Can Historical Fiction Be Cozy?

Riot Recommendations

Last week, I shared some “cozy” historical romance books, but this week, I’m going to ask a different, more complicated question. Can historical fiction be cozy? I certainly don’t think of it that way. Historical fiction is so often set during periods of war, disaster, grief, or societal upheaval that associating it with the idea of coziness seems almost antithetical.

But some historical fiction books focus less on the hardships of history and more on day-to-day life and the people living it. While I’d hesitate to call even these books truly “cozy,” some historical fiction certainly does come closer to it than others. I can think of some books, like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, that have a certain coziness to them because of the cast of characters that they follow, even when the content itself isn’t entirely lighthearted. So, while these historical fiction books might not quite make it as “cozy” fiction, they’re still lighthearted enough for anyone looking for a light, historical read.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

Exploring a part of American history that is often overlooked, The Davenports depicts the experiences of a wealthy Black family in the early 20th century United States. It’s inspired by true events and has a very Bridgerton feel that historical romance fans—and historical fiction fans in general—will love.

When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky by Margaret Verble

A mystery at a Nashville zoo brings together an odd cast of characters, from a young Cherokee horse diver on loan from a Wild West show to a haunted WWI veteran-slash-zookeeper. Can they figure out what a series of disasters has to do with the zoo’s past before their entire show falls apart?

As an aside, can we talk about how cheery these two covers look together? I feel like the choice of using yellows and golds couldn’t have been a coincidence. It’s a color that just exudes warmth and happiness.