Whimsical stories are one of my favorites to read. These are the types of books that I like to enjoy under the fairy lights hanging from the trees in my backyard. Or when my garden is in bloom and the air is perfumed with flowers and herbs. They are cozy with an engaging plot laced with magic. I hope you enjoy them too.
Woken Kingdom by Poppy Rose Solomon
This YA grumpy x sunshine, romantic fairytale-inspired story follows a seventeen-year-old bookmaker, Maya, as she sets out on an unorthodox plan to rob her grandmother’s faraway grave and use the riches to save her family from the poverty that has stricken the kingdom.
Inspired by Sleeping Beauty, this fairytale is full of magic, whimsy and the nostalgia of watching the OG barbie movies!
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
When the Great Library of Alyssium is destroyed by a revolution, a reclusive Librarian Kiela, and her assistant, a magical sentient spider plant, Caz, flee with all the spellbooks they can salvage.
Finding refuge on a remote island, Kiela’s hometown, she discovers a nosy, yet handsome neighbor who won’t go away. As Kiela begins to carve out a living selling jam to the local bakery, trouble begins brew when she opens a secret spellshop.
Where The Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
This enchanting story is filled with Polish folklore, magical woods full of not so friendly creatures, a sentient house, and found family. All the elements for a perfect cozy and whimsical read!
Liska makes a bargain with the grumpy demon warden, Leszy, to save her small village from the consequences of her own magic. One year of servitude in a crumbling manor in the heart of the dangerous spirit wood in exchange for a single wish but there is more to the deal than meets the eye.
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
Anja’s poison drinking experiments are put on hold when she is summoned by the king to treat his dying daughter, Snow.
With the help of a narcissistic cat and a guard who is a man of few words, Anja searches for a cure to a poison outside her repertoire, leading her to a hidden world behind a magic mirror that may or may not hold the key to saving Snow.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
This story weaves many of my favorite things into one, dark academia, academic rivals, folklore, a gothic mansion, and plenty of mystery.
Effy Sayre enters a redesign contest held at the crumbling Hiraeth Manor, home of the famous author Emrys Myrddin. Restoring the decrepit manor is an impossible task, made even harder by a young literature scholar who is determined to unearth all the lies of Myrddin’s legacy. Together they uncover clues, but that only draws the attention of dark forces, both mortal and magical.
The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton
Charlotte Pettifer is the future leader of the League of Gentlewomen (Witches… shhh). So, when a long-lost amulet resurfaces, she must do what any future leader would and stop the talisman from falling into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, that means crossing paths with a pirate and forming an unwilling alliance in order to steal the amulet first, if only they could keep their hands and hearts to themselves.
The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer
Rainy March, she’s a third-generation book witch, and her job is to make sure fictional foes stay just that: fictional. There are rules a book witch must follow when entering the world of fiction: don’t get involved with the characters. Rainy shouldn’t be seeing the Duke of Chicago, a British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If found out, she’ll be expelled from her book coven. But when her grandfather goes missing and a priceless book is stolen, he’s the only one she trusts to help her solve the case.