Twig's Traveling Tomes

by Gryffin Murphy

A witch with a magical affinity for books who owns a travelling bookstore reluctantly teams up with a charming rogue, her former professor and a gnome in search of a rare stolen grimoire. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Thorne, India Holton, Travis Baldree and Sarah Beth Durst

Romance is easier read than done

Louella Twig is the only witch of her kind, much to the disappointment of her former mentor and her previous academic ambitions. While others connect to nature as their source of magic, Louella has an affinity with books. Denied her graduation broom, Louella carves a new path using her talent, creating a magical ambulatory bookshop that travels throughout the realm uniting readers with stories.

She lives a cosy, stable life, until she collides - quite literally - with a mysterious man between the Romance and Adventure aisles. Everett Sharp is handsome, charming ... and a rogue on the run. He's absolutely not someone Louella wishes to share either an adventure or a romance with. But then her old mentor arrives with a desperate a valuable grimoire has been stolen and there is only one witch who can retrieve what has been lost ... a witch who now finds herself in need of a bandit with experience.

Together with friends both old and new, Louella and Everett embark on an adventure across the four kingdoms, encountering whimsical creatures, a flying greenhouse full of plant pirates and a magical World's Fair. Along the way, Louella starts to wonder if this new chapter of her life could include some romance after all ...

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy, Cozy Fantasy, Romance, Books About Books, Adult, Witches

Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Gryffin Murphy lives in Virginia with her husband and their two pugs, Bagels and Buster. She spends her days in overalls, trying to befriend the neighborhood crows and writing stories that warm the heart like the perfect cup of tea on a rainy day.

Reviews

[Patrycja · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐

I'd REALLY like to visit Twig's bookstore!

------------------------------------------

Twig’s Traveling Tomes is a cozy fantasy centered on Louella Twig, a book-loving witch who runs a magical traveling bookstore that doesn’t stay in one place for long. The shop journeys across the four kingdoms. Louella guided by a touch of magic seems to understand its readers better than they understand themselves. Shelves shift, doors open onto unexpected streets, and the store itself feels almost alive — as if it chooses its destinations with purpose. When a powerful grimoire is stolen, Louella is pulled out of her comfortable, book-filled routine and into an adventure across those same kingdoms, joined by a charming rogue, her former professor, and a gnome companion.

The traveling bookstore is easily one of the most compelling elements of the novel. It’s such a warm, imaginative concept, and the author truly explores the idea that books themselves hold transformative magic. The world feels vibrant and the journey beyond Louella’s shop introduces a range of interesting creatures and whimsical settings that make the adventure feel lively and visually rich.

The found family motif adds emotional warmth to the story. Watching this unlikely group slowly come together is one of the book’s strengths, especially as Louella is pushed outside her comfort zone and forced to grow.

That said, while the premise and worldbuilding are wonderfully engaging, the characters themselves aren’t the most unique. I didn’t feel as invested in their individual fates as I would have liked. Still, the setting and magical atmosphere were so charming that it didn’t detract too much from my overall enjoyment.

Overall, Twig’s Traveling Tomes is a comforting, imaginative read. Perfect for readers who love cozy adventures, magical bookstores, and stories about finding belonging in unexpected places.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[andreea ᥫ᭡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

𐔌 . ⋮ twig’s traveling tomes 📜 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

what to expect:
— cottagecore, whimsical story
— low-stakes adventures
— found family
— insta-love
— howl’s moving castle vibes

the story follows louella twig, a witch whose magic is tied to books, who runs a traveling bookstore that somehow always gives people the exact book they need. she mostly keeps to herself until a thief shows up in her shop, and soon after, her old mentor pulls her into a search for a stolen grimoire.

from there, the story turns into more of a journey, with louella traveling alongside a small group to try and find it, even though she’s clearly not someone who’s used to that kind of life.

it has a really nice concept, especially with the whole magical bookstore idea, but the story leans more on the journey and the characters than on a strong, fast-moving plot.

i truly believe that, with a bit more time and development, twig’s traveling tomes could’ve been great. my main issue was that i just couldn’t connect to the characters, and because of that, i didn’t really care about the plot either. there’s barely any tension; not between the characters, and not when it comes to the actual goal of the story.

collecting the pages of the grimoire, which should’ve been some of the most intense moments, would be over in a page with no real buildup or suspense. everything felt very rushed, like i was being told things instead of actually experiencing them.

i also didn’t find myself caring about any of the characters. louella’s friends and family kind of just exist in the background without adding much, and her personality feels way too centered around everett. outside of him, it’s hard to say who she even is. and by day five they were already in love… insta love just isn’t for me.

to me, this read more like a ya book, despite all the innuendos. the tone felt very young and a bit too cheeky at times, which just didn’t really work for me. by the 70% mark, i was honestly pretty bored and not that invested in what was happening anymore.

that being said, it’s not all bad. there were a few elements i liked, and i can see this working better for other people. i’d probably recommend it as something to read in between heavier books, since it’s quick and easy and doesn’t require too much investment.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 📜 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

trying to catch up on my arcs and this one expires in 6 days… amazing timing. but it looks so cozy i can’t even be mad, i’m actually really excited for it!!

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was proved wrong, this was not a 5 star read. It was, in fact, a 6 star read. I can’t even find the right words for how much I loved this book. It was everything I wanted from a cosy fantasy 💕

It’s filled with found family, a heartmelting slow-burn romance, so much yearning, and the beautiful journey of finding yourself within a community. It’s about self-acceptance, inclusivity and oh so warm and funny.

I want to live inside this story.
I want to wander through Twig’s bookstore and get the book I really need.
I want to travel with the Grimoire Avengers, have adventures with friends, and see all the creatures and lands of Four.
I want to learn magic with Feralorn. I want to garden with Midge. I want to fly with the Pirates.
I want to sit and read with Louella.

And yes, I absolutely want Everett to flirt with me. (Pretty please?)
I mean… just listen to this:
“You don’t ever need to justify your book purchases to me. If you want it, you should have it.” 🥹 OMGosh.

More than anything, I wish I could read this again for the very first time.

This book is for everyone who has ever wanted to go on an adventure with a Flynn Rider–type rogue, take on a quest for a stolen book including finding magical creatures, and create magic with the most relatable and charming book witch.

One more quote:
“That is the author… They put a small part of their souls into every work they write, with the desperate hope their book will find the right reader.”
Well, this book found the right reader. (It’s me, hi!)
Gryffin Murphy made me a forever fan with this book – of her writing, her wit, her humor, her heart, and her romance.
And I made friends in this book. They’re going to stay with me forever.

Thank you to Bindery, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[BookishKB]

💫✨ Twig’s Traveling Tomes ✨💫

I am so excited for this one!!

🪄 What to Expect
• Book witch heroine
• Magical traveling bookshop
• Quest
• Found family
• Flirty banter
• Cozy fantasy
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: September 8, 2026
📝 Thank you to Bindery Books, Cozy Quill, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Alyssa Russek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the Author and Publisher for the ARC provided via Netgalley

I am going to give this book 3 stars, but I want to preface with this is entirely ME and not the book. The book feels YA, but I think that is just the cozy fantasy sub genre and I am new to it. It was a very simple read but I am not sure I love cozy books as much as I love cozy video games. I do think this was very personal to me. While this may not been a 6/5 for me, I really believe a lot of people are going to read it and love it. I would love to read another book in this world for sure. A short story or book about Louella's life before this, just working the shop and her daily life would be my dream.

This may be a personal thing, but I completely and utterly want this as a video game. Find the pieces, while being able to make time for customers. When the customer comes it gives you hints as to which book to recommend, giving the right book gives you points which in turns grants you bonuses for the page search. (Cozy Quill... if you start making video games and need a tester for that HMU) I also want to say I don't find this strictly an autumnal read. Personally I think this book is great for any change of seasons. When spring leaps to summer, when summer dances into autumn, when autumn falls into winter, when winter crawls into spring. Maybe it's because I'm reading it as the weather changes every day (yikes tbh) but as I flip the pages I imagine each kingdom having slightly different weather to match mine outside.

The beginning was fun but felt a bit rushed. I would have liked to see more of Louella's daily life. The premise of a book witch who pairs you with the book you need sounds so fun and perfect. I really wish we had a full chapter of her going about, and Everett somewhat in the background, just as an intro. Seeing her switch worlds while selling books, her interactions with customers. She seems to be a legend in world, and that is lore I would have wanted to explore more.

I also feel like with the door knob, the author did a tell not show in the explanation. While we did see it in action once before the "action" started I feel like her explanation wasn't entirely necessary if Louella could have used it a bit more in a daily life way. It was a short paragraph but it didn't really feel necessary to me. Afterwards when she changes the knob it doesn't go into the descriptions of the knobs, just the feeling. Possibly this bit of magic, which I felt hyped from the synopsis, wasn't as magical after the first bit. I also found myself wondering if her magic is with books, how did she enchant the knobs? How did she go through and set it up? We were thoroughly told HOW it worked, just not HOW it began.

I did like the way the adventure started. It gives you a hint of, hmm why is Everett truly doing this, without seeming overly like, this weirdo will not leave.
There's clearly an instant connection which is cute. Sometimes when I am reading a book it is hard to understand a character's motivation. With Everett I didn't think that was so. Louella... it was hard at times. I felt a large part of her motivations was just that she was too nice of a person. I did really appreciate that she would correct herself whenever she made an assumption about a person. It felt like Louella was a truly fluid person who was trying to grow at all times. She did initially come off "sheltered" but that was an assumption on my part, and wrong. I think too often we imagine our heroines or heros who are displayed at introverted to either be either sheltered or just hiding their sparkly personality behind a veil of shyness. Sometimes, just like with real people, they may just be introverted and its OK.

The character Feralorn is a good comedic relief but he is also an annoying person (as in if I was Louella I wouldn't be so nice). He didn't really get redeemed until the later part of the book so I questioned why Louella was helping him at all for most of the book. Even after the "redemption" the quest didn't make sense to me because, he still was a bit rude.
Midge and Oliver, sweet side characters. I enjoy their banter and personalities. Everyone seems to fit into a bit of a niche. Everett, the redeemable rogue, Feralorn, the comedic tutor, Midge, the brave friend, Oliver, the side kick to the brave friend who's trying to learn how to be brave (haha!!) Her mothers brought a nice background to her story, same with Everett and his parents. It was a nice explanation to the MCs, which I feel can be lost in some romances. And of course, Louella, the heroine who is finding herself and her heart.

I did find that by the end of the middle it began to get a little repetitive. I feel as if the book could have taken away a chapter or two and still be in the same place when the story is over. The cast got a bit wider and I feel like the author took Happily Ever After and stretched it to fit everyone, which then in turn made the story feel a little bloated in the middle. As a video game it would be EXCELLENT, but as a book I felt that they had "leveled up" already and were ready to move on. Parts felt rushed, the scene where Everett and Louella were in the cave. Other parts felt unnecessary entirely, the painter witch. Honestly this whole part didn't make sense to me. Why did she follow him? Why did he think she would just sleep with him in the middle of the day while her party was outside? Maybe I missed something there...

Once the story shifted a bit I was pulled back in. Despite enjoying the story overall I found myself reading the middle a little bit like a chore. I said to a friend, it was like molasses, sweet but hard to finish.

[Dadreadsanreviews (james) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for the chance to review this book! This may be the most perfect cozy fantasy I could imagine. It’s full of found family, slow burn romance, yearning, finding your true self in community, self acceptance, inclusivity, and most of all…puns! The writing style is engaging and every character has a distinct voice and place in Louella’s arc. The pacing was excellent. I knew that the story was dragging in someone’s of the plot, but in didn’t care because each scene added depth, humor, and richness to the characters. The story feels like a warm blanket beside a fire with a cup of tea on winter’s day. An absolute joy to read!

[Tiny Dragon Books~ Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a blast!
There’s nothing I love more than a book about books, and the cosy vibes of Twigs Travelling Tomes were perfection.
With a cast of eccentric characters, a Flynn Ryder-esque rogue and a swathe of mystical creatures, there was so much to like about this story.
Friendships, resilience and a sprinkle of romance made it all the more lovely to read.
Settle in with a cup of tea, a snuggly blanket and dive into the kingdom of Four.

[Enya.reads.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

J’ai tellement passé un bon moment avec Twig et ses drôles d’acolytes! Ce livre est une parfaite cozy romantasy. Low stakes, mais pas du tout ennuyante! Les personnages sont attachants, la quête est légère, mais pertinente, et les p’tites morales font du bien. Finalement, j’ai vraiment aimé la romance! 🥰

**Merci à NetGalley, Cozy Quill et l’autrice pour l’ARC! Cet avis est mon honnête opinion**

[Herbibliomaniac · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟

Adorable cozy romantasy. Fun characters all throughout the story. Flynn Rider vibes from the mmc (with a hint of Kristoff).

I love books that have books, so a traveling bookshop sounded too fun to pass up. I enjoyed this from the first page. It has an entertaining meet-cute, snarky book magic, found family friends, humor throughout, and of course a quest to take them all over the place. I really enjoyed the banter between the fmc and mmc. The book titles were probably my favorite part aside from the quirky cast of characters. In general I loved all of it.


Thanks Bindery Books | Cozy Quill for sending me an Arc to review.

[hon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Gryffin Murphy, Bindery Books and Netgalley for this ARC to read and review

Twig’s Travelling Tomes is a magical, fantastical yet cozy and heartwarming journey about Louella the Book Witch—a witch shunned by most of the magic community for having an unconventional magic source. Instead of having magic connected and powered by nature, Louella’s magic is connected to books. Louella runs a travelling bookstore, one bookstore in each kingdom. Here she lives a quiet life of solitude, apart from the company of her books, of course. She is known for her talent of providing her customers with exactly the book they need, even if it’s not the book they originally wanted. Life is always the same for Louella, until a roughish yet handsome ex thief from an infamous criminal group arrives in her shop, hiding from a guard and requiring her help. If that wasn’t bad enough, her prior mentor stumbles in, desperate for her assistance in finding and rescuing the pages of his stolen grimoire. This unravels into an unwanted adventure with the thief and her ex mentor to retrieve the grimoire, where we follow them on an exciting and cozy escapade, coming across different magical creatures, new friends and all sorts of dangers—all of which are entirely out of Louella’s comfort zone.

I adored this book from the very first pages. It immediately enraptures and envelopes you in a cozy, magical warmth—like a cozy, warm hug shared sat in front of a roasting fire. The story is fast paced and there is an immediate spark between Louella and Everett, drawing you in and making you need to know what, if anything, will happen between them. The writing is lovely, witty, holds your attention and absolutely cozy (shall we start a count on how many times I say cozy in this review?). The cast of the book begins with a very amusing trio, although along the way new friends are found and our little trio grows. The characters are unique, have good depth and are endlessly endearing. I truly began to love the characters and already miss them since finishing the book. I loved reading about Louella’s personal journey. I loved her silly awkwardness, the way she is completely different, perhaps a little weird, yet owns and rocks it. I truly felt for her in her struggles with her academic struggles due to being “different” and hurting when she is reminded of her being “defunct”. Her growth throughout the book was wonderful to read and I genuinely felt proud of her moving out of her comfort zone in her little bookish sanctuary and delving into the real world, writing a story of her own.

With all of its coziness, this book is also truly funny. Not only are there some hilarious scenes that genuinely made me giggle aloud (some sirens may be involved), it is truly witty all throughout, with Midge, an independent, newly single gnome making me laugh the most. The romance in this book is also lovely. I wouldn’t say it’s the main focus of the book, although admiring gazes and flirty comments from Everett are scattered throughout. While the book is fast paced, the romance feels like a slow burn, but with plenty of little, lovely moments to keep you invested and wanting more.

My only complaint for this book is I would have liked more. Some of the plotlines feel a little rushed or random. I found myself often enjoying a plotline of the book just for it to finish unexpectedly, skipping over parts and leaving me wanting more. Still, I adored this book from beginning to end and absolutely ate it up.

I definitely recommend this book for fans of Diana Wynne Jones’ “Howl's Moving Castle” and fans of Heather Fawcett’s “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries”. Perhaps even fans of “Legends & Lattes” by Travis Baldree, which I shockingly haven’t read but I still kept feeling would have a similar vibe to this read. All in all, I really couldn’t recommend this more for anyone looking for their next cozy, magical, fantasy read full of romance, adventure and magical creatures.

[Hu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a delightful cozy fantasy adventure. Full of warmth, whimsy, and tongue-in-cheek humour, this story completely charmed me from the very first page. The travelling bookshop concept was magical in itself, but pairing it with a witch who can match readers to the exact books their souls need made this feel like the ultimate love letter to stories and the people who treasure them.

Twig was an instantly lovable protagonist, and the supporting cast was just as wonderful. Every character felt vibrant and full of personality, creating the kind of found-family energy that makes cozy fantasy so comforting to read. I especially appreciated the LGBTQI+ representation woven naturally into the story, including Twig having two mothers, which added another layer of warmth and inclusivity to the world.

Alongside the adventure and magic, the romance elements were also beautifully done. They added sweetness and emotional depth to the story without ever overpowering the whimsical atmosphere, and the relationships felt genuine, tender, and easy to root for.

As Twig journeys alongside the enchanted travelling bookshop, readers are swept into an adventure filled with magical mishaps, heartfelt friendships, romance, and plenty of bookish wonder. It’s cozy, clever, and endlessly entertaining while still carrying an emotional core about belonging, identity, and finding the stories that truly see us.

If you love cozy fantasy, magical bookstores, found family dynamics, light romance, quirky adventures, and stories with inclusive representation, this is absolutely one to add to your TBR. It felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of tea and a stack of beloved books nearby.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5✨
0🌶️
Cozy Romantasy

📚Fantasy world with magic
📚Slow burn
📚Found family
📚Traveling bookstore
📚He yearns, hard

Louella Twig is a witch and the proud owner of a bookstore that travels magically through the kingdom of Four. Her ability is books, as she is able to magically pair every person with the book they need the most in that moment, She is perfectly content with her calm lifestyle, when her old mentor ropes her in an adventure to find his stolen grimoire. Deciding to take part of the adventure thanks to a charming thief who walks in her bookstore and convinces her to take a risk, Louella will find friendship, love and unexpected adventures are not best tucked away in a book.

"You don't ever need to justify your book purchases to me. If you want it, you should have it."

Well this book was simply fantastic. While reading, I constantly found myself wanting to be Louella and own her bookstore, or at the very least being able to play her character in a videogame (no but for real, how cool would this book be as a videogame?). Louella is unapologetically herself, which I aspire to be every day of my life: she wears no shoes because they're uncomfortable, she always wears the same outfit consisting of multiple layers of gowns and her favourite patchwork hat, and she is strong enough to open her own business, even when her magic is, more than once, questioned. Other than the fact that I'd love to have her power, she is also such a good role model for resilience.

"Don't fret, dear Twigs. I've learned from your books that you appreciate a slow burn. And so, I shall."
"Shall what?"
"Burn, Twigs. Slowly. I'll wait for as long as you dare me to hope."

Everett is probably the best MMC I've read in a while. First of all, in my head he is Flynn Rider from Rapunzel, and that was already a huge plus. Secondly, he is a scoundrel and a thief, yes, but he never once took back the promises he made to Twig. And in a world full of books with morally grey characters who are unable to keep their word but are always excused, Everett Sharp should be the standard for the man you girls need to fall in love with, He is hot, sweet, flirtatious, fun, protective, and overall such a perfect companion for adventures! Yes, he was a thief, but he committed only petty crimes, so nothing too serious in a fantasy world like Four😉

"After not eating breakfast, I'm desperately craving some honeycomb."
"And honeycomb is my nickname, is it?"

The banter between Everett and Louella was always perfectly sharp (pun intended) and on point. It was the perfect mix of flirt and comedy and it is absolutely perfect to read when you want a romcom set in a fantasy world. Altogether, all the characters were given personalized personalities and distinctives traits, making them unique.

"No amount of treasure in the four kingdoms could ever compare to my dear Twigs."

The adventure part of the book was so fun! I loved learning about new animals, new places in the kingdom and new characters, who were also always diverse and unique. Reading this book felt like being immersed in the Ochre Forest with a blanket and hot cup of tea, and even when my mood was bad, it found a way to put a smile on my face. I hope we will get new stories from the kingdom of Four, because I can't wait to delve into it as soon as possible!

Thank you, NetGalley, Gryffin Murphy and Bindery Books, for the opportunity to read this book as an advanced reader copy!

Twig's Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy comes out on September 8, 2026!🗓️

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps you too would like to read a cozy story about a witch who runs a bookstore and goes on an adventure, and falls in love? I don’t know? A tiny joy!

[Chenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a lovely and cozy read. Well-written with a fun storyline, I definitely recommend this to cozy fantasy readers.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so lovely and cute and it really delivered on all fronts. Whimsy and romance and magic and I’m an absolute fiend for found family. I was obsessed start to finish and it was really not a long book and I was yelling at the two main characters to kiss for the entire thing

Sometimes you need a cozy low stakes situation to escape the world and this was truly that

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, fast paced, magical filled, found family-esque book. Its whimsical nature was witty and funny and took me very easily into their world.

The plot was lackluster. I found it frustrating that we were looking for magical creatures that were actually pages in the mage's book but it was INSTANTLY resolved upon finding the creature. We didn't get a lot of details on what they did to capture it. They would find a creature, say 'okay let's get it', and then the next chapter or next sentence would be 'oh that was a bit trickier to get than the last one'. I wanted to actually see them get each one since it was the entire plotline of the book.

But that only took it down from a 6 to a 5 star read for me.

The wizard/mage is hilarious, spunky, eccentric, and completely oblivious to everything. I loved all his little 'squeaks' and him feeding tiny animals in his clothes. 'Egad' was also hilarious for whatever reason.
The main character was sweet. I liked her reclusive nature that eventually blossomed into welcoming many additions to her library/home.
The gnome/dwarf was funny too. Very direct but cute.
Our love interest was very Flynn Ryder esque and I loved that. Witty, comical, charming. Perfection combination.

The world building was somewhat lacking, but I still found it to be cozy enough with my imagination able to fill in those gaps.

Thank you to the publishers and author. Ebook arc was provided by Netgalley but all my opinions are mine.

[Nae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Cozy Quill/Bindery Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very twee, fast-paced, and cheesy. Not for me, but could be an easy, cozy good time for the right reader.

Genres, settings, categories, themes: fantasy, cozy fantasy, romance (M/F), magic, traveling bookshop, found family, adventure, magical creatures, low stakes

💗 Tropes: 💗
> Bookish Themes
> Forced Proximity
> Quest
> Unrequited Love / He Falls First
all about tropes here

POV: 3rd person

Series/Sequencing Style: standalone, no cliffhanger

Format: ebook (e-ARC)

🔽🔽🔽

Overall ratings

Heat level: 👄 1/5 mild sizzle 👄
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)

~ Heroine (Louella/"Twigs") ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Hero (Everett) ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Other characters ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 very fun cast of characters, even if it felt like some were randomly tossed in for the vibes / found family trope (in an unbelievable manner)

~ Plot ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑 more promise than was delivered

~ Pacing ~ 1.5/5 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑 With a breakneck pace for the majority of the book, it felt like we’d hop from one scene to the next, without settling in or finishing any of them. The pacing started to slow down to a comfortable pace with the final part of their quest, going to the fair and all that. The attention focused on that part was missing from the earlier legs of their journey.

~ Romance ~ 1/5 🌕🌑🌑🌑🌑

~ World building ~ 2/5 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑 This world held a lot of promise, but like other elements of the book, seemed to only skim the surface. A map would have been super helpful, and I wanted more details on each of the kingdoms/locations. Seriously, add a map for the final version, it will help a lot.

~ Adventure ~ 2/5 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑 There’s certainly a lot of adventure implied, and they go many places, but with it feeling rushed and skimping on details, I never felt connected enough to it to enjoy it as a real quest.

~ Writing ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑 a little too light & silly for me, but possibly fluffy fun for someone else

~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 1 - very silly
~ Diversity & representation: queer normative world with gay & sapphic side characters, and gender fluidity they/thems
~ Angst level: 1/5
~ Sadness level: 0/5

🔽🔽🔽

❗CW/Triggers:❗nothing?

🔽🔽🔽

📝 Review/Notes 📝

This book seemed like it was going to be a great fit for me–a magical bookstore? Say no more! But also a rogue MMC, adventure, and magical creatures–all of that is very up my alley and sets up for a fun premise. Unfortunately, the execution did not live up to the premise and I found this one too goofy and fluffy for me, but it should have its audience.

The pace is all-out breakneck, rushing from one thing to the next. I’m not sure how other adventure books fit everything in and seem to be paced better and go deeper, but something about this stays very surface-level, skimming from one stop to the next, with new characters quickly hopping on board along the way. While I’d say I usually prefer a faster pace over a slower pace, this is too fast-paced even for me.

Everett is into her from the start and she just kind of starts giving in to him being around in a way that doesn’t really allow for much romantic development or interest there. The entire tone of the book is very corny and cheesy, but if you’re okay with that and want a super lighthearted romp, this could be a lot of fun for you. Someone who vibes with the humor of this book might find it funny enough to overlook the pacing and actually enjoy the tone (both of which were not it for me). The tone was overly silly for me. I just wasn’t invested in the characters or their adventure as much as I’d like and couldn’t really take anything they said seriously. Much too cheesy. Despite the characters being adults, read pretty YA, in my opinion.

Some things I found ridiculous:

• When they magically transport to the forest, there's this whole thing where she's like *well now we're too far away from where you live, so you'll have to stay overnight*...why can’t she just transport them back, or to another location that’s closer to them getting back where they need to go?

• Could do with a little less of her being referred to as “the witch” so often. This was subbed in as often as "she", "her", and her name, and something about it was jarring to randomly have it be like "The witch picked up the book and..."

• Okay, I gotta say, someone new joining the “adventure” at each stop is pretty ridiculous, even if it’s clearly going for found family. Everyone is just like *can I come along on this quest too?* and off they go.

• They go to the sirens and say, “We don’t know what it is, we just know it’s here,” and the sirens are just magically like “Is it this!?” Here ya go!

• “With Arturo’s help, they’d retrieved seven creatures”–wait, so he just showed up with 7 of them in a bag? I guess that's one way to explain away and skip over 7 of the creatures/stops.

From Jada's 2-star review:

"I found the characters to be tropey and one dimensional. What was missing from this book was atmospheric world-building. Instead, there was a lot of jumping between different settings in the first third of the book that I struggled to appreciate them. The writing style is good for those wanting a very simple cosy read, but I found it explaining conversations and scenes that didn’t add to the plot or tell the reader new things about the characters. The wheel was turning very slowly whilst not actually saying much, as the quest was introduced abrasively with low stakes and no tension.

What was supposed to be the energy behind this book was the romance, which felt artificial and not believable. Fantasy as a genre still has realistic aspects, but the instant attraction didn’t have a strong foundation or any substance, and the familiarity between the characters was alarmingly quick and I found myself feeling like I had completely missed a step."

🔽🔽🔽

🤠 Recommended for: fans of Legends & Lattes

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy story, full of quirky-characters who go on a quest to find a map that, due to a warding spell gone-wrong, has separated itself into sections and have magically hidden itself away across the land by camouflaging as a local creature. A rag-tag group of characters band together, to find this map, and are led by our FMC and MMC, traversing a litany of fantastical landscapes.

Thank you to NetGallery, Bindery Books and Cozy Quill for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, I greatly appreciated the chance to read Gryffin Murphy's story.

This is a story with low-stakes, an adventure with a quirky witch having to face her own loneliness, and a mysterious rogue who has a hazy past but the right skill-set to help our witch on her mission to find her mentor's map. This cozy fantasy is definitely written with the trope where "he falls first", and both our FMC, MMC and their gnome companions head out on a D&D-like side-quest, where the characters tease one another as they explore different sections of the realm looking to put the map back together.

For me, I am personally drawn to stories with stronger character development than what I experienced here, and this is usually catalyzed through the stakes the author raises throughout the novel. I admit that I read this novel through until I reached the 45% mark, and found that with having read nearly halfway through the book and no new stakes were raised, nor were any current stakes escalated, I found that the story was very much starting to drag.

I had struggled the most with a common trope that romantasies will fall into, and for me, its a pit that does not set the book up for success; the inclination for an author to write one or more of their characters instantly falling in love with another. The "isnta-love" trope. The MMC fell for our FMC within seconds of their first meeting, and the romantic scenes forever afterward are written in such a way that it feels as though they were inserted at random points along the plot-line, so that it doesn't exactly propel the story forward, and instead reads a little awkward and a little oversaturated with infatuation. There is no tension or slow-building of their relationship.

I also had a concern with the one-dimensional writing of our main characters. The MMC especially feels written as a trope and does not have much dimension beyond being the mysterious thief who has heart eyes only for our FMC, despite knowing next to nothing about her. Our FMC likewise is instantly drawn to him, and yet keeps "resisting" her feelings because of this "thief" label that our MMC is given. This kind of barrier doesn't run super deep and doesn't escalate by the 45% mark of the book and so, by this point, I felt more than a little frustration that this romantic stake in the story, which should be driving a romantic cozy fantasy forward, but instead was causing the story to feel like it was dragging along and not reading any deeper than a superficial trope; bad guy falls hard for quirky loner good girl but she refuses him because he's "bad".

The romance for me was the most frustrating aspect of this story, due to the awkward placement of various scenes of infatuation being plunked in the middle of other moments in our story which arguably were doing a better job of driving the story forward. For this reason, time and again, I felt thrown out of the story and even more annoyed at the MMC rather than drawn to him.

I believe that some of the pain in this story's writing is due to the "promise" created by the author at the start of this novel. Our MMC is written as a thief, and is portrayed as a cunning and skillful man that is capable of getting himself out of scraps when our FMC first meets him. However, beyond this, none of his interactions between him and our FMC fulfilled this image as the story progressed. He feels like an ordinary man, with our author hinting and telling us that there's more but with nothing to show for it by the 50% mark. Granted, this is a book written for the cozy genre and I don't expect the action to ramp up like I might with an epic fantasy, but at the same time, I feel let down by our MMC and feel that the author had not delivered or written him to fulfill the role that we are first introduced to in the beginning of the novel.

I found our side-characters held a lot more promise, and made this cozy fantasy so much more enjoyable with the light banter that was volleyed between themselves and our FMC. I think that this author's writing has great potential, but feel that the main characters need to be more deeply established in what they are wanting and creating deeper conflicts which can display behaviours and/or coping mechanisms that show us the characters' insecurities and then to develop deeper stakes between these characters, show us how these coping mechanisms directly clash with one another. This would create deeper conflict that I would enjoy to read and which would make the opposition our FMC feels towards her attraction to our MMC feel more believable. Using conflict as a tool to increase tension would better show us who these characters are rather than telling us who they are through over-used tropes and labels.

[Kels Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to start by expressing my gratitude to NetGalley and Bindery Books for granting me access to this ARC. Additionally, I want to thank the author for crafting such a beautiful story; I truly enjoyed every moment of it!

Summary - Twig’s Traveling Tomes is a tale of a witch with a rare ability for book magic. However, branded as defunct, she starts her own bookshop to prove herself—a traveling bookshop. One day, her old professor requests her help; reluctantly, she is convinced to go on an adventure to retrieve her professor's grimoire that has been stolen. Along with a handsome rogue, a cheeky gardening gnome, a guard gnome with a fear of dragons, and two wizards, they set off on a grand adventure. It is a story about magic, love, friendship, community healing, dreams, and the feeling of never being enough, along with having the right people to help you see that you are enough.


Thoughts - The combination of a cosy fantasy with romantic elements throughout had me turning pages with excitement. The author embraced a gentle writing style infused with a hint of magic and lightheartedness, creating a comforting atmosphere. It beautifully explored themes of friendship, community, and healing. The world-building was so charming and dreamlike within each of the realms of four that they visited, from lush landscapes with plush, bouncy moss and mushrooms with neon hues illuminating the way to busy little markets with candlelit taverns. It created an atmospheric, immersive, and comforting feel. The scenes between each chapter blended so well and were just so enchanting. You wanted to be with them on this magical adventure. I think one of my favorite parts was when Everett and the gang met his parents and how the sylvan giants bond magically with the mycelium, which makes them clairvoyant. I just loved that little piece of information because mycelium travels underneath, communicating with life. I also love the little touch of Howl’s Moving Castle vibe regarding Louella’s bookshop. The magical creatures within the book were just so unique and cool, it was so much fun finding each new creature and discovering what they were. I don't want to spoil this part because I really think this is part of the charm within the book, as this is the whole adventure, but it has everything to do with Feralorn’s Grimoire Animagienchiridion, as he has a connection with animals.
As I moved further into the story, I just loved the friendship being built one page at a time. It started with Louella and ended with her having a beautiful group of friends and someone she could spend her life with. As she starts off her journey, it is lonely being a defunct witch, and she is always trying to prove herself, which makes her more reclusive in the world. But as her mentor returns, Feralorn, an eccentric and baffling wizard who trained Louella, and a strange and handsome rogue, Everett, who weaves his way into Louella’s heart, their journey begins, and the rest is history. On the way, she befriends Midge, a gardening gnome who takes pride in her garden of dangerous and intriguing plants and loves learning about new species. I loved her personality and little quirks. She was a fun character to get to know, and her passion for plants was delightful to explore. Oliver is also a gnome and has a history with Midge that blossoms again. He is afraid of dragons but is extremely loyal to his friends, no matter what. Lastly, Arturo is Feralorn’s old friend and partner. Together, they create the unforgettable adventure. There are other characters within the book, but you will have to read to discover them.
While this was a cosy fantasy with romance, there is still a beautiful message interwoven through the pages. This story celebrates our true selves, our uniqueness, and self-discovery, but also friendship, love, and connections. I really related to Louella, as I think many do, and to see her thrive and be her true self at the end with people around her who love her was a wholesome and endearing tale. I think Everett was such a great MMC for this story; he was exactly what Louella needed, and I absolutely adored their chemistry. I truly loved this Twig’s Traveling Tomes; it was fun, exciting, cozy, and full of fantasy. I would recommend it to anyone who loves these elements in a book.

[Jada De Luca · Rating 2 out of 5]

For fans of Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, a kindred soul can be found in this light, cozy read. From a genre standpoint, Twig’s Travelling Tomes ultimately achieves what it sets out to do; this book is an addition to the romantasy genre that ticks a lot of boxes for readers— tea, a travelling bookshop, eclectic cast of characters, magic and a slow (yet predictable) burn with a ‘man with a wolfish grin.’

Louella is a witch whom, despite being rejected from academia seven years prior, has established a solid foundation for herself seven years later as the owner of a travelling bookshop. Instead of traditional methods of magic, hers is unique in which she can magically identify exactly the book someone needs. Louella connects lovers, uncovers affairs, and adventures to locate her mentor’s lost grimoire. As a book lover, this premise intrigued me, however along with the soft world-building that didn’t immerse the reader, I put this down after reading 35%. I was hoping that Louella’s personality would show through and not be so heavily reliant on the MMC, and found discrepancies between how she was written and the magic system introduced: for someone that could recommend books to other people so easily, and see the positive effects of such, when her magic recommended books to her own benefit, she was quick to reject them. Her decisions and behaviour around the MMC that was an ‘instant attraction’ were incongruent with a woman that owned her own business and made a name of herself despite being renounced. The back and forth of her attraction, paired with her lack of self-advocacy and the hypocrisy, wasn’t page turning; the writing was direct, lacked description and atmosphere, and was very on the nose.

Instead, I found the characters to be tropey and one dimensional. What was missing from this book was atmospheric world-building. Instead, there was a lot of jumping between different settings in the first third of the book that I struggled to appreciate them. The writing style is good for those wanting a very simple cosy read, but I found it explaining conversations and scenes that didn’t add to the plot or tell the reader new things about the characters. The wheel was turning very slowly whilst not actually saying much, as the quest was introduced abrasively with low stakes and no tension.

What was supposed to be the energy behind this book was the romance, which felt artificial and not believable. Fantasy as a genre still has realistic aspects, but the instant attraction didn’t have a strong foundation or any substance, and the familiarity between the characters was alarmingly quick and I found myself feeling like I had completely missed a step.

Fans of romantasy, quest storylines, found family, and roguish male main characters will enjoy this book, however I was hoping for a title that added unique elements and depth to the romantasy genre.

(Thank you to the publisher Cozy Quill and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book)

[Clo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Bindery Books for this eARC!

Louella Twig runs her bookshop from the privacy of four different storefronts across the kingdom of Four. She knows what book people need, not what they necessarily want. When her old tutor comes to ask for her magic and her assistance in finding the lost pages of her spell book, she finds herself exploring corners of the kingdom she's never dared to step foot in before. And with a handsome criminal/adventurer at her side, she begins to explore the human connections she isolated herself away from.

I was drawn to this book for the cosy vibes. Reading, magic, a travelling bookshop!? Sign me up! But, unfortunately this book just wasn't it for me.

The quest had no real tension, every time they reached a new place and needed to retrieve the pages, it was over with in an instant. Most of the time, I think the journeys were actually longer than retrieving the pages themselves! And also because there were so many of them - I felt personally, that it would have been better to lower the count of the missing pages and spend more time in each scenario.

I did enjoy Louella and Everett's relationship and how it budded across the book. Everett did give off some serious Tangled ~ Flynn Rider vibes too. But I wish that Everett wasn't so struck on Louella at first - it felt like a one-sided relationship at times for little reason, like he was lowkey obsessed - maybe that's just me though. As well as this, I was seriously thinking someone was going to join the crew every single time they went somewhere. For this reason, I struggled with the relationships with other characters, we seemed to get a new character thrown at us after every significant event.

I found that the book also seemed to clash with itself at times in terms of audience. There were lots of dirty innuendos scattered around in there, yet it still had a very childlike feel to it - at one point I even loaded up the information to check I hadn't requested a children's book by mistake! The wizard, Louella's old tutor, has a habit of mixing his words up when he gets excited (which happens a fair few times!). I think that, paired with the lack of tension and the magical vibes, gave off children's fantasy or at least a young YA to me.

I did enjoy the book in some areas, but this read was not for me unfortunately. I think if you're after a youngish but cheeky adventure and don't mind fast paced with low stakes then this might be right for you. I did really want to enjoy this book - the premise, the coziness, fantasy, books, everything is something I'd love rolled into one, but it was a miss sadly.

[Ophelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twig's Traveling Tomes 📚📜💕

This is such a cute, cozy fantasy story! I was very charmed over all!

The basis of the story is pretty simple : we follow Louella, an original witch who finds her powee in books, in a world where all magic is elemental. She runs a travelling shop of books, where she constrained by her magic to give to customers the book they need rather than the one thet want. One day, her old mentor shows up, asking her a huge favor. His grimoire has been stolen and he needs her help (unique book matching and all) to get it back. The wards on the book made it separate into several clumps of pages, which then transformed into various magical creatures and hid with said creatures.

So that's the premise, which was very endearing to me right away. I love a good quest book.

Now, I haven't mentionned 2 big parts of the book :
- The love interest - Everett. Louella encounters almost right away this former thief. He immediately seems smitten but Louella is on the fence. The love story is very smooth and sweet.
- The found family aspect of the book. It's a big draw for me and Louella acquires new friends at every new adventure. The troup is cute.

What I loved :
- Louella. She was a compelling character to me. Somewhat naive and sheltered and disappointed by life experiences. But she makes it work and rolls with the flow of everything that's happened to her.
- Magic system. Louella's powers specifically mannifest in such an original way! Basically, depending on who she meets or the type of situation she finds herself in, a book's title and author will call to her. In a way, she can tell tge future and the present. Very interesting!
- No nonsense romance. The romance is clear frop the get-go. Everett does not play around at all throughout the whole story. It's clear Louella is his end goal and he'll do anything to make her also want it. I really liked the way it was set up!
- The banter. This is a very funny book, in a cutesy way. The whole cast has little jokes and some side characters are highlights in this department.

What I didn't :
- The lack of stakes and tension. Sadly, the book never managed to make me believe there was any type of real risk taken. The characters go on an adventure, they quickly know what they're looking for and what they need to do. They do it. They move on the next adventure. Repeat.
This sort of bleeds all over, also with the lack of repercussion over what her mentor did to her (or didn't do, I guess).

Overall this was a good book, which I would strongly recommand to cozy fanrasy readers!

Thanks to NetGalley and the editor flr letting read an ARC copy of this book

[Beth (covergirlbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful romantasy with themes of found-family and self-worth, perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones and Sarah Beth Durst!

Thank you to Bindery x Cozy Quill for the advance reader copy!

Louella Twig is a happily productive witch with a magical traveling bookshop. She may not have the accreditation of a broom to seal her education, but her magical specialty is a helpful one: giving her exactly the right book title for the person or situation. Not the book they’re asking for, but the one they need.

One day, two unexpected customers tumble into her shop: an unsettlingly charming bandit called Everett, and her batty former magic tutor, Feralorn.

Feralorn begs Louella’s help to find his stolen grimoire. He needs her book magic. At first, Louella is more than a little reluctant, especially since he rejected her magical knack in the past. But thanks to Everett’s own skills as a thief, and his ability to persuade, Louella agrees to mount a quest for the missing grimoire.

I giggled at Murphy’s humorous tone, but what really captivated me about this book was her imaginative settings! From sea caves of showgirl sirens to fields of fae trees covered in glowing mushrooms, every part of this book felt animated in brilliant colors. I wanted to read it before going to sleep so I could dream about it!

This book will introduce you to many fantastical creatures and settings reminiscent of Stardust and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Fairies, but the heart of it all is Twig’s traveling bookshop, which reminded me of the wizard’s house in House of Many Ways. I guarantee you’ll want to live in Twig’s treehouse with its library bedroom, stained glass windows, and rooftop reading swing!

I have two tiny qualms with the storytelling. One was that Everett’s personality fell a little flat for me, since he was very devotedly the love interest from the very first moment, and continued to be so. Secondly, there were a few instances when a character said a phrase, that was immediately echoed by another character but with a different meaning.

Ex. [the villain]: “Careful, Sharp,”
[the person being held at knifepoint]: “Careful, it’s sharp.”

This was arguably clever once or twice, but it felt a little too cheesy in the romantic dialogue.

The sweet center of this book is that life’s problems and joys are better shared. Adding more friends to your party (whatever you decide to name it!) has the power to change the story. Loved it!

[Dotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twig’s Traveling Tomes is a delightful cozy fantasy romance following a book witch, Twig, and her magical bookshop. When Twig’s former mentor has a magical book stolen, Twig must team up with a handsome thief, some quirky dwarves, and the elderly wizard. The crew embarks on a series of quests to reclaim the missing pages, which have been scattered around the kingdom, culminating in a magical fair.

This book is so cozy and delightful. The book spends time on the romance and the worldbuilding, but also takes time to describe the coziness of a bath. The book settles into the found family elements and embraces a number of different relationships within the crew. I loved the cozy elements in this book, which really leaned into the “high fantasy - low stakes” core of a cozy fantasy. The stakes for this story are about assembling a book after its theft, rather than some kind of larger world-ending stakes prevalent in much of the fantasy genre.

The romance plotline was stronger than I expected. The story never gets explicit, but there are detailed kissing descriptions and allusions to more. I’m used to cozy fantasy using the romance as a subplot, but this book definitely would best be described as a cozy fantasy romance, as the romance feels like a significant part. The romance itself is well done, with lots of cute moments. The third act conflict is just the right degree of conflict for a cozy fantasy, and there were lovely little romantic moments that made me giggle and smile.

I love a cozy fantasy, and as the genre has expanded, I feel like a lot of publishers have started labeling things as cozy that are not. This book does not have that problem. This book is cozy, and sweet, with an engaging romance and a fun adventure. Twig’s story is delightful and engaging and a lot of fun, and though I assume that Murphy plans on finishing the story here, I would be thrilled to read more story about Twig and Everett and their friends on their adventures.

If you’re looking for something high stakes, with extremely detailed world building and complex magic systems, this is not the book for you. If you don’t like romance in your fantasy, I don’t think this is for you, either. But if you’re looking for a cozy book with a strong romance, a delightful found family and a fun adventure, this is absolutely the right book.

Thank you to Bindery Books for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Twigs Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy

Twigs Traveling Tomes follows Louella Twig, a witch who has built a quiet life around her traveling bookshop after stepping away from the magical ambitions she once pursued and believes she failed. When a stolen grimoire and an unexpected request pull her back toward the very magic she abandoned, the story frames this as a quest, but its real focus is more personal. Louella throws herself into something she assumes she is unsuited for, only to discover that the qualities she dismissed in herself are exactly what others need. The roaming shop concept inevitably recalls Howl’s Moving Castle, but here the movement feels gentle and inviting, a space where reinvention is possible rather than a sign of instability.

Louella’s arc is the heart of the book. She begins defined by avoidance, convinced her magic and former goals belong to a past self who did not succeed. The journey gradually reveals that her perceived failure is actually misalignment rather than inadequacy. She is needed precisely for the version of magic she thought was not enough. That reframing lands with quiet emotional weight. It is about trying again without the guarantee of success and finding belonging through effort rather than achievement.

The relationships reinforce this shift. Louella does not just rediscover purpose, she acquires connection. The group dynamic grows into genuine friendship, full of teasing, support, and shared momentum. She also gains a familiar, which symbolically anchors her return to magic in something affectionate and chosen rather than evaluative. The ensemble banter gives the story its warmth, and Everett’s charisma and attentiveness fit naturally into that wider web rather than dominating it. The romance is charming, but it is not the sole point. It is one thread in a broader tapestry of belonging.

This is cozy fantasy that understands the appeal of gentle redemption. It centers the idea that you can return to something you believe you failed and discover you were always capable in the ways that mattered. The stakes remain soft, the tone stays warm, and the outcome feels earned through persistence and community. Five stars, because the book is not only cute, it is quietly affirming about growth, friendship, and the courage to try again.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one reads as if it was consciously crafted to appeal to the Platonic ideal of the cozy fiction fan, and indeed it is being published because it drew the attention of the "tastemaker" who discovered Travis Baldree. My cozy fantasy bingo card filled up quickly: tea, love of books, small business, gender and relationship diversity in all the usual ways (except that nobody is clearly trans), broadly D&D-style setting, quirky introvert protagonist being pushed out of her comfort zone by events, supportive love interest, cute familiar (though not until halfway through).

For me, contrarian that I am, this was almost a downside. It's not all the way to "made from box mix," but it does fall into my category of "if you like this sort of thing, this is definitely one." I personally prefer fresher ideas rather than variations on an established theme, but I know I'm in a minority there, and lots of people will love this unreservedly.

The worldbuilding, while not startlingly original, has had a bit more work than is often the case with cozy. Four kingdoms themed around the traditional four elements, elemental and natural magic, approximately the usual D&D species, though elves have brightly coloured skin and gnomes brightly coloured hair.

The editing is also a bit above average; there are several of the usual issues (occasional missing past perfect tense, "may" in past tense narration instead of "might," dialog sometimes punctuated incorrectly), but fewer examples than I usually see. The biggest problem is the vocabulary. The author uses a number of words that don't have quite the right connotation (the most obvious example being "amorously" for "lovingly" when it isn't sexual love), and a couple that sound similar to the word she means but are a different word, like "hurdling" for "hurtling" and "clamored" for "clambered". Both of those are relatively common confusions, and there may yet be more editing before publication; I had a pre-publication version via Netgalley for review.

The romance begins with instant attraction, then there's a long will-they-won't-they period (about three-quarters of the book) with minimal justification given. There's some very steamy kissing and some innuendo, but nothing more than that on screen.

There's nothing so badly wrong with it that I feel justified in dropping it to three stars, but I'm giving it four a bit grudgingly. Put that down to my curmudgeonly nature and dislike of the expected choice.

[Kasvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twig’s Traveling Tomes follows Louella Twig, a witch whose magic is intertwined with books, running a wandering bookstore that seems to appear exactly where it’s needed. The shop has a quiet kind of magic to it, offering people the stories they didn’t know they were looking for, and Louella herself is just as reserved, content to stay within that world. But when a thief enters her store and a missing grimoire pulls her into a larger mystery, she’s forced out of her routine and into a journey she’s not entirely prepared for.

What really stood out to me was the concept. The idea of a sentient, traveling bookstore that understands its readers is so comforting and imaginative, and it brings a lot of charm to the story. There’s something genuinely lovely about the way the magic of books is treated, not just as objects, but as something deeply personal and transformative. The world itself feels whimsical and full of possibility, especially as Louella ventures beyond the familiarity of her shop.

The story leans more into the journey and the atmosphere than into high stakes plot, which I think will work depending on what you’re in the mood for. It has a softer, cozier feel, and the focus is more on the group dynamic and the sense of adventure than on tension or urgency. I do wish some moments, especially those tied to the grimoire, had been given more space to build suspense as they sometimes felt a bit rushed.

That said, I found myself appreciating the overall vibe more than anything. The found family aspect adds a nice layer of warmth, and while I didn’t feel deeply attached to every character, I still enjoyed watching this unlikely group come together. Louella’s growth, in particular, is subtle but present as she steps further outside her comfort zone. The romance leans a bit quick for my taste, and at times the tone felt slightly younger than I expected, but neither of those things fully took away from the reading experience.

Overall, this is a light, cozy fantasy that’s easy to sink into. It may not be the most plot driven story, but it offers a comforting escape filled with magic, books, and a touch of adventure. I’d recommend it as a palate cleanser between heavier reads or for anyone who loves stories centred around magical bookstores and quiet journeys of self discovery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bindery Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I cannot praise this book enough, I don’t think the title actually does it justice although I don’t think I have an alternative to offer. Definitely this book is the definition of don’t judge a book by its cover.
The book involves Twig, a witch who runs a magical book shop, going on an adventure and developing friendships and relationships on the way. A beautiful slow burn romantic relationship is included but I think the main take from the book is how relationships are intrinsically linked to our wellbeing. Neurodiversity is never mentioned but I feel this is a very neurodiverse friendly story.
The only change I would love to see on publication would be a map.
Some of the descriptions of the environment were so interesting I fell asleep not needing to listen to a sleep story, I just thought through the images. The magical details are enthralling. I do think this would make an amazing film but I’m not sure a film or tv show could do it justice.
It does read young, and I really liked it. There were adult themes but they were written in a light way which is what made it such an enjoyable night time read. There was minimum peril. I enjoyed the gaps in the adventure so you could imagine the difficulty in what ever way you wanted as they grappled with whatever animal they had to grapple with the get the item. I do not think the book was about getting these items, I think that’s a red herring, it was about the relationships and personal discover. That to me, set in such a fantastical magical world was perfect.
I loved how Twig was able to take care of herself when she needed to and that the romantic involvement wasn’t always running to her aid.
At times I laughed so much I spat my soup everywhere, I will be saddened if muffin it’s a buzz word around this book! I rushed through it and am so sad it’s ended. If it were a much longer book I would have loved to have stayed in this world. On thinking about it there is a tone of the early Terry Pratchett books, that gentleness with a fabulous imaginative world.
I am a bit scared to look at the author’s previous books incase they are not a good. I hope they are and I hope she writes more in this world soon, just with a map please. 🙏

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twig’s Traveling Tomes is absolutely delightful and one of the best cozy romantic fantasy books I have ever read! This one is for fans of Howl's Moving Castle, the video game Tiny Bookshop, and those who have a soft spot for scoundrels with a heart of gold 💛 (Also as a fellow curly girl, it was lovely to read about a book witch with big brown curls!)

Twig's Traveling Tomes tells the story of Louella Twig and her magical traveling bookshop. Louella has a very special kind of magic. The moment customers walk into her shop, she can tell you the exact book you need. Maybe not the book you *want*, but the exact book you need in that precise moment, which has actually led to some awkward encounters in the past for Louella! But it's a pretty rare gift! In fact, it’s so rare that many other witches don’t fully believe that her source of magic comes from her books and have cruelly declared Louella and her magic “defunct”. This has not stopped Louella though from sharing her gift with folks in need of a good book across the Four Realms and she has gained a lot of success with her traveling (or rather transporting) bookshop!

Now, despite the fact that Louella's bookshop is a magic *traveling* bookshop, she is a bit of a homebody and likes to just keep to herself and her stories. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she begrudgingly agrees to join her former tutor, the kooky but loveable wizard, Feralorn, and the dangerously handsome and charming former thief, Everett Sharp, on a quest to track down Feralorn’s missing grimoire about magical creatures.

This book is full of magic, romance, adorable and fantastical creatures (e.g. a bunny with dragon wings that sneezes flames, magic glowing lunar moths, etc.) and a super cozy and sweet found family!

Yes this book is a romance; a lovely tender romance that will have you giggling and kicking your feet! But it is also a love letter to authors and readers alike. It celebrates the magic that happens when an author pours their heart and soul onto the page and shares their stories with their readers. So it is no surprise that this book is dedicated to its readers.

Thank you to bindery books and netgalley for the digital ARC.

And thank you to Gryffin, this book is a joy and a blessing!

[Poorvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @bindery_books @netgalley for sending the ARC of this novel!

Curling up with Twig’s Traveling Tomes by Gryffin Murphy is like stepping into the most enchanting corner of a library you’ve never known existed—a place where every shelf hums with magic, every book has a secret to tell, and every corner smells faintly of spiced tea and possibility. Louella Twig, the wonderfully grumpy and delightfully book-obsessed Book Witch at the heart of the story, is the perfect companion for anyone who’s ever preferred the company of stories to that of people…until Everett Sharp bursts into her life like sunlight through dusty library windows.

Everett is everything Louella isn’t: charming, bold, mischievous, and utterly irresistible, the kind of rogue who makes your pulse race and your eyes roll simultaneously. Their chemistry is a slow-burn masterpiece of forced proximity and mutual pining, set against the backdrop of an enchanted bookshop that feels almost alive. When Louella is reluctantly dragged into a quest to recover a stolen grimoire, it’s Everett’s energy—and perhaps his grin—that guides her through the chaos. Along the way, we meet a cast of friends old and new who feel like the warm embrace of a found family, supporting Louella as she navigates magic, mischief, and matters of the heart.

Murphy’s writing sparkles with warmth and whimsy, weaving a story that balances magical adventure with tender, laugh-out-loud romance. The novel is a love letter to readers who delight in libraries, cozy nooks, and the quiet thrill of discovering a story that changes everything. The romance is heartfelt and teasing, full of “grumpy meets sunshine” banter, stolen glances, and that delicious tension of two people who know they shouldn’t, yet can’t help but care.

At its core, Twig’s Traveling Tomes is about more than just magic or a stolen book. It’s about learning that the treasures in life—love, friendship, trust—are often hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered by those brave enough to look. Between the laughter, the swoons, and the adventure, Murphy creates a world that feels warm, alive, and utterly inviting.

If you love romantasy with heart, magical bookstores, the slow burn of grumpy-sunshine romance, and a quest that’s as much about self-discovery as it is about treasure hunting, Twig’s Traveling Tomes is the perfect cosy read to get lost in. You’ll leave the story with a full heart, a smile on your face, and perhaps a sudden urge to wander your own library aisles a little more slowly, wondering which books are waiting just for you.