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Tressport Magic #1
Letters from the Last Apothecary
Win a free print copy of this book!
0 days and 11:56:46
10 copies available
U.S. only
EMILY WILDE meets DIVINE RIVALS in this debut cozy historical romantic fantasy about a grumpy apothecarist, the whirlwind woman who comes to save his shop, and the letters that secretly unite them. You've Got Mail with a magical twist!
Nestled between steel skyscrapers lies a small shop stocked with old magic and experimental elixirs. This cozy historical romantic fantasy debut is a tale of mistaken identity, reluctant partnership, and the quiet, transformative magic of being truly seen—on and off the page.
Josephine Pinova doesn’t believe in fate. Yet, it must be fate when she walks into one of the last magical apothecaries in the city and they offer her a job after she’s just been fired.
Struggling against a tide of anti-magic sentiment amidst the city's rapid industrialization, the shop is slated to close in six short months unless Josie can save it. Luckily, she's no stranger to impossible odd—she's applying to study magic at the local university, something women are typically excluded from—even as the shop's prickly apothecarist, Aufidius Reid, seems determined to dislike her.
Reid finds her unbearably insistent. She finds him infuriatingly uptight—nothing like the sensitive scholar Josie has been exchanging anonymous letters with as they study together for entrance to a graduate magic program. A scholar who just so happens to be Reid himself, unbeknownst to either of them.
Letter by letter, they fall in love. But at work, Josie and Reid clash constantly about the direction of the business. As pressure rises, they discover the threat to the shop is more dangerous than they could have ever imagined, and working together to save it might be their only chance at true purpose, and at each other.
Nestled between steel skyscrapers lies a small shop stocked with old magic and experimental elixirs. This cozy historical romantic fantasy debut is a tale of mistaken identity, reluctant partnership, and the quiet, transformative magic of being truly seen—on and off the page.
Josephine Pinova doesn’t believe in fate. Yet, it must be fate when she walks into one of the last magical apothecaries in the city and they offer her a job after she’s just been fired.
Struggling against a tide of anti-magic sentiment amidst the city's rapid industrialization, the shop is slated to close in six short months unless Josie can save it. Luckily, she's no stranger to impossible odd—she's applying to study magic at the local university, something women are typically excluded from—even as the shop's prickly apothecarist, Aufidius Reid, seems determined to dislike her.
Reid finds her unbearably insistent. She finds him infuriatingly uptight—nothing like the sensitive scholar Josie has been exchanging anonymous letters with as they study together for entrance to a graduate magic program. A scholar who just so happens to be Reid himself, unbeknownst to either of them.
Letter by letter, they fall in love. But at work, Josie and Reid clash constantly about the direction of the business. As pressure rises, they discover the threat to the shop is more dangerous than they could have ever imagined, and working together to save it might be their only chance at true purpose, and at each other.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The story takes place in a magical city where 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚, a spirited young woman freshly fired from her job, stumbles into the last surviving apothecary in 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓹𝓸𝓻𝓽. There she meets 𝐀𝐮𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐝, a grumpy, meticulous apothecarist whose shop is fading under the weight of anti-magic sentiment.
⊹ ࣪ ˖
𓂃✍︎ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: I ADORED the beautiful confessional tone in which this was written. The letters allowed the characters to reveal their flaws, fears and hopes in ways they could not face aloud. The melancholy, the ache of longing- it becomes the beating heart of the story. I loved how the intimacy of written words, the vulnerability of confessions and the thrill of discovering someone’s soul through ink was flawlessly captured here.
ꫂ❁ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭: I loved how Josie’s whirlwind energy collided beautifully with Aufidius’s stoic reserve. Their dynamic was so touching that it showed how 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓃 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝑒𝓈.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
.✦ ݁˖ anonymous pen pals × reluctant coworkers
.✦ ݁˖ grumpy × sunshine
.✦ ݁˖ cozy fantasy
And OMG!! I screamed so bad in the end. I love how Reid (mmc) put Josie's(fmc) surname as his surname. AHHHHHHHH!my dear future hubby, take notes.
𓍯𓂃𓏧♡ Unlike many romantic fantasies, this one here does not rely on grand battles or quests. It's just a matter of small gestures- a letter slipped under a door, a potion brewed with care, a shop saved against the odds...
𝐀 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻
╰───◤✦𝕮𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖞:✦◥───╯
update #6:
@82.0%- the yearning finally ends and they kiss.
Why am I screaming and giggling so bad?
update #5:
I love how "womanly time of the month" is mentioned here.
update #4:
The yearning >>>>
update #3:
This is so Divine Rivals coded.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
an aspiring mage who lands a job at a failing magical apothecary in the city of Tressport × the "grumpy" owner of the shop who is struggling to keep his business afloat amidst rising anti-magic sentiment and industrialization
update #2:
I love how vividly descriptive this is. And the writing style is so amazing. Perfectly articulated.
"Chamomile rays of sparse morning light filtered through..."- ahh
update #1:
new word learnt: ostentatious
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
✿.｡.:* ☆:**:. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: .:**:.☆*.:｡.✿
The cover is absolutely gorgeous!
My first NetGalley read<3
Thankyou to NetGalley and Hay House LLC for providing me with this arc.
⊹ ࣪ ˖
𝕰𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖞 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖉𝖊 𝖝 𝕯𝖎𝖛𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝕽𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖑𝖘
𓂃✍︎ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: I ADORED the beautiful confessional tone in which this was written. The letters allowed the characters to reveal their flaws, fears and hopes in ways they could not face aloud. The melancholy, the ache of longing- it becomes the beating heart of the story. I loved how the intimacy of written words, the vulnerability of confessions and the thrill of discovering someone’s soul through ink was flawlessly captured here.
ꫂ❁ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭: I loved how Josie’s whirlwind energy collided beautifully with Aufidius’s stoic reserve. Their dynamic was so touching that it showed how 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓃 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝑒𝓈.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
.✦ ݁˖ anonymous pen pals × reluctant coworkers
.✦ ݁˖ grumpy × sunshine
.✦ ݁˖ cozy fantasy
And OMG!! I screamed so bad in the end. I love how Reid (mmc) put Josie's(fmc) surname as his surname. AHHHHHHHH!
𓍯𓂃𓏧♡ Unlike many romantic fantasies, this one here does not rely on grand battles or quests. It's just a matter of small gestures- a letter slipped under a door, a potion brewed with care, a shop saved against the odds...
𝐀 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻
╰───◤✦𝕮𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖆𝖗𝖞:✦◥───╯
update #6:
@82.0%- the yearning finally ends and they kiss.
Why am I screaming and giggling so bad?
update #5:
I love how "womanly time of the month" is mentioned here.
update #4:
The yearning >>>>
update #3:
This is so Divine Rivals coded.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK.
an aspiring mage who lands a job at a failing magical apothecary in the city of Tressport × the "grumpy" owner of the shop who is struggling to keep his business afloat amidst rising anti-magic sentiment and industrialization
update #2:
I love how vividly descriptive this is. And the writing style is so amazing. Perfectly articulated.
"Chamomile rays of sparse morning light filtered through..."- ahh
update #1:
new word learnt: ostentatious
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
✿.｡.:* ☆:**:. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: .:**:.☆*.:｡.✿
The cover is absolutely gorgeous!
My first NetGalley read<3
Thankyou to NetGalley and Hay House LLC for providing me with this arc.
May 18, 2026
I was lured by the promise of a cozy magical apothecary, but instead I got a miscommunication romance murder mystery or whatever this mess was supposed to be. I can totally see where the comp titles for this book are coming from, but in the end it's not similar to Divine Rivals or Emily Wilde and just lends a singular aspect from each of these series. There's the unknowing letter-writing between rivals and somewhere in the background of the story is a magical university and while the characters do not actually attend it, they talk all academically for some reason. Especially the female main character, Josephine Pinova. I just couldn't stand her. At the beginning of the story she is fired from her typist job for no apparent reason, but a few days later she wants to buy some witchy ingredients in an apothecary and leaves with a new job instead. She got the job because she apparently knows everything and never shuts up, even if you ask her to. Aufidius Reid is already working at the apothecary and he is immediately annoyed by her, and I'll be honest: I didn't understand why the two of them didn't like each other. But I didn't like them either, so maybe it's just their personalities. So at the shop, Josie and Reid don't get along, but they don't know that they have been anonymously exchanging letters and slowly falling for each other for a while now. I must admit that the letter thing is rather cute to me in theory, but the execution was lacking a lot in my opinion. The letters seemed like an excuse to drop whole backstories all at once and later they were about boring magic theory that I didn't connect with either. I also really didn't like how the letters were from months ago and didn't really play a role in the current plot. I had quite the problem with structure and pacing in general here. For instance, the introduction to a cozy story is very important to me. Usually characters learn a craft or start a business or something like that, having to get familiar with new people and surroundings. Here, Josie gets the job and then the book immediately skips her first three weeks in the apothecary. Like, I wanted to see her learning about magical ingredients and potion making and plant care, and I got absolutely nothing of that. That's criminal to me! I think the book just didn't know what it wanted to be. It takes so long before any actual plot is introduced, and then it's a cozy fantasy romance murder mystery all at once without executing any of these things well. The coziness wasn't there for me, the murder mystery was introduced so late that I didn't bother caring at that point and the romance also didn't make sense to me. Josie and Reid just completely lacked meaningful moments together while also talking about marriage right away. At least the last thing was due to the time period that this book was set in, but it wasn't like the time and place were developed much either. To me this book was somehow both boring and convoluted at the same time, and it just wasn't what I had hoped for.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hay House LLC for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hay House LLC for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.0 ★— Oh, epistolary romance, how much I adore you! This was another great example of why I do.
Following Reid and Josie, two people aspiring to get into the Institute of Magic and to finally fulfill their passions, the story unfolds as they anonymously exchange letters, starting with them bonding as university hopefuls and eventually developing feelings for each other.
Let me just say: this was so cute! I am not the biggest dual POV fan, but because the book is interspersed with the main characters' own letters to each other, I thought their different viewpoints enhanced the story very well.
Josie and Reid are two characters who immediately make a bad impression on each other when they meet for the first time, with Reid being annoyed and slightly intimidated by Josie’s expertise and by how well she gets along with his boss, who he’s always felt a little distant from, and Josie being put off by his stand-offish behavior around her. The story did a perfect job of illustrating why these two would never suspect that they're each other’s secret letter writer.
As a heroine, Josie was solidly written, and I liked how this book incorporated her struggles as a woman in a historically inspired world that is very misogynistic, as well as the scrutiny she faces because of an ethnic background that makes her place in society even more precarious.
The book explores a similar theme with Reid, who himself is of a mixed heritage and also has to deal with the otherness and classism of the academic spaces he wants to belong to.
While I did think the book’s slice of life vibes and the day-to-day apothecary happenings were quite fun to follow in the beginning, I also thought the book suffered from feeling a little stretched out and slow until the mystery plot in the latter half unfolded, which reawakened my excitement and interest. Coupled with an ending that felt like it wrapped the story up in a neat way, this really did work for me!
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
This is one of those books I think benefits heavily from being listened to in audiobook form! The two narrators were perfect for their respective characters, and I loved listening to them read the letters that preceded each chapter. Because this is a slower story, the audiobook really was a perfect companion to have on during walks and quieter moments!
__________________
Thank you to Hay House for the ARC and to Penguin Random House for the ALC.
Following Reid and Josie, two people aspiring to get into the Institute of Magic and to finally fulfill their passions, the story unfolds as they anonymously exchange letters, starting with them bonding as university hopefuls and eventually developing feelings for each other.
Let me just say: this was so cute! I am not the biggest dual POV fan, but because the book is interspersed with the main characters' own letters to each other, I thought their different viewpoints enhanced the story very well.
Josie and Reid are two characters who immediately make a bad impression on each other when they meet for the first time, with Reid being annoyed and slightly intimidated by Josie’s expertise and by how well she gets along with his boss, who he’s always felt a little distant from, and Josie being put off by his stand-offish behavior around her. The story did a perfect job of illustrating why these two would never suspect that they're each other’s secret letter writer.
As a heroine, Josie was solidly written, and I liked how this book incorporated her struggles as a woman in a historically inspired world that is very misogynistic, as well as the scrutiny she faces because of an ethnic background that makes her place in society even more precarious.
The book explores a similar theme with Reid, who himself is of a mixed heritage and also has to deal with the otherness and classism of the academic spaces he wants to belong to.
While I did think the book’s slice of life vibes and the day-to-day apothecary happenings were quite fun to follow in the beginning, I also thought the book suffered from feeling a little stretched out and slow until the mystery plot in the latter half unfolded, which reawakened my excitement and interest. Coupled with an ending that felt like it wrapped the story up in a neat way, this really did work for me!
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Dual
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
This is one of those books I think benefits heavily from being listened to in audiobook form! The two narrators were perfect for their respective characters, and I loved listening to them read the letters that preceded each chapter. Because this is a slower story, the audiobook really was a perfect companion to have on during walks and quieter moments!
__________________
Thank you to Hay House for the ARC and to Penguin Random House for the ALC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Letters from the Last Apothecary
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟳𝟱
Release Date : June 9, 2026 ⟢
⌞ What To Expect: ⌝
⌗ 1900s Chicago
⌗ Anonymous Pen Pals
⌗ Magical Apothecary
⌗ Office Romance
What a delightful debut by Bita Behzadi! For those who know me, I'm a fan of "Divine Rivals" and the Emily Wilde series. When I learned that this book was compared to those, I became very excited and curious about the similarities. Behzadi's writing is straightforward and easy to understand, yet thoughtful, providing just the right amount of description and information. The world she creates feels similar to our modern environment, with a touch of magic woven throughout.
Now that I've read it, I can see that the overall atmosphere and anonymous letters definitely remind me of Divine Rivals, while our female lead's thoughts and attitude toward academia remind me of Emily Wilde.
𓏲⋆💌.* Josephine 'Josie' Pinova: I admire a strong, independent woman. She knows what she wants and does her best to prove herself. If that doesn't work, she'll do her best to talk her way into getting it.
𓏲⋆✨.* Aufidius Reid: I have mixed feelings about this man. He was pretty stuck-up for most of the book and clearly needs therapy for his anger issues. Just when I think he's an okay guy, he does something that makes me dislike him again. I don't blame Josephine for the strong dislike at the start because I see it too. By the end, I guess he was okay.
The romance didn't develop immediately, which I loved, and I admired how they took the time to get to know each other and learned to respect one another during the months they've worked together in the apothecary. There were also themes surrounding prejudice based on ethnic backgrounds, and since there is a growing anti-magic sentiment in the city, people's perception of those with magic is scrutinized.
Another thing that threw me off was when the mafia act comes in. I enjoyed the slow pace and day-to-day work in the apothecary, but when the action and high stakes kicked in, the vibe changed completely for me, unfortunately.
The audiobook version is such a delight to listen to with the e-arc. I absolutely loved Samara Naeymi's portrayal of Josephine. I loved her enunciation, and her voice was such a treat to listen to. I wouldn't mind if she narrated the whole book because, unfortunately, Reid's narration was lacking and sometimes doesn't do the scene justice.
Overall, I was pleased with the story and can't wait for Book 2 of the Tressport Magic series. Hopefully, we follow Josephine's sister, Juniper, since I loved her character so much, and her clairvoyance magic is such an intriguing aspect to see.
Thank you to Hay House, LLC and, of course, Bita Behzadi for providing an advance copy of this ebook and audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
ഒ·˚ ⊹ ࣪ ˖
pre-read : i saw that the audio arc was on 'listen now' on netgalley and since i had the e-arc for a while now, i thought it'd be a great immersive read! NOW, letters between strangers and workplace set in a magical apothecary. they say it's giving divine rivals and emily wilde, so ofc i'm seated!
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑.𝟳𝟱
⁀જ➣ ❝ This may read as daft, but I am glad I can write to you, because I do not have to wonder if some secret of mine will eventually put you off. I do not have to hold my breath in anticipation that you will recognize something terrible in me. ❞
Release Date : June 9, 2026 ⟢
⌞ What To Expect: ⌝
⌗ 1900s Chicago
⌗ Anonymous Pen Pals
⌗ Magical Apothecary
⌗ Office Romance
What a delightful debut by Bita Behzadi! For those who know me, I'm a fan of "Divine Rivals" and the Emily Wilde series. When I learned that this book was compared to those, I became very excited and curious about the similarities. Behzadi's writing is straightforward and easy to understand, yet thoughtful, providing just the right amount of description and information. The world she creates feels similar to our modern environment, with a touch of magic woven throughout.
Now that I've read it, I can see that the overall atmosphere and anonymous letters definitely remind me of Divine Rivals, while our female lead's thoughts and attitude toward academia remind me of Emily Wilde.
୭˚ ❝ Truthfully, I do not know where my future leads. If any of the immovable pillars of my identity, my gender, or my race are what triggered my rejection, then there is nowhere I can climb. ❞
𓏲⋆💌.* Josephine 'Josie' Pinova: I admire a strong, independent woman. She knows what she wants and does her best to prove herself. If that doesn't work, she'll do her best to talk her way into getting it.
❝ You have cut into my center in a way so few have. You are so complete in my mind, so fully formed, and I can only hope that you see me just as completely. ❞ ་࿐
𓏲⋆✨.* Aufidius Reid: I have mixed feelings about this man. He was pretty stuck-up for most of the book and clearly needs therapy for his anger issues. Just when I think he's an okay guy, he does something that makes me dislike him again. I don't blame Josephine for the strong dislike at the start because I see it too. By the end, I guess he was okay.
❝ Truthfully, I do not know where my future leads. If any of the immovable pillars of my identity, my gender, or my race are what triggered my rejection, then there is nowhere I can climb. This is where I am competent, and it did not matter. I have spent my entire life fighting to be seen, and I am not sure if I can continue much longer without anything to show for it. ❞
The romance didn't develop immediately, which I loved, and I admired how they took the time to get to know each other and learned to respect one another during the months they've worked together in the apothecary. There were also themes surrounding prejudice based on ethnic backgrounds, and since there is a growing anti-magic sentiment in the city, people's perception of those with magic is scrutinized.
Another thing that threw me off was when the mafia act comes in. I enjoyed the slow pace and day-to-day work in the apothecary, but when the action and high stakes kicked in, the vibe changed completely for me, unfortunately.
The audiobook version is such a delight to listen to with the e-arc. I absolutely loved Samara Naeymi's portrayal of Josephine. I loved her enunciation, and her voice was such a treat to listen to. I wouldn't mind if she narrated the whole book because, unfortunately, Reid's narration was lacking and sometimes doesn't do the scene justice.
Overall, I was pleased with the story and can't wait for Book 2 of the Tressport Magic series. Hopefully, we follow Josephine's sister, Juniper, since I loved her character so much, and her clairvoyance magic is such an intriguing aspect to see.
❝ When you live with someone, you say hello, you give them a little kiss, every day. You don’t think about it. But when you are drawn apart, letters are the only way to touch. They are proof, a reminder, that you think of one another. Every one is a window into your heart. ❞
Thank you to Hay House, LLC and, of course, Bita Behzadi for providing an advance copy of this ebook and audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑
ഒ·˚ ⊹ ࣪ ˖
pre-read : i saw that the audio arc was on 'listen now' on netgalley and since i had the e-arc for a while now, i thought it'd be a great immersive read! NOW, letters between strangers and workplace set in a magical apothecary. they say it's giving divine rivals and emily wilde, so ofc i'm seated!
Want to Read
February 9, 2026✉️ Letters from the Last Apothecary ✉️
📘 Bookish Thoughts
I will be posting my full review closer to publication date.
📅 Pub Date: June 9, 2026
📝 Thank you to Hay House LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📘 Bookish Thoughts
I will be posting my full review closer to publication date.
📅 Pub Date: June 9, 2026
📝 Thank you to Hay House LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
March 19, 2026
rival coworkers but also anonymous lovers over letters <3 (3.75 stars)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this book and how easy it was to read, the writing has such a beautiful flow about it and the world and characters only made this cosy fantasy all that more enchanting.
One of my favourite things is when characters unknowingly write letters to each other and slowly fall in love, I feel like it always adds such an interesting dynamic to the story especially as these two characters had such a dislike for the other and I adored the letters that were exchanged.
Though it did take a little while to fully get into the story at the start, I soon found myself flying through it and found it so hard to put down. It was such a beautiful and enchanting story.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.
One of my favourite things is when characters unknowingly write letters to each other and slowly fall in love, I feel like it always adds such an interesting dynamic to the story especially as these two characters had such a dislike for the other and I adored the letters that were exchanged.
Though it did take a little while to fully get into the story at the start, I soon found myself flying through it and found it so hard to put down. It was such a beautiful and enchanting story.
Thank you so much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.
June 7, 2026
rating: ★★★.5
i really loved the idea of a whimsical historical fiction set in 1906, especially with its magic system and apothecary vibes. it also made me curious about divine rivals because of the comparisons.
𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂 was definitely the better character. i liked her far more than the mmc; she does her best to prove herself, and i really admired her determination to push against sexism in her workplace.
however, i struggled with 𝑨𝒖𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒅.
he came across as bitter and constantly negative, and i found it hard to warm up to him.
even the shift from enemies to lovers didn’t fully land for me, especially since they were penpals who unknowingly liked each other in writing but didn’t have that same chemistry in person. i never really felt the connection between them physically, which made the romance feel a bit disconnected.
the first half of the book dragged quite a bit. it felt slow-paced, and i found myself losing interest and worrying it might put me in a reading slump. things only started to pick up around the 60% mark, but by then it was hard to fully recover my engagement.
overall, i didn’t enjoy this book as much as i had hoped. there was a lot going on, which sometimes made it difficult to follow.
thank you to netgalley, hay house, and bita behzadi for providing an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
˚₊‧꒰ა ⚗️ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙: i’ve been looking forward to reading this arc, and since i’m still pretty new to romantasy, i really hope i end up loving it♡
⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙: 24th May, 2026
i really loved the idea of a whimsical historical fiction set in 1906, especially with its magic system and apothecary vibes. it also made me curious about divine rivals because of the comparisons.
𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒊𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂 was definitely the better character. i liked her far more than the mmc; she does her best to prove herself, and i really admired her determination to push against sexism in her workplace.
however, i struggled with 𝑨𝒖𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒊𝒅.
he came across as bitter and constantly negative, and i found it hard to warm up to him.
even the shift from enemies to lovers didn’t fully land for me, especially since they were penpals who unknowingly liked each other in writing but didn’t have that same chemistry in person. i never really felt the connection between them physically, which made the romance feel a bit disconnected.
the first half of the book dragged quite a bit. it felt slow-paced, and i found myself losing interest and worrying it might put me in a reading slump. things only started to pick up around the 60% mark, but by then it was hard to fully recover my engagement.
overall, i didn’t enjoy this book as much as i had hoped. there was a lot going on, which sometimes made it difficult to follow.
thank you to netgalley, hay house, and bita behzadi for providing an advance copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
˚₊‧꒰ა ⚗️ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
𝙥𝙧𝙚-𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙: i’ve been looking forward to reading this arc, and since i’m still pretty new to romantasy, i really hope i end up loving it♡
⋮ ⌗ ┆ 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙙: 24th May, 2026
Did Not Finish
February 15, 2026dnf'ed at 33%
this was so insubstantial i couldn't get through it any further.
the protagonists have no personality whatsoever, there is absolutely no basis for their dislike of each other in real life and no chemistry between them at all and the letters they write are nondescript and feel like a very lazy way of trying and failing to give these two any sort of character traits or background story.
on top of that, the world building is practically nonexistent. there is no real substance to the magic system, the same three terms are repeated over and over again without offering any other information about what they mean and how the world works etc and there is no clear direction as to where the story is supposed to lead at all. there's just no plot, no characters, no interesting world building/crafting.
maybe i just dnf'ed right before the turning point of the story (i don't think i did though because there was no buildup to anything) but idk, if a story doesn't manage to capture any sort of interest on my part in the first 25%, i'm out.
this is so wrongly marketed as emily wilde (which i loved) meets divine rivals (which i liked alright) because it has nothing even remotely resembling these two stories to offer. it's not magical or whimsical or innovative and just overall not very well written.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hay House for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
this was so insubstantial i couldn't get through it any further.
the protagonists have no personality whatsoever, there is absolutely no basis for their dislike of each other in real life and no chemistry between them at all and the letters they write are nondescript and feel like a very lazy way of trying and failing to give these two any sort of character traits or background story.
on top of that, the world building is practically nonexistent. there is no real substance to the magic system, the same three terms are repeated over and over again without offering any other information about what they mean and how the world works etc and there is no clear direction as to where the story is supposed to lead at all. there's just no plot, no characters, no interesting world building/crafting.
maybe i just dnf'ed right before the turning point of the story (i don't think i did though because there was no buildup to anything) but idk, if a story doesn't manage to capture any sort of interest on my part in the first 25%, i'm out.
this is so wrongly marketed as emily wilde (which i loved) meets divine rivals (which i liked alright) because it has nothing even remotely resembling these two stories to offer. it's not magical or whimsical or innovative and just overall not very well written.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hay House for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 14, 2026
I really enjoyed the world-building in this cozy historical romantasy (a perfect blend of my favorite genres). It’s a slow burn with low spice but a lot of emotional impact. I loved the You’ve Got Mail style romance and watching the characters unknowingly fall for each other through letters while clashing in real life. The writing was beautifully immersive, and the audiobook made the experience even better. Having both a female and male narrator really helped the dual POVs feel natural (I can’t stand male narrators do female voices). If you love cozy fantasy, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and emotionally driven romances, this is definitely worth picking up. I’m looking forward to the next book in the Tressport Magic series! Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 16, 2026
This didn’t feel like the cozy apothecary fantasy I thought it would be. A lot of miscommunication that turned into a mystery. The male voice in the audiobook was a deeper tone voice than I imagined it would be. What threw me off the most was the chapters with the female voice did not match the pacing of the male voice, one talked much slower.
Thabk you NetGalley and Penguin Random House| Hayes House for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
Thabk you NetGalley and Penguin Random House| Hayes House for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.
June 9, 2026
The last 20% of this book was maybe a 3.5 or 4/5, but the beginning 70% was painful and made me want to DNF. Probably averages out to a 2/5 for me.
What didn't work for me:
- there are dual POV chapters but there's not a miscommunication or silly little banter stirring up their animosity-- he genuinely dislikes her from the start. [I want to swoon and see the MCs secretly pine for each other, not consider them below notice unless they're actively aggravated]
- the MMC also just dislikes eeeeeeveryone and everything and is a bitter little tantrum thrower because his lot in life is soooo bad (this ends up being part of his personal growth in the story, but wayyyy too late because I already hated him by then)
- the mystery bit is so, so late in the story so it doesn't have time to breathe and feel setup and satisfying. it just ends up kinda being there and tying up some loose ends
- the FMC is pretty boring and her main character trait seems to be that she's a woman in olden times who refuses to be relegated to solely feminine roles/jobs. tbf, this seems to be in near 100% of historical fiction and I already know the genre isn't for me
- only to counter what I just said-- THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FANTASY BOOK. THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN OUR WORLD BUT LIVE IN A PLACE CALLED TRESSPORT. THE PRIMARY RELIGION IS BAPTIAN. and yet the book is quick to remind at the chapter headings that the year is 1905 or 1906... but why do I care the year number of a fully fictional world? there was nothing grounding or establishing the importance of that date. I don't understand having our same timeline and technology development and that I'm supposed to superimpose my knowledge of Victorians onto this fantastical world. it's lazy and never comes to any sort of meaning in the novel. why isn't this just set in the US or England if that's the case? why include the dates of their correspondences if it's not?
But overall I thought the ending was decent. However because the main characters seemed so unlikable and he genuinely seems to dislike her because of his own internal issues for such an incredibly long time, I can see a lot of romance readers being dissatisfied and bouncing off this one.
Audiobook Notes:
Samara Naeymi:
I don't truly know how to rate this audio because I actually really really enjoyed the female narrator enought that I'll be looking up her works to listen to more of her catalog. Her voice has this slight raspiness quality that I find immediately soothing and pleasant. Her cadence and emotion is far more endearing than the actual character is written and I feel like she enhanced the experience.
E.M. Wylde:
...the male narrator on the other hand? I don't want to be cruel, but I was also granted this ARC to give my honest opinion and I'm not sure he's a fully capable reader with mastery over the English language. Words like "candor" (which he pronounced like "can door"), important, potent, similarly... if you've ever watched Schitt's Creek then you'll be familiar with the comedic way that Moira pronounces many words; that's almost the exact delivery that this man gives (just without the comedy and over the top accent). It was incredibly jarring and while he could go whole pages or paragraphs without a misstep, it was also so bizarre on such commonplace words (similarly? really?) that I started to question if it was AI or something. Do not like. Will actively avoid this narrator in future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House LLC (of Penguin Random House) for granting me both an eARC and audio ALC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
What didn't work for me:
- there are dual POV chapters but there's not a miscommunication or silly little banter stirring up their animosity-- he genuinely dislikes her from the start. [I want to swoon and see the MCs secretly pine for each other, not consider them below notice unless they're actively aggravated]
- the MMC also just dislikes eeeeeeveryone and everything and is a bitter little tantrum thrower because his lot in life is soooo bad (this ends up being part of his personal growth in the story, but wayyyy too late because I already hated him by then)
- the mystery bit is so, so late in the story so it doesn't have time to breathe and feel setup and satisfying. it just ends up kinda being there and tying up some loose ends
- the FMC is pretty boring and her main character trait seems to be that she's a woman in olden times who refuses to be relegated to solely feminine roles/jobs. tbf, this seems to be in near 100% of historical fiction and I already know the genre isn't for me
- only to counter what I just said-- THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FANTASY BOOK. THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN OUR WORLD BUT LIVE IN A PLACE CALLED TRESSPORT. THE PRIMARY RELIGION IS BAPTIAN. and yet the book is quick to remind at the chapter headings that the year is 1905 or 1906... but why do I care the year number of a fully fictional world? there was nothing grounding or establishing the importance of that date. I don't understand having our same timeline and technology development and that I'm supposed to superimpose my knowledge of Victorians onto this fantastical world. it's lazy and never comes to any sort of meaning in the novel. why isn't this just set in the US or England if that's the case? why include the dates of their correspondences if it's not?
But overall I thought the ending was decent. However because the main characters seemed so unlikable and he genuinely seems to dislike her because of his own internal issues for such an incredibly long time, I can see a lot of romance readers being dissatisfied and bouncing off this one.
Audiobook Notes:
Samara Naeymi:
I don't truly know how to rate this audio because I actually really really enjoyed the female narrator enought that I'll be looking up her works to listen to more of her catalog. Her voice has this slight raspiness quality that I find immediately soothing and pleasant. Her cadence and emotion is far more endearing than the actual character is written and I feel like she enhanced the experience.
E.M. Wylde:
...the male narrator on the other hand? I don't want to be cruel, but I was also granted this ARC to give my honest opinion and I'm not sure he's a fully capable reader with mastery over the English language. Words like "candor" (which he pronounced like "can door"), important, potent, similarly... if you've ever watched Schitt's Creek then you'll be familiar with the comedic way that Moira pronounces many words; that's almost the exact delivery that this man gives (just without the comedy and over the top accent). It was incredibly jarring and while he could go whole pages or paragraphs without a misstep, it was also so bizarre on such commonplace words (similarly? really?) that I started to question if it was AI or something. Do not like. Will actively avoid this narrator in future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hay House LLC (of Penguin Random House) for granting me both an eARC and audio ALC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 30, 2026
Unfortunately this was a major miss for me.
First, let me start by highlighting some of the things I liked about this book. I loved the concept. I am a sucker for secret pen pals who actually hate each other in person. I loved the idea of a whimsical, historical fiction set in 1906 setting with a cool magic system and apothecary vibes. I got this audiobook as an ALC and another thing I enjoyed about this was the narrator’s voice. It was giving “Samantha Brentmoor” (pretty sure it was her, actually).
However, as a whole it missed the mark for me. The author had a lot going on with this book. Too much. And because of that nothing really felt well executed in the process. The dialogue didn’t feel authentic to the time period and the way this story was written felt very disjointed. It just was not good if I’m being honest.
On a personal note, the random jabs at “white men” is growing quite tiresome. Maybe if the author had focused more time on her quality of writing and less on her jabs this would have been a more enjoyable experience. ❤️
First, let me start by highlighting some of the things I liked about this book. I loved the concept. I am a sucker for secret pen pals who actually hate each other in person. I loved the idea of a whimsical, historical fiction set in 1906 setting with a cool magic system and apothecary vibes. I got this audiobook as an ALC and another thing I enjoyed about this was the narrator’s voice. It was giving “Samantha Brentmoor” (pretty sure it was her, actually).
However, as a whole it missed the mark for me. The author had a lot going on with this book. Too much. And because of that nothing really felt well executed in the process. The dialogue didn’t feel authentic to the time period and the way this story was written felt very disjointed. It just was not good if I’m being honest.
On a personal note, the random jabs at “white men” is growing quite tiresome. Maybe if the author had focused more time on her quality of writing and less on her jabs this would have been a more enjoyable experience. ❤️
June 12, 2026
One of the reasons I picked up this audiobook was actually the narrator, Samara Naeymi. I previously listened to What She Saw by Mary Burton, and she absolutely kept me hooked until the very end. So when I saw she was narrating this one too, I was immediately interested.
Then I read the blurb.
Grumpy x sunshine? ✔️
Anonymous letters? ✔️
Magic? ✔️
Apothecary? ✔️
Needless to say, I was SOLD!
And thankfully, this ended up being a really enjoyable and cozy fantasy.
Josie was probably the character I connected with the most. She desperately wants to learn magic and prove herself, but unfortunately she was born into a society where women aren't exactly encouraged to pursue the same opportunities as men. I completely understood her frustrations and determination. Sure, there were moments when I wanted to tell her, "Okay, I get it, take a breath!" BUT I never stopped rooting for her.
Reid was a solid character too. His struggles were different from Josie's, but no less real. While Josie constantly battled the limitations placed on her as a woman, Reid struggled with feeling like he didn't belong in the academic world he so desperately wanted to be part of. I appreciated that both characters had their own insecurities and obstacles to overcome.
The apothecary itself was one of my favorite parts of the story. I loved the daily life aspects: helping customers, creating remedies, managing the shop, and uncovering the mysteries surrounding its future. Watching Josie and Reid slowly become partners in both work and life was genuinely satisfying.
And of course, there's the letters.
The contrast between how they interacted in person versus how they connected through their anonymous correspondence was adorable and probably my favorite part of the romance.
My only small complaint is that there were moments where the pacing slowed down a bit and some scenes felt longer than necessary. Thankfully, the audiobook narration did a fantastic job keeping me engaged throughout.
Overall, this was a charming debut filled with cozy magic, lovable characters and a sweet romance. I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
⭐️ 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Then I read the blurb.
Grumpy x sunshine? ✔️
Anonymous letters? ✔️
Magic? ✔️
Apothecary? ✔️
Needless to say, I was SOLD!
And thankfully, this ended up being a really enjoyable and cozy fantasy.
Josie was probably the character I connected with the most. She desperately wants to learn magic and prove herself, but unfortunately she was born into a society where women aren't exactly encouraged to pursue the same opportunities as men. I completely understood her frustrations and determination. Sure, there were moments when I wanted to tell her, "Okay, I get it, take a breath!" BUT I never stopped rooting for her.
Reid was a solid character too. His struggles were different from Josie's, but no less real. While Josie constantly battled the limitations placed on her as a woman, Reid struggled with feeling like he didn't belong in the academic world he so desperately wanted to be part of. I appreciated that both characters had their own insecurities and obstacles to overcome.
The apothecary itself was one of my favorite parts of the story. I loved the daily life aspects: helping customers, creating remedies, managing the shop, and uncovering the mysteries surrounding its future. Watching Josie and Reid slowly become partners in both work and life was genuinely satisfying.
And of course, there's the letters.
The contrast between how they interacted in person versus how they connected through their anonymous correspondence was adorable and probably my favorite part of the romance.
My only small complaint is that there were moments where the pacing slowed down a bit and some scenes felt longer than necessary. Thankfully, the audiobook narration did a fantastic job keeping me engaged throughout.
Overall, this was a charming debut filled with cozy magic, lovable characters and a sweet romance. I'll definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
⭐️ 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5
Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
May 7, 2026
3.5⭐️
"This may read as daft, but I am glad I can write to you, because I do not have to wonder if some secret of mine will eventually put you off. I do not have to hold my breath in anticipation that you will recognize something terrible in me."
...
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Letters from the Last Apothecary is a debut cozy fantasy novel that takes a twist on the classic You've Got Mail recipe. This is one that I love because I love the concept, but I hate how he destroyed her family business. So anything that can bring in the beauty of the story of tender love notes shared, while removing that otherwise glaring faux pas, is welcome in my book. This book harnesses those elements and also adds in deeper layers with our characters facing prejudice. Truly, a refreshing take!
The world itself has light elements of magic, making it a welcoming world to enter without the heavy world-building. I would mirror it akin to books like The Spellshop or Half a Soul in this regard. The book itself is quite cozy, and the romance feels earned rather than rushed!
This book is one that sounded perfect in theory, but the characters fell a little flat to me, and it had a bit of a lull in the middle. I thought it picked up in the last 30% and kept me captivated through the end. I sort of chalk this up to it being a debut. I think the author has talent and I would love to read their future works!
I know this is comped as Divine Rivals and Emily Wilde, which I see in some regards. I would sooner recommend it if you enjoy the writing style of authors like Sangu Mandanna, Freya Marske, or India Holton, along with enjoying the movie You've Got Mail!
"This may read as daft, but I am glad I can write to you, because I do not have to wonder if some secret of mine will eventually put you off. I do not have to hold my breath in anticipation that you will recognize something terrible in me."
...
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Letters from the Last Apothecary is a debut cozy fantasy novel that takes a twist on the classic You've Got Mail recipe. This is one that I love because I love the concept, but I hate how he destroyed her family business. So anything that can bring in the beauty of the story of tender love notes shared, while removing that otherwise glaring faux pas, is welcome in my book. This book harnesses those elements and also adds in deeper layers with our characters facing prejudice. Truly, a refreshing take!
The world itself has light elements of magic, making it a welcoming world to enter without the heavy world-building. I would mirror it akin to books like The Spellshop or Half a Soul in this regard. The book itself is quite cozy, and the romance feels earned rather than rushed!
This book is one that sounded perfect in theory, but the characters fell a little flat to me, and it had a bit of a lull in the middle. I thought it picked up in the last 30% and kept me captivated through the end. I sort of chalk this up to it being a debut. I think the author has talent and I would love to read their future works!
I know this is comped as Divine Rivals and Emily Wilde, which I see in some regards. I would sooner recommend it if you enjoy the writing style of authors like Sangu Mandanna, Freya Marske, or India Holton, along with enjoying the movie You've Got Mail!
December 9, 2025
a heartfelt tale of refreshing magic, gorgeously written letters, and secret love, bita behzadi's debut LETTERS FROM THE LAST APOTHECARY bowled me over with its fantastic cast of characters, nuanced world, and emotional stakes that i was invested in every step of the way. this is the beginning of a very promising series of interconnected standalones that's ideal for readers of EMILY WILDE and DIVINE RIVALS, and i can't wait to see what else behzadi has in store for us!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
- Emily Wilde meets Divine Rivals
- cozy romantic fantasy
- rivals irl, lovers in letters
- grumpy apothecarist
- beautiful writing
- yearninggggg
- magic in academia
One thing about me is that I'll always eat up an anonymous pen pals who hate each other irl story.
I also love when magic is a study field, the magic system is really interesting, so I loved the descriptions and exploration of it, the intuitive vs structured study, etc
Overall it was the perfect light, fun, fluffy read I needed.
I received a digital arc via Edelweiss+. All opinions are my own.
- cozy romantic fantasy
- rivals irl, lovers in letters
- grumpy apothecarist
- beautiful writing
- yearninggggg
- magic in academia
One thing about me is that I'll always eat up an anonymous pen pals who hate each other irl story.
I also love when magic is a study field, the magic system is really interesting, so I loved the descriptions and exploration of it, the intuitive vs structured study, etc
Overall it was the perfect light, fun, fluffy read I needed.
I received a digital arc via Edelweiss+. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Letters from the Last Apothecary is described as having similarities to Emily Wilde, Divine Rivals, and You've Got Mail. I'll set aside my rants about You've Got Mail and focus on how I don't really see the comparisons. Yes, there's an epistolary structure in which people who dislike each other in person like each other over letters, yes, the setting is a magical world... For me, that's where the comparisons end.
This was a rough read for me: the formatting was super off with random page numbers, random line breaks, inconsistent paragraph spacing, and some lingering typographical errors.
I did like the general world building and structure of the magic system, and thought it had a lot of potential. Josie and Reid were both flawed individuals which was interesting but I don't think I ever really found any character compelling or memorable. This book felt like it was trying to deal with a lot: cozy fantasy, religion, institutional sexism, a murder mystery, the mafia, tradition vs industrialization, capitalist greed... Which means that the pacing was weird and I think the impact was lessened throughout what could have been several large significant moments. As a standalone, I think this could have been more compelling if a few key elements had been focused on. As for Josie and Reid's relationship, I felt like the letters fell flat and didn't connect for me: which made the sudden leap into a relationship seem jarring.
Overall, I think the concept had a lot of potential but I never really connected with the story and found this pretty challenging to push through.
Thanks to the author, Hay House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
This was a rough read for me: the formatting was super off with random page numbers, random line breaks, inconsistent paragraph spacing, and some lingering typographical errors.
I did like the general world building and structure of the magic system, and thought it had a lot of potential. Josie and Reid were both flawed individuals which was interesting but I don't think I ever really found any character compelling or memorable. This book felt like it was trying to deal with a lot: cozy fantasy, religion, institutional sexism, a murder mystery, the mafia, tradition vs industrialization, capitalist greed... Which means that the pacing was weird and I think the impact was lessened throughout what could have been several large significant moments. As a standalone, I think this could have been more compelling if a few key elements had been focused on. As for Josie and Reid's relationship, I felt like the letters fell flat and didn't connect for me: which made the sudden leap into a relationship seem jarring.
Overall, I think the concept had a lot of potential but I never really connected with the story and found this pretty challenging to push through.
Thanks to the author, Hay House, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
June 9, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
A book that caught me entirely by surprise, Letters From the Last Apothecary is … pun incoming … enchanting.
This is the kind of fantasy romance I love. Even without the fantasy aspect, this is the type of romance I love. Period piece. Slow burn. Antagonists-to-Lovers. Realistic, complex characters. This book scooped me up and did not let me go. While it had its modern aspects, it reads like something Edwardian almost. I loved it. It will be slow for some readers, but for me the pacing was perfect.
The setting and worldbuilding are as much characters as the people are. There is a great deal of focus on the time period, which is the early 1900s - with all the technology and social expectations of that time from our world- but one where magic is both inborn and studied. There are various streams, and some of it is regulated and some not, but there was also a social tension about how magic was seen as out of place amidst industrialization.
All of these various magical worldbuilding aspects were tied to the plot, but the story itself never fell outside the orbit of the characters. While the worldbuilding was strong, it was there to serve the other story - the love story.
Josie and Reid are wonderful characters. Both are going through some things from their childhoods or youths - in having to confront old fears or hidden truths - but in a way that felt centered on them and not trivial or forced. Unlike some romances where it seems the couple is the only two people who interact, Josie and Reid have rich exterior lives and ambitions. They use these people to help them in the plot, which also helps build their personalities. Reid is kind of a dick but not to the point you dislike him, and Josie is determined and brave, yet also sort of deluded. While I didn’t want to date either of them myself, I did ship them (which is the main goal of a romance). When the tension did start, it was great.
Unlike most Western books of the early 1900s, the characters are also mixed race. Reid’s heritage is more subtle, but how Josie’s race and gender affect her magical goals is touched upon in a way that echoes what it was like for marginalized people at the turn of the century in our world. That’s the cool thing about this worldbuilding too - it is so clearly our world yet not; certain things don’t need to be explained as we have knowledge of them from our world, yet it’s also an adaptation of our world. This was done seamlessly - I felt like I was reading Thomas Hardy in some respects.
Yet, the book had a little bit of spice (or maybe steam). That stuff isn’t glossed over like a true book from that era, so we get some yearning, some passion. And a bisexual male MC too, though it’s not really something major in the story.
The romance is unique. We have two people who fall in love over their letters, yet dislike one another in real life, but the way this is resolved is mature and realistic - not some big nonsense blowup or big drama. I really appreciated that, and it also served to increase the tension surrounding the couple. They never “hate” one another in real life, though, so the shift doesn’t feel abrupt or out of character for them. I thought they were a lovely couple who softened and emboldened one another in ways that showed their relationship was built on something solid.
What’s also great is how we’re introduced to the characters the day of their real-life meeting, but given they’ve already been writing to one another for months, we are given those letters here and there. This was a great way to do it, because at first you wonder how these two could possibly like one another, but the letters show why, and we’re also getting two courtships at once.
The book also has a bit of a mystery aspect, though I guessed the who (if not entirely the why) pretty fast. It gives a good reason for the characters to work together, though, and to give the story some external tension. While I would not classify this mystery as shocking, the mystery isn’t really the point of the story.
Honestly, I have almost no critique. The pacing is slow, but in the perfect way; the prose felt in tune with the time period but not stuffy or dry; and I shipped the characters.
It’s a gentle but not cozy, rewarding, engrossing fantasy romance. I loved it.
A book that caught me entirely by surprise, Letters From the Last Apothecary is … pun incoming … enchanting.
This is the kind of fantasy romance I love. Even without the fantasy aspect, this is the type of romance I love. Period piece. Slow burn. Antagonists-to-Lovers. Realistic, complex characters. This book scooped me up and did not let me go. While it had its modern aspects, it reads like something Edwardian almost. I loved it. It will be slow for some readers, but for me the pacing was perfect.
The setting and worldbuilding are as much characters as the people are. There is a great deal of focus on the time period, which is the early 1900s - with all the technology and social expectations of that time from our world- but one where magic is both inborn and studied. There are various streams, and some of it is regulated and some not, but there was also a social tension about how magic was seen as out of place amidst industrialization.
All of these various magical worldbuilding aspects were tied to the plot, but the story itself never fell outside the orbit of the characters. While the worldbuilding was strong, it was there to serve the other story - the love story.
Josie and Reid are wonderful characters. Both are going through some things from their childhoods or youths - in having to confront old fears or hidden truths - but in a way that felt centered on them and not trivial or forced. Unlike some romances where it seems the couple is the only two people who interact, Josie and Reid have rich exterior lives and ambitions. They use these people to help them in the plot, which also helps build their personalities. Reid is kind of a dick but not to the point you dislike him, and Josie is determined and brave, yet also sort of deluded. While I didn’t want to date either of them myself, I did ship them (which is the main goal of a romance). When the tension did start, it was great.
Unlike most Western books of the early 1900s, the characters are also mixed race. Reid’s heritage is more subtle, but how Josie’s race and gender affect her magical goals is touched upon in a way that echoes what it was like for marginalized people at the turn of the century in our world. That’s the cool thing about this worldbuilding too - it is so clearly our world yet not; certain things don’t need to be explained as we have knowledge of them from our world, yet it’s also an adaptation of our world. This was done seamlessly - I felt like I was reading Thomas Hardy in some respects.
Yet, the book had a little bit of spice (or maybe steam). That stuff isn’t glossed over like a true book from that era, so we get some yearning, some passion. And a bisexual male MC too, though it’s not really something major in the story.
The romance is unique. We have two people who fall in love over their letters, yet dislike one another in real life, but the way this is resolved is mature and realistic - not some big nonsense blowup or big drama. I really appreciated that, and it also served to increase the tension surrounding the couple. They never “hate” one another in real life, though, so the shift doesn’t feel abrupt or out of character for them. I thought they were a lovely couple who softened and emboldened one another in ways that showed their relationship was built on something solid.
What’s also great is how we’re introduced to the characters the day of their real-life meeting, but given they’ve already been writing to one another for months, we are given those letters here and there. This was a great way to do it, because at first you wonder how these two could possibly like one another, but the letters show why, and we’re also getting two courtships at once.
The book also has a bit of a mystery aspect, though I guessed the who (if not entirely the why) pretty fast. It gives a good reason for the characters to work together, though, and to give the story some external tension. While I would not classify this mystery as shocking, the mystery isn’t really the point of the story.
Honestly, I have almost no critique. The pacing is slow, but in the perfect way; the prose felt in tune with the time period but not stuffy or dry; and I shipped the characters.
It’s a gentle but not cozy, rewarding, engrossing fantasy romance. I loved it.
July 5, 2026
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a digital copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
CW: gun violence, injury, blood, murder, death, fire/fire injury, classism, racism, colourism, misogyny/sexism, alcohol, grief
--
If you loved Divine Rivals you need to pick this one up!!
Letters from the Last Apothecary is a dual pov cosy historical fantasy following two individuals who are trying to save a magical apothecary in a city that is shifting towards a more industrialised lifestyle where anti-magic sentiment is on the rise. The two protagonists – Josephine Pinova and Aufidius Reid – have also unknowingly been exchanging letters some time before becoming workplace rivals, both sharing their individual hopes of getting accepted into the University of Tressport’s Institute of Magic as well as slowly catching feelings for one another.
First things first Behzadi’s prose is absolutely beautiful. I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere of the alternative 1900s Chicago and the intriguing magical elements to the world. It felt so lived in which was further added to by all the socio-political details that fed into the main plot throughout the book too.
I love the workplace rivals to lovers trope and following along as Josie and Reid clashed in person all the while slowly falling in love via letters was really sweet. Its so fun when an epistolary element is well incorporated within a fictional narrative, I absolutely loved how the two MCs started flirting because of library books that they wanted to pinch from one another!
Though while I really enjoyed the interactions and dynamic between Josie and Reid I felt like their letters held a lot more emotion and were a lot more swoon worthy than their actual romance. Don’t get me wrong they did make a cute pairing but there was just something missing which made the letters feel more genuine.
That being said the book wasn’t all about the romance, I was absolutely hooked in by both the countdown towards the university acceptance and “first meet” date that Josie and Reid had set up in their letters as well as the deadline the apothecary had before it was forced to shut down. All the tension was built so well and then midway through the plot switched up to murder mystery mode and I was LOCKED IN!
I somehow missed the fact that there was a mafia aspect to the story but once again it really expanded the worldbuilding and made the story all the more entertaining, all the while still keeping the cosy vibes! The involvement of various supporting characters both linked to this part of the plot as well as Josie’s family members and Reid’s friend group also added to the enjoyment and helped flesh everything out, including the MCs arcs. I did managed to catch on to the big twist but Behzadi definitely had me second guessing as I was reading.
The story tied up nicely by the end but it is evident that there is so much more to discover of this world so I will no doubt be picking up the next Tressport Magic book to see where the authors takes us next!
**I received a digital copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
CW: gun violence, injury, blood, murder, death, fire/fire injury, classism, racism, colourism, misogyny/sexism, alcohol, grief
--
If you loved Divine Rivals you need to pick this one up!!
Letters from the Last Apothecary is a dual pov cosy historical fantasy following two individuals who are trying to save a magical apothecary in a city that is shifting towards a more industrialised lifestyle where anti-magic sentiment is on the rise. The two protagonists – Josephine Pinova and Aufidius Reid – have also unknowingly been exchanging letters some time before becoming workplace rivals, both sharing their individual hopes of getting accepted into the University of Tressport’s Institute of Magic as well as slowly catching feelings for one another.
First things first Behzadi’s prose is absolutely beautiful. I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere of the alternative 1900s Chicago and the intriguing magical elements to the world. It felt so lived in which was further added to by all the socio-political details that fed into the main plot throughout the book too.
I love the workplace rivals to lovers trope and following along as Josie and Reid clashed in person all the while slowly falling in love via letters was really sweet. Its so fun when an epistolary element is well incorporated within a fictional narrative, I absolutely loved how the two MCs started flirting because of library books that they wanted to pinch from one another!
Though while I really enjoyed the interactions and dynamic between Josie and Reid I felt like their letters held a lot more emotion and were a lot more swoon worthy than their actual romance. Don’t get me wrong they did make a cute pairing but there was just something missing which made the letters feel more genuine.
That being said the book wasn’t all about the romance, I was absolutely hooked in by both the countdown towards the university acceptance and “first meet” date that Josie and Reid had set up in their letters as well as the deadline the apothecary had before it was forced to shut down. All the tension was built so well and then midway through the plot switched up to murder mystery mode and I was LOCKED IN!
I somehow missed the fact that there was a mafia aspect to the story but once again it really expanded the worldbuilding and made the story all the more entertaining, all the while still keeping the cosy vibes! The involvement of various supporting characters both linked to this part of the plot as well as Josie’s family members and Reid’s friend group also added to the enjoyment and helped flesh everything out, including the MCs arcs. I did managed to catch on to the big twist but Behzadi definitely had me second guessing as I was reading.
The story tied up nicely by the end but it is evident that there is so much more to discover of this world so I will no doubt be picking up the next Tressport Magic book to see where the authors takes us next!
Read
June 25, 2026I am the author of this novel. Thank you for reading. Thank you for reviewing.
I love critics.
This is a rarity among creatives. As Steinbeck once said, "Give a critic an inch, he'll write a play." This is, of course, tongue-in-cheek, poking fun of how critics will make a spectacle out of the slightest misstep. What Steinbeck never could have foretold is that a young, directionless woman in California decades later would take that advice literally. I would not be an author if I was not a critic first.
At the lowest point of my life, I did not have the energy, nor the time, to read anymore, suffocated by an endless barrage of deadlines and failures. And so, I turned to watching film, a far more compact storytelling medium. And with every film, I found myself possessed by a plethora of opinions, so I turned to the internet to share them. Through a tremendous stroke of luck, I yapped my way into writing for an online film outlet.
Being a critic made my life just a little bit better. The challenge of putting words to a feeling, positioning an argument just right. It's enriching to disagree, it's transcendental to understand. In that regard, I see the act of critique just as valuable as the act of creation. It sustains the soul.
On a technical level, I finally understood writing. Before, it was an amorphous, subjective puzzle box. You either had it or you didn't. But, introduced to writing through a more measured, technical vocation, I learned that it could be just as technical as math or science. I became interested in proper craft, in discovering how to strengthen my skills as a writer. It was only after I felt confident enough in my craft did I feel confident enough to write a book.
This is not to say that the end goal of any critic should be creation. Instead, I wish to say that I understand the necessity of criticism. There should be etiquette. There should be the awareness of how much of a review is level analysis and how much is a person's subjective reaction to the work, how those two must meet and marry to create something comprehensive. There should be respect. But, there should also be disagreement. There should be love and wonder and displeasure and hatred.
In a burgeoning literary crisis, criticism is necessary. Friction is needed. We are increasingly influenced by algorithms, sorted into what is enjoyable and easy for us. But, disagreement is how we reflect. It is how we grow. Disagreements not only with art, but with each other, those who do not share the same opinion on the same art. It challenges us to think more deeply about what we like, what we dislike, how we've engaged with the work, the /ideas/ presented within it.
So, my debut novel has become a part of this endless, beautiful cycle of creation, consumption, and criticism. There is no greater honor than to have someone engage, truly engage, with a work, to analyze its themes, to think deeply. I am an incredibly intentional writer. Regardless of how charming and lighthearted the work is, I take it very seriously.
'Letters from the Last Apothecary' was written to be dissected, to be pulled apart and chewed upon. To prompt reflection. I can only hope that you will love Josie and Reid as much as I do, but this is not promised. Instead, the book was written to be loved and hated, exciting and boring, all these things and more, because it is art, and the beauty of art is that it is exists on a scale as vast and broad as human existence.
So, even if I am not allowed to read my reviews, I would like to thank you. Thank you not only for reading, but for reviewing, for tossing your opinion into the world, for thinking of my book long enough to string something together about it. A book is a series of choices, and it wouldn't be much of anything if every single person reading agreed with every single one. I hope you find something in it that causes friction, inspires pause, prompts you to think. And I hope you find the rest of it sincere, maybe even a little sweet. And, of course, I hope you have fun :)
Content warnings for 'Letters from the Last Apothecary': arson; blackout drinking; mentions of forced institutionalization; mild violence; off page murder; off page death of a parent of loved one; religious themes; implied period-specific sexism, misogyny, racism, and ableism
I love critics.
This is a rarity among creatives. As Steinbeck once said, "Give a critic an inch, he'll write a play." This is, of course, tongue-in-cheek, poking fun of how critics will make a spectacle out of the slightest misstep. What Steinbeck never could have foretold is that a young, directionless woman in California decades later would take that advice literally. I would not be an author if I was not a critic first.
At the lowest point of my life, I did not have the energy, nor the time, to read anymore, suffocated by an endless barrage of deadlines and failures. And so, I turned to watching film, a far more compact storytelling medium. And with every film, I found myself possessed by a plethora of opinions, so I turned to the internet to share them. Through a tremendous stroke of luck, I yapped my way into writing for an online film outlet.
Being a critic made my life just a little bit better. The challenge of putting words to a feeling, positioning an argument just right. It's enriching to disagree, it's transcendental to understand. In that regard, I see the act of critique just as valuable as the act of creation. It sustains the soul.
On a technical level, I finally understood writing. Before, it was an amorphous, subjective puzzle box. You either had it or you didn't. But, introduced to writing through a more measured, technical vocation, I learned that it could be just as technical as math or science. I became interested in proper craft, in discovering how to strengthen my skills as a writer. It was only after I felt confident enough in my craft did I feel confident enough to write a book.
This is not to say that the end goal of any critic should be creation. Instead, I wish to say that I understand the necessity of criticism. There should be etiquette. There should be the awareness of how much of a review is level analysis and how much is a person's subjective reaction to the work, how those two must meet and marry to create something comprehensive. There should be respect. But, there should also be disagreement. There should be love and wonder and displeasure and hatred.
In a burgeoning literary crisis, criticism is necessary. Friction is needed. We are increasingly influenced by algorithms, sorted into what is enjoyable and easy for us. But, disagreement is how we reflect. It is how we grow. Disagreements not only with art, but with each other, those who do not share the same opinion on the same art. It challenges us to think more deeply about what we like, what we dislike, how we've engaged with the work, the /ideas/ presented within it.
So, my debut novel has become a part of this endless, beautiful cycle of creation, consumption, and criticism. There is no greater honor than to have someone engage, truly engage, with a work, to analyze its themes, to think deeply. I am an incredibly intentional writer. Regardless of how charming and lighthearted the work is, I take it very seriously.
'Letters from the Last Apothecary' was written to be dissected, to be pulled apart and chewed upon. To prompt reflection. I can only hope that you will love Josie and Reid as much as I do, but this is not promised. Instead, the book was written to be loved and hated, exciting and boring, all these things and more, because it is art, and the beauty of art is that it is exists on a scale as vast and broad as human existence.
So, even if I am not allowed to read my reviews, I would like to thank you. Thank you not only for reading, but for reviewing, for tossing your opinion into the world, for thinking of my book long enough to string something together about it. A book is a series of choices, and it wouldn't be much of anything if every single person reading agreed with every single one. I hope you find something in it that causes friction, inspires pause, prompts you to think. And I hope you find the rest of it sincere, maybe even a little sweet. And, of course, I hope you have fun :)
Content warnings for 'Letters from the Last Apothecary': arson; blackout drinking; mentions of forced institutionalization; mild violence; off page murder; off page death of a parent of loved one; religious themes; implied period-specific sexism, misogyny, racism, and ableism
June 2, 2026
I went into Letters from the Last Apothecary a little hesitant because I saw it was being compared to Divine Rivals, and while I know a lot of people love that book, I felt pretty lukewarm about it. Thankfully, I ended up enjoying Letters from the Last Apothecary much more. It wasn't perfect, but it was such a cute and fun read with all the vibes I was looking for. I finished it in a single day because I genuinely did not want to put it down.
The premise is very similar to Divine Rivals, with two anonymous pen pals who end up unknowingly working at the same place and become rivals. However, it gave me everything that I felt was missing from Divine Rivals. Ironically, despite being set in a fantasy world with a magical typewriter, Divine Rivals never felt particularly magical to me. This book absolutely delivers on the magic. Both main characters have magical abilities, and while the worldbuilding of the magic system isn't completely fleshed out, it was so fun that I honestly didn't really care. Sometimes I'm just here for a silly fun time and that's what I had.
The tension and banter between the main characters was easily my favorite part. Their relationship had just the right amount of chemistry, and I was so completely invested in watching it unfold especially knowing that they were in love with each other without realizing it. I know we all hate a miscommunication trope, but I am a BIG fan when it is done well, and I thought it worked really well in this story. I also enjoyed the side characters, and I hope that future books are centered on them.
The only aspect that didn't fully work for me was the mafia storyline and murder mystery. Neither was necessarily bad per sé, but that angle really pulled me out of the cutesy story of two rivals bickering with each other over how to save the apothecary. It was giving The Last Page by Katie Holt which I really loved, so when the murder mystery comes in it was a little bit like whiplash. And because the mystery itself was fairly predictable, I don't think it was really necessary to the story. Honestly, I would have enjoyed the book much more if that element had been removed entirely.
Overall, this was a good read for me and I would rate it 4 stars. It even managed to make me shed a tiny tear at one point, which is a job well done in my book. If you enjoy cozy fantasy books with rivals to lovers, are a fan of Divine Rivals, The Last Page, or Emily Wilde, I think you'll probably enjoy this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House/Hay House for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The premise is very similar to Divine Rivals, with two anonymous pen pals who end up unknowingly working at the same place and become rivals. However, it gave me everything that I felt was missing from Divine Rivals. Ironically, despite being set in a fantasy world with a magical typewriter, Divine Rivals never felt particularly magical to me. This book absolutely delivers on the magic. Both main characters have magical abilities, and while the worldbuilding of the magic system isn't completely fleshed out, it was so fun that I honestly didn't really care. Sometimes I'm just here for a silly fun time and that's what I had.
The tension and banter between the main characters was easily my favorite part. Their relationship had just the right amount of chemistry, and I was so completely invested in watching it unfold especially knowing that they were in love with each other without realizing it. I know we all hate a miscommunication trope, but I am a BIG fan when it is done well, and I thought it worked really well in this story. I also enjoyed the side characters, and I hope that future books are centered on them.
The only aspect that didn't fully work for me was the mafia storyline and murder mystery. Neither was necessarily bad per sé, but that angle really pulled me out of the cutesy story of two rivals bickering with each other over how to save the apothecary. It was giving The Last Page by Katie Holt which I really loved, so when the murder mystery comes in it was a little bit like whiplash. And because the mystery itself was fairly predictable, I don't think it was really necessary to the story. Honestly, I would have enjoyed the book much more if that element had been removed entirely.
Overall, this was a good read for me and I would rate it 4 stars. It even managed to make me shed a tiny tear at one point, which is a job well done in my book. If you enjoy cozy fantasy books with rivals to lovers, are a fan of Divine Rivals, The Last Page, or Emily Wilde, I think you'll probably enjoy this one too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House/Hay House for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Bita Behzaldi and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
✨️Plot:
Josie dreams of enrolling in a магister-level magic program at the Institute of Magic. While women are technically allowed to study magic, the academic world remains deeply sexist. After losing her job, Josie unexpectedly finds herself working at a barely surviving apothecary, hoping to help revive the business and attract new customers.
There, she meets Reid — a grumpy, solitary apothecarist who also hopes to apply to the Institute’s магister program. Reid wants to save the shop from bankruptcy, but is less than thrilled to work alongside the bright, confident Josie.
Their approaches to magic are completely opposite: Josie’s is controlled and methodical, while Reid’s is intuitive and chaotic. Yet they share more than they realize, including an anonymous correspondence that has slowly grown into something much deeper.
✨️My thoughts:
This is a slow-paced, cozy fantasy with a strong focus on atmosphere and character. At times, the pacing felt a bit too slow for me, particularly in the first half, where the amount of worldbuilding detail occasionally slowed the story more than necessary. That said, this is the author’s debut, and the care put into building the world and magic system is evident.
The magic itself is thoughtfully constructed and tied closely to both characters’ love for studying it. While I personally would have enjoyed slightly fewer technical descriptions and more emotional focus early on, the second half of the book balances this much better. The characters interact more, the stakes rise, and a small mystery subplot adds welcome momentum.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its characters. Josie and Reid feel like real, flawed adults rather than idealized romantic leads. Their fears, mistakes, and emotionally charged decisions make them relatable and believable. I especially appreciated that their relationship develops slowly and is grounded in shared interests and mutual respect. How the switch from "annoyed" to "lovers" happened too fast in my opinion.
I also enjoyed the contrast between “scientific” and intuitive magic, and how differently the characters approach learning and growth.
Overall, this is a comforting, character-driven fantasy that works especially well as a cozy read. While I felt the story sometimes tried to tackle too many themes at once — sexism, discrimination, religion, crime, and social tension.
A warm and thoughtful debut that I would recommend to readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, letters, and cozy fantasy settings.
✨️Plot:
Josie dreams of enrolling in a магister-level magic program at the Institute of Magic. While women are technically allowed to study magic, the academic world remains deeply sexist. After losing her job, Josie unexpectedly finds herself working at a barely surviving apothecary, hoping to help revive the business and attract new customers.
There, she meets Reid — a grumpy, solitary apothecarist who also hopes to apply to the Institute’s магister program. Reid wants to save the shop from bankruptcy, but is less than thrilled to work alongside the bright, confident Josie.
Their approaches to magic are completely opposite: Josie’s is controlled and methodical, while Reid’s is intuitive and chaotic. Yet they share more than they realize, including an anonymous correspondence that has slowly grown into something much deeper.
✨️My thoughts:
This is a slow-paced, cozy fantasy with a strong focus on atmosphere and character. At times, the pacing felt a bit too slow for me, particularly in the first half, where the amount of worldbuilding detail occasionally slowed the story more than necessary. That said, this is the author’s debut, and the care put into building the world and magic system is evident.
The magic itself is thoughtfully constructed and tied closely to both characters’ love for studying it. While I personally would have enjoyed slightly fewer technical descriptions and more emotional focus early on, the second half of the book balances this much better. The characters interact more, the stakes rise, and a small mystery subplot adds welcome momentum.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its characters. Josie and Reid feel like real, flawed adults rather than idealized romantic leads. Their fears, mistakes, and emotionally charged decisions make them relatable and believable. I especially appreciated that their relationship develops slowly and is grounded in shared interests and mutual respect. How the switch from "annoyed" to "lovers" happened too fast in my opinion.
I also enjoyed the contrast between “scientific” and intuitive magic, and how differently the characters approach learning and growth.
Overall, this is a comforting, character-driven fantasy that works especially well as a cozy read. While I felt the story sometimes tried to tackle too many themes at once — sexism, discrimination, religion, crime, and social tension.
A warm and thoughtful debut that I would recommend to readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, letters, and cozy fantasy settings.
June 9, 2026
I really enjoyed how the author gradually revealed the characters' backstories; it added emotional depth to each of their motivations and decisions. I felt like this was essential to the plot and dynamic of Josie’s and Reid’s relationship. There were so many times I found myself giggling after listening to their letters to one another, only to witness a physical interaction that rivaled the compassion expressed in the letters. My only complaint would be the slow-burn-to-insta-love romance. With as much as Josie and Reid seem to disagree with one another at the shop, the insta-love connection felt like the romance was rushed as soon as it was warranted. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate it; BUT since it took so long for Josie and Reid to even warm up to one another in the shop, it didn’t feel organic. Despite this, I still loved the book. Now, turning to the narration, E.M. Wylde and Samara Naeymi really pull this story together. The accents, enunciations, and emotions were on par with the time period, and I was able to connect with the main characters on a deeper level.
"Waking up isn’t so bad. We must all do it eventually." This quote resonated with me; it captures all too well that not all dreams come true- I FELT this deep in my soul. Overall, this cozy historical fantasy romance was funny, heartfelt, and unforgettable, and I will be purchasing a physical copy of Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi!
Thank you to Penguin Random House | Hay House LLC for the advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
"Waking up isn’t so bad. We must all do it eventually." This quote resonated with me; it captures all too well that not all dreams come true- I FELT this deep in my soul. Overall, this cozy historical fantasy romance was funny, heartfelt, and unforgettable, and I will be purchasing a physical copy of Letters from the Last Apothecary by Bita Behzadi!
Thank you to Penguin Random House | Hay House LLC for the advanced listening copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
January 26, 2026
You’ve Got Mail, Emily Wilde, and Divine Rivals???? UH YEAH I’m in😂 just those 3 titles made me click on this and request (thank you net galley😘)
It was very good! It was cute, it was heartwarming, the magic system was something I’ve never read about before (in a good way!), and the romance was sweet💛😋 It didn’t give me 5 star feelings, but I still loved it nonetheless. I really enjoyed the world it was set in and I really loved both characters! They were both relatable and understandable their progression from rival coworkers to friends to lovers (even though the letters😉) was seamless! Definitely plan on buying this for my shelves once it comes out! Please read this in’s beautiful spring day and enjoy every moment of it!
It was very good! It was cute, it was heartwarming, the magic system was something I’ve never read about before (in a good way!), and the romance was sweet💛😋 It didn’t give me 5 star feelings, but I still loved it nonetheless. I really enjoyed the world it was set in and I really loved both characters! They were both relatable and understandable their progression from rival coworkers to friends to lovers (even though the letters😉) was seamless! Definitely plan on buying this for my shelves once it comes out! Please read this in’s beautiful spring day and enjoy every moment of it!
May 6, 2026
Thank you to Penguin Random House | Hay House LLC and author Bita Behzadi, for providing me with the ALC of “Letters From The Last Apothecary”.
This is one where I will tell you, audiobook only. At least for me, I enjoyed it being read to me versus me trying to read it. While it does have some mystery it is a slow build up.
Josie is strong and willing to do anything in order to make her dreams come true. Even after she gets that dreaded denial letter. Her sister is not my favorite, but thankfully she barely shows up.
Reid is GRUMPY. Way too much for my liking, but it is his character and past that made him that way. But he really could use a couple head smacks….
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice Level:
Dual POV (I think it’s in 3rd)
Fantasy
Magic
Grumpy x Sunshine
Office Romance
Penpals
Banter
1900s Chicago
Mystery Twist of Who Did It
🎧 Dual Narration 11h 14m at 2x
🎙️ E.M. Wylde and Samara Naeymi
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Penguin Random House
E.M. and Samara narrated this book wonderfully. Their tone and cadence was perfect. Loved the story so much as an audio.
TW: Death of a loved one
This is one where I will tell you, audiobook only. At least for me, I enjoyed it being read to me versus me trying to read it. While it does have some mystery it is a slow build up.
Josie is strong and willing to do anything in order to make her dreams come true. Even after she gets that dreaded denial letter. Her sister is not my favorite, but thankfully she barely shows up.
Reid is GRUMPY. Way too much for my liking, but it is his character and past that made him that way. But he really could use a couple head smacks….
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Spice Level:
Dual POV (I think it’s in 3rd)
Fantasy
Magic
Grumpy x Sunshine
Office Romance
Penpals
Banter
1900s Chicago
Mystery Twist of Who Did It
🎧 Dual Narration 11h 14m at 2x
🎙️ E.M. Wylde and Samara Naeymi
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: Penguin Random House
E.M. and Samara narrated this book wonderfully. Their tone and cadence was perfect. Loved the story so much as an audio.
TW: Death of a loved one
June 15, 2026
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the advance review copy. As always all opinions I share are 100% my own.
"Letters from the Last Apothecary" is a cozy fantasy debut by Bita Behzadi that was described as 'You've Got Mail' meets 'Emily Wilde'. Rather than feeling like either comp, it occupies the sweet spot between them fulfilling the promise of their shared appeal.
We start the book with Josie Pinova, the FMC losing her job for unfair reasons and searching for a new one. As she steps into the last apothecary into Tressport, she charms and convinces the owner to offer her a job that she hopes will support her financially until she's able to achieve her actual dream of being accepted into the Institute of Magic. All of this happens against the wishes of Aufidius Reid, the MMC, who is also trying to get into the institute but out of necessity. Circumstances lead them to exchanging letters under pen names and slowly they fall in love while clashing in the apothecary every day still.
The coziness of the book lies in the laid back pacing of the book, but also the stakes. There is a murder mystery involved, but still the focus of the book as a whole revolves around that one apothecary shop rather than saving the world or anything of wider impact. For lovers of slow-burn, as I am, you will enjoy the journey as the two realize that perhaps they really don't hate one another as much as they thought they did (especially when Josie finally connected the dots).
I did feel like the pacing was a little bit ununiform wheree, compared to the slower pacing of the first 50 - 70% of the book, the ending was a bit rushed in trying to wrap up all the subplots including the romance. Especially felt like Reid's behaviour towards Josie, and his somewhat sudden change of heart and relationship, didn't quite land for me considering his thoughts on her and frankly his dismissal of Josie up to that point. While I didn't connect with Josie in general (I still haven't figured out why exactly), I could agree with her on one thing: Reid's behaviour towards her for most of the book was rude and not very explicable. That being said, there were several very sweet moments between them later in the book so it still worked overall.
I've seen a lot of reviews mention that the book is inspired by the 1900s Chicago and describing it as a historical fantasy. I didn't quite see that. While the book in general attempts to use terminology and some historical-influenced references, I felt it was more of a fantasy world that is loosely based on the late 19th century/early 20th century than actually rooted in it. The characters feel too modern in how they act and think in ways that would not have worked at all for the societal and historical restrictions of that era. There was the repeated use of the word 'mafia' which, at the time, was focused on a very specific group of criminal organizations versus any organization that behaved in a similar manner. I did enjoy the setting still, but I don't see it as historical fiction versus just a fantasy alternate universe.
Overall, I still enjoyed the story itself and do recommend it if you're looking for a cozy romantic fantasy. The audiobook was especially a highlight with both narrators doing such a great job capturing the characters!
You can also find me on: Instagram (MoonlightCocoa) and Instagram (MoonlightCupOfStories)
"Letters from the Last Apothecary" is a cozy fantasy debut by Bita Behzadi that was described as 'You've Got Mail' meets 'Emily Wilde'. Rather than feeling like either comp, it occupies the sweet spot between them fulfilling the promise of their shared appeal.
We start the book with Josie Pinova, the FMC losing her job for unfair reasons and searching for a new one. As she steps into the last apothecary into Tressport, she charms and convinces the owner to offer her a job that she hopes will support her financially until she's able to achieve her actual dream of being accepted into the Institute of Magic. All of this happens against the wishes of Aufidius Reid, the MMC, who is also trying to get into the institute but out of necessity. Circumstances lead them to exchanging letters under pen names and slowly they fall in love while clashing in the apothecary every day still.
The coziness of the book lies in the laid back pacing of the book, but also the stakes. There is a murder mystery involved, but still the focus of the book as a whole revolves around that one apothecary shop rather than saving the world or anything of wider impact. For lovers of slow-burn, as I am, you will enjoy the journey as the two realize that perhaps they really don't hate one another as much as they thought they did (especially when Josie finally connected the dots).
I did feel like the pacing was a little bit ununiform wheree, compared to the slower pacing of the first 50 - 70% of the book, the ending was a bit rushed in trying to wrap up all the subplots including the romance. Especially felt like Reid's behaviour towards Josie, and his somewhat sudden change of heart and relationship, didn't quite land for me considering his thoughts on her and frankly his dismissal of Josie up to that point. While I didn't connect with Josie in general (I still haven't figured out why exactly), I could agree with her on one thing: Reid's behaviour towards her for most of the book was rude and not very explicable. That being said, there were several very sweet moments between them later in the book so it still worked overall.
I've seen a lot of reviews mention that the book is inspired by the 1900s Chicago and describing it as a historical fantasy. I didn't quite see that. While the book in general attempts to use terminology and some historical-influenced references, I felt it was more of a fantasy world that is loosely based on the late 19th century/early 20th century than actually rooted in it. The characters feel too modern in how they act and think in ways that would not have worked at all for the societal and historical restrictions of that era. There was the repeated use of the word 'mafia' which, at the time, was focused on a very specific group of criminal organizations versus any organization that behaved in a similar manner. I did enjoy the setting still, but I don't see it as historical fiction versus just a fantasy alternate universe.
Overall, I still enjoyed the story itself and do recommend it if you're looking for a cozy romantic fantasy. The audiobook was especially a highlight with both narrators doing such a great job capturing the characters!
You can also find me on: Instagram (MoonlightCocoa) and Instagram (MoonlightCupOfStories)
May 25, 2026
There is something wildly unfair about a book showing up with anonymous letters, a failing magical apothecary, yearning academics, industrial-era gloom, and a romance built almost entirely on emotional repression and ink stains. That combination is engineered in a secret underground laboratory specifically to ruin me.
Letters from the Last Apothecary drops readers into a city slowly choking the life out of magic. Tressport feels heavy with smoke, progress, and exhaustion, like the world is bulldozing wonder in favor of factories and efficiency. Yet hidden inside all that decay is an apothecary stubbornly surviving on herbs, recipes, old traditions, and pure spite. The atmosphere in this novel is incredible. Every scene smells like rain, paper, dried lavender, and secrets people should probably discuss in therapy rather than in handwritten correspondence.
Josephine Pinova is exactly the kind of heroine I love reading about. Smart, ambitious, emotionally messy under the surface, and deeply unwilling to accept the life everyone expects her to settle for. After losing her academic position, she ends up working at the apothecary and immediately collides with Reid Blackthorn’s carefully ordered existence like a bookshelf tipping in slow motion.
And Reid. This man could turn emotional repression into a competitive sport. He is gruff, reserved, painfully routine-driven, and somehow manages to become romantic almost entirely by accident. Watching these two slowly unravel around each other was exquisite torture. Their chemistry thrives in tiny moments: arguments over shop organization, reluctant teamwork, lingering conversations, and letters that reveal the vulnerable versions of themselves neither can manage in person.
The anonymous correspondence storyline absolutely carried me away. The letters create a strange dual intimacy in which both characters unknowingly fall for each other twice: once in real life, through friction and trust, and once through words written in private. It gives the romance a soft ache that lingers throughout the novel.
What makes the story stand out beyond the romance is its balance of cozy fantasy elements with genuinely weighty themes. Underneath the warm candlelight and potion brewing is a story about disappearing traditions, misogyny in academia, class struggles, and the fear of becoming obsolete in a rapidly changing world. The apothecary itself becomes symbolic of everything fragile that people are desperately trying to preserve before modernity grinds it into dust.
The pacing is quieter and more deliberate, but it works beautifully for this kind of story. The tension builds gradually through emotional revelations, social pressures, and the growing sense that the apothecary is standing on borrowed time. By the final stretch, the emotional payoff lands like a sealed letter finally opened after years hidden in a drawer.
This is the kind of book that wraps itself around readers who love cozy fantasy but still crave emotional depth and melancholy beneath the surface. It feels like equal parts magical realism, historical fantasy, and romantic yearning. The entire novel carries the energy of reading old correspondence by candlelight while the world changes outside the window.
Also, this book personally attacked me by making handwritten letters seem romantic again. Now suddenly I’m considering fountain pens and dramatic stationery like some Victorian scholar on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Letters from the Last Apothecary is tender, atmospheric, quietly heartbreaking, and full of characters trying to hold onto magic, purpose, and each other before time sweeps everything away.
Letters from the Last Apothecary drops readers into a city slowly choking the life out of magic. Tressport feels heavy with smoke, progress, and exhaustion, like the world is bulldozing wonder in favor of factories and efficiency. Yet hidden inside all that decay is an apothecary stubbornly surviving on herbs, recipes, old traditions, and pure spite. The atmosphere in this novel is incredible. Every scene smells like rain, paper, dried lavender, and secrets people should probably discuss in therapy rather than in handwritten correspondence.
Josephine Pinova is exactly the kind of heroine I love reading about. Smart, ambitious, emotionally messy under the surface, and deeply unwilling to accept the life everyone expects her to settle for. After losing her academic position, she ends up working at the apothecary and immediately collides with Reid Blackthorn’s carefully ordered existence like a bookshelf tipping in slow motion.
And Reid. This man could turn emotional repression into a competitive sport. He is gruff, reserved, painfully routine-driven, and somehow manages to become romantic almost entirely by accident. Watching these two slowly unravel around each other was exquisite torture. Their chemistry thrives in tiny moments: arguments over shop organization, reluctant teamwork, lingering conversations, and letters that reveal the vulnerable versions of themselves neither can manage in person.
The anonymous correspondence storyline absolutely carried me away. The letters create a strange dual intimacy in which both characters unknowingly fall for each other twice: once in real life, through friction and trust, and once through words written in private. It gives the romance a soft ache that lingers throughout the novel.
What makes the story stand out beyond the romance is its balance of cozy fantasy elements with genuinely weighty themes. Underneath the warm candlelight and potion brewing is a story about disappearing traditions, misogyny in academia, class struggles, and the fear of becoming obsolete in a rapidly changing world. The apothecary itself becomes symbolic of everything fragile that people are desperately trying to preserve before modernity grinds it into dust.
The pacing is quieter and more deliberate, but it works beautifully for this kind of story. The tension builds gradually through emotional revelations, social pressures, and the growing sense that the apothecary is standing on borrowed time. By the final stretch, the emotional payoff lands like a sealed letter finally opened after years hidden in a drawer.
This is the kind of book that wraps itself around readers who love cozy fantasy but still crave emotional depth and melancholy beneath the surface. It feels like equal parts magical realism, historical fantasy, and romantic yearning. The entire novel carries the energy of reading old correspondence by candlelight while the world changes outside the window.
Also, this book personally attacked me by making handwritten letters seem romantic again. Now suddenly I’m considering fountain pens and dramatic stationery like some Victorian scholar on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Letters from the Last Apothecary is tender, atmospheric, quietly heartbreaking, and full of characters trying to hold onto magic, purpose, and each other before time sweeps everything away.
June 4, 2026
3/5⭐️
As a pharmacist, the apothecary setting was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. I loved all the discussions about remedies, magical healing, and running a struggling apothecary while balancing dreams that stretched far beyond its walls. The magic system was also unique and intriguing, even if I never felt like I fully understood all of its rules.
The real highlight, however, were Josie and Reid. They challenge each other constantly, bring out both the best and worst in one another, and complement each other beautifully both personally and magically. Their anonymous letters were adorable, and I loved watching them slowly realize that the person frustrating them in real life was also the person stealing their heart on paper. Reid was such a gentleman, and the slow-burn romance delivered some truly sweet moments at the end.
I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding the apothecary owner’s death and how it became intertwined with the future of the shop, the Institute, and the characters’ dreams. The atmosphere felt cozy yet slightly melancholy, which was enhanced by the excellent audiobook narration.
While I enjoyed the story, it never quite reached the emotional depth or excitement I was hoping for. Still, it was a charming read with lovable characters, and a romance built on truly seeing and understanding another person.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, epistolary romances, magical academia, and slow-burn love stories.
Thank you to the Penguin Random House, Hay House LLC and NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy. All opinions are my own
As a pharmacist, the apothecary setting was easily one of my favorite parts of this book. I loved all the discussions about remedies, magical healing, and running a struggling apothecary while balancing dreams that stretched far beyond its walls. The magic system was also unique and intriguing, even if I never felt like I fully understood all of its rules.
The real highlight, however, were Josie and Reid. They challenge each other constantly, bring out both the best and worst in one another, and complement each other beautifully both personally and magically. Their anonymous letters were adorable, and I loved watching them slowly realize that the person frustrating them in real life was also the person stealing their heart on paper. Reid was such a gentleman, and the slow-burn romance delivered some truly sweet moments at the end.
I also enjoyed the mystery surrounding the apothecary owner’s death and how it became intertwined with the future of the shop, the Institute, and the characters’ dreams. The atmosphere felt cozy yet slightly melancholy, which was enhanced by the excellent audiobook narration.
While I enjoyed the story, it never quite reached the emotional depth or excitement I was hoping for. Still, it was a charming read with lovable characters, and a romance built on truly seeing and understanding another person.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy cozy fantasy, epistolary romances, magical academia, and slow-burn love stories.
Thank you to the Penguin Random House, Hay House LLC and NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy. All opinions are my own
May 8, 2026
3.75 Rounded up
Letters from the Last Apothecary is a slow-paced cozy fantasy set in the early 1900s, at a time where magic intersects with a rapidly industrializing society with a mystery subplot. Josie and Reid have been unknowingly corresponding for sometime time before the events from this book, as they pursue entrance to the local university, falling over each other as they correspond. In reality, this is far from the truth when they meet, when Josie works her way into the apothecary where Reid is employed and is determined to keep afloat. Together, they have to work together in order to keep the last remaining independent apothecary open in the face of several sabotage events. I adored the old timey industrial ambiance and the pacing - it feels true to the time and very reminiscent to early Chicago.
Josie and Reid’s romance is nuanced and real and develops over time, much like the romance that started over correspondence. I could sympathize with Josie as a character with a singleminded drive, while being caring for the people around her, she isn’t inherently selfish. Reid reads standoffish, but he contains a multitude - a troubled childhood and uneasy adolescence that leads him to become stoic as an adult. While the characters cannot initially stand each other, they start to see each other’s merits much like how they recognize each other as intellectual matches.
I would have liked to see some more fleshed out world-building, as the author seemed to tackle quite a few topics such as sexism, racism, religion and anti-magic protesters, as well as the beginnings of Josie and Reid’s romance. Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook and would recommend to readers of Heather Fawcett.
Thank you NetGalley and Hay House LLC, for the ALC; the opinions are my own.
Letters from the Last Apothecary is a slow-paced cozy fantasy set in the early 1900s, at a time where magic intersects with a rapidly industrializing society with a mystery subplot. Josie and Reid have been unknowingly corresponding for sometime time before the events from this book, as they pursue entrance to the local university, falling over each other as they correspond. In reality, this is far from the truth when they meet, when Josie works her way into the apothecary where Reid is employed and is determined to keep afloat. Together, they have to work together in order to keep the last remaining independent apothecary open in the face of several sabotage events. I adored the old timey industrial ambiance and the pacing - it feels true to the time and very reminiscent to early Chicago.
Josie and Reid’s romance is nuanced and real and develops over time, much like the romance that started over correspondence. I could sympathize with Josie as a character with a singleminded drive, while being caring for the people around her, she isn’t inherently selfish. Reid reads standoffish, but he contains a multitude - a troubled childhood and uneasy adolescence that leads him to become stoic as an adult. While the characters cannot initially stand each other, they start to see each other’s merits much like how they recognize each other as intellectual matches.
I would have liked to see some more fleshed out world-building, as the author seemed to tackle quite a few topics such as sexism, racism, religion and anti-magic protesters, as well as the beginnings of Josie and Reid’s romance. Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook and would recommend to readers of Heather Fawcett.
Thank you NetGalley and Hay House LLC, for the ALC; the opinions are my own.
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