The arrival of winter calls for books with stories capable of warming you up as much as a hot drink. On cold days, intense romances, reunions marked by tropes second chance stories and narratives about the pleasures of love become perfect reading for those looking for excitement, passion with good humor, irresistible chemistry and characters that conquer you from the first pages.

Between delicate reflections, human connections and stories full of sensitivitythe reading suggestions below work almost like a warm blanket — perfect for slowing down the pace of readers’ routines. Whether to sigh, relax or just enjoy the weather with a good cup of coffee, the beginning of winter is the perfect excuse to dive into engaging narratives. Check it out:

1. You don’t belong here

In this young adult novel by Arlene Diniz, Lauren and Adam are forced to live together on a daily basis, even though they carry hurts and completely different views on life. But between difficult conversations and shared challenges, their relationship evolves from tension and mutual judgment to a connection capable of transforming your stories. The release from Editora Mundo Cristiano delivers a sensitive narrative about second chances, forgiveness and the discovery that love can emerge where you least expect it.

2. Botero family love pharmacy

In this cozy healing fiction, written by South Korean Lee Sun-Young, a small pharmacy hidden in a Seoul alley promises to heal broken hearts with mysterious love potions. As different clients cross paths with the Botero family, traumas, grief, family pressures and repressed desires come to the surface in a sensitive narrative about affection, human connections and the search for the true meaning of life.

3. Cakes, stories and affectionate memories

A cake can also be a warm hug in winter. Written by psychologist and gastronome Gilson Pinheiro, this is a book to try new recipes and reconnect with the affective memories related to food. The work invites readers to make peace with food by showing how it is related to different emotions and sensations, such as celebrations, gratitude, unity, patience and simplicity.

4. I ask Mr. Walker

Years after an unresolved passion, Charlie Kane meets Danny Walker, her brother’s best friend and now the charismatic CEO of the company where she works. Between fun annoyances and looks full of feelings that never disappeared, the two need to deal with the past while discovering that perhaps there is still room for love. With humor, romance and lots of chemistry, author Rosa Lucas delivers a light, engaging and passionate story published by the AMORE label.

5. Who Are You Before the Water?

What if the elements of nature could talk about us? In this book by Juka Ladeira, water, earth, fire and air take on the voice of the narrative and observe the human behavior from a perspective that often goes unnoticed. Throughout the conversations, the elements demonstrate wisdom and ancestral memory, taking the reader through a kind of reflective journey that questions who we are in the world.

6. My demonic boyfriend

Among the jazz bars of Montreal, a talented violinist meets someone who finally sees her art and all the versions of herself. Mixing fantasy, romance and humor, bestseller Aurora Ascher creates an engaging story about new beginnings, belonging and unexpected connections. As a mysterious prince tries to leave the past behind, the two discover that love can emerge in the most unlikely places.

By Gabriela Cuerba