I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've enjoyed all the books I've read from Joy Revolution so far, so I was optimistic going into Brewed with Love, even if, as a contemporary fantasy, it was less likely to work for me.

And sadly, while there were things I enjoyed, this book ended up letting me down.

One of the issues I often have with contemporary fantasy is the world building, but I actually didn't mind that aspect here. The detail into the different types of witches and the types of magical practices was a lot of fun, and the little interstitial brew recipes add a both texture to the magic system and a dash of humor in places.

The major characters, while not super captivating, are also decent. Sage is set to take over her family's apothecary Bishop Brews one day, and she's working to invent a tonic to cure heartbreak that will also contribute to the apothecary's legacy. Ximena, meanwhile, is a new hire at Bishop Brews, as well as being Sage's former friend who ghosted her. The proximity, plus them working together to solve a mystery, was a great basis for them to reconnect and for romance to grow. They were generally easy to like and root for throughout.

But I think where the book let me down was how "cozy" it

was. It's simultaneously the advertised cozy romantasy, plus it's also a cozy mystery, my ultimate literary nemesis.

While this was hinted at in the blurb, I wasn't truly convinced that the stakes were all that high.

I am now on an ALA committee and cannot leave a real review. Thank you for your patience. Sorry for the inconvenience This is NOT a rating. This just a place holder because I had to.

I wanted to love Brewed with Love, but I really think this is just fine. I always love sapphic witches, and the setting was super cozy. Where this stopped working for me was the mystery at its center involving stolen potions, one of which is misbrewed and causes memory loss for the mayor's daughter. The main character and her love interest hunt for clues, but I found this part to be kind of boring and a lot of the clues to be obvious. I know this is for a younger audience, but even teen readers while pick up on these things and wonder why the characters didn't. Also, the main villain is obvious and cartoony.

The romance is sweet, the friendships are also sweet and deserved more page time. I'd read more from this author and think this would be a fun fall read for certain teens, but not all. Still, it was fun and lighthearted and we all need that at times!

I did not realize this was YA going in, which is not my usual genre. But I’m always excited for a paranormal sapphic story so I finished it anyway. This was a very cozy read with a good dash of high school drama. I enjoyed the paranormal twist in the middle.

Brewed With Love by Shelly Page is the perfect cozy witchy story and I adored this book.
 
The story is about Sage who is a plant witch, and she works in the family business, Bishop Brews, and her dream is to take over one day. But the business faces a lot of competition and therefore Sage tries to come up with a tonic to cure heartbreak. Sage is such a clever and creative person who is very protective of her family, and I really liked that.
 
Ximena is Sage’s ex best friend, and she desperately needs a job and starts working in Bishop Brews and that created the perfect forced proximity situation. Ximena ghosted her in the past and I really wanted to find out why so desperately because I loved their chemistry from the beginning. On her first day someone breaks in and the two must figure out what happened, and I loved how they slowly started to trust each other again and they’re a great team. This mystery aspect added so much suspense and kept me even more intrigued.
 
The story is cozy and magical, and I wish I had read it on Valentine’s Day. The romance is really sweet as well and I loved how these two got a second chance at love and the title especially fits this story so well.
 
I just adored Brewed With Love and it’s perfect for my witchy romantic heart. 4 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

I had a bit of a heard time getting into the novel, but that could have been because of the format (I generally find ebooks more difficult to read than physical novels or audiobooks). But once I had gotten into the flow of the story, I was invested. I really like the mystery aspect of the novel as well as the world building. There are too many characters introduced at the very beginning, including a list of coven members that don't really have any thing to do with anything, but if you just focus on Sage instead of trying to remember everyone else, you can push through it.

The other part I really liked about the book was that it's revealed about halfway through the book that Ximena is a werewolf!!! I'd been reading a different ya novel featuring werewolves recently, and thinking to myself that we need sapphic werewolves and here Shelly Page came to provide! I only guessed this twist a chapter or so before it happened, which made the foreshadowing and pay off feel so good and worth it.Collapse


Brewed with Love was a cute, fun, cozy read. Great if you want something chill and witchy. I think once it's out, it will make a really great audiobook and I recommend it for those who enjoy YA.

Sage Bishop is a plant witch who works at her family’s apothecary. During one of her shifts, an experimental potion is stolen and used on one of her classmates, who loses her memory. Sage must work with her ex, who just moved back to town, to figure out who stole the potion before her shop is shut down. This was a perfect cozy, magical mystery that I couldn’t put down! The mystery element was gripping and I loved the way that the different twists unfolded, especially because Sage is such an easy character to root for and I wanted to see her succeed. The small-town vibes were atmospheric and made me wish that I could visit a real magical apothecary! I highly recommend this book if you’re looking to escape into something light that still has an interesting plot!

Brewed with Love delivers exactly what it promises—a cozy, sapphic romantasy with warmth, mystery, and charm. The story blends magic, identity, and belonging seamlessly, with a mystery that kept me guessing. Ximena and Sage are an enchanting pair, and even the side characters shine with personality.

Page’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, making it easy to get lost in the world. The small magical details, like flowers blooming on command, added to the book’s cozy, whimsical feel. Perfect for anyone craving a heartwarming, magical escape, Brewed with Love is a delightful read I’d highly recommend!

A really nice book, but it ultimately didn't feel new enough for me personally. I would love to read more from Shelly Page, though, because the writing and Black romance were amazing!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of Brewed with Love by Shelly Page!

This one was very cute and witchy and I can see some of my library kiddos really enjoying it. Unfortunately, the writing itself was really young for me specifically, but I definitely know who I would recommend it to.

Brewed with Love is a sweet YA story. This story had romance and mystery. Sage was a witch, and their town was full of magic. There was another kind of supernatural condition in the story, and I would have loved to see that one explored more. I think there’s potential for more stories set in this world!

Brewed with Love is a cute YA romance!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada, Joy Revolution, and Publicity Prose for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parents (off page), poisoning, memory loss

I really liked this. It was fun and kept you guessing. I would definitely read more from this world.

This is sapphic GREATNESS! I loved both of these characters so much. I was really sucked into the world and felt like I could have been there. It was also extremely cozy.

A whimsical cozy read! I also really enjoyed the writing style of this author and will be checking out more from them :)

Brewed with Love follows Sage, a witch, in her mission to find a heartbreak cure in the form of a potion (tonic) she’s working on. To cure how she feels about an old friend. Who is now her coworker. But when a breakin occurs and a misbrewed potion costs a classmate her memory, Sage must team up with her old friend to find the culprit before the incident costs her family their store, the classmate’s memory loss becomes permanent, and harm falls to their coven. Oh, and there’s a mega corporate trying to destroy their family business, drawing the stakes up even more. To further cause chaos, their magic is acting odd, not as strong as before.

Watching Sage give this a second chance, taking a new perspective on her friend (Ximena) and healing old wounds while reviving old feelings, was a lovely time. With the backdrop of this investigation and the stakes ever increasing, this was a great adventure and a fun romance.

There were several interesting characters, solid twists and fake outs I wasnt prepared for, and a very cool magic system (they all draw magic from their woods, are able to manipulate plants, and each family has their own special abilities). I enjoy this world and honestly wish I could get more of it.

Brewed with Love is a cozy, sapphic romantasy with major CW show vibes — think small-town drama, plant magic, and a slow-burn romance wrapped up in a lighthearted mystery. It follows Sage, a determined plant witch trying to save her family’s apothecary, and Ximena, her ex-best friend (and first crush), who unexpectedly re-enters her life as a new hire. When a break-in at Bishop Brews threatens everything, Sage and Ximena have to work together — cue tension, bickering, and just a little (okay, a lot) of unresolved feelings.

There’s a lot to love here! The small-town setting is super charming, the plant magic is unique and well-developed, and the investigation into the stolen tonics adds a fun layer of intrigue. The writing has a cozy feel that makes it easy to sink into.

That said, the romance itself didn’t always click for me. While Sage and Ximena have history, sometimes their chemistry felt a little forced, like the book was telling me they had feelings rather than making me really feel it. Their banter was fun, but the emotional connection could have been stronger, especially since their past friendship (and falling out) wasn’t explored as deeply as I’d hoped.

Still, if you love cozy magical vibes, sapphic romance, and a dash of mystery, this is a fun, light read worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

This was such a fun sapphic spooky romance! I loved the world, character development, magic, and voice—cannot wait for Page's next work!

A charming sapphic story all about magic, family, and feelings. A book full of cozy vibes that’s definitely worth your time. Thank you Random House Children's | Joy Revolution for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Brewed with Love follows a teen witch, Sage, who is determined to save her family’s apothecary from being smothered by the competition. Annoyingly, she also has to deal with her new coworker, her first crush and former best friend Ximena. When someone breaks into the apothecary and steals some important potions, Sage and Ximena must investigate … and maybe fall for each other along the way!

This book blends cozy fantasy, an intriguing mystery, and a super cute romance into a warm magical delight! I am picky about romantasy, because I often find that the romance smothers the opportunity for good worldbuilding, but the genres in this book melt seamlessly into each other. I have a special soft spot for books about small businesses, so that was also a plus.

Sage was a realistically flawed main character that I couldn't help rooting for all the same. I loved seeing her work out her issues with Ximena as they both realized they're perfect for each other! I also loved getting to know the other residents of the small town of Blackclaw and trying to guess who stole Sage's potion. EVERYONE had a suspicious motive or something to hide, which made things all the more exciting!

While mostly focused on entertainment, the story also neatly folds in themes of protecting the environment, combating prejudice, and supporting small businesses. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a magical cozy story perfect for reading snuggled under a fluffy blanket during winter -- or any time!