Buckets & Broomsticks: A cozy fantasy where every mess can be mended with a little magic...

by Mabel Maplewood

A cozy, slice-of-life fantasy where every mess can be mended with a little magic...

After a lifetime of adventuring, Myra is more than ready to hang up her sword and retire to a cozy cottage in the small town of Ember Valley. The place is famous for having the sweetest pies, tallest crops, and prettiest flowers in all of Altera, and she’s finally here.

But when a twist of fate — and her ankle — leaves her stuck without her life savings in a town that’s not quite as perfect as promised, she heads to the notice board in search of… well, anything to get her out of this mess. That's when a strange note catches her

Help needed to clear witch’s house — full of centuries of clutter.
Must be comfortable with mess and magic.

Perhaps swapping her sword and shield for a mop and bucket wouldn’t be so bad?

But reclusive witch Pip turns out to be in a bigger mess than any bandit camp or cave troll could’ve prepared Myra for. As the unlikely pair work together to mend the magic that’s been unravelling since Pip lost her mother, Myra soon learns that it’s her softness, not her strength, that will be key to this job.

This book

Low-stakes, slice-of-life fantasyFound familySlow-burn sapphic romanceForced proximityEnchanted houseRetired adventurer x reclusive witchThey heal each other Buckets & Broomsticks is a cozy fantasy series starter for fans of Legends & Lattes and Can't Spell Treason Without Tea. It can also be read as a standalone — happy ending guaranteed!

Genres: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Autumn

164 pages, Paperback

Published May 22, 2026

About the author

Mabel Maplewood is a cozy fantasy author based in the UK. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her playing cozy games, picking up a new craft, or browsing cat adoption websites... I want to take them all!

Reviews

[Nadiah Razali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy read ! I appreciate there is no romance , although there is hint here and there. This book is a quick read!

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!!!!!

[Meg’sLostInABook · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ This was such a cute & cosy read!
Great for fans of D&D (it had that vibe!) and small town witchy lovers 🧙🏻

[Just Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75⭐️
This was a cute and cosy read, perfect for this time of the year. Nice short chapters made it really easy to read.

[Sydney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess the AI cover should’ve been warning enough

[Sam Taylor · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Lovely concept, and I like a great, queer cozy romance, but the actual romance bit was as engaging as a wood block unfortunately. There was just no spark between the protagonists. I think if they had simply been friends, this one would have worked so much better. Having said that, I loved the setting! The “Life of Grime” style house, and the association between that, the events in the town, and ultimately that reorganising the practical environment could lead to clearer thinking and emotions was very engaging. It was also a very feminine approach. A nice cozy read for Autumn, ultimately forgettable. I enjoyed the calmness of this when I was in the mood for that style of novel, so have graded accordingly (I feel there is sometimes no beating a decent, relaxing, forgettable 3 star read).

For more quick, light, honest reviews of books that I have read, please visit me at The Fairfax Curator: https://www.fairfaxcurator.com/blog or access my reading list and notes directly at https://wirehaired-butter-a49.notion....

[Reading Gems · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars – good rating

It’s a lovely cosy read where Pip and Myra find peace.
Pip is a witch who’s struggling after loss.
Myra had an adventure, looking to settle down.

After spotting an advertisement on the town noticeboard, the house needs cleaning. Myra hobbles to the witches how they’s cluttered with stuff and a witch who doesn’t want help.

It’s such a sweet, tender read that captures the reality of loss and how deeply it can affect people. I like how we got to experience Pip’s POP towards the end. It added to the experience. It allows the reader to understand what she is truly feeling.
The 2 have a bond that is delicate, and you can see how over time this will become something more.
I liked the magic too. I enjoyed the little bit of chaos it brought to the story.

I lovely read

[Alexandra May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckets and Broomsticks completely stole my heart. 💜✨

The world was so magical, cosy and enchanting that I never wanted to leave. Every page felt like a warm hug, and the characters were so incredibly lovable that they truly felt like friends by the end🥹

My favourite has to be Pip, I absolutely adored her, and I’m already missing her so much.

Now I’m left with the biggest cosy fantasy book hangover because I just wasn’t ready for it to end. If you’re looking for a book full of heart, magic and all the cosy vibes, I can’t recommend this one enough. 📚✨

[Heart&SoulBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Myra is an adventurer ready to hang up her sword. She's going to buy a cute little cottage in a magical village and begin a cozy life...but when she finds herself robbed she goes to the board for one final job and finds herself at the very messy house of the local witch Pip, who doesn't actually want help with her house.
Yet, as Pip and Myra find ways to work together, they just might find something even more important.

This was so freaking cute! And while nothing romantic happened in this short novel, there were hints of feelings that im hoping very much for a second book on.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy fantasy read where an Ex-Adventurer helps a young witch in need. Filled with friendship and self discovery.

The characters were likable and the magic is fun. And who doesn't want magical household items to do our chores! It touched on subjects of grief and worry and highlighted them really well.

I think more suitable to younger readers. The plot was simple and fairly low stakes and some elements felt a little too convenient. This book would do well marketed towards young readers around aged 10. 😊

[JAZZ Gillett · Rating 5 out of 5]

a cute and cosy read

I read this today and throughly enjoyed it, a lovely story of two completely different people finding each other, grief, finding your place, self belief and being brave. A lovely read, full of whimsy. The main characters are likeable and relatable. I want to know more about Buckets and Broomsticks! A fab cosy fantasy.

Definitely recommend this story, I need a physical copy for my cosy fantasy section in my reading room.

[Sarah Marriott · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5🌟
A cute, cozy read. A character driven narrative, with not particularly high stakes, but there is a sweetness with how these two characters connect and become vulnerable with each other. This was a great pallete cleanser and would recommend for readers who enjoy Sarah Beth Durst. I will read more from this author.

[booklizard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute cozy fantasy with an interesting witch as a protagonist. I really enjoyed her character, her flaws, and how she grew more confident in her craft.

Other than that, I found the plot quite lacking for someone who has read a lot of cozy fantasies, but it‘s overall a great book if you just started out in this sub genre!

[Coras Book love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so very much. It's cute. It's mostly dangerous free . Just a joyfull read when you want to zone out. And feel your heart warmed

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful read absolutely adored it so cozy. A story about resilience and friendship as well as the true meaning of home I definitely recommend.

[Jessica Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

Quick cozy fantasy read! A nice story to get in the fall mood.

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and heartwarming read ❤️

[Charlotte Beech · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Such a cute cozy read. Perfect for autumn 🍂 I loved the emphasis on trusting yourself and believing in what you want to achieve ✨

[Brenna · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Cute little cozy and witchy fantasy! I wish it were twice as long and a little more depth, but overall I liked it!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s just a delight to read, so cozy and hopeful and sweet 🥹🫶🏻✨

[Haley Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got into a reading slump from having to wait for the last book in another series so I decided to pick up this one that I had downloaded after stumbling upon the author’s TikTok. The only problem that I had with it was that I wanted to read more! It’s a short story about a witch and an adventurer who meet in the most unlikeliest of ways and in the end start a magical cleaning business. The premise of the story was so unique and intriguing that I was sad when it was over.

Their friendship gains momentum and turns into something more while decluttering Pip’s enchanted cottage. Some deeply hidden feelings get decluttered as well.

[Kellene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read and I loved the characters! Looking forward to more adventures with Myra and Pip.

[Emma Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous cozy little read! If you’re a fan of Sarah Beth Durst stories you’ll love this one too. Warm, cozy, healing. Gorgeous.