First published 2024

376 pages

Fantasy, Romance, Lighthearted

​The Spellshop is an essential cozy fantasy read. It centers around Kiela, a librarian turned rebel as she flees the royal city for the small island she grew up on. She is accompanied by her beloved companion, Caz, who happens to be a sentient spider plant. She is not used to socializing and prefers the company of her books to people. But when she discovers the island in disarray due to magical imbalance, she makes the risky choice to practice illegal magic with her stolen spellbooks.

Sarah Beth Durst has produced the perfect warm hug of a book. There are just enough stakes for the story to be engaging but not enough harshness to curb the cozy fantasy vibes. The magical plants, the town's winged cats, and the handsome neighbor are all perfect. It centers around community and the idea of coming together to do what's right, not necessarily what's legal. The strong, supportive seaside community with the combination of small cottage living creates an idyllic environment. As I read this book, I realized that it was all I wanted in life. A supportive community, a walkable town, and a talking spider plant with anxiety issues. This book waltzed into my life just when I needed it. It breathed such a refreshing breeze into all of the heavy things we deal with on a daily basis. It was a much-needed reprieve from my every day, and I mourned it when I was done. This book now lives on my shelf and is ready for whenever I may need it again.