Book Review: Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop by Jaimie Admans
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

As a lifelong Disney fan, I couldn’t resist diving into Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop, and I’m so glad I did! This book has all the elements that a Disney lover dreams of: magic, romance, and a sense of wonder that feels straight out of a fairy tale.

Mickey Teasdale, the charming shopkeeper of the curiosity shop, is a character you’ll instantly warm to. Her love for the quirky, magical items in her shop reminded me of the enchanted antiques in Beauty and the Beast—each object holding a story, a piece of history, and a touch of wonder. While the magic in Mickey's life seems to have faded, she still has that Disney heroine sparkle, yearning for adventure and a little bit of whimsy.

Enter Ren Montague and his teenage daughter, Ava. Ren is the perfect contrast to Mickey’s whimsical nature—practical, logical, and a bit grumpy. But when he and Ava stumble upon the mystery of a hidden diary, the magic starts to return—not just in the shop, but in their lives as well. The evolving relationship between Mickey and Ren is heartwarming, and it’s hard not to root for them to find their own happily-ever-after.

What really sold me on this story, though, was the sense of magic that pervades the book. It’s not just about the curiosity shop or the mystery of the diary; it’s about the belief that fairy tales can come true, even for grown-ups. Like the best Disney stories, there’s a sense that anything is possible if you believe, and that makes this book feel so heartwarming and uplifting. Plus, Ava’s discovery of the mermaid diary gives the plot a lovely nod to fairy tales and myths, which felt like something out of The Little Mermaid.

There were moments in the story where I found myself thinking, “This feels like the kind of movie I’d watch on a rainy afternoon,” and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a perfect feel-good read, one that will leave you with a smile on your face and a little more belief in the magic of life.

Final Thoughts:
If you love Disney’s magic, fairy tales, and a good romance, Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop is the perfect book for you. It’s a cozy, enchanting read that will transport you into a world where the impossible feels possible, and where real-life magic can still be found when you least expect it.

This was an absolutely stunning instalment that had me starting and finishing within 24 hours. Mickey, Ren and Ava's story was so beautiful and adventurous, I loved getting to the bottom of the diary suspectedly written by a real life mermaid and I loved how this mysterious story brought three lost souls together. Mickey and Ren's building romance was so beautifully written, they really balanced each other out and I fell for them the second they met. Everything about this book was just so cosy and warm, I can't wait the final instalment of the series!

I have really enjoyed the Ever After Street series. These books are like having a sweet treat after a long day. This latest one, Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop, still carries on the magical whimsy that the other books have.

The fairy tale that’s tackled this time is The Little Mermaid. Mickey, the owner of the curiosity shop, has a run-in with single dad Ren and his lovely daughter Ava. They end up finding a diary in her cluttered shop that leads them on a summer adventure trying to track down the possible mermaid that wrote it.

Ren and Mickey both have emotional backstories that have brought them to this time of their lives. I felt for both of them, but Ren’s felt deeper and was more relatable. The story told in the diary was enjoyable too. The moments at the riverbank were so cute. I also loved that Mickey would speak up for herself. These two characters balanced each other out in the perfect way. There was such tenderness between them.

The only issue I had was the third act conflict. I feel like it should have dragged out a little longer. I realize that’s not something you usually want but I think it could have made them coming back together be a bit more satisfying. That being said, I did love the way the apologies played out.

I do love Jaimie’s writing. As a reader, you do have a different feeling reading her stories. There is a warmth and coziness you get in her romances that are comforting.

Thanks NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC!

I've loved every book of Jaimies I've read and this was no exception. I flew through this in 24hrs. Ever After Street just catches your heart and you are there in the story.

This book just made me smile and was so heartwarming. I loved Mickey and her curiosity shop and Ren and Ava were just fabulous characters.

I can't wait for more from Jaimie. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Grumpy, single dad meets quirky, fun shop owner! Throw in some mermaids and this becomes such a fun, sweet book. I wasn’t sure at first with the mermaids but it was so real, honest and funny. I loved how real it all was and I can’t wait to read more in this series.

The latest addition to the Ever After series, each focusing on a fairy tale theme but also capable of being a standalone story, we get to revisit some of our favorite past protagonists and meet a new romantic pairing. This one plays on Ariel and Eric from The Little Mermaid, complete with a whimsical thrift store, an antique diary, and a mystery to solve! Ren and Mickey are an opposites-attract pair, but they bring out the best in each other. There were a couple of times that the parallel to Disney felt a bit contrived, but overall the magic and sweetness made this another home run for Admans!

This is the latest in a series about Ever After Street - it works as a standalone, as I haven't read any of the previous books. I wil now though, what a lovely setting the street is!

Mickey runs the Magical Curiosity Shop, but is bogged down with "stuff" and made up stories. When the arrival of excitable teen Ava and her serious Dad Ren sees the trio discover a long lost diary, the story follows them investigating the history of the book and rediscover their own feelings along the way.

I loved some of the "stuff" in Mickey's shop, and the other locals were wonderful. Ren's heartbreak was so emotively written, and I loved how grown up Ava became. A lovely fun read.

I read this book in just a few hours while traveling. The story line, Mickey & Ren & Ava. The diary that sends them searching for a mermaid all the while they build a friendship/relationship and overcome so much during this journey. Ava’s personality is bubbly and so contagious. I love the conclusion of the diary and the family bringing closure to the story. All in all this is a 4 star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books & Jaimie for the advanced reader copy of this book.

I don't think I can express just how much I adored this book, but I'm going to try.

Jaimie Admans has completely stolen my heart again with Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop. I’ve read everything she’s written, and every time, she manages to create something that feels like a warm hug, a fairy tale, and a dream you never want to wake up from—all rolled into one. This one might just be my favorite yet.

From the moment I stepped into Mickey Teasdale’s delightfully cluttered curiosity shop, I was enchanted. Mickey is a ray of sunshine, full of imagination and warmth, but even she’s starting to feel like the magic is fading. Enter Ren Montague: the grumpiest, most order-loving single dad you could imagine, and his reluctant, sharp-edged teenage daughter, Ava. When they cross paths with Mickey, something quietly extraordinary begins to bloom—and when a mysterious diary is discovered, things get truly magical.

What followed was a story full of whimsy, mystery, and heart. The moment the diary hinted at a real-life mermaid, I was done for. I read the book first, then immediately sat down and watched both versions of The Little Mermaid—the 1989 animated classic and the 2023 live-action remake—just so I could fully soak in all the feelings this story stirred in me. There were little connections I hadn’t expected, tiny nods that made me smile and deepened my love for the story.

I didn’t sleep much that night because my mind couldn’t stop imagining the life that must go on inside Jaimie Admans’ imagination. Honestly, how does she dream up these magical worlds and make them feel so real?

This book gave me a sugar-rush in the best possible way. Yes, it’s sweet and slushy and sparkly—but that’s exactly why I love it. It reminds me that real life can be magical, that stories can soothe and uplift and sprinkle a little glitter onto your day.

If you love whimsical romance, fairy tale vibes, or books that make your heart do a little happy dance, this is one you do not want to miss. Pre-order it. Make a countdown. Build a reading nook with sea-shell lights. Just trust me—you’ll want to be part of this world. 🧜‍♀️✨

I love Jaimie Admans and I love, love, love the Ever After Street series.

This book was filled with love and hope and just plain fun! I love that we have a romance featuring a single parent and the child at the forefront of it all.

Overall a great read!

Sigh! That was a wonderfully romantic read I am sad that it is finished. Like all of Jaimie’s Ever After books this one speaks to the heart of my childhood dreams. Dreams where happy ever afters always happen a baddie or mishaps ensure and a rescue is required until the day is saved and the hero and heroine are reunited through tears of joy.

In “Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop” we meet our very own land version of Ariel, Mickey’ who has “gadgets and gizmos a plenty” in her shop of wonders. Each item be it an antique, collectors piece or broken junk has piled up inside the shop and Mickey has created a backstory for each one hoping it might find it’s lost owner or someone new to love it. That is until grumpy Dad to teenage Ava storms in. He points out how hopeless and dangerous the set up is. That stories can’t make the worthless beautiful or more wanted, they just clutter the place with sentiment in a business that may fail! In the meantime Ava full of love for what she sees and hears there, the potential, the stories, the fun has a job on persuading her Dad that she wants to purchase something and return every day! Then she finds a secret diary of what seems to be a real Mermaid telling her own love story.

In true fairy tale style the hearts of all the characters begin to thaw from hurts they have experienced in the past as they share the secrets of the diary and their own stories together. There are several bumps in the road to happiness, although the expected happily ever after is the goal the journey to get there isn’t obvious or boring. Serious themes are addressed such as divorce, parenting skills, self esteem issues, feelings of inadequacy and masking feelings. The characters on Ever After Street are not special people high and mighty, beautiful Princes & Princesses with no real emotions, they are relatable people getting through each day the best way they can whilst finding hope, love and encouragement from those around them this creating an inviting escapist read. I loved reading and can’t wait to return to Ever After Street again.

Another story about a ship owner on Ever After Street. This time we follow Mickey of the Mermaid's tail as she is still grieving her dad's death and trying to make the business a success. She meets Ren and his daughter Ava, grieving a loss of their own. Built around this, is the mystery of a found diary. Lovely story and fine as a standalone.

What do you get when a chaos-loving dreamer, a grumpy single dad, and a possibly real mermaid diary collide in a cluttered curiosity shop? Pure bookish charm.

Finding Love at the Magical Curiosity Shop is a cosy, whimsical romance that blends fairy-tale flair with real emotional heart. Mickey, the eccentric shop owner who tells made-up stories about the items she sells, is all colour and chaos. When Ren—a straight-laced single dad with a serious allergy to clutter—walks into her world, neither of them expect what’s coming next.

The dynamic between grumpy and sunshine is well played here, and I loved the added depth of Ren’s daughter, Ava, who becomes an unexpectedly central part of the story. The hidden diary and hints of mermaid lore added a magical thread that kept me smiling.

If you love romances with quirky settings, gentle humour, and a bit of magic tucked into everyday life, this one’s worth stepping into.

A charming escape with heart, humour, and just enough sparkle to make it feel magical.

This was a great read. Great to be back in Ever after Street. What a story . Magical as ever. Loved the old and new characters. Mickey has taken over her father’s shop and lost her away . Throw in a teenage girl Ava and her handsome father and some mermaids and you have a brilliant story. Read on a plane and the flight flew by. Read it . Brilliant .

I honestly couldn’t even finish the first chapter. Ren was such an asshole from the start and I don’t like books where one MC is mean to the other MC for no reason whatsoever.