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The Tiny Magic Bookshop: The charming and heartwarming cozy fantasy for fans of books about books new for 2026
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26A bookish cozy fantasy for fans of Travis Baldree and Lucy Jane Wood.There’s magic in a book …
Max always felt too ordinary for the magical village of Lampton. No place more so than her mum’s bookshop, where the recommendations are more than just a matter of taste – they’re magic.
When Max’s mum dies suddenly, she leaves her daughter Lamplight Books and makes one last that Max would spend a year working in the bookshop before she sells it.
Max has no desire to uproot her busy life in the city to return to a place that always made her feel inadequate, but she can’t ignore her mum’s last request. So she decides on a trial run of two weeks – if she can’t even last that long, then a year would be impossible…
For fans
👩Outsider MC
👪Found Family
🏘️Small town
🍂Autumn vibes
📚Classic books
Max always felt too ordinary for the magical village of Lampton. No place more so than her mum’s bookshop, where the recommendations are more than just a matter of taste – they’re magic.
When Max’s mum dies suddenly, she leaves her daughter Lamplight Books and makes one last that Max would spend a year working in the bookshop before she sells it.
Max has no desire to uproot her busy life in the city to return to a place that always made her feel inadequate, but she can’t ignore her mum’s last request. So she decides on a trial run of two weeks – if she can’t even last that long, then a year would be impossible…
For fans
👩Outsider MC
👪Found Family
🏘️Small town
🍂Autumn vibes
📚Classic books
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 22, 2026
3 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 15, 2026
The Tiny Magic Bookshop was an enjoyable, cosy read with a lovely atmosphere and an emotional heart at its centre.
This story leans much more into self-discovery, healing, and quiet personal growth than it does into action or high-stakes magic. If you’re expecting dramatic twists or a fast-paced fantasy plot, this may feel slower than anticipated. The magic here is gentle and reflective rather than explosive.
That said, the setting is charming, and the themes of belonging and finding your place are handled with warmth. It’s very much a character-driven story — one that focuses on emotional development over dramatic events. By the end, it delivers a comforting and hopeful resolution that fits the tone of the book well.
For readers who love cosy fantasy, small-town vibes, and stories about personal transformation, this will likely be a satisfying read.
This story leans much more into self-discovery, healing, and quiet personal growth than it does into action or high-stakes magic. If you’re expecting dramatic twists or a fast-paced fantasy plot, this may feel slower than anticipated. The magic here is gentle and reflective rather than explosive.
That said, the setting is charming, and the themes of belonging and finding your place are handled with warmth. It’s very much a character-driven story — one that focuses on emotional development over dramatic events. By the end, it delivers a comforting and hopeful resolution that fits the tone of the book well.
For readers who love cosy fantasy, small-town vibes, and stories about personal transformation, this will likely be a satisfying read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Tiny Magic Bookshop by August Bloom is a sweet cozy fantasy filled with self-realization, grief and growth. Our main character, Max, is reeling from her mother’s unexpected death when she gets a surprise: her mother’s will stipulates that she must run her mother’s small town bookstore for a year. Max must leave her life as a London accountant to run the bookstore and fulfill her mother’s wishes, even if she does feel like a disappointment. Max grapples with the grief of her mother’s death and the weight of her expectations.
This book was both helped and hurt by its short timeline. Max decides at the beginning of the book she will spend two weeks to see if she can run the bookstore, and the book spans that timeline. The two weeks allows Max to process a lot, but we don’t really have time for Max to integrate into the small town, or for her to have a significant romantic storyline. Our story allows Max to process the way she needs, which feels well done, but the scope of the story is necessarily limited by the quick timeline.
The grief storyline felt well done, with Max experiencing a variety of emotions in relation to her mother’s death. I think the second half of the book does a better job engaging with her anger, sadness and weightedness than the first half, where it felt like the grief was a plot device and not an experience. The story’s climax does an excellent job diving into her emotions and reflecting on her own development, and I thought it felt like some of the best writing in the book as a whole.
I really appreciated that, given the two week plotline, Bloom did not attempt a significant romantic storyline. Max comes into the story with a boyfriend in London and grapples with whether she should embrace her new life in Lampton and leave him behind, or return to London and continue her relationship. Will is painted in a positive light but not a perfect fit, which allows both options to feel feasible. There are hints at other romances, but nothing feels more than a minor subplot. Normally I love a romance in my cozy fantasy, but this felt very appropriate given our character’s grief and our short timeline. However, if you need a romance to engage in a book, this isn’t for you.
The book hits a lot of the small-town setting without engaging in it fully; Max feels out of place and doesn’t connect to the town. So often, the joy of these small-town books is the way people come together and connect, the way that the main character feels seen and known, and Max’s fear of being out of place means it feels like she never really integrates herself into the town. It takes her a long time (in the context of the book) to leave the confines of the bookstore, and even longer to engage in a town event, but neither feel like she gets to feel like she belongs. So much of the story is about Max feeling out of place as an ordinary human surrounded by extraordinary magical creatures, but it feels like that development is unfulfilled.
A small detail, but the story has lots of hints about Max’s friendship with Oakley, the former manager of the bookstore who disappeared, without giving a fair explanation. Any reunions that happen occur off-page. It felt frustrating for so much attention to be given to Max’s anger and hurt towards her friend without any resolution.
Altogether, this was a cute cozy fantasy, with fun bookstore vibes and a solid grief storyline. There are some things I wish would have been different, but the bookstore rehabilitation and the grief plotline were engaging, and Max’s growth through the story is engaging.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy!
This book was both helped and hurt by its short timeline. Max decides at the beginning of the book she will spend two weeks to see if she can run the bookstore, and the book spans that timeline. The two weeks allows Max to process a lot, but we don’t really have time for Max to integrate into the small town, or for her to have a significant romantic storyline. Our story allows Max to process the way she needs, which feels well done, but the scope of the story is necessarily limited by the quick timeline.
The grief storyline felt well done, with Max experiencing a variety of emotions in relation to her mother’s death. I think the second half of the book does a better job engaging with her anger, sadness and weightedness than the first half, where it felt like the grief was a plot device and not an experience. The story’s climax does an excellent job diving into her emotions and reflecting on her own development, and I thought it felt like some of the best writing in the book as a whole.
I really appreciated that, given the two week plotline, Bloom did not attempt a significant romantic storyline. Max comes into the story with a boyfriend in London and grapples with whether she should embrace her new life in Lampton and leave him behind, or return to London and continue her relationship. Will is painted in a positive light but not a perfect fit, which allows both options to feel feasible. There are hints at other romances, but nothing feels more than a minor subplot. Normally I love a romance in my cozy fantasy, but this felt very appropriate given our character’s grief and our short timeline. However, if you need a romance to engage in a book, this isn’t for you.
The book hits a lot of the small-town setting without engaging in it fully; Max feels out of place and doesn’t connect to the town. So often, the joy of these small-town books is the way people come together and connect, the way that the main character feels seen and known, and Max’s fear of being out of place means it feels like she never really integrates herself into the town. It takes her a long time (in the context of the book) to leave the confines of the bookstore, and even longer to engage in a town event, but neither feel like she gets to feel like she belongs. So much of the story is about Max feeling out of place as an ordinary human surrounded by extraordinary magical creatures, but it feels like that development is unfulfilled.
A small detail, but the story has lots of hints about Max’s friendship with Oakley, the former manager of the bookstore who disappeared, without giving a fair explanation. Any reunions that happen occur off-page. It felt frustrating for so much attention to be given to Max’s anger and hurt towards her friend without any resolution.
Altogether, this was a cute cozy fantasy, with fun bookstore vibes and a solid grief storyline. There are some things I wish would have been different, but the bookstore rehabilitation and the grief plotline were engaging, and Max’s growth through the story is engaging.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
BookSloth has a long-standing and entirely reasonable belief that if she ever stumbles across a tiny village bookshop with rainbow-coloured shelving, she will simply move in and refuse to leave. And insist on a resident owl.
The Tiny Magic Bookshop follows Max, who returns to her childhood village of Lampton after the sudden death of her mother, the beloved owner of Lamplight Books, a shop known for its almost uncanny ability to place the right book into the right hands.
Max has never felt magical herself. In fact, she has spent most of her life feeling painfully ordinary—especially in comparison to her mother. She doesn’t believe she belongs there. She certainly doesn’t believe she carries whatever “magic” the shop once held. So when her mother's will requests that she run the bookshop for a year before selling, she reluctantly agrees to a two-week trial.
The early chapters are deeply internal. Max spirals. She replays. She doubts. And while that felt emotionally authentic—because in real life people absolutely circle their thoughts—BookSloth did find the first thirty percent repetitive. The narrative treads similar emotional ground for a little too long. And that's a dangerous place, because twice BookSloth nearly stopped reading.
But once it does move outwards into the villagers, into the customers, into the subtle magic of books finding their readers, into the possibility that “ordinary” might simply be misunderstood, the novel opens up beautifully.
This is where the story touched BookSloth's soul.
At its heart, this is a story about shadows. About living in the perception of someone else’s brilliance. About the lies we tell ourselves to stay small. About the conversations left unsaid and the boxes we keep sealed because opening them feels too risky.
The fantasy elements here are gentle but delightful. These creatures don’t dominate the narrative, but they deepen the sense that Lampton exists slightly sideways from the ordinary world. The troll was BookSloth's favourite. She'd like to meet them for some tea and crafting! And the owl? Watchful. Cheeky. Present in that knowing way that suggests it understands more than it lets on. Exactly the sort of owl one wants overseeing a bookshop.
For a book about handing out books, this one found its way into BookSloth's claws at exactly the right time. It helped her sit with a few things she'd been struggling to articulate—especially the way silence and assumption can drive wedges between people who care deeply for one another.
BookSloth dabbed her eyes a few times at the end.
One small craft note: the occasional profanity jarred against the otherwise soft tone. It felt slightly out of step with the gentleness of the world.
But overall, this is a beautiful, tender story about grief, belonging, and the courage it takes to rewrite the story you tell yourself.
Four stars from BookSloth—who would like to formally apply for the position of Assistant Manager at Lamplight Books. 🦉📚✨
BookSloth has a long-standing and entirely reasonable belief that if she ever stumbles across a tiny village bookshop with rainbow-coloured shelving, she will simply move in and refuse to leave. And insist on a resident owl.
The Tiny Magic Bookshop follows Max, who returns to her childhood village of Lampton after the sudden death of her mother, the beloved owner of Lamplight Books, a shop known for its almost uncanny ability to place the right book into the right hands.
Max has never felt magical herself. In fact, she has spent most of her life feeling painfully ordinary—especially in comparison to her mother. She doesn’t believe she belongs there. She certainly doesn’t believe she carries whatever “magic” the shop once held. So when her mother's will requests that she run the bookshop for a year before selling, she reluctantly agrees to a two-week trial.
The early chapters are deeply internal. Max spirals. She replays. She doubts. And while that felt emotionally authentic—because in real life people absolutely circle their thoughts—BookSloth did find the first thirty percent repetitive. The narrative treads similar emotional ground for a little too long. And that's a dangerous place, because twice BookSloth nearly stopped reading.
But once it does move outwards into the villagers, into the customers, into the subtle magic of books finding their readers, into the possibility that “ordinary” might simply be misunderstood, the novel opens up beautifully.
This is where the story touched BookSloth's soul.
At its heart, this is a story about shadows. About living in the perception of someone else’s brilliance. About the lies we tell ourselves to stay small. About the conversations left unsaid and the boxes we keep sealed because opening them feels too risky.
The fantasy elements here are gentle but delightful. These creatures don’t dominate the narrative, but they deepen the sense that Lampton exists slightly sideways from the ordinary world. The troll was BookSloth's favourite. She'd like to meet them for some tea and crafting! And the owl? Watchful. Cheeky. Present in that knowing way that suggests it understands more than it lets on. Exactly the sort of owl one wants overseeing a bookshop.
For a book about handing out books, this one found its way into BookSloth's claws at exactly the right time. It helped her sit with a few things she'd been struggling to articulate—especially the way silence and assumption can drive wedges between people who care deeply for one another.
BookSloth dabbed her eyes a few times at the end.
One small craft note: the occasional profanity jarred against the otherwise soft tone. It felt slightly out of step with the gentleness of the world.
But overall, this is a beautiful, tender story about grief, belonging, and the courage it takes to rewrite the story you tell yourself.
Four stars from BookSloth—who would like to formally apply for the position of Assistant Manager at Lamplight Books. 🦉📚✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
My mind was blown when I found out that August Bloom is a fantasy pseudonym for crime writer Anna Britton, and I believe this is her debut fantasy novel.
This is glorious! I cannot say anything negative about it. It was cosy and warming but not sickly sweet; magical but still familiar.
I expected it to be this fun, magical, quirky, uplifting, feel-good fantasy story, and it was, but it had a lot more depth to it than I thought it would, particularly around grief.
It's about grief, loss, bereavement, loneliness, fear, choices, belonging, love, friendship, community, magic - it's got so much packed into its relatively small page count but it never feels overwhelming.
I know it's not as easy as it sounds but this idea of running a small bookshop, organising shelves and recommending the perfect book for each customer just sounds blissful.
I read it in the spring and whilst I think it would work at ay time, it felt like it would be perfect for the autumn or winter. Some time where it's dark and cold and you want to curl up under a blanket with a hot cuppa. I may even save it and re-read it in the winter just to see if I get a different feeling from it.
It's quick and easy to read - I had it finished within a matter of hours, but it doesn't skimp on the detail.
The little town of Lampton is magical in the literal and figurative sense and I wish to move there now please. Each character was a delight, be they human or otherwise. They all work well off of Max's main story but also within their own stories.
I mean, did I have a fair understanding of how it was going to end before I got there? Yes. But does that matter? Absolutely not. In these kind of uplifting books, I find I'm less interested in what happens but rather the story of how they got there and that's how I felt here.
As Anna Britton, she is known for writing crime novels, but she's really hit on something as August Bloom because this is just wonderful. I truly hope there will be more books in this vein.
My mind was blown when I found out that August Bloom is a fantasy pseudonym for crime writer Anna Britton, and I believe this is her debut fantasy novel.
This is glorious! I cannot say anything negative about it. It was cosy and warming but not sickly sweet; magical but still familiar.
I expected it to be this fun, magical, quirky, uplifting, feel-good fantasy story, and it was, but it had a lot more depth to it than I thought it would, particularly around grief.
It's about grief, loss, bereavement, loneliness, fear, choices, belonging, love, friendship, community, magic - it's got so much packed into its relatively small page count but it never feels overwhelming.
I know it's not as easy as it sounds but this idea of running a small bookshop, organising shelves and recommending the perfect book for each customer just sounds blissful.
I read it in the spring and whilst I think it would work at ay time, it felt like it would be perfect for the autumn or winter. Some time where it's dark and cold and you want to curl up under a blanket with a hot cuppa. I may even save it and re-read it in the winter just to see if I get a different feeling from it.
It's quick and easy to read - I had it finished within a matter of hours, but it doesn't skimp on the detail.
The little town of Lampton is magical in the literal and figurative sense and I wish to move there now please. Each character was a delight, be they human or otherwise. They all work well off of Max's main story but also within their own stories.
I mean, did I have a fair understanding of how it was going to end before I got there? Yes. But does that matter? Absolutely not. In these kind of uplifting books, I find I'm less interested in what happens but rather the story of how they got there and that's how I felt here.
As Anna Britton, she is known for writing crime novels, but she's really hit on something as August Bloom because this is just wonderful. I truly hope there will be more books in this vein.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Max has just lost her mum and must sort the bookshop she’s inherited. She’s faced with the impossible task of returning to her childhood doubts and living up to her mum’s legacy. Growing up as an utterly non-magical human in a fairytale village, Max chose to forge her own path in London, and now she has to reconcile these two parts of herself.
This is a classic cosy book. It has a low-stake plot and focuses on community and emotional growth, rather than dramatic twists and turns. As Max begins to tackle the shop’s disorganisation, we get a clear sense of the denial, anger, and sadness she’s working through. Alongside this, she learns about the shop’s quirks and finds her own way of helping customers through books.
I would have liked a little more depth; we’re told she’s a more analytical person, and about certain memories, and the wider village, but I would’ve been interested in seeing more of this explored on the page.
Overall, though, I found it thoroughly charming. I’d happily return to Lamplight Books, and I wouldn’t mind my own Lord Sharpsight to keep me company.
Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital for my advanced copy. If this book appeals to you, read it! Art is subjective.
This is a classic cosy book. It has a low-stake plot and focuses on community and emotional growth, rather than dramatic twists and turns. As Max begins to tackle the shop’s disorganisation, we get a clear sense of the denial, anger, and sadness she’s working through. Alongside this, she learns about the shop’s quirks and finds her own way of helping customers through books.
I would have liked a little more depth; we’re told she’s a more analytical person, and about certain memories, and the wider village, but I would’ve been interested in seeing more of this explored on the page.
Overall, though, I found it thoroughly charming. I’d happily return to Lamplight Books, and I wouldn’t mind my own Lord Sharpsight to keep me company.
Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital for my advanced copy. If this book appeals to you, read it! Art is subjective.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really gave this book a fair chance, I made it to nearly 60%, but ultimately, I decided not to continue. The repetition in the plot made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
The premise initially sounded perfect for me: a cosy bookshop, magical creatures, and a journey of self-discovery. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I found the pacing to be quite slow, the storyline overly simplistic, and the repetition made it feel stagnant. By around the 40% mark, I felt I could already predict where the story was heading, which made it harder to stay invested in the characters.
That said, I can absolutely see this book appealing to others, particularly readers who enjoy gentle, cosy fantasy reads, especially during an autumn afternoon. Sadly, it just didn’t hold my interest enough to see it through to the end.
I really gave this book a fair chance, I made it to nearly 60%, but ultimately, I decided not to continue. The repetition in the plot made it difficult for me to stay engaged.
The premise initially sounded perfect for me: a cosy bookshop, magical creatures, and a journey of self-discovery. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I found the pacing to be quite slow, the storyline overly simplistic, and the repetition made it feel stagnant. By around the 40% mark, I felt I could already predict where the story was heading, which made it harder to stay invested in the characters.
That said, I can absolutely see this book appealing to others, particularly readers who enjoy gentle, cosy fantasy reads, especially during an autumn afternoon. Sadly, it just didn’t hold my interest enough to see it through to the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall it's a reasonable story with an underlying sadness to it. For me, Max, the main character became an annoyance after a while though, too much mental whinging, which could have been attributed to her mother's sudden death. However, it seems to me that it was her normal state, born of an infantile mindset. She's secretive and negative about practically everything.
I did like the bookshop and village descriptions. They gave me a feeling of a quiet olde worlde location, the likes of which no longer exist. All pleasant shops and smells, perfect for window gazing and buying wondrous things. Also there was a short section of the book which did choke me up a bit, if you read it, you'll probably guess which.
Although it was a reasonable read, I wouldn't bother with it again, Max got on my wick too much.
I am thankful to the author, HQ | HQ Digital and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free.
I did like the bookshop and village descriptions. They gave me a feeling of a quiet olde worlde location, the likes of which no longer exist. All pleasant shops and smells, perfect for window gazing and buying wondrous things. Also there was a short section of the book which did choke me up a bit, if you read it, you'll probably guess which.
Although it was a reasonable read, I wouldn't bother with it again, Max got on my wick too much.
I am thankful to the author, HQ | HQ Digital and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review. I was really drawn to the idea of a bookshop setting and the exploration of grief, but this one didn’t quite work for me.
The story follows Max returning to run her late mother’s bookshop, and while there are threads around loss and responsibility, it all felt a bit predictable and didn’t have the emotional depth I’d hoped for.
What I hadn't expected was the strong magical element; owls, elves, and other magical beings. This pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me in.
I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy cosy, whimsical, magical stories set around bookshops, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
The story follows Max returning to run her late mother’s bookshop, and while there are threads around loss and responsibility, it all felt a bit predictable and didn’t have the emotional depth I’d hoped for.
What I hadn't expected was the strong magical element; owls, elves, and other magical beings. This pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me in.
I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy cosy, whimsical, magical stories set around bookshops, but it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF at 30%.
I really tried with this but it failed to gain my interest. The premise sounded like a cute cosy read, our fmc Max inherits a bookshop from her mother after she dies, and finds out in her will her mother requests Max works and lives at the bookshop for one year before she sells it.
Unfortunately the plot was slow and I struggled to connect to the characters. Even 30% in the plot had not moved forward and nothing had happened or been achieved, I honestly would struggle to tell you what happened.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really tried with this but it failed to gain my interest. The premise sounded like a cute cosy read, our fmc Max inherits a bookshop from her mother after she dies, and finds out in her will her mother requests Max works and lives at the bookshop for one year before she sells it.
Unfortunately the plot was slow and I struggled to connect to the characters. Even 30% in the plot had not moved forward and nothing had happened or been achieved, I honestly would struggle to tell you what happened.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love books about bookshops, and I like fantasy. This was a very cozy book with emotional depth, making it a great escape for book lovers.
Max's mother passes away, and per the Mom's wishes, she is to run her bookshop for at least a year. The shop is known for its almost uncanny ability to place the right book into the right hands. Max isn't confident as she has never felt the "magic" like her Mom did. She feels out of her element.
It's a gentle exploration of grief, the healing power of community, and the "true magic" found within bookshops.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Max's mother passes away, and per the Mom's wishes, she is to run her bookshop for at least a year. The shop is known for its almost uncanny ability to place the right book into the right hands. Max isn't confident as she has never felt the "magic" like her Mom did. She feels out of her element.
It's a gentle exploration of grief, the healing power of community, and the "true magic" found within bookshops.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins for the advanced copy of this book. I was initially enticed by the cosy magical nature this book was giving me. A story about a young woman taking over her mother’s bookshop following her passing seemed to be something I would like to read, who wouldn’t want to imagine a dream of having their own bookstore! It took me a while to get into reading this as I was slightly thrown by the setting of a magical village in a seemingly normal world, to me it was quite random and feel it could have been something that was more expanded on. For example how this village with the magical beings came to be & how Max & her mother ended up residing there if they just human. I did however like the mix of elves, werewolves etc with Max it just wasn’t overly obvious if it was just the norm in this world or a secret that would only be known if you were to come across the village & if there were others like it. The progression of Max’s character was enjoyable as well as her friendships with the residents of Lampton. I would’ve liked to have had more insight to Oakley and what happened with them as it didn’t seem to be concluded unless there is another book to come! Overall I did enjoy this book and found it to be a light cosy read.
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
3.5 rounded to 4 stars
February 11, 2026
An incredible, heartwarming story that charts Max’s journey of self discovery. The fantasy elements add a lovely layer to this story, made super cosy by charming characters, including a baker, a florist and a slightly naughty owl. Max’s grief is wonderfully written and you are with her every step of the way as she processes her sense of belonging and identity. I hope there’s a sequel!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A truly cathartic read.
This book shows the life of Max after her mum does. She has to run her mum's bookshop and in turn deal with her grief over the entire situation.
When I first picked up the book I felt slightly disinterested and so I put it down.
then I lost a family member two weeks ago and felt that this book might help me. Well I picked it up and then binge read the whole thing. At one point I read for a whole hour on the treadmill. It has definitely helped me come to terms with my own grief, seeing it named and on paper. Warning: this book will have you in tears. But I feel that it was needed.
It's often hard to find books that evolve such strong emotions but this one did that and more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book shows the life of Max after her mum does. She has to run her mum's bookshop and in turn deal with her grief over the entire situation.
When I first picked up the book I felt slightly disinterested and so I put it down.
then I lost a family member two weeks ago and felt that this book might help me. Well I picked it up and then binge read the whole thing. At one point I read for a whole hour on the treadmill. It has definitely helped me come to terms with my own grief, seeing it named and on paper. Warning: this book will have you in tears. But I feel that it was needed.
It's often hard to find books that evolve such strong emotions but this one did that and more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Such a sweet, comforting reflection on grief, identity, and the magic of finding the place you belong.
Following the death of her mother, Max's life is thrown into disarray. Leaving her life in London behind, she reluctantly takes on a new life as the local bookseller in the magical village of Lampton. The only catch is, she has none of her mum's magic. In a series of misadventures, Max has to navigate her grief, pain, changing identity, and the friendships she left behind.
I thought this was a really lovely story that highlights the complex emotions of losing someone you care about. The magic was a nice touch, not overdone, but definitely brings enough of a fairytale feel it's sure to appeal to fantasy fans. It's a very quick read - if anything, I would have liked more time to get to know the world, and some of the other characters. However, it was a nice, gentle read that gave me plenty to mull over. (Preferably with one of Cam's pastries!)
Books with similar vibes - The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers, The Baby Dragon Cafe by Aamna Qureshi, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, The Honey Witch by Sydney Shields, Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, and The Enchanted Bookshop by Sarah Beth Durst.
Such a sweet, comforting reflection on grief, identity, and the magic of finding the place you belong.
Following the death of her mother, Max's life is thrown into disarray. Leaving her life in London behind, she reluctantly takes on a new life as the local bookseller in the magical village of Lampton. The only catch is, she has none of her mum's magic. In a series of misadventures, Max has to navigate her grief, pain, changing identity, and the friendships she left behind.
I thought this was a really lovely story that highlights the complex emotions of losing someone you care about. The magic was a nice touch, not overdone, but definitely brings enough of a fairytale feel it's sure to appeal to fantasy fans. It's a very quick read - if anything, I would have liked more time to get to know the world, and some of the other characters. However, it was a nice, gentle read that gave me plenty to mull over. (Preferably with one of Cam's pastries!)
Books with similar vibes - The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers, The Baby Dragon Cafe by Aamna Qureshi, The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst, The Honey Witch by Sydney Shields, Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, and The Enchanted Bookshop by Sarah Beth Durst.
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