After the wild weather we had over the weekend here in the UK, it definitely feels like Autumn has landed, and with that in mind, Lucy Jane Wood has the perfect guest post for us – her top five cosy reads! Before we hand you over to Lucy’s recommendations, let’s first find out a little more about Lucy’s upcoming own cosy fantasy, UNCHARMED

It’s time to break the spell of perfection . . .

Andromeda Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way. Her life is a haze of pink, magic and impossibly high standards. The proud owner of Celestial Bakehouse, a bustling London bakery, Annie devotes her powers to pleasing others, and while perfection exacts a magical toll, it’s a price she is more than willing to pay.

However, when Annie is tasked by her coven with mentoring a troubled teenage witch, her charmed existence is thrown into chaos. She couldn’t be more different from fiery, stubborn Maeve. Or from Hal, the gruff but handsome owner of their temporary lodgings, who is not best pleased to find the coven has offered up his woodland cottage to two headstrong witches.

As the unlikely trio slowly bond, outside forces begin to take an interest in Maeve’s extraordinary powers. Will Annie risk everything to protect the true magic she’s finally found?

Uncharmed is the spellbinding new cosy fantasy from Lucy Jane Wood, celebrating found family, unconditional love and the joy of letting go of perfectionism and people-pleasing.

Top 5 Books to Get You Into The Cosy Spirit

by Lucy Jane Wood

Things are beginning to smell distinctly pumpkin-spiced around here… The moment that September hits, it’s time to bring out the knitwear, reach for a blanket, and get to work on that ever-growing autumn TBR pile. My debut novel Rewitched, and my upcoming new one Uncharmed, are both a celebration of magic, nostalgia, and all things cosy, which go hand in hand with this time of year.

So if you, like me, are the kind of reader who takes the concept of cosiness very seriously, here’s five brilliant books which are guaranteed to be the perfect addition to your coffee sipping/leaf crunching/cat cuddling plans.

A Witch’s Guide To Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Sera used to be one of the most powerful witches in the UK, but she lost most of her magic to a desperately heartfelt spell. Having been exiled from the fancy magical Guild as a result, she’s now helping her great aunt Jasmine to run their enchanted inn in Lancashire, surrounded by their slightly bonkers but extremely loveable found family. There’s a riddle to solve which might bring back her magic, but fortunately there’s also a handsome magical historian to help things along. Perhaps the ultimate example of ‘fantasy locations I wish I could visit’.

First Time Caller by BK Borison

Anyone who’s earned their cosy credentials knows that the season starts with a rewatch of the Nora Ephron classics. For your reading habits, why not start with the first instalment of a romance trio inspired by When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle (the latter sparked the idea for this book). Hopeless romantic Lucie ends up speaking to Aidan on Baltimore’s struggling romance hotline, and the sweetest of sparks soon fly. Think late night phone calls, oversized sweaters and the perfect, cosy slow burn.

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Best not to jump into this one expecting a like-for-like telling of your favourite witchy movie, but do expect exquisite, lyrical writing and a hazy, magical feeling that’s perfect to lull your cosy Sunday afternoon on the sofa. You’ll need to suspend your memories of Nicole Kidman’s hair and midnight margaritas, but if you can go into the book with an open mind, then you’ll be lost in a strangely haunting story of subtle magic, atmospheric mystery, and unbreakable family bonds.

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

An example of a book that feels like a comforting hug, and therefore the perfect choice to spark your cosy spirit. Fortune teller Tao roams the countryside with her mule, telling small fortunes for small prices. Her quiet existence is a lonely one, until she comes to meet an ex-mercenary, a sort-of-reformed thief, an adventure-hunting baker, and a cat. Of course, there’s always a cat. A delightfully mismatched gang, a celebration of connecting with your authentic self, and lovely, soothing vibes to uplift the soul.

The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst

Kiela has been proudly working at the Great Library of Alyssium, amongst the empire’s most precious spell books. But when the revolution begins and the place goes up in flames, she must flee. But how does a librarian, armed with an old recipe book her parents left her, disguise her illegal magic when in a new town? Open her own jam shop, of course—the island’s first secret spell shop. A soft and sweet story that ticks all of the cottagecore boxes.

Uncharmed is due for release 18th September – you can pre-order your copy from Bookshop.org

Lucy Jane Wood is a Sunday Times bestselling author, online content creator, avid reader and cosiness-seeker from the Wirral. These days, you’ll find her living in London, giant coffee in hand, and being headbutted at any given time by her cat.