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Brewed with Love
A cozy, contemporary romantasy about a teen witch who wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush.
Plant witch, Sage Bishop, is determined to run her family’s old apothecary one day. She spends her time trying to invent the perfect tonic to put Bishop Brews on the map. And she’s going to need one quickly, too, because their biggest competitor is drawing away customers.
Short-staffed, her nana hires Ximena Reyes, Sage’s ex-best friend and first crush, who’s more of an unwelcome distraction than anything. Ximena has always dreamed of leaving their small town behind while Sage wants to tend to her roots. And during one of their first shifts together, someone breaks into Bishop Brews, stealing several tonics, including the one Sage has been working tirelessly on, the same one that wipes a councilmember’s kid’s memory.
To avoid being shut down by the sheriff, Sage decides to investigate. If so much wasn’t at stake, she’d do it alone. But with her grandmother’s legacy and her future on the line, she must partner with her ever smug and unfairly pretty new coworker. As Sage begins to fall for Ximena (again), she’ll have to decide if the comfort of the familiar is worth missing out on a chance at real happiness.
Plant witch, Sage Bishop, is determined to run her family’s old apothecary one day. She spends her time trying to invent the perfect tonic to put Bishop Brews on the map. And she’s going to need one quickly, too, because their biggest competitor is drawing away customers.
Short-staffed, her nana hires Ximena Reyes, Sage’s ex-best friend and first crush, who’s more of an unwelcome distraction than anything. Ximena has always dreamed of leaving their small town behind while Sage wants to tend to her roots. And during one of their first shifts together, someone breaks into Bishop Brews, stealing several tonics, including the one Sage has been working tirelessly on, the same one that wipes a councilmember’s kid’s memory.
To avoid being shut down by the sheriff, Sage decides to investigate. If so much wasn’t at stake, she’d do it alone. But with her grandmother’s legacy and her future on the line, she must partner with her ever smug and unfairly pretty new coworker. As Sage begins to fall for Ximena (again), she’ll have to decide if the comfort of the familiar is worth missing out on a chance at real happiness.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 14, 2025
81 people are currently reading
15037 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Page
5 books142 followersShelly Page is a young adult contemporary fantasy romance and horror writer. By day, she’s a practicing attorney representing homeless LGBTQ+ youth. By night, she’s writing stories about love, magic, and mystery—all with the hope of providing genuine representation for queer readers of color. Shelly lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Toby, and a collection of half-dead plants. Brewed with Love is her first solo novel to be published by Joy Revolution in Spring 2025. She can be found online at shellypage.com or @shelly_p_writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
February 1, 2025
This was kind of rough to get through, which was really unfortunate 😞 it had major potential, and the characters had some good chemistry! But MAJOR flaws imo
- the world is severely underdeveloped. There are integral, known pieces of information that are not explained or mentioned until the last quarter of the book, so they seem out of nowhere and cheap. The character also has a special relationship with plants, but it's never brought up until they "offer her comfort" - but how?? Do they have personalities? Does she have history with specific plants or is all of them?
- the plot is fairly basic. Until all sorts of other drama and subplots are shoved in with little time to develop, then get wrapped up quick and tidy at the end. It felt very rushed
- It's going to be very dated in probably just a few months. They're teenagers but I was rolling my eyes every time a popular artist was mentioned for no reason, or they said stuff like "mid" "has me in a chokehold" or "that's cringe!"
- Sage is a brat for most of the book. Constantly jumping to conclusions, refusing to hear out anyone she thinks has wronged her, eavesdrops on people for the fun of it (before the "investigation" even begins) and ends up spilling some pretty personal secrets with no consequences. She felt like she was 12 years old rather than 17
- I feel Ximena had a MUCH more interesting story as to why she moved away / came back / what she has to deal with, but it's not given enough focus. Her and Sage's relationship should be the main plot of the book rather than the mystery
- the mystery is just fine. It's kind of written like a middle grade novel, where the audience is constantly being reminded of the suspects and timeline so it's easier to follow. I get that it's YA and the point is that the young characters do more than the adults, so I don't consider this bad. But just not very compelling
- the villain is just a Saturday morning cartoon and not interesting at all. Again, more like a middle grade novel than a YA mystery. And again, leads me to want this just to be on Sage and Ximena's relationship
This is not bad by any means, but I definitely felt disappointed by it, and had to force myself to finish.
- the world is severely underdeveloped. There are integral, known pieces of information that are not explained or mentioned until the last quarter of the book, so they seem out of nowhere and cheap. The character also has a special relationship with plants, but it's never brought up until they "offer her comfort" - but how?? Do they have personalities? Does she have history with specific plants or is all of them?
- the plot is fairly basic. Until all sorts of other drama and subplots are shoved in with little time to develop, then get wrapped up quick and tidy at the end. It felt very rushed
- It's going to be very dated in probably just a few months. They're teenagers but I was rolling my eyes every time a popular artist was mentioned for no reason, or they said stuff like "mid" "has me in a chokehold" or "that's cringe!"
- Sage is a brat for most of the book. Constantly jumping to conclusions, refusing to hear out anyone she thinks has wronged her, eavesdrops on people for the fun of it (before the "investigation" even begins) and ends up spilling some pretty personal secrets with no consequences. She felt like she was 12 years old rather than 17
- I feel Ximena had a MUCH more interesting story as to why she moved away / came back / what she has to deal with, but it's not given enough focus. Her and Sage's relationship should be the main plot of the book rather than the mystery
- the mystery is just fine. It's kind of written like a middle grade novel, where the audience is constantly being reminded of the suspects and timeline so it's easier to follow. I get that it's YA and the point is that the young characters do more than the adults, so I don't consider this bad. But just not very compelling
- the villain is just a Saturday morning cartoon and not interesting at all. Again, more like a middle grade novel than a YA mystery. And again, leads me to want this just to be on Sage and Ximena's relationship
This is not bad by any means, but I definitely felt disappointed by it, and had to force myself to finish.
February 16, 2025
3.5 Stars
This was a wonderful cozy YA fantasy that introduces magic into our "real world." While it does focus on a romance between two characters, there is an interesting mystery element in the background as well. This is my first Shelly Page book, but I'll definitely check out more in the future. I read this for a 48 hour readathon on my YT channel so if you're interested in checking out my full thoughts on this one, definitely check out that video here: https://youtu.be/ohIXpEd7uDY?si=D7Gxn...
This was a wonderful cozy YA fantasy that introduces magic into our "real world." While it does focus on a romance between two characters, there is an interesting mystery element in the background as well. This is my first Shelly Page book, but I'll definitely check out more in the future. I read this for a 48 hour readathon on my YT channel so if you're interested in checking out my full thoughts on this one, definitely check out that video here: https://youtu.be/ohIXpEd7uDY?si=D7Gxn...
Want to read
July 5, 2024A cozy, contemporary romantasy about a teen witch who wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush.
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August 15, 2024
Shelly Page advertises Brewed with Love as a cozy, sapphic romantasy, and this novel is that and so much more! An adorable YA romp, Brewed with Love is a warm hug, or perhaps a glowing tonic, with a mystery plot that flowed naturally. I couldn't help but study the hints provided myself, constantly wondering what was a red herring and what was important. While you're in the weeds trying to figure out who broke into Bishop Brews and why, you start to pick up signals about something else that is awry with Ximena herself. All of the characters are hard not to love, but in particular, Sage and Ximena make a delightful pair. The way this story handled identity and fitting in was done sweetly, and I found myself deeply enjoying the relationships between even minor side characters.
Page's writing style is fun and quick. I found myself reading faster than normal, and scenes moved quickly enough that it kept me invested and in the moment. I loved the little moments that demonstrated various characters' magic, including mundane actions like growing some flowers to use as decoration. It built out the world and aesthetic gorgeously and left me wishing I could watch the scenes taking place because I just know they'd be perfect! Brewed with Love is an ideal read for a sapphic teen who wants an escape, but I could see this book appealing to just about anyone. There's love, comfort, suspense, action, mystery, and more!
Overall, Brewed with Love serves up the exact tonic it hoped to produce. If you're looking for a fun, comforting, sapphic read, I would highly recommend. Thank you so much to Page and her team for the ARC - I am so grateful and loved it!
Page's writing style is fun and quick. I found myself reading faster than normal, and scenes moved quickly enough that it kept me invested and in the moment. I loved the little moments that demonstrated various characters' magic, including mundane actions like growing some flowers to use as decoration. It built out the world and aesthetic gorgeously and left me wishing I could watch the scenes taking place because I just know they'd be perfect! Brewed with Love is an ideal read for a sapphic teen who wants an escape, but I could see this book appealing to just about anyone. There's love, comfort, suspense, action, mystery, and more!
Overall, Brewed with Love serves up the exact tonic it hoped to produce. If you're looking for a fun, comforting, sapphic read, I would highly recommend. Thank you so much to Page and her team for the ARC - I am so grateful and loved it!
February 9, 2025
I should love this—it’s cute, sapphic, and witchy, all things that should be right up my alley. But omfg, I was so bored. I don’t know if it’s actually a 2-star read (it’s probably higher), but I was so bored that I just can’t bring myself to give it 3.
January 18, 2025
When I hear that a book has sapphic witches, I know I’m going to love it. Now add in romance, fantasy and mystery and you have the recipe for a story I’ll be recommending to anyone who wants a quick and fun read… especially if they love queer love!
Sage wants to take over her family’s apothecary someday. But with a new store down the way, they just need something that’ll bring everyone to them and make their business the one on everyone’s mind. As a plant witch, she’s really great at making tonics to fix everyday aches and pains, but her new idea just might make them famous.
When she shows up to work and sees the new employee is her ex bff and the girl who ghosted her after their perfect kiss, it’s looking like all those happy thoughts are going to the birds. Ximena’s smile still gets under skin, just not in the way it did before. Now she just wants her gone.
When a break in at the shop results in her new tonic being stolen and a girl hospitalized, they have to team up and solve the mysterious whodunnit before the apothecary’s doors are shut permanently.
This was so cute. There are stakes in the story, so I don’t know if it feels super cozy to me, but seeing as how I knew it would be solved by the ending, it didn’t feel life threatening. So I can see why someone could say it is. It had a very The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Hocus Pocus vibe (those are the closest comps in my mind).
I started off a bit annoyed at Sage, because she was trying to get rid of Ximena anyway she could. There was obviously a reason why she ghosted her and she didn’t even try to find out why. Like why would she come to work at the apothecary unless she wanted to work things out? I may be the person who needs answers and can’t move on until I have them. In the long run, she does mellow out, but she’s giving big fire sign energy.
I’m amazed that this is Shelly Page’s debut novel. I can’t wait to see what comes next!!!!
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of the book. 💜
Sage wants to take over her family’s apothecary someday. But with a new store down the way, they just need something that’ll bring everyone to them and make their business the one on everyone’s mind. As a plant witch, she’s really great at making tonics to fix everyday aches and pains, but her new idea just might make them famous.
When she shows up to work and sees the new employee is her ex bff and the girl who ghosted her after their perfect kiss, it’s looking like all those happy thoughts are going to the birds. Ximena’s smile still gets under skin, just not in the way it did before. Now she just wants her gone.
When a break in at the shop results in her new tonic being stolen and a girl hospitalized, they have to team up and solve the mysterious whodunnit before the apothecary’s doors are shut permanently.
This was so cute. There are stakes in the story, so I don’t know if it feels super cozy to me, but seeing as how I knew it would be solved by the ending, it didn’t feel life threatening. So I can see why someone could say it is. It had a very The House in the Cerulean Sea meets Hocus Pocus vibe (those are the closest comps in my mind).
I started off a bit annoyed at Sage, because she was trying to get rid of Ximena anyway she could. There was obviously a reason why she ghosted her and she didn’t even try to find out why. Like why would she come to work at the apothecary unless she wanted to work things out? I may be the person who needs answers and can’t move on until I have them. In the long run, she does mellow out, but she’s giving big fire sign energy.
I’m amazed that this is Shelly Page’s debut novel. I can’t wait to see what comes next!!!!
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy of the book. 💜
November 8, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up ~
This was a sweet story, and I know teenage me would have adored the cast of queer characters in a YA book like this.
However, there were a few aspects lowered this from a solid 3 stars to more of a 2.5 - the main one being that the mystery aspect wasn't very intriguing because the author kept spoon-feeding the reader clues. Especially for Ximena's secret. This definitely reads as a younger YA book, which isn't a bad thing. But even younger audiences don't need that many obvious clues every other page. None of the twists were surprising because everything was made too obvious.
Also, the fairly frequent media references and slang will unfortunately date this book quite a bit.
On a more positive note, the town was charming, and the background characters fit into the story well, but both could have been a bit more fleshed out.
The way magic was linked to the Redwood trees was really clever. I wish the book had delved more into the magical aspects of the world the author built, but that's just because it was my favourite part.
Despite my critiques, this book was cute, and I liked it enough to read until the end. I think younger teens will enjoy it, and the representation is both important and well done.
This was a sweet story, and I know teenage me would have adored the cast of queer characters in a YA book like this.
However, there were a few aspects lowered this from a solid 3 stars to more of a 2.5 - the main one being that the mystery aspect wasn't very intriguing because the author kept spoon-feeding the reader clues. Especially for Ximena's secret. This definitely reads as a younger YA book, which isn't a bad thing. But even younger audiences don't need that many obvious clues every other page. None of the twists were surprising because everything was made too obvious.
Also, the fairly frequent media references and slang will unfortunately date this book quite a bit.
On a more positive note, the town was charming, and the background characters fit into the story well, but both could have been a bit more fleshed out.
The way magic was linked to the Redwood trees was really clever. I wish the book had delved more into the magical aspects of the world the author built, but that's just because it was my favourite part.
Despite my critiques, this book was cute, and I liked it enough to read until the end. I think younger teens will enjoy it, and the representation is both important and well done.
January 12, 2025
I've been hyped for this book since it was announced (a cozy teen mystery fantasy with a Black MC and a sweet second chance sapphic love, what more could I want) and I only got more hyped when that adorable cover was revealed. Ximena's arms 👀👀💯
And what a lovely, heartwarming story this was! Brewed With Love is a delightfully cozy fantasy mystery about a young witch trying to solve a robbery, fight big business, and heal her broken heart. The second chance sapphic romance was so sweet that I now have cavities, and the final love tonic recipe inexplicably made me cry. I now have an urge to add honey to everything.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!
And what a lovely, heartwarming story this was! Brewed With Love is a delightfully cozy fantasy mystery about a young witch trying to solve a robbery, fight big business, and heal her broken heart. The second chance sapphic romance was so sweet that I now have cavities, and the final love tonic recipe inexplicably made me cry. I now have an urge to add honey to everything.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!
March 25, 2025
I love my lesbian witches 💖
December 22, 2024
Brewed with love
- beautiful descriptive writing that puts you right in the story and witchy atmosphere
- loveee the forced proximityyy
- i love the mystery aspect when it comes to figuring out what is happening with the tonic
- I wanna work at this apothecary
- i feel like their connection through the screen. Sparks coming out of my book bro lol
- eeekkk they making me giddyyy
- this book was so cute, loved the mystery, their connection ate it up
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- beautiful descriptive writing that puts you right in the story and witchy atmosphere
- loveee the forced proximityyy
- i love the mystery aspect when it comes to figuring out what is happening with the tonic
- I wanna work at this apothecary
- i feel like their connection through the screen. Sparks coming out of my book bro lol
- eeekkk they making me giddyyy
- this book was so cute, loved the mystery, their connection ate it up
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 25, 2025
you guys this is just the cutest, coziest, sapphic witchy romance!! AH!!
We got witches, wolves and mystery and I just loved it so much.
Shelly Page must have really put her all in this, cause it was so good. There is actually not a single negative thing I could possibly say about it.
We got witches, wolves and mystery and I just loved it so much.
Shelly Page must have really put her all in this, cause it was so good. There is actually not a single negative thing I could possibly say about it.
June 1, 2025
This was soo cute and fun will definitely be looking out for more from this author
September 17, 2025
Brewed with Love: witches, wolves, mystery, and YA sapphic romance. Who could go wrong? A flirty read to help bring in the spooky season or for any time of year for a witch. Enjoy!
April 26, 2025
This was a really solid debut. I loved how casually gaaaaaaay this book was. There were lesbian characters, nonbinary characters, bi characters, and more, and it was accepted within the story without question, bias, or prejudice. Sage was a relatable character and I loved the authorial voice used for her perspective. Also, the love story between Sage and Ximena was really cute. The banter was nice and there were many soft moments that made me kick my feet. I look forward to what Shelly is going to come out with next.
July 24, 2025
Actual rating 3.5/5
Cute but a bit predictable. I kind of wish the werewolf plot was left out.
Cute but a bit predictable. I kind of wish the werewolf plot was left out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
November 20, 2023i would give anything for an arc of this, like i don’t think you understand i cannot wait for this to come out
April 27, 2025
Cute lighthearted cozy fantasy that will hopefully get me out of my reading slump
June 22, 2025
2.6⭐️
hmm i didnt reeeaaally like this onee!! it was okayy i guess, the romance was really cute!! i love a sapphic romance, what can iii say! buuut the mystery aspect of it was sooo soo so boringg! and i was not a fan of the paranormal thing, like she is witch with all these cool powers, she is brewing a mystical tonic glowing in viberant colors in this little cozy cottage- but then she spills some of the brew on her converse and her friend texts her? idkkk i think it was just confusing and weirdc wouldve liked it much better if it wasent contemperaryyy! and oh my god, when you got to know xiemnas secret- ahahah i was like laughing out loud because it was sooo cringe uuugh
buuuut i think if this would have been a middle-grade book and i wouldve read it a couple of years ago, OH IMMA TELL YOU I WOULVE EATEN IT UPPPPP! but reading it at this moment idk it was just cheesy and cringe aaand boring… yeah i was nottt really a fan!! but maybe it was just the wrong time to read iiit!
so eeeven though i didnt really like ittt so much myself iii think it still was a pretty good book- the ending was really good! soo if uu were looking for a sapphic witchy paranormal mysteryy i guess this one is a pretty decent choice! <3
hmm i didnt reeeaaally like this onee!! it was okayy i guess, the romance was really cute!! i love a sapphic romance, what can iii say! buuut the mystery aspect of it was sooo soo so boringg! and i was not a fan of the paranormal thing, like she is witch with all these cool powers, she is brewing a mystical tonic glowing in viberant colors in this little cozy cottage- but then she spills some of the brew on her converse and her friend texts her? idkkk i think it was just confusing and weirdc wouldve liked it much better if it wasent contemperaryyy! and oh my god, when you got to know xiemnas secret- ahahah i was like laughing out loud because it was sooo cringe uuugh
buuuut i think if this would have been a middle-grade book and i wouldve read it a couple of years ago, OH IMMA TELL YOU I WOULVE EATEN IT UPPPPP! but reading it at this moment idk it was just cheesy and cringe aaand boring… yeah i was nottt really a fan!! but maybe it was just the wrong time to read iiit!
so eeeven though i didnt really like ittt so much myself iii think it still was a pretty good book- the ending was really good! soo if uu were looking for a sapphic witchy paranormal mysteryy i guess this one is a pretty decent choice! <3
January 14, 2025
Thank you PRHAudio for the free audiobook!
Genre: YA Romantasy
Narration: First person present tense, single POV
Representation: Black author, sapphic romance, Black main character
A cute and cozy second chance romance with witches and a side of mystery. It’s heartwarming and set in a small town, great for your witchy read lists!
Sage is a witch who is trying to brew a heartbreak cure since her ex-friend-slash-almost-girlfriend Ximena, who ghosted her, is back in town. However the misbrewed potion is stolen and fed to someone and now their family business and the whole coven is at risk. Sage now begrudgingly has to partner up with Ximena to figure out who the culprit may be.
The romance was quite cute. The journey from Sage being angry with Ximena to realizing she might actually have a crush on her developed naturally and beautifully. They both clearly still like each other throughout the whole book. I also loved seeing how deep their bond is since they’ve known each other for so long, that level of connection that some anger and misunderstanding can’t erase.
Onto the mystery, Sherlock Holmes these two are not, especially Sage. From the way they attempt to question “suspects” to the connections they fail to make, they’re probably a much more realistic depiction of what sleuthing teenagers would be like. What’s going on is pretty obvious from at least the halfway point, but it takes a while for the main characters to catch up.
Also, there’s some messaging in there around small business vs large ones, the downsides of overproduction. You don’t have to dig deep to see the parallels with Amazon, Shein etc vs the small shops.
🎧 The narrator was really good. She has such a nice soft and calming voice that fits the vibes of the book perfectly.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Genre: YA Romantasy
Narration: First person present tense, single POV
Representation: Black author, sapphic romance, Black main character
A cute and cozy second chance romance with witches and a side of mystery. It’s heartwarming and set in a small town, great for your witchy read lists!
Sage is a witch who is trying to brew a heartbreak cure since her ex-friend-slash-almost-girlfriend Ximena, who ghosted her, is back in town. However the misbrewed potion is stolen and fed to someone and now their family business and the whole coven is at risk. Sage now begrudgingly has to partner up with Ximena to figure out who the culprit may be.
The romance was quite cute. The journey from Sage being angry with Ximena to realizing she might actually have a crush on her developed naturally and beautifully. They both clearly still like each other throughout the whole book. I also loved seeing how deep their bond is since they’ve known each other for so long, that level of connection that some anger and misunderstanding can’t erase.
Onto the mystery, Sherlock Holmes these two are not, especially Sage. From the way they attempt to question “suspects” to the connections they fail to make, they’re probably a much more realistic depiction of what sleuthing teenagers would be like. What’s going on is pretty obvious from at least the halfway point, but it takes a while for the main characters to catch up.
Also, there’s some messaging in there around small business vs large ones, the downsides of overproduction. You don’t have to dig deep to see the parallels with Amazon, Shein etc vs the small shops.
🎧 The narrator was really good. She has such a nice soft and calming voice that fits the vibes of the book perfectly.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
May 7, 2025
i've enjoyed this one so much!! i adore sage and ximena, they are so cute and i love them. the mystery was so fun.👩❤️💋👩✨️🌿
Read
June 13, 2025love the town and the vibes
may come back to it in the future
may come back to it in the future
dropped
April 8, 2025i'm going to come back to this eventually, because it has a nice premise and is very cute and cozy, but i just can't bring myself to finish reading it right now. i actually dread picking it up LOL
Read
April 29, 2025Brewed With Love is a YA Romantasy novel I enjoyed!
{A teen witch wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush}
This is definitely a cute and cozy read. I enjoyed the world building with the different types of magic the various witches in the coven practice. I liked how much thought went into brewing potions. And I liked the growth the main character had as she was forced to work with ex best friend.
The love interest has a big secret I was able to call early on, but I am so glad I was right. It was such a fun twist and I liked how it added depth to the story.
Overall if you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a big heaping side of paranormal romance, this book is perfect for you!
Pub Date: January 14th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for a copy of this eARC.
{A teen witch wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush}
This is definitely a cute and cozy read. I enjoyed the world building with the different types of magic the various witches in the coven practice. I liked how much thought went into brewing potions. And I liked the growth the main character had as she was forced to work with ex best friend.
The love interest has a big secret I was able to call early on, but I am so glad I was right. It was such a fun twist and I liked how it added depth to the story.
Overall if you’re looking for a cozy mystery with a big heaping side of paranormal romance, this book is perfect for you!
Pub Date: January 14th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for a copy of this eARC.
January 26, 2025
DNF @ 20%.
Maaaaaaaaan! It had EVERYTHING going for it: teas, tinctures, tonics, and cottage-core vibes. I was in love with it.
But Sage is an IDIOT. And I mean denser than dense. I really hate when authors do this because I feel like they try and lead the reader. I AM NOT AN IDIOT.
Ugh. So disappointing.
Can someone make a re-do with a better MC? Please please please please please?
Also, I'm calling it now: Ximena is a werewolf. There's no other reason for random werewolf lore dump out of the blue that quickly. I'm sorry, Page, but you're so obvious. I AM NOT AN IDIOT.
Maaaaaaaaan! It had EVERYTHING going for it: teas, tinctures, tonics, and cottage-core vibes. I was in love with it.
But Sage is an IDIOT. And I mean denser than dense. I really hate when authors do this because I feel like they try and lead the reader. I AM NOT AN IDIOT.
Ugh. So disappointing.
Can someone make a re-do with a better MC? Please please please please please?
Also, I'm calling it now: Ximena is a werewolf. There's no other reason for random werewolf lore dump out of the blue that quickly. I'm sorry, Page, but you're so obvious. I AM NOT AN IDIOT.
Want to read
June 9, 2024"A cozy, contemporary romantasy about a teen witch who wants to keep her family’s apothecary from falling to the competition but can only do so with assistance from her first crush"
such a cute cover! 😍🔮
such a cute cover! 😍🔮
April 21, 2025
3.75⭐️
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 8
Brewed with Love is the kind of book that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. It’s warm, steady, and quietly confident—like the perfect brew meant to make things feel whole again.
The atmosphere is rich and comforting. There’s a satisfying layer of emotional intrigue that keeps the story moving. Each reveal, each heartfelt moment, feels earned.
Page’s narrative style is smooth and deliberate, letting the relationship develop naturally although there does seem to be a bit unnecessary drama. The pacing might feel slow to some, but for readers who love a slow build with sweet payoff, it’s just right.
What really elevates this book is its emotional resonance. The final chapters land with a power that lingers.
Brewed with Love doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t need to. It does exactly what it sets out to do: wrap you up in warmth, hold your heart gently, and remind you that love—like a good potion—is best when it’s brewed with care.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the copy in exchange of an honest review.
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 7
Wow Factor: 8
Brewed with Love is the kind of book that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. It’s warm, steady, and quietly confident—like the perfect brew meant to make things feel whole again.
The atmosphere is rich and comforting. There’s a satisfying layer of emotional intrigue that keeps the story moving. Each reveal, each heartfelt moment, feels earned.
Page’s narrative style is smooth and deliberate, letting the relationship develop naturally although there does seem to be a bit unnecessary drama. The pacing might feel slow to some, but for readers who love a slow build with sweet payoff, it’s just right.
What really elevates this book is its emotional resonance. The final chapters land with a power that lingers.
Brewed with Love doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it doesn’t need to. It does exactly what it sets out to do: wrap you up in warmth, hold your heart gently, and remind you that love—like a good potion—is best when it’s brewed with care.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joy Revolution for the copy in exchange of an honest review.
January 16, 2025
A big thank you to Netgalley and Joy Revolution for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn't affect my opinion in any way!
If I know a book has witches, I'll add it to my TBR right away. So when I heard about Brewed with Love it didn't take me long to decide to read it. This book pulls you in from the start and I read it in just about one sitting. The synopsis describes this book as a cozy, contemporary romantasy and I have to say I completely agree.
I have to start off by saying I loved the setting Brewed with Love took place in. I would love to live in this magical town and work at this apothecary. Sage's family is known for their ability to make potions and they help the town as much as they can. After having her heart broken by Ximena (her former best friend and crush) she decides to make a potion to help people who have their heart broken. So far her attempts haven't worked, and when Ximena comes back to town it's complicated.
We get a forced proximity, second chance friendship/romance. In the beginning Sage really wants nothing to do with Ximena, but having to work together has them slowly bringing up the past and learning about how they've changed. I think that the apothecary being broken into and a bad attempt of her potion being stolen and someone losing her memory definitely had them connect quicker, but it was still great to see. Their connection was still there and it was nice seeing Sage open her heart again.
Brewed with Love is filled with family, magic, love, small town vibes, and secrets. I think at some times the author wanted to add too many things to the story, and that left some aspects a bit underdeveloped. All in all, I still really enjoyed this witchy story. I hope Shelly Page writes more magical books.
If I know a book has witches, I'll add it to my TBR right away. So when I heard about Brewed with Love it didn't take me long to decide to read it. This book pulls you in from the start and I read it in just about one sitting. The synopsis describes this book as a cozy, contemporary romantasy and I have to say I completely agree.
I have to start off by saying I loved the setting Brewed with Love took place in. I would love to live in this magical town and work at this apothecary. Sage's family is known for their ability to make potions and they help the town as much as they can. After having her heart broken by Ximena (her former best friend and crush) she decides to make a potion to help people who have their heart broken. So far her attempts haven't worked, and when Ximena comes back to town it's complicated.
We get a forced proximity, second chance friendship/romance. In the beginning Sage really wants nothing to do with Ximena, but having to work together has them slowly bringing up the past and learning about how they've changed. I think that the apothecary being broken into and a bad attempt of her potion being stolen and someone losing her memory definitely had them connect quicker, but it was still great to see. Their connection was still there and it was nice seeing Sage open her heart again.
Brewed with Love is filled with family, magic, love, small town vibes, and secrets. I think at some times the author wanted to add too many things to the story, and that left some aspects a bit underdeveloped. All in all, I still really enjoyed this witchy story. I hope Shelly Page writes more magical books.
January 31, 2025
This was cute and that's really all I can say.
I liked the contemporary fantasy aspect of this witch trying to keep her family's potion shop in business. I also enjoyed the themes of community that were in this. The fantasy made sense for the low stakes vibe that this had going on.
I wish the characters and like...the additional plot had been fleshed out more. I didn't find the mystery to be that compelling, and there were some things thrown in there that felt very random.
The romance was cute and wholesome which was to be expected.
If you like low stakes cozy fantasy or romance you'll probably like this. I don't really like either of those things but this WAS cute and an easy listen so like, a win is a win.
I liked the contemporary fantasy aspect of this witch trying to keep her family's potion shop in business. I also enjoyed the themes of community that were in this. The fantasy made sense for the low stakes vibe that this had going on.
I wish the characters and like...the additional plot had been fleshed out more. I didn't find the mystery to be that compelling, and there were some things thrown in there that felt very random.
The romance was cute and wholesome which was to be expected.
If you like low stakes cozy fantasy or romance you'll probably like this. I don't really like either of those things but this WAS cute and an easy listen so like, a win is a win.
September 27, 2025
The book was decent, plot wise. The world was cute and the setting really gave me witchy fall vibes. I think the real reason this book was not my cup of tea was because of the writing. It was very bland to me, the dialogue felt very flat. Which is a sense would be great for younger audiences. Also a lot of use of our GENZ Language lmao. Which in some cases it was fine others I cringed. And I don't know if it was only me but I didn't really enjoy the romance. It was not very convincing to me that in a span of a week they fall for each other after not speaking and being angry at each other for 4 years. This book literally almost put me in a reading slump unfortunately. I'm Lowkey sad, I wanted to like the book so bad. Trust I did try.
January 28, 2025
Thank you to PRH international for providing the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Brewed with Love, a sapphic YA featuring witches, magic tonics, apothecary and covens. Its a fast paced story with a little mystery sprinkled around as Sage tries to find out who broke in their apothecary to steal tonics.
This story also talks about how corporations are slowly trying to kill small businesses and how it's now more than necessary to fight back. Aa consumers and customers we still have a big advantage in our hands.
Brewed with Love is fast paced and I loved the love story. Sage was slightly annoying in the first half but nothing that can't be brushed off.
Brewed with Love, a sapphic YA featuring witches, magic tonics, apothecary and covens. Its a fast paced story with a little mystery sprinkled around as Sage tries to find out who broke in their apothecary to steal tonics.
This story also talks about how corporations are slowly trying to kill small businesses and how it's now more than necessary to fight back. Aa consumers and customers we still have a big advantage in our hands.
Brewed with Love is fast paced and I loved the love story. Sage was slightly annoying in the first half but nothing that can't be brushed off.
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