The monsoon edit: books, playlists, and other things to fall in love with alone

There’s a very specific kind of person who thrives in the monsoon. You’ll spot them curled up by a rain-speckled window, sipping an overpriced cup of tea, and flipping through a book covered in sticky notes and annotations, fully convinced that they are the protagonist of some indie rom-com. The rest of us, meanwhile, are just trying not to slip on slick pavements, dodge puddles, and avoid that one smelly, damp person on the train. Ew.

Monsoon content usually comes with instructions: find a lover, share a shawl, walk barefoot through wet grass, secretly hating every second of it. Reality check? Most of us are indoors, cancelling plans, blaming the weather for everything, and looking for ways to pass the time without sliding back into conversations we promised ourselves we’d end months ago. Sure, the rain brings all kinds of feels—but that doesn’t mean you need to message him again.

This isn’t a guide to manifesting romance in the rain. Trust me, we’ve been there… or have we? This is for people who want to romanticise staying in: eating straight from the pan in pyjamas like a hooligan, bingeing on stories that make your heart ache, and falling for things that don’t talk back—highly recommended. Welcome to your monsoon moodboard: solo edition.

Quiet books for loud weather

Some books aren’t just meant to be read—they’re meant to be experienced. Perfect for curling up under a soft blanket with the rain tapping against the window, these stories are companions for your emotional spirals, your introspection, or simply for staring into space with a cat on your lap.

We Were Liars by E Lockhart

A teenage mystery with a haunting twist. Yes, it’s the one adapted into an Amazon series. Short on attention? Watch it. In the mood for a slow-burn monsoon thrill? Read it and let it linger.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold series by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

A little surreal, a little sad. This series centres on a tiny Tokyo café where time travel is possible—but only if you return before your coffee goes cold. A quiet, bittersweet exploration of regret, hope, and second chances.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Gripping, gloomy, and impossible to put down. This psychological thriller is perfect for those rainy afternoons when you want to forget the world, and maybe even ignore your messages.

She and Her Cat by Makoto Shinkai

A profoundly emotional story told from a cat’s point of view. Existential, reflective, and surprisingly moving—it will change how you see the strays in your neighbourhood.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

A psychological thriller wrapped in a romantic twist. Think rain-soaked streets, betrayal, secrets, and a plot that will mess with your head in the best possible way.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai

Soft, nostalgic, and utterly comforting. A story where food and forgotten memories collide—best read with a warm drink in hand, and absolutely not while hungry and sad.

Music for when you’re main charactering in the rain

Sometimes the soundtrack of your monsoon mood matters just as much as the weather. These tracks are for when you want to be alone with your thoughts, feel deeply, and pretend you are the star of your own cinematic scene.

Tum Ho – Rockstar

For the dramatic, cinematic moment when you’re convinced the rain is falling just for you.

BTS – Spring Day

 

Like missing someone who’s never really left your heart. Warm, wistful, and hauntingly beautiful.

Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore

Skip to the sad songs. You know which ones. Trust us.

Cigarettes After Sex – Apocalypse

Whispery longing, moody vibes, and all the feelings. Dim lighting is optional but highly recommended.

Easy DIYs that won’t end in rage-quitting

You don’t need to decoupage an entire mirror. Small projects. No glue gun injuries. Maximum dopamine.

Make a monsoon moodboard

Not on Pinterest. On your wall. Print a few images, tear a few magazine pages, and stick them up like you’re 19 and in love with one of the boy bands. 

Paint anything

Tote bags, old coasters, leftover gift boxes. Don’t worry about skill. The goal is not beauty. The goal is 30 minutes where your brain shuts up and gets slightly creative in your own weird way. 

Organise one drawer

Not a whole cupboard. Not your entire closet. Just that one nightmare drawer you keep shoving receipts, cables and your life problems into. You’ll feel like you’ve accomplished something real. Because you have. Baby steps only. 

Get ghosted the real way

These horror films will linger in your head longer than a bad text conversation.

Hell House LLC

Found footage with genuine payoff. The scares feel earned, not cheap, and it builds a kind of dread that lingers well after the credits.

Incantation (Taiwan)

A chilling blend of superstition, documentary-style footage, and real unease. Don’t watch this if you’re home alone; especially not at night.

Remember (Japan)

A restrained, tightly written thriller that leans more on tension than gore. Feels almost cathartic, until it doesn’t.

Savageland

Shot like a small-town documentary, but it unravels into something deeply unsettling. The horror is quiet, believable, which makes it worse.

Mama

Beautifully crafted and visually haunting. It’s less about jump scares and more about loss, grief, and what gets left behind.

Get a good breakfast with yourself

For when comfort food & cosy mood shouldn’t come with a to-do list. 

Mag Street Café (Byculla)

Big tables, steady playlists, and warm pastries. Easy to sit alone with a book while it rains outside.

Poetry by Love and Cheesecake (Bandra, Juhu, more)

Good for solo breakfasts and quiet afternoons. The windows fog up when it pours, but no one rushes you out.

Subko (various locations)

You can order once and stay for hours. Comforting coffee, quiet corners, and a familiar soundtrack of rain and keyboards.

Leaping Windows (Versova)

Tucked away and good for slow days. Comics, hot chocolate, and the sound of rain on glass.

Darry’s House (Bandra)

Solo-friendly, calm, and beautifully built. The kind of place where you take yourself on a date with books and soft music. 

Featured image credit: Pexels

Also read: Your Guide to ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Book Series

Also read: Team Cosmopolitan’s morning motivations: dramatic, delulu, and slightly unhinged