Cozy mysteries is The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter for me. English countryside, cottagecore, “talking” animals and small village gossip about mysterious going’s ons.
it’s the first day of october, a sunday, and a new ally video! perfect day🍂✨ i just finished the very secret society of irregular witches and i absolutely loved it! it got a 5 stars from me it was just so cozy and wholesome
Heyo, I've read the Shady Hollow series and I can confirm, the cosiness is off the charts. Many scenes of Vera curling up in her den, sipping tea while she goes over her notes of the case. Also her best friend is a raven who owns a bookstore and reads a lot of crime novels. Also also, a Halloween themed short story just came out so it'd be perfect for the spooky season.
A cozy kids addition! I will always shout about the Mysterious Benedict Society. It has the best found family I've ever read, and while it can be on the higher stakes end of things, I definitely think it's cozy because it focuses on the characters and family themes to get through the stakes :)
Another cozy fantasy manga that you would probably like is “Witch Hat Atelier”. Is about a young girl named Coco, who dreams of being a witch, but in her world only those born with magical abilities are able to become witches. She doesn’t imagine that her future will change forever. Highly recommend!
I loved “The Hitchhiker‘s Guide to the Galaxy“, even though the books were written in the 70s they still feel quiet modern, are hilarious and, yes, after earth being destroyed in like the second chapter, it starts to become quiet cozy. 😂
So excited for you to read Terry Pratchett! I hope you enjoy them! 100000% recommend you read the Tiffany Aching books which are about a trainee witch 🧙 I Shall Wear Midnight is my favourite Pratchett and has some super cute and touching moments 🥰
I only read the Hobbit last year and gotta recommend the audiobook! It's narrated by Andy Serkis, the actor who plays Gollum and he is MAGICAL with voices, I normally hate music in books but with him singing, amazing!
I second listening to it and reading along! So much easier for me to understand whos who lol. I read the hobbit and then the 3 lord of the rings books over the course of the last 3 years
All the graphic novels on your TBR are amazing, I have read all of them and loved all of them. Another cozy manga is the Sweetness and Lightning series, it’s about a dad and his daughter learning how to cook and at the end of each chapter includes a recipe of what they made. I’ve read four of them and they are so sweet.
I am SO excited that you're starting the Discworld series!! I am a *firm* believer of reading on the publication order, contrary to most internet fans it seems. One of the reasons is because you can see the evolution of minor characters that show up on different books from different series. There's one troll that shows up since book one, The Colour of Magic, and you see his journey until he finds his place in the world, but always in the background. If you jump directly to the books where he finally finds his place and has more "screen time" then you miss his stumbles until getting there. I LOVE those kinds of things, but I understand other people like other stuff. You chose another great book with Mort! My favourite "sagas" inside the Discworld are the Death one (absolutely love!) and the Witches (also love!). There's also a few "stand-alone" books inside the world, just so you aren't surprised, but I still strongly advocate for the publication order. Take into account that there's a lot of books and they all are very different. Some will be a hit for you and some will be more of a miss, probably. For me, there's books that absolutely helped me become a better person, learn to understand others in situations difficult for me to understand and, subsequently, know how to treat them better (yes, I'm also an autistic woman diagnosed in my late 20's, why are you asking?), but a few left me thinking I'd like to reread them in a few years and see how they hit different then. Btw!! The world is flat with a disc shape (thus Disc World), carried by four elephants who themselves are carried by a giant turtle through space!!
The Colour of Magic was my first PTerry, and I read it so much that it fell apart and only half of it is left 😅 it's a proper adventure and Rincewind is the perfect reluctant hero!
@@ToKillAMockingJay1 I agree!! It's been so long I read The Colour of Magic... I think it's probably time for a reread myself! And I really love Rincewind's journey. I'm always right there with him when he gets brief respites of chill time only to be thrown back into adventures against his will!
MURDER BOT! hehe I think that was my rec! It's definitely cozy, hope you enjoy. Hey I'm finally going to read 'A Psalm for the Wild-built' this month :D Thanks for these recs, I took mad notes. Don't feel bad if you don't love that Brandon Sanderson too, his community is pretty chill. The worst you'll get is just more Sanderson book recs XD
this video made me so ridiculously happy and excited to read!! i’m currently around 25% of the way through the very secret society of irregular witches, and i’m loving it! it’s making my heart feel so full
Hey Ally, so excited for you to read Terry Pratchett and to hear your thoughts. You might want to look into the Tiffany Aching series - they're a bit more YA and follow a farmgirl learning to become a witch and befriending a band of anarchist gnome-like fae (sort of) after faeries attack her brother. Still have all the weirdness, clever humour, incredible characters, etc of other Pratchetts but on a bit of a smaller scale. The first book of called The Wee Free Men. For Brandon Sanderson I think the expansiveness of his worlds and stories isn't quite your thing, but I haven't read his work in years & I haven't read that book in particular.
You've gotta try the graphic novel, Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. It's about a young girl who finds a witch in the woods. A motercycle riding, roadkill grabbing witch. It's about death, and life, and love. It's very sweet, and one of the important scenes takes place on Halloween! It's my favorite graphic novel ever, give it a try!
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison is one of my favorite books! SAA is the queen of Magical Realism. Quick disclaimer: there are themes in this book around abandonment and domestic abuse. They are not the main focus of the story but do make an appearance and inform how some of the characters act. Just something to be aware of if you’re sensitive to that. If you enjoy Garden Spells try the sequel that takes place in the transition from fall to winter, First Frost. I also loved The Girl Who Chased the Moon.
Welcome to the Moomin fandom! I've been in it since I was 5 and I'm never leaving. If you watch the tv-series watch the original one from the 90's (it's Finnish-Japanese-Dutch!) - the music is unlike anything, and the philosophy and escapism is just ....
I love the Discworld universe by Pratchett ❤ ... out of these two I would start with Mort. The Colour of Magic can be a bit confusing for a beginner. Guards! Guards! is a good start, too. I absolutely adore the Night Watch series 😍🤩😍
When I saw Lightfall on your TBR I screamed! I just recently read those and immediately thought that it would be a great series for you to read. Definitely one of the coziest graphic novels I’ve read. Hope you enjoy! ☺️
My genres are polar opposites of yours but your energy is so AMAZING that you keep drawing me back! I love hearing your thoughts on books I’ve never heard of or even thought to look into! Thank you Ally! Love you ❤❤
I think you’ll like Garden spells. It’s magical realism and Allen incorporates some cool themes like food in it. I read it like 15 years ago so I can’t recall details. Just remember feeling drawn into the world she created and leaving feeling good!
Hey Ally, please please please read The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett ASAP. I'm a huge Pratchett person and I've been watching you for years. Judging by your tastes, Color of Magic will not be a good place to start. The Wee Free Men is more YA flavor and subverts lots of tropes of female protagonists. Here's a good quote to get you started: "She couldn't be the prince, and she'd never be a princess, and she didn't want to be a woodcutter, so she'd be the witch and know things."
love that "cozy books" has become a thing! I've read a few of these but I can't wait to read some more of your recommendations✨ I also love how you color grade (is that the right term hahah?) your videos, they always look so warm and colorful💖
As someone who has read all the Discworld books, I don't think the two you chose are going to be to your taste, unfortunately. The Colour of Magic is a parody of the sword & sorcery subgenre of fantasy (think like Conan the Barbarian) and it relies on a knowledge of that genre for it to work. I think that you will like Mort more, but it's really only the first novel where Sir Terry gets the formula for writing a novel right, and his style develops a lot more over the years. If you still want to read a novel with Death, I would recommend Reaper Man (Death decides to retire) or Hogfather (Death has to become Discworld's Santa). I wanted to comment, because I think these two might put you off Discworld and there are definitely books in there that you will probably really like! I would try Going Postal (conman is put in charge of running a post office and there is a full cast of neurodivergent coded characters) or The Wee Free Men (first of the Tiffany Aching books, YA about witches).
I love Morrigan Crow SO MUCH. I'm currently rereading the series. It's on the cosier end because yes there are the stakes of the trials but the main theme and point of the books is finding friendship and family and discovering and figuring out the whimsical magic of the world. It's a soft magic system for the most part and the setting is absolutely delightful, the hotel is full of whimsy and so fun to read about. Definitely recommend!
I love your videos, and I'm a huge Terry Pratchett fan, if you love cozy books read Equal Rites first! It has snow, cottage, village vibe, cooking, witches, and a bit of feminism :)
I wonder how someone sitting miles away from you, someone you haven't met or interacted with can bring so much joy to your not so eventful life. You are that person to us Ally!!! Thanks for existing❤️❤️❤️
So many amazing recommendations!! You mentioned the Hilda show (which is a favorite of mine), did you know there is a comic series?? You'd probably enjoy it if you enjoyed the show! 😊
Yay Garden Spells! I picked that one up while recovering from a trauma and it truly felt like I was being hugged by the book. I hope it brings you warmth and love as well!
I love the Murderbot Diaries so much!! It can be pretty action-packed and there are definitely high stakes a lot of the time, but the themes of found family and learning to take care of yourself after trauma are definitely cozy! Love all the recs in this video ❤
Another cozy manga you should check out is The Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World (yes, that's a mouthful)! It's part low stakes fantasy, part swoony romance, part atmospheric vibes of a cafe in the middle of a perpetually snowy world. It's every book lovers wish fulfillment in the best way!
Shady Hollow was really good! I’ve only read the first one, but it was super cozy. The ending is a little intense, though, for a cozy mystery. I was going to recommend A Man & His Cat, but you did it! It’s the best manga series. I was a little disappointed with the most recent one, but it was still really good!
YES! you will love yokohama kaidashi kikou it really gives me robot and monk vibes but with BEAUTIFUL art! i am not a graphic novel/manga girlie but that series is everything to me
I was sat there waiting for the fantasy section to finish so I could recommend Terry Pratchett and then THERE HE WAS!! So happy discworld is on your tbr as the Tiffany Aching books are some of my favourite books of all time!
Some good and cozy manga additions! The first one is Skip and Loafer. Our protagonist moves to Tokyo from a small town near the seaside. She gradually falls in love and makes friends in her class. I love how pure this manga is. Actually, I found it because of the anime adaptation. Love it to bits Next up is Hirayasumi. We follow a young man of 29 years. He inherited a house from this old lady whom he used to visit and treat like his own grandma. He now lives there with his niece, who studies as an artist. So wholesome and precious
I think you would love “The Power of Poppy Pendle”. It fits in as a cozy middle grade about a little girl that’s a witch, but she would rather bake instead of use her powers ✨
I am here for all of these cozy recommendations! I just read Garlic and the Vampire and the sequel and you are so right. They are the ultimate comfort reads!!
I also recommend A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett, and The Little Prince! Both are lovely middle-grade/children’s literature! Oh, and for manga, I really love Laid-Back Camp, a story about a bunch of highschool girls learning how to camp in the winter time in various locations around Japan! Also, I’ve recently been reading A Sign of Affection, which is a romance manga where the main protagonist is deaf, and the creator has a deaf person on their team making sure the representation and JSL is correct! It’s sweet and lovely and really focuses on romance and drama without feeling like the characters are going to fight and that’s the only way the story moves forward. Instead, it’s more about their own personal growth and learning more about themselves and discovering what they are capable of while living with their disability!
Nimona is one of my favorite books of all time AND the NEW MOVIE on Netflix is just as amazing. (it immediately became a top 3 movie ever for me) They had to change quite a bit to make it work better as a movie, but I think it got the feeling of the story so well and it's so fun and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! I need everyone to watch this movie- thanks for coming to my ted talk. Also thank you for this video I have added sooooo many books to my TBR today :3
Good on you for taking the plunge on a Sanderson!! I also highly recommend The Rithmatist by Sanderson. No one literally ever talks about it, probably because it’s very low stakes and written more for a ya middle grade audience. It’s got magical school vibes. It’s all about magic through drawing, unlikely friendship, steampunk, and solving a mystery. Very light on lore and the rules of the world are accessible. One of the main characters doesn’t want to do magic and just wants to draw unicorns instead 🦄
Allie, my friend, I strongly strongly urge you to read the middle grade series Sisters Grimm. Seriously. Please. It’s my favorite series of all time and I’ve reread it as a grown person and it still lands.
I just finished reading Taproot this week. So happy to see it on this list as it was a FAV for me. I'd definitely come back to it again when I need a lil love. ALSO so excited for merch!!!!!!!!
I just picked up the teadragon society because of your videos and I love it so much! It reads like being tucke under a warm blanket on the couch with a cup of tea ❤
Oh! Since you seemed to enjoy that last rec, and your manga category needs more in it ;) I’ll also recommend Hotel Metsäpeura e Youkoso -It is a comfy winter read. Enjoy it around Christmas time. It is gorgeous. (It might even make you cry a little.) All the found family vibes just like my last rec to you and anyone else reading these comments who desperately want more of these comfy reads like me. (So, also, thank you for providing some other stories to dive into that fit this category.)
Tress of the Emerald Sea is the perfect book to pick up if you’re daunted by his other epic fantasy books and want something incredibly sweet and cozy!
Cozy fantasy is not my thing, but I loved the Greenhollow duology, two novellas, burly forest man with cat meets pretty young man who now owns the estate he lives on. kinda dark, definitely some secrets, interesting characters, vibe is so strong that you feel green and damp like a forest, 11/10
Can't wait for you to read Terry Pratchett! I adore his books, especially The Watch circle, that's my favourite, but all of his books, really. Also The Hobbit is brilliant, I hope you like it. ❤
Highly highly highly recommended giving Howl’s Moving Castle a reread! The first time I read it I hated it because it was nothing like the movie but now it’s without a question my absolute favorite book. It’s so cozy and I love the characters and all their flaws with all my heart.
When Ally accidentally credited the Garlic books as being by Sarah Paulson (instead of Bree Paulson) and my heart leapt at the thought of one of my favorite actresses writing cozy books 😅
It brings me such joy to see you recommend books that I've just recently read and plan to read before the year's up! 🥰 I have worked in bookshops for over four years, so I recognize most books you mention in your videos, yet somehow this is where I've also found amazing new reads and just the most passionate readers! ❤ I got "Before We Say Goodbye" last week (I own the entire series, of course) and have read the first two stories. I hope it's not a spoiler, but one of the customers goes back in time to see their DOG and it's so precious! ❤ I also read "The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich" in July and it's just as fun as it sounds 😅 My partner had a really old edition of "The Color of Magic" that already sits on my TBR shelf and was joined by both Monk&Robot books in August, thanks to you! 😊
Thank you for letting me know Over The Garden Wall is a comic!! I will definitely be reading that soon 😊 I just read The Saviors Book Cafe in Another World and it’s such a cozy manga! It’s so good 🧡
I can also recommend Frances H. Burnett‘s other books, “A Little Princess“ and “Little Lord Fauntleroy“. Both share the story of two really cute children, are heartwarming and have cozy, wintery settings most of the time.
As someone who's living and steaming in the humidity of the tropics, I am absolutely jealous of yall!!!🥲 i want to layer up and drink hot brews in my thick knitted sweater too but i guess I'll live out my fall festivities fantasy through you🍁🍂🍃 anyways, Kay O'Neill's Moth Keeper is easily one of my favorite reads of the year and perhaps being overworked and having quarter life crisis for the past month had a bit of an impact (or two) on me, but the moment i started reading it, i immediately bawled my eyes out lmao 🤣. Something about the world that Kay builds, always a perfect blend of whimsy & gentleness, featuring an inclusive and queer cast, certainly heals my soul!💗 also, i think this one can be considered cozy and I am pretty sure I read this because of you: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh! Middle grade queer graphic novel about a girl who befriends the town's witch as she discovers her own magic with her frickin cute 3-legged dog named Good Boy!✨
I’m watching this video just before I go to bed - I have an exam tomorrow so winding down with a slice from this cozy corner of the internet will definitely help in the vibes department 🌻🧡 Much love xx
I gave in and tried Sanderson last year, as I always thought he wasn't for me, and I was wrong. Of course now I have about a thousand books of his backlog to read. On Pratchett, yay that you want to start on him! Althoug hreading in publication order is the best to not miss anything it is also off putting to some, as the earlier books are not to most newer readers liking. My favorite has always been Sorcery as Rincewind is my favorite character still. I recently reread Going Postal and think it's a perfect starter book to dip your toes into the world. I also think you might really enjoy the Tiffany Aching subseries. And the witches of course. Another cozy series I would recommend is The Windflower series by Andi C Buchanon, very low stakes and queer witches.
I'm currently doing a discworld read through!! I'm on my fifth one, and its so funn, I love them. I've been doing reading vlogs, if anyone is interested!! Also yessss, Tress is so great
Thank you for this video! So many cozy books.❤ I’m pretty sure that I’ll read almost all of them I can recommend you three cozy mangas [prepare for the TedTexts]: 1. Body Temperature of Orange by Kotteri - An intimate, poetic and sweet manga. The story follows this two people, she and him. She is blind, and she understands the world in a beautiful and unique form; he is always with her, showing her how he sees the world. Their relationship is ambiguous, too intimate to be just friendships but too courteous to be something else. The setting appears to be Russia in the 70’s, and each chapters depicts a little part of their daily lives. It’s incredibly heartwarming. 2. Snow White with the Red Hair - It’s like reading a manga by Studio Ghibli. Slow paced yet I felt so immersed and full of so many beautiful emotions. A prince demands that someone brings the beautiful girl with unusual red hair, and because he is known for his capricious and terrible temper, she cuts her hair and scapes. She is a pharmacist in this (almost) magical world, but is alone, so takes shelter in an abandoned place. There she finds who later on she discovers are the second prince of another kingdom and his two guards. The story is based in the efforts Shirayuki is making to stay at his side as a royal pharmacist. Friendships, pure-hearted love, and magical quiet moments. 3. Witch Hat Atelier - If you decide to chose to read just one from these, read this one. Is so pure, magical and innocent. I’ll just put part of the sinopsis: “Coco is a girl with a simple dream: she wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic.” Is a whimsical adventure manga, and just seeing one random manga panel you’ll see what it’s the feeling of it. 4. [Not read yet, but…] The Girl from the Other Side. I have just read the first volume buuuuut it’s like Over the Garden Wall so I felt lime I was hearing 30’s vinyl music while reading it.
a cozy kids addition is the The Skull by Jon Klassen! (bonus points ofc for being a lil spooky) it’s a very sweet short folklore story ab a little girl who meets a skull in the woods.
If you like cozy manga, Laid Back Camp, Aria, Girl's Last Tour, and Natsume's Book of Friends and Spy x Family (both have some high stakes moments). If Mushishi ever gets an English reprint, that one too (best described as, someone gets murdered to calming winds and bug noises, oh look, body horror, but cozy - somehow).
aaahhh Terry pratchet! Since there are 40 books, there are some gems and other that are just ok (I read around 15 and only didn't like one) My favorites are Guards! Guards! and Small gods. They are just delightful. Funny and Clever
Book Recs for cozy graphic kids books: 1) "Pettersson & Findus" (or in english it is "Pettson & Findus" I believe), by Sven Nordqist. It is about an old man who can talk to his cat and they live on the countryside of sweden with chickens who also can talk and Mukklas (sweet but cheeky little creatures, who only Findus can see). They have these very sweet and very cozy and calming adventures, all just vibes. If I could choose to live in a book, I would choose this one. 2) "Mama Muh und die Krähe" (or in English "Mama Moo and the crow" I think) by Jujja Wieslander (illustrated by Sven Nordqvist). It's about a cow who's friend is a crow and they have these very mundane adventures together, much like frog & toad. Hope this helps someone and you pick it up sometime 💞 lots of love!
Sooo happy that I’ve found your channel, your vlogs are hilarious and I’ve picked up more than a few books you’ve recommended. 😊 Have you read Bad Kids by Zijin Chen? It’s a translated mystery/ thriller I think 🤔 Have a beautiful day! 💕
omg I’m LOVING T &Kingfisher. My fav so far is Paladin’s grace, I mean a chivalrous warrior whose god died, and a perfume maker with a cozy perfume shop and cute cat like creature?? With a murder mystery???? Yesssss
I know we usually recommend books here, but I'd love to recommend a cozy (ish) sci-fi *podcast* that I really love, so if there's any artists in the crowd, or just people who work better with background audio in their day-to-day lives, may I recommend "The Adventure Zone: Balance"? It's a D&D podcast made by the McElroy brothers, and it follows the adventures of 3 friends as they try to recover some powerful scattered artifacts. It's queer, it's in space, and while the stakes get higher towards the end, it's a really lovely story with some amazing songs! Also I'm surprised Kiki's Delivery Service (the book) wasn't recommended on this list! If it's anything like the movie, then it's gonna be SUCH a cozy little read.
50?! She's blessing us with 50 :')
I gotta be honest, I didn't pay attention to the covers, my eyes were glued to that fluffy stuffed dragon you had there! It's so adorable and cozy!
Cozy mysteries is The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter for me. English countryside, cottagecore, “talking” animals and small village gossip about mysterious going’s ons.
Ahh! I love your huge jellycat dragon! He is a great addition to the back of your chair
it’s the first day of october, a sunday, and a new ally video! perfect day🍂✨
i just finished the very secret society of irregular witches and i absolutely loved it! it got a 5 stars from me it was just so cozy and wholesome
Heyo, I've read the Shady Hollow series and I can confirm, the cosiness is off the charts. Many scenes of Vera curling up in her den, sipping tea while she goes over her notes of the case. Also her best friend is a raven who owns a bookstore and reads a lot of crime novels. Also also, a Halloween themed short story just came out so it'd be perfect for the spooky season.
I just bought the first book. I was hoping it was a good book. 🤗
A cozy kids addition! I will always shout about the Mysterious Benedict Society. It has the best found family I've ever read, and while it can be on the higher stakes end of things, I definitely think it's cozy because it focuses on the characters and family themes to get through the stakes :)
I LOVE mysterious Benedict society!!
I read the series for the first time last year as a 29 year old and loved them!
I love this series SO MUCH!!!
Another cozy fantasy manga that you would probably like is “Witch Hat Atelier”. Is about a young girl named Coco, who dreams of being a witch, but in her world only those born with magical abilities are able to become witches. She doesn’t imagine that her future will change forever. Highly recommend!
I loved “The Hitchhiker‘s Guide to the Galaxy“, even though the books were written in the 70s they still feel quiet modern, are hilarious and, yes, after earth being destroyed in like the second chapter, it starts to become quiet cozy. 😂
To hear that you'll be reading Pratchett excites me so much!! Mort was my introduction to his work and the death series is beyond phenomenal
So excited for you to read Terry Pratchett! I hope you enjoy them! 100000% recommend you read the Tiffany Aching books which are about a trainee witch 🧙 I Shall Wear Midnight is my favourite Pratchett and has some super cute and touching moments 🥰
omg thank you!! i'll have to pick up those next!
I totally second that !!!
I only read the Hobbit last year and gotta recommend the audiobook! It's narrated by Andy Serkis, the actor who plays Gollum and he is MAGICAL with voices, I normally hate music in books but with him singing, amazing!
Still watching and YES BRANDON SANDERSON WOOHOO ❤
I second listening to it and reading along! So much easier for me to understand whos who lol. I read the hobbit and then the 3 lord of the rings books over the course of the last 3 years
I tried reading The Hobbit earlier this year and wasn’t feeling it, I might have to check out the audio!
All the graphic novels on your TBR are amazing, I have read all of them and loved all of them. Another cozy manga is the Sweetness and Lightning series, it’s about a dad and his daughter learning how to cook and at the end of each chapter includes a recipe of what they made. I’ve read four of them and they are so sweet.
omg! that sounds like a dREAM!! thank you for telling me about it
Emily wildes encyclopedia of faeries is INCREDIBLE it’s now one of my favorite books
Hi Ally! My favourite cozy mangas are Frieren, Atelier of Witch Hat, and Skip & Loafer! I think you would really enjoy them!! 🥰
50 cozy RECS!! Thank youuuu Ally!! 🧡🍂🍵
I am SO EXCITED to see you reading A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking!! I loved this book so much.
I cannot recommend A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking enough!! So cozy so cute so amazing
I am SO excited that you're starting the Discworld series!! I am a *firm* believer of reading on the publication order, contrary to most internet fans it seems. One of the reasons is because you can see the evolution of minor characters that show up on different books from different series. There's one troll that shows up since book one, The Colour of Magic, and you see his journey until he finds his place in the world, but always in the background. If you jump directly to the books where he finally finds his place and has more "screen time" then you miss his stumbles until getting there. I LOVE those kinds of things, but I understand other people like other stuff.
You chose another great book with Mort! My favourite "sagas" inside the Discworld are the Death one (absolutely love!) and the Witches (also love!). There's also a few "stand-alone" books inside the world, just so you aren't surprised, but I still strongly advocate for the publication order.
Take into account that there's a lot of books and they all are very different. Some will be a hit for you and some will be more of a miss, probably. For me, there's books that absolutely helped me become a better person, learn to understand others in situations difficult for me to understand and, subsequently, know how to treat them better (yes, I'm also an autistic woman diagnosed in my late 20's, why are you asking?), but a few left me thinking I'd like to reread them in a few years and see how they hit different then.
Btw!! The world is flat with a disc shape (thus Disc World), carried by four elephants who themselves are carried by a giant turtle through space!!
The Colour of Magic was my first PTerry, and I read it so much that it fell apart and only half of it is left 😅 it's a proper adventure and Rincewind is the perfect reluctant hero!
@@ToKillAMockingJay1 I agree!! It's been so long I read The Colour of Magic... I think it's probably time for a reread myself! And I really love Rincewind's journey. I'm always right there with him when he gets brief respites of chill time only to be thrown back into adventures against his will!
MURDER BOT! hehe I think that was my rec! It's definitely cozy, hope you enjoy.
Hey I'm finally going to read 'A Psalm for the Wild-built' this month :D Thanks for these recs, I took mad notes. Don't feel bad if you don't love that Brandon Sanderson too, his community is pretty chill. The worst you'll get is just more Sanderson book recs XD
the colors in this video!! the vibes!! can't wait to watch it. 🍂🧡
this video made me so ridiculously happy and excited to read!! i’m currently around 25% of the way through the very secret society of irregular witches, and i’m loving it! it’s making my heart feel so full
Hey Ally, so excited for you to read Terry Pratchett and to hear your thoughts. You might want to look into the Tiffany Aching series - they're a bit more YA and follow a farmgirl learning to become a witch and befriending a band of anarchist gnome-like fae (sort of) after faeries attack her brother. Still have all the weirdness, clever humour, incredible characters, etc of other Pratchetts but on a bit of a smaller scale. The first book of called The Wee Free Men.
For Brandon Sanderson I think the expansiveness of his worlds and stories isn't quite your thing, but I haven't read his work in years & I haven't read that book in particular.
You've gotta try the graphic novel, Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. It's about a young girl who finds a witch in the woods. A motercycle riding, roadkill grabbing witch.
It's about death, and life, and love. It's very sweet, and one of the important scenes takes place on Halloween! It's my favorite graphic novel ever, give it a try!
i LOVED snapdragon! solid rec!
Loving all the jellycat plushies!!!
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison is one of my favorite books! SAA is the queen of Magical Realism.
Quick disclaimer: there are themes in this book around abandonment and domestic abuse. They are not the main focus of the story but do make an appearance and inform how some of the characters act. Just something to be aware of if you’re sensitive to that.
If you enjoy Garden Spells try the sequel that takes place in the transition from fall to winter, First Frost. I also loved The Girl Who Chased the Moon.
Welcome to the Moomin fandom! I've been in it since I was 5 and I'm never leaving. If you watch the tv-series watch the original one from the 90's (it's Finnish-Japanese-Dutch!) - the music is unlike anything, and the philosophy and escapism is just ....
Absolutely LOVED garlic & the vampire. Didn’t know there was a second one, totally going to look into it!!
I love the Discworld universe by Pratchett ❤ ... out of these two I would start with Mort. The Colour of Magic can be a bit confusing for a beginner. Guards! Guards! is a good start, too. I absolutely adore the Night Watch series 😍🤩😍
When I saw Lightfall on your TBR I screamed! I just recently read those and immediately thought that it would be a great series for you to read. Definitely one of the coziest graphic novels I’ve read. Hope you enjoy! ☺️
Yes!!! I love Lightfall with my whole heart!
My genres are polar opposites of yours but your energy is so AMAZING that you keep drawing me back! I love hearing your thoughts on books I’ve never heard of or even thought to look into! Thank you Ally! Love you ❤❤
I think you’ll like Garden spells. It’s magical realism and Allen incorporates some cool themes like food in it. I read it like 15 years ago so I can’t recall details. Just remember feeling drawn into the world she created and leaving feeling good!
If you like it, check out the sequel First Frost. It that takes place this time of year so it’s the perfect time to read it.
Hey Ally, please please please read The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett ASAP. I'm a huge Pratchett person and I've been watching you for years. Judging by your tastes, Color of Magic will not be a good place to start. The Wee Free Men is more YA flavor and subverts lots of tropes of female protagonists. Here's a good quote to get you started: "She couldn't be the prince, and she'd never be a princess, and she didn't want to be a woodcutter, so she'd be the witch and know things."
love that "cozy books" has become a thing! I've read a few of these but I can't wait to read some more of your recommendations✨
I also love how you color grade (is that the right term hahah?) your videos, they always look so warm and colorful💖
As someone who has read all the Discworld books, I don't think the two you chose are going to be to your taste, unfortunately. The Colour of Magic is a parody of the sword & sorcery subgenre of fantasy (think like Conan the Barbarian) and it relies on a knowledge of that genre for it to work.
I think that you will like Mort more, but it's really only the first novel where Sir Terry gets the formula for writing a novel right, and his style develops a lot more over the years. If you still want to read a novel with Death, I would recommend Reaper Man (Death decides to retire) or Hogfather (Death has to become Discworld's Santa).
I wanted to comment, because I think these two might put you off Discworld and there are definitely books in there that you will probably really like! I would try Going Postal (conman is put in charge of running a post office and there is a full cast of neurodivergent coded characters) or The Wee Free Men (first of the Tiffany Aching books, YA about witches).
I love Morrigan Crow SO MUCH. I'm currently rereading the series. It's on the cosier end because yes there are the stakes of the trials but the main theme and point of the books is finding friendship and family and discovering and figuring out the whimsical magic of the world. It's a soft magic system for the most part and the setting is absolutely delightful, the hotel is full of whimsy and so fun to read about. Definitely recommend!
I love your videos, and I'm a huge Terry Pratchett fan, if you love cozy books read Equal Rites first! It has snow, cottage, village vibe, cooking, witches, and a bit of feminism :)
I wonder how someone sitting miles away from you, someone you haven't met or interacted with can bring so much joy to your not so eventful life.
You are that person to us Ally!!!
Thanks for existing❤️❤️❤️
Guards! Guards! by: Terry Pratchett is fun from what I remember. It was the first one I ever picked up. ^__^
So many amazing recommendations!! You mentioned the Hilda show (which is a favorite of mine), did you know there is a comic series?? You'd probably enjoy it if you enjoyed the show! 😊
The Thursday Murder Club. Four old people investigate a murder in their retirement village. Very mundane, despite the stakes, full of humor and heart.
Yay Garden Spells! I picked that one up while recovering from a trauma and it truly felt like I was being hugged by the book. I hope it brings you warmth and love as well!
I love the Murderbot Diaries so much!! It can be pretty action-packed and there are definitely high stakes a lot of the time, but the themes of found family and learning to take care of yourself after trauma are definitely cozy! Love all the recs in this video ❤
Another cozy manga you should check out is The Savior's Book Cafe Story in Another World (yes, that's a mouthful)! It's part low stakes fantasy, part swoony romance, part atmospheric vibes of a cafe in the middle of a perpetually snowy world. It's every book lovers wish fulfillment in the best way!
allison you need to read fredrik backman!!!
omg I picked up Mort just a couple of days back, I'm so excited to dive into the discworld too
I hope you like The Girl Who Drank the Moon as much as I did.
Shady Hollow was really good! I’ve only read the first one, but it was super cozy. The ending is a little intense, though, for a cozy mystery.
I was going to recommend A Man & His Cat, but you did it! It’s the best manga series. I was a little disappointed with the most recent one, but it was still really good!
YES! you will love yokohama kaidashi kikou it really gives me robot and monk vibes but with BEAUTIFUL art! i am not a graphic novel/manga girlie but that series is everything to me
I cannot recommend in the lives of puppets more! I just finished it a few days ago and it’s a new all time favorite for sure
I was sat there waiting for the fantasy section to finish so I could recommend Terry Pratchett and then THERE HE WAS!! So happy discworld is on your tbr as the Tiffany Aching books are some of my favourite books of all time!
Some good and cozy manga additions!
The first one is Skip and Loafer. Our protagonist moves to Tokyo from a small town near the seaside. She gradually falls in love and makes friends in her class. I love how pure this manga is. Actually, I found it because of the anime adaptation. Love it to bits
Next up is Hirayasumi. We follow a young man of 29 years. He inherited a house from this old lady whom he used to visit and treat like his own grandma. He now lives there with his niece, who studies as an artist. So wholesome and precious
I think you would love “The Power of Poppy Pendle”. It fits in as a cozy middle grade about a little girl that’s a witch, but she would rather bake instead of use her powers ✨
I am here for all of these cozy recommendations! I just read Garlic and the Vampire and the sequel and you are so right. They are the ultimate comfort reads!!
I also recommend A Little Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett, and The Little Prince! Both are lovely middle-grade/children’s literature! Oh, and for manga, I really love Laid-Back Camp, a story about a bunch of highschool girls learning how to camp in the winter time in various locations around Japan! Also, I’ve recently been reading A Sign of Affection, which is a romance manga where the main protagonist is deaf, and the creator has a deaf person on their team making sure the representation and JSL is correct! It’s sweet and lovely and really focuses on romance and drama without feeling like the characters are going to fight and that’s the only way the story moves forward. Instead, it’s more about their own personal growth and learning more about themselves and discovering what they are capable of while living with their disability!
What a perfect video for the first day of October 🤍🤍🤍
Nimona is one of my favorite books of all time AND the NEW MOVIE on Netflix is just as amazing. (it immediately became a top 3 movie ever for me) They had to change quite a bit to make it work better as a movie, but I think it got the feeling of the story so well and it's so fun and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!! I need everyone to watch this movie- thanks for coming to my ted talk. Also thank you for this video I have added sooooo many books to my TBR today :3
Good on you for taking the plunge on a Sanderson!! I also highly recommend The Rithmatist by Sanderson. No one literally ever talks about it, probably because it’s very low stakes and written more for a ya middle grade audience. It’s got magical school vibes. It’s all about magic through drawing, unlikely friendship, steampunk, and solving a mystery. Very light on lore and the rules of the world are accessible. One of the main characters doesn’t want to do magic and just wants to draw unicorns instead 🦄
YAYYY another video by allison!! my new fav youtuber🍂🌱💞
Allie, my friend, I strongly strongly urge you to read the middle grade series Sisters Grimm. Seriously. Please. It’s my favorite series of all time and I’ve reread it as a grown person and it still lands.
I just finished reading Taproot this week. So happy to see it on this list as it was a FAV for me. I'd definitely come back to it again when I need a lil love. ALSO so excited for merch!!!!!!!!
I just picked up the teadragon society because of your videos and I love it so much! It reads like being tucke under a warm blanket on the couch with a cup of tea ❤
happy ally day!!!!!🍁🍂
New video! Happy spooky month!!
Oh! Since you seemed to enjoy that last rec, and your manga category needs more in it ;) I’ll also recommend Hotel Metsäpeura e Youkoso
-It is a comfy winter read. Enjoy it around Christmas time. It is gorgeous. (It might even make you cry a little.) All the found family vibes just like my last rec to you and anyone else reading these comments who desperately want more of these comfy reads like me. (So, also, thank you for providing some other stories to dive into that fit this category.)
Tress of the Emerald Sea is the perfect book to pick up if you’re daunted by his other epic fantasy books and want something incredibly sweet and cozy!
Cozy fantasy is not my thing, but I loved the Greenhollow duology, two novellas, burly forest man with cat meets pretty young man who now owns the estate he lives on. kinda dark, definitely some secrets, interesting characters, vibe is so strong that you feel green and damp like a forest, 11/10
Can't wait for you to read Terry Pratchett! I adore his books, especially The Watch circle, that's my favourite, but all of his books, really. Also The Hobbit is brilliant, I hope you like it. ❤
THE VIDEO WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
I just read monk and robot over the weekend so cozy, can’t wait to pick one of these next
i love how your videos reassured me in some way that being mundane, being ordinary is okay too, and we should be happy instead of worrying.
Highly highly highly recommended giving Howl’s Moving Castle a reread! The first time I read it I hated it because it was nothing like the movie but now it’s without a question my absolute favorite book. It’s so cozy and I love the characters and all their flaws with all my heart.
Just Subscribed 😊
Omg the wind in the willows!! Yessss I hope you LOVE IT
When Ally accidentally credited the Garlic books as being by Sarah Paulson (instead of Bree Paulson) and my heart leapt at the thought of one of my favorite actresses writing cozy books 😅
OMG what a misspeak hahah how embarrassing 😅
@@allisonpaiges loved it tho, 100% something I would have done 🙃
It brings me such joy to see you recommend books that I've just recently read and plan to read before the year's up! 🥰 I have worked in bookshops for over four years, so I recognize most books you mention in your videos, yet somehow this is where I've also found amazing new reads and just the most passionate readers! ❤
I got "Before We Say Goodbye" last week (I own the entire series, of course) and have read the first two stories. I hope it's not a spoiler, but one of the customers goes back in time to see their DOG and it's so precious! ❤
I also read "The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich" in July and it's just as fun as it sounds 😅
My partner had a really old edition of "The Color of Magic" that already sits on my TBR shelf and was joined by both Monk&Robot books in August, thanks to you! 😊
Thank you for letting me know Over The Garden Wall is a comic!! I will definitely be reading that soon 😊 I just read The Saviors Book Cafe in Another World and it’s such a cozy manga! It’s so good 🧡
I just read the first book in the shady hollow series!! it was so good and so cute, i wish i read it closer to october hehe
tress of the emerald sea is one of my favorite books of the year!!! i’m so excited!
autumn: ready
Oh my gosh you will LOVE the hobbit- also the edition you have is PRECIOUS I have the same one you will love the illustrations (:
Thank you for the all the cozy recommendations! I highly recommend the girl who drank the moon, I really enjoyed it.
I can also recommend Frances H. Burnett‘s other books, “A Little Princess“ and “Little Lord Fauntleroy“. Both share the story of two really cute children, are heartwarming and have cozy, wintery settings most of the time.
As someone who's living and steaming in the humidity of the tropics, I am absolutely jealous of yall!!!🥲 i want to layer up and drink hot brews in my thick knitted sweater too but i guess I'll live out my fall festivities fantasy through you🍁🍂🍃 anyways, Kay O'Neill's Moth Keeper is easily one of my favorite reads of the year and perhaps being overworked and having quarter life crisis for the past month had a bit of an impact (or two) on me, but the moment i started reading it, i immediately bawled my eyes out lmao 🤣. Something about the world that Kay builds, always a perfect blend of whimsy & gentleness, featuring an inclusive and queer cast, certainly heals my soul!💗 also, i think this one can be considered cozy and I am pretty sure I read this because of you: Snapdragon by Kat Leyh! Middle grade queer graphic novel about a girl who befriends the town's witch as she discovers her own magic with her frickin cute 3-legged dog named Good Boy!✨
I’m watching this video just before I go to bed - I have an exam tomorrow so winding down with a slice from this cozy corner of the internet will definitely help in the vibes department 🌻🧡
Much love xx
I gave in and tried Sanderson last year, as I always thought he wasn't for me, and I was wrong. Of course now I have about a thousand books of his backlog to read. On Pratchett, yay that you want to start on him! Althoug hreading in publication order is the best to not miss anything it is also off putting to some, as the earlier books are not to most newer readers liking. My favorite has always been Sorcery as Rincewind is my favorite character still. I recently reread Going Postal and think it's a perfect starter book to dip your toes into the world. I also think you might really enjoy the Tiffany Aching subseries. And the witches of course.
Another cozy series I would recommend is The Windflower series by Andi C Buchanon, very low stakes and queer witches.
I'm currently doing a discworld read through!! I'm on my fifth one, and its so funn, I love them. I've been doing reading vlogs, if anyone is interested!!
Also yessss, Tress is so great
Thank you for this video! So many cozy books.❤ I’m pretty sure that I’ll read almost all of them
I can recommend you three cozy mangas [prepare for the TedTexts]:
1. Body Temperature of Orange by Kotteri - An intimate, poetic and sweet manga. The story follows this two people, she and him. She is blind, and she understands the world in a beautiful and unique form; he is always with her, showing her how he sees the world. Their relationship is ambiguous, too intimate to be just friendships but too courteous to be something else. The setting appears to be Russia in the 70’s, and each chapters depicts a little part of their daily lives. It’s incredibly heartwarming.
2. Snow White with the Red Hair - It’s like reading a manga by Studio Ghibli. Slow paced yet I felt so immersed and full of so many beautiful emotions. A prince demands that someone brings the beautiful girl with unusual red hair, and because he is known for his capricious and terrible temper, she cuts her hair and scapes. She is a pharmacist in this (almost) magical world, but is alone, so takes shelter in an abandoned place. There she finds who later on she discovers are the second prince of another kingdom and his two guards. The story is based in the efforts Shirayuki is making to stay at his side as a royal pharmacist. Friendships, pure-hearted love, and magical quiet moments.
3. Witch Hat Atelier - If you decide to chose to read just one from these, read this one. Is so pure, magical and innocent. I’ll just put part of the sinopsis: “Coco is a girl with a simple dream: she wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic.” Is a whimsical adventure manga, and just seeing one random manga panel you’ll see what it’s the feeling of it.
4. [Not read yet, but…] The Girl from the Other Side. I have just read the first volume buuuuut it’s like Over the Garden Wall so I felt lime I was hearing 30’s vinyl music while reading it.
It been a while since I've read them, but I remember loving the cozy Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt. It's a cozy, fantasy, mystery, romance.
a cozy kids addition is the The Skull by Jon Klassen! (bonus points ofc for being a lil spooky) it’s a very sweet short folklore story ab a little girl who meets a skull in the woods.
If you like cozy manga, Laid Back Camp, Aria, Girl's Last Tour, and Natsume's Book of Friends and Spy x Family (both have some high stakes moments). If Mushishi ever gets an English reprint, that one too (best described as, someone gets murdered to calming winds and bug noises, oh look, body horror, but cozy - somehow).
btw idk if anyone will actually do it BUUUT if you love terry pratchett DO LOOK UP UKRAINIAN EDITIONS THEY ARE SO PRETTY AND VIBEY AND AWESOME!!
just recently placed an order for the tea dragon society graphic novels and i cant wait to read them !! :)
Might i suggest the Sheets trilogy by Brenna Thummler and Pumpkin heads by rainbow Rowell
aaahhh Terry pratchet!
Since there are 40 books, there are some gems and other that are just ok (I read around 15 and only didn't like one)
My favorites are Guards! Guards! and Small gods. They are just delightful. Funny and Clever
Book Recs for cozy graphic kids books:
1) "Pettersson & Findus" (or in english it is "Pettson & Findus" I believe), by Sven Nordqist. It is about an old man who can talk to his cat and they live on the countryside of sweden with chickens who also can talk and Mukklas (sweet but cheeky little creatures, who only Findus can see). They have these very sweet and very cozy and calming adventures, all just vibes. If I could choose to live in a book, I would choose this one.
2) "Mama Muh und die Krähe" (or in English "Mama Moo and the crow" I think) by Jujja Wieslander (illustrated by Sven Nordqvist). It's about a cow who's friend is a crow and they have these very mundane adventures together, much like frog & toad.
Hope this helps someone and you pick it up sometime 💞 lots of love!
Sooo happy that I’ve found your channel, your vlogs are hilarious and I’ve picked up more than a few books you’ve recommended. 😊 Have you read Bad Kids by Zijin Chen? It’s a translated mystery/ thriller I think 🤔
Have a beautiful day! 💕
Omg wow 50 recs love it and love the brilliant video prayers and blessings to you and your family love your Aussie family friend John 🧡🧡🧡
omg I’m LOVING T &Kingfisher. My fav so far is Paladin’s grace, I mean a chivalrous warrior whose god died, and a perfume maker with a cozy perfume shop and cute cat like creature?? With a murder mystery???? Yesssss
I know we usually recommend books here, but I'd love to recommend a cozy (ish) sci-fi *podcast* that I really love, so if there's any artists in the crowd, or just people who work better with background audio in their day-to-day lives, may I recommend "The Adventure Zone: Balance"? It's a D&D podcast made by the McElroy brothers, and it follows the adventures of 3 friends as they try to recover some powerful scattered artifacts. It's queer, it's in space, and while the stakes get higher towards the end, it's a really lovely story with some amazing songs!
Also I'm surprised Kiki's Delivery Service (the book) wasn't recommended on this list! If it's anything like the movie, then it's gonna be SUCH a cozy little read.