Cozy Cottage Books for Summer Days

Summer days were made for dreaming.

Anna Tang

Cozy Cottage Books. July 16, 2023.

The midsummer heat invites a dreamy laziness to steal in that puts me in a state of repose. It’s the kind of mood that sends me looking for a book to get lost in while sitting outside in the garden or tall grass somewhere, listening to the sound of nothing but heat in my ears. There are certain books that fit this mood. They are books filled with flights of fancy and wonder, and I call them cozy cottage books for summer days. These are the books that inspire fanciful dreaming beyond the known. They are books that make me wish to dash out of the house with Mr. Mole on an adventure, or dive into the ocean to look for a mermaid. Most of the year, they sit on my shelves collecting dust, but when the summer sun is heating the land, I find myself drawn to them.

The following book picks are those I am drawn to in such a mood, and most are beloved classics. These beloved authors transport you to another time and place where one can dream away. They are books that surpass age and create wonder. Imaginary characters come to life and invite us to their world. Those who love these books never grow old in spirit because they keep their childish wonder about them rather than toss it aside when they grow up. These are the best kind of people!

Cozy Cottage Books

Anything by Lucy Maude Montgomery

I have read nearly every published work she has and love all of it. And yes, it’s technically young adult/kids’ reading, but that is of no matter. I will continue to read LM Montgomery at 50 as well as 90. It is a time-travel back to cottage land, with its simple stories of life on Prince Edward Island. Montgomery is a woman who knew her writing craft and audience and did it well. Her Anne of Green Gables is just lovable, but I would encourage you to meet her other young heroines and read her many short stories as well. Her novella, Kilmeny of the Orchard, is very sweet. You will find yourself in a different time when you read her books. The Blue Castle is one of my favorite books of all! You can find many of her books free to read here.

The King of Elfland’s Daughter by Lord Dunsany

This gorgeous read is highly unknown in the popular segment, and it’s a shame. I still remember bringing it home from the library when a slip of paper fell out of the book that said, “This book is so beautiful. It changed my life.” That moment felt like a scene in a movie to me. And whoever wrote the note was right. It was a beautiful work of literature that took my breath away. The lord of a pastoral land commands his son to marry an elf princess. What follows is the story of her unhappiness in the human realm and her return home. Missing his wife, her husband and son follow to try and find her, only to end up wandering and lost. Lord Dunsany knew his writing craft well, and his prose is stunningly beautiful. This book is free to read here.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I have no shame that some of my favorite books are kids’ books. The Wind in the Willows is an ageless tale of animal friendship that continues to endure. The creekside adventures of Mole, Rat, and Toad are just the thing for a breezy summer day. People of all ages will love this. This book is free to read here.

Andersen’s Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen

If you want to get lost in a good fairytale book, this is it. Complete with the original Little Mermaid, these gorgeous and highly visual stories are the stuff dreams are made of. I remember the first day I discovered this book in grade school. Every chance I got, I was poring over the elaborately spun magical tales by Anderson that have endured through time. These beautiful stories are free to read here.

Brambleberry Hedge by Jill Barklem

These are incredibly sweet, pastoral books about a little mouse village. Written in the 80s, this book series will endure as a children’s classic for years to come. The author’s illustrations are also charming and highly detailed, making you feel as if you were right there in the midst of all these wonderful mice. There is no badness in this simple collection of Brambleberry Hedge stories. These are just nice stories about nice mice who help each other. If you love Wind in the Willows, you will love this. These books are free to read here.

Have a beautiful day!