Maybe we CAN judge a book by its cover, because the inside of Letters from the Last Apothecary is just as beautiful as its outside. LfLA is full of lush prose, atmospheric writing, and a cast that you can sink into. The buildup of Reid and Josie's relationship is slow and delicious, the unfolding mystery hitting a sweet spot of not being so complicated you need to keep notes but just enticing enough that it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the character development throughout was masterful. Behzadi is in the eye of the cozy fantasy storm currently taking over the reading world, and I for one am excited for whatever she decides to come out with next.

You’ve Got Mail, Emily Wilde, and Divine Rivals???? UH YEAH I’m in😂 just those 3 titles made me click on this and request (thank you net galley😘)

It was very good! It was cute, it was heartwarming, the magic system was something I’ve never read about before (in a good way!), and the romance was sweet💛😋 It didn’t give me 5 star feelings, but I still loved it nonetheless. I really enjoyed the world it was set in and I really loved both characters! They were both relatable and understandable their progression from rival coworkers to friends to lovers (even though the letters😉) was seamless! Definitely plan on buying this for my shelves once it comes out! Please read this in’s beautiful spring day and enjoy every moment of it!

Letters from the Last Apothecary was a mix of some of my favourite pieces of literature: You’ve got Mail is my feel good favourite film and I absolutely adored reading Divine Rivals. I really enjoyed reading the letters between Reid and Josie before, during and after the events and knowing who they truly were to each other and seeing their relationship evolve through different ways. It did take me a little bit to get into the flow of the story and learning about the magic system but the more I read the more it made sense and flowed within the story. Overall this was really enjoyable and I had a fun time reading.

This book was such a cute read and reminded me a lot of Divine Rivals where the main character Josephine who is fired from her job only to stumble upon a magical shop that’s about to be closed down but she sees as an opportunity to fix. All while she is in a rival's relationship with the MMC Aufidius who has it out for her. The two become rivals when she enters university and somehow is in his path but when mysterious letters are exchanged between them, the heated rivalry, Josephine’s fixation on being the best while achieving greatness in the magical apothecary, sparks fly and they begin to develop more than competition towards outdoing one another. All while the shop possesses a kind of destruction neither had seen coming but must defeat together.

This book reminded me a lot of divine rivals and even the relationship with them with hints of their own! I truly loved how cozy the writing was and how beautiful yet poetic it felt at times. It was exactly what I needed for a little bedtime reading. If you are a fan of the divine rivals trilogy, anything dark academia coded, this is IT!

this book found me at the perfect time. i needed a cozy hug which came to me from the pages of this book.

i fell in love with this warm story filled with magic, love and comfort. i thought this book was most reminiscent of «the spell shop». because it contains magic, adventure, challenges and, of course, love.

i was currently in a reading slump, but I read this book in one day! i just couldn't, no, i didn't even want to tear myself away from this story.

the characters' correspondence was truly reminiscent of Rebecca Ross's books, but at the same time the oridinality of this particular story was not lost.

i was able to read this book as an arc thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher! and now i'm waiting for the story to come out so I can buy myself a copy for my shelf.

The book has a strong concept and an interesting historical setup, especially with the use of letters to piece together the apothecary’s past. The idea of preserving knowledge and legacy through written words is compelling, and the apothecary elements are clearly well thought out.

That said, the pacing can feel slow at times, and the reflective tone sometimes drags, especially if you’re looking for a more plot-driven story. The emotional weight is there, but it doesn’t always land as strongly as it could, and some sections feel repetitive. Overall, it’s a decent read for fans of atmospheric historical fiction, but it may not work for readers who prefer faster pacing or higher stakes.

Letters from the Lost Apothecary is a gentle, whimsical story that feels like a handwritten letter tucked into an old book—soft, thoughtful, and meant to be savored rather than rushed. The writing leans into atmosphere and emotion, favoring quiet moments and reflection over high drama, and once I settled into its rhythm, it became a comforting and immersive experience.
The prose is tender and deliberate, with a dreamlike quality that suits the historical setting beautifully. There’s an intentional softness to the language, as though the story itself is inviting you to slow down and listen. Rather than pushing the plot forward at a rapid pace, the writing lingers—on feelings, on memories, on the small but meaningful connections between people. It creates a sense of warmth that makes the story feel like a cozy retreat.
Josie and Reid are especially charming, both intelligent and stubborn in ways that make their dynamic feel alive and playful. Josie’s fierceness and curiosity balance beautifully with Reid’s quieter, more reserved nature, and watching them interact—both in person and through their correspondence—is a joy. Their letters are the heart of the book, filled with wit, sincerity, and a growing tenderness that feels intimate and genuine. There’s something undeniably magical about the way they connect on the page, long before they truly understand one another.
The writing also weaves in themes of intuition, magic, and the preservation of knowledge with a light, whimsical touch. The apothecary elements and the blending of magic with a changing, industrial world add a sense of wonder, making the story feel timeless and quietly enchanting. It’s less about spectacle and more about feeling—about curiosity, trust, and the courage to hold onto what matters.
This book found me at exactly the right time. It was a cozy hug of a read, full of warmth, magic, and gentle romance. While it’s not an intense or fast-paced story, it doesn’t need to be. It’s meant to be enjoyed slowly, like a cup of tea on a rainy afternoon.
Thank you to Hay House, NetGalley, and Bita Behzadi for the opportunity to read and review this ARC

This was a wonderful read!

I hadn’t heard much about this book until recently, when I saw the author post about it on twitter. I decided to give it a chance because I was intrigued by the comps, and it sounded like something I would enjoy.

I’m so pleased to say that I enjoyed this book a lot!

I will say that the story took a couple chapters to get going, but once it did, I was hooked. The coziness, the sweetness, and the curiosity-filled pages were everything I was hoping for. And the letters were such a delight.

The characters were also easy to root for, and I was so invested in seeing how Josie and Reid’s stories ended.

The only bit that I was confused about was the magic system, as I’m still not entirely sure how that works, even after finishing the book. But the concept of intuition vs science was an interesting topic to explore for sure.

Thank you so much to Hay House and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bita Behzadi, and Hay House LLC for the e-ARC of this book.

Total Rating: 4.5 Stars
Multi-POV, 3rd Person

I initially picked up the book because it was compared to Divine Rivals. I love letter writing and watching characters develop through it. This book did not disappoint.

Our story follows Josie Pinova and Aufidius Reid as they attempt to navigate working together in a financially struggling apothecary in the fantastical city of Tressport (modeled after 1900s Chicago). The main conflict of the book centers on their hostility towards each other in person (unknowingly falling in love with their letter personas) while they try to save the Apothecary.

Tressport made for a great setting. As mentioned before, it was modeled after 1900s Chicago. The rapid industrialization and the rising anti-magic sentiment were compelling, especially seeing how it interacted with the Apothecary and how each character viewed magic. I would have loved to see the author delve more into this, particularly the mechanics of the second-sense wards.

The characters are what really shine in this book. They are flawed and feel like real people, which makes it easy to empathize and care about them. Josie and Reid's relationship felt strikingly real, and watching it develop from initial dislike to something more felt both natural and exciting.

One thing I really enjoyed was how the past letters between Josie and Reid were sprinkled throughout the chapters, as it showed how their aliases bonded.

My one issue was that the plot hook started too late. Things really started moving nearly halfway through the story, adding unexpected but well-executed tension; however, it meant the beginning was a bit slow for me.

Overall, this was a wonderful read. When this book officially publishes on June 9, 2026, I will be first in line to pick it up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi is a thoughtful, atmospheric read that really drew me in with its mood and writing style. The prose is smooth and reflective without feeling overly dense, and the apothecary backdrop adds a unique, cozy-but-melancholic vibe that sets it apart from similar books.

I especially liked how the story focuses on human connection and emotion in a subtle, understated way. It’s not a fast-paced book, but that slower rhythm works well for the tone and gives you space to sit with the ideas. A few parts felt a bit drawn out, which is why it’s a four-star instead of five, but overall it’s a meaningful and well-written novel. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories and a slightly literary feel without needing big twists or drama.

I thought it was simply wonderful. It was cozy but with just enough mystery to keep you hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't want to put it down. A really nice suprise.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The beautiful cover of this book and the description of Letters from the Last Apothecary immediately drew me in to want to read this.

I am usually hooked within the first few pages of a book, however this story had a bit of a slower start than I expected, and I began questioning if I would enjoy this as much as I initially thought. However this did change for me around the half way mark when the pace began to pick up and I wasn’t able to put the book down until I finished reading. I really loved the magic system, though I did find it quite confusing and would have loved more of an explanation surrounding it so I could enjoy it more.

Overall this is a cozy little read and if you don’t mind a slower build, I highly recommend!

Thank you to Hay House LLC and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

⋆. 𐙚 ˚ 𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

The story takes place in a magical city where 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚, a spirited young woman freshly fired from her job, stumbles into the last surviving apothecary in 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓻𝓽. There she meets 𝐀𝐮𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐝, a grumpy, meticulous apothecarist whose shop is fading under the weight of anti-magic sentiment.

⊹ ࣪ ˖
𝕰𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖞 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖉𝖊 𝖝 𝕯𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝕽𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖑𝖘


𓂃✍︎ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: I ADORED the beautiful confessional tone in which this was written. The letters allowed the characters to reveal their flaws, fears and hopes in ways they could not face aloud. The melancholy, the ache of longing- it becomes the beating heart of the story. I loved how the intimacy of written words, the vulnerability of confessions and the thrill of discovering someone’s soul through ink was flawlessly captured here.

ꫂ❁ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭: I loved how Josie’s whirlwind energy collided beautifully with Aufidius’s stoic reserve. Their dynamic was so touching that it showed how 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓃 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝑒𝓈.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
.✦ ݁˖ anonymous pen pals × reluctant coworkers
.✦ ݁˖ grumpy × sunshine
.✦ ݁˖ cozy fantasy

And OMG!! I screamed so bad in the end. I love how Reid (mmc) put Josie's(fmc) surname as his surname. AHHHHHHHH!

𓍯𓂃𓏧♡ Unlike many romantic fantasies, this one here does not rely on grand battles or quests. It's just a matter of small gestures- a letter slipped under a door, a potion brewed with care, a shop saved against the odds...
𝐀 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻

╰───◤✦𝕮𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖞:✦◥───╯
update #6:
@82.0%- the yearning finally ends and they kiss.
Why am I screaming and giggling so bad?

update #5:
I love how "womanly time of the month" is mentioned here.

update #4:
The yearning >>>>

update #3:
This is so Divine Rivals coded.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
​an aspiring mage who lands a job at a failing magical apothecary in the city of Tressport × the "grumpy" owner of the shop who is struggling to keep his business afloat amidst rising anti-magic sentiment and industrialization

update #2:
I love how vividly descriptive this is. And the writing style is so amazing. Perfectly articulated.
"Chamomile rays of sparse morning light filtered through..."- ahh

update #1:
new word learnt: ostentatious
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
✿.｡.:* ☆:**:. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: .:**:.☆*.:｡.✿
The cover is absolutely gorgeous!
My first NetGalley read<3

Thankyou to NetGalley and Hay House LLC for providing me with this arc.

This book is everything. Just EVERYTHING. So very well-written. The language feels neither juvenile nor academic nor pretentious. As a reader, I feel fully immersed in this world that Bita Behzadi has crafted, on the cusp of industrialization. The tension between the "old ways" of a magical world slowly eroding with the early onset of industrialization, and the will of magic to persevere is beautifully conveyed in this novel. I'm a fan of Rebecca Ross' Divine Rivals, and even own a typewriter myself --- so when I say I love books that rely on epistolary, typewritten narratives, believe me. I have no clue how Bita came up with these characters' names either, and they're so well done --- Aufidius Reid and Josephine Pinova? AH! That's perfect for them! And the nod to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire from 1911?? Immaculate!

This book feels like what a cinnamon-spiced hot cocoa tastes like during a long winter. At first, I was doubtful of how Josie and Reid would click, but the scene where she tells him "you break my heart"?? I FELT THAT. I felt that to my very bones and the pang in my heart, to know that it's clear she cares for him more than she lets on. UGH. And how he felt like a total jerk after? UGH. And how he had a come-to-jesus moment and really turned things around with how he treated her after some deep self-reflection? AH. A refreshing and utterly cozy read.

4 stars because I'd have loved to see more of Reid and Josie's chemistry develop just a teensy bit more beyond their letters. But Bita Behzadi, you are on my radar! I will be awaiting more books from you <3

tldr; I WILL be buying this book for my bookshelf once it comes out. Thank you to Bita Behzadi and NetGalley for making this review possible, and the utter privilege of being excited about this book's release.

Bita Behzadi has crafted a complex, layered world full of clever characters and a story that smoothly balances between cozy charm and real stakes. Steeped in magic and heartfelt romance, you don't have to be a mage to sense that Letters from the Last Apothecary will hold readers under its spell!

I love epistolary narratives, much more when they're used in such a grounded world. Amazing writing, wonderful characters and character relationships, and a fun plot twist that makes this book impossible to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and Bita Behzadi for the Advanced Reader Copy!

Let us first take a moment for the beautiful cover. I’ll admit: I 100% judged this book by its cover. The cover is absolutely stunning and immediately caught my eye among all the others on NetGalley. When I then read the description - “Emily Wilde meets Divine Rivals” and “You’ve Got Mail with a magical twist” - I knew this book was for me.

That said, it did take me a little while to really get into the story. The beginning felt a bit slow for me, and some of the magical terminology took a bit of getting used to. Certain terms, like metallochamy, weren’t always immediately clear to me and occasionally disrupted the reading flow.

The romance between Reid and Josie is a very slow burn. Personally, I would’ve loved the pacing to be a bit quicker, but I still really enjoyed their relationship and the gentle way it developed over time.

Bita Behzadi’s writing shines in her descriptions; she clearly masters the art of show, don’t tell. Combined with cozy magic and a touch of mystery, this made Letters from the Last Apothecary such a comforting and immersive read, perfect to curl up with.

Since this was an ARC, there were a few awkwardly phrased sentences and minor spelling mistakes. I trust these will be polished in the final version.

Overall, a cozy and magical read with a beautiful atmosphere, rated 3.75 stars.

Apparently my brain read “apothecary” and inserted “apocalypse” I assumed this would be about magicians at the end of the world. I need to learn to read at some point I guess. That’d be a cool book though.

Fortunately this definitely not post apocalyptic book was equally as fun.

Letters from the Last Apothe(lypse)cary follows two magical graduate programme hopefuls, Reid and Josephine. When they both want to check out the same book from the library they’re sent on a back and forth journey of sending letter and learning about each other and their perspectives of the world, both under an alias. Which means when they become coworkers at the local, titular “last apothecary” they don’t recognise one another. And in fact collide with a good amount of heat to begin with.

While not the highest stakes read of the year, this had enough to chew on and wonder about. There’s a good mix of both action and introspection to keep the pacing at a nice flow to it. It’s a short read so I hadn’t expected a tonne from the worldbuilding and magic systems but what we got was really fun. The magic is interesting and had some cool facets like how it’s feared, sold and used. The book’s setting is very early 1900s and the writing style matches that brilliantly. A lot of this book is spent in the apothecary but the sneakpeaks of the wider world we got, especially the expo and the institute were some of my favourite bits.

I especially liked the dynamics at play. We have Reid, the stoic, quiet, a bit haunted scholar against Josie, a whirlwind, silver-tongued magical hopeful in the shadow cast by her sister. While opposing they don’t clash and really monetise working off each other rather than hating each other (well they do but damn they’ll make bank while by its which by itself is fun. The fatherly dynamic between the boss and Reid then eventually Josie is really sweet with lots of sweet smaller moments.

My main issues come with the length of the book and how the author chose to spend those pages.

Aside from the core “Apothecary Cast” meaning Reid, Josie, their coworkers and boss, the rest of LFTLA are forgettable. Little more than pawns to the plot and you can easily imagine them frozen from the point the plot leaves them to be plucked back up again when convenient. Josie has a younger sister and older brother that are mentioned offhandedly once and brought back up only when convenient. The POWO and the Scontillis (read Mafia) function almost identically yet references to the latter come belatedly but significant in their importance.

I totally accept this book is intended to occupy a very specific niche of “cosy fantasy” an it does a great job of that. And a side effect of the genre is often shortened page counts. However, I fear the impact of both the plot and the ensemble cast could have been tenfold if the cast were halved and the plot simplified. The random mafia plot could have easily been swallowed by the nefarious rich family plot or vice versa (hells it would almost be common sense to.) Similar with Reid’s roommates and some of the less notable apothecary staffing.

It’s not that I wanted less or more of the book it’s that I wanted what we had to be dealt with more consciously.

I really enjoyed this cozy little romcom esque book. The world building was enjoyful to read and kept me engaged. I will be recommending this to my friends who enjoy the fantasy romance genre, I just know they’d enjoy.

This was a cute, almost cozy-ish historicalish romantasy. It's not set in the real world (as I initially thought), but rather a fantasy world that is very reminiscent of the Victorian era, except magic is commonplace and most people have some magical ability, though few train it.

The two main characters Josie and Reid both want to attend university for magic for different reasons, and they bond through letters over both studying for the entrance exam, neither of them knowing who the other is.

In the mean time, Josie is fired from her job, and needs something else to be able to afford tuition if she is ultimately accepted. She accidentally stumbles into a new job at the apothecary where Reid works due to her knowledge on the matter, but she and Reid are immediately at each other's throats.

Their dislike of each other is largely due to misunderstanding, but also both act in aloof manners so it was absolutely believable to me that they didn't like each other. Reid feels like Josie is always acting like she's so much smarter than he is, and immediately dislikes her, whereas Josie is annoyed by his cold, distant demeanor. Neither have any clue that they are secretly exchanging letters.

At the center of the plot is the apothecary where they both work, which is in significant financial trouble and has only a couple months to turn things around before they go bankrupt. This plot gets more tense at times, with murder and the maffia being involved, and Josie and Reid have little choice but to work together to figure out how to save the apothecary.

The romance in this was a bit of a slow burn, though they are already in love through their letters at the start, and I thought it was very cute. It's kind of blink or you miss it, but both characters are implied to be bisexual.

I thought the magic system was quite interesting, with both a intuitive system that is more encouraged in women and a more academic system. Both characters excel in a different type, and with neither it is the magic that is expected of them, and I found this dichotomy quite interesting.

Would recommend this book to fans of the anonymous pen pals trope such as in Divine Rivals

✉️ Letters from the Last Apothecary ✉️

📘 Bookish Thoughts
I will be posting my full review closer to publication date.

📅 Pub Date: June 9, 2026

📝 Thank you to Hay House LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Two applicants for entrance to a magical higher education institute begin a correspondence when one of them has a book from the library that the other is waiting for access to. Never discloing their real names, they write back and forth to each other for months until, on the day that acceptance letters from the institute are sent out, they are due to meet and it turns out they already have...

I really enjoyed this book - it's a mix of You've Got Mail if it was set in the early 1900s and everybody has access to magic. The main characters both had a lot of baggage - emotionally and societally through their different ethnic backgrounds in comparison to the majority of inhabitants of Tressport, the city to which they currently reside, alongside the gender inequality that Josie faces in wanting to evolve her magical practice and not quite fitting the expected mould of a female practitioner.

The side characters were interesting and I'm wondering if the next book in the series will focus more on somebody that we've already been introduced to? A nice cosy magical romance, with a murder-mystery twist in the middle that somehow works really well!

Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi is a charming and cozy romantic fantasy that blends magical intrigue with heartfelt emotion. The epistolary elements add a delightful layer of intimacy, making the slow-burn romance feel especially tender and personal. Set against a richly imagined world of fading magic and industrial change, the story balances whimsy, stakes, and character growth beautifully. Readers who enjoy warm, character-driven romantasy will find this enchanting tale both comforting and deeply satisfying.

Applied for this purely because of a one-sided competition with a friend.

It wasn’t what I expected, it was better. I was hooked. Loved the leads, the letters, everything.

And when it turned into a murder mystery halfway through?? I was seated.

The tropes delivered. Not really like Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, but I’d definitely recommend this to any Divine Rivals fan.

I enjoyed this book enormously. It read easily and the world building was really on point. I loved the letter writing aspect and how those letters were woven into the story. This has been a magical read for me.

Something that did feel off a bit for me was the pacing so now and then, I would have liked to have goten a bit more development of Josie’s and Reid’s relationship and the murder mystery came a bit out of nowhere (but it was nicely tied up).

While I prefer divine rivals I definitely see the similarities and I feel the recomendation fits.

Truly lovely and enchanting, this was an immensely enjoyable read! My one small gripe with it is that the author can be a little verbose at times, but the story is well-woven, the characters are charming and fully fleshed out, and the story is the perfect balance of intrigue and resolution. I think the murder mystery plot was clever but felt a little rushed to me. Overall, really enjoyed this and would recommend! 4.25 stars.