What is “Healing Fiction”? (And Where to Get Started Reading It)

Healing fiction is, as the name implies, a genre of fiction that feels healing. Originating in Japan and South Korea, healing fiction has become a global phenomenon. In some ways, it can feel very similar to cozy fiction: it’s gentle, character-driven, and tends to have a happy ending. But healing fiction is its own distinct brand of storytelling. It’s quite common for it to be composed of interlinked chapters that read like short stories, and to include magical elements such as talking cats or locations that only exist at certain times of the month or year. Its focus on healing sets it apart from conventional magical realism (even though there can definitely be some strong overlap). Get 15% off annual All Access memberships for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot’s 15th anniversary! Savings amount to more than 3 months of free unlimited access to our entire content archive, plus features like Collections and the New Release Index. Claim your savings and start leveling up your reading life. Check Your Shelf Sign up to receive Check Your Shelf, the Librarian’s One-Stop Shop For News, Book Lists, And More. The healing can happen on two levels: the characters find healing, and ...