Cozy Reading Is Finally Here (And I Still Can’t Quite Believe I Get to Say That)

Hi Besties, This post feels different. Usually I’m sitting down to recommend books I’ve read, share cozy ideas, or help you build a softer life. But today I get to share something that has quietly been living in my heart for months. I made a coloring book. Even writing those words feels surreal. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be writing this blog post about my own coloring book, one created especially for readers, I honestly don’t think I would’ve believed them. But here we are. Last week, Cozy Reading: Bold and Easy Coloring Book officially launched, and instead of rushing to tell everyone immediately, I’ve spent the past week simply sitting with it. Reading kind messages, watching people share, and seeing readers as excited about this little project as I was while dreaming it up. It’s been one of those rare moments where life feels both incredibly exciting and incredibly quiet all at once. So today I finally wanted to properly introduce you to it.

Meet Cozy Reading

Cozy Reading is a bold and easy coloring book created especially for book lovers. Not just people who occasionally read, people like us. The ones who treat bookstores and libraries like second homes. Who carry a book “just in case.” Who think rainy afternoons and fresh library books are basically therapy. Who understand that reading isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of slowing down. Inside you’ll find 50 cozy coloring pages filled with everything I love most about the reading life:

• Cozy reading nooks
• Steaming mugs of tea and coffee
• Blankets and pillows
• Bookshelves
• Candles
• Plants
• Cozy little rituals
• Bookish treasures

And my favorite tiny detail, every single page includes a book somewhere in the illustration. Because of course it does.

This Is More Than a Coloring Book

If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you’ve probably noticed something. I’ve been talking a lot about slowing down. Soft living, analog hobbies, and finding joy away from endless scrolling. That’s because I’ve been feeling that pull in my own life too. Somewhere along the way, it felt like every hobby needed to become productive. Every creative project needed to become content. Every free moment needed to be optimized, and I don’t want that anymore. I want hobbies that exist simply because they’re enjoyable. I want evenings that don’t revolve around notifications. I want to make beautiful things with my hands again. Coloring became one of those unexpected ways back. There’s something incredibly calming about choosing colors, filling a page, and watching your mind finally quiet down for a little while. No deadlines, no performance, and no pressure, just creativity for the sake of creativity. And that’s exactly the feeling I wanted this book to capture.

Why I Chose Bold and Easy Designs

I’ll admit something. I’ve bought beautiful coloring books before, and then immediately felt overwhelmed by them. Tiny details, intricate patterns, pages so complicated they somehow felt stressful instead of relaxing. That’s not what I wanted. I wanted a coloring book you could actually finish. One you could pick up after a long day without feeling like you needed artistic talent or endless patience. That’s why every illustration is:

• Bold and easy to color
• Large and beginner-friendly
• Filled with open spaces
• Relaxing instead of overwhelming
• Designed for adults, teens, and seniors alike

I wanted something that felt inviting from the very first page.

Created With Another Book Lover

One of my favorite parts of this project was getting to collaborate with an incredibly talented illustrator. Not only is she an amazing artist, she’s also a teacher, and a reader. That mattered so much to me because she understood exactly what we were trying to create. Every page was lovingly hand drawn with readers in mind. Together we spent months working on this and including all the tiny details that make reading feel cozy. The mugs, blankets, little stacks of books, candles, and the quiet corners. It became less about creating illustrations and more about capturing a feeling.

The Beginning of Something New: Welcome to Thyme Lane

Cozy Reading is also something else that’s incredibly special to me. It’s the very first project released under Thyme Lane. If you’ve been around here for a while, you know my blog has slowly become about more than books. It’s become about building a softer life. Finding joy in ordinary moments, romanticizing everyday routines, and creating little rituals that help us breathe again. Thyme Lane is simply another extension of that idea. A place where books, creativity, seasonal living, cozy hobbies, and slow afternoons all belong together. I honestly can’t wait to share what comes next.

What’s Inside Cozy Reading?

Inside you’ll find:

50 Unique Coloring Pages

Across five cozy sections, you’ll discover illustrations celebrating every part of the reading life. From peaceful reading corners to literary treasures, every page is designed to help you slow down.

Single-Sided Pages

Every illustration is printed on one side only to help reduce bleed-through and make coloring easier. If you enjoy using alcohol markers, I still recommend placing a spare sheet of paper behind the page you’re working on.

A Comfortable Square Format

The book is printed in an easy-to-hold 8.5 x 8.5-inch size that feels just right for coloring at your kitchen table, reading chair, or favorite cozy corner.

Bonus Coloring Tips

Whether you’re brand new to coloring or you’ve loved it for years, I included a few simple ideas to help you get started without overthinking it.

Why I Think Coloring and Reading Belong Together

Books have always helped me slow my mind down, and coloring does something surprisingly similar. Both ask you to focus on one thing. One page, one color, one story, one quiet hour. Neither hobby demands perfection. Neither requires you to perform for anyone else. They’re simply invitations to be present. I genuinely think that’s something many of us are craving right now.

One Week Later

It’s funny. I thought launching the book would be the emotional part. But honestly? The week after has meant even more. Seeing that people are actually ordering it is surreal, and reading messages from people who said it arrived exactly when they needed a slower hobby. Those moments are the ones I’ll remember. Because at the end of the day, this was never just about publishing a coloring book. It was about creating something that might become part of someone’s cozy evening, and that means more to me than I can properly put into words.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Cozy Reading for?

Anyone who loves books and cozy hobbies. It’s designed for adults, teens, and seniors, and the bold, simple illustrations make it beginner-friendly too.

Is this coloring book difficult?

Not at all. Every page features bold outlines and simple, relaxing designs without tiny, intricate details.

What kinds of illustrations are inside?

You’ll find reading nooks, mugs, blankets, bookshelves, candles, cozy accessories, plants, and plenty of hidden books woven into every page.

Is this part of a series?

Yes! Cozy Reading is Book One in the Bold & Easy Coloring Books series from Thyme Lane, and I already have more cozy ideas waiting to become future books.

Final Thoughts

When I started this blog, I never imagined it would eventually lead me here. To creating books instead of only talking about them. To collaborating with wonderful artists. To building something that hopefully helps people slow down in a small but meaningful way. It still feels a little unreal, and maybe that’s why I’ve spent this past week soaking it all in instead of rushing on to the next thing. I’m trying to get better at celebrating the moments that once felt impossible. This is one of them. So if you’ve already picked up Cozy Reading, thank you, truly. Every order, every kind message, every photo you’ve shared has meant more than you probably realize.

And if you’ve been looking for a cozy hobby that doesn’t ask anything from you except an hour of your time and a handful of colored pencils, I genuinely hope this little book finds its way to you. Your cozy hour starts now. And tell me, Besties: what’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day? Mine usually involves a book, a mug of tea, and now, if I’m being completely honest, a coloring page waiting on the table.