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The Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales #1
Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop
“Ella,” Margaret interrupted with an amused smile. “Are you suggesting that I gave you a magical book?” Then she took a sip of tea.
Ella is the small town of Buchkarte's renowned horse whisperer. (Pronounced Book-Heart. Say it right, or the locals will never let you live it down.) Sole daughter of late national equine champions, Ella obviously inherited her parents' skills and passion. And as she runs the town's only horse boarding ranch, you would think business would be booming.
Sadly, you would be wrong. Stuck under the thumb of the ranch's new owner - who also happens to be Ella's stepmother - it's all Ella can do to keep the place running while ensuring her beloved horses' care. And as the cold days of autumn approach yet again, Ella begins to wonder how much longer she can hold on.
But just as she doubts whether she'll ever find peace or companionship again, thanks to her stepmother's threats, the local town busybody (and the Enchanted Endings Bookshop's proprietor, Margaret) lends Ella a book - a book with a familiar story that's incomplete. But as autumn matures, Ella starts to sense that this mysterious book might have more to do with her life than she first thought, as new possibilities appear before her.
Possibilities that include freedom, independence, and maybe even Margaret's godson, Asher.
And for the first time since her parents' deaths, Ella begins to wonder if a happy ending might be within her reach yet. If only she can find a way to write that ending as her own.
Delve into a cozy world of pumpkin-spiced autumn vibes, soft, sweet magic, clean, no-spice romance, and Cinderella's story made new. Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop is the first in the Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales - clean, cozy contemporary fantasy retellings of four beloved fairy tales with gentle magic, safe, clean romance, and seasonal sensations.
Ella is the small town of Buchkarte's renowned horse whisperer. (Pronounced Book-Heart. Say it right, or the locals will never let you live it down.) Sole daughter of late national equine champions, Ella obviously inherited her parents' skills and passion. And as she runs the town's only horse boarding ranch, you would think business would be booming.
Sadly, you would be wrong. Stuck under the thumb of the ranch's new owner - who also happens to be Ella's stepmother - it's all Ella can do to keep the place running while ensuring her beloved horses' care. And as the cold days of autumn approach yet again, Ella begins to wonder how much longer she can hold on.
But just as she doubts whether she'll ever find peace or companionship again, thanks to her stepmother's threats, the local town busybody (and the Enchanted Endings Bookshop's proprietor, Margaret) lends Ella a book - a book with a familiar story that's incomplete. But as autumn matures, Ella starts to sense that this mysterious book might have more to do with her life than she first thought, as new possibilities appear before her.
Possibilities that include freedom, independence, and maybe even Margaret's godson, Asher.
And for the first time since her parents' deaths, Ella begins to wonder if a happy ending might be within her reach yet. If only she can find a way to write that ending as her own.
Delve into a cozy world of pumpkin-spiced autumn vibes, soft, sweet magic, clean, no-spice romance, and Cinderella's story made new. Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop is the first in the Enchanted Bookshop Fairy Tales - clean, cozy contemporary fantasy retellings of four beloved fairy tales with gentle magic, safe, clean romance, and seasonal sensations.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2026
About the author
Brittany Fichter
69 books677 followersBrittany lives with her Prince Charming, their little fairy, and their tiny prince in a decently clean castle in whatever kingdom the Air Force has most recently placed them. When she's not writing, Brittany can be found chasing her kids around with a DSLR or belting it in the church choir. You can find more of her work at her website BrittanyFichterFiction.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 28, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️ Clean Fiction - Fairytale retelling (with light magic) - Contemporary & Fantasy
Aww, that was pretty cute! The stepmother was absolutely horrible, so ignore her with my “that was pretty cute!” comment because I definitely don’t mean her or the angst she added to the story. Most stepmothers in books are awful, but she was pretty bad. 🙃
Unlike other Cinderella retellings where our main character is somewhere between kin to a doormat and planning to poison her stepfamily, this Cinderella is nearing her breaking point after being overworked for years. Again, I bring up the stepmother. She was awful and the cause of this. Our Ella in this book tries to stand up and have her voice heard, but the evil stepmother has her over a barrel (yes, that’s a horse pun) and it causes a lot of problems for Ella and her future.
I’ve never been a horse girl, but I liked how those elements added a different feel to a story I know very well. It was fun to read a retelling of a girl who is living the retelling out and yet also knows the original story. I haven’t read a lot of contemporary retellings so maybe this angle is more popular than I realize, but I personally haven’t seen that much, but it was cute and funny to see done in this book because Ella would dread upcoming events like me, the reader, usually does when the main character normally has no idea what is about to happen. Ella had a general idea, though, which was different for most retellings.
Some of the conversations felt a little awkward and/or trauma dumping at times so it didn’t feel very natural, but Asher was an upstanding young man and really good for Ella. I wish we could have seen more of them together, but I’ll say once again: the stepmother. And also Asher being in the military kept them from being together as much as I wished.
I’m not a big magical realism fan in general—a book that is a contemporary setting in our modern world but has fantasy elements like magic in it—so that wasn’t a selling point to me of this story, but it was light and cute. I think it could have worked without the magic (instead of a magical storybook maybe Margaret or someone else delivering a single page of the story at the appropriate time to Ella?), but it was overall a good fall-themed book and I look forward to reading the second book in the series when it comes out in November because it sounds like it will really good too. ☺️
Main Content-
Christianity-
Mentions of prayers/praying; Mentions of church & church going; A couple mentions of God; A mention of Heaven.
Magic-
Ella is given a (magical) book that seems to write itself and is affected by her actions (more of the story appears when part of the Cinderella story happens in her life); Ella doesn’t think magic is real, but starts to wonder if it is because of the bookshop owner’s special and unexplained abilities; *Spoilers* .
A mention of an elf.
Language + Negative-
No language stronger than ’heck’, ‘darn/durn’, and a woman being called a ‘witch’; The phrase “like cat she does” is said (“cake” is used as a replacement for a stronger word); Eye rolling.
Passing out due to a fever & Being sick (up to a few sentences); Nearly being grabbed/slapped; Grief for parents (Ella); Ella’s stepmother threatens and manipulates Ella to do what she wants; A rattlesnake is killed (on-page, up to a couple sentences); A “harvest ball” happens on October 31st (Halloween and graveyard decorations are also mentioned).
Mentions of deaths & grief (including Ella for her parents & Asher for his mother; deaths were from cancer, a heart attack, and a rare autoimmune disease); Mentions of felonies, criminals, arrests, & jails; Mentions of threats & manipulation; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of sick horses; A couple mentions of injuries; A couple mentions of gangs (teasing); A couple mentions of parents always fighting.
Romance-
1 head kiss,
2 almost kisses (lasting a couple sentences),
1 kiss lasting a sentence.
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Flutters, Nearness, & Smelling (up to a few sentences); Blushes & Flirting; Noticing & Staring (up to a few sentences).
A client makes Ella uncomfortable and won’t listen to her when she tells him to leave (he gets in her personal space, but leaves when another guy tells him to).
One of Ella’s stepsisters wears a revealing cat costume to a party (that has a really short skirt) and is told by her mother to put something decent on instead.
Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dating, & break-ups; Mentions of flirting.
Aww, that was pretty cute! The stepmother was absolutely horrible, so ignore her with my “that was pretty cute!” comment because I definitely don’t mean her or the angst she added to the story. Most stepmothers in books are awful, but she was pretty bad. 🙃
Unlike other Cinderella retellings where our main character is somewhere between kin to a doormat and planning to poison her stepfamily, this Cinderella is nearing her breaking point after being overworked for years. Again, I bring up the stepmother. She was awful and the cause of this. Our Ella in this book tries to stand up and have her voice heard, but the evil stepmother has her over a barrel (yes, that’s a horse pun) and it causes a lot of problems for Ella and her future.
I’ve never been a horse girl, but I liked how those elements added a different feel to a story I know very well. It was fun to read a retelling of a girl who is living the retelling out and yet also knows the original story. I haven’t read a lot of contemporary retellings so maybe this angle is more popular than I realize, but I personally haven’t seen that much, but it was cute and funny to see done in this book because Ella would dread upcoming events like me, the reader, usually does when the main character normally has no idea what is about to happen. Ella had a general idea, though, which was different for most retellings.
Some of the conversations felt a little awkward and/or trauma dumping at times so it didn’t feel very natural, but Asher was an upstanding young man and really good for Ella. I wish we could have seen more of them together, but I’ll say once again: the stepmother. And also Asher being in the military kept them from being together as much as I wished.
I’m not a big magical realism fan in general—a book that is a contemporary setting in our modern world but has fantasy elements like magic in it—so that wasn’t a selling point to me of this story, but it was light and cute. I think it could have worked without the magic (instead of a magical storybook maybe Margaret or someone else delivering a single page of the story at the appropriate time to Ella?), but it was overall a good fall-themed book and I look forward to reading the second book in the series when it comes out in November because it sounds like it will really good too. ☺️
Main Content-
Christianity-
Mentions of prayers/praying; Mentions of church & church going; A couple mentions of God; A mention of Heaven.
Magic-
Ella is given a (magical) book that seems to write itself and is affected by her actions (more of the story appears when part of the Cinderella story happens in her life); Ella doesn’t think magic is real, but starts to wonder if it is because of the bookshop owner’s special and unexplained abilities; *Spoilers* .
A mention of an elf.
Language + Negative-
No language stronger than ’heck’, ‘darn/durn’, and a woman being called a ‘witch’; The phrase “like cat she does” is said (“cake” is used as a replacement for a stronger word); Eye rolling.
Passing out due to a fever & Being sick (up to a few sentences); Nearly being grabbed/slapped; Grief for parents (Ella); Ella’s stepmother threatens and manipulates Ella to do what she wants; A rattlesnake is killed (on-page, up to a couple sentences); A “harvest ball” happens on October 31st (Halloween and graveyard decorations are also mentioned).
Mentions of deaths & grief (including Ella for her parents & Asher for his mother; deaths were from cancer, a heart attack, and a rare autoimmune disease); Mentions of felonies, criminals, arrests, & jails; Mentions of threats & manipulation; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of sick horses; A couple mentions of injuries; A couple mentions of gangs (teasing); A couple mentions of parents always fighting.
Romance-
1 head kiss,
2 almost kisses (lasting a couple sentences),
1 kiss lasting a sentence.
Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, Flutters, Nearness, & Smelling (up to a few sentences); Blushes & Flirting; Noticing & Staring (up to a few sentences).
A client makes Ella uncomfortable and won’t listen to her when she tells him to leave (he gets in her personal space, but leaves when another guy tells him to).
One of Ella’s stepsisters wears a revealing cat costume to a party (that has a really short skirt) and is told by her mother to put something decent on instead.
Mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dating, & break-ups; Mentions of flirting.
September 30, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free , and am leaving this review voluntarily
Before I begin the review, I’d like to say that this is a fairy tale retelling of Cinderella, it has a unique spin on it but it follows the main plot of Cinderella so if you’re not wanting to read Cinderella you probably won’t like this❤️
I wish I had a fairy godmother that gave me coffee and books 🥹
This was really cute
I loved the aesthetic and the spin it had on the original Cinderella story 🤭
I thought it was paced really well and honestly this is a really great debut novel 😆
I thought the relationship between Jaylyn and Ella’s was really cute
My only complaint was that I felt like the romance was in between being a central part of the plot and an afterthought, like it was in a weird middle ground where it almost didn’t fit well? So I wish the romance had been a bit more present but other then that I loved this 😁 now I want to move to a farm in a small town in the Rocky Mountains 🙂↕️ very fallish and very cute
Overall: 4.75 ⭐️
Language 0/10
Violence 1/10
Suggestive Content/Romance 0.5/10
LGBT Content: No
Other: loss of parents and I mean it’s the evil stepmom sooooooo
Before I begin the review, I’d like to say that this is a fairy tale retelling of Cinderella, it has a unique spin on it but it follows the main plot of Cinderella so if you’re not wanting to read Cinderella you probably won’t like this❤️
I wish I had a fairy godmother that gave me coffee and books 🥹
This was really cute
I loved the aesthetic and the spin it had on the original Cinderella story 🤭
I thought it was paced really well and honestly this is a really great debut novel 😆
I thought the relationship between Jaylyn and Ella’s was really cute
My only complaint was that I felt like the romance was in between being a central part of the plot and an afterthought, like it was in a weird middle ground where it almost didn’t fit well? So I wish the romance had been a bit more present but other then that I loved this 😁 now I want to move to a farm in a small town in the Rocky Mountains 🙂↕️ very fallish and very cute
Overall: 4.75 ⭐️
Language 0/10
Violence 1/10
Suggestive Content/Romance 0.5/10
LGBT Content: No
Other: loss of parents and I mean it’s the evil stepmom sooooooo
September 15, 2026
I’m not one for cozy books most of the time, purely because in the past the ones I’m interested in sound so good but then upon reading I’m disappointed by the lack of character development or plot in some way, so all the fluff ends up frustrating me far more than it should. I’m not saying these books should have the depth and breadth of an epic fantasy, but a little meat to sink your teeth into never hurt anyone, and that’s what I usually find lacking in these books, the emotional connection and heart that stays with you long after you close the book and makes the journey satisfying and worthwhile for both the characters and the reader.
All that to say, this book nailed that balance perfectly for me and I couldn’t be happier!
Ella is your typical kind Cinderella character type, which I personally like, but also has a backbone and has no problems with confronting her HORRIBLE stepmother on things, which I also really like and relate to, and really gave her depth and realness with room to grow and make mistakes without her being perfect or constantly being run over because she’s a doormat (a common flaw I see for not very well written Cinderella characters). She truly is just stuck with no options so makes the best of things for herself and the horses she loves, and as someone who has lived in a similar situation I could deeply relate and made me love her and cheer for her happiness all the more.
I loved the rest of the cast as well, especially Margaret with her magical knowledge and tough love at times, Asher, who’s both sweet and strong and bought Ella a book for her birthday (marry him right away, girl!), and Jaelyn, who while flawed and not raised right at all by her mother was still kind to Ella and loved her despite how the rest of her family treated her. Casey was the literal WORST, ooo I wanted to throw her off a cliff SOOOO bad as she turned more horrible and cruel as the story went on, but she got her just rewards at the end in the most satisfying way that both the sadistic part of me and my justice loving side agreed on and were happy with, lol.
The fall vibes were immaculate and I wish this little town existed because I would totally live there and I want an enchanted bookshop now, please and thank you, that place is AMAZING and I’m so bummed it doesn’t exist. As a horse girl I loved and appreciated the accurate horse knowledge and actions of these beautiful creatures as well, even if they weren’t strict characters in their own right. And the Cinderella retelling part of the story was very unique in how Ella is following the fairy tale in a magic book while also living it out in real life to a certain degree or can anticipate which parts will happen next, which I thought was very clever and keeps the original story’s core and elements while also being its own thing.
This book is beautiful inside and out and I can’t wait until I can get a physical copy to admire and reread from! It captures the very heart of Cinderella in a contemporary full of hope, friendship, love, and a sprinkle of magic that I love and know I’ll continue to for years to come.
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a manipulative, controlling, mentally and emotionally abusive stepmother
Language: heck; darn it; durn
Violence: a rattlesnake spooks a horse and is decapitated with a shovel (not detailed)
Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)
Other: grief over lost loved ones; magic; a manipulative, controlling, mentally and emotionally abusive stepmother; magical abilities/objects
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
All that to say, this book nailed that balance perfectly for me and I couldn’t be happier!
Ella is your typical kind Cinderella character type, which I personally like, but also has a backbone and has no problems with confronting her HORRIBLE stepmother on things, which I also really like and relate to, and really gave her depth and realness with room to grow and make mistakes without her being perfect or constantly being run over because she’s a doormat (a common flaw I see for not very well written Cinderella characters). She truly is just stuck with no options so makes the best of things for herself and the horses she loves, and as someone who has lived in a similar situation I could deeply relate and made me love her and cheer for her happiness all the more.
I loved the rest of the cast as well, especially Margaret with her magical knowledge and tough love at times, Asher, who’s both sweet and strong and bought Ella a book for her birthday (marry him right away, girl!), and Jaelyn, who while flawed and not raised right at all by her mother was still kind to Ella and loved her despite how the rest of her family treated her. Casey was the literal WORST, ooo I wanted to throw her off a cliff SOOOO bad as she turned more horrible and cruel as the story went on, but she got her just rewards at the end in the most satisfying way that both the sadistic part of me and my justice loving side agreed on and were happy with, lol.
The fall vibes were immaculate and I wish this little town existed because I would totally live there and I want an enchanted bookshop now, please and thank you, that place is AMAZING and I’m so bummed it doesn’t exist. As a horse girl I loved and appreciated the accurate horse knowledge and actions of these beautiful creatures as well, even if they weren’t strict characters in their own right. And the Cinderella retelling part of the story was very unique in how Ella is following the fairy tale in a magic book while also living it out in real life to a certain degree or can anticipate which parts will happen next, which I thought was very clever and keeps the original story’s core and elements while also being its own thing.
This book is beautiful inside and out and I can’t wait until I can get a physical copy to admire and reread from! It captures the very heart of Cinderella in a contemporary full of hope, friendship, love, and a sprinkle of magic that I love and know I’ll continue to for years to come.
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a manipulative, controlling, mentally and emotionally abusive stepmother
Language: heck; darn it; durn
Violence: a rattlesnake spooks a horse and is decapitated with a shovel (not detailed)
Sexual: a kiss (not detailed)
Other: grief over lost loved ones; magic; a manipulative, controlling, mentally and emotionally abusive stepmother; magical abilities/objects
****Note: I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are most assuredly my own and I wasn’t required to write a positive review. If I was I wouldn’t have read it. 😜****
September 21, 2026
ARC Review - Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop by Brittany Fichter.
A modern day Cinderella retelling. This was a fun and cozy short story of Ella who’s trying to save her parent’s horse ranch and military man, Asher, who’s trying to make an impact.
I enjoyed the back story of how Cinderella was depicted in this book and the enchanted book of Miss Margaret. Casey was a real piece of work and she got what she deserved.
This story was a clean romance recommended to readers of all ages for a quick and fun read and who enjoys a fairytale retelling.
I very much loved the horse art through the book.
I received this free advanced copy of the book from the author and am leaving my review voluntarily.
A modern day Cinderella retelling. This was a fun and cozy short story of Ella who’s trying to save her parent’s horse ranch and military man, Asher, who’s trying to make an impact.
I enjoyed the back story of how Cinderella was depicted in this book and the enchanted book of Miss Margaret. Casey was a real piece of work and she got what she deserved.
This story was a clean romance recommended to readers of all ages for a quick and fun read and who enjoys a fairytale retelling.
I very much loved the horse art through the book.
I received this free advanced copy of the book from the author and am leaving my review voluntarily.
October 31, 2026
This was really cute and perfect for this time of year. I have a love-hate relationship with Cinderella retellings, as I'm pretty sensitive to injustice and the helplessness that often comes along with it. I did appreciate how lovable young Jaelyn was, and would love to hear more about her story. This was the type of retelling that completely acknowledged the original tale, and the parallels were a bit too obvious at times.
This was squeaky-clean (mentions of one or two kisses), and very cozy. I was pleasantly surprised at the couple of mentions of Faith, despite the fairytale magic; I would have loved to see this aspect more developed.
This was squeaky-clean (mentions of one or two kisses), and very cozy. I was pleasantly surprised at the couple of mentions of Faith, despite the fairytale magic; I would have loved to see this aspect more developed.
October 30, 2026
Pretty good! Hit all the important parts of the Cinderella story which I love. All in all, a good book!
September 29, 2026
Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop by Brittany Fichter was an enchanting 6 star autumnal read for me! This had all the cozy cinnamon scented vibes! (Thank you Olde American Spirit for the recommendation on your you tube channel!)
I wasn't sure I'd love this book because I really have a hard time with cruelty, and Casey was so diabolical she had my blood boiling! But the writing was so well done and the ending was Chef's kiss! It didn't end in the typical way I thought it would and that was a breath of fresh air! I read this on kindle unlimited but I will definitely be buying my own copy for my shelves.
I wasn't sure I'd love this book because I really have a hard time with cruelty, and Casey was so diabolical she had my blood boiling! But the writing was so well done and the ending was Chef's kiss! It didn't end in the typical way I thought it would and that was a breath of fresh air! I read this on kindle unlimited but I will definitely be buying my own copy for my shelves.
October 9, 2026
So so so so so good!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 Perfect fall fairytale full of pumpkin spice london fogs, horses, magic, and romance. Fun light read, I will be reading this every autumn! 🍎🍂🍁🕯️
October 1, 2026
Brittany Fitcher has a gift for writing heroines you root for! Ella is sweet, kind, and intelligent, but she is also someone who’s had a lot of hardship in her life and you really want her to have love and a family. I liked Asher too, but I would have liked to get to know him a little better. I wish we had gotten a little more information about him and his character, but I do feel the romance between the couple was really sweet. This was a fun, sweet read, full of heart, and I greatly enjoyed it! I was given an advance copy of the book, but all opinions are my own.
October 14, 2026
My First ARC :)
I have already read some of Brittany Fichters books and they are always so worth it! This one in particular may be a new favorite! I felt so giddy with all the tiny details and aspects of this book (especially since fall is my favorite season) it quite possibly made it even better. 100% recommend!!
I have already read some of Brittany Fichters books and they are always so worth it! This one in particular may be a new favorite! I felt so giddy with all the tiny details and aspects of this book (especially since fall is my favorite season) it quite possibly made it even better. 100% recommend!!
October 19, 2026
Sweet and clean YA read.
Ella doesn't realize how bad she's got it until her future starts looking brighter than her past. A modern day Cinderella story with a bit of magic along the way.
Ella doesn't realize how bad she's got it until her future starts looking brighter than her past. A modern day Cinderella story with a bit of magic along the way.
September 29, 2026
What a sweet take on Cinderella!
I loved the horse farm aspect of it and how the MMC truly went above and beyond to be able to get to know Ella. And sweet Margaret.... She's my favorite.
And an enchanted bookshop?!?! Absolutely, sign me up!!! I want to visit SOOO badly!
I will say, this book made me want a pumpkin London fog. YUM.
I read this in one sitting. Didn't want to put it down! Safe for YA and a truly good time!
I loved the horse farm aspect of it and how the MMC truly went above and beyond to be able to get to know Ella. And sweet Margaret.... She's my favorite.
And an enchanted bookshop?!?! Absolutely, sign me up!!! I want to visit SOOO badly!
I will say, this book made me want a pumpkin London fog. YUM.
I read this in one sitting. Didn't want to put it down! Safe for YA and a truly good time!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an E-book ARC of this novel in exchange for a Review. Since Amazon won't let me review it (since it's not released, yet) I figured I could post a review here.
I've been a fan of Brittany's "Classical Kingdoms" books--I've read nearly all of them. She has a talent for taking an existing tale and weaving details intricately into it so that it's totally believable that the fairytale could've happened that way. Hence, when she announced that she had this story in the works, I jumped at the chance to be on the ARC team for it.
Ella is a sweet 23-year-old who is living at her parents' ranch. Both parents passed on and she's left with her stepmother and two stepsisters (both younger than her; although, the youngest one isn't too bad of a person and I ended up really liking the younger stepsister--although, if you told me in the beginning I'd end up liking the younger one I would've told you she was too shallow for me, but she ends up proving she has more substance/potential). The local bookshop owner, Margaret, gives her a special book. Ella meets in the beginning of the novel a young man (the "prince") named Asher, whose father bought the vacant ski resort (and is renovating it). Asher is in the military, and is an upstanding guy (very "Prince Charming").
It's easy to see the parallels between Ella's life and Cinderella; although, Ella's is a modern twist on the old tale and set in Colorado in the present day. She is doing her best to hang onto her parents' beloved ranch (and horses, and border horses) while her stepmother is doing all she can to make Ella's life utterly miserable (she's a real piece of work--but that's one of the ways you know Brittany wrote a good antagonist).
The little town where Ella lives is really sweet (made me want to visit!) and there's even a Belle who works for Margaret at the bookshop (hmmm is there a "Beauty & The Beast" modern retelling on the horizon? Only time will tell us--I honestly don't know Brittany's plans--other than the sneak peek at the end of the novel for the next book; but I don't know how many books will be in this series).
I loved the Autumn setting (although too much pumpkin spice, but that's a personal taste and did NOT factor in how many stars I awarded or how I liked the story. I can't do pumpkin and I've never had a desire to drink pumpkin spice anything; Pumpkin Pie is NOT one of my favorite flavors, but I know that there are many people who LOVE pumpkin spice anything, so that aspect will definitely be a fun little detail for readers who are of the pumpkin spice fan club. I will say that apple cider and hot chocolate I can do. I love hot chocolate with whipped cream, and I'm a coffee fan, so those things are always nice to see in books, but none of these affect how I rate a book or review it).
So why only 4-stars? Well, I didn't think it was as good as her Classical Kingdoms books--that's my gold standard for Brittany's books. BUT that does NOT mean I think people shouldn't read. It's absolutely a fun autumn story--a cozy one at that. I think this story is one readers should find a comfy chair/bed/couch, a soft blanket, a favorite hot drink and read to their heart's content. I think it's worth getting/reading. It's charming and has a place in my heart as a fun read. I definitely want to read the next book and knowing how I feel about Brittany's stories, I will likely be interested in the entire series as she releases them. So, yes, if you're a fairytale fan, if you're a Cinderella fan, and of course, if you're a Brittany Fichter fan, it's worth reading.
I've been a fan of Brittany's "Classical Kingdoms" books--I've read nearly all of them. She has a talent for taking an existing tale and weaving details intricately into it so that it's totally believable that the fairytale could've happened that way. Hence, when she announced that she had this story in the works, I jumped at the chance to be on the ARC team for it.
Ella is a sweet 23-year-old who is living at her parents' ranch. Both parents passed on and she's left with her stepmother and two stepsisters (both younger than her; although, the youngest one isn't too bad of a person and I ended up really liking the younger stepsister--although, if you told me in the beginning I'd end up liking the younger one I would've told you she was too shallow for me, but she ends up proving she has more substance/potential). The local bookshop owner, Margaret, gives her a special book. Ella meets in the beginning of the novel a young man (the "prince") named Asher, whose father bought the vacant ski resort (and is renovating it). Asher is in the military, and is an upstanding guy (very "Prince Charming").
It's easy to see the parallels between Ella's life and Cinderella; although, Ella's is a modern twist on the old tale and set in Colorado in the present day. She is doing her best to hang onto her parents' beloved ranch (and horses, and border horses) while her stepmother is doing all she can to make Ella's life utterly miserable (she's a real piece of work--but that's one of the ways you know Brittany wrote a good antagonist).
The little town where Ella lives is really sweet (made me want to visit!) and there's even a Belle who works for Margaret at the bookshop (hmmm is there a "Beauty & The Beast" modern retelling on the horizon? Only time will tell us--I honestly don't know Brittany's plans--other than the sneak peek at the end of the novel for the next book; but I don't know how many books will be in this series).
I loved the Autumn setting (although too much pumpkin spice, but that's a personal taste and did NOT factor in how many stars I awarded or how I liked the story. I can't do pumpkin and I've never had a desire to drink pumpkin spice anything; Pumpkin Pie is NOT one of my favorite flavors, but I know that there are many people who LOVE pumpkin spice anything, so that aspect will definitely be a fun little detail for readers who are of the pumpkin spice fan club. I will say that apple cider and hot chocolate I can do. I love hot chocolate with whipped cream, and I'm a coffee fan, so those things are always nice to see in books, but none of these affect how I rate a book or review it).
So why only 4-stars? Well, I didn't think it was as good as her Classical Kingdoms books--that's my gold standard for Brittany's books. BUT that does NOT mean I think people shouldn't read. It's absolutely a fun autumn story--a cozy one at that. I think this story is one readers should find a comfy chair/bed/couch, a soft blanket, a favorite hot drink and read to their heart's content. I think it's worth getting/reading. It's charming and has a place in my heart as a fun read. I definitely want to read the next book and knowing how I feel about Brittany's stories, I will likely be interested in the entire series as she releases them. So, yes, if you're a fairytale fan, if you're a Cinderella fan, and of course, if you're a Brittany Fichter fan, it's worth reading.
September 24, 2026
{178 print pages}
Genre: Cozy fantasy, magic realism, fairy tale retelling [of Cinderella]
Setting: Colorado, ranch
Writing style: 1st person, past tense
Tone: strained but hopeful
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Yes
Clean level:
• 1 mouth kiss minimally described, 1 barely described
• 1 head kiss
• 1 near-kiss, 1 sentence
• 1 instance of rubbing thumb across knuckles
• 1 instance of tucking hair behind ear and fingers grazing cheek
• 1 urge to run her hand over his hair to see how it would feel
*See caveat below
Sensitive aspect: 1 instance of noticing his sleeves tightening when he lifts something, implying noticing the muscles
Favorite aspects of the book:
• Engaging writing
• Attention-holding
• The relationships that keep Ella afloat despite her awful situation
• The magic book
What a great start to this series! The pacing flowed and nothing felt like filler. The magic was introduced and blended in in a way that felt natural for a realistic contemporary setting. And Ella’s stepmother was well-drawn and realistically venomous in a restrained way.
Although Ella isn’t trapped in the absolute way that Cinderella is in the original tellings, and she has friends and family she can go to, there’s much at stake if she leaves, including the horses she cares for. Some of her friends get upset with her for not leaving even as things get progressively worse, but whether or not her considerations justify her not picking up and figuring out how to fix things later, it’s clearly not cowardice that’s stopping her. She knows the situation needs to change, but in many ways her hands are tied.
The story was everything I’d want in a contemporary fairy tale retelling, and I’m excited for the next books!
Favorite Quotations:
• Trying to make eye contact with Harper was like mining for diamonds in a sandbox.
• “What about you?” Asher asked, ducking slightly to avoid being hit in the face by a low branch. “Do you have anything I should know about? Bad habits? Membership in any illegal gangs? I like to vet my friends before promoting them to Premier status.” I laughed. “Well, Casey says I read too much in my time off, and the last gang I was involved in was the Girls’ Club in fourth grade. We barricaded off the drinking fountain from the Boys’ Club once after they sprayed us with a hose.” I sighed. “Our teacher broke the clubs up, but it took me years of rehabilitation before I recovered from the experience.”
• “Just because I’ve taught you everything you know doesn’t mean I’ve taught you everything I know.”
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Genre: Cozy fantasy, magic realism, fairy tale retelling [of Cinderella]
Setting: Colorado, ranch
Writing style: 1st person, past tense
Tone: strained but hopeful
Character- or plot-driven: Plot-driven
Romance: Yes
Clean level:
• 1 mouth kiss minimally described, 1 barely described
• 1 head kiss
• 1 near-kiss, 1 sentence
• 1 instance of rubbing thumb across knuckles
• 1 instance of tucking hair behind ear and fingers grazing cheek
• 1 urge to run her hand over his hair to see how it would feel
*See caveat below
Sensitive aspect: 1 instance of noticing his sleeves tightening when he lifts something, implying noticing the muscles
Favorite aspects of the book:
• Engaging writing
• Attention-holding
• The relationships that keep Ella afloat despite her awful situation
• The magic book
What a great start to this series! The pacing flowed and nothing felt like filler. The magic was introduced and blended in in a way that felt natural for a realistic contemporary setting. And Ella’s stepmother was well-drawn and realistically venomous in a restrained way.
Although Ella isn’t trapped in the absolute way that Cinderella is in the original tellings, and she has friends and family she can go to, there’s much at stake if she leaves, including the horses she cares for. Some of her friends get upset with her for not leaving even as things get progressively worse, but whether or not her considerations justify her not picking up and figuring out how to fix things later, it’s clearly not cowardice that’s stopping her. She knows the situation needs to change, but in many ways her hands are tied.
The story was everything I’d want in a contemporary fairy tale retelling, and I’m excited for the next books!
Favorite Quotations:
• Trying to make eye contact with Harper was like mining for diamonds in a sandbox.
• “What about you?” Asher asked, ducking slightly to avoid being hit in the face by a low branch. “Do you have anything I should know about? Bad habits? Membership in any illegal gangs? I like to vet my friends before promoting them to Premier status.” I laughed. “Well, Casey says I read too much in my time off, and the last gang I was involved in was the Girls’ Club in fourth grade. We barricaded off the drinking fountain from the Boys’ Club once after they sprayed us with a hose.” I sighed. “Our teacher broke the clubs up, but it took me years of rehabilitation before I recovered from the experience.”
• “Just because I’ve taught you everything you know doesn’t mean I’ve taught you everything I know.”
(I received a free ARC of this book from the author and am gratefully—voluntarily—leaving a review.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ella shoulders the workload of her family's ranch that her stepmom Casey won't assign her stepsisters to help with, struggling to keep her parents' dream afloat and the horses cared for. Asher, an Airman with local ties stationed in the next state, is confident, decisive, and willing to do whatever is necessary for those he cares about. Add a fairy godmother's touch, and you have a delightfully cozy modern-day Cinderella retelling set in small-town Colorado.
I loved the open embrasure of this being a Cinderella story. It was Ella's favorite fairytale as a child, and still resonates with her as a young adult given her life situation. There's no pretending that no one has heard this plotline before, and the enchanted plotline unfolds along with Ella's own. But there are differences, too: Ella isn't alone and never feels abandoned; she has the love and support of Derrick and Brianna, Miss Margaret and Belle, and Asher. (And the group of seniors are the best kind of nosy!) Ella also recognizes Casey's manipulation for what it is; she feels caught between conflicting priorities, but at least sometimes she's willing to stand up for herself, and that strength grows the more Casey tries to subdue her. She doesn't believe she owes her loyalty to Casey, which I really appreciate; I always have a hard time with suspension of disbelief in Cinderella stories when the FMC truly deeply believes that following her stepmother's every outrageous demand is part of being a good daughter and/or she feels like it's her fault that her father died so she owes this unquestioning loyalty to the abusive stepmom. I'm so grateful that that's not what we see from Ella!
Enchanted Endings, a beautiful old Craftsman home converted to bookshop, and its proprietress Margaret are at the heart of the story-world, and I know we'll be seeing more of them! I can't help but believe that Ella's friend Belle, who works at the bookshop, has her own story coming up as well.
This isn't an in-your-face "Christian fiction" story, but there are casual references to religion being a regular part of Ella's and Asher's lives, which I appreciated. Very clean, I wouldn't have any concerns about handing this to a teen. No violence, no language, very G-rated.
I received an ARC from the author, but after finishing it I'm ordering a physical copy!
I loved the open embrasure of this being a Cinderella story. It was Ella's favorite fairytale as a child, and still resonates with her as a young adult given her life situation. There's no pretending that no one has heard this plotline before, and the enchanted plotline unfolds along with Ella's own. But there are differences, too: Ella isn't alone and never feels abandoned; she has the love and support of Derrick and Brianna, Miss Margaret and Belle, and Asher. (And the group of seniors are the best kind of nosy!) Ella also recognizes Casey's manipulation for what it is; she feels caught between conflicting priorities, but at least sometimes she's willing to stand up for herself, and that strength grows the more Casey tries to subdue her. She doesn't believe she owes her loyalty to Casey, which I really appreciate; I always have a hard time with suspension of disbelief in Cinderella stories when the FMC truly deeply believes that following her stepmother's every outrageous demand is part of being a good daughter and/or she feels like it's her fault that her father died so she owes this unquestioning loyalty to the abusive stepmom. I'm so grateful that that's not what we see from Ella!
Enchanted Endings, a beautiful old Craftsman home converted to bookshop, and its proprietress Margaret are at the heart of the story-world, and I know we'll be seeing more of them! I can't help but believe that Ella's friend Belle, who works at the bookshop, has her own story coming up as well.
This isn't an in-your-face "Christian fiction" story, but there are casual references to religion being a regular part of Ella's and Asher's lives, which I appreciated. Very clean, I wouldn't have any concerns about handing this to a teen. No violence, no language, very G-rated.
I received an ARC from the author, but after finishing it I'm ordering a physical copy!
October 28, 2026
Book: Ella and the Enchanted Bookshop
Author: Brittany Fichter
Format: Kindle+
Genre: Fairytale Retelling
Pages: 192
Stars: ***.5
Started on: 10/25/26
Finished on: 10/28/26
This is a Cinderella Fairy Tale retelling.
I pictured Yellowstone meets Disney! Does that make sense? LOL.
But it was pure perfection and it made me want to adventure to Margaret’s bookshop!
Also, one of the characters is named BELLE. Need I say more?
Okay- on to the book itself:
Favorite characters: Oh my lanta! So many good characters in this book!
First: Ella- Her care for her horses and ranch and her willpower to do what is right despite by how she is treated.
Margaret- For being the kindness Ella deserves… because sometimes we just need someone to take care of us.
Asher- For stepping in and standing in the gap for Ella - fighting for her and fighting for what is right.
Derrick and Brianna- for being the constant in Ella’s life- and helping where they can.
Best part: Oh my word! The Halloween/King’s Ball moment! Where things were discussed and understood and Ella got to dress up! And the ending- of course, I will not give away spoilers, but EEEEEEK.
Favorite quotes:
This was the PERFECT book for October. The last quote of the book says:
“And there on the bookshop porch, surrounded by pumpkins and twinkle lights and books….”
Thoughts:
You all know I ADORE fairy tale retellings and this was just what my heart needed in the month of October. I love the spin where “Cinderella” in our story works at a ranch. I love the Autumn references and just the cozy atmosphere. This book even created a great deal of emotions in my heart. I found myself getting frustrated with Casey. Rooting for Ella. Worried about situations between Asher and Ella. Adoring Margaret. Wanting to live at the bookshop.
It was the perfect Fall read and I will be recommending this for my fellow readers here moving forward!!!
If you like-
- fairy tale retellings
- Fall
- magical bookshops
This is the book for you!
Author: Brittany Fichter
Format: Kindle+
Genre: Fairytale Retelling
Pages: 192
Stars: ***.5
Started on: 10/25/26
Finished on: 10/28/26
This is a Cinderella Fairy Tale retelling.
I pictured Yellowstone meets Disney! Does that make sense? LOL.
But it was pure perfection and it made me want to adventure to Margaret’s bookshop!
Also, one of the characters is named BELLE. Need I say more?
Okay- on to the book itself:
Favorite characters: Oh my lanta! So many good characters in this book!
First: Ella- Her care for her horses and ranch and her willpower to do what is right despite by how she is treated.
Margaret- For being the kindness Ella deserves… because sometimes we just need someone to take care of us.
Asher- For stepping in and standing in the gap for Ella - fighting for her and fighting for what is right.
Derrick and Brianna- for being the constant in Ella’s life- and helping where they can.
Best part: Oh my word! The Halloween/King’s Ball moment! Where things were discussed and understood and Ella got to dress up! And the ending- of course, I will not give away spoilers, but EEEEEEK.
Favorite quotes:
This was the PERFECT book for October. The last quote of the book says:
“And there on the bookshop porch, surrounded by pumpkins and twinkle lights and books….”
Thoughts:
You all know I ADORE fairy tale retellings and this was just what my heart needed in the month of October. I love the spin where “Cinderella” in our story works at a ranch. I love the Autumn references and just the cozy atmosphere. This book even created a great deal of emotions in my heart. I found myself getting frustrated with Casey. Rooting for Ella. Worried about situations between Asher and Ella. Adoring Margaret. Wanting to live at the bookshop.
It was the perfect Fall read and I will be recommending this for my fellow readers here moving forward!!!
If you like-
- fairy tale retellings
- Fall
- magical bookshops
This is the book for you!
September 28, 2026
Y'all, I could not ask for a more perfect cozy Fall read! I enjoyed this book so much! Admittedly, I'm already a huge Brittany Fichter fan, so I have yet to read a book of hers I didn't love, and this one was no exception. This book is full of delicious, charming Autumn-y goodness and I was totally here for it! This clean, adorable Cinderella retelling is such a sweet story and an original twist on the fairytale classic. With a fairytale as well-known and enduring as Cinderella, I can see how it might be challenging for an author to find a creative, unique twist on the beloved tale, but Brittany managed to do just that.
Set in our modern world, on a ranch in a small country town, this book has just the right amount of nods to the original fairytale to make it feel familiar, while still imaginative enough to be its own distinctive, delightful story. Every character in this book is so well-written and incredibly fun to read. Both main characters, Ella and Asher, are so loveable and their romance is absolutely precious. I also loved that Brittany incorporated just a little bit of gentle magic into this story. Because this story takes place in our modern world, magic isn't a part of the world or the everyday life of the characters, but Brittany seamlessly integrates little magical touches (from one character in particular) that fit perfectly into the storyline and add even more depth to an already enchanting tale!
I enjoyed every minute of this lovely, cozy, fall fairytale retelling. It was a light, easy, joyful read - with just a little suspense, mischief, and good vs. evil (I mean, there is still a wicked stepmother after all) - that I did not want to put down! I cannot recommend this book enough as the perfect way to kick off your chilly-weather, sweater-wearing, pumpkin-filled, cozy-up-with-a-good-book, fall season! :)
(I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book from the author, but all reviews and opinions are mine, are voluntary, and are 100% honest.)
Set in our modern world, on a ranch in a small country town, this book has just the right amount of nods to the original fairytale to make it feel familiar, while still imaginative enough to be its own distinctive, delightful story. Every character in this book is so well-written and incredibly fun to read. Both main characters, Ella and Asher, are so loveable and their romance is absolutely precious. I also loved that Brittany incorporated just a little bit of gentle magic into this story. Because this story takes place in our modern world, magic isn't a part of the world or the everyday life of the characters, but Brittany seamlessly integrates little magical touches (from one character in particular) that fit perfectly into the storyline and add even more depth to an already enchanting tale!
I enjoyed every minute of this lovely, cozy, fall fairytale retelling. It was a light, easy, joyful read - with just a little suspense, mischief, and good vs. evil (I mean, there is still a wicked stepmother after all) - that I did not want to put down! I cannot recommend this book enough as the perfect way to kick off your chilly-weather, sweater-wearing, pumpkin-filled, cozy-up-with-a-good-book, fall season! :)
(I was gifted a complimentary copy of this book from the author, but all reviews and opinions are mine, are voluntary, and are 100% honest.)
October 2, 2026
I loved this book! I was so excited for this book when I read the description because it sounded so cute! Ella and the Enchanted Bookshelf is the first book in Brittany Fichter’s new series, The Enchanted Bookshop Fairytales. I love fairytale retellings and this one turned out so good!
Poor Ella, she had been through a lot and felt stuck. She didn’t want to be under her stepmother’s thumb but she didn’t know how she could leave the horses her parents had cared for. I loved her relationship with the town, especially those who were friends with Ella’s family. It was sweet to see them try to help her. Ella had to learn to stand up for herself and figure out what exactly she wanted in life. I loved her growth throughout the book and how Margaret helped push her along. Ella was scared but she learned to be brave. Asher was so sweet to Ella and I love the way that he tried to care for her.
The romance was definitely more insta love ish but it was so cute! This was a single POV so we only got to see Ella’s side but it was still so fun to read. I liked the progression of the story and how it stayed true to the Cinderella story and yet was its own book. I loved everything about this and I would totally recommend it! The characters and story were so engaging. Ella and the Enchanted Bookshelf is a clean cozy contemporary romance with hints of magic.
What I loved:
Found Family
He takes care of her
Learning to stand up for yourself
The animals
Margaret!
Asher was so sweet
Asher and Ella were so cute together
I received a complimentary copy
Poor Ella, she had been through a lot and felt stuck. She didn’t want to be under her stepmother’s thumb but she didn’t know how she could leave the horses her parents had cared for. I loved her relationship with the town, especially those who were friends with Ella’s family. It was sweet to see them try to help her. Ella had to learn to stand up for herself and figure out what exactly she wanted in life. I loved her growth throughout the book and how Margaret helped push her along. Ella was scared but she learned to be brave. Asher was so sweet to Ella and I love the way that he tried to care for her.
The romance was definitely more insta love ish but it was so cute! This was a single POV so we only got to see Ella’s side but it was still so fun to read. I liked the progression of the story and how it stayed true to the Cinderella story and yet was its own book. I loved everything about this and I would totally recommend it! The characters and story were so engaging. Ella and the Enchanted Bookshelf is a clean cozy contemporary romance with hints of magic.
What I loved:
Found Family
He takes care of her
Learning to stand up for yourself
The animals
Margaret!
Asher was so sweet
Asher and Ella were so cute together
I received a complimentary copy
Review of advance copy received from Author
Brittany Fichter wrote a contemporary cozy fantasy retelling the Cinderella fairytale. Magic was not heavily involved in the story, but I loved how she wove it in through Miss Margaret, her bookshop, and the mystery fairytale book.
The main character Ella seemed like a pretty classic Cinderella character. She was sweet, dutiful, hard-working, and devoted to her family, only her family changed into something that no longer cared for her. Ella‘s family owned a horse ranch, and her stepmother was running it into the ground, but there was nothing that Ella could really do about it as she was also being taken advantage of.
We quickly met the “Prince Charming” character, named Asher, who was in the Air Force and recently stationed a few hours away. I liked how he encouraged and helped Ella through her different trials, but she still had to find the strength on her own to stand up to her step family and to change her own life.
Brittany Fichter wrote a beautiful Cinderella retelling. Ella and Asher were adorable. The step family was suitably awful, and the supporting characters were fun and delightful. If you enjoy Cinderella retellings, especially in a cozy contemporary setting, I think you will love Brittany Fichter’s version. Get ready to cuddle up with a blanket and a fall-themed drink for this perfect book for a fall afternoon.
ARC Review - I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.
The main character Ella seemed like a pretty classic Cinderella character. She was sweet, dutiful, hard-working, and devoted to her family, only her family changed into something that no longer cared for her. Ella‘s family owned a horse ranch, and her stepmother was running it into the ground, but there was nothing that Ella could really do about it as she was also being taken advantage of.
We quickly met the “Prince Charming” character, named Asher, who was in the Air Force and recently stationed a few hours away. I liked how he encouraged and helped Ella through her different trials, but she still had to find the strength on her own to stand up to her step family and to change her own life.
Brittany Fichter wrote a beautiful Cinderella retelling. Ella and Asher were adorable. The step family was suitably awful, and the supporting characters were fun and delightful. If you enjoy Cinderella retellings, especially in a cozy contemporary setting, I think you will love Brittany Fichter’s version. Get ready to cuddle up with a blanket and a fall-themed drink for this perfect book for a fall afternoon.
ARC Review - I received a free advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a cozy and delightful book! I loved the contemporary take on the fairy tale of Cinderella and the small town romance was so sweet! Asher is such a perfect MMC and was so kind and caring towards Ella. I really loved him and he was such a good person for Ella to fall in love with! I loved that he's Air Force too! And Ella was so kind and sweet and she truly loves her horses. I loved the ranch setting and how intimate the setting was. She really had a lot of good reasons to stay with her stepmother instead of running away and wasn't just a pushover, which I really liked. And, while I think Jaelyne (Ella's younger stepsister) is definitely spoiled, I really liked her as she was so sweet and adorable and really loved Ella! In addition to being sweet and cozy, this book also had plenty of delightful humour! I absolutely love Margaret and her bookshop! She's definitely a force to be reckoned with and I love how she treated Ella and is such a fundamental part of Buchkarte! The side characters were well fleshed-out and each of them contributed to the plot. I cannot wait for the next book, the excerpt at the end of this book was so intriguing!
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
September 23, 2026
Fun modern version of Cinderella
Ella is overloaded with college, running a business of a horse boarding stable 24/7 without any family backup. Her stepmother inherited the business, the horses Ella loves and the family home when Ella's father died and has complete control of the finances barely paying Ella a minimum wage. If Ella takes a holiday or other break, the horses get neglected as her stepsisters won't help and her stepmother only does the prestigious jobs - dealing with important clients or attending very expensive conferences, nor will she pay for sufficient staff.
Ella's only respite is quick sneaky visits to Margaret at the local bookstore, and on her birthday she meets Asher there and gets given 2 books for her birthday. Margaret's book is a very old story about Cinderella which she is told to read each day - but only has words on the first page! However as things happen in her life (which uncannily echo the story of Cinderella) more pages appear in the book! While no pumpkins are turned into carriages, nor mice into men and her midnight deadline is about being caught not a magical reversal, the magic is subtle and like all good fairytales, it certainly has a happy ending.
Ella is overloaded with college, running a business of a horse boarding stable 24/7 without any family backup. Her stepmother inherited the business, the horses Ella loves and the family home when Ella's father died and has complete control of the finances barely paying Ella a minimum wage. If Ella takes a holiday or other break, the horses get neglected as her stepsisters won't help and her stepmother only does the prestigious jobs - dealing with important clients or attending very expensive conferences, nor will she pay for sufficient staff.
Ella's only respite is quick sneaky visits to Margaret at the local bookstore, and on her birthday she meets Asher there and gets given 2 books for her birthday. Margaret's book is a very old story about Cinderella which she is told to read each day - but only has words on the first page! However as things happen in her life (which uncannily echo the story of Cinderella) more pages appear in the book! While no pumpkins are turned into carriages, nor mice into men and her midnight deadline is about being caught not a magical reversal, the magic is subtle and like all good fairytales, it certainly has a happy ending.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Cinderella is my absolute favorite fairy tale. I’ve been looking forward to reading this new retelling and it certainly did not disappoint. I loved the setting - contemporary but still with magical elements. All the ingredients for a classic Cinderella story were included: evil stepmother who did some pretty dastardly deeds that will have you screaming out loud, condescending stepsisters (with some happy surprises), tons of work for the heroine, a fairy godmother to help her in the moment of deepest despair, and even a sweet moment of returning a “slipper.”
Ella was such a relatable character. She deeply loved the work she did but at times also felt overwhelmed by it. Asher was super sweet - I didn’t feel like he got a lot of page time, but the scenes he was in were cute. Margaret was an awesome character - I’ll be excited to read more about her as the series progresses.
If you love tiny town bookshops, fall vibes, horses or any Cinderella story in general, I’m quite sure you will enjoy this charming read. Oh, and did I mention the darling illustrations?! You can easily read this in an afternoon, you won’t want to put it down!
Ella was such a relatable character. She deeply loved the work she did but at times also felt overwhelmed by it. Asher was super sweet - I didn’t feel like he got a lot of page time, but the scenes he was in were cute. Margaret was an awesome character - I’ll be excited to read more about her as the series progresses.
If you love tiny town bookshops, fall vibes, horses or any Cinderella story in general, I’m quite sure you will enjoy this charming read. Oh, and did I mention the darling illustrations?! You can easily read this in an afternoon, you won’t want to put it down!
October 14, 2026
I'm having trouble deciding how to rate this
For one thing, I wasn't expecting contemporary. That's not Brittany Fichter's fault. She put it in the subtitle after all. But I missed it until I was all of a sudden reading about college courses and cell phones. For another thing, while I know she lives in a military family herself, and the issue is deeply important to her, it's just not one that interests me... At all. Neither her fault nor mine, just is what it is. And finally, she's a woman of deep faith, which comes across in her books, which is fine for her, but a turn-off for me. Again, no one's fault. Now that's been true for a long time, but this book just had all of this come across more strongly than the... Over THIRTY other books by her I've read and loved. (Dang, didn't realize that she was THAT prolific.) It just would have been nice to have a warning that this was more in line with her contemporary military romances (that I never read, cause again, just not my taste) than her fantasy books. Especially since I'm SUPPOSED to be be subscribed to her newsletter...
For one thing, I wasn't expecting contemporary. That's not Brittany Fichter's fault. She put it in the subtitle after all. But I missed it until I was all of a sudden reading about college courses and cell phones. For another thing, while I know she lives in a military family herself, and the issue is deeply important to her, it's just not one that interests me... At all. Neither her fault nor mine, just is what it is. And finally, she's a woman of deep faith, which comes across in her books, which is fine for her, but a turn-off for me. Again, no one's fault. Now that's been true for a long time, but this book just had all of this come across more strongly than the... Over THIRTY other books by her I've read and loved. (Dang, didn't realize that she was THAT prolific.) It just would have been nice to have a warning that this was more in line with her contemporary military romances (that I never read, cause again, just not my taste) than her fantasy books. Especially since I'm SUPPOSED to be be subscribed to her newsletter...
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a sweet, cozy, small-town fairytale retelling of Cinderella! I loved it so much! I admit that I was a bit skeptical when Brittany Fichter said that she was writing a cozy fairytale retelling series. I LOVE all of Brittany's books, so I knew that this book would still be nice and I wanted to read it, but I admit that I wanted her to focus on her Pandora Effect series because I love that series (I love urban fantasy) and I really need the next book. I also read every single book in her Classical Kingdoms series and, while those might have been HEA, it was not what I would consider "cozy". After reading this book, though, I take back everything I thought before. It was AWESOME!! The small-town vibes were perfect, the romance between a village girl and a military man was so perfectly portrayed, and I love the relationship between Ella and Asher. I can't wait for the next book in the series! From the small little excerpt at the back of this book, it looks SO GOOD!!! Thank you so much for giving me an ARC of this book, Brittany!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🍂📚 An enchanted bookshop + a horse farm + a modern-day Cinderella retelling?! SIGN ME UP! 🐴✨
If fall is your favorite time of year, this is the kind of book that just feels like it belongs on your fall TBR! 🍁
Brittany Fichter has created a sweet, clean Cinderella retelling that is perfect for teenagers who love clean books, but definitely still fun for adults, too!
Ella is an orphaned young woman doing everything she can to keep her deceased parents’ dream alive by caring for their horse farm. On her birthday—a day her stepmother typically doesn’t even acknowledge—a handsome soldier gives her a book…and he’s not someone she’ll soon forget. ❤️
Then the owner of a bookstore gives Ella another book…but there’s something very unusual about this one. 👀📖
Meanwhile, Ella’s evil stepmother continues to take advantage of her until Ella becomes ill, forcing changes that set her story on an unexpected path.
✨ A horse farm
✨ An enchanted bookshop
✨ A handsome soldier
✨ A Cinderella-inspired story
✨ Clean romance
✨ ALL the cozy fall vibes 🍂
I had so much fun reading this one, and I think it would be especially perfect for readers who enjoy sweet, clean fairy-tale retellings!
📖 Releases October 1st!
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
If fall is your favorite time of year, this is the kind of book that just feels like it belongs on your fall TBR! 🍁
Brittany Fichter has created a sweet, clean Cinderella retelling that is perfect for teenagers who love clean books, but definitely still fun for adults, too!
Ella is an orphaned young woman doing everything she can to keep her deceased parents’ dream alive by caring for their horse farm. On her birthday—a day her stepmother typically doesn’t even acknowledge—a handsome soldier gives her a book…and he’s not someone she’ll soon forget. ❤️
Then the owner of a bookstore gives Ella another book…but there’s something very unusual about this one. 👀📖
Meanwhile, Ella’s evil stepmother continues to take advantage of her until Ella becomes ill, forcing changes that set her story on an unexpected path.
✨ A horse farm
✨ An enchanted bookshop
✨ A handsome soldier
✨ A Cinderella-inspired story
✨ Clean romance
✨ ALL the cozy fall vibes 🍂
I had so much fun reading this one, and I think it would be especially perfect for readers who enjoy sweet, clean fairy-tale retellings!
📖 Releases October 1st!
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a voluntary ARC. All thoughts are my own.
This book has made me realize that I am not that good of a person. I have never wanted to slap a character more than I have Casey. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve felt rage of this level but that’s a me problem. I’ll work on it…later.
Now you’re probably wondering if you should read this? Absolutely!
Ella is a better person than I will ever be and her resilience makes her shine. The romance is sweet and super cute.
This book is top notch autumn vibes. If anyone loves horses, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the other seasonal books in this series.
Recommended reading age (12 yrs+)
No Spice (just kisses)
No Explicit Language Use
No Violence/Gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️my blood pressure hasn’t been this high in a while. Thoroughly recommend.
This book has made me realize that I am not that good of a person. I have never wanted to slap a character more than I have Casey. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve felt rage of this level but that’s a me problem. I’ll work on it…later.
Now you’re probably wondering if you should read this? Absolutely!
Ella is a better person than I will ever be and her resilience makes her shine. The romance is sweet and super cute.
This book is top notch autumn vibes. If anyone loves horses, this book is for you. I can’t wait for the other seasonal books in this series.
Recommended reading age (12 yrs+)
No Spice (just kisses)
No Explicit Language Use
No Violence/Gore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️my blood pressure hasn’t been this high in a while. Thoroughly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review!!!
I received an ARC from the author, so all opinions are my own!
Hands down one of the best reads for me this year!! I was so impressed with the creative retelling of Cinderella that we’ve known and loved for years!
Ella is so sweet and relatable! She’s kind and smart with a good amount of drive in her. While she is trying to keep her late parent’s horse ranch alive, it costs her everything when her stepmother handles the reins, threatening to sell all the horses Ella’s grown up to care for. Her ‘prince’ disguised as a knight comes in the form of the new handsome arrival in town, a handsome walking green flag!
This retelling in the context of a beautiful small town in the fall, where sweaters, flannels, and pumpkin flavor everything makes you feel like it’s actually fall!
I received an ARC from the author, so all opinions are my own!
Hands down one of the best reads for me this year!! I was so impressed with the creative retelling of Cinderella that we’ve known and loved for years!
Ella is so sweet and relatable! She’s kind and smart with a good amount of drive in her. While she is trying to keep her late parent’s horse ranch alive, it costs her everything when her stepmother handles the reins, threatening to sell all the horses Ella’s grown up to care for. Her ‘prince’ disguised as a knight comes in the form of the new handsome arrival in town, a handsome walking green flag!
This retelling in the context of a beautiful small town in the fall, where sweaters, flannels, and pumpkin flavor everything makes you feel like it’s actually fall!
October 3, 2026
This is a fun and cute fairy tale reimagined. It had everything about the Cinderella story we grew up with loving and mixing in a modern setting. Ella is such a wonderful FMC, she is kind, smart, and driven. She is also attempting to keep her parents' horse ranch dream alive, even if it costs her everything else as her stepmother threatens to sell the horses Ella has loved and cared for all her life. Her ‘knight in shiny armor’ comes in the form of a new guy coming to town.
Asher is the best green flag, he is the grandson to Margaret, the quirky and fun bookshop owner.
The twist of an enchanted bookshop leaves a wonderful opening for more books in the series, which Brittany has planned for 4 total.
Asher is the best green flag, he is the grandson to Margaret, the quirky and fun bookshop owner.
The twist of an enchanted bookshop leaves a wonderful opening for more books in the series, which Brittany has planned for 4 total.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Excellent retelling of Cinderella, with a cozy vibe, strong heroine, dastardly villain and a protective male lead. Ella is an overworked girl on a horse ranch working for her stepmother, Casey. She loves the horses and especially her horse, Nevada. She meets Asher, nephew of Margaret the bookshop owner and they immediately take a liking to each other. Margaret gives her a special book and tells her to read it nightly. Fun retelling of the Cinderella story with a godmother, a mysterious book, and more friends and resources for the heroine than she ever dreamed. I received this arc from the author in order to review the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a delightful modern day retelling of Cinderella. All of the classic components of the original fairytale are there, but with interesting interpretations. Ella is a hardworking young lady who is thwarted every which way by the wicked stepmother Casey who cares only for herself and is devious beyond measure. I love how the fairy godmother is interpreted in the character of Margaret. The setting of the ranch and Ella's love of the horses sets a strong backdrop. and of course, there's the caring princely character. Even though you are familiar with the basic premises, this was such a fun read!
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