This book is FANTASTIC! It's super cute, inventive, and overall a wonderful story. It's a little silly, but that's part of the charm. I'd love a continuation and/or some way to continue inside of this world.

When I read the 4 and 5 star reviews of this book, I don't disagree with them. This book is cozy and sweet and adorable. However, I think this book has some issues that really prevent it from being that great to me. First, there are some SERIOUS trigger warnings that, honestly, don't feel like they belong in the book. They don't add enough to the story that they feel necessary, and I think this triggers are something that just shouldn't be in a book that was meant to feel like drinking a mug of hot chocolate. Second, the story was just too long. Over 11 hours for a cozy fantasy? No thanks. The world building was more complicated than necessary, but not well thought out enough. I think the author could have simplified things and it would have flowed better.

That all being said, it was sweet, and a talking spider plant is the kind of companion many of us love to have. So, kinda recommend? With low expectations?

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The coziest book Ive been waiting for!
If you are looking for a cozy Cottagecore fantasy romance with some small town and witchy elements this book is the one for you!
I was gift an ACL and enjoyed it very much.
Kiela (FMC) and Caz ( her sentient plant) runaway to an island to open up a jam shop. But the jam shop is just an excuse so she can secretly do spells and no one would notice.
I adored Kiela and her plant friend’s friendship and enjoyed the main plot of the story including the subplot of romance.
Would highly recommend this book!

The Spellshop is the quintessential cozy fantasy. Durst had me at sentient, pottless spider plant best friend/assistant who hops around on his root ball and suffers from anxiety.

This was an incredibly sweet and delightfully charming orignal story. It had me giggling and awwing and yaying throughout the whole book.

Women supporting women, women befriending women, women setting boundaries and saying "fuck niceness, "women NOT fighting over men, but over seemingly different morals. We need more of this. In 2024, we should have so much bickering between women over petty nonsense, and clearly Durst agrees. And somehow she had all of this in a COZY fantasy. 🤌

I can't recommend this book enough. It's a wonderful summer read. Please don't miss this one.

Thank you to MacMillan, Bramble and Netgalley.

Cute. Cute. Cute!! The most heartwarming thing I’ve read in ages. This was adorable and quirky in exactly the way I always hope Cozy Fantasy’s will be when I pick them up. The characters and setting were absolutely charming and I breezed through this happily!

5 Stars
This was such a fun, cozy fantasy with great characters (Caz and Meep were my favorites!!) and the dreamiest setting. I definitely appreciated how Kiela was a librarian and her love for books - I loved (and could relate to) how Kiela was so excited about someone building her bookshelves lol. Larran has set a new standard for me and I loved his golden retriever energy. The audiobook narrator did a really great job at bringing this story to life. Another one to add to my favorites!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

I loved how cozy this book was, kinda reminded me of Legends & Lattes and don’t get me started on Caz the sentient spider plant who is so just so freaking adorable, i now need one for myself.

Kiela being a librarian and not much of a people person is very much up my alley and more to it would be how she had encountered some anxiety and how much she pushed through her fears.

The narrator did a splendid job on this, i literally read this in one day and her voice was not tire some, it was more to the factor i needed to listen even more. The sound affects for a certain plant was good and i enjoyed my time.

💛 Cottagecore Cozy Fantasy
💚 Stolen Spellbooks
💛 Found Family
💚 Cinnamon Roll Man who builds book shelves and raises merhorses
💛Sentient Plant Friend
💚 Rogue Librarian

The only thing i felt was the ending was quite quick to me, kinda like there was no more time to go more into depth. In ways i actually thought there might be a book two because of where we were but alas i don’t think there will be.

I enjoyed my time and very much will be recommending it to my friends.

This book was everything you could have wanted and more. It was cozy, inviting, magical, and absolutely beautiful. I loved our main character and her assistant spider plant. There were mermaids, unicorns, tree spirits, and mer-horses. I had such a fun time listening to this audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job of voicing all the characters and their quirks.

In short, this was good, I enjoyed it for the most part. There's romance in it, humor and Caz the plant is pretty cool. Kiela is a book lover and we get all the cozy cottage fantasy vibes. There are a lot of slow moments but there's also a little sprinkle of suspenseful moments. Really, if cozy slow paced fantasy books are your thing, give this one a try.


Ps: I really have to say this, I freaking love the cover! 😍 its so stunning!!!

4.75 stars!!! This is such a cute cozy fantasy and I enjoyed every second of it!! Watching the main character relearn how to live in this island and the connections she formed in the process was so fun! Can’t forget the talking plants and amazing creatures throughout! I really feel like this is a book everyone can enjoy regardless of preferred genre

Kiela has spent the last few years as a spell-book librarian in peace. That is, until the rebellion hits the capital, and she is forced to leave with a few boxes of spell-books, Caz - a sentient spider plant, and the clothes on her back. She returns to her childhood home, a small cabin on one of the outer islands, and wants to do all she can to lay low. But when she realizes that life isn't as it once was on the island, Kiela wants to help, and the only way she knows how is to open a secret spellshop. She never meant to make friends and open her heart to the people on the island she once left, but it might just be what she needed all along.

I absolutely adored this book. It had the cutest cozy fantasy vibes, and I just felt like I was wrapped in a warm hug the whole time I was listening. I loved all of the characters and the whole concept of the story. I honestly felt like it was really refreshing to have a story that started out with a large conflict, the rebellion in the capital, and transformed into almost an island getaway story. It felt like the problems of the capital were just a fleeting thought and that nothing could really go anymore wrong on the island. (I would like to add that since I listened to the story, I am not including the actual name of the island because I don't know how to spell it correctly) I also love when stories are so comfortable in the world they are set in that the reader just accepts everything that's happening and what the characters are/look like without question and without confusion.

Caz is one of my ultimate favorite side characters now. I also loved Meep.

There was slight conflict close to the end of the story that didn't feel out of place or overwhelming which I also really enjoyed. And I really liked Kiela's character development.

Clearly I have no reason not to give this beautiful story less than all the stars, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy fantasy and a beautiful cast of characters.

This story was so cute and if whimsy is a buzzword for you, this book has whimsy in spades. We follow a librarian named Kiela as she flees the burning of the library she overlooks and she goes back to a cottage from her childhood for shelter along with her companion Caz, a magically enchanted spider plant. As Kiela tries to navigate a new life in a town that's falling apart, there she meets a handsome strange. She decides to open a secret Spellshop, secret because sharing magic with commoners is punishable by death. Keila needs to keep it a safe from the empire and the revolutionaries. She just needs to start trusting the people in the town if she wants to truly live. This book was mostly about the vibes, but I was here for it. The magic and whimsy was everything, her sidekick was the right amount of curmudgeon and sweetness. The romance in this was adorable and if slow burn is your thing I highly recommend this one.


Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for this ARC! 😊

The Spellshop is every bit as enchanting and delightful as I'd hoped–and maybe even a bit more!

This is exactly the cozy, delightful fantasy that you've been looking for. Sarah Beth Durst has created a vibrant, comforting, and compelling world with a magic system that absolutely captivated me. I quickly and completely fell in love with this world, the protagonist, and every other character we meet in this book (well, maybe barring one or two). This wasn't necessarily the most original story I've ever read, but I'm not someone that needs every single thing to be brand new and I really loved what Durst did with this story.

We follow Kiela, a librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, as she unexpectedly is forced to leave the library and ends up going into hiding at her childhood home, a remote island that she hopes will be able to provide a safe place for her to stay and also keep some magic–and illegal–spellbooks safe. Once there, Kiela ends up opening a jam shop, which allows her to better get to know her neighbors and also begin experimenting with some new ideas that have the possibility of getting her into some trouble one day...

Kiela is a delightful protagonist, and that's not exactly because she's an exceptionally warm or bubbly person, but rather because she is the exact opposite–in all the best ways possible. Kiela is the ultimate introvert (she reminds me a bit of Emily Wilde, if that helps at all), avoiding social interactions whenever she can and remidning herself that seeing poeple is not a bad thing–although she does come to realize that maybe she doesn't feel quite as terrible as she thinks when interacting with some poeple. I loved how true she stayed to her character throughout the story while still managing to showcase some wonderful character development throughout.

This book doesn't rely too heavily on world-building, but I really loved the world-building that we did get to learn about. I was really intrigued by the unrest that was happening in the city where Kiela worked as a librarian, as well as the magic-caused storms that are plaguing the island Kiela travels back to. I honestly would have liked to learn a bit more about this world and some more specifics, but I understand that they weren't necessarily needed for this story. However, I still appreciated how much detail Sarah Beth Durst put into this world, including the magical plants, merhorses, cloud bears, and other fun and delightful creatures in this book. I also loved the magic that largely came in the form of Kiela's spells disguised as "remedies," as I always enjoy a magic system based upon recipes and putting spells together.

I was pleased to see find that the romance actually fit well into the story and didn't feel too overwhelming, In fact, I think it really helped highlight some of Kiela's own personal development in a way that fit nicely into the story. All of the characters, in fact, have great dynamics with Kiela and each seem to impact her own development in their own unique way. It really made each character feels important to the story and therefore more enjoyable to read about and see in different scenes. I really liked how vibrant the entire cast of characters was and how Durst mananged to bring them all to life in such a purposeful and effective way.

I also want to note that I listened to the audiobook version of The Spellshop and the narrator did a fantastic job giving life to each characters–especially the delightful plant friends! I would happily listen to anything else Caitlin Davies narrates, as I found her narrative voice incredibly clear and entertaining to listen to.

I was really sorry to say goodbye to the characters in this book once I hit the last chapter and would love to read more from this world and these characters. I don't think this needs a sequel (and I'm not sure if one is even planned), but I certainly wouldn't say no to one. Overall, I've given The Spellshop 4.25 stars!

This book does exactly what cozy fantasy is designed to do (I know this was published by Bramble, Tor's fantasy romance imprint, but the romance is not the central aspect of the book; it is a cozy fantasy first and foremost). About an hour in, I wanted to drop my entire life and move into the book so I could have a flying cat and a sentient cactus who can only say MEEP and a spider plant best friend, and do magic with my friends while we eat tea and make friends with tree spirits while eating jam-filled pastry.

Halfway through, I just went ahead and preordered the book.

If you like fantasy and want something wholesome and heartwarming to wish your way into for an afternoon, this might be the book for you. Very glad I read it.

I knew from the second I saw the cover that I was going to love this book. I love fantasy and haven’t experienced much that would be considered “cozy fantasy” but now I know what book to recommend if anyone is looking for a recommendation in that category. The story was beautifully written and I love all the cute magical elements. I can’t tell you how badly I want a talking plant now. I’m going to be thinking about this book for a long time. The narrator for the audiobook was fantastic and easy to listen to. Overall it was fantastic and such a refreshing experience.

This is the coziest cottagecore fantasy. It’s like a love note to Mother Nature and the song Imagine. It let me vicariously live out my dreams of residing in a peaceful cottage, selling jam or crafts with the help of light magic and nice neighbors who all share.

The main character is an introverted librarian whose best friend is a sentient plant. She flees the city when rebellion turns violent and returns to her childhood home on a remote island. There she opens up a jam shop and sells spells to heal the island in secret. There are merhorses, nature spirits, mermaids, unicorns, flying cats, light romance, magic, baking, gardening, books. It’s just so cute!

The Bookish FMC and Cinnamon roll MMC are both so lovable. Please let me go live with them on the island. It was such an uplifting and healing read. Like living inside a cozy farming video game sprinkled with humor. The style of the story and writing felt YA to me, not a problem, but something to consider - I’m thinking that may be the combo of the romcom and cozy style and the fact that is just so dang wholesome. I listened to this, and the narration is excellent. The cover art is gorgeous, and I feel it’s a story I would have enjoyed even more reading it. It just begs to relished with real page turning. So maybe I need to order myself a physical copy.

Check it out for a refreshing read or if you need a hug in book form. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy. This is set to publish next Tuesday, July 9th!

This was so cute. I think I'm in the majority when I say that Caz was my favorite character. The romance was really cute and the vibes were amazing. I don't typically read cozy books, but I wanted to give The Spellshop a try because OwlCrate seems to be doing it for their July book pick. I really enjoyed taking it all in for a fun fantasy read that I didn't have to think too hard or try to make any predictions. This was fun and quick and I'll be picking up a copy.

Sarah Beth Durst's "The Spellshop" is a cozy, heartwarming fantasy that will delight fans of cottagecore and sweet romance. The story follows Kiela, a librarian, and her sentient spider plant, Caz, as they flee a rebellion and take refuge in Kiela’s abandoned childhood home on a small island. Kiela's journey to self-sufficiency, aided by kind neighbors and magical creatures like centaurs and merhorses, is both relatable and enchanting. The romance between Kiela and her sweet, caring neighbor is a refreshing change from typical tropes, adding to the book's charm.

The audiobook is wonderfully narrated, bringing each character to life with perfect inflections and emotions. Though there are occasional volume discrepancies, the overall experience is fantastic. "The Spellshop" is a delightful escape filled with found family, magical creatures, and a touch of clean romance. It's a perfect read to lift your spirits and immerse yourself in a whimsical world. Highly recommended for a cozy, feel-good experience!

Oh, how I'd love to live alone in a cottage or library with a talking spiderplant. My introverted dream!

This cozy fantasy gives the warm and cozy small-town vibes with a touch of sweet, clean romance (no smut here, yall. Sorry! 🌶)

As someone who dreams of homesteading but has absolutely ZERO homesteading knowledge and abilities, the whole beginning of the book I can relate to Kiela so much. She refuged to her abandoned childhood home in a small village on a small island but she will have to be 100% self-sufficient and she has no idea how! Thank the clouds and unicorns for kind neighbors ;)

Love all the mythical magical creatures. Centaurs, men with scales instead of skin, merhorses, talking spiderplants. Kiela and her blue skin 😍 The image on the cover of this book is exactly how I would envision this story playing. Side note: Can we talk about how beautiful that cover is?! Wow! I want to live there, please!

Another thing I really liked was that the male love interest was actually sweet and as caring as could be. No jerkish dude who treats women like trash only to have the female lead lust over him. *eyeroll* I'm so sick of that trope in so many books! This is not the case in The Spellshop. He is the sweetest and is officially my new book boyfriend. 😍

The narrator of the audiobook was phenomenal. I found myself saying "Awww 🥹🥰" out loud while listening/reading this book. She nailed it. Even her voices for the magical plant creatures were on point!

I do love stand-alones, but wish there was going to be a book 2 on this one! (It doesn't leave on a cliffhanger at all. I'm just so invested in the characters in this cute story that I selfishly want another one!)

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Sara Beth Durst for sending me this audiobook for review consideration.

I have to admit, I didn't finish this one. It was a cute premise but there wasn't enough to hold my interest throughout the entire book. Cozy fantasy is a lovely idea, but it might just not be my thing.