The beginning of this book was so retry exciting and I honestly was very engaged for the first 40% of the book but then it got too cozy for my taste and I lost by interest for the story until about 80% in.
I did love Caz and Kiera’s anxiety was really relatable. I also think that although the spells used in the story were not really that powerful still helped the Islanders to achieve what they needed .

This one is a lush cottagecore tale full of stolen spellbooks, unexpected friendships, sweet jams, and even sweeter love.

🪴Plant Best Friend
🪄Spells & Magic
🧶Cozy Vibes

This book wasn’t my favorite. I think I was expecting more world building and also more information about running the actual spell shop. I felt like it lacked both. I felt the plot was almost ~too low stakes~ for me. I’m sad this wasn’t my fav but SO many people love it so I’d recommend if it interests you, check it out!
Side note, Caz is the best sidekick ever🪴

This one comes out July 9th, and the physical copy has LAVENDER SPRAYED EDGES!!!

Absolutely loved this precious fantasy romance book! As a librarian, a really loved and connected with Kiela! So light and uplifting and I highly recommend it!

A magically sweet story about helping others. Kiela is a librarian who likes her solitary life among the books. Keila is a sweet character who shows great strength, growth, and kindness. She does the ultimate librarian thing and shares the knowledge of the books. There are great characters in this quirky little town that help her along a journey of finding happiness that she didn’t even know she was on. They find kindness in (almost) everyone and show that people can work together.

I absolutely loved this cozy fantasy. The characters, plot, and worldbuilding were very well developed. They immediately sucked me in, and made me fall in love with this story. I especially loved the characters Kiela and Caz, and the cozy atmosphere of Kiela’s cottage. I will definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone and everyone.

A lovely cozy fantasy perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and Can't Spell Treason Without Tea. Lots of nesting, bookish, garden, cooking, and shopkeeper scenes.

I really wanted to like this book, but I found it to be boring. This was my first cozy fantasy read, and I don’t think it’s for me. I loved the idea of it all and it was very cozy, but it was extremely low stakes which just made me bored. Just simply not for me!

I DNFed this because I just could not get into the story. I wanted to enjoy this but I could not. The narrator was good

This is such a cute, cozy book! It's the perfect book to curl up with if you're needing a break from something heavier or just want to feel like you're being given a warm hug. While some elements of the story are a little convenient, working out for Kiela in a way that seems a little improbable, overall the story wrapped up and flowed well.

I really enjoyed this book, but I think I would have preferred to read the physical copy or e-book to the audiobook. I tend to prefer audio, but the narrator for this one tried to display strong emotion, but ultimately ended up sounding like she was going to cry constantly. This affected my overall listening experience, but not enough to affect how much I loved this story. I think this is one I'm going to be adding to my physical shelves for a reread!

Thank you to NetGalley for this early release!

Big thanks to Netgalley and Sarah Beth Durst for the audioARC in exchange for a review.

There's an escaped librarian, tragic past, magic, and talking plants. The background storyline is finding your roots, going home, connecting to your past, finding yourself. And of course, finding love.

This turned out to not be my typical read. The description was adult, romantacy, and cozy , but it was more rom-com, middle grade romance, with a huge helping of cozy. It all works out in the end.

The narrator was decent and the characters were well played.

I would call this a good read for the young folks starting out in romantacy, very clean and safe.

4 stars

this book gives the cozy fantasy with highish stakes and a slight small town childhood “friends to lovers!

i loved the cozy feels of this book! i loved the descriptiveness of the town and landscapes!

however, i did not like the lack of detail in the characters. i feel like there was nowhere near enough description in the characters and would have loved to actually be able to picture the characters and not just “he has big muscles” or “the blue hair.” i also feel like it needed just a little bit more editing.

as always, thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for approving me for the audiobook ARC!

୨⎯ 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒔 ⎯୧
rating: 3.75
plot: 4
characters: 3.5
writing: 4
romance: 3.75
spice: 0.75
narration: 4

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

°•*⁀➷ what to expect
cosy fantasy
found family
illegal magic
sentient plant
isolated island

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

°•*⁀➷ the plot
this cozy fantasy starts with the magic library being in a crisis and burned and our FMC Kiela and her sentient plant friend Caz grabbing as many books as they can and hauling out of there to her old hometown/island to save the books and escape the disasters. there she has to hide her spell books and spells and try to stay safe since magic and spells and everything of the sort is illegal to use. the world building is very confusing if you think about it, especially when certain characters come into play. we don't have a lot of information of the city or their politics and it's just all around confusing to sort out.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

°•*⁀➷ the characters
𝜗𝜚 kiela: a solid character she doesn't have anyone but her plant Caz and is all alone on this island starting new at her old house with no one to go to and among meeting the islanders and becoming friends with them, she starts opening up more. she wasn't all that interesting to me, but I enjoyed her willingness to help the island and the people.

𝜗𝜚 caz: let's be honest this spider plant stole the show, he was my favorite character and thing about this book. he was created from illegal magic and had fond feelings of his creator and thought of Kiela as his family and friend and was so cute and funny!

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

°•*⁀➷ the romance
the romance was cute and simple, I did wish for more sparks and chemistry between the two but regardless it was really cute. a man of few words but many actions, he reminded me of Luke from Gilmore Girls.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

°•*⁀➷ the narration
the narrator did an absolutely great job narrating the book and bringing the characters to life and giving each one a unique voice.

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

ᯓ ᡣ𐭩 do i recommend? — yes!

This book is exactly what I wanted but didn’t get from Legends and Lattes. It’s whimsical and heartfelt with a ton of little magical creatures throughout. There were stakes, but the story never felt anything besides bright.

I liked: the awkward main characters, the audiobook narrator, the magical atmosphere, Kiela’s best friend is a talking plant, and the forging of a community

I didn’t like: almost every aspect I enjoyed is underdeveloped. I didn’t feel the romance, the political intrigue doesn’t go deep enough, what happened with Kiela’s parents is never explained, and there weren’t enough memories shown on page to feel anything about Kiela connecting to her roots. I think that anything marketed as “cozy fantasy” tends to end up with these issues.

All that being said, I did adore this book. The atmosphere, descriptions of magic, and Kiela making jam and healing an island made this a perfect light read. I just wanted more emotional payoff from the romance and found family. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a cozy cottagecore romantasy book, in the same vein as Legends and Lattes. I listened to the audiobook and it made me feel like it was written and narrated by Rapunzel from Tangled, it definitely added to the whimsy of the story. I felt like this was a little bit higher stakes than the average cozy fantasy but there’s still a happily ever after. The side characters were great, especially the plants which again added to the Disney vibes. There’s also found family and a bit of humour so overall really we’ll rounded in terms of theme. I think there’s enough characters that they could get a spin off but I’m not sure what the plot would be since it seems like most things were resolved. I would pick this up if your looking for your next fun cozy fantasy book

Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Beth Durst and Macmillan Audio for this ALC

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for my free audiobook for review.

Audio narration review:
The audio narration by Caitlin Davies truly brought this story to life for me. Her skillful performance made it easy to distinguish between the different characters and vividly conveyed the underlying tensions and emotions they were experiencing. I felt immersed in the narrative, able to tangibly sense the impending peril the protagonists faced. The narrator's expressive delivery amplified the visceral impact of the dramatic events unfolding. Listening to this audiobook provided an enriching, multi-sensory experience that enhanced my overall enjoyment and engagement with the intricate web of relationships and the captivating world-building. Caitlin Davies' talented narration was a highlight that elevated my appreciation for this compelling work.

Book review:
The characters in this enchanting tale are undeniably endearing, captivating the heart with their irresistible charm. The bond between Keila, the spirited protagonist, and Caz, the enchanting spider plant, unfurls into heartwarming and often humorous moments, adding depth and warmth to the narrative.

Set against the backdrop of a quaint island, where an eclectic mix of whimsical characters—both human and magical beings—reside, the ambiance exudes an irresistible sense of magic. The close-knit community fosters a profound feeling of belonging, while the presence of a grumpy character amidst the amiable ones adds a touch of delightful complexity.

This delightful fantasy offers readers a cozy refuge, offering a warm embrace. Each character is multifaceted, contributing to a delightful love story and a heartwarming tale of found family. Above all, it is a narrative of new beginnings and the discovery of unexpected kindness in the most unlikely places.

Sarah Beth Durst’s "The Spellshop" is a beautifully crafted romantasy debut that weaves together elements of cottagecore charm, whimsical magic, and heartfelt romance. I adore the premise of this book! The writing is evocative and engaging, drawing readers into a world where magic is real, and love is as sweet as homemade jam. The Spellshop is a heartwarming and enchanting read that will leave readers with a smile on their faces and a craving for more. I would recommend this book to fans of romantasy and cottagecore aesthetics. It’s a tale of love, magic, and self-discovery that promises to heal your heart and feed your soul.

Amid violent political upheaval, a librarian and her companion sentient plant task themselves with saving as many books as possible. When the library burns, the two sail their boat full of books to the one place Kiela can think of as safe: a remote pastoral island. She intends to hide among the books in her family's old cottage and become a hermit, but she isn't prepared for the warmth and community she finds on the island. But despite the friendly residents, all is not well on the island, and despite her aversion to illegal spellcasting, Kiela realizes that she must do whatever it takes to help the people who are willing to make her feel at home.

This book gives major small town romance vibes, but it also has a fine collection of magical awe-inspiring moments and beautiful writing. It's cozy, but it's also episodic with adventure after adventure popping up. I love the gentle style of this book, and while I think the pacing was a little too rushed toward the end, I was truly touched by the delightful characters and their insistence on doing what's right. I particularly appreciate the depth of character in Caz, our clever sentient plant sidekick. This book is currently at the top of my list for "what fictional world would you like to visit?" and I hope there will be more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

What's an anti-social librarian to do when rebels overthrow the king (literally) and set fire to her beloved library? Why, save the books, of course. Or as many as possible. These aren't just any books, but magical tomes containing all the spells known across the kingdom and forbidden to any but the select few. Kiela, along with her trusty assistant, a talking spider plant named Caz, absconds with as many magic tomes as possible and sets sail to the secluded island where she'd lived as a child, hoping to protect the magical knowledge until the time comes to share it once again. With luck, the new regime would give more than just the elite magicians access to the magic once again. While she considers that she was saving priceless knowledge, the powers that be would consider it theft, and merely being in possession of the forbidden spells was a capital offense.

Her plan to stay sequestered in her old family cottage along with her precious books backfires almost from the start when a handsome neighbor with more good intentions than respect for personal space comes crashing into her hideaway, upending everything she thought she knew about her past, her present, and her future.

Filled with mythical creatures, fierce storms, imperial dangers, and the magic of friendship, Sarah Beth Durst's _The Spellshop_ wraps the reader in the warmth of homecoming and finding your place in the world.

The Spellshop is the epitome of cosy fantasy. After being introduced to Caz, a sentient spider plant, I was transfixed.

The story follows Kiela and Caz as they escape a city due to unrest and begin a new life on the faraway island where she was born. When she arrives, she find that the town is suffering with magical storms and dying trees, and we follow Kiela as she settles into her new life and integrates herself into this tight-knit community.

The characters in this are delightful and Caz may be one of my favourite characters ever. There are so many wholesome and funny moments between the characters that really made me wish I lived there. This book has everything I could want from cosy fantasy: found family, a cute non-human character, low(ish) stakes and a remote setting. I love all of the nature in The Spellshop, I could really imagine it like I was there.

There is a romance in this book but it's very slow burn and not a main focus of the plot. I was very happy about that and enjoyed seeing the friendship between the two characters grow which seemed much more realistic than if it was romance-heavy.

Overall I loved this book, and it's definitely one of the best cosy fantasy books I've read.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No spice
5⭐️ narrator

This was a great standalone cozy fantasy with a super sweet romance subplot. The world building was done really well, there was a lot of magic and magical creatures but nothing felt over explained.

I loved the obvious character growth with the FMC. She starts out so introverted and happy with just her books and sentient spider plant (I love Caz so much!) and slowly starts to let people in until she realizes she has a whole family. All the side characters were great, Caz and Meep were so cute!

I usually read books with broody morally grey MMCs, it was a nice change of pace to get a sweet cinnamon roll MMC who’s basically a walking green flag. The romance was a super sweet slow burn but he was obviously enamored with her from the start.

Overall I loved the book and would read more from the author in the future