Working in a magical curiosity shop is actually my dream job, thank you for asking. Well ok, it might not be half as magical as expected. At least it's not for protagonist and curiosity shoppe owner Willow Stokes. Everyone knows that she only sells fake magic and useless trinkets, like the talismans that are really just normal jewelry or the mythical creatures that are nothing more than creative taxidermy jobs. Her business is not flourishing to say the least, but she is determined to keep her late father's shop alive. Luck might be on her side when Willow crosses paths with Brianna, a girl who is cursed to turn everything she touches into magic. The two of them don't have the best start, but they eventually strike a deal that will safe Willow's shop and break Brianna's curse.

This book was really everything I want from a cozy fantasy novel. It's pitched as "Howl's Moving Castle" meets "Little Thieves", and these are two of my favorite things so no wonder I was smitten by "A Curious Kind of Magic" too. I don't really see the "Howl" comparison, safe for the curse-breaking in general and that one movie scene that shows Howl's cluttered bedroom full of talismans and magical objects. The "Little Thieves" comp makes a lot of sense to me though, because Willow is very similar to Vanya. She's direct and sarcastic, a bit shady, a bit terrible. Her personality may be a deal breaker for other readers, but I found her to be pretty relatable. I think that this book did a great job with showing how inner problems can shape the outward personality of a person. I liked not only Willow, but also Brianna who lives an isolated life due to her curse, and Finlay, the softest and most caring boy who deals with his mother's sickness. The romance was cute too, even if Willow was in denial for a big part of the book, but I understand that she had the mindset of not deserving any love. This book just checked a lot of my boxes and worked perfectly for me. I only have very little criticism and it doesn't lessen my overall enjoyment of this book at all. It was a little strange that the characters were teenagers, because everyone seemed so self-sufficient and adults were mostly out of the picture. It's a YA novel, but it would have worked fine as an adult cozy fantasy with only a few adjustments. What's really weird to me is that the synopsis mentions a plot line that doesn't start until the 60% mark of the book. I didn't mind too much, because I was already in love and because I honestly only read like one sentence of the summary, but I can imagine that this will bring up the wrong expectations for this book. Just know that a lot of time is spent on re-inventing the magic shop and on the chaotic search for a grimoire, and that this book is mostly not the adventurous quest that is kinda implied in the synopsis. Anyway, that was not a problem for me and I was very much enchanted by this little (magic) shop. I'm off to check out Mara Rutherford's backlist now. Let me know if you have any recommendations in this regard.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is the kind of story that reminds you how wonder and love are often found in the unlikeliest places. I adored every page of it.

This book has such a great set up with a struggling shoppe proprietor Willow Stokes, trying to hold her father’s legacy together as she sells ‘magical’ items which aren’t quite legit. But when Brianna Hargrove appears with the ability to make items actually magical, Willow’s destiny is altered and the twisty slide to a bigger quest begins.

A Curious Kind of Magic has a cozy sweetness to it which makes it hard to put down. It’s hard not to like a book with a shop full of magic items and a mystery unraveling. The friendships at the heart are endearing, giving a sort of found family element to the story.

For a fall read to curl up with, this is not to miss.

This is the first book I have ever read by Mara Rutherford but I will say that I was quite impressed with this story. The plot and characters were all very intriguing and I was begging for more when I reached the end. I'm sure that is a tell tale sign that I will read more of her books in the future.
Our story focuses on a young lady Willow who wants to keep the legacy of her fathers magic shop alive even though he was a fraud. One day a girl named Brianna comes wandering into the story claiming she has a curse on herself that she wants to break. Willow agrees to help her out and the two embark on the journey of a new friendship.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

My thanks to Netgalley, Wednesday Books and Mara Rutherford for the eARC in exchange for a review.

My first thought when I finished reading this around 4 in the morning was this: Aww, that was so sweet!

Charming. Poignant, even. I have not had the chance to read many books by Rutherford yet, (by my count, I have at least 4 of them, unread), so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. When I saw Howl mentioned in the synopsis, I thought, okay, I'll bite, and I was not disappointed by the comparison at all.

The book follows Willow Stokes, a seventeen-year-old determined to keep her father's shop going, despite the fact that the entire town knows that her father was a fraud and she is following in his footsteps. Willow is desperate to make a sale, so when Brianna Hargrave shows up in her shop, Willow thinks Brianna is the answer she's been looking for. With a touch from Brianna, the items in the shop become magic again, and Willow sees so many possibilities ahead of them, all of it dependent on if she can just get Brianna to stay and help her. Except Brianna does not want to help, she wants to find a book of spells tied to her "curse", and get rid of it once and for all. The two make a bargain, Brianna will help with the shop while Willow helps to find the spell Brianna needs to get rid of her curse so she can go back home. As the girls work together and learn more about each other, they start to discover that the things they knew to be true aren't what they thought, and that what they saw in their futures is different than what any them would have believed could be possible.

The writing is concise, the pace a little more of a walk than a sprint, with quiet moments to sit and reflect which helped develop the cozy feeling needed for the narrative. The point of the story is the growth of the characters, which does not mean racing through character interactions, or quick banter. The development takes its time, allowing room to expand in a way that feels natural to the storytelling. Everything feels earned with the story and characters, even that what-just-happened moment near the end where I thought, okay, just go with it, and I laughed right along with Willow and Brianna when all was said and done.

With talking about the characters, yes, Willow bugged me at the start. She was selfish and stubborn, and kept putting her wants first instead of considering what was best for other people, Brianna and Finlay mainly, her new friend and the young man who has been her best friend since her father passed away two years before the start of the book. I wanted to shake her every time she did something without thinking first, so when Willow finally starts to consider her actions and their consequences, I thought FINALLY, she's getting her head on straight. I understood how she'd become that way and I appreciated how her journey was able to make her into a better version of herself and that Willow knew that as well. I liked her dynamic with Brianna, and how the two of them made each other think of things differently. Brianna was stubborn as well, and the two of them were two halves of the same whole. They challenged each other and supported each other and I thought they were wonderful together. Finlay was a sweet addition to their group, helping Willow to understand that having more friends to care about only made her stronger.

I loved how the book turned into a story about acceptance. Each character, Willow, Brianna and Finlay, had to accept each other and themselves, flaws and all, and once the ending hits, I wanted to gather them all into a hug and squeeze so tight. That's why I thought this book was so sweet. Some books can come off too strong with driving home a theme like that, but this book shows how Rutherford put in the work that makes the ending feel like the payoff readers need. I'll be reading the other Rutherford books I currently own, and be looking forward to future releases as well. Job well done indeed and I tip my hat to this book and to Mara Rutherford.

Rating on my scale: After sitting with this overnight, I've decided 10 stars. It gave all the right feelings, reminded me of all the best cozy fantasy books of my youth, and has made me determined to read more of Mara Rutherford's books. If a book manages to do ALL of that, doesn't it deserve all the stars?

I wasn't sure I would like this book as I did not particularly like the main character for the first half of the book. The supporting characters did a great job of carrying the main character through her growth curve as she grew, matured, and learned to appreciate the friends she has around her. The world was interesting, though not well developed. The plot was interesting, and I appreciated how it unfolded.

This story completely stole my heart. It’s a beautiful tale about trust, courage, and discovering that sometimes the most powerful magic is in the unexpected friendships and daring choices we make. I loved how it made me believe in magic again while keeping everything wonderfully grounded and human. This is a book I wish I could live in forever.

Absolutely loved this one! The themes of found family, ride-or-die friendship, and a con-artist trying to go straight were just fantastic. Would recommend to anyone who loves cottage-core with a side of banter and deep themes.

This was actually such a cute and cozy story. Full of almost magic, curiosities, found family and believing in yourself.

Willow is a grief filled girl that’s inherited her dad’s run down magic shop. She’s getting by until the day she meets Bri. Everything changes when she learns that’s Bri has magic, but also is carrying a deep secret.

The writing style was fun and engaging, and I found myself drawn to both of the main FMC’s. And nothing beats girls coming into the power and gaining their confidence. But when Willow makes a brash decision that affects her and Bri, she learns just how strong she actually can be

I think I read this book at the wrong time of year! It’s deeply atmospheric and would be perfect for the fall. I really liked the interconnected relationships between Brianna, Willow, and Findlay, but I have to admit that I was kind of hoping for a triad romance. Overall, this is witchy and cozy, and I enjoyed it a lot.

This was the very best kind of storytelling—one where you absolutely settle into the world and want to follow along for the adventures (romance! a heist! and lots of heart!). So cozy, so delightfully page-turning! It was just the cup of book-tea I needed to curl up with! <3