When life gets stressful, there’s always one tried and true remedy I can count on to lift my spirits: basking in the coziness of a Nancy Meyers movie. From The Parent Trap and Something’s Gotta Give to Father of the Bride and The Holiday, Meyers knows how to weave romance, humor, complex family dynamics, and a heartfelt story with powerhouse leading ladies who typically reside in a dream home.
Popping on one of these beloved films is always a comfort, but, admittedly, I am deep in my reading era. These days, I’m finding joy in audiobook car rides, reading before bed, and tracking books on Goodreads. Still, I often want to escape to an easy, optimistic world where flights are promptly booked to a serene English cottage after a bad day.
I’ve been gravitating toward books that follow this same formula. If you’re a reader who loves Nancy Meyers as much as I do, I’ve got good news: There are some stellar books out there that hit the spot! These 12 titles capture that unique Meyers movie magic and will have you crying happy tears a la Chessy in The Parent Trap.
Screenwriter Nora Hamilton is known for writing corny TV movies for the romance channel. After an ugly divorce leaves her with credit card debt and no support for raising two kids, she decides to broaden her horizons and write a script based on her crumbled marriage. The movie gets picked up by a major studio and Nora is offered additional payment if it can be filmed on the property of her historic home. In true Nancy Meyers fashion, Nora has a quaint little tea house where she does all of her writing, navigates her relationship with her children in the wake of the divorce, and learns how to deal with the hunky Hollywood star meandering around the premises… It’s a good time!
As Hannah Brooks’ personal life falls apart, she throws herself more deeply into her career as a bodyguard for a high-profile protection agency. Tasked with keeping celebrity Jack Stapleton safe from a worrisome stalker, Hannah must spend time with a man she assumes is self-centered, arrogant, and entitled… and, as fate would have it, get to know his family, too. This book has all of the Nancy Meyers makings: a strong female lead, a charming family ranch, a couple of fun twists and turns, and plenty of romance to boot.
Emma Blair has the perfect life: She’s married to her high school sweetheart, has an exciting career, and travels all over the world. When her husband, Jesse, goes missing and is presumed dead after a helicopter crash, Emma’s perfect life unravels, and she’s forced to embrace an identity without him. Time passes and Emma returns to her hometown, where she falls for her childhood friend, Sam. The two get engaged and all feels right in the world… until Emma learns that Jesse is alive and well. Jenkins’ novel explores the idea of soulmates and what it means to stay true to yourself (complete with Meyers-esque sentimentality from beginning to end).
Lulu is engaged to an ultra-wealthy man who treats her right. The problem is, she doesn’t love him. Caught between fixing her family’s money problems and the societal expectations of upper-class Shanghai, Lulu is certain she’s destined for a loveless marriage until her best friend suggests stealing all of the gift money from the wedding and fleeing the country. Soon, Lulu and her friends are planning a heist in hopes that the large sum of cash will be the answer to their problems. Like any good Nancy Meyers movie, Women of Good Fortune has a cast of bold female characters and a unique tale of love and friendship.
Meyers loves a career-driven woman and so do I! I’ve read each of Emily Henry’s novels, and this one takes the cake. It’s centered around Nora, a workaholic literary agent, who leaves the big city to visit her sister in a small, picturesque town. There, she continues to bump into editor Charlie (The Holiday’s Arthur Abbott might call this a ‘meet cute’), and a delightfully funny and heartfelt story ensues.
If you’re not familiar with Jasmine Guillory, it’s time to add her books to your library STAT! This rom-com queen knows how to write a leading lady and Royal Holiday, in particular, is a worthwhile adventure for any bookworm who needs an escape. The protagonist of this story is Vivian, a middle-aged woman who accompanies her daughter on a work trip to England to assist the royal family. Like Meyers, Guillory isn’t afraid to embrace a story about finding love later in life. This, paired with the whimsical setting, makes for a truly cozy escape.
When Leena Cotton gets put on a two-month sabbatical over a mistake at work, she flees to her grandmother’s quiet rural home. It quickly becomes clear that she’s not the only one in need of a change of pace. Her grandmother, Eileen, is ready to find love before her 80th birthday. Naturally, the two decide to switch lives in true Cameron Diaz-Kate Winslet fashion, with Leena tending to her grandmother’s cottage while Eileen heads to the big city. It’s an adorable story complete with humor, love, and self-discovery.
Fans of a certain British baking show in the U.K. will adore this sweet read. Rosaline Palmer is trying to make ends meet for her young daughter, Amelie, and it appears that luck might be on her side if she wins a popular TV baking competition. As expected, this book is chock full of desserts galore as it walks readers through each baking challenge. It’s a quippy story following the Nancy Meyers recipe with Rosaline navigating difficult family relationships, making friends and enemies by way of the other contestants, and exploring unexpected budding romance.
What would this list be if it didn’t include a book about twins trading lives? Enter The Holiday Swap, a festive little read that can be enjoyed any time of year. Charlie and Cass are identical twins longing to escape their own reality, so they do what any set of identical twins would do in crisis: switch lives. Pepper a little bit of holiday magic into the mix and you’ve got yourself a concoction of cozy movie tropes.
Another title that transcends seasons is The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. It’s Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic meets Nancy Meyers as it follows Vivienne, a witch living in a small town, who must solve a local mystery with her ex. Such fun! Don’t let the Halloween vibes fool you; this book is incredibly cozy with its quaint cobblestone neighborhood, an eclectic home that Vivenne shares with her aunt and cousin, and a quirky little family store in the middle of town.
Royal Holiday author Jasmine Guillory gives us a completely different romance in While We Were Dating. Glitzy moviestar Anna Gardiner is laser-focused on fame and decides to enter into a fake public relationship with a smooth-talking advertising executive named Ben Stephens. Since the two have already become fast friends, spending time together in the public eye should be effortless… right? Enter real feels and a little bit of family drama.
Emily Henry also makes this list twice because she completely captures the clever dialogue we know and love in any Nancy Meyers film. Happy Place tells the story of Wyn and Harriet, an ex-couple who endure a getaway with friends despite not telling them about the breakup. Henry writes an endearing cast of characters and, as the story progresses, Wyn and Harriet are forced to reflect on their relationship, what went wrong, and the feelings that still linger. It’s giving Nick Parker and Elizabeth James.
