Books & Bewitchment is a cute, cozy romance. I enjoyed Rhea's story. 

Rhea Wolfe finds out that her estranged grandmother has passed away on the same day she's fired from her job. So what's a girl to do? Pack up her life and move to the small town her mother ran away from years ago. Things take a turn when Rhea discovers she has magic and that he pet cocktail is now housing her grandmother's spirit.

I really loved the interactions between Rhea and Grandma Maggie. They had tension and chemistry that could only come from family members born to two different generations. This had the unfortunate consequence of making the rest of the cast fall a bit flat. I had hoped to see a bit more conflict from Joyce, who was being set up as an antagonist, but any drama she could have caused were smoothed over before they developed.

Now that Rhea's story has a happily ever after, I can't wait to see what Arcadia Falls has in store for her sisters,Jemma and Cait.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

I may be reading this in 2025, but when it is released in 2026, I hope this story gets all the love it deserves!

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for this free eARC and I am voluntarily giving this honest review.

Rhea, who just her job, finds out that she has inherited her estranged grandmother’s belongings and businesses, she travels to the small town of Arcadia Falls. She finds out that she has a magical heritage as well that she never knew existed. She decides to stay and upgrade the business and begin her own journey in this quaint and cute town. As she begins, she meets Hunter Blakely, who is the grandson of her grandmother’s sworn enemy, and being the handyman for the town, he happily accepts to help rebuild the business.

This rom com was the cutest thing. It had me laughing so hard at many points along the story, but there were also serious themes of found family and self discovery which was written so well. You really got to experience Rhea’s journey of becoming her own person, and seeing her come to know and love the people around her who also came to love and support her.

And the relationship between Rhea and Hunter was perfect. Their banter, puns, and teamwork made me all giddy and happy. You couldn’t help but root for them along the way.

I absolutely loved this story and I do hope there will more stories within Arcadia Falls!

3.5 star read, did enjoy the book and the style of writing from this author. Would happily re read at somepoint again

Sweet, cozy and low stakes, Books & Bewitchment is the perfect book for curling up on a rainy day. I enjoyed the characters and the magical town.

Summary: Rhea inherits a magical legacy in Arcadia Falls, facing family feuds, mystery, and danger that threaten the town’s very magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

If you’re in to puns, boiled peanuts and a wild turkey mafia, this will be right up your alley. Bonus points if you remember Blockbuster with fondness. Rhea is banned from the family hometown by her now-dead mother, but finds herself the proud owner of several decrepit buildings. After breaking things off with her on/off boyfriend, she goes back to Arcadia Falls and proceeds to be bossed around by her dead grandma, who has possessed Rhea’s pet cockatoo. Having had no idea she was a witch, Rhea is astounded to learn magic is real and the whole town hates her grandma over something magic-related that no one will talk about. There’s also the obligatory love interest, who is very clearly a man written by a woman (this is not a bad thing). All in all, a cute romp through a small town and we always vote yes on bookstores. If I found a man who has a magical talent for building things really fast, I would also lock him down asap.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an early copy of Books and Bewitchment.

I asked for it because I love novels with bookish characters and I wasn’t disappointed at all.

I’m kinda sad this book releases in winter because it would be the perfect read for fall.

Small town cozy romance with magic and quirky characters.

I had the best time reading it in a rainy day, under my comfy with my favorite chocolates and coffee 🤭

Books & Bewitchment is a charming and magical read. It’s a cozy, witchy romcom and I absolutely loved it.

Rhea is stuck. In life, and love. Managing her chaotic sisters is like a second job. But she’s always dreaming of something more. One day she receives a letter informing her she has an inheritance from a grandmother she’s never known. She realises this could be the change she needs to help her out of her funk and set her and her sisters up for a better life. Her dreams are sidetracked when she realises that her inheritance comes with conditions. Her Grandmother left her a small building containing a dilapidated video store, hardware and antiques store she cannot sell. To make matters worse, it’s based in the small town she promised her mother she’d never visit.

Arcadia Falls turns out to be an enchanting small town with a magical history. Unbeknownst to her, she is a part of that history. I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance between Rhea and Hunter, it is the perfect tension for such a cosy book. Their chemistry is immediate and I enjoyed the banter between them. There’s a few laugh out loud moments, mostly in the form of a pink and grey galah named Dolly.

This book isn’t just about romance, it’s also about Rhea’s journey of self discovery. The hidden magic of Arcadia Falls, and the hilarious inhabitants that help bring it all to life. This is a book full of hope, magic, mystery and family secrets. It is a lighthearted read with plenty of whimsy on every page, I couldn’t help but get lost in the pages. I really loved the central theme of stepping into your own identity and power. I love books that make you feel pure comfort while reading.

Grab this book if you’re after a heartwarming, delightfully entertaining book, with magical realism and sweet romance. I can’t wait to read more about Arcadia Falls.

3.75⭐️

I really loved the idea of this book. I mean…if there’s an inheritance that involves moving to a cozy little ✨magic✨ town - ya, I’m gonna read it and enjoy it.

This reminded me so much of Lucy Score’s vibes but make it witchy. Many parts had me giggling. I didn’t think I’d enjoy the whole cockatoo as a main character thing but she really carried the book.

I just wish there was more romance! I wanted more of Rhea and Hunter interacting. I feel like we only saw small glimpses of them together. The story leaned more heavily on Rhea’s individual growth but I would’ve loved to have some of that include growth within her romantic relationship since she came from such a crappy one previously.

I could see this being a great series with a solid base of characters from Arcadia Falls. The side characters have so much potential for development. Looking forward to seeing what this author writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore and NetGalley for this arc.

I thought Books & Bewitchment was a cute, cozy, magical read. I really enjoyed it. Its not the genre I would read on a regular basis but I did enjoy it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. Rhea’s life changed when she learns her grandmother who she has never met, died. Rhea is now the owner of several buildings in Arcadia Falls. I really liked how the author incorporated magic without it being too fantasy. I would’ve preferred a longer book because I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. However, there was a lot of growth from Rhea and Maggie. Overall, it’s a nice bookish romance story!

✨ Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell is pure witchy comfort. Rhea’s small-town adventures in Arcadia Falls are full of magic, mystery, and a slow-burn romance that feels like autumn in a mug. With quirky townsfolk, a sassy magical cockatoo, and just enough intrigue to keep you hooked, this cozy fantasy is perfect for curling up with on a rainy day. 🪄📚 #CozyFantasy #WitchyRomance #BooksAndBewitchment

Review – Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell

This was my first read from Isla Jewell, and I was instantly drawn to it for some of my favorite themes — books, witches, romance, and ghosts. What I found was a heartwarming, magical story about self-discovery, community, and following your dreams.

I loved the small-town charm and Rhea’s journey of building her dream bookstore — who hasn’t imagined leaving everything behind to open a cozy shop in a picturesque town? The setting, characters, and sense of belonging gave the book a lovely, comforting tone.

I read it in two days, finding the pacing engaging overall, though it did slow slightly around the 60% mark before picking back up. The romance is closed-door, making it suitable for all ages, but I would have enjoyed a little more spark and butterflies — hopefully something to look forward to in the rest of the series.

A cozy, witchy read perfect for fans of magical small towns and uplifting stories. I’ll happily recommend it and can’t wait for the next installment.

"You know you don't have to hide from me. I don't want you to ever feel like you have to."

In this cozy, witchy romcom, a young woman works to turn a run-down small-town video store into the bookshop of her dreams, only to discover a powerful magic that’s been lying dormant—and a forbidden love she can’t resist.

Review: ️️️⭐️⭐️⭐
Spice: light/closed door

Down on her luck, Rhea Wolfe finds herself inheriting a number of old shops and an apartment from her estranged grandmother, bringing her to Arcadia Falls. Once settled, she finds herself thrown into a new witchy heritage, along with townsfolk that know more about her family than she does (and just might fall for local handyman Hunter Blakely, the grandson of her witch-grandmother's rival).

This is a great light and cozy read for lovers of books, small-town romance, and mystery /magical elements. Getting to learn more about the town and history (and what happened) through Rhea's eyes was fun, and the mystery was strung-along through the whole book, keeping you engaged. Hunter was such a sweet MMC as well, I loved their conversation about "learning things through books" and how their humor complimented each other.

As a lover of books and antique stores, so much about this was a dream - I would love to convert a video store into a bookshop! I loved those aspects of the story, along with the romance between Rhea and Hunter, and hearing about everyone's knacks / how the local magic worked. Rhea had such a personality - but despite fitting into the 'eldest daughter' role (which was so relatable), both Rhea's inner monologue and the jokes/humor throughout overall tipped towards YA and unfortunately was not for me.

I did think how Maggie was incorporated was fun as well, it took me until the end to like her but the way they wrapped up her story (and then the ending!!) was very touching. And while that ending was very sweet, I think additional development of the relationships between Rhea, Maggie & Abraham would have made the last scene hit harder. And with the vibes & blurb of this book, I would have loved more witchy/magic moments as well.

Tropes:
🔮 romantasy
💖 witchy romance
🔮 small town
💖 bookshop owner x handyman
🔮 (sorta) rivals-to-lovers

(Thank you so much NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC & the opportunity to review! 📖)

A charming magical read that deserves all the stars. This book is like a warm hug that you never want to let go. It’s the perfect witchy romcom that is filled with small town charm and heartwarming characters. It’s a journey of self discovery and found family in what might possibly be the cutest town, Arcadia Falls.

Rhea has a pretty sucky life with a dead end job and an on again off again boyfriend who is a douchebag. That is until she ends up with an inheritance from a grandmother she has never met in a town her mother told her to stay away from.
As Rhea enters this enchanting town, she’s led on a path filled with magic and wonderful characters.

Whilst this story is primarily about Rhea’s discovery of magic and her journey in a town steeped in witchy history, we cannot forget about the romance between Rhea and Hunter.

Hunter Blakely is charming, sweet and the grandson of Rhea’s grandmothers witchy rival - which makes for a delicious slow burn. The chemistry between them was everything and the moment they finally gave in *ahhh*.

This is a story that leaves you feeling so happy and I wish I could read it all over again.

A magical cozy read with an undertone of romance and just a hint of mystery. My only issue with this book is that it ended too soon. I loved the slow-burn romance and the gradual build up of suspense as we follow Rhea on her journey, but I would love to see more about the life she created at the end of her journey. There are never enough books about bookshop owning witches with sensitive boyfriends!

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the arc!

Books and bewitchment is a charming and cozy small town paranormal romance that manages to seamlessly blend witchy elements along with a heartwarming storyline and an added line of mystery woven in.

Some good key elements I picked up while reading!
- The charm of a small town.
- Inviting atmosphere.
- Intrigue
- Self Discovery
- Sense of a Community.

Overall I enjoyed the read, and it was definitely a palate cleanser from the stories I usually pick up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was SUCH a cute cozy fantasy! The magic wasn’t cringy, the romance was subtle but so genuine, and the whole story just had the perfect vibe. My favorite part though? The FMC. She was hilarious and reacted exactly how I think any normal person would if they suddenly found out magic was real. My favorite line—hands down—was: “This is real witch shit?” I literally laughed soooo loud at 1am bc, same. I really hope there’s more coming in this series because I’m already ready for book two!! Thank you NetGally for the ARC!

I loved this book. I laughed, cried, and squeaked in fear. It was quirky without being annoying, and unpredictable with a fulfilling, satisfying ending. There were a few moments where an odd comment or joke threw me off and the FL had a tendency to way overshare with absolute strangers and that got fairly cringey, It's the only reason I didn't give the book a 5. I will be buying this, and I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you to Del Rey, and Net Galley for the free eARC.

Books and Bewitchment was a cozy read, about a woman named Rhea who inherits her grandmother’s businesses and living accommodations in a small town she promised she’d never step foot in. There is magic and romance, and a setting that feels nostalgic to Halloween in the 90’s to me. The writing is humorous, and very clearly written by a book lover. The plot is decent, but unfortunately there is something not quite right with the pacing- I really struggled to get to 60%, but then the last third of the book flew by. I would have accepted if this was just a low stakes, magical build a book store book that you pick up for the cozy vibes rather than the plot, but I think the author was trying to fit too much in to the story line in the end.
Overall, I liked the book for the vibes.

It would be remiss of me to start this review with anything other than...

The main character, Rhea Wolfe, has no agency. What does she actually want? No one's life is that boring. And her pet cockatoo, Doris, sings too many show tunes, Did not finish.

The parodical review at the start of the book ironically sums up Books and Bewitchment in its entire. Much like said review, I'm giving this one 2 stars. Books and Bewitchment tells the story of Rhea Wolfe - a young woman who, within the first 20 or so pages of the book, saves a turtle, refuses an insincere proposal from her on again off again, gets a traffic ticket for refusing said proposal, loses her job, and inherits property from her deceased grandma.

It's too much. It's too quick. The characters all speak the same so there's no telling who's who. I will give the book its props though. It does sound like Alabama.