, and I bought two of her books, Enchantment and The Electricity of Every Living Thing. They were pushed aside by shiny new books--so distracting!--but thanks to you I am picking up Enchantment to read next.
Sounds like an excellent neighbor! 😁 I’m so glad you’re going to gift yourself time to read Enchantment. I hope you love it!
Great list! To Heroine's with sass I will add: The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss. It is book one of the "Athena Club" trilogy and it is pure magic. It's Gothic classics - from a woman's point of view. Jekyl's daughter. Hyde's daughter. Justine Frankenstein and Catherine Moreau! Highly recommend all three in this series!
Hello, Jennifer! It's been too long! 🥰
I LOVE the Athena Club - excellent addition. I may need to give those a re-listen this winter. You are right - perfect sassy heroines!
Jamie, I'm loving your compilation of cozy reads! This is wonderful. I may be doing the same as you and adopt your "day after" ritual to "just read" ☺️
I'm so glad, Rhaine. And thank you for adding your excellent suggestions!
Perhaps we should stage regular "read ins." I feel like we're going to need all the story-powered self care we can get in 2025. xo
Jamie! This is such a great list. I love The House in the Cerulean Sea! Great book. Also, thanks for mentioning my beloved Harriet. Here's another couple: One of the best novel/memoirs I've ever read that is frankly for all ages starting from middle school is Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri, a memoirish story about his childhood moving from Iran to the US. It's one of the most brilliant self-aware funny pieces of writing, and at the end of February 2025 an adult reboot of Little Women called The Other March Sisters as told from the perspectives of the March Sisters with Jo kind of missing from the story. Written by my ex, Linda Epstein and two other writers, Ally Malinenko and Liz Parker, it's fabulous and queer and offers another view at these iconic characters. It's a great read. Oh, I could go on all day, but I won't! Thank you for the beautiful offering.
Thank you so much, Nan. I’m glad you like the list, and appreciate your additional suggestions. There are never enough books! 💜📚✨
There's never enough time to read all the books! xo
Too true.