A librarian on the run returns to her childhood home and begins a new life filled with new friendships, cottagecore fun, and a sweet neighbor who she's falling for. Kiela is an introvert, she's never liked dealing with people and has been content to work alone with just her talking plant assistant... but when her job as a librarian is jeopardized and she is forced to go on the run, where better to hide than her old childhood home. Kiela takes the books that she can and returns to her home to start a new... but that means being forced to talk to her neighbors, make friends with the townsfolk, and actually having to try and socialize as well as set up a shop and fix her old home. While using unsanctioned spells is illegal and could spell out trouble for her, Kiela can't help but want to make things better and use some magic. The more time she begins to spend making friends and socializing the more she is beginning to realize that she doesn't want to be alone anymore and that sometimes a little magic can go a long way. This definitely was a cozy fantasy that would be perfect for fans of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. Its a slow day to day kind of vibe where you get to see the character make their home, interact with villagers, and work. Theres a bit of romance but not a lot, and if you like slow cozy fantasies such as Legends and Lattes then I think this would be perfect for you!

Release Date: July 9,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group | Bramble for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This book had alllll the best cozy, cottagecore, Miss Honey magic vibes, and I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s perfect for anyone who’s looking to escape into a new world for a little bit, without any overly tense or emotional twists and turns. I’d truly consider this the perfect cozy fantasy. It ticked all the boxes as well- plot, characters, pacing. A true home run for me. I’ll definitely read more from this author and I’ll be revisiting this book come autumn as well!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This was wonderfully cozy and delightful. It had all the ghibli vibes I needed right now. I just loved this. I can't stop grinning it was so cute and I want to dive into this world and hang out with merhorses and eat cinnamon buns. If you want something that will just feel warm and lovely, then read this book.

This book is like a warm hug filled with hidden magic, a wholesome cast of characters, and all the cozy, cottagecore vibes that made me fall effortlessly in love with this whimsical story.

On the run, Kiela, Caz (her magical spider plant best friend), and their spellbooks flee from a brewing revolution to take refuge in Kiela’s childhood coastal village, where she starts fresh by making jam and magical “remedies” for the townspeople. As she grows to find her place in this new way of life, Kiela discovers there’s a lot more heart and happiness in her little cottage full of jam and books than she ever could have imagined.

Ah, my heart!! This was the perfect warm and lighthearted read that made me smile from ear to ear! I loved seeing all the magical creatures—from talking plants to cloud bears to mermaids (and merbabies!) to the adorable winged cats—every aspect of this vibrantly colored tale seemed to leap off the page. It felt like a Disney story mixed with a nostalgic, cozy tale, and I just adored it. I especially loved how much Kiela grew and stepped out of her comfort zone while creating a found family and home of her own.

This book is definitely for those who love a sweet, happy read with a dash of magic and romance.

4.5/5

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

For pure escapism, nothing beats entering a world where merhorses exist alongside people and other mythical creatures! I loved this book and it kept me reading waaay past my bedtime!

This was everything I needed it to be. It was sweet, cozy, heartwarming, and left me with a smile. As a library worker myself, I really related to Kiela and Caz, and their relationship was so cute!! Larran is the greenest flag that ever waved, and the only thing I would change is that I wish SO HARD to have gotten some of his pov to understand his past with Kiela. All in all, it was a delight to read, and I will be recommending it to everyone....but especially librarians 😘

This book is honestly the definition of cozy fantasy - but honestly I didn’t connect with the characters as well as I feel like I should have.

The pacing was alright and I liked the overall plot but the characters actions and development was definition not for me

I can see how those who enjoy other similar titles (Secret Society of Irregular Witches, TJ Klune, etc) would really love it though and should definitely give it a shot

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the #gifted ALC of this book

The Spellshop is the coziest fantasy romance ever. It is a cottage-core dream. We follow Kiela, an introverted, spell-casting, jam-making librarian, as she flees a corrupt capital with rescued spell books. After fleeing the capital, Kiela quickly turns her family’s forgotten cottage into a picturesque Jam shop. She is very introverted and socially awkward, so it was difficult for her to adjust to life outside her library at first. With the help of the kind and inviting townspeople, Kiela slowly comes out of her shell and finds her place in her new home.

I loved how clueless Kiela was when it came to Larran’s intentions. He was head over heels for her and she didn’t know what was going on half the time. He was so thoughtful and kind. I loved seeing their relationship blossom.

I was in heaven the second Caz, the sentient spider plant, was introduced. He was adorable!! Then, we also get Meep!! The sweet little cactus. All they say is “meep” and I nearly died from cuteness overload. I was a little confused as to why everyone would make a big deal about a talking spider plant when there are so many fantastical creatures throughout the story, but I accepted it and enjoyed the ride.

The stakes are very low in this story. Perfect for when you want a break from darker fantasy and want something sweet and relaxing. Caitlin Davies has the perfect voice for a cozy witchy romance. I’ve listened to her books before and loved them all. The audio version of this book was great. 🩷 This was a cute story and I’m happy to have had a chance to read it.

The Spellshop is a cozy fantasy that will transport you to a whimsical island full of heart, found family and mythological beings!

To me this book was like drinking a warm cup of coffee while sitting in my garden reading a favorite book!

Read this if you love:
🌼Cottagecore vibes
🌼Found family
🌼Fun sidekick characters. In this case, a brave spider plant named Caz.
🌼Sweet romance with “cowboy” neighbor-Who raises merhorses 🤩
🌼Small town vibes but on a magical island!
🌼Love of books
🌼FMC personal growth throughout the story
🌼Magical spells using nature

This is the perfect book to read anytime you are looking for something light hearted, cozy and sweet. Highly recommend!

This cozy fantasy was a perfect comfort read!

Librarian Kiela flees a rebellion in the city, sailing away with crates of spellbooks and her plant companion, and ends up returning to the island where she was born. She is initially worried about getting too close to the others on the island, but after encountering a kind, handsome fisherman and a friendly bakery, she begins to build connections with her community and wants to help them. But what if helping her newfound community means putting herself at risk?

While it has been many years since I read "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones, it sometimes reminded me of that favorite book. I would recommend this book to fans of cozy fantasy (or other cozy genres like cozy mysteries or cozy games) or fans of Hallmark movies.

This book made me feel like I was wrapped up in a. Warm blanket on a fall day. The absolute coziest vibes with romance and fantasy elements. The description of scenery was so dreamy and I want to move myself to a cottage in a magical island immediately.

This is my first foray into the cozy fantasy scene, and it did not disappoint. The Spellshop feels like a warm hug. Grab a blanket and a cup of your favorite warm drink, and cuddle up for a heartfelt adventure. 

The Spellshop is the perfect blend of coziness, a small-town setting, fun fantasy elements, and a heart-warming romance.

Kiela, our protagonist, is used to living a quiet life in a library with her best friend, Caz, a sentient snake plant. After rebellion hits the city, they flee to her childhood home on an island with spellbooks in tow. Once they settle on the island, Kiela must learn to interact with people again and put herself out there. Kiela is a quiet, kind, cautious person. She’s lived a fairly sheltered life, but now she’s forced to leave her comfort zone in several ways. I enjoyed watching Kiela stumble at first when she moved to the island. Her character grows from the start of the book. 

Let’s be honest. The real scene-stealer is Caz. I adore him. He made me laugh so much! You have to read this book for him alone. 

Can I move to Caltrey? Please? Where do I sign up? I would also like to live in a cozy cottage with a sentient snake plant and fall in love with a merhorse herder. That sounds delightful. 

If you’re looking for a cute book that will make you smile from ear to ear, pick up this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bramble Romance for sending me an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good!! It was literally the perfect cozy lower stakes fantasy. I feel like cozy fantasy can sometimes be hit or miss but this was such a hit. I loved the spider plant so much and the mer horses it was just so incredibly unique and different. I’ve never read anything like it even in the realm of cozy fantasy. I loved the little romance as well it didn’t overtake the plot. Would for sure recommend this!

Thank you NetGalley and Bramble for the ARC! Librarian Kiela and her sentient spider plant Caz flee the library with their special collection of magic books while the rest of the stacks burn behind them during a political revolution. Fearing the repercussions, Kiela escapes to her childhood home on a remote island. As she readjusts to a quiet life in hiding, Keila comes to understand the importance of magic on the people, but how can she share the knowledge and magic found within her books, while keeping herself safe from those in power? With a great and varied cast of characters, The Spellshop, while containing some tension and threats, is as warm and welcoming as a familiar hug or a comfy warm drink on a cold day. Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy.

This was so sweet and cozy, like a nice warm hug. The low stakes, small town, magical feel was exactly what I needed.
I think my favorite characters were the anxious little spider plant, and the adorable merhorses. The romance was adorable and a great compliment to the story.

I do wish the characters were a little more developed, but overall, I enjoyed this immensely.

3.5 ⭐️

First of all, thank you so much for the ARC. The synopsis of this book caught my interest swiftly indeed.

I’m sorry as I can’t give much higher rating, since for me the first 50% of the book doesn’t managed to glued me to it. I understand that that’s when the backstory / background story been introduced & tell, then the plot growth, but it’s too slow and stretchy for me. There are several interesting scenes but happened too briefly, then it’s back to the slow burn again. Perhaps I expected too much from the start, as I’m hoping for lots of adventures along side with magic and whatnot, but it felt a little bit too bland for these first 50%. I’m truly sorry since I really think the story & characters does have great potentials and I do like them all indeed.

Yet I’m glad that the next 50% throughout the book got me happy and good to read, unlike the first half. Now that’s when the plot thickens and keep my brain feeling juicy, as how I loves it when reading. There’s tension, problems, and each characters building becomes better, as well as the love interest starting to get more interesting and lovely as well. I love how I can still feel their connection as strongly even though they didn’t really show much or have much scenes together in this book, yet yes indeed we can definitely feel the love.

Also, I’m satisfyingly happy with the ending as well. Definitely managed to make me feel bubbly and warmth with the story at that ending, as I recollecting back at their whole journey and all, indeed overall this book is nice. Still love each characters and the environment setting in this story throughout the end. If you love a slow burn start, I think you’ll enjoy every bit from the start. ❤️

This is the cozy fantasy that I needed. I have been entranced with the growing cozy fantasy genre and this is a shining example filled with magic, books, talking plants, a female main character who is more comfortable in the library stacks than in the wild, but due to the library being burned to the ground must flee to her families abandoned home on a remote island.
Kiela flees the capital city where she has been living and working in the library, when the revolutionaries defenestrate the emperor and set fire to her beloved library, so she and her intrepid companion Caz, the spider plant that is the size of a dog, steal away with crates of books back to Caltrey and set up shop in her inherited cabin which has been left to nature.
Kiela faces the challenge of survival, nosy neighbors, small town island life, magical spell books, and an over abundance of raspberries thanks to a spell gone overboard.
Reading this feels like warm scones with raspberry jam on a beautiful summer day over looking a lake.

Highly recommend this book for everyone that wants a book that feels like a warm hug.

This book was as sweet and cozy as advertised! This follows Kiela and her leafy companion Caz, who flee from their lives as librarians to Kiela's childhood home on an island to hide with the books they were able to rescue before the war burned down the library. From there, Kiela must navigate the cast of islanders and picking up her life anew, while dodging magical suspicion.

It was perfectly fine! I think it tried to juggle too many plot points to be truly cozy, and the cast was too large to get too attached. I also think it would've been more successful without the romance? Or at least if we had gotten to know him more. He was just kind of there, and they seemed to fall for each other much faster than Kiela's prickly characterization would suggest feasible. I also found it baffling how Kiela's family moved from the island when she was nine, but she doesn't seem to remember anything about it. Toddler-age I would buy, but nine?

Overall, decent book! I don't know if I would recommend it blindly to those that liked Legends and Lattes, but it does have fun fantastical creatures.

Thanks to Tor for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Bramble, and Tor Publishing Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Spellshop on July 9, 2024.

This book felt like a warm hug mixed with a seaside vacation. The vibes were absolutely impeccable, from the Pine Cone Coven friend group to the sweet romance to the jam-making and spell-casting. I loved Kiela's character arc throughout the book as she broke down her walls and reconnected with her family history and herself. I loved how deftly Durst wove in the feeling of coming home, or how a place and group of people feel like coming home. I just want to visit the island for myself and bask in the homey vibes.

I adored Caz and Kiela's friendship too. A sidekick sentient plant? Are you kidding me? They were hilarious and so fun to read about. It felt like the perfect foil to Kiela's otherwise introverted nature, which really came as a product of her circumstances. While I loved her dedication to books and research and the library, it felt incredible to see her letting in people who truly care about her.

If you want cozy, magical creature vibes a la Emily Wilde, Legends & Lattes, or The House in the Cerulean Sea, this is your book!

Genre: cozy fantasy

Kiela, blue skinned & blue haired librarian, escapes her city library by just the skin of her teeth when rebels set fire to it. She and her assistant Caz, a sentient spider plant, flee with the spellbooks they can grab and return to the island wear Kiela was raised. Kiela has always been a loner (truly, since her only real friend is a spider plant), so when her handsome neighbor Larran shows up to help her unasked, Kiela doesn’t know what to do. Slowly the island starts to creep back into her bones though, and she decides she needs to find a way to stay, which means setting up a jam shop as a cover up for the magical spells she’ll do to help heal her islandhome.

If you like cozy fantasy you'll enjoy this one.
I, on the other hand, need to stop requesting cozy fantasy ARCs. I keep trying, but they aren't for me. I need more conflict or better character development. And look, i knew what I was getting into when I requested a book called The Spellshop, but can we please find other central plots for cozy fantasy besides running away from the central kingdom and settling in a small town to open a shop?

That said, the Spellshop is still good writing, and, again, if you enjoy the subgenre you'll eat this book up. There's just a gentle dose of romance, too.