This book is a lovely addition to the budding and hard to define genre that is "cozy fantasy." It has everything a fellow librarian could ask for, tea, books, spells, cottages, a sweeter-than-sugar love interest, and of course our favorite sentient spider plant, Caz. Even though I think this book raps up Keila and Larran's story perfectly, I loved certain aspects of the world-building, such as the smoke bears and the spell experimentation, so much that there's no way I wouldn't read a book two.

Looking for cottage-cozy vibes, sassy sentient plants, and a librarian who will stop at nothing to save her books? Then THE SPELLSHOP is here for you— it’s filled with cinnamon rolls, found family, and the sweetest vibes around.

Did I mention the swoon-worthy bookshelf-building neighbor? When Larran shows up, Keila, who is more at home with her books and BFF spider plant than with people, must learn how to ask for help and bloom in the place she never thought she would return to.

The town, the landscape, and its inhabitants all blend together to create the perfect SPELLSHOP potion. Color me enraptured.

4.5 stars. I think Sarah Beth Durst said it best in her author’s note: this book feels like a hug and is filled with things that bring joy.

The world building is amazing. It is what made me fall in love The Spellshop. I want to live on the small outer island of Caltrey. I loved all of the characters, but Caz stole the show, and he made me laugh.

“You know, plants aren’t nearly as emotionally exhausting as humans. You should try to be more plant.”

I do not re-read books just for fun very often, but I will re-read The Spellshop so that I can revisit Caltrey, Caz and Meep, Kiela and Larran and the rest of the Pine Tree Coven.

If you enjoy cotagecore, fantasy, magical worlds, or books about found family and magic, you must read The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. Make a cup of tea, grab a cinnamon roll or a pastry with some raspberry jam, get cozy under a warm blanket and dig in.

“It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more. They didn’t fuss or judge or mock or reject. They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you’d do anything more than absorb what they had to give.”

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, for this digital arc in exchange for my honest review which is not affiliated with any brand.

I absolutely loved this cozy fantasy. Truly a hot chocolate in a mug kind of read giving In the Lives of Puppets vibes. I absolutely loved the magic, the sweet romance and most importantly the sentient spider plant. If cozy is your vibes, then you'll want to pick this one up for sure.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I think this was incredibly sweet. The epitome of cozy fantasy, stakes are low, but enjoyment is high. I love a little small town romance, and combine that with magic, and a whole bunch of adorable things, and I was a happy reader!

This is one of the very best books I’ve ever read in my whole life, and one of the most profoundly beautiful stories I’ve ever experienced. It’s the kind of powerful, captivating story you read even once and then never forget. I would recommend it for everyone.

Every time I went to pick up this book it felt like being submerged into pure happiness.
After going through a whole day of work and real life it was so nice just to spend some time immersed in this book for a while. The characters were all people I could relate to, and I loved the diversity found in the story as well. This was so refreshing, and I got hooked in the story because I became so invested in the happiness of the characters as well as the nature in the world.
There were several different subplots woven in which I think only gave the story more interest and depth. Especially with all of the little problems on Caltrey they try to solve, like the merhorses or the trees. I hope this author writes many more books because I think there needs to be more cozy fantasy reads like this out there! So glad I got to read this!

Kiela is a librarian in the Great Library of Alyssium when war breaks out. She grabs as many books as she can along with her sentient spider plant Caz and sails back to the tiny island where she was born. Things aren’t as lovely there as she remembered as the royal sorcerers had stopped helping the island with magic so the local flora and fauna are withering. Should Kiela use the spellbooks she saved to help the island? Unauthorized magic use is illegal but without it the island appears doomed. The book is filled with magical creatures, warm hugs, and a bit of romance.
This cozy fantasy will charm many- it was a bit too sweet for me- like having cotton candy for dinner.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read the ARC
My opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness, I loved this sweet, enchanting story! At first I wasn’t sure, as I have never read “cottagecore” before and worried it might be rather boring. Not so! Although there are no wild fights, not action-packed suspense, or even hot, steamy romance, there is every single thing that makes a heart sing and puts a smile on the face.

The story revolves around Kiela an almost agoraphobic librarian who has lived her life sequestered within the walls of the library, protecting and caring for her beloved books. A revolution is at foot, however, and suddenly the library is burning and Kiela must save all the enchanted books she can as she escapes. Having those books, though, makes her an outlaw once she leaves the library. What follows is her journey, both physical and personal, as she finds a home and learns to live, love and grow.

The writing has almost a lyrical feel to it as it creates the fantastical world and unique people that inhabit the small island Kiela lands on. Yet, the storyline stays strong throughout and deepens with emotion, encompassing the reader within Kiera’s life and the struggles she faces. I was actually surprised at how involved I became! I grew to love the people right along with her! The conflict was surprisingly real and believable, given the world the characters inhabit. And when the climax came, it was delightful to discover that the plot didn’t fall into the cliche it could have, but twisted just enough to squeeze the heart and end with a sigh.

As an added bonus, we even get an absolutely lovely few chapters at the end that tie everything up so beautifully that one can’t help but be lifted, as well as entertained. It’s a warm blanket, a big bear hug, and a cozy evening with those you love all wrapped up in one enchanting journey!

What a sweet cozy fantasy read this was. Kiela is a librarian who escapes the revolution and head back home to the Island she is from. She can do magic but she is concerned whether she should keep a secret on the island as it has been banned. The only people who can legally perform magic are those that are sanctioned by the Empire. Kiela also has a sentient plant named Caz, who is just a cool character.
Kiela and Caz go back to her parent’s cottage and they make a home of it. It is kind of a fixer upper house too. This was such a sweet read and there are so many characters on this island who are just nice, This Island is a new (oldish) for Kiela and Caz. This was a joy to read.

The book follows Kiela, a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium and has always struggled with social interactions. She has spent most of her life hidden away in the library with her only companion being Caz, a sentient spider plant. But when a revolution breaks out and the library is destroyed, Kiela is forced to flee to her childhood home on a faraway island. What I loved most about this book was the world-building. Durst has created a unique and fascinating world where magic is controlled by the elite and kept hidden from the commoners. The idea of a magical library that holds all the spells of the empire was intriguing and I couldn't wait to learn more about it. Kiela is a relatable and likable protagonist. Her struggles with social anxiety and her determination to do what is right despite the risks made her a compelling character. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Kiela and Caz, their friendship was heartwarming and added some humor to the story. As Kiela settles into her new home, she begins to realize the consequences of her actions and the role she played in draining the island's magic. Her determination to make things right and her willingness to open up a spell shop despite the danger it poses made her a strong and admirable character. Overall, this was a beautifully written and enchanting story about friendship, courage, and the power of magic. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy novel.

When the revolutionaries set fire to The Great Library of Alyssium, librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant Caz pack all the spellbooks they can into their escape boat and flee the city. They sail to Kiela’s childhood home on the island of Caltrey which they learn has been drained of magic. Although spell casting is illegal, Kiela intends to revive the island by opening a spell shop (masquerading as a jam shop) to discreetly share the magic in the spellbooks so Caltrey can thrive once again.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a warm hug in book form set in a land of cinnamon buns, cheeky merhorses, cloud-bear tree spirits, and endless jars of tasty jam. Kiela is an introverted bookworm (relatable) who plans to lay low when she arrives at Caltrey but is charmed by the friendly islanders, especially her handsome neighbor Larran. The story has a wide cast of lovable characters and a strong theme of found family. I loved every minute of this wholesome, cozy fantasy novel about the power of kindness and compassion.

What a cozy read! This book is like if Emily Wilde and Legends & Lattes had a sweet little magic baby. It made me smile. I wouldn't have been mad if the stakes had been even lower. I'm a sucker for found family and green magic, and I just love a socially awkward bookworm fmc. Really enjoyed it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a cottage-core, book lover's dream. I would say that it is best paired with tea in your favorite mug and a cozy blanket to cuddle into, because this is a book that feels like a hug, a fantasy full of whimsy and joy and a world that I absolutely want to fall into.

"It wasn't that she didn't like people. It was only that she liked books more. They didn't fuss or judge or mock or reject. They invited you in, fluffed up the pillows on the couch, offered you tea and toast, and shared their hearts with no expectation that you'd do anything more than absorb what they had to give."

The story follows Kiela, a librarian, her sentient spider plant named Caz, and a few crates of books as they flee a fallen empire and go back to Kiela's childhood home on the sea. And here the story takes place, in a little cottage tucked away in the trees, surrounded by raspberry bushes and a handsome neighbor with a merhorse farm.

Oh, yeah, there are merhorses. And unicorns. And apple tree birds. And cloud bears. So many different, beautiful sounding animals and creatures that made the story that much more enjoyable to me. It felt like a fairytale for adults, and I think the author did a truly wonderful job in fostering that tone in her writing.

"This was a magic made from the music of words..."

But back to the handsome neighbor. Larran. Oh, dear sweet Larran. A man who wants to help simply because it is the right thing to do, who would literally give you the shirt off of his back, who would build you bookshelves so your books don't have to sit in boxes. He is absolutely everything, and I loved how tender yet vulnerable and awkward he could be with Kiela. It was so charming and he has raised that fictional boyfriend bar. The relationship between him and Kiela was so so so cute, and though this book is completely closed door, I think that truly added to how their relationship progresses. They are two people who have come from having nobody, or at least very few, to learning how to find solace and home in someone else, and I think that journey was really well represented.

"Maybe this was something that could last. How often did you meet someone who offered to build you bookshelves?"

Overall, I really loved this book! It is perfect if you are looking for a cozy, low-stakes book similar to Legends and Lattes (or any of those books, honestly). Full of wonder and whimsy and hope and a deep love of nature and books, this is only that I truly cannot wait to see on my shelves.

I loved this book! Perfect for fans of Legends and Lattes, I adored all of the characters, but Caz holds a special place in my heart. It was such an enjoyable and cozy read.

I tried and I tried but I did not like this book. I could not finish it. It was dry and very, very slow.

Oh my gosh, this book was so cute! It’s such a cozy read and now I want to go live on a tiny island somewhere. The characters were so sweet (especially Larran). I also loved Caz and the fact that he was a talking spider plant. The romance was so sweet and I loved how awkward both Larran and Kiela were.

If you are looking for a cozy, feel good, fantasy that has ALL the cottagecore vibes, look no further. If you like your romance a bit dark and spicy... kindly keep looking. This story is very sweet... to the point where I mayyyy have rolled my eyes a couple of times. But I stuck with it and actually ended up liking it more than I thought I would. There is good character development, it's an easy story to read and the descriptions throughout are so good.

Super cute and fits perfectly into my preferred genres. The overall vibe is very similar to "Legends and Lattes" - cozy feelings from small, pretty town with friendly characters making a home together where magic is (mostly) a natural part of the world. I'm in love with the sidekick, Caz - a talking spider plant, who was amazing and made me want my own plant sidekick. His mix of sassy comebacks and knowledge of all topics was my favorite part of the book. Though I enjoyed it overall, it was a bit slow to get into, not in terms of plot action but in terms of easing into the writing style which got better as it went. The romance was cute and believable but also not the whole point of the plot. I appreciated that the focus was more on Kiela making a new home. I would read a sequel in the future!

This is a lovely cozy fantasy, though I wished that the MC was a little more assertive and aware (or just not as much of a jerk to the neighbor/love interest) at the outset. It made parts of the first part a bit of a slog to read, before she became more confident and also more aware of the world and the political urgency of her position.