“It wasn't that she didn't like people. It was 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.”

This delightful fantasy novel follows a young librarian named Kiela as she escapes her home city of Alyssium and the Library she loves. Alyssium is under attack by revolutionaries, so Kiela saves as many books as she can and flees by sea with her assistant Caz, a sentient spider plant who hops around on his root ball. Together, Caz and Kiela land on an island on the outskirts of the kingdom, where Kiela spent her childhood. Kiela quickly realizes that the emperor has abandoned the island, and the magic that the powerful hoarded has run wild among the innocent people she comes to care for. As she builds a jam shop, discovers more about herself, and makes new friendships, Kiela also delves into forbidden magic and potential romance.

Although this novel is often labeled as "romantasy," I would call it a cottagecore fantasy with a splash of romance toward the end. The story features magical creatures, plants, different species, and forest spirits, but the romance aspect is minimal. The pace of the novel is not fast, and it may linger on the edges of being a bit drawn out, but the captivating world makes you want to know more. The narrator did a fantastic job, especially in portraying Caz, who gets excited over research. The narrator really gives Caz some extra personality. Overall, the story is charming, endearing, and a bit long-winded, but the depth it adds is worthwhile. I believe this would make an amazing series, allowing us to learn the fate of the characters after the end of this book.

What an amazingly magical book!

The author created such a wonderful world, that I could probably read a second book of all the characters just living their lives on their island.

The audiobook was great and the narrator did a great job - especially with the anxiety ridden spider plant side-kick, Caz.

🌶️/5

✨ Magic 🪄
✨ Slow burn ❤️‍🔥
✨ He fell first ❤️
✨ Mermaids 🧜‍♀️
✨ Found family

* Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for my ARC in exchange for my honest review *

Possibly my new favorite cozy fantasy? This book is for the fairytale girls. It's for us cottagecore girls. This is a story that I wished I had as a friend throughout my life. It's the type of book I'll come back to again and again because it feels like home, and it feels like love and family and everything good. I cannot recommend this book enough if you want a place to escape the world and be reminded that magic exists, good people exist, and books that change your life for the better absolutely do exist, because this is one of them.

A magical ,charming ,witchy, fantasy ,mystery slight romance story with Kaela a librarian and Caz a sentient spider plant.
Really liked all the special characters.
A enjoyable easy read.
Good narrator and narration.
Voluntarily reviewed.

Cozy cottage core fantasy romance recommended for fellow fans of LEGENDS & LATTES and BOOKSHOPS & BONEDUST. Featuring a librarian on the run and her snarky sentient spider plant best friend, this gentle, feel good romance is full of small town community, magic, books, and jam. The narrator does an outstanding job on the audiobook.

I know that cozy is used to describe books more.and more these days but honestly, this book was.like a.warm sweater on a.cool fall day. I could listen to Keela go on about making jam and putting together "remedies" for hours. In fact when Larren ran off to be a hero during the storm I was a.little perturbed thinking that now I was going to have to share my attention away from Caz and Meep and the books and spirits. Luckily for me it was all worth it! Thank you to Sarah and Netgalley and Macmillian audio for the ARC.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst is a delightful and enchanting novel that immediately drew me in with its whimsical charm and heartwarming narrative. Durst masterfully combines elements of magic, adventure, and personal growth, creating a story that kept me entertained and left me thinking long after I finished it.

The story follows the protagonist, who stumbles upon a mysterious spellshop that promises to change her life in unexpected ways. I found the protagonist incredibly relatable and endearing, and I couldn't help but root for her as she navigated the challenges and wonders of a world filled with magic.

One of the things I loved most about The Spellshop was Durst's imaginative world-building. The spellshop itself felt like a character, filled with curious and fantastical items that sparked my imagination. The vivid descriptions and creative details made the magical elements come to life, and I felt like I was right there, exploring alongside the characters.

Durst’s writing is full of wonder and whimsy, yet she also tackles deeper themes such as self-discovery, the importance of choices, and the power of friendship. The balance between lighthearted moments and meaningful reflections gave the story depth and resonance, making it more than just a fun read.

The supporting characters were equally well-crafted, each bringing their own unique flavor to the narrative. Their interactions with the protagonist added richness to the story, highlighting themes of loyalty, courage, and the complexities of human relationships.

Overall, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst was a magical and engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Its blend of adventure, humor, and heartfelt moments made it a book that was both fun and impactful. If you're looking for a story that will whisk you away to a world of magic while also touching your heart, I highly recommend The Spellshop.

I enjoyed The Spellshop SO much! I'm not typically a *cozy* reader but I loved everything about this book. Cottagecore perfection. I wish I had a sentient snake plant!

The narrator was 5/5 stars.

World building in this book was great. I enjoyed being able to picture everything that was being described to me. The love story that was connected was good, but not the focus of the book. The Cloud Bears were probably my favorite character(s) of the book. I would love to visit the island. It sounded like a wonderful place to be.

If you like the found family trope, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you for the audio file, this is my honest opinion.
#MacAudio2024

4.5! This was such a cozy witch-ish story. I really liked Kiela, she was such a fun main character with just enough self doubt that she was relatable and easy to root for. There was a little bit of romance but there wasn't much and I think if there was more, it would take away too much from the story . I absolutely loved that her assistant/bestie was a talking plant. Caz was truly the best sidekick I've read about in such a long time. This is cottagecore literature right here!

This was a very cute and cozy book! It reminded me a lot of Legends and Lattes, ONLY because it felt like such a wholesome and quaint read. I enjoyed the characters and the idea of discovering self identity. I personally prefer a little bit of a deeper plot and edgier story, but if you are looking for a feel good book, this one’s for you!

Thank you so much to the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audio: The narration is amazing and the way to go. I would recommend trying the audiobook for this story and to add to the cozy time.

This is a cozy fantasy story at it's core. It will warm your heart, make you believe in love and magic. If you are. a cozy fantasy person you don't want to miss this. I loved the beginning, I felt completely entranced with the story, writing, world building and the characters. However, I think this is a me problem, I started to feel bored around 25 percent in. I just think that comes with cozy fantasy not being my favorite though I hoped that this would keep my attention. There is a fabulous talking plant who is our main characters companion, I loved him. The world itself is very fantastical and I didn't love that, which sounds odd but there are a lot of different creatures and people and for some reason that just lost me. Overall, I think if you like very fantastical stories and cozy fantasy you will enjoy this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this novel; all opinions are my own.

DNF at 50% - the audiobook was great and well-narrated. I was just bored. Each new fantastical element added to the story only made me wonder what was going on. I didn't love our main character and I think this just wasn't for me.

This book is all vibes and not a lot of plot (which is 100% fine but just not what I was into at this time).

Excited that cottagecore has a new title to explore, as sometimes we simply need a book that makes us feel cozy and content. Kiela is escaping from her beloved library in Alyssium during a revolution. The only safe place she can think of is her childhood home on the island of Caltrey. She hopes to hide out with her assistant Caz, who happens to be a talking spider plant, and avoid all interaction with others. She did not anticipate the helpfulness of her neighbor, Larran, who irritates her and is unfortunately very kind and handsome or the other curious, but welcoming islanders. Other creatures, like merhorses, mermaids, tree guardians, and flying cats, capture Kiela’s interest and heart. Caltrey has been neglected and the islanders are suffering as springs run dry and merhorses no longer birth babies. Does Kiela have the answers in her books? Under the guise of a jam shop, she explores these spell books and finds a community she was not even looking for. While there are some minor obstacles in the book, the book flows smoothly and in an uplifting direction. I dare you not to love these islanders, especially the adorable Meep. With token baked goods and cute characters (and one grumpy villager that everyone tolerates), this story will warm your heart. I thought the plot was really well done and keep me reading. The setting is so pleasant and imaginative! The gorgeous cover is a strong indication of the beauty the reader may expect in the story. If you have not tried cozy fantasy or cottagecore before, start here! This is an excellent introduction to what is so wonderful about this genre. Narration by Caitlin Davies is ideal for this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review.

I love love love this book! It was so cute and had a little bit of everything in it. I’m still on the fence if this should be a 5 star read. I have read a few other things by Sarah and loved them, this one is no different. I got sucked into the world and now want to vacation there. I would love to see everyone again plus I want to ride a merhorse! I was so inspired by this book that I had to try my hand at drawing a few things from the book. It was such a cute and magical story that I foresee myself rereading in the future. I fell in love with so many of the characters.
If you're looking for a cozy summer vibe, sweet romance and loveable characters this is the book for you!

Thanks to @macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC! #MacAudio2024

I’m fairly new to cozy fantasies but was drawn to The Spellshop as soon as I saw it being recommended to fans of Travis Baldree and TJ Klune and of course as soon as I saw that magical cover!

The main character is Kiela, who is a librarian. When the library she is working in comes under siege during a revolution that is brewing in her city, Kiela and her best friend Caz, a sentient spider plant, packs up as many of the library’s precious spell books as they can, and flee. Kiela decides the best place to hide the books and start over is on the remote island where she grew up. Even though Kiela has every intention of laying low so there’s no way the revolutionaries can find her, her nosy neighbors, especially the handsome mer-horse trainer Lorren, have other ideas.

This story was just the cutest! I loved how quirky and endearing all of the characters were and how determined they were to help Kiela, no matter how much she tried to resist their assistance. I loved how they won her over to the extent that she then started using those stolen spell books to help better the town, which has definitely seen better days.

I also just adored all of the magical creatures, from the sentient plants to the flying cats and everything in between. The whole time I was listening, I just kept thinking to myself what a perfect Disney movie this would be!

While this is definitely a cozy fantasy which can sometimes be a little slow, there’s also some low stakes drama along the way that keeps this story moving along at a good clip. I listened to the entire audiobook in a couple of sittings and thought Caitlin Davies’ narration was excellent. I loved the voices she gave each character, especially the magical creatures. The world building, while beautiful, is not at all complicated, so I was easily able to listen at my usual 1.75x - 2x speed.

If you enjoy magical, atmospheric writing, found family vibes, & slow burn romances, you’ll love The Spellshop!

I absolutely loved this book. The writing was clear and never confusing. The story was just the type I like. A little magic, love and chaos makes for a great story. I would love to read a sequel! I can’t get enough of the characters.

Such a great cozy fantasy. I really enjoyed this audiobook and narrator. If you’re looking for an easy listen with a low stakes storyline then this is the perfect one for you. The descriptiveness of this book alone is what drew me in and kept me entertained. Caz - the talking spider plant and meep were my favorites.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

The Spellshop is one of my unexpected favorites of the year! It is cozy and delightful and a compelling story. The narrator was EXCELLENT, and I’m so glad I listened to it!

When the library where she works is destroyed in a fire, Kiela gathers as many spell books as she can save and flees the city. She returns to her childhood home on a remote island, where she quickly realizes that she a) doesn’t have a plan and b) is not supposed to have access to spells or perform magic. Thankfully she has a sentient spider plant as a best friend and the townspeople seem (mostly) friendly. As she realizes that the island could use a little magical assistance, she must decide how much to risk for a town she’s quickly growing to love.

Read for:
- An amazing narrator
- Sentient spider plant
- Jam
- The coziest fantasy
- Character focused storytelling
- Illegal Magic
- Merhorses
- Found family

Highly, highly recommend reading this one with your ears!

Thank you to Net Galley for the audio ARC!
I’m not normally a fan of the low-stakes, cozy fantasies, I like a little more romance and a little more action, but I picked this book up on a whim. The cover and description drew me in and it was good but maybe not my cup of tea. The characters are interesting and the overall vibe of the book is very cute and definitely cozy. It reminds me of Legends and Lattes in a way and if that is your jam, this book is for you!