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6 Cozy Books for the Perfect Fall Reading Retreat

6 Cozy Books for the Perfect Fall Reading Retreat

Picture this: you’ve escaped the noise of daily life for a secluded cabin in the woods. A campfire is crackling under marshmallows toasting, the scent of fallen leaves hangs in the air, and a warm mug is cradled in your hands. The only thing missing from this perfect scene is the right book. A trip like this calls for a story that matches the peaceful, rustic setting—a truly cozy read that you can get lost in as the hours drift by. That’s why we’ve curated a list of unforgettable cozy books, from heartwarming romances to healing fiction, to pack in your bags for the perfect fall reading retreat.

The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore

It’s official. The fall season is not complete without three things: a pumpkin spice latte, a vacation to an off-grid cabin with your favourite people, and a new book in the Dream Harbor series.

Set in the small town of Dream Harbor, Laurie Gilmore has spent the last two years introducing us to a loveable cast of characters who we have delighted in watching fall in love over the first four books in the series. With The Gingerbread Bakery we are finally getting the event we’ve been waiting for: a wedding.

Following fan favourite characters Annie and Mac as they begrudgingly work together to prepare for Jeanie and Logan’s big day, this enemies-to-lovers romance proves that the sweetest things are worth the wait.

Learn more and order your copy here

The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn by Valerie Bowman

Now, if you’ve already read the Dream Harbor series and are looking for something that also delivers on those Gilmore Girls vibes, let us introduce you to The Honeycrisp Orchard Inn.

This cozy and sexy romance follows a young event planner who returns to her family’s inn on an apple orchard to help run their Harvest Festival—only to find herself butting heads with the handsome son of the apple orchard’s owners. Featuring forced proximity, found family, opposites attract, and, of course, a pug named Pumpkin who becomes a social media star because he wears pumpkin pjs and is a sucker for any type of human affection, this book is the perfect autumnal escape that is best enjoyed while sitting in an Adirondack chair surrounded by trees with a steaming cup of hot apple cider in hand.

Learn more and order your copy here

Fall I Want by Lyra Parish

While the blankets in your cabin might keep you warm as the weather cools, we guarantee that this fall romance will add an extra layer of heat to those chilly nights by the water.

The first book in the Cozy Creek series has it all: a small town, a billionaire romance, fake dating, forced proximity, and “he falls first”. From the moment you flip open the first page, Lyra Parish sucks you in with her love of the season, making this impossible to put down until its happily ever after finish.

Learn more and order your copy here

The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James

Adventuring into nature and adventuring into a good book often feels like magic, and The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James has plenty of it.

With heartfelt reflections on grief, growth, and the stories that shape us, this is a book for book lovers; a book filled with worlds waiting to welcome all those who are looking for the hope that their stories can be rewritten.

We’ve said this before for other books, but we’ll say it again: when you’re booking your next escape to the great outdoors in one of Cabinscape’s cabins or tents, invite a few friends and make sure everyone has this book in hand. It’s tailor-made for book club discussions and will keep the life chats flowing until the embers burn low on your campfire.

Learn more and order your copy here

The Time Hop Coffee Shop by Phaedra Patrick

We’ve talked about escaping into nature and into books, but what if it was your coffee that could help you escape your life and discover a world where everything is always perfect?

In The Time Hop Coffee Shop, Phaedra Patrick tells a story of finding second chances and learning that what you wish for isn’t always what you truly need. In fact, it is the messiness of life and the ability to come out the other side of the dark times that often brings the most meaning and joy to the days ahead.

So the next time you find yourself wondering if things would be better if you lived in a perfect world, brew yourself a big cup of coffee, take a deep breath of fresh autumn air, and snuggle up with this book that will remind you that you are exactly where you were meant to be.

Learn more and order your copy here

Cozy Canada by Maggie Zeng

When you think about Canada, what do you think of? Hiking through the mountains on the west coast? Eating poutine at a local sugar shack? Summer camping trips in Northern Ontario? Skating down the Rideau Canal in the winter? Taking photos in front of Niagara Falls? Whale watching on the east coast? The list may be long, but Montreal-based children’s book illustrator and animator Maggie Zeng did her best to include as many Canadian experiences as possible into a brand-new cozy colouring book for readers all ages.

If the ‘ber months have you and your little ones huddling inside and exploring your creativity, you need this 100% Canadian book and all of the coloured markers, pencils, and crayons you can get your hands on.

Learn more and order your copy now

So, as you pack your bags for your autumn escape, don’t forget to leave room for one—or two—of these cozy reads. Whether you’re curled up by the fire, listening to the rain tap against your cabin windows, or sipping cider under the stars, the right book will make your getaway even more magical. After all, there’s no better way to embrace the season than by letting a good story carry you away.

Written by Kristina Jagger with Harper Collins Canada

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Fall in Love with Cozy Cabin Reads

Your cozy autumn reading retreat awaits

Nothing says “autumnal vibes in the ‘ber months” like brewing a warm cup of coffee, snuggling up under a blanket, looking out at fall colours from a cabin window, and getting lost in a good book. Today, we’re bringing you the ultimate TBR for your next Cabinscape vacation, featuring everything from heartwarming romance to captivating non-fiction.

THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE by Matt Haig

Filled with wonder, wild adventure, and the life-changing power of new beginnings, there is no better book to kick-start our fall reading with than The Life Impossible.

While set in the golden beaches of Ibiza, this remarkable novel is one that begs to be read while cozied up during a solo cabin retreat as you follow a retired math teacher as she travels to the island in search for answers about how her long-lost friend’s life ended.

If you’ve read Matt Haig’s previous book, The Midnight Library, it’s needless to say that you should pack the tissues on this vacation because this is a book that promises a few tears, a bit of magic, and a message that will stay with you long after you close its pages.

Learn more and order your copy here

THE KNOWING by Tanya Talaga

For anyone looking to learn more about Canadian history through a uniquely Indigenous lens, award-winning and bestselling Anishinaabe author Tanya Talaga’s The Knowing is a must-read.

Deeply personal and meticulously researched, this book begins with the life of Tanya’s great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and continues with her family’s experiences of decades of government- and Church-sanctioned enfranchisement and genocide.

While you may have learned about the residential school system in school, this book pulls you in on a much deeper level, walking you hand-in-hand through the grief and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, encouraging you not to look away.

Learn more and order your copy here

THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFE by Laurie Gilmore

Craving a romance that feels like watching Gilmore Girls for the first time? Let us introduce you to the Dream Harbor series.

Set in a small town where everyone is in everyone else’s business, this grumpy-sunshine romance is a feel-good seasonal treat for anyone who ever wished they lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) This is also the book for anyone who loves a sprinkle of spice in their books to warm them up on those chilly fall nights.

Learn more and order your copy here

THE CAPITAL OF DREAMS by Heather O’Neill

Our next fall reading recommendation is one that David A. Robertson says “only Heather could have pulled off. It’s incredible.” We couldn’t agree more.

In a stunning dark fairytale, bestselling Canadian author Heather O’Neill takes us into the middle of a forest where we follow a young girl who is forced to run for her life while protecting her brilliant mother’s manuscript.

Set in an imaginative world yet reflective of our own times, The Capital of Dreams is exactly what we think of when someone asks us for an escapist read, making it the perfect book for those fall days when you’re stuck indoors and itching to go on a new adventure.

Learn more and order your copy here

WHEN THE MOON HATCHED by Sarah A. Parker

Speaking of escapist reads, our next recommendation features an immersive world with mysterious creatures, a unique magic system, and a love that blazes through the ages.

For those who love a fast-paced romantasy like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing, Sarah A. Parker’s When the Moon Hatched should be next on your reading list!

With tropes like forbidden love, he falls first, found family, and a slow burn romance, it’s hard not to fall in love with Raeve and Kaan.

Learn more and order your copy here

THE BOOK SWAP by Tessa Bickers

We’re rounding out this list with the ultimate book for book lovers: The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers.

In this uplifting contemporary romance, we follow two grieving strangers who find solace, and perhaps even love, when they begin an anonymous correspondence via notes left in the margins of classic novels. Talk about our dream meet-cute!

When you’re booking your next escape to nature in one of Cabinscape’s off-grid cabins with this book in hand, make sure to bring your friends along for the ride because this is tailor-made for book club discussions.

Learn more and order your copy now

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, there’s no better time to escape to a cozy cabin. Let the changing leaves and peaceful surroundings be the backdrop to your next great story—it’s the perfect way to recharge, reflect, and get lost in the pages of a new adventure.

Written by Kristina Jagger with Harper Collins Canada & Rachel Naish Content Photography by Wayne Ferguson

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Books in Bloom

Ladies Book Club Reading

Fresh Reads for Spring

April showers bring books in bloom. (That’s how the saying goes, right?) From stories of self-discovery and new beginnings to romances that develop under unlikely circumstances, we’ve collected five must-read new books that are perfect to enjoy in a cabin the woods as the world around you begins to bloom.

The Strawberry Patch Pancake House
by Laurie Gilmore

Nothing will put you in the seasonal spirit quite like a new romance in the Dream Harbor series, and The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is no exception.

Featuring a sugary sweet romance between single dad and chef, Archer, and his loveable nanny, Iris, Laurie Gilmore delivers all the tropes that will make readers swoon, including found family, forced proximity, and only one bed. And while we instantly fell in love with this new romantic pairing—and Archer’s feisty five-year-old daughter who is determined to play matchmaker—where this book blooms is in the MMC’s story of growing into a man that is discovering that success doesn’t mean perfection and sometimes, it’s ok to get a little messy.

Learn more and order your copy here

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris
by Evie Woods

If you prefer French pâtisserie to strawberry pancakes, Evie Woods’ The Mysterious Bakery on Rue De Paris is the book for you this spring!

A story that unfolds slowly with the smells of bread, the cobble streets and the history of Compiègne, we follow a late bloomer named Edith who is looking for a fresh start after spending most of her twenties caring for her dying mother. But when she takes a job at the bakery on Rue de Paris, she quickly realizes that things aren’t quite what they seem.

Full of mystery and magic, this historical novel is the perfect escape for anyone who has ever tried to reinvent themselves or struggled to find their people. (Just don’t pick it up without your favourite baked goods nearby.)

Learn more and order your copy here

The Ones We Loved
by Tarisai Ngangura

Have you ever read a love story that makes your heart ache? That buries a feeling of desperation for connection deep in your bones? That tenderly weaves myth and memory together as two characters discover the painful consequences of experiencing the kind of love that has never known how to let go?
In Tarisai Ngangura’s The Ones We Loved, we meet two strangers whose paths converge in a series of seemingly chance encounters and shared histories. She has committed a horrifying act for which there will certainly be retribution. He is staggering from a devastating discovery.
Told in the rhythms of oral retellings practiced in Zimbabwe, creating a call-and-response with the audience, this breathtaking literary debut is a heavier read, but one that will not be forgotten.

Learn more and order your copy here



The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits
by Jennifer Weiner

For anyone whose spring cleaning brought a wave of nostalgia as they discovered their old collectibles from the early 2000s (and who put on Britney Spears while continuing to organize their closet), this one’s for you.

In international bestselling author Jennifer Weiner’s highly anticipated new book, The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits, we meet Cassie and Zoe, two sisters whose time in the spotlight not only leads to a band break-up, but to insecurity, jealousy and loneliness for years to come. Enter: Cherry, Zoe’s daughter who desperately wants to get the band back together and to build a relationship with her aunt.

Exploring the highs and lows of the music industry and the ways in which we talk about female celebrities—more specifically, about their bodies—this is a read-it-in-one-sitting novel that challenges us to reflect on the choices we make and bloom into the people we deserve to be regardless of what others think.

Learn more and order your copy here


Summer in the City
by Alex Aster

The best way to experience the skyscraper glimmering, pizza crusted, sunlit charms of New York City? Sitting in a cabin by the water in the middle of a forest, reading Alex Aster’s swoony new romance.

Hear us out: Summer in the City follows a screenwriter who needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Which means you get to experience the city life all from the perfect vacation spot far outside the realm of honking cars, concrete buildings, and trash pandas.

But in all seriousness, the romance in this book blooms from the most unlikely of places: a stairwell hookup two years ago, a night of hate-fueled writing, and an agreement that forces two opposites to play nice for the cameras. It’s all pretend, we promise. Until it isn’t.

Learn more and order your copy here

Written by Kristina Jagger with Harper Collins Canada Content Photography by Kassandra Melnyk

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Deck the Halls with Holiday Reads

Cozy Up to the Latest & Greatest Reads this Holiday Season

Need a little “elf-care” this winter? We have three simple steps to help you sleigh this upcoming holiday season:

1. Book the coziest winter getaway at an off-grid cabin

2. Pack a bag full of your warmest clothes & favourite sweets

3. Scroll down to pick something to read from this list of Christmas-set books that will not only help you reach your 2024 reading goals, but will fill you up with festive cheer as well!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore

Taylor Swift once said, “in my heart is a Christmas tree farm”, and we think she may have been talking about the third Dream Harbor book because it is one that is living in our heads (and hearts) rent-free.

In Laurie Gilmore’s latest spicy small-town romance set in Dream Harbor, we follow Kira, who hates Christmas yet finds herself buying a Christmas tree farm that is equal parts adorable and in quite the state of disrepair, and Ben, a handsome new face in town who offers to help.

With forced proximity, a grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and a happily ever after guaranteed, The Christmas Tree Farm is all we want for Christmas this year.

Learn more and order your copy here

HOCKEY RANTS & RAVES by Steve “Dangle” Glynn

If you’ve ever argued with a friend about the NHL’s best player of all time, the most embarrassing Leafs losses, or who would be on the Mount Rushmore of Goalies, Steve “Dangle” Glynn’s new book is required reading.

Featuring the hottest takes and biggest beefs about hockey from one of the most unique voices in the sport, Hockey Rants and Raves is a passionate, accessible, honest and often humorous take on all things that happen on and off the ice. In other words, the perfect holiday gift for the hockey fan in your life.

Learn more and order your copy here

EVERYONE THIS CHRISTMAS HAS A SECRET by Benjamin Stevenson

If you haven’t already met him in Benjamin Stevenson’s previous two books, let us be the first to introduce you to Ernest Cunningham, a former reader of Golden Age murder mysteries—that is until he found himself with a haphazard career getting stuck in the middle of real-life ones.

In this latest installment in the series, a murder occurs backstage at a magic show, with clues more abstract than anything Ernest has ever faced: A suspect covered in blood, without a memory of how it got there. A murder committed without setting foot inside the room where it happens. And an advent calendar. Because, you know, it’s Christmas.

So, if you find yourself enjoying the cold from the comfort of a cozy tiny cabin this holiday season and you’ve been itching to use your sleuthing skills, Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret is the perfect book for you. Because if you can see through the illusions, we know you can solve this one too. After all, a good murder is just like a magic trick, isn’t it?

Learn more and order your copy here

WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey

Let us paint a picture: you’ve got your shopping list in hand and are walking past a department store window when a man approaches you and asks what you think of the display. You tell him, “It’s a tragedy in tinsel,” before finding out that he owns the place. And of course, he’s incredibly good looking.

But you’re just window shopping. At least that’s what you tell yourself…

No one does naughty & nice quite like bestselling author Tessa Bailey, and this new holiday romance does not disappoint. With a stocking stuffed full of Christmas vibes, workplace drama, a Ted Lasso-inspired male love interest, a reverse grumpy-sunshine, and lots of spice, Window Shopping is guaranteed to warm you up after a chilly winter hike in the snow (if you know what we mean).


Learn more and order your copy here

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter

Knives Out got a holiday rom com twist this year and we have to say, Ally Carter executed it perfectly.

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year checks all the boxes for an entertaining holiday read, including:

  • The enemies-to-lovers trope between two rival authors
  • A locked-room cozy mystery set in a countryside estate
  • A story based on the famous disappearance of Agatha Christie
  • A cast of supporting characters that all have motive to be the killer
  • And a fast-paced, fun plot that makes the book impossible to put down

For days when the snow piles high and you’re stuck inside, this Christmas-set read will not only get you in the festive spirit, but will also have you snuggling deeper under the covers late into the night to find out whodunnit.

Learn more and order your copy here

THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE by Sarah Morgan

If you’ve ever felt burned out from your job, counting down the days until your next outdoor adventure, bestselling author Sarah Morgan is here with a contemporary novel that will remind you it’s ok to take a break to prioritize your wellbeing.

In this heartfelt story of friendship, finding yourself, and the surprising ties that bring us together, a stressed-out workaholic who has fabricated an entire family and love life (and even a dog!) to appear “normal” to her colleagues, discovers some shocking truths about her real family history when she’s forced to take a month-long wellness break over the holidays.

Perfect for fans of complex family relationships, Christmas Hallmark movies, and books by Rebecca Serle and Jojo Moyes, The Holiday Cottage is the ultimate feel-good read to enjoy with your book club or on an evening cozied up with your loved ones by the fire.

Learn more and order your copy now

As the holidays approach, there’s nothing like a cozy cabin to escape the rush and soak in the magic of the season. Picture a cup of cocoa in hand and a good book to curl up with. It’s the perfect place to slow down, enjoy the quiet, and let the magic of the holidays fill the air.

Written by Kristina Jagger with Harper Collins Canada & Rachel Naish Photo credits: Darrin Stevens, Sarah Vander Zaag, Simran Sahni and Jimmy Grover