The Coffee House Witch & The Grumpy Cat

The Cobblestone Coven #1

by Ariana Jade, Arizona Tape

Almost thirty, unemployed, and with a failed engagement. It seemed like all of witch Cassiopeia's prayers to the goddess of fortune had gone totally unanswered.

Down on her luck, Cassiopeia has no choice but to return to her grandmother’s coffee house where she grew up. The familiar neighbourhood brings back memories, both good and bad.

While she tries to find her feet, she meets a grumpy cat with a secret and reconnects with an old friend in the local antique store. Everything seems to be going well… except that her magic isn’t responding like it should. What’s a witch to do when everything in life seems to be going wrong? First step, make a good cup of coffee!
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The Coffee House Witch & The Grumpy Cat is first book in the Cobblestone Coven series and it follows witch Cassiopeia and her return to her hometown. It's a cozy fantasy with a sapphic romance in a magical world with talking animals and lots of light-hearted banter.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, LGBT, Fiction, Adult

154 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2025

Reviews

[John Gilbert]

This was a lightweight and somewhat fun read. I must have picked it up because of the title, but not really much witchery or grumpy cat really. Didn't realise it was a series, but I'll probably leave it at this one. 3 stars, pleasant read without drama.
This writer also seems to be Arizona Tape in another version of herself, I've read a few of her books under that name and enjoyed them.

[Joana]

This was a really fun short read, perfectly sized for one football game, and it just gives you a fun time!!! I would not consider this a romance at all, that's a very background part of it, some hints that I imagine will be explored later in the series, but the book is about Cassie and her life and everything that comes with it!! I really like the focus on her family, with our main character moving back with her grandmother, and working with her cousin - it explores the relationship between the three of them (and their Grandmother's familiar) and trying to keep this coffee house running!!! It was a really fun and light read, somehow between a three and a four stars, good if you're looking for a fun time!!

[Michaela | bumblebeeslibrary]

The Coffee House Witch & Grumpy Cat is a cute and cozy witchy novella.

FMC Cassiopeia has had to move back to her hometown after a bad breakup with her longtime girlfriend. She is back working at her grandmother's coffee shop, and is trying to find herself again.

This story has cute familiars, and they can talk! Her grandmother's cat Betty likes to take napping "breaks" that last quite a while. The coffee shop is called The Lazy Cat, such a cute and perfect name. Cassiopeia also runs into a grumpy cat, who she ends up being able to "hire" to retrieve her boots from her ex's house.

While Cassiopeia's magic may be on the fritz, she still has a degree in potion making that she hasn't been able to put to much use, but creates a wonderful hangover cure for her Gran, who then tells her friends about it. Cassiopeia reconnects with an old friend, and there may be a little something more going on there, but we only get a quick glimpse into The Cobblestone Coven, and I am excited to read what comes next for Cassiopeia and the grumpy cat.

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book!

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader)]

4 stars. Balthazar and Betty are little scene stealers. They’re so cute! Talking cat familiars and they both have such big personalities. Cassie was a wonderful main character she’s back in her hometown working at her Gran’s coffeeshop with her cousin after a breakup. This was so cozy and laidback and I adored all of the characters. Gran was a riot. She’s so cool. She goes out to clubs drinking and partying all night with her senior citizens friends and she’s my hero honestly. This was so much fun and I cannot wait for book two because I’m loving this series already.

[Autumn Aria]

First book in the series. A cozy witch fantasy. It introduces all the main characters in the story.

[Tracy]

Cute, Fun, and Entertaining

I wasn't sure what to expect when I opened this book, but it was a pleasant surprise. Loveable characters, especially Cassie and her Gran, and you can't forget the talking animals. 😋.
Super cute and I look forward to seeing what new adventures are in store for Miss Cassie.😻

[Dominique]

3,5 ~ leuk boek, leest lekker weg. Wel wat kort for my liking. Het is duidelijk dat de auteur een boekenreeks in gedachten had, waardoor dit vooral een korte intro is en de andere delen het verhaal meer zullen uitdiepen. Of ik genoeg geïntrigeerd ben om die andere delen te lezen, weet ik niet.

[Larissa Eddy]

A lovely cozy read. Nice and warming. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to continue to follow Cassie's story

[Stephanie Sabo]

Cute, quick and sweet.

[Joy]

Ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I didn't realize this was a series but it's a cute story.

[Maria]

Super cute, cozy and easy read. Very accessible and good vibes

[Lola]

I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

I love the cozy fantasy genre and I am so excited when authors I already know write in the genre. The Coffee House Witch & The Grumpy Cat is the first book in this series. It really reads as a first part of the story and there's a lot of introduction happening. Cassiopeia returns to her home town after a breakup and without a job, she starts working for her Gran at the coffee house again and tries to find her footing.

This book had some parts I really liked and others I enjoyed less. I liked Cassiopeia's banter with Faye and I assume that will turn into romance eventually, but for now they are just friends reconnecting. I really liked Faye, she was a fun character to read about and I would say even more interesting than the actual main character. I also liked Balthazar, the grumpy cat, he was just so grumpy and cute. And I can't wait to read more about him. I also liked Cassiopeia's interactions with her grandma and cousin.

I liked the cozy fantasy vibes, although I would've liked more of this. There is very little magic and even the cozy vibes don't come through as strongly as I wanted. Cassiopeia is still feeling down after her breakup and that influences how she sees her home town. I am thinking this will change in future books when she starts to feel more at home again.

Now for what I struggled with. I liked Cassiopeia, but it's like I never fully warmed up her. I felt bad for her with the breakup and such, but I always struggle with breakups in books like this when I just cna't see why the characters were together to begin with as it seemed her ex didn't treat her well. Either way there's a lot of sadness and Cassiopeia struggling with what to do now after losing her long term girlfriend and her job. And while this makes sense, I just didn't find it particularly interesting to read about. I hope this changes in future books.

Then there is the magic, with witch in the title I had expected more magic. But Cassiopeia is struggling with her magic and doesn't do much of it, except brewing a potion. I liked that scene and the potion brewing and it seems there will be more of that in the next book. It was interesting how the magic was tied to deities, but there isn't as much about it and I wanted to know more about how it worked. I also wondered if anyone could become a witch or not and how that works with the deities. Either way there's very little about the magic so far, but hopefully there will be more of that in future books. I also had expected there to be more progress on her magic struggles, but seems this will be continuing into the next book. I liked the familiars and the bit about them and how they can talk.

To summarize: This was the start to a new cozy fantasy series by this author and I am curious to see where it goes next. This one was a bit of a mixed read for me, with parts I really liked and others I liked less. I liked Cassiopeia's banter with Faye, her interactions with her grandma and cousin as well as the grumpy cat Balthazar. Cassiopeia is struggling being just out of a long term relationship and I didn't find this as interesting to read about. There isn't as much magic and the cozy fantasy vibes are subtle, but I think this will get expanded upon in future books. This book really felt like a part 1 of a larger story and I am curious to see where thing go next. I plan to check out book 2 and hopefully enjoy that one more.

[Morgan]

Okay look: Ariana Jade (AKA Arizona Tape) isn't who you're going to read if you're looking for deep, thoughtful epics, she's who you're going to for fun, cozy, quick reads, and The Coffee House Witch & The Grumpy Cat is right in line with that.

As the initial installment of the Cobblestone Coven serial, the story is a sweet, low-angst introduction to Cobblestone and the main players. We get meet Cassie, our lovely protagonist, as she returns to Cobblestone and her grandmother's coffeehouse after a breakup. Through her we meet her gran and a couple of cousins, a few townspeople, and her childhood best friend Faye, who harbors feelings for Cassie. There are also familiars, including her gran's cat Betty and the titular Grumpy Cat (not his real name).

The story doesn't delve too far into the main plot of the story, but it didn't really need to just yet. Based on her past serials we'll get there with the next installment, which I will happily read.

I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.

[Shannon👻]

I got to the end and was like ‘oh? Is that it?’
I would read the other books in the series, the book just seemed to end abruptly, but I enjoyed it.

[Susan Anne]

I’ve enjoyed all of Arizona Tape’s series, even when they are written under her new pseudonym of Ariana Jade. The new series is Cobblestone Coven, with the first book being The Coffeehouse Witch & The Grumpy Cat. Even the title lets the reader know this is another cozy fantasy book with cats and magic, so what’s not to like? The story is written from the perspective of Cassiopeia, the eponymous witch, as she returns to her home and the family’s coffeehouse. While Cassie views herself as a failure, the reader will see that she actually has a strong personality which will help her find what she wants in life. The cat in the title is Balthazar, and he makes several appearances before Cassie gets to talk to him. The area of Cobblestone is very much a small community, so Cassie runs into people she knows and often has a rocky backstory with. The author loves to write secondary characters who provide comic relief and Coffeehouse Witch is no exception. This was a quick read for me since the characters and the worldbuilding both captured my interest. I think this may be their best series yet!

[S ✨️]

Ik ben dit boek blind beginnen lezen. De cover en titel spraken me meteen aan. En het heeft me zeker niet teleurgesteld! 🥰
Het verhaal is een luchtige, whimsical, cozy fantasy met katten! Wat wil je nog meer? ✨ Het is het perfecte boek om tussendoor te lezen.

De relaties in dit boek zijn een van mijn favoriete dingen aan deze novella. De relatie tussen Cassiopeia en haar grootmoeder is zo liefdevol. Haar grootmoeder is wel een apart geval, maar dan op de beste en grappigste manier. 😂
De nicht van Cassie, Mila, is dan weer het perfecte voorbeeld van iemand uit Gen Z en ik heb meermaals moeten lachen om haar uitspraken en gedragingen.

Maar de echte showstelers zijn toch wel de katten! Betty en Balthazar zijn zo schattig, maar ze zijn zeker niet op hun mondje gevallen. Als een kat kon praten, denk ik echt dat hij zich precies zoals hen zou gedragen. 😂

Je kan het boek als een standalone lezen, maar je kan er ook voor kiezen om de rest van de serie te lezen. Op zich eindigt het eerste boek redelijk open, maar niet met een cliffhanger.

Ik ga alleszins de rest van de serie lezen, want ik ben heel benieuwd wat er verder gaat gebeuren met Cassie en de pluizenbollen. 🥹

[Anneke]

☕🐈‍⬛ A quick, cozy and thoroughly enjoyable read!

The Coffee House Witch and the Grumpy Cat was exactly the kind of light, easy read I needed. It was quick, cozy, fun, and had me happily turning the pages.

One of my favourite things was the banter between the familiars and the main characters. Honestly, they brought so much personality to the story and provided some of the funniest moments. Give me a sassy familiar any day! 😂

I did, however, find myself a little disappointed with the ending. I knew going in that this was the first book in a series and definitely not a standalone, but I still wanted just a little more closure. It felt like the story stopped just when I was ready for that final satisfying little wrap-up.

That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey and would happily pick up the next book. It’s a charming, easy-going read with witches, familiars, humour and just enough intrigue to keep things moving.
A fun little palate cleanser of a book — and I’m definitely curious to see where the series goes next! ✨☕🐈‍⬛

[Raj]

This is a fluffy little novella about Cassie, who returns to her childhood home heartbroken after her girlfriend breaks up with her. She hopes to regroup and make a new start, but her magic isn't working properly, and her childhood friend in the antique store is looking awfully cute.

Very fluffy, especially the detail that witches' familiars will wear little bow-ties, which is adorable. The magic is mostly an aside to this, but will probably be of more relevance later on. Cassie's poker-playing, over-indulging gran is hilarious, but the love between those two is clear, even if there are hints that things aren't well between Cassie and her own parents.

The book does just stop, unfortunately. I'd rather have taken a few of these and combined them into a single novel, rather than these shorter pieces (although that might have been a commercial decision).

[Ed]

Returning back to her hometown heartbroken, Cassie settles back in at her Gran's coffee shop. But not everything is running according to plan (if you can call breaking off an engagement and running back home a plan) as her magic is running a bit wrong.

The supporting characters are so warm and loving that i would enjoy moving to Cobblestone just to meet all of them. While the feeling of the book is cozy, the emotions that it stirs up are real, you can tell how Cassie is feeling about everything she's been going through and how her friends and family are there to support her.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series. The books are short enough to read in just a day or two, and the pace is just right.

[♏ Gina☽]

I really enjoyed this fantasy story about a young woman whose life has been thrown into turmoil, forcing her to return to her grandmother's coffee house where she grew up, to try to get her life in order. Easier said than done. The characters are well developed and the story line was not always what I expected from other books with comparable story lines. This one held my interest. I was especially drawn to Balthazor - but you'll have to read to find out who that is.

Also, be aware this book is the first in the series and does have a cliffhanger ending. I look forward to reading the rest.

[dream_pagesworld]

Από τα πιο ωραία arc που έχω διαβάσει! είναι η αρχή μιας πολύ όμορφης τριλογίας με witchy σκηνικό στον σύγχρονο κόσμο . Η Κασσιόπη συντετριμμένη από τον πρόσφατο χωρισμό της επιστρέφει στο τόπο καταγωγής της μαζί με την γιαγιά της και πιάνει δουλειά στην οικογενειακή επιχείρηση. Ωστόσο, ανακαλύπτει ότι τελικά μπορεί να μην είναι τόσο αρνητική η επιστροφή αυτή καθώς επανεκτιμά την αξία της και θέτει υψηλούς στόχους. Επίσης να προσθέσω ότι η γραφή είναι διακριτική και ζεστή απευθυνόμενη σε όλους τους ανθρώπους ,ανοιχτή προς την LGBTQ κοινότητα και ειλικρινά ένα safe place γεμάτο με ζεστασιά ,φίλτρα και άρωμα καφέ .

[Chelsea Nicole]

A comforting cup of magic and mischief ☕🐈

This book felt like a hug in story form. I adored the mix of witchy charm, small‑town coziness, and that perfectly grumpy cat who adds just the right amount of sass. The writing has a gentle rhythm that makes you want to linger in the coffee shop and chat with the characters. It’s lighthearted but still heartfelt, with friendship and magic woven through every page. If you love stories that make you smile and crave a warm drink, this one’s for you. I gave it five stars because it left me feeling content and enchanted — exactly what I want from a cozy fantasy read.

[TDragon]

This is such a cute series starter! To be completely honest, I picked this one from my ENDLESS supply of Stuff Your Kindle freebies solely to catch up on my bingo card (needed Coffee- or Tea-heavy book). But I’m so glad I did.

I really enjoyed the FMC Cassie, her dealing with heartbreak with grace and honesty, and her super adorable quest to help the grumpy neighborhood familiar who lost his witch. Side characters are also endearing in a way you really want from a cozy, small-town story.

It’s an easy to digest novella, and I highly recommend it if you need a giggle, a good read, and a grumpy cat to fawn over! 😍

[J.R.]

Definitely a YA lesbian story. Nicely written.

Cass was feeling it when she returned home from a breakup with her ex girlfriend. Her girlfriend wanted things done a certain way and Cass was not ready or eager. So mutual breakup. Cass was some what happy, her younger cousin work at the Coffee house her grandmother owned and her childhood friend was working two doors down the coffee house. Cass discovered a cat who owner had passed away and the cat had a very good nose for finding items. Enjoy!

[Jane]

A very unimaginative book. The cosy fantasy-with-coffee-shop equivalent of the endless American Christmas films with completely meaningless characters and stories.
It is very a very short story and ends without an ending, in the middle of the story.
The main character is rather bland and the story is very standard. There is no development in any character or in the story.
What I personally find very irritating is that everything is grabbed instead of taken. She grabbed a coffee. It's such an unnecessary aggressive action. It will be a delete on my e-reader.

[Grafton]

I’m coming to the conclusion that I just don’t like things that usually get labeled “cozy”. They seem to be terribly naive. This was a decent bit of character development and introduction to the setting, but it ends abruptly without anything much ever happening. On several occasions the author uses words incorrectly or omits words entirely, errors I would expect an editor to catch and correct. Overall, the writing just isn’t great and I don’t think I’ll be trying any more of the series.

[Hanna]

It was very short (140 kindle pages) and cute but the characters and world were not fully developed. I had no idea what anyone or anything looked like. The book felt rushed, and this would have been good if the ideas were fleshed out more. The book ended with lots of unanswered questions and this book did not make me care enough to want to read more. However, I did appreciate all the LGBTQ+ representation!!!

[Maryanne]

A cozy, charming novella that mixes a bit of magic and the modern world. Funny, relatable characters and lots of instances where I found myself laughing out loud and/or had a big grin on my face while reading.

A few reasons for 3-star rating: for the first book of a series, I wish the world/town were fleshed out a bit more and we got to know the characters more/saw more development, some grammar/punctuation errors, and usage of some British terms that I was unfamiliar with.

[TheresaK]

Very adorable reading!

I love Cassiopeia, her Gran, her friend, & her cousin/co-worker, as well as Betty the cat & Balthazar the cat. Having to return home after a breakup is hard, but it’s amazing how much better it is with a great band of good vibes! Put a smile on a sad face for sure!

[Marie Cordalis]

Nice Short Novel

I of course loved the talking cats ;). I'm not a big fan of books that are very clearly meant to entice the reader to keep purchasing the next however many that follow. The fact that this was one of those was my only complaint about it. Nice characters in what appears to be a nice magical world. Also the cover art is beautiful:)