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The Enchanted Thistle #1
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics
Magic smells of Earl Grey and possibility...
Meg MacIntosh descends from a long line of kitchen witches—women capable of working miracles with a pinch of flour and a ray of moonlight. But there's nothing magical about Meg, or the beautiful hand-decorated sugar cookies she pours her heart into.
When Meg's marriage falls apart, instead of going home where she never fit in, she impulsively buys a cozy teashop in the tiny Scottish town of Banhaven. She begins by ripping up ancient linoleum, collecting cute mismatched teacups, and stacking jars of loose-leaf tea all the way to the ceiling. And before she's even mixed her first batch of cookie dough, a customer finds a little gray cat that claims the best chair by the window. Outside, the hills are turning amber and rust. Inside, Meg's little shop smells of Earl Grey and possibility.
Then Arthur shows up at her door—warm, determined, and the first man who's ever truly seen her—and suddenly everything changes. Somewhere between the cookie cutters and the tea leaves, far from her family’s critical gaze, Meg's magic finally awakens—not what was expected, but more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
A magical, cozy fantasy for fans of Iris Beaglehole, Rewitched and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
Meg MacIntosh descends from a long line of kitchen witches—women capable of working miracles with a pinch of flour and a ray of moonlight. But there's nothing magical about Meg, or the beautiful hand-decorated sugar cookies she pours her heart into.
When Meg's marriage falls apart, instead of going home where she never fit in, she impulsively buys a cozy teashop in the tiny Scottish town of Banhaven. She begins by ripping up ancient linoleum, collecting cute mismatched teacups, and stacking jars of loose-leaf tea all the way to the ceiling. And before she's even mixed her first batch of cookie dough, a customer finds a little gray cat that claims the best chair by the window. Outside, the hills are turning amber and rust. Inside, Meg's little shop smells of Earl Grey and possibility.
Then Arthur shows up at her door—warm, determined, and the first man who's ever truly seen her—and suddenly everything changes. Somewhere between the cookie cutters and the tea leaves, far from her family’s critical gaze, Meg's magic finally awakens—not what was expected, but more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
A magical, cozy fantasy for fans of Iris Beaglehole, Rewitched and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches.
300 pages, Paperback
Published September 22, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The first book in The Enchanted Thistle series features Meg McIntosh, a kitchen witch who is gradually discovering her magic at the same time as she opens a tea and cookie shop in a small town in Scotland. She meets Art and falls in love but she has serious issues from a previous toxic marriage.
Basically the story was fine and there was a lot of promise for where future books could take us. However I found myself trudging through too much emotional navel gazing. Meg wallowed in her very complex feelings and I did not want to be part of it.
However I am giving three stars for the rest of the book which involved magic, some lovely Scottish characters, a friendly ghost, and a cute kitty. As I said earlier, there was a lot of promise for future books. I will look forward to #2.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Basically the story was fine and there was a lot of promise for where future books could take us. However I found myself trudging through too much emotional navel gazing. Meg wallowed in her very complex feelings and I did not want to be part of it.
However I am giving three stars for the rest of the book which involved magic, some lovely Scottish characters, a friendly ghost, and a cute kitty. As I said earlier, there was a lot of promise for future books. I will look forward to #2.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics by Jessica Rosenberg
Synopsis /
Meg MacIntosh descends from a long line of kitchen witches—women capable of working miracles with a pinch of flour and a ray of moonlight. But there's nothing magical about Meg, or the beautiful hand-decorated sugar cookies she pours her heart into.
When Meg's marriage falls apart, instead of going home where she never fit in, she impulsively buys a cozy teashop in the tiny Scottish town of Banhaven. She begins by ripping up ancient linoleum, collecting cute mismatched teacups, and stacking jars of loose-leaf tea all the way to the ceiling. And before she's even mixed her first batch of cookie dough, a customer finds a little grey cat that claims the best chair by the window. Outside, the hills are turning amber and rust. Inside, Meg's little shop smells of Earl Grey and possibility.
Then Arthur shows up at her door—warm, determined, and the first man who's ever truly seen her—and suddenly everything changes. Somewhere between the cookie cutters and the tea leaves, far from her family’s critical gaze, Meg's magic finally awakens—not what was expected, but more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
My Thoughts /
2.5 ⭐
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Jessica Rosenberg for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics is my first read by author, Jessica Rosenberg, and it's a decent option if you are looking for a standard, low-stakes cozy fantasy, but for this reader, it falls way short of its potential.
While it captures the expected autumn aesthetics and small-town charm, the pacing ultimately suffers from a narrative that relies too heavily on the main character's internal monologue.
The book follows Meg MacIntosh as she flees a failed marriage to open a tea shop in a tiny Scottish town. On the positive side, Rosenberg is good at creating an atmospheric setting. The description of the rainy Scottish backdrop, the baking, and the cozy community are pleasant enough. If you enjoy a very gentle, 'found family' dynamic with light witchy elements, these aspects do their job. However, the book becomes frustrating due to how trapped Meg is inside her own head.
Instead of external events or active choices driving the plot forward, the story relies almost entirely on Meg's constant rumination and indecision to create conflict. While some insecurity is realistic after a divorce, her repetitive cycles of overthinking and second-guessing quickly become tedious. This is especially true regarding her relationship with Art. Because Meg spends so much time paralysed by her own thoughts, the middle of the book feels like it is spinning its wheels. The plot doesn't move forward organically, rather, it is dragged out simply because the protagonist cannot make up her mind.
That being said, if you can look past the heavy introspection, the payoff is decent. Meg's eventual growth, and the awakening of her unique magic provide a bit of satisfaction, and the cozy, comforting vibes along with some well written supporting characters ultimately save the book from total annihilation.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 20, 2026.
Synopsis /
Meg MacIntosh descends from a long line of kitchen witches—women capable of working miracles with a pinch of flour and a ray of moonlight. But there's nothing magical about Meg, or the beautiful hand-decorated sugar cookies she pours her heart into.
When Meg's marriage falls apart, instead of going home where she never fit in, she impulsively buys a cozy teashop in the tiny Scottish town of Banhaven. She begins by ripping up ancient linoleum, collecting cute mismatched teacups, and stacking jars of loose-leaf tea all the way to the ceiling. And before she's even mixed her first batch of cookie dough, a customer finds a little grey cat that claims the best chair by the window. Outside, the hills are turning amber and rust. Inside, Meg's little shop smells of Earl Grey and possibility.
Then Arthur shows up at her door—warm, determined, and the first man who's ever truly seen her—and suddenly everything changes. Somewhere between the cookie cutters and the tea leaves, far from her family’s critical gaze, Meg's magic finally awakens—not what was expected, but more powerful than anyone could have imagined.
My Thoughts /
2.5 ⭐
First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Jessica Rosenberg for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics is my first read by author, Jessica Rosenberg, and it's a decent option if you are looking for a standard, low-stakes cozy fantasy, but for this reader, it falls way short of its potential.
While it captures the expected autumn aesthetics and small-town charm, the pacing ultimately suffers from a narrative that relies too heavily on the main character's internal monologue.
The book follows Meg MacIntosh as she flees a failed marriage to open a tea shop in a tiny Scottish town. On the positive side, Rosenberg is good at creating an atmospheric setting. The description of the rainy Scottish backdrop, the baking, and the cozy community are pleasant enough. If you enjoy a very gentle, 'found family' dynamic with light witchy elements, these aspects do their job. However, the book becomes frustrating due to how trapped Meg is inside her own head.
Instead of external events or active choices driving the plot forward, the story relies almost entirely on Meg's constant rumination and indecision to create conflict. While some insecurity is realistic after a divorce, her repetitive cycles of overthinking and second-guessing quickly become tedious. This is especially true regarding her relationship with Art. Because Meg spends so much time paralysed by her own thoughts, the middle of the book feels like it is spinning its wheels. The plot doesn't move forward organically, rather, it is dragged out simply because the protagonist cannot make up her mind.
That being said, if you can look past the heavy introspection, the payoff is decent. Meg's eventual growth, and the awakening of her unique magic provide a bit of satisfaction, and the cozy, comforting vibes along with some well written supporting characters ultimately save the book from total annihilation.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 20, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
I picked this book up because of the description. I was expecting magic, a kitchen witch, and her new shop with a hint of romance. Instead I got very little with magic, learning about the main character as a kitchen witch, learning about her new shop and way too much magic and too many red flags. The focus seems on Meg and Art and if I knew that, I would have stayed away. Art is very annoying and seems like a neglectful father. He leaves his children with Meg all the time and she basically becomes their caregiver. I felt like he basically gave up on his children and gave them a new mother in Meg and Meg never got a notice from him. I feel like this story was suppose to be about Meg's journey with her new shop and out of her toxic relationship and it was not that. It felt like she feel into another toxic relationship.
I picked this book up because of the description. I was expecting magic, a kitchen witch, and her new shop with a hint of romance. Instead I got very little with magic, learning about the main character as a kitchen witch, learning about her new shop and way too much magic and too many red flags. The focus seems on Meg and Art and if I knew that, I would have stayed away. Art is very annoying and seems like a neglectful father. He leaves his children with Meg all the time and she basically becomes their caregiver. I felt like he basically gave up on his children and gave them a new mother in Meg and Meg never got a notice from him. I feel like this story was suppose to be about Meg's journey with her new shop and out of her toxic relationship and it was not that. It felt like she feel into another toxic relationship.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📱📖 Read on Kindle (ARC by NetGalley)
📃 328 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
Genre: Fantasy
🏷️ Publisher name: Storm Publishing
I was fascinated by the description. There's a shop. There's a kitchen witch. There's magic. There's tea. It had everything I wanted in a book, and I went in assuming it would all be there. That's where I went wrong.
The shop barely shows up, and the kitchen witch is only half there, if she's there at all. There's a hint of magic. Someone knows how to make tea, but that person is a minor character. The focus is Meg and Art and their relationship, and I could have been fine with that too, but I struggled with it. So many moments read as red flags to me, and I couldn't tell whether Jessica Rosenberg meant them as lessons on what to avoid or didn't see them that way.
Meg has just come out of a toxic relationship and happens upon a date where she feels seen and connected. For reasons only she can explain, she leaves the guy and goes to Scotland with her brother, where she buys a shop. He follows her, brings his two kids, and they all end up living in the same household. He lets his children "help" her build a digital presence without checking with her, then takes offence when she explains she didn't ask for help. This is the same man who says he doesn't like secrets in relationships, while holding on to one himself "to protect her". He has two rules, one for himself and one for his partner. Personally, I would have run the other way, but that's me. Let's not project.
I'm moving on from the relationship. There's a ghost of a grandmother who does very little throughout the book. There's a hint of magic in tea leaf reading, and I hoped that's where the story would pick up, but nothing came of it. That's a lot of potential left on the table.
I read to the end hoping something would change, and it didn't. I closed the book disappointed, because it ended up reading more like a list of what not to do.
Would I recommend it?
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics wasn't the book its description promised me. The shop and the tea magic are barely there, and the kitchen witch is only half of one. The romance that takes their place had too many red flags for me to enjoy it. I kept reading, hoping it would turn around, and it never did. If you're picking it up for a cozy magical teashop, adjust your expectations. Readers who love a relationship-driven story may feel differently.
📃 328 pages
⏱ Duration: 4 hours
Genre: Fantasy
🏷️ Publisher name: Storm Publishing
I was fascinated by the description. There's a shop. There's a kitchen witch. There's magic. There's tea. It had everything I wanted in a book, and I went in assuming it would all be there. That's where I went wrong.
The shop barely shows up, and the kitchen witch is only half there, if she's there at all. There's a hint of magic. Someone knows how to make tea, but that person is a minor character. The focus is Meg and Art and their relationship, and I could have been fine with that too, but I struggled with it. So many moments read as red flags to me, and I couldn't tell whether Jessica Rosenberg meant them as lessons on what to avoid or didn't see them that way.
Meg has just come out of a toxic relationship and happens upon a date where she feels seen and connected. For reasons only she can explain, she leaves the guy and goes to Scotland with her brother, where she buys a shop. He follows her, brings his two kids, and they all end up living in the same household. He lets his children "help" her build a digital presence without checking with her, then takes offence when she explains she didn't ask for help. This is the same man who says he doesn't like secrets in relationships, while holding on to one himself "to protect her". He has two rules, one for himself and one for his partner. Personally, I would have run the other way, but that's me. Let's not project.
I'm moving on from the relationship. There's a ghost of a grandmother who does very little throughout the book. There's a hint of magic in tea leaf reading, and I hoped that's where the story would pick up, but nothing came of it. That's a lot of potential left on the table.
I read to the end hoping something would change, and it didn't. I closed the book disappointed, because it ended up reading more like a list of what not to do.
Would I recommend it?
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics wasn't the book its description promised me. The shop and the tea magic are barely there, and the kitchen witch is only half of one. The romance that takes their place had too many red flags for me to enjoy it. I kept reading, hoping it would turn around, and it never did. If you're picking it up for a cozy magical teashop, adjust your expectations. Readers who love a relationship-driven story may feel differently.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There are few things I can resist in a book: a woman starting over, a tiny tea shop in Scotland, a little witchy magic, found family and a romance that apparently has no interest in taking the scenic route. So naturally, this book had me at the tea shop. Meg is rebuilding her life after a messy marriage and honestly, I appreciated having an FMC who isn’t very young and figuring out what she wants for the first time. Meg has already lived a whole life, had it fall apart and now she’s standing in the middle of the wreckage thinking, “Well… guess I’ll buy a tea shop in Scotland.” Ma’am.
I really liked her as a character, especially watching her slowly figure out that being different doesn’t mean being less. She has spent years feeling like the odd one out in her family because she doesn’t seem to have the same magical abilities as the women around her. There is something really relatable about that feeling of constantly comparing yourself to everyone else and wondering why you don’t seem to measure up.
And then there’s Art.
Listen… this man did not believe in taking things slowly. The romance definitely had moments where I was sitting there like, “Are we sure about this?” But I also can’t pretend I didn’t enjoy their chemistry. I am very willing to throw common sense out the window when I’m reading fiction because real life red flags become fictional rose petals if the vibes are right. Art’s kids added something really sweet to the story. Watching Meg become part of this little chaotic family gave the book some of its warmest moments. The found family aspect ended up being one of my favorite parts because Meg isn’t just building a business, she’s accidentally building a home and a life she never expected to have.
And the tea shop? GIVE ME THE TEA. Literally.
The Scottish setting, baking, tea, autumn atmosphere, little shop renovations and cozy community made me want to curl up under a blanket and pretend I had absolutely no responsibilities. The atmosphere is definitely where this book shines brightest for me. I also had some moments with the romance where I wasn’t completely convinced by the decisions being made. Art can be incredibly sweet but there were definitely a few situations where I raised one eyebrow so high it practically left my face. I understood what the story was trying to do with their relationship but some of their choices didn’t always work for me.
Meg is not magically becoming a completely different person. She’s learning to trust herself. She’s figuring out what she actually wants instead of continuing to live according to everyone else’s expectations. And that part landed for me. I also loved the little details that made the shop feel lived in. The tea, cookies, community, family chaos and autumn setting all gave me that cozy feeling I was hoping for. This is definitely a book I would recommend when you want something gentle, romantic, magical and more focused on comfort than high stakes fantasy adventure.
Was everything perfect for me? Nope.
Did I occasionally want to shake Meg and Art? Absolutely.
Did I still enjoy hanging around their little corner of Scotland? Yes.
For me, this ended up being more of a cozy romance with magical sprinkles than the full blown witchy fantasy I expected. But sometimes you don’t need dragons, death and seventeen world ending prophecies. Sometimes you just need tea, cookies, a questionable romantic decision and a woman trying to figure out who she is after starting over.
And honestly? I can work with that. 🫖🍪✨
Final thoughts: This is a warm, cozy read with an older heroine, found family, romance, gentle magic and all the autumnal vibes. I wanted more from the magical elements and had some issues with the romance and pacing but Meg’s journey of rebuilding her life and learning to trust herself gave the story its heart.
Thank you so much to Storm Publishing and Jessica Rosenberg for allowing me to read this eARC ahead of its October 20, 2026 release through NetGalley. It was a pleasure getting to visit Meg’s little corner of Scotland early!
I really liked her as a character, especially watching her slowly figure out that being different doesn’t mean being less. She has spent years feeling like the odd one out in her family because she doesn’t seem to have the same magical abilities as the women around her. There is something really relatable about that feeling of constantly comparing yourself to everyone else and wondering why you don’t seem to measure up.
And then there’s Art.
Listen… this man did not believe in taking things slowly. The romance definitely had moments where I was sitting there like, “Are we sure about this?” But I also can’t pretend I didn’t enjoy their chemistry. I am very willing to throw common sense out the window when I’m reading fiction because real life red flags become fictional rose petals if the vibes are right. Art’s kids added something really sweet to the story. Watching Meg become part of this little chaotic family gave the book some of its warmest moments. The found family aspect ended up being one of my favorite parts because Meg isn’t just building a business, she’s accidentally building a home and a life she never expected to have.
And the tea shop? GIVE ME THE TEA. Literally.
The Scottish setting, baking, tea, autumn atmosphere, little shop renovations and cozy community made me want to curl up under a blanket and pretend I had absolutely no responsibilities. The atmosphere is definitely where this book shines brightest for me. I also had some moments with the romance where I wasn’t completely convinced by the decisions being made. Art can be incredibly sweet but there were definitely a few situations where I raised one eyebrow so high it practically left my face. I understood what the story was trying to do with their relationship but some of their choices didn’t always work for me.
Meg is not magically becoming a completely different person. She’s learning to trust herself. She’s figuring out what she actually wants instead of continuing to live according to everyone else’s expectations. And that part landed for me. I also loved the little details that made the shop feel lived in. The tea, cookies, community, family chaos and autumn setting all gave me that cozy feeling I was hoping for. This is definitely a book I would recommend when you want something gentle, romantic, magical and more focused on comfort than high stakes fantasy adventure.
Was everything perfect for me? Nope.
Did I occasionally want to shake Meg and Art? Absolutely.
Did I still enjoy hanging around their little corner of Scotland? Yes.
For me, this ended up being more of a cozy romance with magical sprinkles than the full blown witchy fantasy I expected. But sometimes you don’t need dragons, death and seventeen world ending prophecies. Sometimes you just need tea, cookies, a questionable romantic decision and a woman trying to figure out who she is after starting over.
And honestly? I can work with that. 🫖🍪✨
Final thoughts: This is a warm, cozy read with an older heroine, found family, romance, gentle magic and all the autumnal vibes. I wanted more from the magical elements and had some issues with the romance and pacing but Meg’s journey of rebuilding her life and learning to trust herself gave the story its heart.
Thank you so much to Storm Publishing and Jessica Rosenberg for allowing me to read this eARC ahead of its October 20, 2026 release through NetGalley. It was a pleasure getting to visit Meg’s little corner of Scotland early!
October 21, 2026
Honestly, I'm a little conflicted about this one. It's cozy—very much so—and has just enough magic to keep things charming without being overwhelming while the characters work through their issues. But oh boy, the characters are infuriating! How quickly I would run a mile from this situation in real life is unreal.
We meet Meg right after she divorces her husband, Jim (a real toxic piece of work). After travelling for a bit with her brother, she decides to buy a small shop in Scotland. While debating what exactly she wants to do with the place, she suddenly crosses paths with Art—the guy she went on a single date with right after her divorce. She really liked him at the time, but (in a very reasonable and healthy move) needed to focus on getting to know herself again after spending years making herself smaller throughout her marriage. She ended things before they could even start, but suddenly he turns up in Scotland too... which feels a bit stalkery, to be honest!
So Art and his two children basically appear out of the blue. Meg is already battling her own inner trauma, settling into a new life, and trying to figure out her business—and now she has a guy and two kids landed on her doorstep! Even though Art keeps saying he wants to be open, honest partners, he got on my nerves constantly: doing things without checking in and always assuming he knows best. To be fair, both Art and Meg were annoying, unrealistic, pushy, and trapped in their own heads far too much.
The cozy atmosphere is certainly there, and we get a few lovely glimpses of the magical veil lifting to reveal what Meg is capable of magic-wise. However, the overall dynamic feels hella toxic and unlikely to help her heal from her past. Also, Art boasting that he's been to therapy and "fixed" his own feelings—without ever suggesting Meg might benefit from the same space to heal—felt so strange. That's the very first thing you encourage someone to do when you know what they've been through!
On a brighter note, a huge plus is the authentic Scottish dialect that pops off the page whenever the local characters appear.
It's a cozy read on the surface, but underneath, the boundary-crossing dynamics will leave you shaking your head!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
We meet Meg right after she divorces her husband, Jim (a real toxic piece of work). After travelling for a bit with her brother, she decides to buy a small shop in Scotland. While debating what exactly she wants to do with the place, she suddenly crosses paths with Art—the guy she went on a single date with right after her divorce. She really liked him at the time, but (in a very reasonable and healthy move) needed to focus on getting to know herself again after spending years making herself smaller throughout her marriage. She ended things before they could even start, but suddenly he turns up in Scotland too... which feels a bit stalkery, to be honest!
So Art and his two children basically appear out of the blue. Meg is already battling her own inner trauma, settling into a new life, and trying to figure out her business—and now she has a guy and two kids landed on her doorstep! Even though Art keeps saying he wants to be open, honest partners, he got on my nerves constantly: doing things without checking in and always assuming he knows best. To be fair, both Art and Meg were annoying, unrealistic, pushy, and trapped in their own heads far too much.
The cozy atmosphere is certainly there, and we get a few lovely glimpses of the magical veil lifting to reveal what Meg is capable of magic-wise. However, the overall dynamic feels hella toxic and unlikely to help her heal from her past. Also, Art boasting that he's been to therapy and "fixed" his own feelings—without ever suggesting Meg might benefit from the same space to heal—felt so strange. That's the very first thing you encourage someone to do when you know what they've been through!
On a brighter note, a huge plus is the authentic Scottish dialect that pops off the page whenever the local characters appear.
It's a cozy read on the surface, but underneath, the boundary-crossing dynamics will leave you shaking your head!
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
October 22, 2026
This was such a wholesome, small town book filled with magic and found family. I couldn’t put this book down and really enjoyed reading Meg’s story and love story with Art. It’s filled with magic, ghosts, cookies and tea, with heart and warmth. I enjoyed Jessica’s writing style and the small town characters we got to meet in this book.
Thanks to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2026
I settled in with my morning coffee and Jessica Rosenberg’s The Little Shop of Gentle Magics, ready for a Scottish tea shop to solve absolutely none of my responsibilities. Thank you to Storm Publishing for the gifted e-copy. What is it about a fictional little shop that makes buying a business overseas sound like a reasonable life plan?
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meg is starting over after a difficult marriage, and instead of returning to a family that makes her feel inadequate, she buys a shop in Banhaven. She comes from kitchen witches but believes the magic skipped her. The cookies, though? Those she can do.
I appreciated having a heroine in midlife figuring out what she wants after years of making herself smaller. Her uncertainty made sense to me. You don’t undo that kind of hurt just because you’ve changed your address, even if the new address comes with Scottish scenery and mismatched teacups.
The village kindness, baking, and little gray cat were the details I wanted to settle into. A cat claiming the best seat is easily the most believable thing here. Faith, Frankie, and Ariel would consider that standard household policy.
Art was where my feelings got complicated. He and Meg have history, but very little of it, and suddenly he and his two children are sharing her new life. I wanted more time to believe in that connection. Some of his decisions also left me wondering whether Meg was getting enough room to make her own. Sir, she’s opening a business and rebuilding her confidence. Let the woman breathe.
I understood her second-guessing, although revisiting the same worries grew tiring. And I kept hoping for more time with the tea shop and her emerging abilities. The romance and family adjustments take up much more space than the witchiness.
Still, Meg learning that her worth doesn’t depend on meeting her family’s expectations gave me something to root for. There’s warmth here; I just wanted her fresh start to have more space of its own.
What do you most want from a cozy witchy read: romance, everyday magic, or the little shop itself?
#TheLittleShopOfGentleMagics #JessicaRosenberg #CozyFantasy #WitchyReads #CozyRomance #StormPublishing #Bookstagram
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meg is starting over after a difficult marriage, and instead of returning to a family that makes her feel inadequate, she buys a shop in Banhaven. She comes from kitchen witches but believes the magic skipped her. The cookies, though? Those she can do.
I appreciated having a heroine in midlife figuring out what she wants after years of making herself smaller. Her uncertainty made sense to me. You don’t undo that kind of hurt just because you’ve changed your address, even if the new address comes with Scottish scenery and mismatched teacups.
The village kindness, baking, and little gray cat were the details I wanted to settle into. A cat claiming the best seat is easily the most believable thing here. Faith, Frankie, and Ariel would consider that standard household policy.
Art was where my feelings got complicated. He and Meg have history, but very little of it, and suddenly he and his two children are sharing her new life. I wanted more time to believe in that connection. Some of his decisions also left me wondering whether Meg was getting enough room to make her own. Sir, she’s opening a business and rebuilding her confidence. Let the woman breathe.
I understood her second-guessing, although revisiting the same worries grew tiring. And I kept hoping for more time with the tea shop and her emerging abilities. The romance and family adjustments take up much more space than the witchiness.
Still, Meg learning that her worth doesn’t depend on meeting her family’s expectations gave me something to root for. There’s warmth here; I just wanted her fresh start to have more space of its own.
What do you most want from a cozy witchy read: romance, everyday magic, or the little shop itself?
#TheLittleShopOfGentleMagics #JessicaRosenberg #CozyFantasy #WitchyReads #CozyRomance #StormPublishing #Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Netgalley Review
Settle in for this gentle read, full of hope, emotion and self discovery.
The author takes us on this journey using long chapters that allowed us to fully immerse ourselves before moving on to the next part. There was a good flow between the chapters and a nice pace that allowed us to move through the story well. Between the chapters there were little time jumps that kept the story moving forward.
The characters brought the emotion and feeling to the story. The main characters had both clearly been through some emotionally challenging times and it was interesting to see how they worked through their individual issues personally as well as together. Despite the emotional ups and downs of the main character, the overall feeling of the story was cosy.
I loved how the surrounding characters were there for the main character when she needed it the most. They balanced out her overwhelming emotions and welcomed her to their village with open arms. They all worked together to help her dream come true. There was a real sense of community and friendship which was nice to read about. I also enjoyed the close relationship that the main character had with her twin brother. That was a nice link to the main character's past and helped to make her feel less alone.
I thought that the addition of the Scottish dialect for the Scottish characters was a nice touch and added a more authentic feel to the story.
Finally we come to the settings. There were some lovely descriptions of the shop and the surrounding area, and it was a shame that we didn't spend longer in the shop. The focus was really on the main characters and their emotions.
Overall a gentle read, full of emotional turmoil and interesting relationships.
Settle in for this gentle read, full of hope, emotion and self discovery.
The author takes us on this journey using long chapters that allowed us to fully immerse ourselves before moving on to the next part. There was a good flow between the chapters and a nice pace that allowed us to move through the story well. Between the chapters there were little time jumps that kept the story moving forward.
The characters brought the emotion and feeling to the story. The main characters had both clearly been through some emotionally challenging times and it was interesting to see how they worked through their individual issues personally as well as together. Despite the emotional ups and downs of the main character, the overall feeling of the story was cosy.
I loved how the surrounding characters were there for the main character when she needed it the most. They balanced out her overwhelming emotions and welcomed her to their village with open arms. They all worked together to help her dream come true. There was a real sense of community and friendship which was nice to read about. I also enjoyed the close relationship that the main character had with her twin brother. That was a nice link to the main character's past and helped to make her feel less alone.
I thought that the addition of the Scottish dialect for the Scottish characters was a nice touch and added a more authentic feel to the story.
Finally we come to the settings. There were some lovely descriptions of the shop and the surrounding area, and it was a shame that we didn't spend longer in the shop. The focus was really on the main characters and their emotions.
Overall a gentle read, full of emotional turmoil and interesting relationships.
Did Not Finish
October 20, 2026Thank you to Storm Publishing for the complementary advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I feel as though the blurb and the actual book itself are not at all in sync. I wish I could have loved this but it just felt like an ode to toxic relationships, and had me putting it down and walking away more often than I expected. I held out for a significant amount, but couldnt bring myself to finish this one.
I feel as though the blurb and the actual book itself are not at all in sync. I wish I could have loved this but it just felt like an ode to toxic relationships, and had me putting it down and walking away more often than I expected. I held out for a significant amount, but couldnt bring myself to finish this one.
Did Not Finish
August 28, 2026This book started with a lot of promise, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark for me for a few reasons.
I was expecting a lot more cozy, witchy, magical vibes, but unfortunately, a lot of that flew out the window the moment Art entered the scene, which was disappointing because that was exactly what I was looking forward to.
Then there was the whole situation with Art and Meg, which had me questioning a few things. First, this man moved not just his entire life, but his kids too, on a whim, hoping that the woman he had been on ONE date with before she essentially dumped him would suddenly want him back? 😭 I just couldn't make that make sense.
And Meg's feelings gave me whiplash. One minute she's determined not to be a people pleaser, and the next she's inviting a man she has basically just met to move in with her... along with his children?!
Then there's the fact that Art moves his kids across the world for a woman he barely knows, moves in with her temporarily, and somehow seems to have very little control over his own children. Between things being broken and the teenage attitude, there seemed to be very little parenting or reprimanding happening from their father. 🤦♀️ I felt overwhelmed just reading about it!
And then came the moment that ultimately led to my fastest DNF.
There were already all these lustful moments between Art and Meg shortly after he arrived at her place, with the sudden glassy eyes, the heavy attraction, and lines like, "That's it, that's the sound," he purred in her ear...
Um... excuse me, adults?? 😭 THERE ARE CHILDREN LITERALLY JUST FOOTSTEPS AWAY.
I'm sorry, but that was a hard no for me. By 40%, I genuinel got the ick from these lustful moments with kids around the corner and the bad behavior from said kids without any intervention from their dad, and at that point, I was genuinely nervous about what I was going to encounter if I continued.
It's disappointing because I was really looking forward to a cozy, witchy, magical story, and unfortunately, this one just wasn't giving me the experience I was hoping for.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
I was expecting a lot more cozy, witchy, magical vibes, but unfortunately, a lot of that flew out the window the moment Art entered the scene, which was disappointing because that was exactly what I was looking forward to.
Then there was the whole situation with Art and Meg, which had me questioning a few things. First, this man moved not just his entire life, but his kids too, on a whim, hoping that the woman he had been on ONE date with before she essentially dumped him would suddenly want him back? 😭 I just couldn't make that make sense.
And Meg's feelings gave me whiplash. One minute she's determined not to be a people pleaser, and the next she's inviting a man she has basically just met to move in with her... along with his children?!
Then there's the fact that Art moves his kids across the world for a woman he barely knows, moves in with her temporarily, and somehow seems to have very little control over his own children. Between things being broken and the teenage attitude, there seemed to be very little parenting or reprimanding happening from their father. 🤦♀️ I felt overwhelmed just reading about it!
And then came the moment that ultimately led to my fastest DNF.
There were already all these lustful moments between Art and Meg shortly after he arrived at her place, with the sudden glassy eyes, the heavy attraction, and lines like, "That's it, that's the sound," he purred in her ear...
Um... excuse me, adults?? 😭 THERE ARE CHILDREN LITERALLY JUST FOOTSTEPS AWAY.
I'm sorry, but that was a hard no for me. By 40%, I genuinel got the ick from these lustful moments with kids around the corner and the bad behavior from said kids without any intervention from their dad, and at that point, I was genuinely nervous about what I was going to encounter if I continued.
It's disappointing because I was really looking forward to a cozy, witchy, magical story, and unfortunately, this one just wasn't giving me the experience I was hoping for.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
October 19, 2026
This was like a cosy, heartwarming read! 🥰 I love the idea of a kitchen witch who doesn’t seem to have any magic of her own, especially when she comes from a family where magic is part of everyday life. Meg sounds like a lovely character to follow, and I’m already rooting for her to find her place in the world.
After her marriage falls apart, Meg takes a chance on a fresh start by buying a run-down tea shop in a tiny Scottish town. I love stories where a character has to rebuild their life and discover who they really are, and the cosy setting of Banhaven sounds like the perfect backdrop for that journey. Add beautiful homemade cookies, a charming tea shop, and the promise of a little kitchen magic, and I’m already sold!
Of course, things get even more interesting when Art turns up with his two children. The fact that Meg ended things after just one date because she was frightened by how truly seen he made her feel is something I can imagine many readers relating to. Sometimes, letting someone in is the scariest thing of all, especially when life has already knocked you down. I’m looking forward to seeing how Meg and Art navigate their second chance, particularly with two children, a meddling assistant, and a housing disaster thrown into the mix!
The found-family element is what really appeals to me. A moody teenager, an energetic five-year-old, a rescue cat, and a man who already feels like home sounds like the perfect recipe for chaos, laughter, and plenty of heartwarming moments. And we can’t forget the meddling ghost grandmother! I’m especially curious about the visions appearing in Meg’s teacup and whether she might have more magic in her than she realises.
I also love the underlying message that starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Sometimes, life has to fall apart before we can find the people and places where we truly belong. There’s something so comforting about a story that reminds us it’s never too late to find love, family, and a little bit of magic.
A charming, cosy romance filled with second chances, small-town Scottish charm, found family, magical mysteries, and the possibility of love when you least expect it. With autumn vibes, tea, cookies, a rescue cat, and a heroine learning to believe in herself again, this sounds like the perfect book to curl up with under a blanket and a warm drink. ❤️🍪☕
After her marriage falls apart, Meg takes a chance on a fresh start by buying a run-down tea shop in a tiny Scottish town. I love stories where a character has to rebuild their life and discover who they really are, and the cosy setting of Banhaven sounds like the perfect backdrop for that journey. Add beautiful homemade cookies, a charming tea shop, and the promise of a little kitchen magic, and I’m already sold!
Of course, things get even more interesting when Art turns up with his two children. The fact that Meg ended things after just one date because she was frightened by how truly seen he made her feel is something I can imagine many readers relating to. Sometimes, letting someone in is the scariest thing of all, especially when life has already knocked you down. I’m looking forward to seeing how Meg and Art navigate their second chance, particularly with two children, a meddling assistant, and a housing disaster thrown into the mix!
The found-family element is what really appeals to me. A moody teenager, an energetic five-year-old, a rescue cat, and a man who already feels like home sounds like the perfect recipe for chaos, laughter, and plenty of heartwarming moments. And we can’t forget the meddling ghost grandmother! I’m especially curious about the visions appearing in Meg’s teacup and whether she might have more magic in her than she realises.
I also love the underlying message that starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Sometimes, life has to fall apart before we can find the people and places where we truly belong. There’s something so comforting about a story that reminds us it’s never too late to find love, family, and a little bit of magic.
A charming, cosy romance filled with second chances, small-town Scottish charm, found family, magical mysteries, and the possibility of love when you least expect it. With autumn vibes, tea, cookies, a rescue cat, and a heroine learning to believe in herself again, this sounds like the perfect book to curl up with under a blanket and a warm drink. ❤️🍪☕
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Meg MacIntosh bought a shop in the Scottish village of Banhaven on the last day of her post-divorce spread your wings trip. She's ready to explore her new freedom and maybe even start selling cookies like she always dreamed about. Hand-decorated sugar cookies, with painted frosting whimsy. Her mother and aunts are magical but that gene skipped her, and she needs time and space from her mother.
But when Arthur shows up, a man that she had one perfect date with before her trip to Scotland, her life shifts again. Can she be brave enough to try again to trust love and a man?
Why I started this book: Loved the cozy witchy vibe and was eager to try a new to me author.
Why I finished it: Like Legends & Lattes Meg is focused on opening a new shop. She's going to sell tea and cookies. So there is a large part of this book that is slice of life cozy prep. But Rosenberg also wove in new relationship with a "perfect" man and his two kids. Plus everyone has just moved across the world to Scotland. There are problems and issues but everything is resolved in the same chapter. I'm giving this a 3 star, because I liked it, but it was a bit much. It felt like realistic problems and solutions with a high gloss presentation to keep the book as a cozy.
But when Arthur shows up, a man that she had one perfect date with before her trip to Scotland, her life shifts again. Can she be brave enough to try again to trust love and a man?
Why I started this book: Loved the cozy witchy vibe and was eager to try a new to me author.
Why I finished it: Like Legends & Lattes Meg is focused on opening a new shop. She's going to sell tea and cookies. So there is a large part of this book that is slice of life cozy prep. But Rosenberg also wove in new relationship with a "perfect" man and his two kids. Plus everyone has just moved across the world to Scotland. There are problems and issues but everything is resolved in the same chapter. I'm giving this a 3 star, because I liked it, but it was a bit much. It felt like realistic problems and solutions with a high gloss presentation to keep the book as a cozy.
October 26, 2026
This is a sweet, cozy, urban paranormal fantasy where the FMC, Meg, is a forty-something woman from a magical family who survived the breakup of her marriage with a controlling, mentally abusive man. Meg goes on a date with a man, Art, with whom she immediately feels attracted to and at peace in his presence but then she second guesses herself and she flees on a trip to Scotland where she impulsively buys a small shop that has fallen into disrepair . To her shock soon after she buys the shop, she sees Art, who has taken a short term job in the area and who also has custody of his two children from his previous marriage. This is a low spice book about found family and reinventing yourself. I received a digital copy as a gift from Netgalley and the publisher; all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There’s nothing quite like a crisp fall day, a cozy blanket, a steaming mug of coffee, and a good book to get lost in! This story is the perfect excuse to ignore the chilly breeze, let the autumn leaves fall, and sneak in just one more chapter (we bookworms know how that goes!). I’m already wishing for more!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Storm Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Storm Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 25, 2026
DNF cirka tre timmar in. Det händer absolut ingenting. En affär hon har köpt men på dessa timmar inte ens börjat få i ordning.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I tried, guys, I really did. The premise of this one is SO good! The tagline is: A witchy cozy fantasy set in a magical Scottish teashop.
Fun, isn't it? Who doesn't love a cozy fantasy in Scotland with tea? I thought it was going to be a no-brainer. I was anticipating this being a 4-5 star.
Unfortunately, that is just not the case. TLDR: I DNF'd at 21%, tried to push through, and finally gave up at 33%.
We start off with a series of written/rewritten letters, and the preview of a broken relationship. We then go into the present, where we meet our FMC, Meg. A divorced woman trying to pick up the pieces of her life after an abusive relationship, she's impulsively bought a teashop in Scotland, fleeing the US. We meet a cast of characters that probably mean something further down the line but I didn't stay to the end, so don't quote me on that.
I have a few issues with the plot.
First of all, we are told that all women in the family have magic (except her which is the driving force of her insecurities). She has a twin brother Mac, but it's never mentioned what happens to the men. Are the men in this family just meant to be the sidelines and deal with their sibings/aunts/mother/grandmothers just having this ability? Talk about an inferiority complex. Despite Meg's known insecurity about her lack of magic, it's never once addressed that they share that common trait? A line or two of them bonding over the mutual outcast status would have rounded out the sibling dynamic so much better than the constant push toward their "twin bond" telepathy. Yes, I'm aware that's a thing. No, I don't need to read about it more than once, thanks.
The next issue I have is with the MMC, Art. Oh boy is this man a walking red flag. Love-bombing, chasing her across the pond and towing his children with him? After one date? Are you kidding me? I'm glad Mac was there to knock some sense into Miss "I want to run after him, fall to my knees, and beg him to forgive me." That's a direct quote. My God woman, pull yourself together.
And then there's her reaction to everything. Her overdramatic reaction and pining for a man she went on one spectacular date with (and then ghosted btw) reads as a lovesick schoolgirl and not someone who is recovering from a nasty divorce and abusive relationship. Where she should be focusing on getting a handle on what to do with her newly-bought shop, she's just not. It's infuriating.
Despite the above, I was desperately hoping that the fantasy aspect would pull this book out of DNF hell. Unfortunately, I never got that far before I gave up. There's hints of her magic already, but its nowhere near enough to satisfy the fantasy tagline. This is much more of a cozy romance with a touch of magic involved, than a cozy fantasy as promised.
I was hoping I had found my newest love. Better luck next time, I guess.
Fun, isn't it? Who doesn't love a cozy fantasy in Scotland with tea? I thought it was going to be a no-brainer. I was anticipating this being a 4-5 star.
Unfortunately, that is just not the case. TLDR: I DNF'd at 21%, tried to push through, and finally gave up at 33%.
We start off with a series of written/rewritten letters, and the preview of a broken relationship. We then go into the present, where we meet our FMC, Meg. A divorced woman trying to pick up the pieces of her life after an abusive relationship, she's impulsively bought a teashop in Scotland, fleeing the US. We meet a cast of characters that probably mean something further down the line but I didn't stay to the end, so don't quote me on that.
I have a few issues with the plot.
First of all, we are told that all women in the family have magic (except her which is the driving force of her insecurities). She has a twin brother Mac, but it's never mentioned what happens to the men. Are the men in this family just meant to be the sidelines and deal with their sibings/aunts/mother/grandmothers just having this ability? Talk about an inferiority complex. Despite Meg's known insecurity about her lack of magic, it's never once addressed that they share that common trait? A line or two of them bonding over the mutual outcast status would have rounded out the sibling dynamic so much better than the constant push toward their "twin bond" telepathy. Yes, I'm aware that's a thing. No, I don't need to read about it more than once, thanks.
The next issue I have is with the MMC, Art. Oh boy is this man a walking red flag. Love-bombing, chasing her across the pond and towing his children with him? After one date? Are you kidding me? I'm glad Mac was there to knock some sense into Miss "I want to run after him, fall to my knees, and beg him to forgive me." That's a direct quote. My God woman, pull yourself together.
And then there's her reaction to everything. Her overdramatic reaction and pining for a man she went on one spectacular date with (and then ghosted btw) reads as a lovesick schoolgirl and not someone who is recovering from a nasty divorce and abusive relationship. Where she should be focusing on getting a handle on what to do with her newly-bought shop, she's just not. It's infuriating.
Despite the above, I was desperately hoping that the fantasy aspect would pull this book out of DNF hell. Unfortunately, I never got that far before I gave up. There's hints of her magic already, but its nowhere near enough to satisfy the fantasy tagline. This is much more of a cozy romance with a touch of magic involved, than a cozy fantasy as promised.
I was hoping I had found my newest love. Better luck next time, I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2026
Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics was a very warm, comforting read, and I think its biggest strength is that it understands exactly what kind of book it wants to be. This is not high-stakes fantasy or a complicated magical mystery. It is a story about starting over, finding a place where you belong, and slowly realising that the life you thought had fallen apart may actually be opening into something better.
Meg was the character I connected with most. She comes from a long line of kitchen witches, yet she has always felt like the one person in her family without anything special to offer. After her marriage ends, she chooses not to return to the family environment where she has never fully fit and instead impulsively buys a run-down tea shop in the small Scottish town of Banhaven.
I liked that Meg is a midlife heroine rather than someone at the very beginning of adulthood. Her insecurity feels different because she has already built a life, watched it collapse, and now has to work out what belongs to her once all those familiar structures are gone. The author has also explained that she deliberately writes about women starting again in midlife and discovering where they truly belong, and that intention comes through very clearly in Meg’s arc.
Jessica Rosenberg Books
What worked especially well for me was Meg’s relationship with magic. She has spent so much time measuring herself against the women in her family that her lack of obvious power has become tied to her sense of inadequacy. When her abilities finally begin to emerge, it feels less like a flashy fantasy reveal and more like an extension of her learning to trust herself.
I also liked that her magic does not develop exactly as everyone expected. That was important because so much of Meg’s character is about stepping outside the role other people had already decided for her. The official description makes it clear that her magic awakens in a form that is different from what was expected, and I thought that fit her emotional journey very well.
Art was a sweet love interest, although I had slightly more mixed feelings about the romance than about Meg herself.
The fact that they had already shared one very good date before Meg panicked and ended things gives them more history than a completely new meet-cute. When Art unexpectedly arrives in Banhaven after a job transfer and a housing disaster, he also brings his two children into Meg’s already chaotic new life.
I appreciated that Art is not written as a brooding or deliberately difficult romantic lead. He is warm, patient and persistent in a way that suits the tone of the book. He also sees Meg more clearly than she is used to being seen, which makes their connection feel emotionally safe rather than purely based on attraction.
At the same time, the romance became a little too easy for me in places. I understood why Meg was drawn to Art, and I liked them together, but I occasionally wanted more tension or uncertainty between them. The book leans very strongly into the “when you know, you know” dynamic, which the publisher openly lists among its central tropes. NetGalley For readers who love that kind of immediate emotional certainty, this will probably work beautifully. Personally, I wanted a bit more resistance before everything started feeling inevitable.
Art’s children added much more to the story than I initially expected. Having a moody teenager and an energetic five-year-old suddenly living above the tea shop creates a very different kind of found-family dynamic. NetGalley I liked that Meg is not simply deciding whether she wants Art; she is also deciding whether she is ready to let an entire family become part of the new life she is building.
Those domestic scenes were some of my favourites because they made the book feel lived-in. The romance becomes connected to everyday life, noise upstairs, meals, routines, interruptions, children and the gradual feeling that the shop is becoming a home rather than just a business.
And then there is the tea shop itself, which is probably the strongest part of the book atmospherically.
Jessica Rosenberg clearly knows how to create cosy spaces. Mismatched teacups, jars of loose-leaf tea, decorated cookies, autumn hills, an old shop being renovated and a little grey cat claiming the best chair all create exactly the kind of setting this genre promises.
The book also has a very gentle magical tone. There are visions appearing in tea, kitchen witchery and even a meddling ghost grandmother, but the supernatural elements never overwhelm the emotional story. The publisher specifically positions the book around a magical tea-and-cookie shop, found family, a rescue cat, autumn atmosphere and a slow-burn romance.
The found-family aspect worked particularly well for me. Meg begins the story believing that the place she should return to after her divorce is the same family environment where she has always felt inadequate. Banhaven gradually gives her another possibility: relationships she chooses rather than relationships she feels obligated to fit into.
That message was probably what I liked most about the book.
Jessica Rosenberg’s writing style is very conversational and emotionally open. The prose does not try to be elaborate; instead, it feels close to Meg’s thoughts, with plenty of humour, self-doubt and small observations about her surroundings. In the author’s own preview, Meg’s narration immediately has that slightly self-deprecating, overwhelmed tone as she questions whether buying a shop in another country was a completely ridiculous post-divorce decision. Jessica Rosenberg Books
That voice made her easy to like.
I also thought the writing was strongest when it focused on small sensory details. The tea, cookies, shop renovation and autumn setting all help create a very tactile atmosphere. This is the kind of book where the setting is deliberately part of the emotional comfort of the story.
My main issue with the writing was that the emotional themes are sometimes stated more directly than I personally prefer. There were moments when I understood what Meg was learning before she fully articulated it, and I would have liked the book to trust the reader a little more rather than explaining every emotional realisation.
The pacing was similarly gentle. For most of the book, that suited the cosy tone perfectly, but the middle occasionally became slower than I wanted. Because the stakes are deliberately personal rather than dangerous, there are stretches where the story relies almost entirely on atmosphere and character relationships.
Usually that worked for me, but there were moments when I wanted the magical mystery surrounding Meg’s abilities to move forward a little faster.
Still, the book succeeds extremely well at being comforting. The publisher compares it with The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and The Ex Hex, which makes sense in terms of the mixture of romance, community and approachable magic.
For me, though, the most memorable part was not actually the romance or even the magic. It was Meg rebuilding herself after a life she thought was permanent suddenly ended.
She begins with the idea that she has failed, at marriage, at fitting into her family, even at being the kind of witch she was apparently supposed to become. By the end, the story is much more interested in whether those old definitions were ever right for her in the first place.
That made The Little Shop of Gentle Magics feel warmer and a little more meaningful than the very cute cover initially suggested.
A charming, autumnal cosy fantasy with a lovable heroine, a sweet single-dad romance and a wonderful setting. I wanted a little more tension and slightly deeper development in places, but I would happily return to Banhaven for the next book in The Enchanted Thistle series.
Thank you to Jessica Rosenberg, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics was a very warm, comforting read, and I think its biggest strength is that it understands exactly what kind of book it wants to be. This is not high-stakes fantasy or a complicated magical mystery. It is a story about starting over, finding a place where you belong, and slowly realising that the life you thought had fallen apart may actually be opening into something better.
Meg was the character I connected with most. She comes from a long line of kitchen witches, yet she has always felt like the one person in her family without anything special to offer. After her marriage ends, she chooses not to return to the family environment where she has never fully fit and instead impulsively buys a run-down tea shop in the small Scottish town of Banhaven.
I liked that Meg is a midlife heroine rather than someone at the very beginning of adulthood. Her insecurity feels different because she has already built a life, watched it collapse, and now has to work out what belongs to her once all those familiar structures are gone. The author has also explained that she deliberately writes about women starting again in midlife and discovering where they truly belong, and that intention comes through very clearly in Meg’s arc.
Jessica Rosenberg Books
What worked especially well for me was Meg’s relationship with magic. She has spent so much time measuring herself against the women in her family that her lack of obvious power has become tied to her sense of inadequacy. When her abilities finally begin to emerge, it feels less like a flashy fantasy reveal and more like an extension of her learning to trust herself.
I also liked that her magic does not develop exactly as everyone expected. That was important because so much of Meg’s character is about stepping outside the role other people had already decided for her. The official description makes it clear that her magic awakens in a form that is different from what was expected, and I thought that fit her emotional journey very well.
Art was a sweet love interest, although I had slightly more mixed feelings about the romance than about Meg herself.
The fact that they had already shared one very good date before Meg panicked and ended things gives them more history than a completely new meet-cute. When Art unexpectedly arrives in Banhaven after a job transfer and a housing disaster, he also brings his two children into Meg’s already chaotic new life.
I appreciated that Art is not written as a brooding or deliberately difficult romantic lead. He is warm, patient and persistent in a way that suits the tone of the book. He also sees Meg more clearly than she is used to being seen, which makes their connection feel emotionally safe rather than purely based on attraction.
At the same time, the romance became a little too easy for me in places. I understood why Meg was drawn to Art, and I liked them together, but I occasionally wanted more tension or uncertainty between them. The book leans very strongly into the “when you know, you know” dynamic, which the publisher openly lists among its central tropes. NetGalley For readers who love that kind of immediate emotional certainty, this will probably work beautifully. Personally, I wanted a bit more resistance before everything started feeling inevitable.
Art’s children added much more to the story than I initially expected. Having a moody teenager and an energetic five-year-old suddenly living above the tea shop creates a very different kind of found-family dynamic. NetGalley I liked that Meg is not simply deciding whether she wants Art; she is also deciding whether she is ready to let an entire family become part of the new life she is building.
Those domestic scenes were some of my favourites because they made the book feel lived-in. The romance becomes connected to everyday life, noise upstairs, meals, routines, interruptions, children and the gradual feeling that the shop is becoming a home rather than just a business.
And then there is the tea shop itself, which is probably the strongest part of the book atmospherically.
Jessica Rosenberg clearly knows how to create cosy spaces. Mismatched teacups, jars of loose-leaf tea, decorated cookies, autumn hills, an old shop being renovated and a little grey cat claiming the best chair all create exactly the kind of setting this genre promises.
The book also has a very gentle magical tone. There are visions appearing in tea, kitchen witchery and even a meddling ghost grandmother, but the supernatural elements never overwhelm the emotional story. The publisher specifically positions the book around a magical tea-and-cookie shop, found family, a rescue cat, autumn atmosphere and a slow-burn romance.
The found-family aspect worked particularly well for me. Meg begins the story believing that the place she should return to after her divorce is the same family environment where she has always felt inadequate. Banhaven gradually gives her another possibility: relationships she chooses rather than relationships she feels obligated to fit into.
That message was probably what I liked most about the book.
Jessica Rosenberg’s writing style is very conversational and emotionally open. The prose does not try to be elaborate; instead, it feels close to Meg’s thoughts, with plenty of humour, self-doubt and small observations about her surroundings. In the author’s own preview, Meg’s narration immediately has that slightly self-deprecating, overwhelmed tone as she questions whether buying a shop in another country was a completely ridiculous post-divorce decision. Jessica Rosenberg Books
That voice made her easy to like.
I also thought the writing was strongest when it focused on small sensory details. The tea, cookies, shop renovation and autumn setting all help create a very tactile atmosphere. This is the kind of book where the setting is deliberately part of the emotional comfort of the story.
My main issue with the writing was that the emotional themes are sometimes stated more directly than I personally prefer. There were moments when I understood what Meg was learning before she fully articulated it, and I would have liked the book to trust the reader a little more rather than explaining every emotional realisation.
The pacing was similarly gentle. For most of the book, that suited the cosy tone perfectly, but the middle occasionally became slower than I wanted. Because the stakes are deliberately personal rather than dangerous, there are stretches where the story relies almost entirely on atmosphere and character relationships.
Usually that worked for me, but there were moments when I wanted the magical mystery surrounding Meg’s abilities to move forward a little faster.
Still, the book succeeds extremely well at being comforting. The publisher compares it with The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and The Ex Hex, which makes sense in terms of the mixture of romance, community and approachable magic.
For me, though, the most memorable part was not actually the romance or even the magic. It was Meg rebuilding herself after a life she thought was permanent suddenly ended.
She begins with the idea that she has failed, at marriage, at fitting into her family, even at being the kind of witch she was apparently supposed to become. By the end, the story is much more interested in whether those old definitions were ever right for her in the first place.
That made The Little Shop of Gentle Magics feel warmer and a little more meaningful than the very cute cover initially suggested.
A charming, autumnal cosy fantasy with a lovable heroine, a sweet single-dad romance and a wonderful setting. I wanted a little more tension and slightly deeper development in places, but I would happily return to Banhaven for the next book in The Enchanted Thistle series.
Thank you to Jessica Rosenberg, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Set in a tiny town in Scotland, Jessica Rosenberg's new series starter is full of charming atmosphere with relatable and well-drawn characters. The narrative moves forward at a perfect pace for reader enjoyment, with just the right amount of poignancy and humor.
In the aftermath of her crumbled marriage, Meg has fled the USA to Scotland, land of her maternal ancestors, in search of stability and a new direction for her life.
What follows is a rollicking ride for Meg (some of her new friends were well acquainted with her mother and grandmother from the local coven!), and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so you’ll just have to read it for yourself.
It’s an addicting read -- sad and happy, sweet, and VERY satisfying. I definitely recommend it!
In the aftermath of her crumbled marriage, Meg has fled the USA to Scotland, land of her maternal ancestors, in search of stability and a new direction for her life.
What follows is a rollicking ride for Meg (some of her new friends were well acquainted with her mother and grandmother from the local coven!), and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so you’ll just have to read it for yourself.
It’s an addicting read -- sad and happy, sweet, and VERY satisfying. I definitely recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this ebook ARC from the publisher in return for a review.
This was a sweet cozy romance with just a dash of magic. Meg has just gotten out of a terrible marriage, and during a spontaneous moment, purchased a shop in a town in Scotland. Overall, I enjoyed the romance with Arthur, and Meg's slow healing as she adjusts to her new life in Scotland with a sudden new family. I think Rosenburg handled the ups and downs well - both Meg and Arthur realistically needed to heal and I appreciated those moments where they made mistakes and had to come back together and talk it out. All the characters were fantastic, and the village atmosphere was really a whole other wonderful character.
I do think things moved way too fast in terms of Arthur and the kids moving in with her. I wish more time had been taken for them to reconnect, because that was a huge change. I also think the blurb wasn't quite accurate - I was expecting the shop to be up and running before Arthur shows up, I definitely wasn't expecting Arthur's kids, and the blurb overemphasized the impact of her magic. Once I adjusted my expectations of the book and ignored what the blurb said, I enjoyed it more.
Overall, a quick fun read with really likeable characters and a delightful story.
This was a sweet cozy romance with just a dash of magic. Meg has just gotten out of a terrible marriage, and during a spontaneous moment, purchased a shop in a town in Scotland. Overall, I enjoyed the romance with Arthur, and Meg's slow healing as she adjusts to her new life in Scotland with a sudden new family. I think Rosenburg handled the ups and downs well - both Meg and Arthur realistically needed to heal and I appreciated those moments where they made mistakes and had to come back together and talk it out. All the characters were fantastic, and the village atmosphere was really a whole other wonderful character.
I do think things moved way too fast in terms of Arthur and the kids moving in with her. I wish more time had been taken for them to reconnect, because that was a huge change. I also think the blurb wasn't quite accurate - I was expecting the shop to be up and running before Arthur shows up, I definitely wasn't expecting Arthur's kids, and the blurb overemphasized the impact of her magic. Once I adjusted my expectations of the book and ignored what the blurb said, I enjoyed it more.
Overall, a quick fun read with really likeable characters and a delightful story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I found this one frustrating because it just didn't quite make sense or come across as plausible to me. Someone with a stronger ability to suspend disbelief may enjoy it considerably.
The editing is good (apart from one word choice by the author which I'll point out, when I give feedback to the publisher via Netgalley, is probably not the word she means). But I kept getting tripped up by little oddities in how things unfolded.
Firstly, Meg, the spoiled protagonist. This is a term I came up with for protagonists who get showered with unearned help by everyone they meet. The little Scottish town where this Scottish-descended American protagonist pitches up, a little while after a bad divorce, instantly and unanimously takes her to its heart and begins helping her set up her tea-and-decorated-cookies shop, which she has (unusually for her, we are told) impulsively spent all of her divorce-settlement money on. At least, we're told a couple of times that all her money has gone on buying the lease, but she still seems to have money to spend on fitting it up and getting inventory. It's not clear whether all the tradesmen who are relatives of her neighbours are working for free or just at a discount, but certainly the conveniently-available second-hand shop fittings and kitchen equipment and the tea and baking supplies aren't free. The unconditional help and support, by the way, comes from everyone including the owner of the coffee shop right across the street, who you would think would have at least some thoughts about direct competition for the tourist dollar, but no.
Of course, her new instasoulmate Art (who she met and had one amazing date with in the US, then cut off in a brief message with no explanation because she had to go to Scotland and find herself) moves in with her almost immediately, and is presumably paying something, since his company posted him (conveniently) to Scotland and has an accommodation budget for him, but the question of his contribution to the household finances never comes up. Money in general never comes up, despite the fact that this is probably the number one worry of a new small business owner apart from marketing.
The marketing almost takes care of itself, despite the fact that on the day the business opens, the shop still doesn't have a name. Art's daughter does some social media stuff Meg doesn't understand, despite being 40 years old in 2026, and they're packed to the doors all day, but Meg can still take time out for interpersonal drama, since the entire community is, as previously mentioned, supporting her.
Meg has grown up being dumped on by her awful mother and aunts because, unlike them, she has no (apparent) witchy powers, and this prepared her to marry an equally if not more awful man who made it all about him, so that she had to completely efface herself in order to manage his emotions for him. But when she starts to finally develop powers (because of the ancient magic of Scotland, which is apparently more magical than America; maybe white people can't access the inherent magic of the land in America?) it doesn't seem to be a big deal for her, as I would have expected. She is worried about telling Art, but of course when she finally does, he's OK with it, because no conflict lasts much more than a short chapter in this book. Even Art's surly teenage daughter is intermittently pro-Meg from quite early on, and his five-year-old son loves her just as instantly as his father does.
There's a good deal of sizzling-hot kissing on page, but no actual sex; it's strongly implied that Meg and instasoulmate just cuddle the first night, and after that it's never directly addressed.
A lot of things are way too easy, and because it's set in a version of the real world, that stands out more than if it's in a lightly-sketched sword-and-sorcery secondary world. At least there are interpersonal (and intrapersonal) dynamics; I wasn't fully convinced by all of them either, but there are some. For example, Art, who is usually a perfect foil for her awful ex-husband, does occasionally make decisions for Meg without consulting her, which she resents, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that she'd subjugated her own preferences to her ex-husband for 20 years. It seems like these two near-perfect people can only have conflict by both of them acting a bit out of character.
The whole thing is in broadly the mould of all midlife women's paranormal cosies: divorce, small business, new love, discovery of powers, helpful community. It isn't quite what I call This Damn Thing Again, which also involves an inheritance from a relative, returning to one's hometown, discovering for the first time that the supernatural exists, and having a basic mystery to solve, but it's a close cousin. Sure, that's what a genre is, a set of expectations, but this particular genre seems to adhere more closely than most to the exact same setup each time.
Within that setup, for me it didn't come across as plausible. The fiction I admire most starts with a premise - preferably one that hasn't been done a thousand times before - and some well-realized characters and grows the events organically from the setting, the premise and the characters interacting in a natural and believable way. I didn't feel this book was doing that. Maybe I'm wrong, and I'm sure plenty of people will enjoy it a lot, and I do commend the excellent standard of editing. It just didn't quite work for me.
The editing is good (apart from one word choice by the author which I'll point out, when I give feedback to the publisher via Netgalley, is probably not the word she means). But I kept getting tripped up by little oddities in how things unfolded.
Firstly, Meg, the spoiled protagonist. This is a term I came up with for protagonists who get showered with unearned help by everyone they meet. The little Scottish town where this Scottish-descended American protagonist pitches up, a little while after a bad divorce, instantly and unanimously takes her to its heart and begins helping her set up her tea-and-decorated-cookies shop, which she has (unusually for her, we are told) impulsively spent all of her divorce-settlement money on. At least, we're told a couple of times that all her money has gone on buying the lease, but she still seems to have money to spend on fitting it up and getting inventory. It's not clear whether all the tradesmen who are relatives of her neighbours are working for free or just at a discount, but certainly the conveniently-available second-hand shop fittings and kitchen equipment and the tea and baking supplies aren't free. The unconditional help and support, by the way, comes from everyone including the owner of the coffee shop right across the street, who you would think would have at least some thoughts about direct competition for the tourist dollar, but no.
Of course, her new instasoulmate Art (who she met and had one amazing date with in the US, then cut off in a brief message with no explanation because she had to go to Scotland and find herself) moves in with her almost immediately, and is presumably paying something, since his company posted him (conveniently) to Scotland and has an accommodation budget for him, but the question of his contribution to the household finances never comes up. Money in general never comes up, despite the fact that this is probably the number one worry of a new small business owner apart from marketing.
The marketing almost takes care of itself, despite the fact that on the day the business opens, the shop still doesn't have a name. Art's daughter does some social media stuff Meg doesn't understand, despite being 40 years old in 2026, and they're packed to the doors all day, but Meg can still take time out for interpersonal drama, since the entire community is, as previously mentioned, supporting her.
Meg has grown up being dumped on by her awful mother and aunts because, unlike them, she has no (apparent) witchy powers, and this prepared her to marry an equally if not more awful man who made it all about him, so that she had to completely efface herself in order to manage his emotions for him. But when she starts to finally develop powers (because of the ancient magic of Scotland, which is apparently more magical than America; maybe white people can't access the inherent magic of the land in America?) it doesn't seem to be a big deal for her, as I would have expected. She is worried about telling Art, but of course when she finally does, he's OK with it, because no conflict lasts much more than a short chapter in this book. Even Art's surly teenage daughter is intermittently pro-Meg from quite early on, and his five-year-old son loves her just as instantly as his father does.
There's a good deal of sizzling-hot kissing on page, but no actual sex; it's strongly implied that Meg and instasoulmate just cuddle the first night, and after that it's never directly addressed.
A lot of things are way too easy, and because it's set in a version of the real world, that stands out more than if it's in a lightly-sketched sword-and-sorcery secondary world. At least there are interpersonal (and intrapersonal) dynamics; I wasn't fully convinced by all of them either, but there are some. For example, Art, who is usually a perfect foil for her awful ex-husband, does occasionally make decisions for Meg without consulting her, which she resents, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that she'd subjugated her own preferences to her ex-husband for 20 years. It seems like these two near-perfect people can only have conflict by both of them acting a bit out of character.
The whole thing is in broadly the mould of all midlife women's paranormal cosies: divorce, small business, new love, discovery of powers, helpful community. It isn't quite what I call This Damn Thing Again, which also involves an inheritance from a relative, returning to one's hometown, discovering for the first time that the supernatural exists, and having a basic mystery to solve, but it's a close cousin. Sure, that's what a genre is, a set of expectations, but this particular genre seems to adhere more closely than most to the exact same setup each time.
Within that setup, for me it didn't come across as plausible. The fiction I admire most starts with a premise - preferably one that hasn't been done a thousand times before - and some well-realized characters and grows the events organically from the setting, the premise and the characters interacting in a natural and believable way. I didn't feel this book was doing that. Maybe I'm wrong, and I'm sure plenty of people will enjoy it a lot, and I do commend the excellent standard of editing. It just didn't quite work for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
## PRE-READING
A kitchen witch who doesn't know she has magic. A little tea shop in a Scottish village. Rainswept hills. A cat. Earl Grey.
This sounds *extremely* like my sort of book.
And honestly? It mostly is.
## POST-READING
I really enjoyed *The Little Shop of Gentle Magics*. Meg is an engaging character, the Scottish setting is beautifully described, and there's plenty of warmth and cosy atmosphere here.
But I did spend quite a lot of the book thinking, “This isn't quite the book I thought I was reading.”
The blurb promises me a tea shop, a cat, gentle magic and a cosy Scottish life, with a romance developing alongside it. What I actually got was a romance-focused story with the tea shop and magic around it.
And I think that distinction explains my slight ambivalence more than anything else.
### As I expected
The setting is gorgeous.
Banhaven and the surrounding landscape are brought to life beautifully, and I could absolutely picture the little shop, the hills and the weather. There are lots of lovely cosy details, and the descriptions make the place feel like somewhere you could happily disappear into for a while.
There is also magic, of course, and I really liked the idea of Meg discovering that what she can do isn't necessarily what her family expected of her.
And the romance works.
Meg is understandably wary after a bad marriage, and Arthur is warm and determined but doesn't always realise quite how pushy he can be. In particular, he doesn't immediately understand just how much Meg has been trained to put other people's needs ahead of her own.
That creates some genuinely interesting tension between them, rather than simply giving us two people who are obviously destined to fall in love and getting on with it.
### I was surprised by
How much of the story is actually about the romance.
The tea itself doesn't really arrive until about halfway through the book. The shop is there, but the tea shop I had imagined from the blurb isn't quite the heart of the story. And the cat doesn't arrive in the way I was expecting either — it's one of Arthur's children rather than a mysterious little customer bringing itself into Meg's life.
None of this is bad.
In fact, I enjoyed the book that *is* here.
But I do wonder whether the blurb might have been written for an earlier version of the story, because it sets up a particular sort of cosy fantasy and then delivers something rather more romance-focused.
Meg's journey is ultimately less about creating the perfect little magical shop and more about learning what she actually wants, recognising the ways her previous relationship has shaped her, and allowing herself to choose something different.
And that's a good story.
It just isn't quite the story I was expecting from “Magic smells of Earl Grey and possibility...”
## RECOMMENDATIONS
If you're looking for a cosy fantasy romance with a strong sense of place, complicated family dynamics and a protagonist learning to trust herself again, this is a lovely choice.
For another cosy fantasy where the setting and relationships are just as important as the magic, try *The Spellshop* by Sarah Beth Durst.
And if it's the Scottish landscape and small-community atmosphere you're after, *Shetland* or *Vera* will give you very different stories but a similar feeling of windswept landscapes and places where everyone seems to know everyone else's business.
## MUSIC PAIRING
**“Harvest Moon” — Neil Young**
There's something warm and reflective about it that fits Meg's journey: finding yourself somewhere unexpected, allowing yourself to want things again, and discovering that starting over doesn't necessarily mean starting from nothing.
## VIBE CHECK
**Colour palette:** Heather purple, moss green, warm cream and the amber of autumn hills
**Soundtrack:** Rain against windows, kettle boiling, distant wind and quiet village conversation
**Season:** Autumn
**Mood:** Cosy, romantic, reflective and just a little wistful
**Scent:** Earl Grey, rain, baking sugar cookies and damp heather
**Texture:** Wool jumpers, old wood, ceramic teacups and rain-darkened stone
## TAROT CARD PULLED
**The Lovers**
Not simply because this is a romance.
The Lovers is about **choice** — about actively choosing another person, but also about choosing what aligns with your own values and the life you actually want.
That's Meg's journey.
After a marriage that taught her to put herself second, she has to work out what it means to make choices for herself. Arthur has to learn that loving someone also means understanding where their boundaries are and giving them room to choose.
The romance matters, but so does the fact that Meg is finally choosing her own life.
✦ **THE TRUE QUESTION** ✦
**What happens when you finally allow yourself to choose what you want?**
*The Little Shop of Gentle Magics* is a really good read with beautiful scenery, lovely cosy details and a romance that gives Meg's story some genuinely interesting tension. Just don't go in expecting quite as much tea-shop cosiness as the blurb suggests.
Because the magic may smell of Earl Grey and possibility, but the story itself is rather more interested in what happens when you finally choose yourself.
*The Little Shop of Gentle Magics* publishes on 20 October 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
A kitchen witch who doesn't know she has magic. A little tea shop in a Scottish village. Rainswept hills. A cat. Earl Grey.
This sounds *extremely* like my sort of book.
And honestly? It mostly is.
## POST-READING
I really enjoyed *The Little Shop of Gentle Magics*. Meg is an engaging character, the Scottish setting is beautifully described, and there's plenty of warmth and cosy atmosphere here.
But I did spend quite a lot of the book thinking, “This isn't quite the book I thought I was reading.”
The blurb promises me a tea shop, a cat, gentle magic and a cosy Scottish life, with a romance developing alongside it. What I actually got was a romance-focused story with the tea shop and magic around it.
And I think that distinction explains my slight ambivalence more than anything else.
### As I expected
The setting is gorgeous.
Banhaven and the surrounding landscape are brought to life beautifully, and I could absolutely picture the little shop, the hills and the weather. There are lots of lovely cosy details, and the descriptions make the place feel like somewhere you could happily disappear into for a while.
There is also magic, of course, and I really liked the idea of Meg discovering that what she can do isn't necessarily what her family expected of her.
And the romance works.
Meg is understandably wary after a bad marriage, and Arthur is warm and determined but doesn't always realise quite how pushy he can be. In particular, he doesn't immediately understand just how much Meg has been trained to put other people's needs ahead of her own.
That creates some genuinely interesting tension between them, rather than simply giving us two people who are obviously destined to fall in love and getting on with it.
### I was surprised by
How much of the story is actually about the romance.
The tea itself doesn't really arrive until about halfway through the book. The shop is there, but the tea shop I had imagined from the blurb isn't quite the heart of the story. And the cat doesn't arrive in the way I was expecting either — it's one of Arthur's children rather than a mysterious little customer bringing itself into Meg's life.
None of this is bad.
In fact, I enjoyed the book that *is* here.
But I do wonder whether the blurb might have been written for an earlier version of the story, because it sets up a particular sort of cosy fantasy and then delivers something rather more romance-focused.
Meg's journey is ultimately less about creating the perfect little magical shop and more about learning what she actually wants, recognising the ways her previous relationship has shaped her, and allowing herself to choose something different.
And that's a good story.
It just isn't quite the story I was expecting from “Magic smells of Earl Grey and possibility...”
## RECOMMENDATIONS
If you're looking for a cosy fantasy romance with a strong sense of place, complicated family dynamics and a protagonist learning to trust herself again, this is a lovely choice.
For another cosy fantasy where the setting and relationships are just as important as the magic, try *The Spellshop* by Sarah Beth Durst.
And if it's the Scottish landscape and small-community atmosphere you're after, *Shetland* or *Vera* will give you very different stories but a similar feeling of windswept landscapes and places where everyone seems to know everyone else's business.
## MUSIC PAIRING
**“Harvest Moon” — Neil Young**
There's something warm and reflective about it that fits Meg's journey: finding yourself somewhere unexpected, allowing yourself to want things again, and discovering that starting over doesn't necessarily mean starting from nothing.
## VIBE CHECK
**Colour palette:** Heather purple, moss green, warm cream and the amber of autumn hills
**Soundtrack:** Rain against windows, kettle boiling, distant wind and quiet village conversation
**Season:** Autumn
**Mood:** Cosy, romantic, reflective and just a little wistful
**Scent:** Earl Grey, rain, baking sugar cookies and damp heather
**Texture:** Wool jumpers, old wood, ceramic teacups and rain-darkened stone
## TAROT CARD PULLED
**The Lovers**
Not simply because this is a romance.
The Lovers is about **choice** — about actively choosing another person, but also about choosing what aligns with your own values and the life you actually want.
That's Meg's journey.
After a marriage that taught her to put herself second, she has to work out what it means to make choices for herself. Arthur has to learn that loving someone also means understanding where their boundaries are and giving them room to choose.
The romance matters, but so does the fact that Meg is finally choosing her own life.
✦ **THE TRUE QUESTION** ✦
**What happens when you finally allow yourself to choose what you want?**
*The Little Shop of Gentle Magics* is a really good read with beautiful scenery, lovely cosy details and a romance that gives Meg's story some genuinely interesting tension. Just don't go in expecting quite as much tea-shop cosiness as the blurb suggests.
Because the magic may smell of Earl Grey and possibility, but the story itself is rather more interested in what happens when you finally choose yourself.
*The Little Shop of Gentle Magics* publishes on 20 October 2026. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨NetGalley ARC Review✨
3.5 ✨
I cannot fault Jessica for lighting a candle, turning down the lights and wrapping me in a warm blanket with a brew. The way she world-builds is DELICIOUS. The rain-soaked Scottish landscape, the little bursts of magic tucked into everyday life, the smell of baking seemingly coming off the page and that tiny tea shop at the heart of it all — it is exactly the kind of setting this genre promises, and thats what I'm here for.
The book follows Meg, a divorcee who packs up and heads to Banhaven in the Scottish isles to open her own tea shop. What I loved about this was that Meg already had baggage. This wasn't a story about a girl finally stepping into her own for the first time; this was a woman who had built a life, watched it fall apart, and decided to piss off to Scotland and start again. And honestly? I stand with you, Meg. 😂
For some readers, I can definitely see the amount of internal monologue feeling a little much at times, but I kinda understood why. Meg is someone who has built a life, had it completely change underneath her, and is now trying to figure out who she is and what she wants from this next version of her life. Of course she's cautious. Of course she overthinks everything. Girl, I overthink sending an email, so I GET IT.
And obviously, we have the magic. 🪄 Meg comes from a family of kitchen witches, although she initially thinks she has no magic herself, and I really liked how it tied into the tea shop, baking and everything else she was building in Banhaven.
And then we get Arthur. 🥹
Meg and Arthur go on one date back home, Meg feels completely seen by him, panics and ends things… and then, because apparently the universe has other plans, Arthur comes knocking in Scotland. 😂
There is genuinely nothing I love more than a new chance at love when you're a little older. You see all these young people getting to have the first-date butterflies, the first kiss, the catching-each-other's-eyes moments, so I love seeing that same excitement given to two people who have already lived a whole life and somehow found their way to each other.
And Arthur... 🥹 The way he shows up and seems to see Meg more clearly than she sees herself instantly warmed my heart. For me, their connection felt like so much more than lust, with that almost “when you know, you know” feeling to it. There was an ease between Meg and Arthur that I really enjoyed.
The noise upstairs, Arthur's children being involved, interruptions, conversations happening around them, everyday life carrying on in the background — those little details made their relationship feel lived-in rather than like it existed in a little romantic bubble. It made their connection feel believable, and I could have happily sat in that little Scottish shop drinking tea and watching everyone else's lives unfold.
That being said, I think the slower pace and amount of internal reflection stopped this from being a higher rating for me. There were moments where I wanted the story to move a little quicker, and I didn't connect with every part of Meg's journey in the same way. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the characters much more consistently than I enjoyed the pacing.
But honestly? Sometimes you just need a rainy Scottish island, a cup of tea, a little bit of magic and a second chance at love. ☕️✨
3.5 ✨
I cannot fault Jessica for lighting a candle, turning down the lights and wrapping me in a warm blanket with a brew. The way she world-builds is DELICIOUS. The rain-soaked Scottish landscape, the little bursts of magic tucked into everyday life, the smell of baking seemingly coming off the page and that tiny tea shop at the heart of it all — it is exactly the kind of setting this genre promises, and thats what I'm here for.
The book follows Meg, a divorcee who packs up and heads to Banhaven in the Scottish isles to open her own tea shop. What I loved about this was that Meg already had baggage. This wasn't a story about a girl finally stepping into her own for the first time; this was a woman who had built a life, watched it fall apart, and decided to piss off to Scotland and start again. And honestly? I stand with you, Meg. 😂
For some readers, I can definitely see the amount of internal monologue feeling a little much at times, but I kinda understood why. Meg is someone who has built a life, had it completely change underneath her, and is now trying to figure out who she is and what she wants from this next version of her life. Of course she's cautious. Of course she overthinks everything. Girl, I overthink sending an email, so I GET IT.
And obviously, we have the magic. 🪄 Meg comes from a family of kitchen witches, although she initially thinks she has no magic herself, and I really liked how it tied into the tea shop, baking and everything else she was building in Banhaven.
And then we get Arthur. 🥹
Meg and Arthur go on one date back home, Meg feels completely seen by him, panics and ends things… and then, because apparently the universe has other plans, Arthur comes knocking in Scotland. 😂
There is genuinely nothing I love more than a new chance at love when you're a little older. You see all these young people getting to have the first-date butterflies, the first kiss, the catching-each-other's-eyes moments, so I love seeing that same excitement given to two people who have already lived a whole life and somehow found their way to each other.
And Arthur... 🥹 The way he shows up and seems to see Meg more clearly than she sees herself instantly warmed my heart. For me, their connection felt like so much more than lust, with that almost “when you know, you know” feeling to it. There was an ease between Meg and Arthur that I really enjoyed.
The noise upstairs, Arthur's children being involved, interruptions, conversations happening around them, everyday life carrying on in the background — those little details made their relationship feel lived-in rather than like it existed in a little romantic bubble. It made their connection feel believable, and I could have happily sat in that little Scottish shop drinking tea and watching everyone else's lives unfold.
That being said, I think the slower pace and amount of internal reflection stopped this from being a higher rating for me. There were moments where I wanted the story to move a little quicker, and I didn't connect with every part of Meg's journey in the same way. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the characters much more consistently than I enjoyed the pacing.
But honestly? Sometimes you just need a rainy Scottish island, a cup of tea, a little bit of magic and a second chance at love. ☕️✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of The Little Shop of Gentle Magics really appealed to me: a woman starting over after divorce, a little tea shop in Scotland, kitchen witchery, gentle magic and the possibility of a second chance at love. Unfortunately, I found myself feeling that the way this book is marketed and the story that is actually delivered don't quite match up.
I went into this expecting much more of a cosy fantasy, with the magic and tea shop at the heart of the story. Instead, this is much more of a romance with some magical and fantastical elements woven around it. There is definitely a rom-com quality here, and if you're looking for something with a Hallmark-style feel, this could be a good option.
I did enjoy the idea of Meg starting over and finding herself after a difficult marriage. Her journey toward figuring out what she wants from her life, rather than continuing to live according to other people's expectations, was probably my favourite part of the story. I also enjoyed the Scottish setting, the community around her and the cosy details of the shop, tea and baking.
Where I struggled was with the romance. Meg and Art's relationship moves at breakneck speed, and there were quite a few moments where I had to suspend my disbelief. Given how little time they had actually known each other, some of their decisions — particularly the circumstances that bring Art and his children into Meg's new life — felt very unrealistic to me. Their relationship ultimately felt more like a romantic fantasy than something I could genuinely buy into.
The same applies somewhat to the worldbuilding. I was happy to accept a fictionalised, slightly fantastical version of Scotland, but there were moments when the setting felt more like a rom-com's idea of Scotland than a fully developed place.
I also wish there had been more magic. The premise had so much potential for a truly cosy, witchy story, and I would have loved to spend more time exploring Meg's abilities, the family history of magic and the tea shop itself. Instead, the romance takes centre stage, with the magical elements often feeling secondary.
That said, this is an easy, gentle read with some lovely themes around starting over, healing after a difficult relationship, finding your own identity and allowing yourself to fall in love again. If you go into it expecting a romance with a sprinkling of magic rather than a full-on cosy fantasy, I think you'll have a better idea of what to expect.
Overall, The Little Shop of Gentle Magics wasn't quite the book I thought I was getting, but it was still a pleasant and undemanding read. The concept, setting and potential for the magical elements were my favourite parts, and I would have happily traded some of the romance for more tea-shop witchiness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of The Little Shop of Gentle Magics really appealed to me: a woman starting over after divorce, a little tea shop in Scotland, kitchen witchery, gentle magic and the possibility of a second chance at love. Unfortunately, I found myself feeling that the way this book is marketed and the story that is actually delivered don't quite match up.
I went into this expecting much more of a cosy fantasy, with the magic and tea shop at the heart of the story. Instead, this is much more of a romance with some magical and fantastical elements woven around it. There is definitely a rom-com quality here, and if you're looking for something with a Hallmark-style feel, this could be a good option.
I did enjoy the idea of Meg starting over and finding herself after a difficult marriage. Her journey toward figuring out what she wants from her life, rather than continuing to live according to other people's expectations, was probably my favourite part of the story. I also enjoyed the Scottish setting, the community around her and the cosy details of the shop, tea and baking.
Where I struggled was with the romance. Meg and Art's relationship moves at breakneck speed, and there were quite a few moments where I had to suspend my disbelief. Given how little time they had actually known each other, some of their decisions — particularly the circumstances that bring Art and his children into Meg's new life — felt very unrealistic to me. Their relationship ultimately felt more like a romantic fantasy than something I could genuinely buy into.
The same applies somewhat to the worldbuilding. I was happy to accept a fictionalised, slightly fantastical version of Scotland, but there were moments when the setting felt more like a rom-com's idea of Scotland than a fully developed place.
I also wish there had been more magic. The premise had so much potential for a truly cosy, witchy story, and I would have loved to spend more time exploring Meg's abilities, the family history of magic and the tea shop itself. Instead, the romance takes centre stage, with the magical elements often feeling secondary.
That said, this is an easy, gentle read with some lovely themes around starting over, healing after a difficult relationship, finding your own identity and allowing yourself to fall in love again. If you go into it expecting a romance with a sprinkling of magic rather than a full-on cosy fantasy, I think you'll have a better idea of what to expect.
Overall, The Little Shop of Gentle Magics wasn't quite the book I thought I was getting, but it was still a pleasant and undemanding read. The concept, setting and potential for the magical elements were my favourite parts, and I would have happily traded some of the romance for more tea-shop witchiness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2026
Okay I really genuinely don’t know how to describe how I felt reading this book because I kinda loved it but also kinda hated it, so I’ll try explain.
I think if you read this book not for a literary masterpiece but just for a bit of enjoyment, and pretend it’s a Hallmark movie in your head the entire time, you can justify a lot of the plot of this book. Things that are actually kinda just…insane…you can explain away with the “everything is right in the world because the world is a Hallmark world”, because otherwise if you think too much about how the MMC moves across to Scotland after ONE DATE with the FMC and takes HIS CHILDREN with him, and that he is the “perfect man” but in a way that’s not realistic, you think he might be a serial killer. She then invited these veritable strangers into her HOME because she “knew him so well from their shared emails” and then we repeatedly find out she doesn’t fully know him due to the little hiccups throughout the book, and again you might be like yo this is absolutely wild maybe you should have not done that, but it all works out in Hallmark world so it’s all okay.
Now, did I get MAD when he started expecting her to look after HIS children? Yes. I did. That I couldn’t excuse even in Hallmark land, but somehow she loved those kids and so it all worked out.
The miscom between the FMC/MMC was quite frequent, but you know what? They didn’t know each other as well as they believed they did and their past experiences led to this miscom so I allowed it.
The magic was a little of an absolutely insane side plot that genuinely I don’t know why it was included but it did not positively or negatively impact the story so I went with it.
But personally. Personally. A pet peeve of mine that I could not ignore in this book, is when the accents of people are repeatedly written into their speech when writing. I’m Scottish. I barely understood what the Scottish people in this book were saying. I find it difficult to read when accents are added and it slows me down having to read “naebody dinne ken, hen. Dinne fash” for EVERY. SINGLE. SCOTTISH. CHARACTER. Like I get it! They’re Scottish! I don’t need the reminder in text, especially when the FMC/MMC are both American and keep going on about how they can’t understand them 😭. But again this is just a personal preference, I don’t like any accent actually written in text, just say they’ve got a lilt or whatever and write their speech normally.
And finally, too much PDA in front of children personally for me, esp given that she is a new girlfriend, and those children are not hers, I can’t imagine how weird that would be for the kids seeing their dad having full on snogs with this random woman that they’d all just moved in with.
So essentially. Is the book perfect? No. Is it a fun quick light read that is cute enough and if you picture it in Hallmark land? Yes.
Thank you to Net Galley for the arc! All views are my own.
I think if you read this book not for a literary masterpiece but just for a bit of enjoyment, and pretend it’s a Hallmark movie in your head the entire time, you can justify a lot of the plot of this book. Things that are actually kinda just…insane…you can explain away with the “everything is right in the world because the world is a Hallmark world”, because otherwise if you think too much about how the MMC moves across to Scotland after ONE DATE with the FMC and takes HIS CHILDREN with him, and that he is the “perfect man” but in a way that’s not realistic, you think he might be a serial killer. She then invited these veritable strangers into her HOME because she “knew him so well from their shared emails” and then we repeatedly find out she doesn’t fully know him due to the little hiccups throughout the book, and again you might be like yo this is absolutely wild maybe you should have not done that, but it all works out in Hallmark world so it’s all okay.
Now, did I get MAD when he started expecting her to look after HIS children? Yes. I did. That I couldn’t excuse even in Hallmark land, but somehow she loved those kids and so it all worked out.
The miscom between the FMC/MMC was quite frequent, but you know what? They didn’t know each other as well as they believed they did and their past experiences led to this miscom so I allowed it.
The magic was a little of an absolutely insane side plot that genuinely I don’t know why it was included but it did not positively or negatively impact the story so I went with it.
But personally. Personally. A pet peeve of mine that I could not ignore in this book, is when the accents of people are repeatedly written into their speech when writing. I’m Scottish. I barely understood what the Scottish people in this book were saying. I find it difficult to read when accents are added and it slows me down having to read “naebody dinne ken, hen. Dinne fash” for EVERY. SINGLE. SCOTTISH. CHARACTER. Like I get it! They’re Scottish! I don’t need the reminder in text, especially when the FMC/MMC are both American and keep going on about how they can’t understand them 😭. But again this is just a personal preference, I don’t like any accent actually written in text, just say they’ve got a lilt or whatever and write their speech normally.
And finally, too much PDA in front of children personally for me, esp given that she is a new girlfriend, and those children are not hers, I can’t imagine how weird that would be for the kids seeing their dad having full on snogs with this random woman that they’d all just moved in with.
So essentially. Is the book perfect? No. Is it a fun quick light read that is cute enough and if you picture it in Hallmark land? Yes.
Thank you to Net Galley for the arc! All views are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to give this book an honest chance but... sadly, it was not for me. I DNF'ed just turning 30%, just before the start of Chapter 11.
The premise was nice. A freshly divorced lady impulsively buys a shop that she initially doesn't know what she want to do with. She decides to up and leave America for a quaint little town in Scotland. Meg comes from a family of witches, however, she's the only woman in the family who does not have magical powers. Or so she thinks. I loved the idea of a character finding herself again after a marriage of 20 years. And discovering magic at her age - it's something we don't see a lot of and it drew me in instantly.
I loved the concept and the premise. The cover implied cosy and cute vibes, and the description drew me in immediately. I love love love anything magical, and the cosy element usually goes down a treat.
I can't help but sigh at the instalove of it all. It doesn't feel genuine, it feels forced and I cannot vibe with it. I really wanted to power through, but I fear it may put me in a slump and so I think it's best to call it quits while we're at it. I hope this feedback is helpful!
To start with, I did enjoy the book. My one gripe up until the point I wanted to DNF was the fact that the Scottish accents were written. It makes it more difficult to read, and it is a personal pet peeve of mine. However, others may not mind it so this is just down to personal preference.
I enjoyed Meggy's relationship with Mac; I wish he could've stuck around for longer.
However, I feel like from the moment Art entered the picture, it went downhill from there. Everything about his arrival and him just gave me the ick and the explanations for his arrival are very convoluted and unrealistic. The fact these two are acting like they had the Greatest Love of All when they only met (after speaking for a couple of weeks online max) one time, with one date. The insta love of it all just rubs me the wrong way. It's supposed to be cute but nothing about it felt cute to me. It felt rather forced. And then the reveal of who else he has brought with him and the justification just feels wrong and unfortunately, I am not interested in reading any further.
I can't help but sigh at the instalove of it all. It doesn't feel genuine, it feels forced and I cannot vibe with it. I really wanted to power through, but I fear it may put me in a slump and so I think it's best to call it quits while we're at it.
And some people may like it is they can let these details fly over their head, if they don't mind that the connection is rather instant and suddenly there is a shift to Art Art and Art rather than the magic surrounding the shop and Meg coming into herself. That may occur further on but as I have DNF'ed it, I won't know.
I really wanted to give this book an honest chance but... sadly, it was not for me. I DNF'ed just turning 30%, just before the start of Chapter 11.
The premise was nice. A freshly divorced lady impulsively buys a shop that she initially doesn't know what she want to do with. She decides to up and leave America for a quaint little town in Scotland. Meg comes from a family of witches, however, she's the only woman in the family who does not have magical powers. Or so she thinks. I loved the idea of a character finding herself again after a marriage of 20 years. And discovering magic at her age - it's something we don't see a lot of and it drew me in instantly.
I loved the concept and the premise. The cover implied cosy and cute vibes, and the description drew me in immediately. I love love love anything magical, and the cosy element usually goes down a treat.
I can't help but sigh at the instalove of it all. It doesn't feel genuine, it feels forced and I cannot vibe with it. I really wanted to power through, but I fear it may put me in a slump and so I think it's best to call it quits while we're at it. I hope this feedback is helpful!
To start with, I did enjoy the book. My one gripe up until the point I wanted to DNF was the fact that the Scottish accents were written. It makes it more difficult to read, and it is a personal pet peeve of mine. However, others may not mind it so this is just down to personal preference.
I enjoyed Meggy's relationship with Mac; I wish he could've stuck around for longer.
However, I feel like from the moment Art entered the picture, it went downhill from there. Everything about his arrival and him just gave me the ick and the explanations for his arrival are very convoluted and unrealistic. The fact these two are acting like they had the Greatest Love of All when they only met (after speaking for a couple of weeks online max) one time, with one date. The insta love of it all just rubs me the wrong way. It's supposed to be cute but nothing about it felt cute to me. It felt rather forced. And then the reveal of who else he has brought with him and the justification just feels wrong and unfortunately, I am not interested in reading any further.
I can't help but sigh at the instalove of it all. It doesn't feel genuine, it feels forced and I cannot vibe with it. I really wanted to power through, but I fear it may put me in a slump and so I think it's best to call it quits while we're at it.
And some people may like it is they can let these details fly over their head, if they don't mind that the connection is rather instant and suddenly there is a shift to Art Art and Art rather than the magic surrounding the shop and Meg coming into herself. That may occur further on but as I have DNF'ed it, I won't know.
October 25, 2026
The Little Shop of Gentle Magics by Jessica Rosenberg was just an okay read for me. It had some enjoyable elements, and I can appreciate what the author was going for, but overall, I found myself wanting more from the story.
One of my biggest issues was the pacing of the relationship between Meg and Art. Their romance felt rushed and a little underdeveloped, making it difficult for me to become fully invested in their relationship. I would have preferred a slower, more natural progression that allowed their connection to develop over time. I wanted more opportunities to see their personalities interact, their feelings deepen, and their relationship grow in a way that felt believable rather than having things move along so quickly.
I also found Meg to be a somewhat difficult character to connect with. I struggled to get a good feel for her, and at times, her character seemed a little all over the place. I wanted more consistency and depth to help me understand her motivations and become more emotionally invested in her journey. While I don't necessarily need to love every main character I read about, I do need to feel some connection to them, and that was something I struggled with here.
Another disappointment for me was the lack of magic. With a title like The Little Shop of Gentle Magics, I went into this book expecting the magical elements to play a much bigger role in the story. Unfortunately, the magic felt more like a background detail than a central part of the reading experience. I really wanted more enchantment, wonder, and those little moments that make a magical story feel truly special. The concept had so much potential, but I don't think the magical aspect was developed enough to deliver the experience I was hoping for.
Overall, I felt the story was a little unfocused at times, particularly when it came to Meg and her personal journey. Some aspects of the book worked better than others, but I never quite found myself completely immersed in the world or fully invested in where the story was going. I kept waiting for the story to pull me in, but it never quite got there for me.
This wasn't a terrible book by any means, and I can see how it might appeal to readers who enjoy a gentle, character-focused story with a touch of magic and romance. Unfortunately, I was hoping for a more engaging storyline, better-developed characters, a romance with more natural pacing, and, above all, a lot more magic!
For me, this was an average read that had some promise but ultimately didn't quite deliver on its potential.
**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed.**
One of my biggest issues was the pacing of the relationship between Meg and Art. Their romance felt rushed and a little underdeveloped, making it difficult for me to become fully invested in their relationship. I would have preferred a slower, more natural progression that allowed their connection to develop over time. I wanted more opportunities to see their personalities interact, their feelings deepen, and their relationship grow in a way that felt believable rather than having things move along so quickly.
I also found Meg to be a somewhat difficult character to connect with. I struggled to get a good feel for her, and at times, her character seemed a little all over the place. I wanted more consistency and depth to help me understand her motivations and become more emotionally invested in her journey. While I don't necessarily need to love every main character I read about, I do need to feel some connection to them, and that was something I struggled with here.
Another disappointment for me was the lack of magic. With a title like The Little Shop of Gentle Magics, I went into this book expecting the magical elements to play a much bigger role in the story. Unfortunately, the magic felt more like a background detail than a central part of the reading experience. I really wanted more enchantment, wonder, and those little moments that make a magical story feel truly special. The concept had so much potential, but I don't think the magical aspect was developed enough to deliver the experience I was hoping for.
Overall, I felt the story was a little unfocused at times, particularly when it came to Meg and her personal journey. Some aspects of the book worked better than others, but I never quite found myself completely immersed in the world or fully invested in where the story was going. I kept waiting for the story to pull me in, but it never quite got there for me.
This wasn't a terrible book by any means, and I can see how it might appeal to readers who enjoy a gentle, character-focused story with a touch of magic and romance. Unfortunately, I was hoping for a more engaging storyline, better-developed characters, a romance with more natural pacing, and, above all, a lot more magic!
For me, this was an average read that had some promise but ultimately didn't quite deliver on its potential.
**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed.**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Meg makes a lot of questionable decisions from the start. The book starts with her ghosting a man she’s been on one date with and had some conversations with because they have too good of a connection?? She constantly self sabotages and is incredibly immature in how she handles her relationships. I understand she just got out of a bad marriage and many of her reactions are trauma related, but I think it’s been a year since she’s gotten divorced.
Then she buys a shop in Scotland on a whim and settles on making it a tea shop (which she knows nothing about) because a local mentioned that’s what used to be there! Meg is very lucky that all the random strangers in town appear to have adopted her and set her up with furniture and things for her shop. There is even conveniently a person who knows teas. The shop literally doesn’t have name yet on “opening day”.
The timeline itself is very confusing and I have so many questions. How long did Meg know Art? How did he coincidentally show up so quickly in Scotland with his transplanted children? How was his secretary/assistant able to manipulate him into the same town as Meg? Somehow she saw an article about Meg opening her random shop in Scotland? None of it makes sense. Why is Meg making calls back to her brother in the states like time zones don’t exist?
Meg gets upset at one point about Art calling her his girlfriend without discussing it with her first, when it was his daughter Viv that said it! Viv accuses him “You mean like pulling me out of high school so we can live on the other side of the world with your girlfriend?” He just disagrees with her by repeating back what she said. Meg is a contradiction of mixed signal from the start. She ghosts Art but then invites him and his kids to live with her “temporarily”. They start acting like a family unit immediately.
Let’s talk about Art, he is supposed to be a great guy, but he did things to purposely irritate his ex-wife just to get a reaction. He snaps at Meg for not keeping an eye on his daughter (a thing that’s not actually her responsibility). When talking about how he doesn’t want to rush their relationship he says “I’ve had my fair share of one-night stands and flash-in-the-pan physical relationships.” which is a really weird thing to say to a prospective romantic partner.
Overall I was not a fan of the story and the cozy premise didn’t deliver.
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to leave an honest review.
Then she buys a shop in Scotland on a whim and settles on making it a tea shop (which she knows nothing about) because a local mentioned that’s what used to be there! Meg is very lucky that all the random strangers in town appear to have adopted her and set her up with furniture and things for her shop. There is even conveniently a person who knows teas. The shop literally doesn’t have name yet on “opening day”.
The timeline itself is very confusing and I have so many questions. How long did Meg know Art? How did he coincidentally show up so quickly in Scotland with his transplanted children? How was his secretary/assistant able to manipulate him into the same town as Meg? Somehow she saw an article about Meg opening her random shop in Scotland? None of it makes sense. Why is Meg making calls back to her brother in the states like time zones don’t exist?
Meg gets upset at one point about Art calling her his girlfriend without discussing it with her first, when it was his daughter Viv that said it! Viv accuses him “You mean like pulling me out of high school so we can live on the other side of the world with your girlfriend?” He just disagrees with her by repeating back what she said. Meg is a contradiction of mixed signal from the start. She ghosts Art but then invites him and his kids to live with her “temporarily”. They start acting like a family unit immediately.
Let’s talk about Art, he is supposed to be a great guy, but he did things to purposely irritate his ex-wife just to get a reaction. He snaps at Meg for not keeping an eye on his daughter (a thing that’s not actually her responsibility). When talking about how he doesn’t want to rush their relationship he says “I’ve had my fair share of one-night stands and flash-in-the-pan physical relationships.” which is a really weird thing to say to a prospective romantic partner.
Overall I was not a fan of the story and the cozy premise didn’t deliver.
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC and the opportunity to leave an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Meg is just out of a toxic relationship and after one excellent date, she decides that before rushing into another relationship, she needs to "find herself" so runs off to Scotland, where she buys a shop without knowing what she's going to do with it. Then her date shows up, with his kids in tow.
I sort of feel that publisher marketing departments need to wean themselves off the whole cosy fantasy thing. They're trying hard to crowbar this book into that genre when it's really not. It's maybe a romance but mostly about a damaged woman trying to put herself back together. The setting, and the magic, are incidental to the whole thing.
It's also another book that could just as easily have been written without any fantastical element at all. The fantasy is very light, with our protagonist, Meg, coming from a line of witches, but her own magic has never manifested, until it does. But the magic barely exists, consisting only of the ghost of her grandmother, and rare visions that don't really matter to the plot.
I've tagged this "found family" and while it's not the usual definition of that term, Meg definitely finds a family and ends up joining it, even if that family is Art and his children. And said family ends up moving in with her very quickly (for convenient plot reasons) in order to build up the tension between Meg and Art, both of whom feel that the other is The One very early on but still have weird arguments that come from not communicating. I felt it very strange that Art would call it okay for his teenage daughter to build a social media presence for Meg's shop without consulting her, or get angry that she let said daughter go out on her own when she needed some solitude.
I'm really not sure how to feel about the Scottish setting. As a (New) Scot, albeit a west coaster, not east, I felt writing of dialect to be a bit cringey and I certainly don't recognise the weeks-long storm that happened near the end of the book. Sure, the country is pretty wet (although we on the west coast bear the brunt of that) but it's not something some decent outdoor wear can't deal with.
In all, I thought this was going to be a book about a (possibly magic) tea shop and a witch finding her magic. This wasn't that book. Also, iced biscuits are all very well, but how can you possibly have a tea shop that doesn't sell cake, or at least scones.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I sort of feel that publisher marketing departments need to wean themselves off the whole cosy fantasy thing. They're trying hard to crowbar this book into that genre when it's really not. It's maybe a romance but mostly about a damaged woman trying to put herself back together. The setting, and the magic, are incidental to the whole thing.
It's also another book that could just as easily have been written without any fantastical element at all. The fantasy is very light, with our protagonist, Meg, coming from a line of witches, but her own magic has never manifested, until it does. But the magic barely exists, consisting only of the ghost of her grandmother, and rare visions that don't really matter to the plot.
I've tagged this "found family" and while it's not the usual definition of that term, Meg definitely finds a family and ends up joining it, even if that family is Art and his children. And said family ends up moving in with her very quickly (for convenient plot reasons) in order to build up the tension between Meg and Art, both of whom feel that the other is The One very early on but still have weird arguments that come from not communicating. I felt it very strange that Art would call it okay for his teenage daughter to build a social media presence for Meg's shop without consulting her, or get angry that she let said daughter go out on her own when she needed some solitude.
I'm really not sure how to feel about the Scottish setting. As a (New) Scot, albeit a west coaster, not east, I felt writing of dialect to be a bit cringey and I certainly don't recognise the weeks-long storm that happened near the end of the book. Sure, the country is pretty wet (although we on the west coast bear the brunt of that) but it's not something some decent outdoor wear can't deal with.
In all, I thought this was going to be a book about a (possibly magic) tea shop and a witch finding her magic. This wasn't that book. Also, iced biscuits are all very well, but how can you possibly have a tea shop that doesn't sell cake, or at least scones.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a wonderful book! This was such a warm, gentle and thoroughly satisfying read. One of those rare books that feels like a comforting embrace, without being overly sentimental.
The Scottish setting was particularly special to me. Having spent time in Scotland, the descriptions of the coastal town, its people, their mannerisms and the wonderful sense of community brought back some lovely memories. Banhaven felt like somewhere I could happily settle down with a good book and a cup of tea!
But what truly made this a five-star read was Meg ❤️🔥
I found her incredibly relatable. After spending so much of her life trying to meet other people's expectations, Meg finds herself in a place where she is accepted and appreciated simply for being who she is. She doesn't have to prove her worth, possess extraordinary magical abilities or change herself to earn anyone's affection.
I loved watching her gradually rediscover her confidence, embrace her talents and begin to believe that she deserved happiness on her own terms. Her journey was beautifully handled, with humour, vulnerability and genuine warmth.
The supporting characters were equally delightful. I loved the kindness of the Banhaven community, the wonderful relationship between Meg and her brother Mac, and the gentle romance with Art. There was something wonderfully reassuring about the way these relationships developed without unnecessary drama.
And then there's the magic itself. I particularly appreciated the contrast between the powerful, status-conscious magic Meg grew up with and the gentler magic woven into everyday life in Scotland. Here, magic isn't about superiority or control. It's about connection, kindness and making life a little better for those around you.
For me, that's what makes this book so special. Beneath its cosy, whimsical exterior is a lovely exploration of self-worth, belonging and the freedom to be yourself.
Not every fantasy needs epic battles, complicated magic systems or enormous stakes to leave an impression. Sometimes the smallest, quietest stories have the greatest emotional impact.
This book was a gentle massage for the heart. I absolutely loved it, and I closed the final page feeling wonderfully content.
An easy five stars from me!
Shamla The Reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Scottish setting was particularly special to me. Having spent time in Scotland, the descriptions of the coastal town, its people, their mannerisms and the wonderful sense of community brought back some lovely memories. Banhaven felt like somewhere I could happily settle down with a good book and a cup of tea!
But what truly made this a five-star read was Meg ❤️🔥
I found her incredibly relatable. After spending so much of her life trying to meet other people's expectations, Meg finds herself in a place where she is accepted and appreciated simply for being who she is. She doesn't have to prove her worth, possess extraordinary magical abilities or change herself to earn anyone's affection.
I loved watching her gradually rediscover her confidence, embrace her talents and begin to believe that she deserved happiness on her own terms. Her journey was beautifully handled, with humour, vulnerability and genuine warmth.
The supporting characters were equally delightful. I loved the kindness of the Banhaven community, the wonderful relationship between Meg and her brother Mac, and the gentle romance with Art. There was something wonderfully reassuring about the way these relationships developed without unnecessary drama.
And then there's the magic itself. I particularly appreciated the contrast between the powerful, status-conscious magic Meg grew up with and the gentler magic woven into everyday life in Scotland. Here, magic isn't about superiority or control. It's about connection, kindness and making life a little better for those around you.
For me, that's what makes this book so special. Beneath its cosy, whimsical exterior is a lovely exploration of self-worth, belonging and the freedom to be yourself.
Not every fantasy needs epic battles, complicated magic systems or enormous stakes to leave an impression. Sometimes the smallest, quietest stories have the greatest emotional impact.
This book was a gentle massage for the heart. I absolutely loved it, and I closed the final page feeling wonderfully content.
An easy five stars from me!
Shamla The Reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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