Cozy Queer Stories That'll Keep You Warm at Night

Get ready to get cozy!

I'm a big fan of all things cozy. From warm sweaters to old lady's solving murders, Arnold Lobel's classic kids book Frog and Toad to the chill life simulation of Stardew Valley. So it's been a total joy after years of reading bleak but brilliant literary fiction and sprawling science fiction to discover that there is a treasure trove of wonderful cozy fiction. Of course, the most well known "cozy" genre is of the murder mystery variety, but there are so many of those that I'm going to save them for another newsletter. This time around I'm recommending some cozy queer stories for you to enjoy. There are cozy takes on sci-fi and fantasy, cozy comics, and even a cute AF coming of age YA romance featuring everyone's favorite trope, enemies to lovers! 

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

If it feels like everyone you know has read this book then there's a reason: Legends and Lattes is an absolute delight. It's fair to say that there's nothing quite like Baldree's debut novel, as it takes the slow and cozy moments we all love from fantasy and centers those in a low stakes but infinitely engaging story that introduces you to a series of characters you'll fall in love with. Viv's tired of her life as a roving warrior, so the battle-worn Orc settles down in the bustling village Thune to start the next chapter in her life as the proprietor of a rare coffee shop. Filled with delectable baked goods, steaming hot drinks, and burgeoning sapphic romance, this is the kind of book that's as comforting as the warm, sumptuous goods that Viv sells at her establishment. 

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu

Witches! Werewolves! Magical bookstores! Oh my! Yes, Mooncakes is filled with all of those and more as Walker and Xu conjure one of the most magical graphic novels in the last decade. This is the sort of book you'll fall in love with, and it makes a perfect entry point for comic book newcomers too. When Tam returns to the one town they ever enjoyed living in they quickly reunite with their childhood friend Nova who lives with her grandmothers and works at their rare — and very supernatural — bookstore. Teaming up with Tam to help them solve a demon problem leads to a dynamic, delightful adventure and a burgeoning romance between the pair. This is a gorgeous graphic novel that showcases Xu's beautiful art on every page and builds an atmosphere and world that you'll want to return to again and again.

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Reading this book for the first time feels like a revelation. Beginning as something akin to a Douglas Adams novel, soon Klune takes us on a seaside holiday into the found family of your dreams. In a world where children are born with powers and cared for in government institutions a buttoned up civil servant, Linus, is sent to investigate an unorthodox orphanage run by an eccentric man named Arthur. The imposing house looms over the ocean and is filled with some of the most dangerous children Linus has ever come across, but soon he begins to realize that there is a radical power in this unusual family and their kindness. Heartwarming, romantic, and decidedly unique, this is a fantasy novel like no other that will soothe you as you read. 

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Talia Hibbert's romances are always utterly delightful and unique, and while they're always romances first and foremost there's something inherently cozy and charming about Hibbert's prose. Her debut YA romance keeps that tradition alive as she introduces us to Bradley and Celine, two teenage ex-friends who are forced together by circumstance and competitiveness on a school trip to the great outdoors. This is a charming, hilarious, and delightful rom-com that features an absolutely lovely bisexual lead with OCD in Bradley, once again showcasing Hibbert's skill for centering all kinds of people in her wonderful love stories. Enemies to lovers wrapped up in warm jackets and bantering at a very high level, what more could you want? 

Taproot by Keezy Young

This is a comic that I fell in love with years ago when reviewing it for WWAC. Keezy Young delivers a sweetly melancholic meditation on grief, love, and death all through the lens of a cozy story about a gardener and a ghost. Blue's life as a ghost has been a lonely one until he meets the sweet hearted Hamal, a greenfingered plant lover who can see those who have passed on. Together the pair become close friends and something other than saplings begin to bloom. Young's warm, lush art makes this a joy to read and every page is ripe for rediscovery and long afternoons spent pouring over the intricate illustrations. But first read it in one sitting and fall in love with this bittersweet romance that'll warm your heart. 

Something to Look Forward To

The Only Purple House in Town by Ann Aguirre (July 11)

It's impossible to tell you just how lovely this book is, but when it hits shelves you'll be able to find out for yourself. Iris Collins has never had much luck, with a manipulative mother, cruel sisters, and a penchant for paying her bills late, she's spent much of her existence jumping from one mess to another. But when her estranged Great Aunt leaves her a ramshackle purple house, Iris finds herself in a new town with new roommates and a new lease on life. This is a gorgeous found family story that feels like Practical Magic meets House in the Cerulean Sea as Iris finds love and friendship in her new community. Just an absolute joy that will make the toughest days easier to get through while bringing hope to those of us who struggle to fit in.