Another cute cozy fantasy. Although I had some misgivings, I overall really enjoyed this and would love to read more set in Owl's Hollow.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book had major Gilmore Girls and You’ve Got Mail vibes. It was a very cozy read, perfect for fall. I really enjoyed the setting and the magic systems. Sometimes I felt the narration delved way too much into the magical aspect and less on the development of plot; things tended to feel rushed. However! If you’re looking for a little Hallmark witchy romance, this is for you!

I wasn't too sure what to expect with this book. Reading a new author to you is always a risk, but this one also had a beautiful cover so I was hoping the inside matched the outside. I thought this was a really cute story. If I had to describe this story, maybe a cross between Gilmore Girls and Charmed. The main character has good wit and that comes out in banter with mostly everyone. The You've got mail inso is evident and loved the referencing to that as well. I thought the story could've used a bit more spice but even more flirty romance would have been nice. There was one spicy scene and a few kisses. I still really enjoyed this read. I will say I wish there was more closure for the characters at the end, unless their story is going to continue.

I loved The Cottage Around the Corner. I couldn’t put this book down. The witchy vibes were perfect. I loved the Cottage. The characters all felt so real to me as well. I adored Charlie and her moms. I loved the relationship between them. I loved Mama and Mim’s relationship. I cracked up at the family banter. I enjoyed the romance, the family relationships, and the coming into your own. Charlie’s unpredictable actions and words always made me laugh out loud and I loved Fitz’s reactions to them. I felt like this book unfolded more organically than other books I’ve read. There were very real life reasons for the tension between the character and they were resolved realistically. It was refreshing. I will add this author to my list of books I automatically plan to read.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book!

Charlie is steadfast and loyal to her family. She used to be a very confident witch, until a spell went wrong the year before. She’s not a bad witch by any means, and is still able to cast spells and do magic. But her lack of confidence rears its ugly head many times over the course of the novel. It doesn’t help that her moms won’t let her buy into the family business, Chanterelle Cottage, the local spellshop. The shop is failing, not drawing in enough money to continue business. And of course, now is the time for Maven Enterprises, a magecraft firm, to come to town. Mages and witches draw their power from different sources, though both can perform magic. Mages seem to do so without a thought while witches need thought out spells, herbs, crystals, and intent, above all. Maven Enterprises is headed by Fitz, a newcomer to town who is looking to escape his own problems in the city.

With the arrival of Maven Enterprises comes a series of misfortunes for the town. From residents turning into animals to all written or typed words disappearing to a sleeping sickness, there seems to be no end of bad luck. It’s down to Charlie, and maybe the alluring Fitz, to fix it. But if Fitz is able to fix it, it may put Chanterelle Cottage out of business. After all, who needs cottage witchery when they can have magecraft?

Charlie’s lack of confidence is something I heavily identify with in many ways. She went to Duke and then almost immediately returned home to work at Chanterelle Cottage, a family business. Her parents wanted her to explore the world and find her own path. But Charlie has already found it, if only she could make her parents believe her. Though she suffers from a lack of confidence, she surges forward anyway, allowing her intuitive grasp of magic to guide her. She has a sense for these things, even under stress.

Charlie constantly fights against Fitz, even when Fitz is only trying to help. Her defensiveness and anger lead to hilarious moments, as well as moments of high passion for the two. From the moment they meet, they are at odds, though Fitz seems to want to be allies, if not friends. It’s hard for Charlie to resist him but it’s in her nature to fight against a man who threatens her livelihood simply by existing.

The characters and writing overall are incredibly solid and well planned. The pacing is perfect and takes its time in the perfect places, while speeding forward at the right time. With well placed banter to diffuse moments of tension, as well as solid characters, the plot is carried very competently. I feel like it just made sense, with human flaws and all.

I highly recommend this book for fans of high stakes cozy romance (as high stakes as a cozy world can become). It’s inspired by The Shop Around the Corner, which also inspires You’ve Got Mail. Funnily enough, I’ve never seen You’ve Got Mail, though I have seen its predecessor. There are many hilarious moments, great banter, as well as excellent queer rep. It’s cute, it’s a quick read, it’ll be great for the fall and halloween season. Being set during the fall, it’ls the perfect read to get in the mood to go pick pumpkins or wander around a fall festival. Good vibes all around!

As has been the case lately, this book’s blurb intrigued me, so I requested it. At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. It seemed a little too slow at the beginning. However, once everything was in place, the book flowed very well. Everything is cute and fun in this, including the characters. I loved the small-town feel, and the slow build up with the main characters. Although, towards the end, the two acted a little too…immature about what was happening. All in all, the book was well-written, I loved the characters, the mystery was intriguing (I did figure it out pretty quickly), and my favorite part was the town and its inhabitants. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

The perfect witchy rom-com!! This book has serious 'You've Got Mail' vibes and I'm here for it. The romance was so sweet. I'm absolutely in love with our mmc. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc.

Charlie Sparrow loves working in the Spellshop she and her moms run in the village of Owl’s Hollow but she starts to worry when a mage and his sister come to town and open a competing shop. Can the village possibly support two magic shops? Fitz is ridiculously attractive—and seemingly nice—but Charlie knows she must resist; after all, he could put them out of business! Then a series of hoaxes start to plague Owl’s Hollow, and Charlie and Fitz have to figure out the best way forward. Should they each work on their own, hoping for winners take all, or is their best bet to combine forces? There’s a delightful “You’ve Got Mail” vibe going here, and Charlie and Fitz are such appealing characters readers will definitely be rooting for their HEA.

Thank you for this e-arc in exchange for an honest and free review, Del Rey!

I was bored for the entire 53% I read of this. Charlie and Fitz are semi-enjoyable characters, cute together. This is a cozy, low stakes read, but it felt more like no stakes, meaning there was nothing for me to invest my attention in.

In hopes I would get interested again, I read the last twenty percent, and still find myself bored until the last page.

This isn’t a book I’d read again, nor recommend.

Gorgeous cover ✅
Cozy magic ✅
Sentient broomstick ✅
Two sweet and loving moms ✅
Snarky little sister ✅
Magical chaos ✅
Competitors to lovers ✅
Light spice ✅

The Cottage Around the Corner is a cozy fall read about a witch, her family business and the dark magic popping up in their small town. I enjoyed this a lot, it was sweet, charming, and had just enough tension to keep me engaged. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the arc!

Owl’s Hollow is darling and whimsical! The contemporary aspect threw me off at first because I read a lot of fantasy books. Once I got into the rhythm of this little town, it being set in present day felt natural.

My fave aspects of the book:

- how plot details and plot lines later link up and connect the dots
- how well the magic and spells of the witchcraft is explained rather than hand waved
- our female main character is in her early thirties! finally a book for those of us not wanting to read about yet another young princess
- our FMC has the most adorable lesbian moms
- the town full of supporting characters
- the character growth of Charlie and Fitz, although miss Charlie could use therapy herself.

My frustration with her character is what keeps it at 4 stars for me vs 5. She still seems to be working through teen angst at her age. Maybe that’s what happens when you still live at home in a small town?

There were some predictable elements but I just loved this little town and its cast of characters so much. I hope there is a sequel set in the same town!

Spice level: open door but minimal, 2 chili pepps

Thank you to Net Galley, Random House, and Del Rey books for this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed The Cottage Around the Corner. So much so, that I stayed up until 3:00am to finish. The ‘he falls first trope’ is one of my favorites. Charlie and Fitz are likable characters and their slow burn romance is engaging with just enough spice to keep it spicy but not detract from the storyline. All in all, this was a delightful read. I would like to see this developed in to a series. There are a lot of characters in the town that I imagine have great stories to be told.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a really fun and cozy read with interesting characters and plot, and I really loved the cover.

I just finished this book and really enjoyed it, even though it's not my usual type. It had such a cozy, fall vibe—felt like a mix of warm, autumn days and Practical Magic. The characters were charming, especially the feisty witch and the handsome mage. The whole atmosphere was so delightful and comforting, making it a perfect read for cozying up with a blanket and a cup of tea. It had just the right amount of magic and romance, and the story kept me engaged throughout.

“The Cottage Around the Corner” is the utterly delightful story of a young woman trying to save her family’s generations-old witchcraft shop when a big, flashy new magecraft firm opens in town. Charlie and her mothers are the custodians of Chanterelle Cottage, a charmingly dusty and cluttered store frequented by the local witches, who don’t quite amount to a coven. The owner of the shiny new Maven Enterprises, Sterling Fitzgerald, walks in for a tarot reading and the two immediately hit it off. Full of charm, humor, kindness, and a delightful cast of colorful small-town characters, this story is incredibly enjoyable. I devoured it in less than a day. Charlie is gifted and determined, but has also made her share of mistakes and is having trouble moving on from them. Fitz is escaping his abusive CEO father and hopes to find solace in a peaceful environment (he’s also attractive, hardworking, competent, and thoughtful - total dreamboat material). This is the perfect book to pick up as Halloween approaches, or if you’re just looking for a cozy and sweet rom-com to enjoy.

This was such a cute and cozy, fall read! Their banter was so much fun, it almost made up for the third act break up. The small town romance books are stealing my heart, and this had a lot of my favorite tropes!

Charming and cozy, The Cottage Around the Corner is a very cute romance filled with magic--both of the literary and fantasy kind. I liked the system of magic/fantasy that Soria created; her worldbuilding was thoughtfully done, with excellent details. I also really enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters: they had, well, a lot of character. The plot hit the right beats and was fine.

I never really warmed up, though to Charlie and Fitz. Charlie, especially, is quite immature, and both of them spend so much time wallowing in feelings and being wishy-washy, theyir relationship felt very YA in many respects. I could not believe that they were supposed to be characters in their 30s. And because the book is told in a close 1st person from Charlie's POV, you can't escape it.

In the end, it was competently written, and I can see that it'll have dedicated fans. I hope it does! Soria has created an excellent world and town that I wish I could live in. If they write future installments set in the same location, I would eagerly gobble them up--hopefully just with main characters that "click" more for me.

Thank, you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey for the book ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Cottage Around the Corner was a fun rivals to lovers book involving witches and a mage. In this world witches use the magic around them while mages use their energy for magic. Fitz just moves to town to open a magecraft firm with his sister. Charlie, a witch that wants to be a co-owner of Chanterelle Cottage with her parents, is not happy about this development while their business is barely making it. A curse within the town pits them against each other for a $5,000 payment to the business that can lift the curse.

This book was an enjoyable read. Charlie is immature and wishy-washy, which causes problems in her personal life and for the cottage. Fitz tends to give unsolicited advice about the cottage that rubs Charlie the wrong way. Even though Charlie tries to avoid Fitz, he seems to be unescapable. I really liked Fitz and Charlie could be a little frustrating in some parts, but their banter was great.

A perfect cozy, witchy Fall read!

Is this a safe space? I must admit that it took until I FINISHED this book and went to update my Goodreads that I made the "Cottage Around the Corner"/"Shop Around the Corner" connection. Is this book filled with You've Got Mail references? Sure. Do they directly talk about the movie? Absolutely. Is much of the plot of this book inspired by the film? You betcha. But I just did not connect that final dot until the end - so embarassing!

All that said - if you've ever wished for a witchy You've Got Mail set in a quaint little Stars Hollow-esque town, you need to run to read this book! The characters are so lovable, and there is a beautiful amount of representation (Mim + Mama 4ever). Some books just feel like a warm hug, and this is one of them.

And obviously it goes with out saying - it's the prettiest book I've ever beheld! :)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

"The Cottage Around The Corner" by D.L. Soria is a heartwarming story of two rivals, a witch and a mage, joining forces to save Owl's Hollow from a series of curses. Charlie and Fitz, despite their magical competition, discover a deeper bond as they work together. The book's humor and clever dialogue make it a delightful read, while the realistic portrayal of characters navigating life adds depth to the story.