Published Oct 10, 2026, 8:55 PM EDT
Yuliya Geikhman has been writing professionally for over 17 years. She started out in the MMO scene with Pando Media Booster and now dives into everything gaming at Screen Rant. She's a lifelong gamer, a relentless industry sleuth, and a passionate follower of everything happening in the games industry.
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Any fan knows that Studio Ghibli films have a certain vibe to them that makes them stand out. You just know when you're watching a Ghibli film, from its beautiful hand-crafted animations to the cozy and wholesome atmosphere, even in the face of darker and more complex themes.
If you've been chasing more of that wholesome feel, you can find it inside a book (or 25). Whether you're looking for a whimsical magical adventure like Kiki's Delivery Service or a darker title that still feels like a warm hug like Howl's Moving Castle, you can find it in one of these books.
Cozy Books With Ghibli Movie Adaptations
The Books That Inspired The Movies
Some people don't realize that many Studio Ghibli movies are actually based on books. These are just as wholesome as their movie adaptations, and worth a read for any fans of the animation studio.
- Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono (Published: January 25, 1985 / Purchasable here): A young witch travels to a new town, where she befriends the locals and learns how to find magic in the ordinary, and in herself.
- Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (Published: April 1, 1986 / Purchasable here): Sophie is turned into an old woman by a witch and embarks on a journey to restore her youth with Howl and his magical traveling castle.
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton (Published: 1952 / Purchasable here): Inspiring The Secret World of Arrietty, this novel follows a family of tiny people and their daughter, who's determined to befriend a human even though it's against the rules.
- When Marnie Was There by Joan G. Robinson (Published: 1967 / Purchasable here): A lonely girl befriends the strange Marnie, who teaches her the meaning of friendship then vanishes, leaving the girl to uncover Marnie's secrets.
- A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (Published: November 1968 / Purchasable here): A fantasy book about the tests and tribulations of a young wizard in a rustic, cozy world.
- The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba (Published: 1975 / Purchasable here): In this book, which inspired Spirited Away, a young girl visits a small village and is transported to a misty world that isn't as it seems.
Magical Wholesome Books With Ghibli Vibes
For Fans Of Kiki's Delivery Service And Arrietty
Studio Ghibli is known for its magical atmosphere. Every movie feels like it's bursting at the seams with wonder and whimsy, even when it's technically not a fantasy. These books will make you feel the same way:
- The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson (Published: September 5, 2020 / Purchasable here): When Yanka discovers that she's turning into a bear, she leaves on a journey to discover who she really is.
- Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch by Julie Abe (Published: August 4, 2020 / Purchasable here): Eva visits a peaceful coastal village on a journey to become a novice witch, and finds herself and the town directly in the path of a destructive magical storm.
- Flying Witch by Chihiro Ishizuka (Published: December 9, 2013 / Purchasable here): This beautiful, slow-paced manga follows Makoto, who moves in with her family in the countryside to learn more about magic.
- The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill (Published: August 9, 2016 / Purchasable here): A kind but misunderstood and hunted forest witch raises a young girl left as a sacrifice as her own daughter. But on the girl's 13th birthday, her dangerous powers threaten to emerge.
- Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz (Published: November 18, 2025 / Purchasable here): Violet, who used to be a villain's witch apprentice, opens up a flower shop and deals with gorgeous but grumpy neighbors, her sentient plant, and a strange blight. (My colleague Carrie Lambertsen is currently reading an ARC—keep an eye on her page for a potential writeup!)
- The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (Published: January 10, 2017 / Purchasable here): The first book in a trilogy, this Russian fairytale-inspired book has everything you need in a good story—evil stepmothers, magical monsters, and a young but brave heroine.
Cottagecore Books With A Studio Ghibli Countryside Vibe
For Fans Of My Neighbor Totoro And When Marnie Was There
One of the distinguishing characteristics of Ghibli animations is the loving portrayal of the countryside. You can almost feel the sunlight on your skin and the grass under your feet as you watch. These books take you to the same wonderful countryside between their pages:
- A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Published: July 13, 2021 / Purchasable here): A tea-making monk and a robot embark on a peaceful journey together to find the answer to the robot's pressing question: "What do people need?"
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (Published: 1908 / Purchasable here): The classic cottagecore tale of an orphan named Anne (with an E) as she learns to live with and love her new family.
- The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst (Published: July 9, 2024 / Purchasable here): A librarian of magical tomes is exiled from her home when her library goes up in flames, so she sets up in a small town selling jam. But things are never that simple, and she soon has her hands full thanks to her use of forbidden magic and her nosy—but handsome—neighbor.
- Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy (Published: September 8, 2026 / Purchasable here): A book witch joins forces with a handsome rogue to find and retrieve a stolen grimoire, encountering magical plant pirates, whimsical beings, and maybe even some romance.
Dreamlike Portal And Adventure Fantasies For Ghibli Fans
For Fans Of Spirited Away And The Cat Returns
Portal fantasy books transport you to another world, often through surprising doorways you didn't know existed. Many Studio Ghibli films throw their unsuspecting protagonists into magical alternative worlds, where they have to learn to adapt, survive, and eventually return home changed. These cozy portal and adventure titles feel like they could be Ghibli movies:
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (Published: September 10, 2019 / Purchasable here): January has the power to find and open doors to other worlds. She follows these doors and a mysterious book on an adventure to discover her own identity.
- The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente (Published: May 10, 2011 / Purchasable here): Fairyland is in danger, and one courageous girl dives right in to save it and figure out her place in the world.
- Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao (Published: January 14, 2025 / Purchasable here): When a new pawnshop owner finds her store ransacked and her father missing, she joins a mysterious customer on a journey of discovery atop paper cranes, through a cloud-top night market, and beyond.
- The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (Published: February 22, 2022 / Purchasable here): Joon offers herself to the Sea God in place of her brother's beloved to calm the raging storms above water. But the Sea God is sleeping, and Joon soon finds herself in a spirit world of mystical beasts on a journey to wake him, before it's too late for her beloved home.
- By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison (Published: January 1, 2021 / Purchasable here): Three tiny ancient spirits embark on an adventure to save their home with the help of the animals and birds they meet along the way.
Cozy Ghibli-esque Books With Darker Vibes
For Fans Of Howl's Moving Castle And Princess Mononoke
Cozy doesn't always shy away from more complex and difficult topics. Many Ghibli films have underlying social and cultural issues, like the clash between man, technology, and nature. Like the daker cozy titles in the Ghibli catalog, these books deal with serious themes while maintaining that distinctly wholesome Ghibli atmosphere.
- Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura (Published: May 11, 2017 / Purchasable here): Seven middle school students suddenly find themselves able to walk in and out of a portal to visit a mysterious girl in a wolf mask. Little by little, it becomes apparent that all the kids are running from something, from bullying to pressure and trauma at home.
- A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge (Published: May 1, 2012 / Purchasable here): A young girl travels through an underground world where faces are completely blank and emotions are displayed only by the elite using masks created by skilled craftsmen.
- A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke (Published: April 2, 2024 / Purchasable here): Aubry is on the run from a horrible affliction that threatens to kill her if she ever stays in one place for too long. As she travels from place to place and weaves in and out of a mysterious other realm, she discovers the joyful and horrific side of human beings.
- The Traveling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (Published: 2012 / Purchasable here): This tale is told from the point of view of a cat who's taken on a trip by his owner. Before long, it becomes clear that there may be more to this journey than just saying hi to some friends.
There are so many options for Studio Ghibli fans who also love to read. So if you're searching for some cozy, wholesome, and often dreamlike books, there are so many to choose from.
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