25 Enchanting Cottagecore books You Can’t Miss

Anne of Green Gables topped the list of cottagecore book recommendations with 6% of the votes. Anne is a quintessentially cottagecore character and the way she romantises nature lends itself to the genre.

Anne of Green Gables follows Anne Shirley. Anne Shirley, an 11 year old orphan girl, goes to stay with the Cuthberts.

She’s welcomed into Green Gables – an old fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Only to discover the Cuthberts want to adopt a boy not a girl.

But before they can send her back, Anne, needing a real home and scope for her imagination, wins them over completely.

Wind in the Willows was a close second on the list for most recommended cottagecore books. This classic tale and magical fantasy has enchanted children for centuries.

The story follows a tiny society of animals living around the riverbank. Mole, Water Rat, Badger, and, of course, the incorrigible Toad.

They  try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and lands himself in trouble. 

This book has such cottagecore vibes – animals in tweed living near a riverbank. This easy to read classic is perfect for classic literature newbies.

Voted third on the list of the best Cottagecore books was The Secret Garden. This was a childhood favourite of mine. This must-read book contains beautiful garden imagery coupled with the heartwarming story.

The plot centres around Mary Lennox. A young English girl returning to England from India.  She discovers a charming walled garden.

But the garden is always locked.

If you’re new to classics, children’s classics are the perfect entryway as they’re easier to read.

I understand why this book was voted as one of the top cottagecore books. The garden imagery lends itself to cottagecore. And the transformation the garden goes through is heartwarming. After reading, you’ll want to grow your own secret garden at home.

Voted fourth on the best cottagecore books list was Heidi by Johanna Spyri. This is such a cozy and relaxing book. The simple way Heidi looks at the world is beautiful.

It follows little orphan Heidi. She moves in with her gruff grandfather high and the Alps. And she brings happiness to everyone on the mountain.

When Heidi goes to Frankfurt, she works in a wealthy household. But she dreams of returning to the mountains, her friend Peter, and her beloved grandfather.

I could reread this book again and again. The cozy little house tucked away in the mountains is charming. You also can’t top the grumpy/sunshine pairing.

While this wasn’t one of the top 4 classic cottagecore books. It was a highly recommended and was in the top 10 most recommended classics.

It follows 4 sisters. Talented tomboy and author-to-be Jo, frail Beth, beautiful Meg, and romantic, spoiled Amy. The sisters are united in their devotion to each other and their struggles to survive in New England during the Civil War.

This book deals with sisterhood, family, happiness and gratitude. Underpinned by beautiful countryside imagery – rolling green fields, autumn leaves and snowy paths.

L.M Montogmery is a classic cottagecore author. If you’re an Anne of Green Gables fan then I highly recommend checking out The Blue Castle.

It follows Valancy Stirling. She’s 29, unmarried and has never been in love.

She lives with her overbearing mother and meddlesome aunt. Her only consolation? The “forbidden” books of John Foster and her daydreams of the Blue Castle. A place where her dreams come true and she can be whoever she wants.

But then Valancy receives shocking news from the doctor. And she rebels against her family. She discovers a shocking new world full of adventures beyond her wildest dreams

I wasn’t surprised that Jane Austen was voted multiple times on this cottagecore books list. Pride and Prejudice is a classic romance. With enchanting descriptions of the English Countryside, this is the perfect cottagecore read.

Pride and Prejudice follows a group of daughters. Mrs Bennet insists they find rich husbands and settle down. When a wealthy bachelor moves nearby, she’s over the moon.

This is a classic love story – the character development is incredible. And the themes throughout are timeless. Although it was first published in 1813 – it still feels relevant today. 

If you’re a fan of the BBC Adaptation or the Keira Knightley movie – then I recommend reading this.

The second Jane Austen book recommended was Sense and Sensibility. Funny, clever and witty – this Jane Austen is a must read.

It follows Marianne Dashwood. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby. But her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip. And she ignores her sister’s warning.

Meanwhile Elinor is always sensitive to social convention. And she struggles to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her.

Status and money govern the rules of love. Through their parallel experience of love, the sisters must learn to mix sense with sensibility to find personal happiness.

Howl’s Moving Castle is the perfect fantasy book to read if you’re after cottagecore vibes. I’m not surprised it was voted the top cottagecore fantasy book to read. A magical, atmospheric and heartwarming read.

Howl’s Moving Castle follows Sophie. The eldest of 3 daughter – she is destined to fail miserable if she ever leaves home.

One day she attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste. The Witch transforms Sophie into an old lady.

Her only chance at breaking the spell? The ever moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl’s castle.

This book has enchanting cottagecore imagery. It opens in a picturesque little village in the country and nature is woven throughout. If you’re after cottagecore books, you must pick this up.

The Second most recommended Cottagecore fantasy book was Flowerheart. This young adult fantasy romance is full of beautiful flower imagery.

It follows Clara, a girl with flower magic. Her magic has always been wild, but never dangerous. Then one day she accidentally causes poisonous flowers to bloom in her father’s chest.

The only way to heal him is to cast a difficult spell requiring perfect control. And the only person willing to help is her former best friend, Xavier. Xavier has grown from a sweet, shy child into someone distant and mysterious.

The magic in this book is manifested in flowers, making it the perfect cottagecore read.

Voted third on the list of best fantasy cottagecore books is An Enchantment of Ravens. And I’m not surprised. This book is full of idyllic nature imagery alongside arts& crafts.

Isobel, a painter, creates stunning portraits for the dangerous fair folk. She paints a portrait of the Autumn Prince. But she paints humanity in his eyes, a deadly mistake.

The imagery in this book is stunning. The world is beautifully described with whimsical imagery. 

Filled with stunning forest imagery, An Enchantment of Ravens is the perfect cottagecore book for fae lovers!

I’m not shocked to see The Hobbit voted as one of the top cottagecore books. But I am shocked it doesn’t rank higher. For me, The Hobbit is the quintessential cottagecore fantasy book.

The Hobbit is a charming adventure story set in Middle Earth. The novel follows Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit living in The Shire. One day he meets the wizard Gandalf and goes on an adventure.

The imagery in the hobbit – particularly around food is lovely. I want to eat seven meals a day much like a hobbit. And hobbit holes sound adorable.

Nature imagery is woven throughout. But the imagery in The Shire sets this apart as a cottagecore read. Everything from the cozy Hobbit Holes, to the rolling fields and home cooked food.

Lord of the Rings doesn’t have as much cottagecore imagery compared to The Hobbit. But J.R.R Tolkein writes nature imagery beautifully I’m not surprised to see this book on the list.

Lord of the Rings follows Frodo Baggins. In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by Elven-smiths and Sauron (the Dark lord). But in secret Sauron forged the One Ring to rule all others. 

But the One ring was taken from him. 

After many ages it fell, quite by chance, into the hands of hobbit Bilbo Baggins. At his eleventy-first birthday Bilbo disappears and bequeaths it to Frodo. Frodo must embark on a perilous quest to destroy the One Ring.

Emily Wilde’s Encylopedia of Fairies was another fantasy book repeatedly recommended and voted 5th onto this list. Fans adore this cute romance and it has 4.07 stars on Good Reads.

It follows Emily Wilde – a curmudgeonly academic and Cambridge professor. She is compiling world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. She travels to a tiny, remote town in the far North to study fairies.

But she’s joined by her academic rival – the endlessly charming Wendell Bambleby.

And he inserts himself in the middle of her research, utterly frustrating her.

I was delighted to see this book voted onto the list! This book is adorable, charming but also woefully underrated. The story concept is magical. And the whimsical world building is full of beautiful forest, cottagecore imagery. 

Every year the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch living in the forest. They hope to keep her from terrorizing the town.

But the witch Xan is kind. She rescues the abandoned children. And delivers them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest.

Fyrian the dragon is adorable, and only the size of a dove. The humour made me grin.  

The audiobook is incredible. The narrator did a fantastic job with the voices of the characters and bought Fyrian, Glerk and Xan to life.

This Poison Heart is the perfect Cottagecore read. Full of crumbling estates and garden imagery.

This Poison Heart follows Briseis. She has a magic gift where she can magic tiny seeds grow into rich blooms with a single touch.

Her aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York. Here Briseis must uncover her family’s heritage and secrets.

 This is a quick, fast-paced and easy read. You could easily pick this up and binge read it in one setting. Kalynn Bayron writes plant imagery beautifully. And I adored the plant and forest imagery.  

Please can we take a minute to appreciate the beautiful cover? The story is equally beautiful.

It follows women tending the grounds of La Pradera. The lush gardens enchant guests from around the world. But they have a tragic legacy. When they fall in love – their lovers vanish. But one day a strange boy appears in the gardens.

This book features queer women of colour and is an own voices read. The writing is beautiful. The story is both captivating and heart-breaking. You feel many different emotions while reading it. And the imagery around the gardens is perfect for spring.

The Brambly Hedge series holds such a special place in my heart. These Children’s books are wonderfully wholesome. And the stories and illustrations are also quintessentially cottagecore.

This book series is whimsically cottagecore with illustrations reminiscent of Beatrix Potter. The books are filled with animals doing cottagecore activities such as baking.

Brambly Hedge is a collection of children’s stories. It follows a village of mice having different adventures. It follows the village through the seasons and chronicles the adventures they have.

The stories and village focus on simple living with references to sewing and baking.

The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter was in the top 10 most recommended cottagecore books to read. And I’m not shocked. For me, when I think cottagecore these books instantly spring to mind. They’re whimsical, heartwarming and full of beautiful illustrations.

The books follow a series of animals such as Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin and Mrs Tiggy Winkle.

These books are the perfect gift for both children and adults. Anyone could enjoy these magical stories.

These timeless stories stand the test of time. The stories focus on nature and quintessentially cottagecore activities such as foraging, baking and gardening.

Tove Jansson is revered as one of the top children’s authors. The Moomin series is whimsical, charming and full of cottagecore vibes.

The Moomins are a tight-knit family of hippo shaped creatures. They have adventurous outlooks and each chapter is full of adventure.

The illustrations in these books are beautiful and feel cottagecore. They feature beautiful beautiful portraits of ambling creatures in fields of flowers or rock-strewn beaches.

The stories are whimsical but with biting undertones. It features stories of guests overstaying their welcome, modern art and high society.

The Bullerby Children is a delightful series of Children’s novels translated from Swedish. Written by the same author as the Pippi Longstocking books, the series is full of beautiful worldbuilding in the Swedish countryside and simple activities such as selling cherries.

Set in the late 1930s, it follows six children. They live in a tiny, remote village in Sweden. A relatively calm time in Sweden, the agricultural world is still in pre-industrial state.

Besides the old fashioned gender roles, this is still a charming series emphasising joy in the simple everyday.

The Little Book of Cottagecore was the top voted non fiction book on the list. Maybe you want an introduction to cottagecore. Or maybe you want to learn some cottagecore skills. Regardless, this book is perfect.

 This book focuses on cottage core skills. And targets people wanting to relax. In particular, through the simple things in life.

Do you love crafts and DIY style hobbies? Then I highly recommend this book.  It focuses on traditional cottage core skills such as baking bread, embroidery and cross-stitch.  A lovely gift for crafting beginners..

I can’t be the only person obsessed with embroidery at the moment? And everytime I see embroidery online, I think how beautiful it is.

Embroidery is a relaxing activity to do at home. These lovely embroidered wild flowers are the perfect way to add a touch of cottagecore to t-shirts, pillowcases or cushions.

Inspired by the wonder and beauty of the natural world, the embroidery motifs offered evoke wildflower meadows and woodland walks. With lifelike yet whimsical plants and flowers, as well as mushrooms, leaves, trees, and birds.

Featuring beautiful photographs, clear step-by-step instructions, and detailed diagrams. This book is an inspiring guide for those new to embroidery and a fresh and unique offering for those experienced with needle and thread.

I am obsessed with the idea of growing your own vegetables. My social media is filled with people foraging food from their gardens before cooking a delicious meal. A healthy and sustainable practice.

Alys Fowler is a British horticulturalist and journalist. She worked for many years for BBC Gardeners world.

In Eat What You Grow, Alys shows you how to create a rich, biodiverse garden. From perennial vegetables that come back year after year, to easy-to-grow delights.

This book guides you through the process of creating the garden and teach design tools for a beautiful garden.

Once you’ve grown some delicious fruit and vegetables in your garden, you’ll need some tasty recipes. This cookbook is highly recommended.

Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by agriculture and preservation of food.

Eve and Eivin Kilcher are stars of the hit Discovery show  The Last Frontier. They are experts in sustainable living. Homesteaders by choice, the couple has had to use their self-reliance skills to survive harsh winters in the Alaskan wilderness.

In this book, they share 85 original family recipes and advice on preserving. The tips they have cultivated from their family and through necessity helps anyone looking to shrink their environmental footprint.

Looking to embrace cozy countryside comfort? Then this is the book for you. This nonfiction cottagecore book helps you find happiness in the natural world.

Embrace a more peaceful life with cottagecore. A soft, fairy-tale world combining traditional comforts with a modern existence to create a sense of magic and retreat.

Escape into Cottagecore helps rekindle your love of nature and rediscover simple joys, wherever you may live.

Full of practical advice and inspiration, and covering topics from home décor and herbology to eating with the seasons and mindfulness.

Shady Hollow is a whimsical series of mystery books. They follow a little fox detective solving crimes in the woods. An intriguing mystery, coupled with a cozy mystery and cottagecore vibes.

Shady Hollow is a cute little village where woodland creatures live together in harmony. Until a curmudgeonly toad turns up dead.

Vera Vixen, a local reporter, has to solve the case. The fox has a nose for news. And she realises the death might be a murder. So she resolves to solve the case, no matter where it leads. But the fox exposes more than one mystery, and discovers additional lives are in jeopardy.

The Shady Hollow series is a mix of intriguing mystery with Wind in the Willows vibes.

A quaint English novel set in a quiet village named Chawton – the village where Jane Austen lived with her family.

The property is in danger of being sold to a golf course consortium. A group of citizens take on the difficult task of maintaining the estate. And the Jane Austen Society is formed.

Searching for escapism? This is the book for you. A charming story with beautiful writing.

 Jane Austen fans will love this book.  The shared love of Jane Austen’s work drives the narrative. And also the relationships between the characters.

Looking for the best cottagecore books? Then you must read Silver in the Woods,  a fantasy book set in a magical forest.

Silver in the Woods has an adorable mlm romance. The cutest grumpy/sunshine romance.  And it references mythological creatures such as dryads and faeries.

Tobias, a forest guardian, looks after the forest. One day Henry Silver moves into Greenhollow Hall. And everything changes.

Silver starts to dig up old secrets. Secrets best left forgotten. 

Cottagecore fans will love this book. After reading the whimsical forest imagery, you’ll want to live in a cottage in the woods

Plus, the book is an easy read with only 110 pages. And the audiobook is 5 hours 51 minutes for the duology.

This audiobook is ideal for long journeys. Fan of audiobooks? Lucky for you I have a whole post on fantasy audiobooks. Check out my post on fantasy audiobooks

Searching for low stakes, cozy cottagecore books? Then you must read this. 

The House Witch is set in a medieval world where witches can command a different form of elemental magic – fire, air, water or earth. Finlay, a mutant, is a House Witch. And he becomes Royal Cook in a castle. And his magic means he can cook the most incredible meals. 

This is the most perfect cosy read.

A charming read filled with beautiful food imagery, courtly intrigue and magical hijinks. Likewise,  it features an adorable kitten companion.

This is also quite light on the romance and fantasy elements. But the beautiful, cosy food imagery more than made up for it. And reading a fantasy book with a male protagonist is refreshing.

Searching for diverse cottagecore books? Then you must read some of Kay O’Neill’s work. They are cosy, heartwarming reads with whimsical illustrations.

In The Tea Dragon Society, magical dragons grow leaves you can brew tea from. And the tea is infused with memories.

We follow Greta a blacksmith apprentice. One day she finds a lost tea dragon in the marketplace. Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners.

This book is adorable and heart-warming.  The illustrations are beautiful.

  Not only is it a beautiful book with a profound message. But it stars people of color, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ characters.