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How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days
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Expected 20 Jan 26Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 01:12:12
1 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a comfort read fantasy romance between a halfling and a goblin: imagine a classic opposites-attract romcom taking place in those cosy scenes in the hobbits' Shire from The Lord of the Rings. Expect magical forests, interfering wizards, lots of home cooking, and maybe even a kiss at the Harvest dance...
When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they've inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they'll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.
But when the cottage - and their communities - are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust the tall intruder.
Perfect for fans of cosy fantasy novels including Legends and Lattes, The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Lord of the Rings.
When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they've inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they'll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.
But when the cottage - and their communities - are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust the tall intruder.
Perfect for fans of cosy fantasy novels including Legends and Lattes, The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Lord of the Rings.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 20, 2026
26 people are currently reading
9717 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Sylva
3 books49 followersJessie is a recovering lawyer living in Toronto with her wife and two cats. She writes SFF with an emphasis on queer joy, telling stories full of magic, adventure, and, of course, kissing. When she's not writing, Jessie can be found tinkering with custom mechanical keyboards and raiding online in Final Fantasy XIV.
Her debut, HOW TO LOSE A GOBLIN IN 10 DAYS, is coming out from Orbit in 2026.
Her debut, HOW TO LOSE A GOBLIN IN 10 DAYS, is coming out from Orbit in 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
November 15, 2025
I was super excited for the cozy hobbit x goblin romance and while it turned out to be a perfectly fine and enjoyable story, it also just wasn't very well-developed in many places.
The whole story starts when the halfling Pansy moves out of her family's home and into a cottage in the woods that her late grandmother left to her. But it turns out that the cottage isn't actually unoccupied, because Pansy stumbles upon the goblin Ren who claims to have been taking care of the place for years. Halflings and goblins historically don't get along and both characters view the other in a very negative way. Pansy believes goblins to be evil and violent and always keen on helping the next dark wizard, while Ren views halflings as dumb, careless and gluttonous. The way the prejudices were presented was very heavy-handed and thus pretty awkward to read about. It was just unimaginable to these characters that members of other races could simply just be people too and it made both races seem uneducated. It was also pretty clear that the story would go into the the-prejudices-are-all-false direction and really none of that was presented in a subtle or clever way. The whole conflict was broken down to the absolute basics when it's actually one of the main themes of this book and constantly talked about. It kinda gave a middle grade feel to the book, although I've read plenty of middle grade novels that are nuanced and well-developed. Still, the story wasn't unpleasant to read. I liked how Pansy and Ren made a deal about trying to drive the other out of the cottage and how eventually at least some explanations about the goblin and halfling history were brought up. It was nice how both characters defended their way of living and tried to explain it to the other. I think the author could have dived way more into their respective cultures, because there were some nice and interesting ideas presented there. The halflings value food and cooking and eating together, and they are looking for comfort and joy, because there were times when that wasn't possible. The goblins try to live in harmony with nature and they learn from it and take only the bare minimum of what is necessary to survive. There are also little extracts from various in-world books that were very cute and actually gave a good insight into the cultures of halflings and goblins. All that could have been easily used to describe the conflict better from the beginning, but instead it just felt petty and oversimplified. I think some more developmental editing could have improved the story immensely here. (It's possible that the final version differs from the arc copy that I read, though.)
The romance is a traditional grumpy x sunshine with both characters slowly warming up to the other's way of living. They share insights into their culture and stories from the past and they both also open up about some serious problems that they and their loved ones have to face. It was still unclear to me where the romantic feelings really came from. Take Pansy for instance. She meets Ren for the second time and is all frustrated over goblins as always, but then she suddenly thinks that Ren looks kinda cute. No nuance whatsoever. Sometimes multiple weeks passed between chapters, but it's not like the reader really notices the passing of time and ultimately the romance moved with the speed of lightning and it was really hard to see and feel what the character apparently did. (Spoiler: )
Overall it's a simple story that might as well simply turn out to be a nice and pleasant read for other people. But once I started to think a little harder about certain plot elements or began to question character decisions, it lost quite a bit of its original appeal. The book has a good premise and it had all the potential to be a fantastic, cozy read, but I just see too many flaws here to be able to recommend it without reservations.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
--------------------------
Pre-read: Excuse me, is this a cozy hobbit fantasy?! I will be reading.
The whole story starts when the halfling Pansy moves out of her family's home and into a cottage in the woods that her late grandmother left to her. But it turns out that the cottage isn't actually unoccupied, because Pansy stumbles upon the goblin Ren who claims to have been taking care of the place for years. Halflings and goblins historically don't get along and both characters view the other in a very negative way. Pansy believes goblins to be evil and violent and always keen on helping the next dark wizard, while Ren views halflings as dumb, careless and gluttonous. The way the prejudices were presented was very heavy-handed and thus pretty awkward to read about. It was just unimaginable to these characters that members of other races could simply just be people too and it made both races seem uneducated. It was also pretty clear that the story would go into the the-prejudices-are-all-false direction and really none of that was presented in a subtle or clever way. The whole conflict was broken down to the absolute basics when it's actually one of the main themes of this book and constantly talked about. It kinda gave a middle grade feel to the book, although I've read plenty of middle grade novels that are nuanced and well-developed. Still, the story wasn't unpleasant to read. I liked how Pansy and Ren made a deal about trying to drive the other out of the cottage and how eventually at least some explanations about the goblin and halfling history were brought up. It was nice how both characters defended their way of living and tried to explain it to the other. I think the author could have dived way more into their respective cultures, because there were some nice and interesting ideas presented there. The halflings value food and cooking and eating together, and they are looking for comfort and joy, because there were times when that wasn't possible. The goblins try to live in harmony with nature and they learn from it and take only the bare minimum of what is necessary to survive. There are also little extracts from various in-world books that were very cute and actually gave a good insight into the cultures of halflings and goblins. All that could have been easily used to describe the conflict better from the beginning, but instead it just felt petty and oversimplified. I think some more developmental editing could have improved the story immensely here. (It's possible that the final version differs from the arc copy that I read, though.)
The romance is a traditional grumpy x sunshine with both characters slowly warming up to the other's way of living. They share insights into their culture and stories from the past and they both also open up about some serious problems that they and their loved ones have to face. It was still unclear to me where the romantic feelings really came from. Take Pansy for instance. She meets Ren for the second time and is all frustrated over goblins as always, but then she suddenly thinks that Ren looks kinda cute. No nuance whatsoever. Sometimes multiple weeks passed between chapters, but it's not like the reader really notices the passing of time and ultimately the romance moved with the speed of lightning and it was really hard to see and feel what the character apparently did. (Spoiler: )
Overall it's a simple story that might as well simply turn out to be a nice and pleasant read for other people. But once I started to think a little harder about certain plot elements or began to question character decisions, it lost quite a bit of its original appeal. The book has a good premise and it had all the potential to be a fantastic, cozy read, but I just see too many flaws here to be able to recommend it without reservations.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Orbit for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
--------------------------
Pre-read: Excuse me, is this a cozy hobbit fantasy?! I will be reading.
Want to read
February 17, 2025oh, this is going to be a need for me
December 2, 2025
Thank you to the publisher Little Brown Book Group UK for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This book read like a love letter to the world of Middle Earth/The Hobbit with a dash of the magic from How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and a generous sprinkle of grumpy/sunshine romance. I loved every second of this book, I have no complaints and only positive things to say about this book. This was a very cosy slow burn fantasy romance, I loved Pansy and I loved Ren. I loved that Pansy wasn’t a typical Halfling, she just really wanted a place to belong where her open and inquisitive nature wouldn’t be so frowned up and so her grandmother’s cottage is the perfect place for her. Ren on the other hand needs the cottage to feed their goblin clan, I really liked Ren and their wicked smirk. These two both felt misunderstood, it was hilarious when their best efforts to drive the other out of the cottage fell rather flat. What I loved most was although Ren was rather grumpy and surly to begin with they showed their concern about Pansy being out in the dark from the moment they met. Our couple had generations of cultural misunderstandings, preconceived ideas and prejudice to work through, I loved how this was written and as the book said where there are Halflings there are also goblins, so the two species have more in common than they thought.
I think fans of the world of Middle Earth and cosy romances will love this book, I did. I was cheering for Pansy and Ren through out, this book was really beautifully written.
This book read like a love letter to the world of Middle Earth/The Hobbit with a dash of the magic from How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and a generous sprinkle of grumpy/sunshine romance. I loved every second of this book, I have no complaints and only positive things to say about this book. This was a very cosy slow burn fantasy romance, I loved Pansy and I loved Ren. I loved that Pansy wasn’t a typical Halfling, she just really wanted a place to belong where her open and inquisitive nature wouldn’t be so frowned up and so her grandmother’s cottage is the perfect place for her. Ren on the other hand needs the cottage to feed their goblin clan, I really liked Ren and their wicked smirk. These two both felt misunderstood, it was hilarious when their best efforts to drive the other out of the cottage fell rather flat. What I loved most was although Ren was rather grumpy and surly to begin with they showed their concern about Pansy being out in the dark from the moment they met. Our couple had generations of cultural misunderstandings, preconceived ideas and prejudice to work through, I loved how this was written and as the book said where there are Halflings there are also goblins, so the two species have more in common than they thought.
I think fans of the world of Middle Earth and cosy romances will love this book, I did. I was cheering for Pansy and Ren through out, this book was really beautifully written.
November 16, 2025
A blend of The Lord of the Rings and Stardew Valley, with a dash of rivals to lovers, this book is a delightful cozy fantasy treat.
Pansy Underburrow, a halfling from the quaint village of Haverow, has always felt like an outsider, valuing adventure and curiosity over tradition and conformity. When she leaves town to live in her grandmother’s woodsy cottage, inherited after her passing, she discovers the home is already occupied. Ren Woodward has just been appointed by their goblin clan as the ‘Caretaker’ of the abandoned cottage, using it as a safe haven and farm to provide food and supplies for their starving clan. With both residents feeling more entitled to the cottage than the other, they strike a deal: they’ll live there together until one of them gives up and moves out. But Ren and Pansy both have their own reasons they can’t walk away, and if they have to endure a cute roommate who drives them up the wall in the meantime, so be it.
I typically don’t do this, but I actually want to start with my critiques, as I feel it best reflects my chronological experience with this book. I had one singular issue, and while it only affected the first ~35%, it was almost enough to make me DNF. The initial bargain over the cottage sets great stakes and pulled me in right away, but the competition between Pansy and Ren quickly devolves into petty, childish antics, with both characters doing everything they can to make the other miserable. I think the core component of cozy fantasy is to give the reader a peaceful, meditative, and comfortable experience. When I was reading about these characters dumping dirt on furniture and lobbing harmful stereotypes at each other, I didn’t feel relaxed at all, I felt annoyed and stressed. Since I was expecting a more calming read, this fraught tension ended up setting the mood completely wrong for me.
However! Once the book moved past this early roadblock and their relationship shifted into a shy, burgeoning romance, the warm and comforting atmosphere of the story was finally able to unfold, and I was completely entranced. I actually adored both Pansy and Ren from the start, which is probably why it was so disheartening to watch them tear into each other, so once they began to coexist peacefully, I became fully immersed in this cozy world. The descriptions of the overgrown cabin, mouthwatering meals, and lush forest were vivid and inviting, and I thought the book struck that perfect cozy-fantasy level of indulgent detail. While the plot occasionally edges toward being a bit too intense for the genre, I thought the overarching story and “villain” were well executed, thematically cohesive, and, most importantly, never out of place or reliant on cheap tropes.
Additionally, once the characters stopped terrorizing each other, the main conflict in their relationship shifts to their cultural differences and the effort required to build trust and understanding. Their respective cultures carry generations of prejudice, and at times it’s an uphill battle for Ren and Pansy to overcome the harmful assumptions they’ve inherited. I found this dynamic of cautiously and earnestly asking questions, occasionally making mistakes and learning from them, and finding a middle ground so compelling and well handled. It always felt respectful, and it was satisfying to watch the slow realization of how well they could work together once they set aside old grievances, and how they might even restore peace between their communities.
All in all, this was great! It definitely shows signs of a debut, but I truly enjoyed my reading experience, and I’m excited to see where the author goes next. As for recommendations, I cannot emphasize the Stardew Valley comparison enough, it hits the same excellent beats of restoring an abandoned cottage and garden, spending time in a cozy village full of often-grouchy locals, traveling through a secluded forest, and enjoying similar festivities like a harvest festival and night market. I think fans of the game could find a new favorite book here. This would also be a fantastic pick for readers who love cozy fantasy, wish they could live in the Shire, or enjoy a good opposites-attract, rivals-to-lovers romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pansy Underburrow, a halfling from the quaint village of Haverow, has always felt like an outsider, valuing adventure and curiosity over tradition and conformity. When she leaves town to live in her grandmother’s woodsy cottage, inherited after her passing, she discovers the home is already occupied. Ren Woodward has just been appointed by their goblin clan as the ‘Caretaker’ of the abandoned cottage, using it as a safe haven and farm to provide food and supplies for their starving clan. With both residents feeling more entitled to the cottage than the other, they strike a deal: they’ll live there together until one of them gives up and moves out. But Ren and Pansy both have their own reasons they can’t walk away, and if they have to endure a cute roommate who drives them up the wall in the meantime, so be it.
I typically don’t do this, but I actually want to start with my critiques, as I feel it best reflects my chronological experience with this book. I had one singular issue, and while it only affected the first ~35%, it was almost enough to make me DNF. The initial bargain over the cottage sets great stakes and pulled me in right away, but the competition between Pansy and Ren quickly devolves into petty, childish antics, with both characters doing everything they can to make the other miserable. I think the core component of cozy fantasy is to give the reader a peaceful, meditative, and comfortable experience. When I was reading about these characters dumping dirt on furniture and lobbing harmful stereotypes at each other, I didn’t feel relaxed at all, I felt annoyed and stressed. Since I was expecting a more calming read, this fraught tension ended up setting the mood completely wrong for me.
However! Once the book moved past this early roadblock and their relationship shifted into a shy, burgeoning romance, the warm and comforting atmosphere of the story was finally able to unfold, and I was completely entranced. I actually adored both Pansy and Ren from the start, which is probably why it was so disheartening to watch them tear into each other, so once they began to coexist peacefully, I became fully immersed in this cozy world. The descriptions of the overgrown cabin, mouthwatering meals, and lush forest were vivid and inviting, and I thought the book struck that perfect cozy-fantasy level of indulgent detail. While the plot occasionally edges toward being a bit too intense for the genre, I thought the overarching story and “villain” were well executed, thematically cohesive, and, most importantly, never out of place or reliant on cheap tropes.
Additionally, once the characters stopped terrorizing each other, the main conflict in their relationship shifts to their cultural differences and the effort required to build trust and understanding. Their respective cultures carry generations of prejudice, and at times it’s an uphill battle for Ren and Pansy to overcome the harmful assumptions they’ve inherited. I found this dynamic of cautiously and earnestly asking questions, occasionally making mistakes and learning from them, and finding a middle ground so compelling and well handled. It always felt respectful, and it was satisfying to watch the slow realization of how well they could work together once they set aside old grievances, and how they might even restore peace between their communities.
All in all, this was great! It definitely shows signs of a debut, but I truly enjoyed my reading experience, and I’m excited to see where the author goes next. As for recommendations, I cannot emphasize the Stardew Valley comparison enough, it hits the same excellent beats of restoring an abandoned cottage and garden, spending time in a cozy village full of often-grouchy locals, traveling through a secluded forest, and enjoying similar festivities like a harvest festival and night market. I think fans of the game could find a new favorite book here. This would also be a fantastic pick for readers who love cozy fantasy, wish they could live in the Shire, or enjoy a good opposites-attract, rivals-to-lovers romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
February 15, 2025Don't give one single fuck what this is about, the title belongs on my bookshelf
December 23, 2025
(3.5 stars rounded up)
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a sweet, cozy fantasy that leans fully into low stakes and gentle vibes. The story is very simple, and like other cozy fantasy books, there is not a lot of plot heavy action going on. Still, it was engaging enough to keep me invested, especially in Pansy and Ren’s relationship. I genuinely laughed out loud at a few moments, which is always a win for me.
The pacing starts off on the slower side, but once Pansy and Ren’s relationship becomes more established, the story really picks up. I loved both of their characters and how they actively work against societal prejudice while trying to bring the halfling and goblin communities together. Reading from both POVs was enjoyable, and the little poems at the start of each chapter were such a lovely and charming touch.
The romance leans into the grumpy and sunshine trope, and it was undeniably sweet. That said, even for a cozy fantasy, the stakes felt very low. I went in expecting minimal drama or angst, but at times I found myself wishing there was just a bit more. I wanted more tension or more emotional payoff to deepen the impact.
Oh, and I cannot forget to mention the absolute cuteness explosion that happened when a cat named Mushroom appeared in the story. Truly adorable.
Overall, this was a great book for spring. Its brightness, warmth, and sunshine vibes are sure to brighten your day.
Thank you to Orbit Books US for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a sweet, cozy fantasy that leans fully into low stakes and gentle vibes. The story is very simple, and like other cozy fantasy books, there is not a lot of plot heavy action going on. Still, it was engaging enough to keep me invested, especially in Pansy and Ren’s relationship. I genuinely laughed out loud at a few moments, which is always a win for me.
The pacing starts off on the slower side, but once Pansy and Ren’s relationship becomes more established, the story really picks up. I loved both of their characters and how they actively work against societal prejudice while trying to bring the halfling and goblin communities together. Reading from both POVs was enjoyable, and the little poems at the start of each chapter were such a lovely and charming touch.
The romance leans into the grumpy and sunshine trope, and it was undeniably sweet. That said, even for a cozy fantasy, the stakes felt very low. I went in expecting minimal drama or angst, but at times I found myself wishing there was just a bit more. I wanted more tension or more emotional payoff to deepen the impact.
Oh, and I cannot forget to mention the absolute cuteness explosion that happened when a cat named Mushroom appeared in the story. Truly adorable.
Overall, this was a great book for spring. Its brightness, warmth, and sunshine vibes are sure to brighten your day.
Thank you to Orbit Books US for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 19, 2025
I picked this one up thinking it'd be a warm hug after reading a particularly graphic horror novel about child abuse, and it did provide a good palate cleanser. I do think people who read nothing but cozy fantasy will find this LOTR meets Stardew Valley cottagecore fantasy delightful. But in this case, I think the love story could have been served better by higher stakes and less saccharine cuteness. This low-angst story gave me a toothache, it was so sweet.
It also has very little to do with the 00s rom com that inspired the title, so don't go in expecting a retelling.
Pansy, who has never fit in with her village with her eccentric ways and adventurous spirit, is a halfling who moves into her grandmother's cottage. Only the cottage hasn't been abandoned. A cranky goblin named Ren has been looking after it, squatting in the halfling world and making sure it didn't go to rot in a goblin's terms.
The two overcome their opposite natures and develop feelings for each other in this charming fantasy romance as they fix up the cottage and learn to live with each other's cultural differences (and of course there is just one bed, a trope I rarely see done in a not-ridiculous fashion).
In this case I felt their very real racial and cultural differences, and some very hurtful, deep-seated prejudice, were just too glossed over by cute banter and longing looks. These weren't just the simple misunderstandings that they were treated as, they were hurtful; like when Pansy smashed Ren's plants, or when Pansy gave Ren a flower crown, not knowing that it was a proposal in goblin culture (Oh it is! I guess I'll just marry you then because I'm so happy! was her essential response.)
And at the beginning, when they were still acrimonious, their friends thought they had a crush just because they were on a first-name basis with their roommate? Allosexuals are so weird.
I did enjoy the two of them together and thought they made a cute pair. I liked the way these two outcasts learned to work together, loved the descriptions of halfling cooking and goblin herbalism, and I loved Mushroom the cat and the pet pig.
But I felt the commitment to the cozy trope meant this could have been a great romance but instead was kind of a forgettable one. Their differences weren't just grumpy and sunshine, they were very high stakes differences that needed to be addressed in a high stakes manner. The prejudice was overly sanitized. So in the end I just got kind of bored and kept wondering if cozy fantasy really is the genre for me even though I keep picking them up, hoping for one to blow me away. I often seem to want more than a warm hug.
So in short: If you already love cozy fantasy you will find this charming, but this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It also has very little to do with the 00s rom com that inspired the title, so don't go in expecting a retelling.
Pansy, who has never fit in with her village with her eccentric ways and adventurous spirit, is a halfling who moves into her grandmother's cottage. Only the cottage hasn't been abandoned. A cranky goblin named Ren has been looking after it, squatting in the halfling world and making sure it didn't go to rot in a goblin's terms.
The two overcome their opposite natures and develop feelings for each other in this charming fantasy romance as they fix up the cottage and learn to live with each other's cultural differences (and of course there is just one bed, a trope I rarely see done in a not-ridiculous fashion).
In this case I felt their very real racial and cultural differences, and some very hurtful, deep-seated prejudice, were just too glossed over by cute banter and longing looks. These weren't just the simple misunderstandings that they were treated as, they were hurtful; like when Pansy smashed Ren's plants, or when Pansy gave Ren a flower crown, not knowing that it was a proposal in goblin culture (Oh it is! I guess I'll just marry you then because I'm so happy! was her essential response.)
And at the beginning, when they were still acrimonious, their friends thought they had a crush just because they were on a first-name basis with their roommate? Allosexuals are so weird.
I did enjoy the two of them together and thought they made a cute pair. I liked the way these two outcasts learned to work together, loved the descriptions of halfling cooking and goblin herbalism, and I loved Mushroom the cat and the pet pig.
But I felt the commitment to the cozy trope meant this could have been a great romance but instead was kind of a forgettable one. Their differences weren't just grumpy and sunshine, they were very high stakes differences that needed to be addressed in a high stakes manner. The prejudice was overly sanitized. So in the end I just got kind of bored and kept wondering if cozy fantasy really is the genre for me even though I keep picking them up, hoping for one to blow me away. I often seem to want more than a warm hug.
So in short: If you already love cozy fantasy you will find this charming, but this one just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 8, 2025
Definitely consider this if you're after a super-sweet cottagecore fantasy romance, but I had some reservations.
I would have loved this to have another round of developmental editing. I liked the general premise -- a halfling inheriting her grandmother's cottage discovers that it has not, as thought, been left empty for 20+ years, but is in fact the new home to a goblin who has inherited a Caretaker role from their aunt. The two immediately clash in what might read as cute if you love a little light enemies to lovers action, but that's not my best trope, and I found their behaviour petty and childish. I also thought their serious cultural differences and racial history were then resolved much too easily in favour of getting to a kiss ... ditto the big climax which didn't really land for me as a convincing outcome given the weight of what had gone before.
I am in no way against cosy books, but I don't want the cosiness at the cost of thoughtful world-building, solid character development, and stakes that feel real to the protagonists & impact them consistently.
As a light, easy read, it has a kitten, and baking, and other typical cosy beats -- all fine. I just wanted more out of it personally.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
I would have loved this to have another round of developmental editing. I liked the general premise -- a halfling inheriting her grandmother's cottage discovers that it has not, as thought, been left empty for 20+ years, but is in fact the new home to a goblin who has inherited a Caretaker role from their aunt. The two immediately clash in what might read as cute if you love a little light enemies to lovers action, but that's not my best trope, and I found their behaviour petty and childish. I also thought their serious cultural differences and racial history were then resolved much too easily in favour of getting to a kiss ... ditto the big climax which didn't really land for me as a convincing outcome given the weight of what had gone before.
I am in no way against cosy books, but I don't want the cosiness at the cost of thoughtful world-building, solid character development, and stakes that feel real to the protagonists & impact them consistently.
As a light, easy read, it has a kitten, and baking, and other typical cosy beats -- all fine. I just wanted more out of it personally.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
October 28, 2025
This book is a warm hug and a ray of sunshine on paper. I was smiling giggling and cheering these characters on the entire time I read this. The cozy vibes and hobbit-esque setting and characters made this such an enjoyable read for me and I look forward to hopefully a book two between blossom and thorn!!!!. The characters were so lovable and the story is heartwarming- to anyone looking for a lighthearted cozy read and anyone in need of a good escape, this one’s for you
October 18, 2025
How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a cute, fun, cottagcore cozy fantasy. I enjoyed every moment getting to know our main characters, Pansy and Ren, and their navigation of life, love, and conflict. What do you get when a halfling and a goblin both lay claim to a cottage in the woods? You get a great debut novel by Jessie Sylva!
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2025
Title: How To Lose A Goblin In Ten Days
Author: Jessie Sylva
Synopsis: How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a comfort read fantasy romance between a halfling and a goblin: imagine a classic opposites-attract romcom taking place in those cosy scenes in the hobbits' Shire from The Lord of the Rings. Expect magical forests, interfering wizards, lots of home cooking, and maybe even a kiss at the Harvest dance...
When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they've inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they'll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.
But when the cottage - and their communities - are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust the tall intruder.
Review: What a wonderful cozy fantasy! It felt like receiving a warm hug every chapter I was reading! The world felt so warm and inviting! The slow burn this book had me in a tight grip! I was enjoyed all of the scenes with Pansy and Ren! The chemistry between Pansy and Ren was great! It moved at a good pace where it didn’t feel rushed at all! This was a great escape and I forgot everything else that going on around me! This book left me in such a happy mood! If you love a cozy fantasy with an adorable romance that has you routing for the main characters this book is for!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
Author: Jessie Sylva
Synopsis: How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a comfort read fantasy romance between a halfling and a goblin: imagine a classic opposites-attract romcom taking place in those cosy scenes in the hobbits' Shire from The Lord of the Rings. Expect magical forests, interfering wizards, lots of home cooking, and maybe even a kiss at the Harvest dance...
When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they've inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they'll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.
But when the cottage - and their communities - are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust the tall intruder.
Review: What a wonderful cozy fantasy! It felt like receiving a warm hug every chapter I was reading! The world felt so warm and inviting! The slow burn this book had me in a tight grip! I was enjoyed all of the scenes with Pansy and Ren! The chemistry between Pansy and Ren was great! It moved at a good pace where it didn’t feel rushed at all! This was a great escape and I forgot everything else that going on around me! This book left me in such a happy mood! If you love a cozy fantasy with an adorable romance that has you routing for the main characters this book is for!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
December 7, 2025
What a terrifically cute tale of a halfling and a goblin falling in love! The very definition of a low stakes story. This book is filled with scenes of people speaking from their own prejudices but learning from their mistakes and growing to be better for it. Lots of communication and while sometimes it seems like things gets resolved a little too easily, overall that didn't matter much when I was clearly along for the nice joyful ride.
The characters are lovely and it is a great rep of a queer romance (AFAB and Enby). Overall, the cute softness of the characters made me willing to overlook much and just ride along on all the good feelings to the end. Sometimes we all just want a super happy ending and that is ok.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book for the ARC.
The characters are lovely and it is a great rep of a queer romance (AFAB and Enby). Overall, the cute softness of the characters made me willing to overlook much and just ride along on all the good feelings to the end. Sometimes we all just want a super happy ending and that is ok.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book for the ARC.
November 2, 2025
Do you like cute, sweet and cozy? If the answer is yes than this book is for you. A great book to slow down and take a look around at a different world. I personally think I'm not the right reader for this book. I thought I wanted cute and cozy but in reality it was too cute and cozy for me. I'm also not saying anything bad about pronouns but reading pronouns was difficult for me and never became easier. I still give this book a four . It is a good book just wasn't for me.
December 5, 2025
This is a quaint little queer rom-com featuring a fantasy world that feels loosely based off of the Lord of the Rings/Forgotten Realms (D&D) universes. There's a halfling village and a goblin village, and both sides feel the typical (of this setting) stereotypes against each other, and it's ultimately up to Pansy and Ren to (at first unwillingly) get past those and appreciate each other for who they are. It did exactly what I expected it too: be cute, cozy, and in a little corner of a familiar fantasy setting of mine. There's a wider world out there, and much like other cozy fantasies, I could definitely see the author writing more books in this universe to expand and focus on other characters.
A huge thank you to Orbit for sending me the arc in exchange for my honest opinions!
A huge thank you to Orbit for sending me the arc in exchange for my honest opinions!
October 24, 2025
This book was so incredibly cosy and feelgood - my heart could hardly take it! We follow Pansy, a halfling, and Ren, a goblin, as they try to decide who gets to live in Pansy's late grandmother's cottage. They strike a deal - whoever manages to drive the other out gets to stay. What follows is a delightful mix of good-natured pranks, gentle teasing, reluctant teamwork, and the slow unfurling of something much sweeter than they could have expected.
I loved how grounded both characters felt beneath all the charm and whimsy. Pansy's struggle to be accepted in her halfling village hit hard, and Ren's self-sacrificing nature (and determination to shoulder the weight of saving their entire people) made them so believable and easy to love. The relationship between the two characters grows with such gentle warmth and sincerity that it’s impossible not to root for them.
The antagonists were just the right mixture of infuriating yet amusing, adding just enough tension to keep the story interesting without ruining the cosy tone. And I reaaaally adored the cast of side characters - Blossom and Thorn, Mushroom the cat, and Pig the pig all added so much personality and heart to the story. A part of me is very tempted to name my next pet Mushroom - honestly, what a perfect name!
I also really appreciated the commentary on wizards recruiting halflings for grand adventures - only for those halflings to return home changed and ostracised, while the wizard remains celebrated as a hero. While stories like The Lord of the Rings do hint at this kind of fallout, this book gives a more focused, intimate look at how those left behind are judged, and how their families bear the consequences for the meddling of wizards.
This story is equal parts comfort and heart, and while there are tense and emotional moments, it somehow still manages to remain warm and cosy. If you're after a fantasy romance that feels like being curled up safe and content in your own little Hobbit hole, this will hit the spot!
I loved how grounded both characters felt beneath all the charm and whimsy. Pansy's struggle to be accepted in her halfling village hit hard, and Ren's self-sacrificing nature (and determination to shoulder the weight of saving their entire people) made them so believable and easy to love. The relationship between the two characters grows with such gentle warmth and sincerity that it’s impossible not to root for them.
The antagonists were just the right mixture of infuriating yet amusing, adding just enough tension to keep the story interesting without ruining the cosy tone. And I reaaaally adored the cast of side characters - Blossom and Thorn, Mushroom the cat, and Pig the pig all added so much personality and heart to the story. A part of me is very tempted to name my next pet Mushroom - honestly, what a perfect name!
I also really appreciated the commentary on wizards recruiting halflings for grand adventures - only for those halflings to return home changed and ostracised, while the wizard remains celebrated as a hero. While stories like The Lord of the Rings do hint at this kind of fallout, this book gives a more focused, intimate look at how those left behind are judged, and how their families bear the consequences for the meddling of wizards.
This story is equal parts comfort and heart, and while there are tense and emotional moments, it somehow still manages to remain warm and cosy. If you're after a fantasy romance that feels like being curled up safe and content in your own little Hobbit hole, this will hit the spot!
Read
October 12, 2025Oh, how much I wanted to love this cozy, cute, sweet story. (Just the title alone is so funny and clever!) Unfortunately, I don’t think I was the right reader for this book. Right away, I didn’t connect with the characters, and the romance felt stilted and flat. The messaging around overcoming our biases and prejudices was good, but it came across as a bit heavy handed at times. That said, I do think the right reader will absolutely love this one and its cozy, cottage-core, silly sweetness. DNF 35%, so I won’t rate it out of fairness for the author and book, and because I don’t want to dissuade my fellow cozy fantasy readers from picking up a book that they may love.
I was kindly gifted an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was kindly gifted an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 3, 2025
Epitome of cozy fantasy!
The story line is light, but warm. You feel invested and the bickering between our two “friends” is endearing.
As life and adulting can get overwhelming, this is the perfect escape! Imagine finding yourself in hobbits (or goblins) home, with the sun shining in.. then add madness, mayhem and a love subplot to it. Et voila, the perfect cozy fantasy!
The main characters are definitely grumpy and sunshine coded. The plot wasn’t too high stakes either, it was just right.
I’ve read this when I needed something heartfelt and it gave me the mental vacation I needed!
Thank you to Jessie Sylva for this escape and perspective on acceptance and tolerance! Also, Orbit books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to travel whilst staying at home.
The story line is light, but warm. You feel invested and the bickering between our two “friends” is endearing.
As life and adulting can get overwhelming, this is the perfect escape! Imagine finding yourself in hobbits (or goblins) home, with the sun shining in.. then add madness, mayhem and a love subplot to it. Et voila, the perfect cozy fantasy!
The main characters are definitely grumpy and sunshine coded. The plot wasn’t too high stakes either, it was just right.
I’ve read this when I needed something heartfelt and it gave me the mental vacation I needed!
Thank you to Jessie Sylva for this escape and perspective on acceptance and tolerance! Also, Orbit books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to travel whilst staying at home.
October 25, 2025
*I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This was such a cosy, quaint, sweet and fantastical read, whilst definitely on the slower, low-stakes side of things mostly, it still brings all the cottagecore and The Hobbit vibes.
The story follows halfling Pansy, who's feeling like she doesn't fit in with the rest of her town in Haverow, when she inherits her grandmother's cottage out in the woods things start looking up- she can finally have the space to be herself- but plans go downhill when Pansy finds a goblin named Ren living as a caretaker in the cottage, with their pet Pig.
There's a lot of tension and prejudice between Pansy and Ren, their species don't get along at all due to misconstrued histories and stories, so to begin with the pair don't get along at all. They make a deal; whoever leaves first and gives in will forfeit living at the cottage. Slowly, Pansy and Ren begin to see the truths of their kind, they get to know each other, learn each other's cultures and see why each individual is so desperate for a place called home. They bake, garden, attend a halfling harvest and a goblin night market together, all whilst getting to know each other deeply.
The romance is definitely slow burn, with the tropes being opposites attract, forced proximity and enemies to lovers. I did feel like the relationship suddenly went a little too serious and felt rushed towards the end with the proposal, but still cute nonetheless. I really enjoyed seeing the softer moments the pair shared, and how Ren gave Pansy a safe space, and Pansy gave Ren freedom to garden as they please as well as help gather food for their clan. Both POV's were well written, with each character going through growth and development which was clear and nice to see.
I enjoyed the plot, though the pacing was a little slow yet steady. I liked how the story takes a twist from usual fantasy books, showing that sometimes the person you think is a hero doesn't always have the right motives. I also really loved the twist with the history and both Halflings and Goblin's getting along at last. I'm really hoping for a sequel about Pansy's bestie Blossom and Ren's relative, Thorn, their chemistry was so fun!
Overall, this was such a wonderful, atmospheric read, perfect for curling up with a blanket, hot drink or after a stroll through the woods. A little off-topic, but if you're an ASMR watcher like me, I totally recommend Goodnight Moon's Babblebrook videos, they match the vibes of this book perfectly!
4/5 🌟
This was such a cosy, quaint, sweet and fantastical read, whilst definitely on the slower, low-stakes side of things mostly, it still brings all the cottagecore and The Hobbit vibes.
The story follows halfling Pansy, who's feeling like she doesn't fit in with the rest of her town in Haverow, when she inherits her grandmother's cottage out in the woods things start looking up- she can finally have the space to be herself- but plans go downhill when Pansy finds a goblin named Ren living as a caretaker in the cottage, with their pet Pig.
There's a lot of tension and prejudice between Pansy and Ren, their species don't get along at all due to misconstrued histories and stories, so to begin with the pair don't get along at all. They make a deal; whoever leaves first and gives in will forfeit living at the cottage. Slowly, Pansy and Ren begin to see the truths of their kind, they get to know each other, learn each other's cultures and see why each individual is so desperate for a place called home. They bake, garden, attend a halfling harvest and a goblin night market together, all whilst getting to know each other deeply.
The romance is definitely slow burn, with the tropes being opposites attract, forced proximity and enemies to lovers. I did feel like the relationship suddenly went a little too serious and felt rushed towards the end with the proposal, but still cute nonetheless. I really enjoyed seeing the softer moments the pair shared, and how Ren gave Pansy a safe space, and Pansy gave Ren freedom to garden as they please as well as help gather food for their clan. Both POV's were well written, with each character going through growth and development which was clear and nice to see.
I enjoyed the plot, though the pacing was a little slow yet steady. I liked how the story takes a twist from usual fantasy books, showing that sometimes the person you think is a hero doesn't always have the right motives. I also really loved the twist with the history and both Halflings and Goblin's getting along at last. I'm really hoping for a sequel about Pansy's bestie Blossom and Ren's relative, Thorn, their chemistry was so fun!
Overall, this was such a wonderful, atmospheric read, perfect for curling up with a blanket, hot drink or after a stroll through the woods. A little off-topic, but if you're an ASMR watcher like me, I totally recommend Goodnight Moon's Babblebrook videos, they match the vibes of this book perfectly!
4/5 🌟
December 4, 2025
⭐️ 3
A sweet, cozy romance story about a goblin and a halfling in a LOTR-esque fantasy world.
When Pansy inherits a small cottage from her grandmother, she’s excited to move in and gain some independence far away from her gossipy, judgemental small town. What she doesn’t expect is to find a goblin already living in the cottage. Ren is the caretaker of the cottage, and their goblin clan has been looking after it and tending its gardens for years. Both Pansy and Ren refuse to give up their claim to the cottage and strike a stubborn bargain — they can both stay, but will be actively trying to drive the other away.
This was an easy read and I enjoyed the cozy descriptions of gardening, baked goods, and home decor. It felt like the stakes were just right — not too high and not too low — and I was invested in the relationship between Pansy and Ren and in their fixer-upper cottage.
Once the book ventured outside the walls of the cottage, it fell a bit flat for me. At the 60% mark, when Pansy and Ren have finally stopped trying to drive each other out of the cottage, a few plotlines popped up that seemed rushed and tacked-on — the harvest festival, the goblin market, and the evil wizard all felt like cheesy distractions from the heartbeat of the novel, which was Pansy and Ren’s dynamic. The way everything got resolved at the end also didn't work for me — there were some fairly serious issues that got tied up in a bow too easily.
Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is and would definitely check out future books by this debut author! I would recommend this if you are looking for a light and cozy read, or if you have enjoyed books like That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon in the past. This felt very similar but I actually prefer Jessie Sylva's writing and characterization.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
A sweet, cozy romance story about a goblin and a halfling in a LOTR-esque fantasy world.
When Pansy inherits a small cottage from her grandmother, she’s excited to move in and gain some independence far away from her gossipy, judgemental small town. What she doesn’t expect is to find a goblin already living in the cottage. Ren is the caretaker of the cottage, and their goblin clan has been looking after it and tending its gardens for years. Both Pansy and Ren refuse to give up their claim to the cottage and strike a stubborn bargain — they can both stay, but will be actively trying to drive the other away.
This was an easy read and I enjoyed the cozy descriptions of gardening, baked goods, and home decor. It felt like the stakes were just right — not too high and not too low — and I was invested in the relationship between Pansy and Ren and in their fixer-upper cottage.
Once the book ventured outside the walls of the cottage, it fell a bit flat for me. At the 60% mark, when Pansy and Ren have finally stopped trying to drive each other out of the cottage, a few plotlines popped up that seemed rushed and tacked-on — the harvest festival, the goblin market, and the evil wizard all felt like cheesy distractions from the heartbeat of the novel, which was Pansy and Ren’s dynamic. The way everything got resolved at the end also didn't work for me — there were some fairly serious issues that got tied up in a bow too easily.
Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is and would definitely check out future books by this debut author! I would recommend this if you are looking for a light and cozy read, or if you have enjoyed books like That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon in the past. This felt very similar but I actually prefer Jessie Sylva's writing and characterization.
*DISCLAIMER: Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
Read
November 11, 2025 Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books/Orbit UK for the eARC
If you are looking for a cosy fantasy with queer characters and a theme of overcoming your prejudices, this might be for you.
The story follows Pansy, a halfling, as she tries to settle in the home her grandmother gave to her. Pansy has lived in an halfling village so far, and doens't feel like she fits, since she asks too many question and isn't perfect enough. The problem is, her grandmother's house has been abandonned for a long time, and a goblin now lives there, Ren. They have a role of caretaker for their clan, and they need this home to grow food. Since neither of them want to give ground and leave, they struck a deal: the first to leave relinquishes their right on the home.
You need to know that goblin and halfling do not get along. Like, at all. In fact, goblins are despised by every race, since they served the dark lords.
On the goblin side, they consider the halflings like selfcentered, gloutinous people.
Prejudices on both side then. Pansy and Ren both have their ideas and disdain. Still, they quite quickly manage to see that things aren't as they both thought and slowly, a bond is formed (yes this is a romance). There isn't much to say aside from that, since most of the story revolves around this subject and the narrative is mostly seeing Ren and Pansy growing closer, how Pansy's home village isn't nice despite it's appearance etc. There is a bit of higher "stakes" at the end, with a sorcerer, but it is still around the same subject of clichés and prejudices.
Frankly, it was an ok read. Not that there is anything bad with the book, it is working quite well for what it is aiming. Simply I wanted a bit more substance, more work on the worldbuilding, maybe even more tension (I do believe cosy fantasy can have tension).
Now, if you are looking for soft read abouot two people overcoming their people collective view, this might be for you. It might do the trick perfectly.
If you are looking for a cosy fantasy with queer characters and a theme of overcoming your prejudices, this might be for you.
The story follows Pansy, a halfling, as she tries to settle in the home her grandmother gave to her. Pansy has lived in an halfling village so far, and doens't feel like she fits, since she asks too many question and isn't perfect enough. The problem is, her grandmother's house has been abandonned for a long time, and a goblin now lives there, Ren. They have a role of caretaker for their clan, and they need this home to grow food. Since neither of them want to give ground and leave, they struck a deal: the first to leave relinquishes their right on the home.
You need to know that goblin and halfling do not get along. Like, at all. In fact, goblins are despised by every race, since they served the dark lords.
On the goblin side, they consider the halflings like selfcentered, gloutinous people.
Prejudices on both side then. Pansy and Ren both have their ideas and disdain. Still, they quite quickly manage to see that things aren't as they both thought and slowly, a bond is formed (yes this is a romance). There isn't much to say aside from that, since most of the story revolves around this subject and the narrative is mostly seeing Ren and Pansy growing closer, how Pansy's home village isn't nice despite it's appearance etc. There is a bit of higher "stakes" at the end, with a sorcerer, but it is still around the same subject of clichés and prejudices.
Frankly, it was an ok read. Not that there is anything bad with the book, it is working quite well for what it is aiming. Simply I wanted a bit more substance, more work on the worldbuilding, maybe even more tension (I do believe cosy fantasy can have tension).
Now, if you are looking for soft read abouot two people overcoming their people collective view, this might be for you. It might do the trick perfectly.
September 30, 2025
A queer cozy fantasy story that focuses on its characters and the budding relationship between a halfling and a goblin.
Most of the story is spent with Pansy, a halfling and Ren, a goblin, as they navigate unexpectedly, and begrudgingly living under the same roof. This creates a really tense environment as there is a long and storied history of halflings and goblins being "enemies". They make a deal that the first one to leave (with the intention of not returning) will forfeit their claim to the burrow and the other will become the sole owner. They do their best to antagonize each other and push each others buttons, but what happens instead is these two slowly letting go of their prejudice and growing to understand that maybe everything they thought they knew wasn't quite so accurate. Once they started letting their walls down, a gentle romance started to unfold and it was so sweet.
In addition to the romance, I felt both Ren and Pansy had personal struggles that were compelling to read about. I loved both of their POVs.
This book is for people who love cottage core vibes, a lower stakes plot and a cozy setting that are all the perfect backdrop to a very sweet queer romance. I am one such people and ended up really enjoying this!
received an arc in exchange for an honest review
Most of the story is spent with Pansy, a halfling and Ren, a goblin, as they navigate unexpectedly, and begrudgingly living under the same roof. This creates a really tense environment as there is a long and storied history of halflings and goblins being "enemies". They make a deal that the first one to leave (with the intention of not returning) will forfeit their claim to the burrow and the other will become the sole owner. They do their best to antagonize each other and push each others buttons, but what happens instead is these two slowly letting go of their prejudice and growing to understand that maybe everything they thought they knew wasn't quite so accurate. Once they started letting their walls down, a gentle romance started to unfold and it was so sweet.
In addition to the romance, I felt both Ren and Pansy had personal struggles that were compelling to read about. I loved both of their POVs.
This book is for people who love cottage core vibes, a lower stakes plot and a cozy setting that are all the perfect backdrop to a very sweet queer romance. I am one such people and ended up really enjoying this!
received an arc in exchange for an honest review
November 16, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown UK for an early e-galley of this book. My opinions are my own.
Hmm. So I half enjoyed this book and half rolled my eyes at it. It read like someone who loves D&D trying their hand at romantic fanfiction for the first time.
The emotions of the characters were so extreme - they’d be crying one minute then SO angry the next. And everything was “fizzing like fireworks” (not a direct quote, but you get the gist), it was like no-one could regulate their emotions in the slightest.
I liked the characters Ren and Pansy, aside from this issue, they did seem like their own people and it didn’t take long to realise who’s chapter I was reading if I’d missed the name at the start. But I found myself going “oh my god, really??” at all the misunderstandings that got resolved in a few pages, and the tropes I used to only see in middle grade books of the noughties.
The villain of the story also seemed to give up far too quickly for my liking, his only motivation was scuppered with a minor fight and he just… leaves? It felt very unsatisfying to be honest.
It’s an easy read though, and cute, so if you can get over the above then it could be a cosy fun book for you.
Hmm. So I half enjoyed this book and half rolled my eyes at it. It read like someone who loves D&D trying their hand at romantic fanfiction for the first time.
The emotions of the characters were so extreme - they’d be crying one minute then SO angry the next. And everything was “fizzing like fireworks” (not a direct quote, but you get the gist), it was like no-one could regulate their emotions in the slightest.
I liked the characters Ren and Pansy, aside from this issue, they did seem like their own people and it didn’t take long to realise who’s chapter I was reading if I’d missed the name at the start. But I found myself going “oh my god, really??” at all the misunderstandings that got resolved in a few pages, and the tropes I used to only see in middle grade books of the noughties.
The villain of the story also seemed to give up far too quickly for my liking, his only motivation was scuppered with a minor fight and he just… leaves? It felt very unsatisfying to be honest.
It’s an easy read though, and cute, so if you can get over the above then it could be a cosy fun book for you.
November 1, 2025
Just wanted to leave a disclaimer that this book doesn’t follow any beats of the similarly titled rom com from the 2000s, which is a good thing! I am really enjoying all of the new cozy fantasies coming out and this one is no exception. It’s low stakes with a cute romance and has all the fan favorite elements like food descriptions and cute side characters. It does tackle some heavier themes though; the main characters run into racism and bigotry being a mixed race LGBTQIA+ couple but i think it’s handled well.
I do think this book accomplished the hobbit aesthetic with the burrow and the mushrooms and even elevenses were mentioned! So if you thought about picking this up based on that alone you won’t be disappointed.
The only downside is the writing is a little bit immature. The beginning conflict where the characters meet was a little bit cringe with their squabbling and I was afraid I wasn’t going to like this that much but once the pacing picks up it was actually very enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book of exchange for an honest review.
I do think this book accomplished the hobbit aesthetic with the burrow and the mushrooms and even elevenses were mentioned! So if you thought about picking this up based on that alone you won’t be disappointed.
The only downside is the writing is a little bit immature. The beginning conflict where the characters meet was a little bit cringe with their squabbling and I was afraid I wasn’t going to like this that much but once the pacing picks up it was actually very enjoyable.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book of exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2025
Irritated that I’ll never know what Pansy’s cooking tastes like.
Going into this, I expected something cute and whimsical, maybe a little silly. I got all of this, AND some.
This book doesn’t shy away from discussing oppression and war. The history of halflings and goblins, the Great War that brought with it prejudice and hatred amongst their peoples, setting up the tension between the main characters, was executed perfectly. This was a necessary and intriguing aspect to the story.
On the flip side, this was beautiful. They were beautiful. Pansy and Ren. The smirks, the raised eyebrows, the “WARMTH” ALWAYS showing up on their skins, their willingness to understand one another, AHAH, flood-of-tears-worthy!
This was a fun, cozy, and adventurous book! The romance was perfect, equal parts heart-wrenching and adorable. If you also love tiny animals, YOU’LL BE SET.
100% recommend this for anyone who needs a getaway to a magical place. And anyone with a moss obsession. But also, anyone who needs all of that, AND the history and hard hitting reality of any fantastical world.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Going into this, I expected something cute and whimsical, maybe a little silly. I got all of this, AND some.
This book doesn’t shy away from discussing oppression and war. The history of halflings and goblins, the Great War that brought with it prejudice and hatred amongst their peoples, setting up the tension between the main characters, was executed perfectly. This was a necessary and intriguing aspect to the story.
On the flip side, this was beautiful. They were beautiful. Pansy and Ren. The smirks, the raised eyebrows, the “WARMTH” ALWAYS showing up on their skins, their willingness to understand one another, AHAH, flood-of-tears-worthy!
This was a fun, cozy, and adventurous book! The romance was perfect, equal parts heart-wrenching and adorable. If you also love tiny animals, YOU’LL BE SET.
100% recommend this for anyone who needs a getaway to a magical place. And anyone with a moss obsession. But also, anyone who needs all of that, AND the history and hard hitting reality of any fantastical world.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This cozy fantasy romance will appeal to readers looking for an easy read to escape from their day to day lives. It follows Pansy, a halfling setting off to live outside her home village where she never felt she fit in, and Ren, a goblin working hard for ensure that their clan will have enough food stores to make it through the winter, as they make a bet with each other to see who gets to keep the cottage they both believe they've inherited. It's a pretty silly premise, but it makes room for a fun little romance to develop. The two main characters have very different scopes for their problems, which isn't fully addressed, but seeing them interact is fun if not particularly nuanced. The pace of their relationship developing also feels a lit off in places and the third act will be frustrating for some, but the flaws are easy to overlook if you're reading just to have a good time with a feel-good ending. Overall, this reads like a Hallmark movie in a high fantasy setting: it won't be for everyone, but it's sure to be a comfort for readers looking for that kind of story.
December 16, 2025
4.5 stars
I devoured this book. I knew I was going to like this, but I ended up loving it. Jessie Sylva excellently executes balancing elements of a cozy fantasy with difficult discussions without being too heavy. This story is heavy on racism. These conversations made me feel bad for the goblins in The Lord of the Rings. I also enjoyed the romance between Pansy, a halfling, and Ren, a goblin. They had to break down their own preconceptions about each other's race to get to know each other beyond their shared identity. I found this story to be heartwarming and emotional. I'm glad I picked up this book after reading a few middle-of-the-road books. I hope we get more books in this world. I highly recommend this book! Please, pick up this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jessie Sylva, and Orbit Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I devoured this book. I knew I was going to like this, but I ended up loving it. Jessie Sylva excellently executes balancing elements of a cozy fantasy with difficult discussions without being too heavy. This story is heavy on racism. These conversations made me feel bad for the goblins in The Lord of the Rings. I also enjoyed the romance between Pansy, a halfling, and Ren, a goblin. They had to break down their own preconceptions about each other's race to get to know each other beyond their shared identity. I found this story to be heartwarming and emotional. I'm glad I picked up this book after reading a few middle-of-the-road books. I hope we get more books in this world. I highly recommend this book! Please, pick up this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jessie Sylva, and Orbit Books for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2025
Cosy and sweet, with lots of feel-good vibes. It doesn’t carry any great depth, but I don’t tend to expect that from standalone cosies - where the stakes can never be TOO high, and so problems that might in the real world be complex and layered - like racial prejudice, food insecurity, poverty, war, exploitation and so on - can be handwaved away.
The characters are both empathetic, there are two adorable animal companions, and it was very enjoyable getting to know them through each others’ eyes. 3.5 rounded up.
The characters are both empathetic, there are two adorable animal companions, and it was very enjoyable getting to know them through each others’ eyes. 3.5 rounded up.
November 13, 2025
I absolutely adored this book - it somehow managed to weave a story about crossing social boundaries, bringing together communities with long histories of generational trauma, finding love against all odds, confronting oppression, including non-binary characters, war, corruption in positions of power, and do it all while maintaining a cozy cottage vibe. Tales of baking, gardening, knitting, and animal care are also sprinkled throughout. What this author has done in their debut novel is nothing short of astonishing and I certainly plan to keep an eye out for further works. This book is perfect for fans of cozy cottage core romantasy with a side of queer love. Thank you NetGalley and Jessie Sylvia for the ARC!
November 16, 2025
I received this arc from net galley. I was pleasantly surprised This little tome is certainly worth a read especially when you need a little respite from never ending dark fantasy .battles and chaos on a grey day. Ren and Pansy are very endearing main characters full of loyalty and bravado when up against adversity
. A wee underlying romance yet there is also a focus on prejudice and the fact that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover Also we can see that there is no valid reason why you can’t love and help your neighbour especially against a dangerous and annoying wizard. .Suffice it to say this is not my usual reading material but I enjoyed it nonetheless I suspect fans of Legends and Lattes will appreciate this will appreciate this book. I can also imagine there may be sequels and prequels Granny must have a story to tell.
. A wee underlying romance yet there is also a focus on prejudice and the fact that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover Also we can see that there is no valid reason why you can’t love and help your neighbour especially against a dangerous and annoying wizard. .Suffice it to say this is not my usual reading material but I enjoyed it nonetheless I suspect fans of Legends and Lattes will appreciate this will appreciate this book. I can also imagine there may be sequels and prequels Granny must have a story to tell.
October 8, 2025
When I saw the title of this book, I knew I HAD to read it. The moment the email popped up in my inbox, I opened it up and fell into a beautifully cozy world, only needing to add my own cup of tea and a warm blanket. This book is the blanket you need on a cold fall morning. I related so much to the two main characters that it just pulled me more into the story. Both of them together start form this beautiful relationship that you can’t help but watch blossom. If you are looking for something so sweet and heartwarming that it might just give you a cavity, then I can’t suggest this book more.
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