Is "Cozy Lit" Just Peak Escapism? 🤔☕

The Deets

Okay, fam, listen up! There's this genre blowing up called "cozy lit." Apparently, it started in Japan and Korea, and it's all about the vibes. Like, forget plot twists and deep meanings; this stuff is about the *aesthetic* and the *feels*. We talkin' cats, tea, rain, the ocean – you get the picture. It's been feminized by Western publishers, especially in the romance genre, if you're into that.

Japanese and Korean books in general are having a moment. They're even winning awards, which is a major W for representation. Their books build worlds, and it shows in their award wins. But the cozy niche has been taken.

Examples? Think stuff like *Before the Coffee Gets Cold* and *Menu of Happiness*. It's all about that chill energy.

But here's where it gets a little sus. Some people are saying cozy lit is just another form of digital escapism, just like scrolling through TikTok for hours. Short chapters, cute aesthetics, constant stream of good vibes – sounds kinda addictive, right?

And the West? They're starting to remix cozy lit. Some books are incorporating more explicit scenes, especially in romance.

But, let's be real. It sells. People are searching for things that feel genuine and honest. All this cozy lit might just be filling that craving.

The real tea, though: is this cultural exchange, or is it cultural co-opting? It's a slippery slope, fam. Are we appreciating the art, or just turning it into another aesthetic to consume? The cozy niche can be used to say nothing, and it is.

Speaking of Japan, Japanese culture is hella popular right now, and it shows. Cozy Lit has reached fever pitch in the West thanks to social media.