Spooky, swoony, and spellbinding books for dark winter nights

In which our heroine helps you hibernate in the library

Jan 09, 2025

Hey there, sweet friend!

In a couple weeks, Lucas and I are going to be spending a weekend at a cabin in rural Wisconsin surrounded by rolling hills, dark woods, and (hopefully) a fresh coating of snow. Aside from a couple walks in the woods, we plan to spend the majority of our time reading. Curling up with a cup of tea and a book while snow falls outside the window is a niche feeling I look forward to every single year.

I think a perfect winter book should feel a little bit spooky, evoking the barren landscape, the mysterious quiet, and the long, dark nights. I love a psychological thriller (that’s not too scary) set in an isolated manor house or a fairy tale with a dangerous twist. If it’s not spooky, I want it to absolutely warm my heart like my favorite blend of tea — we’re talking cozy fantasies and soul-soothing stories. And we can’t forget the romance — after all, Valentine’s Day is a winter holiday. I love to build myself a little romance trilogy to read every year around Valentine’s Day to really get into the spirit.

Below, you’ll find suggestions for all these and more!

Slightly spooky reads for dark nights

The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson - My first read of 2025! This was recommended to me (personally! How cool!) by the hosts of one of my favorite bookish podcasts, Books Unbound. If you’re looking for something that feels like you are literally surrounded by snow, definitely go for this one. It’s about two women in an isolated Swedish town whose lives become irrevocably entwined. I went into it mostly blind and I think that’s best!
The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale - I don’t read a lot of psychological thrillers, but I do really enjoy wintery ones, where there’s some sort of dark forest or old mansion and the landscape feels both isolating and oppressive. Our main character is a piano prodigy who returns home to find that her mother has bequeathed her family home to a man with whom she has a complicated and dark history. Above all, it’s about the relationship between mothers and daughters and the places we call home. Plus, it’s set in Wisconsin, which you know I love!
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy - This book also falls into the “dark spooky forest” category. It’s set in Scotland (which of course, I also love) as a scientist joins a team to reintroduce a pack of wolves into the Highlands. It’s about an outsider in a small town, dealing with the realities of her own past while trying to find a way toward her future.

When you want to escape into a dark fairy tale

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik - I made the mistake of reading this book during summer, but friend, you do not have to. A snowy or cold day is the perfect time to curl up with this Rumplestiltskin-esque tale about the lengths young women will go to in order to protect the people they love.
Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield - I’ve been waiting months to recommend this book to you all! Diane Setterfield is one of my favorite authors and this book is no exception.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden - I love a good folk tale retelling, and this one absolutely does not miss. Vasilisa is a sort of Russian Cinderella who loves fairy tales… until they start coming to life around her and she must awaken her own powers to save her village. This is the first in a trilogy, I really want to read the other two soon!

If you’re looking for magic and whimsy that will hit you right in the heart

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow - This is one of my all time favorite books - and also my mom’s! January refers to our main character, not the month, though it adds a delightful touch. If you love books about books, journeys to hidden worlds, and young women finding the power within them, this is for you.
The Invisible Life of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab - If you’re not a fantasy girlie, but you’re fantasy curious, this is the book I’d recommend starting with. Essentially, it’s a sweeping historical fiction except that the main character, Addie, has made a deal with the devil to live forever. The catch? Nobody will remember her. That is, until one day in modern New York, somebody does. Bum, bum, bummm!
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neil - One of my favorite niche sub-genres is Circus Books (we can thank The Night Circus for this) and there was a time I was buying up every single one I saw. This one sat on my shelves for quite a while before I got around to it, but it was tragically beautiful.

Books with a little bit of magic that feel like a warm cup of tea

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree - If you love fantasy, but sometimes you don’t want the stress of a high stakes adventure, this is the book for you. It’s sort of Studio Ghibli (Kiki’s Delivery Service, specifically) meets Dungeons and Dragons. Viv is an ex warrior who is ready to retire from adventuring and fulfill her dream of opening a coffee shop. There is a love story. There is a mouse that bakes. There is magic. It’s incredible.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - Before we start talking about this book, I need you to know that despite the cover, there are no cats in this book. It’s a source of rage for me, to be honest, but this book is so good I will move past it. It takes place in a magical little cafe where patrons have the opportunity to travel back in time - but only until their coffee gets cold.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill - Speaking of books with Studio Ghibli vibes, this middle grade book is absolutely gorgeous. It’s about a witch who the villagers think is eating the children they must sacrifice in the forest each year. But she is actually taking them to be adopted — except for the latest baby, who she adopts herself after accidentally feeding her moonlight and giving her magical powers. There is a tiny dragon and a swamp monster completing their little family. It’s all just so sweet!

Romance that might just make you shed a tear

The Idea of You by Robinne Lee - One of my favorite books of all time. I think about it at least once a week. If you missed the buzz last year when the movie came out, you need to read this book! It’s about a 40-something mom who falls into a jetsetting love affair with a member of her daughter’s favorite boy band. But it’s also so much more than that. It’s about the dark sides of fame, the ways society judges women, who decides which art is “serious” and so much more.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes - Listen, on the whole, I am not a sappy romance girl. You will not find a single Nicholas Sparks book on my shelves. Nobody is as confused as me why this is one of my favorite books (and movies). But I love Jojo Moyes’s writing and the characters feels so real to me. If you’ve only seen the movie, the book is definitely worth a read — there’s a big plotline that wasn’t included.
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver - I have such a specific memory of buying this book during its pub week in March 2020… the single book I purchased to read during the two week lockdown. LOLSOB. Anyway, it’s a unique and beautiful story. After Lydia’s husband dies, she unexpectedly accesses a world in which the tragedy never occurred. In the end, she has to choose between reality and the dream world.

Romance sure to warm your cold heart - and make your laugh along the way

Gwen & Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher - I love anything Arthurian and while this book is not a retelling, it has so many fun little easter eggs. Gwen and Art live in Camelot many years after King Arthur, and are betrothed. However, Gwen only has eyes for Bridget, the fetching knight who has come to compete in a tournament. Meanwhile, Art is catching feelings for Gwen’s brother. Chaos and teen drama ensues!
One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London - If you love The Bachelor — or even if you don’t (I personally don’t) — you’ll love this book about a plus-size fashion blogger who is chosen to be the next star of a reality dating show. It’s filled with behind-the-scenes intrigue, witty commentary, and of course, romance.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert - The Brown Sisters series are probably among my most recommended romances. The sisters are all charming, quirky, and hilarious and have the best British banter with their love interests. In this one, Chloe has deemed her life boring and comes up with a bucket list of sorts to become more interesting, with the help of Red, her bad-boy/artist super. As suggested on the cover, there is a cat!

Finally, your cozy inspiration for the week:

Speaking of libraries, we’ve started a new practice in our home library. Whenever we buy or are gifted a new book, we write on the inside cover where it came from and when. This way, when we return to books in the future there’s a memory attached. Plus, we’ll be able to tell how long we’re holding onto books before we read them. Book reading and book buying are two separate hobbies, after all.

Thanks so much for reading! These book round-ups are some of my favorite posts to make — but they are indeed a labor of love. If you enjoyed this post, please consider giving it a heart, leaving a comment, or sharing it with a friend. That’s the best way to help grow our cozy community!