4.5 stars — This is Practical Magic meets Charmed to make a cozy rom-com of a book. The cover pulled me in and the small town setting, comforting cast of characters, and abundant magic kept me hooked!

Charlie, our FMC and narrator, loves what she does: working at her parents' witchy supply goods store, called Chanterelle Cottage. She believes in their brand of magic and their store a lot. But when Fitz and Elinor, two Boston mages move to Owl's Hollow, Charlie knows that the town isn't big enough to support rival magic shops, even though she is quite drawn to Fitz.

This book was easy to read and featured a lot of small town politics. Pretty soon after Fitz moves to town, many magical things start going wrong in Owl's Hollow and Fitz and Charlie soon find themselves in direct competition in their small town. Though they seem to be working for their own ends, it's pretty clear that there's a lot there, attraction wise.

I loved how Charlie's family was represented and it was in stark contrast to Fitz's family (though they remain off page). Elinor and Fitz's sibling relationship was sweet. I like how Charlie kept Fitz on his toes a lot. Fitz definitely falls first, but I would argue Charlie falls harder!

The magic system of witches vs. mages was a really intriguing concept, one that I wish was expanded upon a bit more. Charlie is quite prejudiced against mages from the onset, while Fitz is rather interested in the Chanterelle witches. Charlie is a bit prickly and sometimes could be a little too much in her head (lots of self-doubt, but that's real life, baby!) and Fitz's calm demeanor highlighted their chemistry, IMO. The reveal of who was causing chaos was an easy guess, but it's a cozy, witchy fantasy with a splash of romance so I didn't mind being able to guess the culprit.

Read this if you love small towns, cozy fantasies, lots of magic, and witches! This is out on September 3 of this year!

Thank you to the publisher Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine/Del Rey) and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy. This did not affect my review in anyway.

First of all, the cover of this books is STUNNING! If I saw this in a bookstore, I would buy it off the cover alone. I liked this cozy fantasy…and it exemplifies the “cozy.” The main characters are nice and likable and the drama never rises too high. I’m discovering this just isn’t my genre but I requested the book based off the cover (see above) so any issues with the sluggish plot is definitely a me problem. I can definitely see this being a fun book for October, though, and wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of cozy tales.

If you're looking for a captivating, fun, and whimsical read, "The Cottage Around the Corner" is an enchanting choice. Imagine a cozy, witchy twist on the classic "Shop Around the Corner," where practical magic and charming rivalry blend seamlessly. The story unfolds in Owls Hollow, a town where witches and mages live together and magic is the norm. This intriguing premise sets the stage for Fitz and Charlie, two competitors in the magical business world who, despite their contrasting backgrounds, forge a remarkable partnership. Their dynamic relationship is both compelling and heartwarming as they navigate a series of curses affecting the townsfolk. With a perfect blend of magical adventure and deep connections, "The Cottage Around the Corner" is a delightful story for anyone who loves a good dose of enchantment and romance. D.L. Soria has written a cozy, witchy read that I couldn’t put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read and review The Cottage Around the Corner by D.L. Soria. All opinions are my own.

Meet Charlie Sparrow from a long line of witches in the town of Owl's Hollow. Charlie and her parents own one of the local spell shops (because of course magic and witches are real in the world and using spells, etc. is the norm for everyone). Chanterelle Cottage is not doing well financially when a new business is opened in town by a mage, Fitz, and his sister, Elinor. Strange things of the supernatural variety start popping up which requires the town to work together to solve. Will Charlie's family's longstanding spell shop survive the competition?

Likes: Small town vibes (Gilmore Girls with magic), main male character Fitz was sweet and charming, great sister/brother relationship, bantering between characters, and all the cozy fantasy feels.

A little of a dislike: The only thing that kept me from a 5-star rating was some of Charlie's choices that drove me a little crazy. I didn't like her as much as I liked Fitz. But of course, this is a me thing and not an author thing. Charlie just really frustrated me.

So, I gave this a solid 4 stars, and I do really recommend it. Plus, the book cover is stunning. The Cottage Around the Corner releases in just a few days on September 3rd and can be purchased at any major book retailers.

I mean this book feels it's ad advertised: its a cozy fantasy read filled with some small town shenanigans and some personal growth.
Following Charlie was like seeing my own anxiety ridden self placed right in a small magical town. She had her own problems, and flaws but not only do we see the growth, but there are also all her personality sparks that we see reflected back. While at times I think the stakes and anxieties were a bit overblown, they nevertheless felt realistic and made sense for Charlie and the story. I also felt I "solved" the whodunnit is fairly early, that is not really the point of the story, and I think anyone looking for a cozy fantasy book will agree. I am in it for the vibes, and Soria brought those in spades. From the town to the world building to the character relationships this book hits every cozy fantasy point and beyond. A perfect book for curling up with as the weather turns cooler.

This book is witchy, spooky, rom-com perfection. I loved the characters, the small-town vibes, and the romance. The couple in question has impeccable chemistry. I just loved every aspect of this book.

I have to start this by saying that I don't generally read romance novels, but anything witchy grabs my attention so I thought I'd give this a try. Reading this book has made me realize that I don't dislike romance novels, I just am extremely picky about them - because I LOVED this book. I couldn't put it down. The witchy vibe was a huge attention grabber for me, and I loved how that carried throughout the whole book, but the small-town drama was cozy and sweet, and the romance was genuinely great as well. I love a fictional couple that actually has chemistry, and these characters definitely do - in addition to the stoic businessman meets eclectic small-town girl trope, which I adore. All of the characters were perfectly adorable and made the overall atmosphere so fun, and now all I want is to read more cozy witch romance novels. I plowed through this book so quickly, which definitely made it end way too soon, but this is a romance worth devouring. Cannot recommend enough - but now I need all the cozy, witchy romance recs for myself so I can get over this book hangover.

I plan to share my review of this on my bookstagram in the next few days (@divinereadswithem if needed) but as of today it is not posted so I cannot link it below.

This was so cute and cozy! I loved all of the characters but especially Fitz. Charlie's parents were hilarious. I was heartbroken when Broomhilde was no more. This is the perfect books to read around Halloween.

ARC REVIEW

The Cottage Around the Corner
Rating:🌟⭐️⭐️🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

An ode to the 1998 romantic comedy “You’ve Got Mail”, The Cottage Around the Corner features a sixth generation, earthy family of witches who are pitted against a sleek, modern mage by happenstance and the universe. Charlie is the 32 year old daughter of the present owners and, having spent most of her life involved with the cottage, can see nothing else as mattering in her life. Then Fitz enters the scene. Inexplicably drawn to him, Charlie struggles with her growing attraction and the threat to the Cottage his presence and business represents. They can’t possible coexist in the same small town. Could they? Maybe she could ignore the problem and it will go away? Or maybe she’ll just soak up the days with him until the axe falls upon the neck of “whatever they are”. Let chaos ensue.

Ok first off, for a family of witches that are all about balance and cleansing auras, there wasn’t a single bit of balance or clarity to any one of these women’s emotions. Charlie was an absolute basket case. I nearly stopped reading due to her alone. Her parents are charming but honestly not very helpful. Fitz is entertaining, though it felt like the author was trying to make him pushy considering Charlie’s responses to him at times. I didn’t get that at all. His sister, Elinor, is also quite enjoyable and funny. The banter was what I enjoyed most about this book, and it took on the style of You’ve Got Mail to that effect and was absolutely hilarious. My biggest complaint about the book was the FMC, Charlie. She’s supposed to be 32, but acts like a 24yr old in every way from her emotional maturity to her level of responsibility (not guilt, that’s a different matter in the book). She didn’t feel like a 30-something with her absolute lack of, well anything most 30 year olds have outside a sex drive, which in this case was still pretty low honestly. She quite literally annoyed the stuffing out of me. 90% of the drama in this book is because she has no idea how she feels about anything, assumes everyone else’s feelings in relation to herself, and won’t stop question her own merits and abilities. Initially the self-doubt felt like a solid characterization due to some past incidents, but by 70% through the book I was completely done with and irritated by it.

Sweet romance despite certain aggravations. Perfect for a cozy fall read or for fans of You’ve Got Mail.

Ahhh. omg. I didn'tknow what to expect with this book. I loved the magical element, the wholesome moments and especially the witt and humor. There were numerous times where I was literally laughing out loud at 2am because it was so funny. I gave major fall vibes.

The Cottage Around the Corner is a delightful contemporary fantasy romcom that weaves magic, romance, and community into a cozy world. Chanterelle Cottage, where Charlie Sparrow practices witchcraft with her moms, is the heart of Owl’s Hollow.

Pros:
Atmosphere: The author creates an enchanting setting that draws readers in - think cozy nooks, mystical spells, and a charming small town.
Romance: The chemistry between Charlie and Fitz (the handsome mage) sizzles on the page. Forbidden romance fans, take note!
Community: Owl’s Hollow feels like home, with quirky characters and a strong sense of belonging.

Cons:
Predictability: While the plot is engaging, some twists are familiar. Readers seeking surprises might find it lacking.
Lack of Risk: The stakes don’t escalate dramatically.

Beyond pacing, the book’s predictability and moderate stakes contribute to the rating. Still, if you crave cozy magic and heartfelt romance, this is a must-read.

This is the cutest, coziest witchy romance and absolutely perfect to kickstart your fall reading list! The plot gives a nod to You've Got Mail while managing to stand on its own as an adorable and heartwarming tale. If you liked The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and Divine Rivals, you'll like this one too.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, Del Ray, for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Cottage Around the Corner by D.L. Soria is a cozy, witchy romance that invites readers into Owl’s Hollow, a town unsurprisingly reminders of Stars Hollow. While I found I enjoyed this setting and the characters, I never fully connected with the story. The pacing of the first half dragged for me, and the thoughts of the main character were often repetitive, leaving her feeling flat instead of fleshed out.

That said, this novel is perfect for readers who want to be immersed in a witchy, small town romance without feeling rushed through the story. The stakes are never too high, making it an easy, cozy read.

I’ll be recommending this book to:
-fans of Gilmore Girls
-lovers of all things fall
-cozy romantasy readers

3.5 rounded up. I really enjoyed this sweet little book. The story kept me engaged from the very beginning, The two MCs were well developed as well as some of the side characters, but I would have liked to see more development of the townie type characters. There could have been such a rich community feel in this small town, but it was a little lacking. I felt like there was a real missed opportunity for how to wrap up the conflict based on hints that were dropped throughout the story, but that doesn't mean the ending was bad. I just wished it had gone another way for the MCs. Overall, this was a really fun magical romance. If you want a cozy fall read, this would be an excellent choice.

Charlie and her moms run the spellshop that has been in their family for generations. It will one day be hers, if she can turn it around and start making money again. Which will be especially hard now that the big corporate Mage company has opened an office in town, run by Fitz, the handsome son of the owner of Maven Enterprises. Then bad spells start to take over the town and Charlie and Fitz must work together to stop them.

The Cottage Around the Corner pays tribute to the 1998 Romantic Comedy in a cozy way. There seems to be trouble in the town and the bad spells reek some havoc, but just like in the movie, you know everything is going to work out and that there will be romance between our two characters. It was a fun and easy read, although when Charlie does witchcraft its gets a little too technical. Her process is very detailed and its gets in the way of the magic a little bit.

Thank you #NetGalley and #DelRey for this ARC! I enjoyed this book so so much! The Cottage Around the Corner is essentially "You've Got Mail"/"The Shop Around the Corner" meets magic. You won't even get 25% into the book without a reference to "You've Got Mail" which I found thoroughly enjoyable. I really loved our main characters, and the town this is set in. I thought it was interesting to add magic into the world, to have witches and mages and what the difference between the two magic types are, how they wield magic, and how their magic(s) can work together. I enjoyed how our main character had to challenge their own biases about mages, and how they viewed themself and their magic. Our main character was stuck with thinking they had a binary choice; their family business or the person they love...an ultimately makes the best choice for themselves.

What makes this book so great for me is I wanted more of this world. I want to know what happens after happily ever after; I want more witch/mage advocacy; I want to know how the town's mayoral election goes. I am definitely ready for more Owl’s Hollow and cannot see what D.L. Soria writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Cottage Around the Corner is an atmospheric novel centering around Fitz and Charlie, both magic wielders in a world where magic is a commodity. Fitz's business opens putting the already fiscally in trouble Chanterelle Cottage in further danger. When mysterious magical illnesses start to pop up around town they need to put their differences aside for the sake of Owl's Hollow.

I loved this book with my whole heart. Charlie's mothers were hilarious, Fitz and Charlie have great banter, and the small town is full of history and quirky characters that make them feel as though they are real people. The setting of the cottage and Owl's Hollow gives major Stars Hollow vibes from Gilmore Girls, but with a magic twist. The witches' magic system is also incredibly flushed out.

The only things holding this back from being a perfect read for me is Charlie's constant self-doubt became borderline annoying. Even after many successes, hearing her constantly unable to believe in her own capabilities was painful. I also thought the book could have cut out about 50 pages and still have been as impactful, but the length was a minor issue causing it to feel like the pace slows a bit during the middle.

A cute and cozy romantasy retelling of Shop Around the Corner, set in our world but the only difference is that there are witches and mages. Charlie, our Kathleen Kelly, is a witch who lives at the Chanterelle Cottage with her mothers. The Cottage is the local small town spell shop. Charlie wants to take over the struggling family business, but a mistake with her magic in the past has made her mothers reluctant to step back and let her take the reins.

Sterling Fitzgerald III ("Fitz") is a wealthy mage, from a family of wealthy mage shop owners, who strolls into town and opens up a new spell shop around the corner from Charlie's Cottage. He's stuck up and can't stop commenting on Charlie's business, and he seems to have some disdain at first for witches. Of course, Charlie and Fitz, and their businesses, naturally start competing for the small town's customers while Charlie aims to stop Fitz from becoming a permanent part of her town. But as a series of mysterious magical disasters start cropping up, Charlie and Fitz reluctantly begin to work together to try to solve the mystery and save their town. And still find time to date-not-date? OF COURSE.

In addition to being cute, I loved the world-building that Soria does here. Even though it is set in our world and I was thrown off by the characters directly referring to Starbucks or You've Got Mail (!), the magic system and the differences between witch magic and mage magic is so intricate. There is a lot of dedication to describing how Charlie casts her magic, the connection between her intent and the earth and language and movement it was fascinating. Charlie and Fitz are adorable but I felt the tension and frustration between them as Charlie's livelihood was threatened even though I've seen You've Got Mail a million times. This was an enjoyable addition to the catalogue of Shop Around the Corner remakes/rewrites? Yes.

The Cottage Around the Corner is charming (and a little spicy) contemporary fantasy (witches with cell phones!) where a witch and her rival have to team up to save the town from a string of weird curses. The characters were delightful, the chemestry was very much there, and there was so much heart. Bonus points for all the queer and PoC representation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc! It will be made available wide on 9/3/24!


Ok this was a cozy sweet read full of family, magic, witchcraft, small town vibes. Charlie and Fitz are low stakes competitors in terms of selling their witchy wares. Honestly this isn’t my normal genre but I had fun reading it. I highly recommend it for the cozy fantasy girlies and guys