The Spellshop

"4.5⭐ This book was sooo cute and cozy, and was honestly the exact vibe I was hoping for! Very laid back and whimsical, with charming characters and a positively adorable small town! Kiela was a sweet though somewhat antisocial/socially awkward main character. I found her fairly relatable, and I loved watching her put down roots and make friends with the townspeople. Larran was a sweetheart with a bit of a hero complex, and I adored him! He and Kiela made such an adorable couple! Caz, the talking spider plant, was my favorite character! He was such a mother hen and a total worry wart, always jumping to conclusions in the most dramatic way possible! Between Caz and Meep, I now wish I could have a sentient plant best friend of my own! There were lots of fun magical creatures, including merhorses, mermaids, and flying cats! Island life, cottage core, magical creatures, small town, found family, and a really cute slow burn romance! If you're looking for a cozy fantasy read then this book is definitely worth checking out!"

"I am going to DNF this book. But just for now. It's pretty cozy and charming. The characters are all interesting and well-written. So far, it has been a very good book. No problems with it whatsoever. It's just not what I'm looking for in a book RIGHT NOW. But if cozy is what you're looking for, give this one a shot. I will be returning to it when I'm in the market for cozy."

"This is a cozy slice of life fantasy book. I absolutely adored this from start to finish. The romance feels very realistic and wasn't the focus of the book. If I could forget this to read it again for the first time, I would!"

"I just finished it, there is a romance, but there’s nothing explicit…honestly it’s weird that it’s considered romantasy, because I didn’t really feel like there was that much romance within it. It starts where Keila the main character has to leave a library that is burning down, with her best friend who is a spider plant with a bunch of spell books she’s smuggled out. From the way the book starts you would think it was really full of adventure, so after the first two chapters it is just her life on the island. Growing plants, trying spells, and making friends and jam. It’s very whimsical and slice of life, but if you’re looking for something that is very adventure and plot focused, this might not be for you (if you’re looking for something like that but also cottage core vibes try “After the Forest,” Assistant to the Villain, or Howl’s moving castle”). No, it’s not a romance with fantasy elements, it has a very whimsical world with characters and magic. Most of the story is more about gaining friendships, and starting a new life. I gave it 3 stars, mostly because I’ve read books that do the same thing that I connect with more, but I think if you’re looking for a cozy summer fantasy this is a good book to read. "

"Cozy, fantastical, with yummy treats. Sorry, Kiela but Caz stole the show here. Caz is a sentient spider plant/friend/librarian/business partner. And omg what a business partner he was. Kiela and Caz having escaped the capital with a load of stolen spellbooks had to keep them secret. So what does Caz do? Tells of the cuff lies without batting.... well he has no eyes but you get the picture. He was so swift and convincing he left his partner Kiela wishing she had thought of it haha. Caz was a delight. Kiela on the other hand was made to be a bit disliked but also relatable in a way. She is an introvert librarian who could have lived the rest of her life shut up with her books until she meets the most unlikely cast of characters. Still, Kiela is very brusk and untrusting which doesn't go hand in hand with a small town. She meets Larran who might be one of the most sweetest piece of man meat I ever read about. Descriptions in this book had me wanting to snuggle up beside a fire with some toast and jam. It took cozy to the next level. Even the way Kiela organized the plants in her garden like it was a library was written so beautifully. The spirit bears were probably my favorite. The whole story in general was very whimsical and nothing was too complex which fit with the warm theme. It was an easy enjoyable read. Oh, and I have to mention this so I will never forget. I loved how the girls pretended the spells were remedies. "If you don't say the words you dishonor Caz's grandpa". Literary gold. Unfortunately, the last 25% of the book outpaced the story. Everything became very convenient and the chaos was never ending. The coziness vanished with the rush to the ending. The author also seemed to be checking off a list. Which is nice but not believable so comes off as shallow when done in such a fashion. I mean I'm all for being inclusive but it needs to make sense. The ending just threw me off so completely that I almost docked a star for it. "

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 I took my time savoring this book, as it’s not often that you get cozy, whimsical fantasy stories that have low-stakes, humor, and a day-dream plot line. This book is perfect for fans of Emily Wilde & The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. I think the only reason that I knocked down a star was because of how crotchety Keila could occasionally be. Like girl, simmer down just a smidge! Otherwise, the rest of the cast were so fun and adorable. Caz is my favorite, I would love to adopt my own spider plant after reading this. Overall, this is such an easy and fun read if you’re in the mood for something lighthearted and sweet. Keila’s growth as a character and entrepreneur is so relatable, and I’m so happy everything worked out in the end. I’d definitely revisit this series if Sarah Beth Durst decides to continue the story in this same universe! What a joy!"

"It was a cozy cute fantasy. I felt good reading it. I really felt like I could see the world and the characters in my head like I was watching some animated movie while I was reading. I loved Caz lol and Meep was a nice addition. "

"Simply delightful"

"Keila reminded me so much of myself. This book was an incredible read☺️"