The 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge!
12 prompts to inspire your cozy reading life in 2025
One of the joys of cozy books is their comforting reliability: the mysteries get solved, there’s usually a happy ending, and (hopefully!) nothing too traumatizing happens.
But this very reliability can sometimes lead to a cozy reading rut. It’s easy to gravitate toward the same familiar tropes over and over again, only to realize you’re starting to feel bored and questioning whether cozies are still for you.
Right now, I’m in my own cozy rut. I’ve been reading too many historical fiction cozies set in England, all from the same turn-of-the-century British perspective. Don’t get me wrong—they’re delightful! I’ve read so many because they’re genuinely fun. But lately, I’ve realized I need something different.
It’s time to shake things up and intentionally seek out cozy books set in new places and written from fresh perspectives.
The truth is, there’s so much variety within the cozy genres. With just a little extra effort, you can uncover books that open up your reading world and make your cozy life so much fun.
That’s exactly why I created the 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge! My goal for this challenge is to add more inspiration and joy to your cozy reading life. Maybe you’ll try a type of cozy book you’ve never read before and discover a new favorite. Or maybe you’ll have fun going down the rabbit hole of online book lists and recommendations.
The challenge includes 12 reading prompts, and I’ve provided a book suggestion for each one to help get you started. Below, you’ll find all the details about how it works, plus the full list of prompts.
Here’s to an inspiring and cozy reading year in 2025!
How It Works
Below, you’ll find 12 reading prompts designed to help you explore different kinds of cozy mysteries, cozy fantasies, and charming sci-fi. Work through these prompts at your own pace throughout 2025. By the end of the year, you’ll have the oh-so-satisfying feeling of having made your cozy reading life more fun and interesting.
How I’ll Support Your Year of Cozy Reading
Printable Challenge PDF: Download and print this quick check list of challenge prompts to keep track of your progress. Click this link to download the PDF.
Join the Challenge on StoryGraph: If you’re a StoryGraph user, you can join the challenge there, keep track of your books, and see what other folks have read for each prompt. Click this link to join or search for 2025 Cozy Reading Challenge in the Challenges area of StoryGraph.
Monthly Reflections: Each month, I’ll share reflections on one of the prompts here on Sleuth Hero Alien. You’re invited to comment and share what you’re reading for each one.
Genre Guides: Check out these blog posts I’ve written to help define the genres featured in the challenge:
2025 Cozy Reading Challenge Prompts
Cozy Mysteries Around the World
Read a cozy mystery set in a country you’ve never visited.
Idea: Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc BannalecOut-of-This-World Charm
Read a charming sci-fi novella that features a hopeful or heartwarming story.
Idea: All Systems Red by Martha WellsA Cozy Fantasy Featuring a Queer Protagonist
Read a cozy fantasy with an LGBTQIA+ main character.
Idea: Payback’s a Witch by Lana HarperCulinary Coziness
Read a cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, or charming sci-fi with a focus on food or baking.
Idea: The House Witch by Delemhach (cozy fantasy)A Cozy Hotel
Read a cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, or charming sci-fi that takes place at a hotel.
Idea: Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis (charming sci-fi)A Cozy Written by a Disabled Author
Read a cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, or charming sci-fi by a disabled author.
Idea: Poisoned Primrose by Dahlia Donovan (cozy mystery)A Middle-Grade Mystery
Read a cozy mystery written for middle-grade readers
Idea: From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae MarksA Library or Bookshop Setting
Read a cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, or charming sci-fi set in a library, bookshop, or featuring a bibliophile protagonist.
Idea: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree (cozy fantasy)A Debut Delight
Read the first book in a cozy series or an author’s debut cozy or charming novel.
Idea: The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers (charming sci-fi)A Cozy Written by a BIPOC Author
Read a cozy fantasy, cozy mystery, or charming sci-fi by a Black, Indigenous, or person of color author.
Idea: Body & Soul Food by Abby Collette (cozy mystery)A Cozy From Your TBR
Read a cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, or charming sci-fi that’s been languishing on your to-be-read list for far too long.
Idea (This is mine!): Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala (cozy mystery)A Tea Cozy
Read a cozy mystery, cozy fantasy, or charming sci-fi that features tea.
Idea: Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne (cozy fantasy)
Bonus Challenge: Cozy Vibes
For each book you read, commit to one cozy activity that enhances your reading experience. Light a candle, sip tea, journal, or snuggle up in your favorite blanket—whatever makes you feel warm and cozy.
I hope this challenge inspires you to diversify your cozy reading and discover new authors and genres. Don’t forget to comment on the blog posts and share your progress!
Happy cozy reading!
Emma Veritas | sleuthheroalien.substack.com
Hi there! I’m Emma Veritas, your cozy reading enthusiast. I delight in escaping to small towns filled with endearing characters—and a touch of mystery, dragons, or aliens! When I'm not sharing bookish musings here, you’ll find me crafting fictional tales in my notebooks, spending quality time with my adorable pet bunny, or savoring a steaming cup of hot chocolate.
You might also enjoy my other newsletter, The Enchanted Life, which is an astrological haven for witchy folks daring to create unconventional and wildly fulfilling lives.
What a great list.