The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium

by Lexie Sharabianlou

A magical witness protection program, a town in need of saving, and a sorceress-in-training . . . oh, and the human woman she’s not supposed to fall for. The Blue Moon Café has a little bit of everything (except, you know, decent coffee).

In the tiny town of Pine Hollow, barista and fledging sorceress Talula Smith runs The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium, aka the worst coffee shop in town. The café’s horrible reputation hides its true providing new identities and safe passage to at-risk magical beings while keeping humans far, far away. That is, except for town local Dahlia. Dahlia’s devastating dimples, addiction to Talula's cocoa recipe, and keen observation skills keeps the smitten barista scrambling to ensure that her magical abilities (or, lack thereof) stay a secret.

But when big game hunters start preying on magical beings, her powerful sorceress mother is called away to track them down, leaving Talula and her barely-there magic in charge of The Blue Moon. With the impending Samhain festival to organize, magical refugees to help, half of the town turning against her, and her ever-growing feelings for Dahlia, Talula’s magical destiny feels further away than ever. But as the hunters set their sights closer to home, it’ll be up to Talula to master her craft, trust her heart, and bring her magical and human communities together . . . before she loses everything she loves.

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

448 pages, Paperback

Expected publication August 18, 2026

About the author

Lexie Sharabianlou earned her Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh. She has sold cupcakes, taught high school English literature, and written audio tours for zoos and museums. These days, she writes stories about magic, mischief, and falling in love. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tell your dog she says hi.

The Blue Moon Cafe & 24-Hour Occult Emporium is her debut novel.

Reviews

[EmJustReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now that I’ve finished crying after that ending (I can’t believe you did that to us Lexie) I want to explain how much happiness I got from this book. As a self proclaimed Halloween obsessed person, this book was immensely satisfying and gave me fall fever.

Sara, Talula’s mother, is responsible for the Blue Moon Cafe, which houses a secret, magical portal. Talula is a barista at the cafe that acts as a safe house for magical beings that need help. We meet Dahlia, who is the only regular at the cafe, and we get to watch Talula be oblivious and trying to determine if the interest is mutual.

The big conflicts in this book:
-Self doubt (in her magic and belonging)
-Romantic questioning
-Samhaim vs. Pine Hollow council
-The threatening & kidnapping of magical creatures

Simon quickly becomes my favorite character because of his killer one liners. I imagined he has a British accent — specifically the voice of Maxwell Sheffield in The Nanny — and I highlighted at least 20 lines that made me laugh. His obsession with Emilio is adorable (who was also a hilarious addition) #QAFD&DG

This was such an easy, cozy read. And there were a lot of elements that are relatable and endearing. From doubting yourself, comparing yourself to your parents, and being scared of failure. There were some surprises throughout the story, and the twist involving Mrs. Bochart made my jaw drop.

This book was perfectly scheduled to be published in the fall (August 18th) and I’d highly recommend you pre-order this. If I have one suggestion, or really just a wish, it would be that I want recipes to follow along with the story — because all of the food sounded mouth watering.

Some of my favorite lines/ insults:
“Co-chair of the Bashful Armadillo Preservation Society”
“Sometimes … you’ve just got to chuck some jackalopes”
“that reptilian flatulence incarnate”
“basically, in bisexuality years, Talula was a teen queer”
“So peasants— Simon began.”
“and mayo was magical no matter where it came from”
“you besotted mongoose”
“a geriatric nematode could have told you that”

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC

[tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me reference the magical Jinn cookbook to determine the ingredients for a 5 star read:

1. Impossibly ancient magical sorcerer whose current corporeal vessel is a very fluffy corgi
2. PORTALS
3. Depiction of the power (and magic!) of community
4. Impeccable one-liners, often delivered by aforementioned corgi (see 1)
5. An ooey-gooey queer romance
6. Meditation on accepting yourself and what it means to not feel like you’re enough (or that you’re too much!)
7. MAGICAL CREATURES

The Blue Moon Cafe & 24-Hour Occult Emporium read like a nostalgic cross between the Halloweentown films of my youth and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (albeit, instead of a talking cat, we have a talking corgi). It also felt like a warm hug on a chilly fall day, when summer is in the rearview mirror and the excitement of Halloween is just around the corner.

Coziness aside, we also have some very real stakes - our FMC, Talula, and her cosmic immortal goddess of a mother, Sara, are responsible for overseeing and protecting the Volta, a magical wayportal that transitions magical creatures to safer pastures. When a nefarious magical creature hunting party crops up and Sara is pulled into the investigation, Talula is left behind to manage the portal and protect the magical community - worse, her town is campaigning to get the Blue Moon Cafe and their annual Samhain festival shut down.

The problem? Well, she hasn’t QUITE mastered her magic as of yet (though she’s trying her best and I love her). Annnnd she has an evil ex-girlfriend plotting on her destruction.

Not all hope is lost, however - after all, Talula has the power of a magical cookbook, community (both human and magical) a talking corgi, and her kickass crush, Dahlia, on her side.

And what’s more magical than the friendships and relationships we spend our lives cultivating and nurturing?

[Victoria (Victoriabooklover) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so good.

Fall vibes 🍁
Cafes ☕️
Magic ✨
Romance 👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏾
Talking Corgi 🐾
Portals🚪

I loved all of it!!! My only note is that it dragagdd a liiiitle bit for a cozy book. If it was a tad bit shorter I’d have loved it even more.

[Cierra Diedrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ what a debut!!

A cozy fantasy that delivers on a love story, a genuine conflict, and developed characters. This book was so fun to read. Talulah is the daughter of a sorceress and has yet to come into any magical prowess. She is expected to live up to her mother’s reputation, but when the magical community is threatened, she will have to overcome a lot of challenges to succeed. Trials include: a crush on a local girl, a community divided on all things occult and running a cafe with really bad coffee.

Loved this, loved the relationships and was giggling throughout the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Ballentine Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was such a wonderful cozy adventure! This is the perfect read to escape into a magical small town cafe with a nice cup of hot cocoa 📖☕️ All the characters are so well developed, the friendship between Talula and Dahlia is heartwarming and their chemistry is electric! If you are at all interested do yourself the favor and just read it (I would especially recommend around Summerween-Halloween to maximize on the cozy witchy autumnal vibes) 👻🎃

Note: I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley.

[Mantagray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited for this one and it exceeded my expectations!! A cozy queer story following our main character, Talula, strive to live up to her magical destiny when it matters most. Hunters are kidnapping magical creatures and the Council is trying to figure out who it is and put a stop to it. Talula is the daughter to the most powerful sorceress of all time who is the guardian of the magical portal in the basement of their coffeeshop which are some big magical shoes to fill. When Talula’s mom is called away on official Council business, Talula and her community must band together to save their town. Talula’s has been shown her whole life that in order to fulfill her magical destiny she must keep her human emotions under wraps, which would be easy if not for the lovely, tempting Dahlia whom Talula has a fat crush on. It’s a push and pull between planned and chosen destiny, found and blood family, unlikely allies and people with whom the damage is irreparable. Don’t worry, there is a healthy serving of wholesome romance thrown in to the town saving as well 😉

The only way I rate a book five stars is if it makes me cry (a lot of books make me cry, it's not a very strict criterion) and this book made me cry. I didn’t think it would, but stories have a funny way of connecting with their audience when they need it most. You’ll have to read the novel to understand. Sharabianlou does a superb job of creating a world that isn’t too complicated with characters who have rich stories and backgrounds, weaving in allegories of things going on in the real world right now. This is the comfort book to end all comfort books. I feel satisfied, like I just had a big meal with the people I love most and now it’s time to go to sleep, tucked in under my blankets next to my partner. Like things are going to be okay. I'd be remiss to not mention that this is a beautiful and diverse cast of characters.

Thank you to the author, Dell publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Star1468 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delightfully fun and cute entry into the cozy genre. The title caught my eye, and I'm a big fan of cozy fantasy, and the book delivered. It reminds me of A Curious Kind of Magic by Mara Rutherford crossed with Sarah Beth Durst's books, but with its own special blend of magic.

Talula is the daughter of a powerful immortal sorceress, half-sorceress and half human. She's spent her entire life living between the magical and mundane worlds, helping her mother run the Blue Moon Café, a coffee shop and occult emporium whose terrible coffee hides a secret: magical beings, from hellhounds to forest nymphs, come to the shop in the guise as customers to seek refuge from persecution and a new life.

At the start of the story, Talula's mother Sara has to go away to pursue a ring of trophy hunters seeking magical beings, leaving Talula to run the shop without her mother for the first time. She's not alone though - she has Dahlia, her only regular customer and newfound love interest, and Simon, her new magical mentor in the form of a wonderfully snarky corgi. Talula has always struggled to master magic, something that weighs on her as the daughter of a powerful sorceress, but she finds that she must come into her powers as the threat of the trophy hunters looms. She also faces threats from her human side as well - religious zealots are trying to shut down the town's annual Samhain festival, run every year by the Blue Moon Café, and Talula finds help from the most unexpected of places as she fights to preserve her home and the people she's come to love.

I'd happily spend a day or two, or maybe an entire week, in Pine Hollow, eating some delicious pastries (Talula is an excellent cook) and getting to meet some new friends. Sometimes you just need an escape from the world, and this book's a cozy and fun way to lose yourself for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t usually read cozy fantasy. It’s never been my thing, ya know? But gods above this book changed everything. I’m this close to moving to a small town to open a magical cafe of my own.

This book felt like a warm blanket on a cold autumn day, wrapping you up and giving you a cup of hot chocolate to sip on. It’s the taste of pumpkin spice and the smell of apple candles. It’s that magical feeling you get as a kid when Halloween is coming and your only concerns are what costume you’ll wear and how much candy you’ll get.

I went into this book with low expectations because I’m not a fan of cozy fantasy. I’m also not a fan of urban fantasy. This book was about a half-sorceress who runs a cafe, a human wannabe-author who frequents the cafe, a magic talking dog who isn’t really a dog, and all the magical creatures they meet along the way. Note to all readers: do NOT read this book when you’re hungry, because our MC does a lot of kitchen witchery.

I just loved this book. I loved the sleepy small town Halloween vibes. I loved the magical creatures. I loved the plot twists. The characters. The magic. All of it. My only complaint is that I read this book in February (not ideal for the Halloween vibes. Ugh. Remind me to reread in eight months). Also, sapphic! This book was so sapphic and mushy gushy and sweet it practically gave me cavities. The hot chocolate warm vibes this book brought? Yeah, now add ten pounds of sugar to that and you’ll get the sweet romance of this book.

I’m off to look at small towns to move to and how much work it is to raise a corgi because I need a “Simon” of my own now thank you very much.

[Charlene (Char) ❤︎ ❀˖° ❤︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is an absolute gem for the fall and cozy season, beautifully woven around Samhain in a small town brimming with magic and mystery. If you're looking to lose yourself in a captivating story, then this book is definitely for you. The epilogue had me in tears—just the sheer raw emotion was overwhelming. This book is definitely a must-read!

Set in the quaint town of Pine Hollow, the story revolves around a unique spot called The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium. This café has quite the reputation, especially for its less-than-stellar coffee, as highlighted by some rather scathing reviews. Talula, a young woman in her 20s, runs the café with her mother, Sara, ensuring everything runs like clockwork. Unlike her mother, Talula struggles with the absence of magical powers, which makes living in her shadow quite challenging.

But the café serves a deeper purpose; it acts as a safe haven for magical beings seeking a fresh start, almost like a witness protection program. However, things take a turn when someone starts hunting magical creatures, and no one seems to have a clue about who it is. Sara is dispatched to uncover the identity of this hunter, and her budding friendship with Dahlia might just be the support she needs.

✨Sapphic Romance
✨Small Town Cozy Vibes
✨Magic, Witches and Halloween
✨Fall/ Autumn Feels

Thank you, Netgalley, Dell publishing, and Lexie Sharabianlou for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Katlyn Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Lexie Sharabianlou, and Random House Publishing Group for an opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The Blue Moon Cafe & 24 Hour Emporium was such a sweet, easy read and leans deeply into the small town, cozy romantasy. Its a novel that deserves to be enjoyed with a warm drink and sweet baked treat. I loved every second of the food, small town farmers market, quippy dog mentor, and bubbly love interest.

The story focuses on Talulas growth as an individual and sorceress. Throughout Talula's journey of self discovery, the story covers familial expectations, identity challenges, the bisexual experience, and bigotry. Not to mention, the cast of characters is pleasantly diverse, which makes this story much more compelling and relatable. There was a plot line that was much higher stakes than I expected, which felt slightly out of place for me. Otherwise, I enjoyed the slower pace, where we can explore the cozy of Pine Hollow, small town conflict, and budding romance.

Overall, if you enjoy the following, you'll love this.
- small town
- foodie galore descriptions
- cheesy comedic relief/banter
- sapphic romance
- finding confidence as an adult

[Stardust Kei · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 24 Hour Café and Occult Emporium was one of those books that completely pulled me into its atmosphere. The combination of a cozy late-night café and a mysterious occult shop created such a unique setting that I honestly didn’t want to leave by the end. The author did a great job blending supernatural elements with emotional, character-driven moments, so it never felt like just another fantasy story. I enjoyed the cast of characters. They all felt layered and believable, especially the main character, whose personal struggles and curiosity made the story easy to connect with. The interactions between customers coming into the café at odd hours added a lot of charm and unpredictability. Some chapters felt almost episodic, but they still tied into the larger mystery in a satisfying way.

The pacing was a little uneven in the middle, which is why I’m giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. A few scenes dragged longer than necessary, and I wished certain side characters had been explored more deeply. Still, the atmosphere and creativity easily made up for those slower moments.

Overall, this was a cozy, strange, and surprisingly heartfelt read. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical realism, urban fantasy, or stories with mysterious late-night vibes and hidden secrets.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! Talula is killing it as the barista for her mom's cafe slash waypoint for shuttling magical creatures away from harm... but she really shouldn't be killing it because they're supposed to keep a low profile so people don't want to hang out there too much (refer back to the second purpose of magical ferrying). Unfortunately, when Dahlia comes in, Talula just can't help herself. Little does she know that Dahlia's support for what comes next will be critical, because the town wants to shut down the local Samhain festival which is a huge draw for magical creatures. Talula's mom is off tracking down hunters of magic so it's up to Talula and Dahlia to save the day (oh, and Simon). This reminded me a lot of The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst - a book that I wholeheartedly loved - but with a bit of a queer romance take (pretty much all closed door, very little in the way of spice). I really enjoyed this and will happily be looking out for future books by this author! I'd give this a 4.75 stars, rounded up here to 5. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine/Dell for the chance to read this as an advanced reader copy!

[Vanessa Konopacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming and sweet story about finding oneself. Yes it’s wrapped in magic and wonder with a talking dog, but essentially it’s a story about find8ng once’s self and also chosen family. We have a story of tulula. A young woman wrapped in a magical life being the daughter of a super powerful and important responsibility of helping the magical community and keeping them safe. All the while dealing with an attraction to a newcomer to her cafe which is actually supposed to discourage human visitors from hanging around. Working with her self doubt and human emotions and confusion about where she belongs in the world.
Love the world building and the truly enjoyable and unique characters. Sometimes had me laughing out loud and some audible awww of sweet moments. A sweet and enjoyable read.
An arc read

[bookish.brietto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up for the vibes and honestly… it did its job. The whole late-night café + occult shop setting was cozy but a little eerie, and I loved that balance. It felt like a place you’d stumble into and never fully understand, but wouldn’t want to leave either.
The characters were a bit messy in a very human way, which made it easy to stay invested. I liked just sitting in their world more than anything.
The middle did feel a little rough tbh a little. It kind of stayed in the same place for a bit too long, and I wanted just a little more to happen.
But the ending pulled it together. It didn’t over explain, which I appreciated, and it stayed true to the overall tone. Overall: very vibes-heavy, a little weird, a little cozy. If that’s your thing, it works!! 🤌🏽

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you Lexie Sharabianlou and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium is one of my favorite books I've read this year. It just hits all the cozy notes I needed. As someone who has struggled with a tendency to self sabotage, Talula is incredibly relatable.

It gives me Gilmore Girls/Stars Hollow vibes with a magical twist. Each character has their own quirks and it warms my heart to see how they were fleshed out as opposed to being one dimensional side characters.

Overall, this novel is a fun, warm read and I cant wait to see what this author does next!

[Victoria Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cozy sapphic romance is the perfect fall read! It follows Talula, a fledgling sorceress living in the shadow of her enormously powerful mother, as she struggles to master her powers; protect her magical community from harm; and fight her inconvenient feelings for Dahlia, the irresistibly funny and open-hearted human woman that Talula definitely should not fall for. Chock-full of queer joy, succulent snacks, laugh out-loud one-liners, and unforgettable characters, this book is best enjoyed with a cup of hot cocoa and the cutest girl you know.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars
.5 chili peppers

This is a very very cozy book but not for me personally. It is written beautifully and reads well but not much happened in my opinion. I should have read it closer to fall.

I really wanted to like it maybe as a audiobook.

Tropes:
Reluctant hero/chosen one
Underdog
Slow burn

[Liz Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fresh take on bringing sorcery to the real world, The Blue Moon Café & 24-Hour Occult Emporium is pure magic and an absolute delight of a debut. Lexie Sharabianlou is a glowing new voice in cozy fantasy, and I can’t wait for more of her books!