From SRP author Tracy Cooper-Posey:
Something curious is happening on bookshelves lately.
Everywhere you look, there are dragons falling in love, fae princes with sharp cheekbones and emotional trauma, witches running magical bakeries and healing their hearts while also learning how to keep sourdough alive (not the metaphorical kind—actual bread).
Fantasy is booming right now—exploding, really. And not just the kind with battles and fireballs. There’s a wave of fantasy stories out there that are basically romance novels… they just happen to come with magical side effects.
If you’re a romance reader who hasn’t dipped into this yet, allow me to open a charming, slightly glowing door for you.
Cozy Fantasy: Romance’s Bookish Cousin
There’s a subgenre called cozy fantasy—and I’m telling you now, it’s a treasure trove for romance readers. Imagine stories where the emotional payoff matters more than the body count. Where relationships drive the story, community is key, and the world might be falling apart a little—but there’s always time for tea and a bit of personal growth first.
Sound familiar?
That’s because cozy fantasy shares many of romance’s deepest values:
- Emotional intimacy
- Found family (my personal writing favourite!)
- Slow-burn relationships
- Hopeful endings
- Character over spectacle
This is fantasy without the doom. Or, at least, with doom you can manage while still running your enchanted bookshop.
Where to Start?
If you’re curious, here are a few gentle, heart-filling entries into cozy fantasy (with strong romance elements or romance-adjacent feels):
- Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – A retired orc warrior opens a coffee shop and slowly builds a new life, friendships, and maybe more.
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – Grumpy scholar, sunshine colleague, mysterious fae—deliciously bookish and romantic.
- The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna – A witch finds love and belonging while teaching magical children to control their powers.
- Casey L. Blair’s cozy fantasy romances – Blair is an indie author making waves in this space (and just wrapped up a fantastic Kickstarter for special editions!). Her stories blend heart, humor, and magic in exactly the proportions romance readers love. You can check out her work here.
Not Sure Where to Begin?
I’ve got you covered.
Over on the Taylen Carver site, I’ve just posted a deep dive into the current fantasy boom—from romantasy to cozy fantasy and everything in between. It unpacks what’s happening in the genre for readers, and how you can find the books that genuinely light you up (not just the ones plastered all over TikTok).
Final Thought
You don’t need to “switch” genres to explore cozy fantasy. You’re not leaving romance—you’re broadening the landscape. Think of it like finding a new favorite café: same great conversation, different ambience. Possibly more elves.
So, romance readers, go forth. Find your magical inns, your fae-infested libraries, your slow-burn sorcery. The stories you already love? They’re just wearing a new cloak.
Already reading cozy fantasy? Have a favorite title or author? Share them in the comments—let’s spread the magic.
Tracy Cooper-Posey
SRP Author
