When the days turn short, the rain lashes at the windows and the outside world feels more grey than welcoming, there’s nothing quite like the warmth of a good book. In the thick of winter, stories become their own kind of refuge — small pockets of light you can slip into when the weather and the headlines feel equally uninviting.
And fortunately, there’s no shortage of reads that deliver that glow. From tales set in snug villages and snowbound landscapes to character-driven stories full of kindness, wit and resilience, these are the books that make a cold night feel almost welcome. So brew something warm, settle into your softest chair and explore our guide to the cosiest, most comforting books to curl up with this winter…
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
In Botswana, Precious Ramotswe opens a small detective agency and attends to gentle mysteries and foibles. Her calm wisdom makes this bestselling series an elegant nook of optimism.
Abacus, £9.99
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
Told largely from the perspective of Nana the cat, this Japanese road-trip story follows him and his owner Satoru as they visit old friends and revisit memories. Tender, reflective and profound.
Doubleday, £9.99
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Following four sisters through adolescence and early adulthood, this classic novel has some heavy emotional currents – from grief to poverty – but its enduring charm is in being a heartfelt love letter to sisterhood.
Puffin Classics, £14.99
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Through letters exchanged in post-Second World War Guernsey, this story honours book lovers, wartime resilience and village camaraderie. Its warmth comes from the quirky characters and the restorative power of stories — a perfect read for a cold, rainy day.
Bloomsbury, £9.99
The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller
Set during the Big Freeze, of the 60s, this novel follows two young married couples cut off by snow. Its cosy quotient comes from the intimacy of the domestic scenes and the slow reveal of their emotional lives.
Sceptre, £10.99
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
This Pulitzer-winner offers the kind of rich reading experience that few novels can. Written as a series of linked stories set in a coastal town in Maine, it is a book woven with compassion and community.
Scribner, £10.99
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
This timeless classic was written for children, but remains a balm for the soul of adults, too, as the spirited Anne Shirley brings endless mischief and imagination to a quiet Canadian village.
Puffin Classics, £14.99
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
In this witty take on Gothic novel tropes, Catherine Morland discovers both society and herself. The comedic tone, genteel setting and brisk pace make it a delight when you want a cosy but clever read.
Penguin Classics, £7.99
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Written in journal form, this coming-of-age novel follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain, who lives in decaying castle grounds with her eccentric family. Utterly immersive, it brims with charm and romance.
Vintage Classics, £9.99
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins is swept from his comfortable Hobbit-hole into a quest featuring dwarves and danger, but also one which ultimately reaffirms the importance of friendship and hope. A fantastically escapist adventure.
HarperCollins, £8.99
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Linus Baker lives a quiet, rule-bound life, his job to ensure that orphanages housing magical children are up to code. But his routine is upended when he is assigned to a case on a remote island…
Tor, £10.99
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
When the library Nina works in closes down, she buys a van to set up as a mobile bookseller around the Highlands. Uplifting and unabashedly gentle, this novel evokes the pleasure of community.
Sphere, £9.99
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Tartt’s masterclass in psychological suspense traces the unravelling lives of a group of classics students at an elite college in Vermont. Moody and atmospheric, a great novel to get lost in on a chilly winter’s day.
Penguin, £10.99
Midnight at Malabar House by Vaseem Khan
In Bombay, 1949, India’s first female detective, Persis Wadia, heads a murder investigation on New Year’s Eve. The richly evoked setting and strong, engaging protagonist make this an utter delight.
Hodder, £10.99
