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A review by _onemorechapter_
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
“It wasn’t that she didn’t like people. It was only that she liked books more.”
💭OMG, can we talk about how The Spellshop is basically a warm hug in book form?!
This cozy fantasy romance is everything I didn’t know I needed, and it totally swept me off my feet! If you’re a fan of magical shenanigans, adorable characters, and small-town vibes, this book is about to become your new obsession.
Meet Kiela, the socially awkward librarian who’d rather be surrounded by spellbooks than people. Same, girl, same!
After her world gets turned upside down thanks to a revolution (no big deal), with her trusty sidekick, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant that steals the show with its sass and charm(How could you not love a plant with personality?) she runs back to her childhood home on a remote island(Caltrey) ready to start anew. But wait—this island is in serious peril!
The lack of magic has turned the soil into dust, dried up springs, and endangered all kinds of adorable creatures. Luckily, Kiela's magical spellbooks hold the key to saving the day!
Kiela’s bond with her sentient spider plant, Caz, is absolutely delightful! He’s a worrywart and a bit too cautious at times, but his unwavering support and gentle nudges help Kiela see the beauty in accepting help and forging new relationships. Seriously, we all need a friend like Caz in our lives!
Once Kiela settles in, she discovers a super cute, nosy neighbor(Larren) who just can’t take a hint. Enter the swoon-worthy love interest who drops by to make sure she’s not starving and helps her fix up her cottage. Cue the heart-eyes! 😍
Their slow-burn chemistry is so sweet, it’s like biting into a warm cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven. Their chemistry is like the perfect jam—sweet, sticky, and full of delightful moments that will have you rooting for them all the way. The blend of magic, arts, and crafts with spell books adds a special touch that kept me turning pages like a kid in a candy store.
And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a little romance with their jam?
Speaking of jam, Kiela gets the brilliant idea to open a jam shop—because why not mix delicious treats with a sprinkle of illegal magic?
She whips up her parents' old recipes and uses some sneaky spells to help her garden thrive, all while navigating the hilarity of small-town life and the magical creatures that inhabit it. Think winged cats, cloud bears, unicorns, mermaids, and horsefish! Seriously, this world is pure whimsy and I’m living for it!
The locals embrace Kiela with open arms and simple acts of kindness. From sharing food to offering companionship, the islanders show her that being part of a community isn’t a burden but a beautiful blessing. It’s heartwarming to watch Kiela navigate her initial overwhelm and gradually open her heart to the joy of friendship without losing her love for solitude or books.
The islander, Bryn, who runs the bakery instantly befriends Kiela with her delicious cinnamon rolls and kindness. Plus, Eadie the centaur steps in with a protective vibe that warms your heart even more. I love all the characters!
Durst’s writing is cozy and enchanting, making it impossible to put this book down. The stakes are just high enough to keep you engaged without losing that warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s the perfect blend of magic, friendship, and romance, and it left me with a smile on my face and a heart full of joy.
In short, The Spellshop is a cozy, enchanting delight that I absolutely love! I’m giving it 4.5 stars because it whisked me away to a world where magic and love bloom like the sweetest berries. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!
𝐏.𝐒 The book cover was AMAZING!!
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🔸𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.16
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Fantasy Fiction, Romantic fantasy
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes, Yes, & Yes!
If you’re looking for a book that feels like a cozy blanket on a rainy day, The Spellshop is it!
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“We can only control what we do and hope that other people make the right choice.”
“Books should be shared with everyone who wants to open their minds and hearts to them.”
“I read and I forget anything else exists. And I don’t forgive anyone who isn’t careful with books. I hate people who tear out pages, who bend corners, who break the spines.”
“I can’t lose books; I’d lose me.”
“I’m just an honest person, but if I’m truly being honest, sometimes blunt is just mean. Honesty can be an excuse for bullying.”
“I want to know you better."
"No, you don't. I'm not friendly. I like to be alone."
"You can be alone with me.”
“She was lonely, and she wanted someone to love. She made me out of love, and the empire destroyed her for it.”
“There's no such thing as a weed," Cas said. "That's a cruel term made up by people who label some plants as 'unwanted' and some as 'valuable,' as if the worth of a living thing is measured by how useful it is to another living thing. As if a plant can't gave its own intrinsic worth.”
“And she had her books. If everyone living failed her, whenever they did, she had all the immortal voices caught in pages.”
“You are not unlikable. I chose to be your assistant, out of all the librarians in the Great Library. I am a very picky plant with impeccable taste.”
“If there was a book involved, that automatically made any course of action much more sensible.”
“Some people are like that. They derive joy from sapping other people’s joy. The trick is not to let them. Just keep playing your own song.”
“Because knowledge is power, and the powerful want - wanted - to keep it all to themselves.”
“You threatened to murder me and hide my body."
"Not Kiela. She has more morals than common sense.”
💭OMG, can we talk about how The Spellshop is basically a warm hug in book form?!
This cozy fantasy romance is everything I didn’t know I needed, and it totally swept me off my feet! If you’re a fan of magical shenanigans, adorable characters, and small-town vibes, this book is about to become your new obsession.
Meet Kiela, the socially awkward librarian who’d rather be surrounded by spellbooks than people. Same, girl, same!
After her world gets turned upside down thanks to a revolution (no big deal), with her trusty sidekick, Caz—a magically sentient spider plant that steals the show with its sass and charm(How could you not love a plant with personality?) she runs back to her childhood home on a remote island(Caltrey) ready to start anew. But wait—this island is in serious peril!
The lack of magic has turned the soil into dust, dried up springs, and endangered all kinds of adorable creatures. Luckily, Kiela's magical spellbooks hold the key to saving the day!
Kiela’s bond with her sentient spider plant, Caz, is absolutely delightful! He’s a worrywart and a bit too cautious at times, but his unwavering support and gentle nudges help Kiela see the beauty in accepting help and forging new relationships. Seriously, we all need a friend like Caz in our lives!
Once Kiela settles in, she discovers a super cute, nosy neighbor(Larren) who just can’t take a hint. Enter the swoon-worthy love interest who drops by to make sure she’s not starving and helps her fix up her cottage. Cue the heart-eyes! 😍
Their slow-burn chemistry is so sweet, it’s like biting into a warm cinnamon roll fresh out of the oven. Their chemistry is like the perfect jam—sweet, sticky, and full of delightful moments that will have you rooting for them all the way. The blend of magic, arts, and crafts with spell books adds a special touch that kept me turning pages like a kid in a candy store.
And let’s be real, who doesn’t love a little romance with their jam?
Speaking of jam, Kiela gets the brilliant idea to open a jam shop—because why not mix delicious treats with a sprinkle of illegal magic?
She whips up her parents' old recipes and uses some sneaky spells to help her garden thrive, all while navigating the hilarity of small-town life and the magical creatures that inhabit it. Think winged cats, cloud bears, unicorns, mermaids, and horsefish! Seriously, this world is pure whimsy and I’m living for it!
The locals embrace Kiela with open arms and simple acts of kindness. From sharing food to offering companionship, the islanders show her that being part of a community isn’t a burden but a beautiful blessing. It’s heartwarming to watch Kiela navigate her initial overwhelm and gradually open her heart to the joy of friendship without losing her love for solitude or books.
The islander, Bryn, who runs the bakery instantly befriends Kiela with her delicious cinnamon rolls and kindness. Plus, Eadie the centaur steps in with a protective vibe that warms your heart even more. I love all the characters!
Durst’s writing is cozy and enchanting, making it impossible to put this book down. The stakes are just high enough to keep you engaged without losing that warm, fuzzy feeling. It’s the perfect blend of magic, friendship, and romance, and it left me with a smile on my face and a heart full of joy.
In short, The Spellshop is a cozy, enchanting delight that I absolutely love! I’m giving it 4.5 stars because it whisked me away to a world where magic and love bloom like the sweetest berries. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this one!
𝐏.𝐒 The book cover was AMAZING!!
🔸𝑴𝒚 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🔸𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒔 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 4.16
🔸𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: Fantasy Fiction, Romantic fantasy
🔸𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Yes, Yes, & Yes!
If you’re looking for a book that feels like a cozy blanket on a rainy day, The Spellshop is it!
🔸 𝑭𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔:
“We can only control what we do and hope that other people make the right choice.”
“Books should be shared with everyone who wants to open their minds and hearts to them.”
“I read and I forget anything else exists. And I don’t forgive anyone who isn’t careful with books. I hate people who tear out pages, who bend corners, who break the spines.”
“I can’t lose books; I’d lose me.”
“I’m just an honest person, but if I’m truly being honest, sometimes blunt is just mean. Honesty can be an excuse for bullying.”
“I want to know you better."
"No, you don't. I'm not friendly. I like to be alone."
"You can be alone with me.”
“She was lonely, and she wanted someone to love. She made me out of love, and the empire destroyed her for it.”
“There's no such thing as a weed," Cas said. "That's a cruel term made up by people who label some plants as 'unwanted' and some as 'valuable,' as if the worth of a living thing is measured by how useful it is to another living thing. As if a plant can't gave its own intrinsic worth.”
“And she had her books. If everyone living failed her, whenever they did, she had all the immortal voices caught in pages.”
“You are not unlikable. I chose to be your assistant, out of all the librarians in the Great Library. I am a very picky plant with impeccable taste.”
“If there was a book involved, that automatically made any course of action much more sensible.”
“Some people are like that. They derive joy from sapping other people’s joy. The trick is not to let them. Just keep playing your own song.”
“Because knowledge is power, and the powerful want - wanted - to keep it all to themselves.”
“You threatened to murder me and hide my body."
"Not Kiela. She has more morals than common sense.”