time of dnf: 13%

this lost me pretty quickly with the immediate attempt at a call out to not DNF by having the main character say she would dnf her own story…unfortunately i agree girl ♥️

my main issues were the dialogue felt very awkward and not fun + the writing was somehow both overly descriptive and stilted at the same time (at first i was hoping this was in favor of the mystery about her grandma, but the more i read the more I realized some of it was like supposed to be quirky & endearing…like the meet cute for example….and i simply didnt feel that at all)

thank you to netgalley and del rey for this arc to review nonetheless!

[ARC REVIEW]

"Shipoopi" 😂
Honestly, if I didnt have to work, I'd of devoured this book in one sitting!

If you love witchy things, Golden Retriever mmc's, small town romance with a drop of paranormal. You'll enjoy this.

I don't want to give too much away, but this is cosy comfort read, where the FMC finds who she is, what she can achieve and a new found family.

The opening paragraph was so funny. If you're truly a bookish person, you can relate to whole story. Lots of jokes, and puns.

Lots of humour comes from a cockatoo. It's just perfect.

The spice is 🫑 and closed door scenes, but that didnt ruin the story for me. So if you're looking for a steamy romance, this might not be for you.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️½ | Cozy witchy romcom with a dash of magic
Books & Bewitchment is a charming blend of cozy fantasy and romantic comedy. Rhea Wolfe, a practical woman from Alabama, inherits her estranged grandmother's video store in Arcadia Falls. As she transforms it into a bookstore, she uncovers a hidden magical heritage and a forbidden attraction to Hunter Blakely, the grandson of her grandmother's rival in witchcraft.

The novel offers a delightful mix of small-town charm, magical intrigue, and slow-burn romance. While the pacing is steady and the characters endearing, some readers might find the plot's predictability a bit too familiar. Nonetheless, it's a heartwarming read for fans of lighthearted fantasy and romantic escapism.

⭐ 3.5 stars

Books & Bewitchment is a cozy, low-stakes witchy romcom that’s perfect for readers craving a small-town setting and a dash of inherited magic.

I was drawn to this book because of the premise and the adorable cover. The plot had so much potential, and while there were plenty of charming moments, but I wish the execution matched the magic the synopsis promised.

I was hoping for a more immersive dive into the witchy side of things. The magical realism was present but underwhelming, and Rhea’s journey into witchhood felt too light-touch, especially for a book marketed as cozy fantasy.

The pacing started slow and picked it up in the middle but it felt a bit uneven for me. The ending felt so rushed that I barely felt the closure to Maggie’s. Also, I was so excited with the idea of revamping a video store into a bookshop hooked however the book didn’t focus on that nearly as much as I’d hoped.

Romance between Rhea and Hunter started out strong with a cute meet-cute and a touch of forbidden love, but ultimately felt a bit forced and unnecessary. Honestly, the story would’ve stood just fine without it and maybe had more room to flesh out the magical elements.

Still, I’d recommend Books & Bewitchment to anyone looking for a fast, cozy read with a vibrant town setting and strong themes of family, self-discovery, and starting over.

Thank you to Del Rey UK and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to netgalley and publishers for this ARC!

This was a delightful, cutesy read! I loved the characters, the plot, and the magic system. I felt it was well thought-out and well-written. Lots of fun!

DNF @ 8%

While I like the book's premise of a cozy witchy love story, the slang heavy nature of the book didn't allow me to fully immerse myself in the book. If this is not a problem for you then I would recommend to pick up this book. The animal companion is quite cute.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell was an absolute delight to read! This story captured my attention from beginning to end with its charming mix of small-town coziness and light paranormal mystery.

I especially loved the relationship between the main character and the quirky townsfolk—it gave the book so much heart and warmth. The witchy elements were fun and whimsical, adding just the right amount of magic to the plot without overpowering the character-driven story.

I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the other books in the series. This book was amazing

(Review coming this week on my Instagram, but review has been posted on my Goodreads ☺️ )

This was such a charming and magical novel! I could not put this book down from beginning to end. It made me feel lighthearted, hopeful, mysterious, emotional and relaxed. I laughed many times throughout the entire back! This is a medium paced read, that is character driven! This is the author’s debut novel and it was beautifully written! I think that the cover is really pretty too! This comes with a forbidden romance, that is a very slow burn one. The magical realism is what really brought all the warmth and coziness. The protagonist’s character is written in the first point of view and the other main character is written in the third person glimpses. This fantasy novel is very whimsically, humorous and heartwarming. It is a one of a kind witchy rom com! I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Isla Jewell and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey for this eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on February 3, 2026!

Non sono un'amante della situazione "le famiglie si odiano ma noi ci amiamo" ecc, ed è anche per questo che non do pieno punteggio a questo libro. Detto ciò, penso che Books & Bewitchment sia tutto sommato scritto bene, a parte alcuni dialoghi vagamente cringe (ma si sopravvive lo stesso). I personaggi sono buoni, anche quelli secondari, e non si può fare a meno di sentirsi vicini a Rhea, soprattutto all'inizio. E Hunter... da dove iniziare, per Hunter? E il pappagallo Doris? A D O R O!

Give me a book about witches any day of the week and i’ll eat it up, but a cozy fantasy about a witch who loves books? SIGN ME UP.

This was a perfect example of a cosy and well written story. There were elements that made me laugh, elements that made me feel warm and cosy and elements that had me hooked throughout. This story is a really good balance between character driven and plot driven, with a mix of fun and likeable characters (and animals)

The whole premise of the book was fantastic. I loved the combination of witches, magic, friendship, romance and books. It felt really modern and well written, but with magical and old style themes.

I am ‘nuts’ for this book!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for early access in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the characters, and the cozy atmosphere of the book. You don’t ever read witchy cozy books.. it has me kicking my feet in the air and giggling. I can’t wait until this books comes out so that I can buy the physical book.
Love love love love this book

Books and Bewitchment by Isla Jewell was such a fun, feel-good read! Visiting Arcadia Falls as Rhea learns about her legacy (and future) was a delight as the story flows pretty seamlessly from chapter to chapter. A cast of colorful characters brings the small town charm to life and the romance is sweet with a book-perfect LMC. The town of Arcadia Falls has that same small-town Stars Hollow of Gilmore Girls which I really enjoyed! I’d love to re-visit Arcadia Falls in further installments and recommend you add this one to your TBR!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for early access in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book, it was really unique in it's plot and the characters are so amazing. It was such a mix of being character driven and plot driven for the story, it was perfect. It was a giant cozy mystery with a subplot of romance, and it was the cutest thing.

The author did a fantastic job of writing a suspenseful/mysterious plot, but making it light and fun and engaging. I was so invested in the generational "bad blood", the family secrets and the small town life. There are so many opportunities with these characters for spin offs and that is hugely exciting to me. There are several that I desperately want more information on, and I really hope that happens!

The magic was really subtle and mostly traditional, in what you would probably initially think of for a witch theme. I loved the sassiness of the lovely cockatoo in the story, honestly she was probably some of my favorite parts. The dialogue was great, the imagery of the small town and businesses was amazing. This would be such a perfect autumn season read, not quite Halloween and not quite Summer. It's the perfect in between.

If you're looking for a light read that has some humor and a bit of mystery and magic, this is the perfect book. I'll definitely be buying a physical copy when it releases, and following this author for hopefully more releases in this world!

Such a fun read, right from the beginning this kept my interest. I loved the small town feel and all the characters!

Well folks! The results are in. This one is a bit of a wash for me but don't let the three star rating hold you back from a book that's had a lot of love poured into it.

As far as the comedy part of this romcom, it was, in fact, hilarious. I love a book with a ridiculous premise. Inheritance, ghosts, and birds oh-my! I found myself snickering at moments.

There were a few really big issues about this though that makes me have to take stars away. First, the pacing needs work. A lot of work. Almost 50% of the way through the books and we had barely any interactions with our male love interest. Secondly, I think this book would've been so much better without the romance. The plot would've held up without it. Third, the major plot reveals happened so fast in such a short amount of pages. It just didn't work for me because it felt way too fast.

That isn't to say that this is a bad book. Its not. It just doesn't work for me, unfortunately.

Firstly, thank you to the author (Isla Jewell), Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and Netgalley for this eARC! This was such an anticipated arc that I was sooo hoping I'd receive, and I am thankful I did.

The story follows Rhea, who gets let go from her boring job whilst at the same time finds out about her grandmother's passing and is left everything!!! She heads to Arcadia Falls, a place her mother never spoke of and never wanted her to return to. Whilst there are certain things she must follow to obtain the trust, she must keep the video store, the worker, and her family’s magic!

Rhea as a FMC, feels extremely relatable to so many of us at one point in our lives have felt lost without direction. I really liked her as a character.

Slow burn romance, like Hunter??? Like what a dream, small town romances with the hunky MMC are so good in this aspect. Because they should be enemies, due to their families, but THIS MAN…

I’m a sucker for a witchy plot, and this was such a good read. But bonus points for the parrot's role in this story !! And the Arcadia Fall Series… this makes me so excited for future books too

I hope the book will have a map of the town once it's printed, but I would definitely purchase myself a copy when it's for sale!

If you're looking for a book with a magical setting, a sweet slow-burn romance, and a heroine who learns to embrace her power, this is it. Rhea's story begins when she inherits a magical video store in Arcadia Falls, leading her to uncover a secret family legacy. The romance with the charming handyman, Hunter, is wonderfully gentle, and the cast of quirky townspeople—especially the witty parrot, Maggie—brings so much life to the story. This is a truly heartwarming and magical read. Loved it

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC !

This book was exactly what I needed. Is cozy, fun and easy to read. Without spoiling too much I can say I loved the bird part. The ambient is quite magical and the love story is quite cute.

If you like the Gilmore Girls vibes I think you will enjoy this one.

A cozy witching plot? Count me in! This was the perfect romance and witchy story ever! I loved iit a lot

A witchy story with a parrot familiar, found family, and someone opening up a dreamy bookstore. Exactly as good as it sounds. The romance subplot is so sweet, but the friendships Rhea finds along the way are worth their weight in gold. I also loved how devoted she is to her sisters and hope (fingers crossed) to see more about them in future Arcadia Falls books! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy magical story. This may very well be my favorite book of the whole year.
Nothing beats the feeling of reading a story like this.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.