“Cozy” has been on the tip of everyone’s lips. Cozy romance is all the rage, and as the world gets more and more insane, it looks like the cozy romance niche is on the rise. But I often hear people ask me? What makes a book cozy? Well, I’m here to break it down for you and give you an introduction to all things cozy books.
What Makes Fiction Cozy
The thing about “cozy” is that the word is very subjective. What is cozy to me is not necessarily cozy for you. But at the end of the day, cozy means comfort.
Cozy is a book that doesn’t stress too much about the plot or big messy third-act breakup. A cozy book is just all about the vibes.
Cozy Romance Doesn’t Equal Badly Written
People think that since cozy romances tend to be low angst and not all that plot-heavy, that means cozy romance is badly written.
It just means that the author prioritizes the reader’s comfort above everything else. Reading a cozy romance is like snuggling in a comfy blanket with a cup of hot tea at the end of the day.
However, cozy romance authors are still following the rules of writing a good book, because no matter how cozy a romance is, it means nothing if your readers are frustrated over a badly written book.
How to Recognize a Cozy Romance
For me as a writer, the biggest indicator of a cozy romance is that it’s low angst. When I say that a book is low angst, that means the emotional conflict that a character faces is minimized and/or the conflict is quickly resolved.
For example, in my book More to Love. Jamir (my main character) goes to his love interest Emmy’s house, and Emmy’s ex-wife Nichole opens the door. We have a quick moment of crisis, but then Emmy immediately appears to clear up any misconceptions that Emmy and Nichole are ever getting back together.
And then quickly reassures Jamir that he only wants him and that he is over Nichole.
This all happens in one scene?
Low stakes, not too much angst, and more of a focus on characters than plot.
My Favorite Elements of A Cozy Romance
Small Town Settings
I am such a sucker for small-town romances. Even though deep in my spirit, I am a city mouse at heart. But there is just something warm and comforting about a small town where everyone knows your name (yes, that is a Cheers reference)
Found Family
As queer trans person? Found family is my bread and butter. I love it when characters finally find their people after struggling so hard to fit in. I personally love it when a main character’s friends don’t disappear the moment the two main characters fall in love.
Cozy Hobbies
There is something just so comforting when it comes to characters having hobbies. Especially hobbies that are more on the domestic side, such as baking, knitting, and gardening.
Inviting Places
Another element I truly adore in cozy romances is cozy settings. I already talked about small towns, but there are tons of cozy places to go in the city. And I love settings like bookshops, coffee shops, libraries, and other such places. As someone who is an introvert, those types of settings always put me at ease.
Sweet and Funny
I love books that have a bit of humor in them. I find humor comforting, and there is this old saying that “Humor heals the soul.”
Just Downright Wholesome
I can’t really put my finger on it or find the right words to articulate it, but cozy books just have such a wholesome vibe. It just get a warmth in the center of my chest when I read them.
And it’s one of the many reasons why I adore writing and reading cozy romance. And now that I have given the lowdown on cozy romance, stay tuned for part 2 in my exploration into cozy romance, where I give you some recs to get you started on your cozy romance journey.
What do you love about cozy romance? Let me know and put it down in the comments!
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