THEM: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

ME: “…but! when the cover is this stunning, make an exception.”
Seriously, this is the prettiest cover, hats off to the designer on this.

QUICK REVIEW:

Okay let get down to business.
D.L. Soria isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade. The “elevator pitch” is
You’ve Got Mail x Magic.

Add a closed door scene. But also make it feel a little Hallmark worthy if they were having a cozy mystery week.

WHAT I LIKED:

- Sibling love, it’s one of my favorite troops. Yes, I even loved the sibling broom. 😁
- The dialogue.

MINOR TIFFS:

- I wanted less meeting-the-town and deeper fantasy detail. I felt the overall mage magic system a little too vague. I realize though I read a lot of fantasy and my bar is set high in this regard.
- I predicted a few plot turns… and though I’d love to pet myself on the back, I want to be surprised.

FAVORITE PART:

- “ ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,’ ” he quoted, which would have been more frightening if his voice ’weren’t shaking as hard as his legs. He earned himself several harsh looks with that—the market was a mainstay in the witch community. An elderly Latina woman in a nearby booth pointed a bony finger at him and hissed something in Spanish that I’m sure he thought was a bruja curse. (In fact, she told him to fuck off.)”

- But like the banter around the “Goddamn Dickosaurus” is a close second. 😅🦕

RECOMMENDED…
- For Fans of Lovelight Farms (B. K. Borison) & Ashley Poston. Add a sprinkle of Heather Fawcett vibes.
- When you’re mood reading needs some small town drama.
- When you are looking for an easy and smirk-worthy win in the Fall.
- When you need a book that shows love is love is love is love.

3.75/5 Rounded up, because I wish the Chanterelle Cottage was real. 😩

———
Awwwww, it baby’s first #netgalley review. (Sniff, sniff.) My thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.

Mystery, romance, and witchcraft, oh my! This enemies to lovers was so cute, kept me turning pages and giggling. This is another book I'm adding to reread for spooky season

The Cottage Around the Corner is a delightful book about enemies to lovers. Set in her parents magic shop, Charlie Sparrow hopes to take over running Chanterelle Cottage from. her parents. A mage opens a competing store across the street and they battle it out for survival of their shops. You've Got Mail meets Practical Magic at its best.