Loved the narrator and the story. It was a cozy cottage core fantasy romance. It has a love story, fun sentient plant companions, a chicken, found family and books. What else could you want?

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I’ve been quite conflicted about this one. I was SOOO looking forward to it because I love cozy fantasies. However, I almost DNFed early on. I found the FMC to be insufferable. This felt like a Disney movie - meaning written for a child or very young YA. There was nothing in this book that would make it considered adult, other than maybe the discussion about the MMC’s abusive father. I enjoy YA, but this felt young for me, and I don’t think it should be marketed as an adult fantasy.

I am glad I stuck it out until the end because the FMC does end up with some character development.

Other things I liked: a plant familiar/sentient plant (not something I’ve seen before), the cottagecore vibes with preparing homemade spells and remedies for the village, and the creative creatures featured.

Some things I did not like: the repetitiveness and the FMC one track mindset. I became very annoyed with her rumination about wanting to be left alone and how upset she was that the MMC was being NICE and showing up to help her without being invited. Also, I wish the world building was a bit more extensive, as I feel like it just presented these different villagers of different species without explaining anything about them, like why the FMC was blue, etc.

I felt that the narrator did a really good job with this on the audiobook side of things!

I absolutely adored this book, which is honestly no surprise, as it is my most anticipated book of the year.

The Spellshop is exactly what I'm looking for in cozy fantasy. Kiela, a librarian who has lived and worked in a magical library for most of her life, is forced to flee when a brewing rebellion results in the library burning down. Suddenly homeless, Kiela returns to her island home, accompanied by her assistant, a wise-cracking, sentient plant.

While the stakes are quite high at the beginning of the book (Kiela flees the library as it burns down, rescuing as many books as she can in the process), once she reaches the island where she grew up, the story takes on a decidedly cozy atmosphere. Her home has been swallowed by vegetation and Kiela doesn't know how she will survive without food and the support of the (suspicious) townsfolk. So, aided by the spellbooks that she *stole* from the library, and a handsome stranger, Kiela tries to carve out a place for herself on the island.

This is very much a slice-of-life story as Kiela learns how to survive on the island, both physically and emotionally. She is in constant fear of someone learning about her past as a librarian and about the books that she salvaged. As she comes to know more about the village and the villagers, she also learns that the world outside the library might have been a much darker place than she once realized. The romance is so sweet and satisfying, and I loved every minute I spent reading this.

Also, this was an audio ARC, and the narrator was fantastic. I'm very picky with narrators for audiobooks (a voice that doesn't click can turn me off of a book entirely), but Caitlin Davies was able to inject so much humor and heart into her narration that I never found my attention wandering while I was listening.

I can't thank the publisher and Netgalley enough for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was like sitting in front of the fire with a cozy blanket on a snowy day. It just felt warm and inviting and made my heart happy. From the beautiful cover art to the whimsy imagery, The Spellshop was five stars all day for me. I loved the FMC, Kiela and the growth she showed throughout. While she was a kind and thoughtful person from the beginning, watching her open her heart to new people and a new place was really heartwarming. Her supporting cast were absolutely charming, even the grumpy, unlikable neighbor (every small town has to have one!) Kiela and Larren were such a cute match and I loved watching them get to know each other. His sweet gestures like helping build her shelves, etc. were a lovely way for him to show his feelings for her in the best way he knows how. I have seen some reviewers complain that the book didn't dive further into the politics and magic that was introduced, but that definitely wasn't the point of the book and I was fine with the author keeping it simple here. Overall, the book was very well written, imaginative, and inventive. I would recommend this title to patrons looking for a sweet, cozy read with a magical twist.

I absolutely loved this book. I could not stop reading it!! I really hope this story continues because I would love to read more!!! This is a must read!! Pick it up today!!

What a sweet read! Magic, romance, and found family all wrapped up in a cozy setting.

I am new to cozy fantasy, so it was a bit hard for me not to have epic battles or agnst. However, the world building was beautiful and leaves you with that warm feeling. You have a villain, but you also have a village, and although I wanted a deep dive into the awesome systems of this world, I understand that cozy fantasy is beautiful worlds that make you feel good.

If you are looking for a whimsical summer read with fun creatures and characters, a light romance with a library/apothecary setting, this book is your jam!

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio/Bramble Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
4.5 Stars!
I. AM. OBSESSED.
This was everything I wanted in a cottagecore, cozy fantasy. With high enough stakes, there was a strong plot that pulled you right alongside Kiela and her sentient spider plant-Caz on a magical adventure.
I loved how Kiela felt the conflicting emotions of wanting to be alone with her books and wanting to make friends and be social. What book worm has not felt that way??
The magic was very unique, and it was adorable to read all the sentient plants come to life, especially with how Caz interacts with them. Caz has got to be one of the best side-kicks in any book ever. He is a tightly wound soil ball of anxiety and sass and he's easily the best part of this book.
There are magical/mythical creatures, talking plants, a cute and adorably awkward romance, and Sarah Durst did a great job of tossing in discussion of identity and pronouns and the importance of accommodations for all types of individuals.
Caitlin Davies does an incredible job telling this story. Her voices for all the unique characters stood out easily, and she's a pro at using inflection for emotional build-up and giving these characters dynamics. Caitlin gave so much personality to each character that there never felt like there was a lull or a pause in any of the storytelling. There were long pauses between chapters but since it's an early audiobook, I'm thinking that'll be fixed before pub but just wanted to note it here!
Team Caz! :)
Cannot recommend this one enough! If you loved Legends and Lattes and Honey Witch-this one is for you!!

This was the cozy fantasy I've been waiting for. Kiela is a strong character and I loved Caz's humor. There was just enough action to make the story flow, but the character development that I find cozy fantasy provides. I liked the wild created in The Spellshop, Durst thrust you into it, but it felt natural and believable all at the same time

Wonderful cozy fantasy. Absolutely loved the narrator for the audiobook. Her voice for Caz was one of my favorite parts of listening because it suited the character so well! Caz is absolutely the most wonderful side kick. Also found myself smiling hearing about the cactus as well! I loved the magic in this book and how Kiela used it to help others. Speaking of Kiela… her character was strong and kind. I loved how she slowly opened up to the people around her but still stayed herself.

What if you were a girl with blue skin and blue hair and you had a talking little plant pet and you went back to your childhood home and got cozy with your bob the builder neighbour and started making jams and cozying up to the rest of the village with magic? What if you were kind of shy and blunt and socially awkward and fumbled with being social a lot?

This was so freaking fun and sweet. I adored the cottagecore vibes in this.

Kiela and Caz (her animated spider plant sidekick) have to flee the Great Library of Alyssium when a revolution gets a tad out of hand. With five crates of books, and very limited other supplies, they escape to the tiny island Kiela grew up on, and never expected to see again. Thankfully, the locals are more than happy to help, because Kiela… well, she’s very book-smart but otherwise not exactly worldly, so attempting to cook dinner nearly sets her house on fire. You get the gist.

Magic is *technically* only allowed to be performed by sorcerers, but with no food, no relevant skills (the island doesn’t have a library full of grumpy scholars for her to assist), and limited time to adjust, Kiela and Caz decide some *small* illicit magic might be worth it - no one will notice after all. 👀

I absolutely loved the host of quirky characters, the tiny island they call home, and the grumpy x sunshine romance that develops through the story. If you’re a fan of cosy fantasy, I would absolutely recommend The Spellshop, and I can’t wait to read more from this author! 🤩

This cozy fantasy novel is perfect for bookstagrammers. It is sweet, has a love interest, and an obsessive love for books
The main character is an introvert who escapes a revolution that burns the capital and the library where she works. She returns to her cozy island to live in her cozy cottage where she was born. She saved the spell books. Although it's forbidden to cast spells, because authorities want to keep power and knowledge to themselves, she uses magic to help.
First, she needs to hide, but she also needs to survive and decides to make a jam shop infused with secret spells to help the people of the island, to improve their lives. Cas is an amazing (talking) spider plant assistant and the cactus is adorable. 

The book is a bit longer than it probably needed to be but as an audiobook, it's a great companion and escapism read. 

The narrator is perfect to this book giving the main character a Disney princess voice.

Found family, friendship, falling in love, character growth, accepting help, return of magic, sense of community, loyalty, paying it forward, cozy books, pastries, good food, tea, childhood friends, memories, neighbors, talking plant, introvert, anxiety, diverse characters, magical creatures, cottage, welcoming village, magic, books spell, garden... jam.

Thank you publisher , and netgalley for the audio copy.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love cozy fantasies, especially when the writing is beautiful. And when I saw one of my favorite authors was doing a cozy fantasy, I knew I had to read it. Let me just say, this book was my JAM. (Get it? Because, she sells jam??)

There were times when it seemed like things weren't going to go Kiela and Caz's way, but they were always quick with their solutions and, even when the stakes seemed high for something cozy, they seemed to stay on the softer side of things.

I loved the romance, the way the shop was created, the different magical creatures, the magic/spellwork, the world building, the plot... literally, I felt myself wanting to just snuggle up with some tea and toast with jam while listening.

And the best thing for audiobook lovers: the audio narrator did a wonderful job making you really feel cozy while listening. Highly recommend.

A librarian, magical creatures, forbidden magic, and an island setting, what's not to love? Oh, and a stunning cover! Unfortunately the telling of the tale fell a little flat for me. There was a little bit of danger, and little bit of suspense, some magic, and a tiny bit of romance. I wanted more depth in each of these areas and more detailed character development. All in all, a light, cozy read, perfect for a lazy summer day.

This is a super cute YA book filled with magic and mythical creatures. The found family that the FMC makes is so adorable and her little jam/magic shop is now something I would love to own. I love the cover and the fact that it will have sprayed edges!

However, I was a little disappointed because it is marketed as a romantasy book but really it’s a YA Fantasy that has a romance element to it. The two characters are super cute but with how much of a slow burn it is, it’s more of a side plot. And while this book is under 400 pages and I listened to it on audio it felt a little long. A lot of book is the FMC being anxious over all her choices.

Overall, this is a super cute read and if you want something simple and feel good I would recommend.

This was EXACTLY what I wanted out of a cozy fantasy romance!! It's precisely the right amount of coziness and small town vibes, but with high enough stakes that there's an engaging plot, and a cute slow-burn romantic subplot. Also the main character has a sentient spider plant named Caz as a companion!

The Spellshop follows Kiela and Caz as they flee the city and political unrest to her childhood home on a small island. Kiela had been a librarian and brought with her crates of forbidden spellbooks to save them. She's not great with people, but she's going to have to learn to be, what with a handsome neighbor dropping by to be helpful. In order to survive, she decides to open a jam shop from her cottage, while secretly offering useful but illegal spells as "remedies" to do things like heal trees and make berry bushes grow. It's incredibly delightful and one of my favorite things I've read this year! the audiobook also hits exactly the right notes. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

“The Spellshop” is such a cute and cozy romantasy! I love the cottagecore theme. I had the pleasure of listening to the ARC audiobook.

This is a whimsical and enchanting book. Even if magic is outlawed and terrible consequences would happen if caught. Sarah did a great job with building a descriptive world. The whole time I really wanted a nice cup of tea and toast to go with the raspberry jam. I loved the romance that blossomed. Definitely a very low-stakes story.

I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a perfect rainy day read with a hot mug full of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan, and Bramble for this audiobook ARC.

4.5⭐️
Have you ever wanted to read something that feels distinctly like a Disney movie?

This. This is it.

The Spellshop is easily one of the sweetest fantasy romances with cottagecore vibes. I am not usually someone who enjoys cozy fantasy, however, this was such a fun listen that felt like a good mix between fantasy romance and cozy fantasy. The story follows Kiela, an introverted librarian escaping the capitol city in the midst of rebellion with crates of spellbooks. She escapes certain death to the home-island from her childhood with her sentient plant-friend, Caz. (Perfect comic relief!) Though they intended to lie low, the two are kind of helpless at small town living and need to rely on the locals and neighbors.

The cozy small-town feel of nosy neighbors and everyone-who-knows-everyone was so funny. It was a bit repetitive and expected, but not in a negative way. I adored the plethora of magical creatures and how Kiela began making a name for herself within the small community as she uses magic to resurrect the island.

The conflict was... a bit silly and was resolved so quickly. But when I stopped taking this so seriously, I had a blast. (Maybe I just have a soft spot for kids movies & Stardew Valley...) This is such a charming story with an endearing set of characters with plenty of their own flaws. Friends, community and a bit of magic is all you really need.

🌱 Socially awkward FMC
🌱 Magical Creatures
🌱 Nosy Neighbors & Close friends
🌱 New Beginnings
🌱 Sweet romance
🌱 Hilarious sentient plant best friend
🌱 Learning magic to help others

Thank you NetGalley, TOR Publishing & MacMillan Audio for the ALC of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst.

4.5 ⭐️ This was such a great book, I loved listening to the story. It has the perfect amount of cozy cottage core with plot to move the story along. I loved all the character's and the love story which is so wholesome and sweet. The side kick Kaz who is a talking spider plant complemented the main character Kiela well! The writing was really beautiful and helped me picture the world, I even laughed out loud at some parts where the dialogue was pretty witty.

This fluffy cottage core book is perfect for someone who is loves a cozy book with a great cast of friends and the magic system is pretty light.

Thank you NetGally, Sarah Beth Durst and Macmillan Audio who provided me with an audio ARC !

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Spellshop was a sweet and cozy fantasy about Kiela, an imperial librarian who flees during a rebellion with stolen books so they won’t be destroyed. She escapes to the remote island she grew up with her books and her sentient spider plant assistant. She falls in love with the island and its residents and discovers pieces of her she’d left behind.
I really enjoyed this one! It was so cozy and darling. Almost slice of life, but a little more happening and a bit more interest. If you liked Legends and Lattes, this will definitely appeal to you. I love a found family story and this was no exception. I loved watching Kiela settle more into her new life and make meaningful relationships that she never expected to want. She makes jams and spells and risks herself to save her new friends and ugh I just really loved this one.
4⭐️