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Cozy Cottage Series #3
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood: Cozy Cottage Series, Book 3
Galantina Grant lives a simple life gathering tea ingredients and making blends for her customers—until a mysterious girl appears in her cottage one day, and suddenly the very cottage starts acting... strange. Magical, even.
The autumn festival is about to begin, bringing a handsome traveling merchant to town, food and festivities, and even some mysterious thefts.
And to top it off, the Duchess of Melodigha hires Gala to craft the perfect tea blend for the festival.
Gala can hardly blend teas when her cottage starts acting magical, can she? And who is this girl, and what is she running from?
Steeped with found family, a brewing romance, and the perfect cup of cozy vibes, The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is a standalone in the Cozy Cottage Series, and can be listened to in any order.
The autumn festival is about to begin, bringing a handsome traveling merchant to town, food and festivities, and even some mysterious thefts.
And to top it off, the Duchess of Melodigha hires Gala to craft the perfect tea blend for the festival.
Gala can hardly blend teas when her cottage starts acting magical, can she? And who is this girl, and what is she running from?
Steeped with found family, a brewing romance, and the perfect cup of cozy vibes, The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is a standalone in the Cozy Cottage Series, and can be listened to in any order.
Audible Audio
Published September 11, 2026
About the author
Liz Delton
38 books198 followersLiz Delton writes and lives in New England, with her husband and sons. She studied Theater Management at the University of the Arts in Philly, always having enjoyed the backstage life of storytelling.
World-building is her favorite part of writing, and she is always dreaming up new fantastic places.
She loves drinking tea and traveling. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her baking in the kitchen, or out in the garden trying to keep her plants alive.
World-building is her favorite part of writing, and she is always dreaming up new fantastic places.
She loves drinking tea and traveling. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her baking in the kitchen, or out in the garden trying to keep her plants alive.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
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September 20, 20263.5★
I found this to be a sweet cozy fantasy. The characters were cute and lovable and the story was mostly enjoyable. It did drag a bit in the middle as not much was happening, but overall I really enjoyed listening to this one.
The story includes a found family theme, which I really love. There wasn't a real sense of concern for the safety of the characters, but more just floating along enjoying their story. There was one part where the author attempted to add some danger, but it felt out of place and didn't make sense. The every day concerns of the characters fit the story better.
I did not read the first two books in this series, but I did not feel like I was missing anything. The story can stand alone.
This was narrated by Deborah Balm and she did a wonderful job. I would recommend the audio to those who enjoy the format.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I found this to be a sweet cozy fantasy. The characters were cute and lovable and the story was mostly enjoyable. It did drag a bit in the middle as not much was happening, but overall I really enjoyed listening to this one.
The story includes a found family theme, which I really love. There wasn't a real sense of concern for the safety of the characters, but more just floating along enjoying their story. There was one part where the author attempted to add some danger, but it felt out of place and didn't make sense. The every day concerns of the characters fit the story better.
I did not read the first two books in this series, but I did not feel like I was missing anything. The story can stand alone.
This was narrated by Deborah Balm and she did a wonderful job. I would recommend the audio to those who enjoy the format.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
September 27, 2026
Thank you to Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing and NetGalley for this gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
In this story, we have Galantina, who lives in her cute cottage at the edge of the woods, gathering herbs, making all kinds of lovely tea blends, basically living a peaceful life. Until one day, a mysterious girl shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly her cottage starts acting "weird", magically weird. And as if that’s not enough, the Duchess needs her to make the perfect tea blend for an important festival. Can she pull it off?
This story feels like a Ghibli movie: warm, gentle, so cozy, with magic surrounding it. There’s a hint of trouble here and there, but so subtle, and that’s exactly why it’s so nice. If you're looking for high-stakes adventure, this is not it.
The magic is soft and sweet, not super complicated, just lovely. And the biggest heart part is the found-family theme. There's no heavy trauma involved, just people finding each other, and that’s so refreshing to me.
As for the narrator, Deborah Balm was fantastic. I could easily tell who was talking; her voice is so easy to listen to, and she just made everything feel alive. I listened all through my day off, and it was really fun.
This is the third book in the series, but you don’t need to read the first two books to understand the story. I hadn’t read them and didn’t feel lost one bit.
Overall, such a sweet, cozy listen with nice characters, gentle magic, and that warm feeling. I'd love to read other books in the series. If you love cozy fantasy with a found-family theme, get this one!
In this story, we have Galantina, who lives in her cute cottage at the edge of the woods, gathering herbs, making all kinds of lovely tea blends, basically living a peaceful life. Until one day, a mysterious girl shows up out of nowhere, and suddenly her cottage starts acting "weird", magically weird. And as if that’s not enough, the Duchess needs her to make the perfect tea blend for an important festival. Can she pull it off?
This story feels like a Ghibli movie: warm, gentle, so cozy, with magic surrounding it. There’s a hint of trouble here and there, but so subtle, and that’s exactly why it’s so nice. If you're looking for high-stakes adventure, this is not it.
The magic is soft and sweet, not super complicated, just lovely. And the biggest heart part is the found-family theme. There's no heavy trauma involved, just people finding each other, and that’s so refreshing to me.
As for the narrator, Deborah Balm was fantastic. I could easily tell who was talking; her voice is so easy to listen to, and she just made everything feel alive. I listened all through my day off, and it was really fun.
This is the third book in the series, but you don’t need to read the first two books to understand the story. I hadn’t read them and didn’t feel lost one bit.
Overall, such a sweet, cozy listen with nice characters, gentle magic, and that warm feeling. I'd love to read other books in the series. If you love cozy fantasy with a found-family theme, get this one!
September 17, 2026
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Woods was a phenomenal audiobook listen! If you loved Legends & Lattes or Howl’s Moving Castle, this is a must-listen/read.
Gala lives a simple life as a tea merchant when a mysterious girl suddenly appears at her cottage one day. The girl, Nadia, claims she doesn’t know how she got there, but she’s grateful for a place to stay and work while she figures out her next move—and stays one step ahead of the army trying to recruit her to go to war.
Together, Gala and Nadia bring warmth and light wherever they go while leveling up their tea creations along the way. There are also some fun, cozy magical surprises, but I’m not giving those away—you’ll have to read it yourself!
If you’re looking for a comforting, magical story with tea, friendship, and just the right amount of adventure, add this one to your list.
Gala lives a simple life as a tea merchant when a mysterious girl suddenly appears at her cottage one day. The girl, Nadia, claims she doesn’t know how she got there, but she’s grateful for a place to stay and work while she figures out her next move—and stays one step ahead of the army trying to recruit her to go to war.
Together, Gala and Nadia bring warmth and light wherever they go while leveling up their tea creations along the way. There are also some fun, cozy magical surprises, but I’m not giving those away—you’ll have to read it yourself!
If you’re looking for a comforting, magical story with tea, friendship, and just the right amount of adventure, add this one to your list.
September 22, 2026
I enjoyed this audio book so much, I couldn’t wait to listen to it and listening to it through out the day on a day off was such a treat. It reminded me of the owl house tv show, cozy with minimum peril. I enjoyed this, there were times when threat was… well threatened but if you’re looking for thrills and adventure this is not the book you are looking for. It made me want to drink more herbal tea, which I did.
The story focuses on a cottage at the edge of the wood where one of our protagonists has a herbal tea shop. She is called to make tea for a Ladies festival. The story is told from her perspective and a young girl who arrives in the town. I love a split perspective story and it made a change that it was not a romantic perspective. There is a very gentle romance, there is only kissing and I do think teenagers could easily read this book although they might find it too cozy. Although as I said it reminded me of The Owl house and I know my son loved that as a teen.
I loved the magic, it wasn’t detailed and I loved filling in the blanks, I did worry about the flagrant use of magic but I think that reflected more on me than on the book.
The narrator was fabulous, there is an accent that sounds similar to Irish that concerned me at the start but I soon got used to it. She did really make it easy to tell the difference between the characters and was so easy to listen to, really bringing the characters alive.
Found family was a significant focus, lost family was glossed over and for me in this book it worked. If you’re looking for total escape with only hints at trauma, children fighting in war, this is so welcome. There are plenty of books that dive into the trauma of families and this isn’t one of them.
I want to read the rest of the books in this series, I’m guessing they will be even quicker to read than this audio book was to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this audio book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
The story focuses on a cottage at the edge of the wood where one of our protagonists has a herbal tea shop. She is called to make tea for a Ladies festival. The story is told from her perspective and a young girl who arrives in the town. I love a split perspective story and it made a change that it was not a romantic perspective. There is a very gentle romance, there is only kissing and I do think teenagers could easily read this book although they might find it too cozy. Although as I said it reminded me of The Owl house and I know my son loved that as a teen.
I loved the magic, it wasn’t detailed and I loved filling in the blanks, I did worry about the flagrant use of magic but I think that reflected more on me than on the book.
The narrator was fabulous, there is an accent that sounds similar to Irish that concerned me at the start but I soon got used to it. She did really make it easy to tell the difference between the characters and was so easy to listen to, really bringing the characters alive.
Found family was a significant focus, lost family was glossed over and for me in this book it worked. If you’re looking for total escape with only hints at trauma, children fighting in war, this is so welcome. There are plenty of books that dive into the trauma of families and this isn’t one of them.
I want to read the rest of the books in this series, I’m guessing they will be even quicker to read than this audio book was to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this audio book for my consideration, this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinion.
September 5, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Tourmaline & Quartz for the ALC of this book.
This book was super cute. Few things feel as comforting as a nice warm cup of tea, so the premise of a magical tea shop started off on the right track. The descriptors of the various tea blends were detailed enough to really make it feel like I was in this shop without being overbearing with details.
There was fantasy and intrigue, but in a low stakes/completely cozy kind of way. Even with that, it did not drag or feel meaningless; somehow Delton created an incredibly peaceful oasis of a book.
I have not read the other books in the series and it did truly feel like a standalone. It does make me want to read the others to see what pieces will connect.
Deborah Balm was the perfect narrator; she has a calming/gentle tone that matches the story perfectly.
This book was super cute. Few things feel as comforting as a nice warm cup of tea, so the premise of a magical tea shop started off on the right track. The descriptors of the various tea blends were detailed enough to really make it feel like I was in this shop without being overbearing with details.
There was fantasy and intrigue, but in a low stakes/completely cozy kind of way. Even with that, it did not drag or feel meaningless; somehow Delton created an incredibly peaceful oasis of a book.
I have not read the other books in the series and it did truly feel like a standalone. It does make me want to read the others to see what pieces will connect.
Deborah Balm was the perfect narrator; she has a calming/gentle tone that matches the story perfectly.
October 31, 2026
A cute and cosy love letter to tea and found family.
I've not read any in this series, and this is book three, but they all seem to be interconnected standalones. At least, I didn't notice any characters where it was implied they were cameos. And I certainly didn't feel as if there was things I was missing, it felt like a complete book in its own right which was a delight.
If you like tea, you will love this. There is so much time devoted to the different blends, listing the items in them, the tastes of them. They all sounded delicious and made me long for some of them myself. The plot revolves around making 13 different teas as well as accidentally inventing the teabag. Light and sweet, but keeps you going.
The main characters are fun, a little too perfect but a soothing balm against the horrors of the real world.
There are some weirdly dark moments in this book, a war, child soldiers and the like. The book acknowledges them but doesn't really dig into them. Which is good, you wouldn't want that, but its still a brave choice to have child soldiers as a plot point, and two scared children as a result. I did keep expecting it to come back up as an actual consequence/plot point, but it remains cosy and calm, which I was both happy and confused about. It felt like something should have happened, but I am at the same time glad that they got to just exist in their little happy bubble.
The magic system is fun, lacking any real depth but it is a plot point nothing more. This is about found family, about the tea and about some people finding each other in all manner. Light and enjoyable.
The narrator is calm and fits the book perfectly, she could easily lull you into a restful sleep. It isn't a long book, but I enjoyed my time there.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
I've not read any in this series, and this is book three, but they all seem to be interconnected standalones. At least, I didn't notice any characters where it was implied they were cameos. And I certainly didn't feel as if there was things I was missing, it felt like a complete book in its own right which was a delight.
If you like tea, you will love this. There is so much time devoted to the different blends, listing the items in them, the tastes of them. They all sounded delicious and made me long for some of them myself. The plot revolves around making 13 different teas as well as accidentally inventing the teabag. Light and sweet, but keeps you going.
The main characters are fun, a little too perfect but a soothing balm against the horrors of the real world.
There are some weirdly dark moments in this book, a war, child soldiers and the like. The book acknowledges them but doesn't really dig into them. Which is good, you wouldn't want that, but its still a brave choice to have child soldiers as a plot point, and two scared children as a result. I did keep expecting it to come back up as an actual consequence/plot point, but it remains cosy and calm, which I was both happy and confused about. It felt like something should have happened, but I am at the same time glad that they got to just exist in their little happy bubble.
The magic system is fun, lacking any real depth but it is a plot point nothing more. This is about found family, about the tea and about some people finding each other in all manner. Light and enjoyable.
The narrator is calm and fits the book perfectly, she could easily lull you into a restful sleep. It isn't a long book, but I enjoyed my time there.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
September 27, 2026
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC audiobook!
I fully admit that me reading this book was based solely on the cover and the theme of tea. I've been very into tea lately, and the cozy vibes lured me in. What I did not realize before I started reading this book was that it was the third book in a series where I haven't read the other two books. I also didn't realize that it was a fantasy, which is not my usual genre.
When I started listening and realized these two mistakes on my part, I was prepared to be disappointed. I even paused it and listened to another audiobook before coming back to it. Then I quickly realized my fears were unwarranted. This book works just fine as a stand alone. And the cozy vibes? They are, indeed, strong. Strong enough for me to even overlook the whole fairy thing. Faerie? I have never cared enough to know the difference, and I still don't. However, the little bit of magic in this book wasn't too much for me because the intense tea cravings prevailed. Also, the audiobook voice actor's voice was just so soothing.
Jump in, drink up, and get cozy.
I fully admit that me reading this book was based solely on the cover and the theme of tea. I've been very into tea lately, and the cozy vibes lured me in. What I did not realize before I started reading this book was that it was the third book in a series where I haven't read the other two books. I also didn't realize that it was a fantasy, which is not my usual genre.
When I started listening and realized these two mistakes on my part, I was prepared to be disappointed. I even paused it and listened to another audiobook before coming back to it. Then I quickly realized my fears were unwarranted. This book works just fine as a stand alone. And the cozy vibes? They are, indeed, strong. Strong enough for me to even overlook the whole fairy thing. Faerie? I have never cared enough to know the difference, and I still don't. However, the little bit of magic in this book wasn't too much for me because the intense tea cravings prevailed. Also, the audiobook voice actor's voice was just so soothing.
Jump in, drink up, and get cozy.
Read
October 13, 2026Cozy, magical and filled with all the things you'd want from a travelling tea shop. I enjoyed the idea of a café that moves around, bringing little trinkets and food from different corners of the world, along with magical abilities and a lovely found-family element.
The plot was actually quite good, but unfortunately, it didn't leave much of a lasting impression on me. Maybe because I have read a few books with similar vibes and ideas before.
Still, this was a warm, easy read when I was in the mood for something cozy and magical.
The plot was actually quite good, but unfortunately, it didn't leave much of a lasting impression on me. Maybe because I have read a few books with similar vibes and ideas before.
Still, this was a warm, easy read when I was in the mood for something cozy and magical.
September 6, 2026
A tender, tea‑scented escape full of magic, kindness, and autumn comfort
Thank you to NetGalley for the generous ARC audiobook. I’m genuinely grateful for the chance to listen and share my honest thoughts.
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood by Liz Delton is the third book in the Cozy Cottage series — and I say this as someone who hasn’t read books one or two: you can absolutely jump straight into this one without missing a beat. The story welcomes you in like a warm cup of tea on a chilly September morning.
Galantina Grant lives a quiet life blending teas for her customers… until her cottage starts acting strange, magical even, and a mysterious girl appears at her door. Add in a request from the Duchess of Melodigha for the perfect festival blend, and suddenly Galantina’s peaceful routine becomes a gentle, enchanting adventure.
This book is exactly what I needed. Cozy, sweet, and full of that soft magic that feels like sitting in a tiny cabin at the edge of the woods, wrapped in a blanket, sipping something warm that settles your soul. The writing is tender and comforting, with just enough adventure to keep the story moving while never losing its heart.
As someone who loves tea, I adored learning about blends, steeping, ingredients, and combinations. It added such a fun, immersive layer to the story — like a little tea‑connoisseur bonus woven into the plot. And listening to the audiobook narrated by Deborah Balm made the experience even richer. Her voice fits the atmosphere perfectly.
This was the perfect early‑fall read for me. A palate cleanser, a gentle adventure, and a reminder that kindness and curiosity can be magical in their own way. I laughed, I felt deeply, and I didn’t want it to end. And yes… the orange scones mentioned in the book? The recipe is phenomenal. I’m absolutely making them in my kitchen soon.
A five‑out‑of‑five cozy fantasy — warm, whimsical, and wonderfully soothing. Highly recommend for anyone craving a magical autumn read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the generous ARC audiobook. I’m genuinely grateful for the chance to listen and share my honest thoughts.
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood by Liz Delton is the third book in the Cozy Cottage series — and I say this as someone who hasn’t read books one or two: you can absolutely jump straight into this one without missing a beat. The story welcomes you in like a warm cup of tea on a chilly September morning.
Galantina Grant lives a quiet life blending teas for her customers… until her cottage starts acting strange, magical even, and a mysterious girl appears at her door. Add in a request from the Duchess of Melodigha for the perfect festival blend, and suddenly Galantina’s peaceful routine becomes a gentle, enchanting adventure.
This book is exactly what I needed. Cozy, sweet, and full of that soft magic that feels like sitting in a tiny cabin at the edge of the woods, wrapped in a blanket, sipping something warm that settles your soul. The writing is tender and comforting, with just enough adventure to keep the story moving while never losing its heart.
As someone who loves tea, I adored learning about blends, steeping, ingredients, and combinations. It added such a fun, immersive layer to the story — like a little tea‑connoisseur bonus woven into the plot. And listening to the audiobook narrated by Deborah Balm made the experience even richer. Her voice fits the atmosphere perfectly.
This was the perfect early‑fall read for me. A palate cleanser, a gentle adventure, and a reminder that kindness and curiosity can be magical in their own way. I laughed, I felt deeply, and I didn’t want it to end. And yes… the orange scones mentioned in the book? The recipe is phenomenal. I’m absolutely making them in my kitchen soon.
A five‑out‑of‑five cozy fantasy — warm, whimsical, and wonderfully soothing. Highly recommend for anyone craving a magical autumn read.
September 25, 2026
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood was a tea-lightful read from beginning to end. Perfect for a cosy day all snuggled up with, preferably, a cup of tea. The writing is a mix of Holly Martin’s hopeful sweetness and India Holton’s fantastical whimsy. The audiobook performance was so enjoyable, with the reader’s tone and characterisation adding to the spectacular world building and emotion of Delton’s story.
I can’t wait to go back and read the first two books set in this world! Be sure to pick this one up when you need a pick-me-up, it’ll warm your heart and give you some giddy giggles.
This was an audio ARC provided through NetGalley by Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing
I can’t wait to go back and read the first two books set in this world! Be sure to pick this one up when you need a pick-me-up, it’ll warm your heart and give you some giddy giggles.
This was an audio ARC provided through NetGalley by Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing
September 22, 2026
Thanks NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC!
I really enjoyed this audiobook! I haven’t read the others in the series but I definitely will now. This was a lovely cozy listen and even better with a cup of tea! 4⭐️
I really enjoyed this audiobook! I haven’t read the others in the series but I definitely will now. This was a lovely cozy listen and even better with a cup of tea! 4⭐️
October 26, 2026
Per usual Delton delivered the perfect blend of a cozy story while still being a healing journey full of found family and self discovery - love this series
July 24, 2026
Normally I would do separate posts for different books but as I literally read them all in one day one after the other, I put them all together.
This was a delightfully cozy tale of teas, found family, friendships and magic. After reading The Witch At The Edge of the Woods for summer last year I was eager to dive back into this magical world that Ms Delton had created with this series. I loved everything about it and it literally radiates cozy vibes that are infused in every page, and I enjoyed every minute of it. In fact I was disappointed to come back to the real world after I finish the story. It's like a warm hug on a cold day and it'll be one I'll definitely re-read time and time again. And don't get me started on the tea, damn I could almost taste each and every blend that was being created and the baker in me is desperate to try out the orange scone recipe. This and the other stories below are the epitome of what cozy should be, and it's best enjoyed with a beverage of your choice (tea) and snuggled up on the sofa. Yep this was just perfect.
I simply adored Gala owner of a tea shop at the edge of the woods, who lives a quiet life until she finds a mysterious girl in her cottage. When she realises that Nadia doesn't have anywhere to go she takes her on as an apprentice, which comes in handy as she has been hired by the Duchess to make thirteen blends of tea for the festival she is hosting. Nadia has a past and finds it hard to trust, which she eventually opens up to Gala about. But it was their closeness and the way they bonded that made me love both of these characters so much. And the sweet romance between Gala and Hugo put the cherry on the cake for me.
Of course i couldn't help but like the Duchess and her dramatics (she hilarious) but underneath it all she has a heart of gold.
The Cat At The Edge Of The Woods.
The adorably cute short story of how Wolf the cat ended up at the teashop.
I loved how Liz captured the essence of cat behaviour and attitude, and anyone who has a cat or owned one will definitely appreciate this.
The Greenhouse At The Edge Of The Woods.
Pages:99
Again this was wonderfully cozy and everything I've come to expect from this series. This one left a big smile on my face and made my heart happy.
Vivica has always dreamed of having a garden of her own, and when she inherits a cottage at the edge of the woods from her grandmother, it seems that wish has come true. When a close family friend gives her a gift of a rare chrysalis, she has to find a way to bring back a plant that will feed it and make it prosper. When she discovers that the cottage can grant wishes, Vivica sets about experimenting to find ways to bring the plant back. With the help of the cottage can Vivica succeed without giving away it's secrets.
So yeah each and everyone of these stories charmed me endlessly, and I can't wait to read The Library At The Edge Of The Woods because I have a feeling I'll be equally as enchanted. Highly recommend 😁
This was a delightfully cozy tale of teas, found family, friendships and magic. After reading The Witch At The Edge of the Woods for summer last year I was eager to dive back into this magical world that Ms Delton had created with this series. I loved everything about it and it literally radiates cozy vibes that are infused in every page, and I enjoyed every minute of it. In fact I was disappointed to come back to the real world after I finish the story. It's like a warm hug on a cold day and it'll be one I'll definitely re-read time and time again. And don't get me started on the tea, damn I could almost taste each and every blend that was being created and the baker in me is desperate to try out the orange scone recipe. This and the other stories below are the epitome of what cozy should be, and it's best enjoyed with a beverage of your choice (tea) and snuggled up on the sofa. Yep this was just perfect.
I simply adored Gala owner of a tea shop at the edge of the woods, who lives a quiet life until she finds a mysterious girl in her cottage. When she realises that Nadia doesn't have anywhere to go she takes her on as an apprentice, which comes in handy as she has been hired by the Duchess to make thirteen blends of tea for the festival she is hosting. Nadia has a past and finds it hard to trust, which she eventually opens up to Gala about. But it was their closeness and the way they bonded that made me love both of these characters so much. And the sweet romance between Gala and Hugo put the cherry on the cake for me.
Of course i couldn't help but like the Duchess and her dramatics (she hilarious) but underneath it all she has a heart of gold.
The Cat At The Edge Of The Woods.
The adorably cute short story of how Wolf the cat ended up at the teashop.
I loved how Liz captured the essence of cat behaviour and attitude, and anyone who has a cat or owned one will definitely appreciate this.
The Greenhouse At The Edge Of The Woods.
Pages:99
Again this was wonderfully cozy and everything I've come to expect from this series. This one left a big smile on my face and made my heart happy.
Vivica has always dreamed of having a garden of her own, and when she inherits a cottage at the edge of the woods from her grandmother, it seems that wish has come true. When a close family friend gives her a gift of a rare chrysalis, she has to find a way to bring back a plant that will feed it and make it prosper. When she discovers that the cottage can grant wishes, Vivica sets about experimenting to find ways to bring the plant back. With the help of the cottage can Vivica succeed without giving away it's secrets.
So yeah each and everyone of these stories charmed me endlessly, and I can't wait to read The Library At The Edge Of The Woods because I have a feeling I'll be equally as enchanted. Highly recommend 😁
August 20, 2026
Galantina Grant lives a simple life gathering tea ingredients and making blends for her customers, when a young girl appears and changes her world.
This is another lovely cozy tale of the Cozy Cottage at the edge of the wood. In this story we learn the origins of the magic of cottage, and why the door is just a little wonky, which I just LOVE.
I love this series and have reread the other stories a few times. I'm eagerly awaiting the audiobook. I recommend this book for those who look for gentle, low-stress stories that evoke a sense of warmth and peace and leave one smiling.
Updated to add that the audiobook was an utter delight and made the story even more enjoyable.
This is another lovely cozy tale of the Cozy Cottage at the edge of the wood. In this story we learn the origins of the magic of cottage, and why the door is just a little wonky, which I just LOVE.
I love this series and have reread the other stories a few times. I'm eagerly awaiting the audiobook. I recommend this book for those who look for gentle, low-stress stories that evoke a sense of warmth and peace and leave one smiling.
Updated to add that the audiobook was an utter delight and made the story even more enjoyable.
September 12, 2026
Steeped in charm and just my cup of tea!
I began The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood without knowing quite what to expect. It is the third book in Liz Delton’s Cozy Cottage series, but I had not read the first two. Fortunately, it works perfectly as a standalone, with its own characters and complete story.
This is cosy fantasy in its purest blend. Problems arise, discoveries are made and things need to be solved, but nothing boils over into one enormous crisis. There is no dramatic cliffhanger, no villain waiting behind the shrubbery and no supposedly defeated enemy springing up during the final chapter for another confrontation.
For quite some time, I kept wondering what the catch would be. Surely something terrible was brewing. Surely this gentle collection of events was building towards a much darker revelation. But no. The book simply continued being warm, magical and reassuring. It had no intention of creating a storm in a teacup merely to prove that it had a plot.
The story follows Gala, a tea maker living a quiet life at the edge of the wood, and Nadia, a mysterious sixteen-year-old who unexpectedly appears in her cottage. Their developing connection gives the novel its heart, while the magical setting and memorable characters surrounding them create a lovely sense of warmth and community.
This is not a story driven by one dramatic climax. Instead, it unfolds through smaller events and discoveries. Something happens, the characters deal with it, and life continues. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly for readers seeking high stakes or relentless suspense, but it was precisely the kind of book I needed.
Sometimes I do not want danger galloping towards everybody while the world threatens to collapse. Sometimes I would simply like the kettle put on and the problem discussed sensibly.
The descriptions of Gala’s tea blends and the atmosphere surrounding her shop made me want tea almost constantly. This is dangerous literature for anyone attempting to reduce their number of daily cups. I would also have happily accepted samples, but apparently the audiobook service has yet to develop that feature.
Deborah Balm’s narration added beautifully to the comforting atmosphere. Her voice was warm and extremely pleasant to listen to, and she moved flawlessly between the characters. The female and male voices were easy to distinguish without becoming exaggerated, allowing conversations to flow naturally and making the changing perspectives effortless to follow.
Gentle, magical and refreshingly free from unnecessary drama, The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is steeped in charm. It allows its story to brew at its own pace and feels like settling down with a warm drink in a quiet cottage while the more aggressive parts of fantasy are politely asked to wait outside.
This proved to be just my cup of tea.
Thank you to Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing and NetGalley for providing the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I began The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood without knowing quite what to expect. It is the third book in Liz Delton’s Cozy Cottage series, but I had not read the first two. Fortunately, it works perfectly as a standalone, with its own characters and complete story.
This is cosy fantasy in its purest blend. Problems arise, discoveries are made and things need to be solved, but nothing boils over into one enormous crisis. There is no dramatic cliffhanger, no villain waiting behind the shrubbery and no supposedly defeated enemy springing up during the final chapter for another confrontation.
For quite some time, I kept wondering what the catch would be. Surely something terrible was brewing. Surely this gentle collection of events was building towards a much darker revelation. But no. The book simply continued being warm, magical and reassuring. It had no intention of creating a storm in a teacup merely to prove that it had a plot.
The story follows Gala, a tea maker living a quiet life at the edge of the wood, and Nadia, a mysterious sixteen-year-old who unexpectedly appears in her cottage. Their developing connection gives the novel its heart, while the magical setting and memorable characters surrounding them create a lovely sense of warmth and community.
This is not a story driven by one dramatic climax. Instead, it unfolds through smaller events and discoveries. Something happens, the characters deal with it, and life continues. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea, particularly for readers seeking high stakes or relentless suspense, but it was precisely the kind of book I needed.
Sometimes I do not want danger galloping towards everybody while the world threatens to collapse. Sometimes I would simply like the kettle put on and the problem discussed sensibly.
The descriptions of Gala’s tea blends and the atmosphere surrounding her shop made me want tea almost constantly. This is dangerous literature for anyone attempting to reduce their number of daily cups. I would also have happily accepted samples, but apparently the audiobook service has yet to develop that feature.
Deborah Balm’s narration added beautifully to the comforting atmosphere. Her voice was warm and extremely pleasant to listen to, and she moved flawlessly between the characters. The female and male voices were easy to distinguish without becoming exaggerated, allowing conversations to flow naturally and making the changing perspectives effortless to follow.
Gentle, magical and refreshingly free from unnecessary drama, The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is steeped in charm. It allows its story to brew at its own pace and feels like settling down with a warm drink in a quiet cottage while the more aggressive parts of fantasy are politely asked to wait outside.
This proved to be just my cup of tea.
Thank you to Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing and NetGalley for providing the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a Witch War takes over her nation, a young faerun wishes on a magical amulet to be far from harm in a place where she will be safe. She never expected to be transported continents away and land in someone else's home!
From the very first pages, it's clear The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is something special. The prologue immediately pulled me into the story. Nadia's escape from Villikry provides you with a real sense of fear; learning that she's already suffered devastating losses because of the Witch War, that her father intends for her to fight, not knowing if the amulet she has been given will work or even how it works. Nadia is ultimately transported to a small cottage that houses a teashop on the edge of Melodigha owned by Galentina Grant (Gala).
Gala likes the quiet life. Living on the edge of the woods she makes a modest income selling tea to the inhabitants of the village nearby. When Nadia pops (literally) into her life everything changes. Nadia has brought with her magic, unseen by those in Melodigha and worse, being underage, she hasn't learnt how to use it.
Liz Delton has created a world of whimsical fantasy that I would love to visit. From the vibrant marketplaces and detailed accounts of village life, it just feels like somewhere I could get lost in. Like all good stories, there is a love interest that develops throughout the novel; Gala and Hugo's plotline is heartwarmingly authentic, but I think the sweetest part of this novel is the found family. The pacing of this book is spot on and honestly if I didn't have to be an adult in the real world, I could have finished this book in a single sitting. Alas, apparently, I needed to be a parent and attend to my children's needs and their numerous standing activities that were planned for the weekend, so it took me a couple of extra days.
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is a standalone prequel in the Cozy Cottage series with the 3 books being able to be read in any order. As Cozy Fantasies go, this book has everything I want; a world of whimsical magic, a romantic attraction that develops over the storyline, cute animal sidekicks and kick arse characters that have both depth and intrigue. Due to be released tomorrow, 21 JUL 2026, if you are a fan of cozy fantasies, you need to be adding this one to your cart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Liz Delton for the gifted eARC - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
From the very first pages, it's clear The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is something special. The prologue immediately pulled me into the story. Nadia's escape from Villikry provides you with a real sense of fear; learning that she's already suffered devastating losses because of the Witch War, that her father intends for her to fight, not knowing if the amulet she has been given will work or even how it works. Nadia is ultimately transported to a small cottage that houses a teashop on the edge of Melodigha owned by Galentina Grant (Gala).
Gala likes the quiet life. Living on the edge of the woods she makes a modest income selling tea to the inhabitants of the village nearby. When Nadia pops (literally) into her life everything changes. Nadia has brought with her magic, unseen by those in Melodigha and worse, being underage, she hasn't learnt how to use it.
Liz Delton has created a world of whimsical fantasy that I would love to visit. From the vibrant marketplaces and detailed accounts of village life, it just feels like somewhere I could get lost in. Like all good stories, there is a love interest that develops throughout the novel; Gala and Hugo's plotline is heartwarmingly authentic, but I think the sweetest part of this novel is the found family. The pacing of this book is spot on and honestly if I didn't have to be an adult in the real world, I could have finished this book in a single sitting. Alas, apparently, I needed to be a parent and attend to my children's needs and their numerous standing activities that were planned for the weekend, so it took me a couple of extra days.
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is a standalone prequel in the Cozy Cottage series with the 3 books being able to be read in any order. As Cozy Fantasies go, this book has everything I want; a world of whimsical magic, a romantic attraction that develops over the storyline, cute animal sidekicks and kick arse characters that have both depth and intrigue. Due to be released tomorrow, 21 JUL 2026, if you are a fan of cozy fantasies, you need to be adding this one to your cart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Liz Delton for the gifted eARC - I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 9, 2026
📖 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
Anyone looking for a genuinely cosy fantasy with a magical cottage, autumnal charm and absolutely no need to clutch the book in fear. This is very much a curl up, make a cuppa and enjoy the ride sort of story.
This book was just... cosy. Properly cosy. I never felt like I needed to brace myself for some huge disaster or desperately work out what was going on. There are mysteries and little reveals along the way, but the story never makes a big song and dance about them. Things simply unfold, and I was quite happy to wander along with it.
And I absolutely adored the cottage. There was something about its warmth and whimsy that made me want to curl up inside it and stay there. The whole world has that same lovely quality, especially in the way familiar things can suddenly feel magical and new. I loved those little moments of seeing something ordinary through completely different eyes.
I think that was really the heart of what worked for me here. I was very happy simply being in this world and seeing where the story took me, even if I never quite felt deeply connected to the people in it. I liked them all, but I always felt as though I was watching from just outside the window rather than completely stepping into their lives. And I think that's what ultimately kept this at four stars rather than five.
Even so, I came away from it with exactly what I wanted from a cosy fantasy: a little magic, a lovely cottage, plenty of tea and that warm feeling that everything will be alright in the end. Sometimes you don't need a book to sweep you off your feet. Sometimes you just want it to make you a cup of tea and let you stay awhile.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• The cottage. I wanted to move in.
• That wonderfully comforting feeling of the story always finding its way back to cosy.
• The little bits of everyday magic woven through the world.
🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• I never quite connected deeply with the characters.
• I wanted to linger at the autumn festival a little longer.
• The romance was sweet, but didn't give me quite the butterflies I was hoping for.
🎙️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
Deborah Balm was a lovely fit for this story. Her voices suited the characters beautifully and she kept such a steady, natural flow throughout. There was nothing distracting about the narration, it simply let the cosy feeling of the story come through.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 📖✨
Anyone looking for a genuinely cosy fantasy with a magical cottage, autumnal charm and absolutely no need to clutch the book in fear. This is very much a curl up, make a cuppa and enjoy the ride sort of story.
This book was just... cosy. Properly cosy. I never felt like I needed to brace myself for some huge disaster or desperately work out what was going on. There are mysteries and little reveals along the way, but the story never makes a big song and dance about them. Things simply unfold, and I was quite happy to wander along with it.
And I absolutely adored the cottage. There was something about its warmth and whimsy that made me want to curl up inside it and stay there. The whole world has that same lovely quality, especially in the way familiar things can suddenly feel magical and new. I loved those little moments of seeing something ordinary through completely different eyes.
I think that was really the heart of what worked for me here. I was very happy simply being in this world and seeing where the story took me, even if I never quite felt deeply connected to the people in it. I liked them all, but I always felt as though I was watching from just outside the window rather than completely stepping into their lives. And I think that's what ultimately kept this at four stars rather than five.
Even so, I came away from it with exactly what I wanted from a cosy fantasy: a little magic, a lovely cottage, plenty of tea and that warm feeling that everything will be alright in the end. Sometimes you don't need a book to sweep you off your feet. Sometimes you just want it to make you a cup of tea and let you stay awhile.
✨ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱:
• The cottage. I wanted to move in.
• That wonderfully comforting feeling of the story always finding its way back to cosy.
• The little bits of everyday magic woven through the world.
🌧️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱:
• I never quite connected deeply with the characters.
• I wanted to linger at the autumn festival a little longer.
• The romance was sweet, but didn't give me quite the butterflies I was hoping for.
🎙️ 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀:
Deborah Balm was a lovely fit for this story. Her voices suited the characters beautifully and she kept such a steady, natural flow throughout. There was nothing distracting about the narration, it simply let the cosy feeling of the story come through.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
𝘈 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘐 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 📖✨
September 29, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Liz Delton, and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for providing me with an Advance Listening Copy of The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood in exchange for an honest review.
What happens when a teenage girl named Nadia makes a wish? A wish so deep and true that the fear and danger surrounding her disappear, and she suddenly finds herself tucked safely inside a cute little cottage owned by Galantina Grant? A brilliant tea maker with a heart of gold who simply can't say no to a young woman in need.
From there, the story unfolds into something beautifully charming and delightful, filled with wonder, magic, and the best sort of found family. You can't help but feel like you're on a magical journey right alongside these characters, especially once the cottage itself begins behaving a little... unusually.
Honestly, the best way I can describe the feeling of this book is Howl's Moving Castle meets cozy fantasy. There's something wonderfully whimsical about a cottage that seems to have ideas of its own, mixed with tea blending described in such detail you could almost smell the aromas wafting from the pages, autumn festivals, a little mystery, a touch of romance, and people slowly finding where they belong.
But the found family was what really got me. Nadia arrives frightened and uncertain, and watching the relationships form around her gave the story its heart. The magic is charming, but it's the feeling of finding safety and belonging somewhere you never expected that made this one special for me.
Deborah Balm's narration fit this world beautifully. She brought that warmth and whimsy to the story while still allowing the more emotional moments to land, and it made the cottage and everyone inside it feel that much more alive.
This was the kind of cozy fantasy that made me want to crawl inside the story, grab a cup of tea, and follow wherever the magic decided to take me next.
There are other books in the series, but you don't have to read them before picking this one up, which was a pleasant surprise. Although apparently that didn't matter much in my case, because I enjoyed this one enough that I went back and purchased the others anyway.
So I guess the cottage decided where I was going next after all.
What happens when a teenage girl named Nadia makes a wish? A wish so deep and true that the fear and danger surrounding her disappear, and she suddenly finds herself tucked safely inside a cute little cottage owned by Galantina Grant? A brilliant tea maker with a heart of gold who simply can't say no to a young woman in need.
From there, the story unfolds into something beautifully charming and delightful, filled with wonder, magic, and the best sort of found family. You can't help but feel like you're on a magical journey right alongside these characters, especially once the cottage itself begins behaving a little... unusually.
Honestly, the best way I can describe the feeling of this book is Howl's Moving Castle meets cozy fantasy. There's something wonderfully whimsical about a cottage that seems to have ideas of its own, mixed with tea blending described in such detail you could almost smell the aromas wafting from the pages, autumn festivals, a little mystery, a touch of romance, and people slowly finding where they belong.
But the found family was what really got me. Nadia arrives frightened and uncertain, and watching the relationships form around her gave the story its heart. The magic is charming, but it's the feeling of finding safety and belonging somewhere you never expected that made this one special for me.
Deborah Balm's narration fit this world beautifully. She brought that warmth and whimsy to the story while still allowing the more emotional moments to land, and it made the cottage and everyone inside it feel that much more alive.
This was the kind of cozy fantasy that made me want to crawl inside the story, grab a cup of tea, and follow wherever the magic decided to take me next.
There are other books in the series, but you don't have to read them before picking this one up, which was a pleasant surprise. Although apparently that didn't matter much in my case, because I enjoyed this one enough that I went back and purchased the others anyway.
So I guess the cottage decided where I was going next after all.
July 29, 2026
Last year I read my first entry into the Cozy Cottage series by Delton. It was charming and lovely and really hit the mark for what I was looking for. When I started The Tea Shop entry in the series I had just come off of a 3 book LitRPG bender with all battles and action that they entrail (typo unintended but left due to awesome imagery that fits so well). You could say, almost, that my adrenaline was high and suddenly it was like I had just run into a wall of water. For a second it was shocking and difficult to adjust but reading Delton’s Cozy Cottage stories is kind of like that soft peaceful feeling you get when you are petting a cat and you know that they’re enjoying it because they a) don’t bite you and b) don’t get up and leave but then they start a nice soft gentle purring. You are filled with peace and contentment and just a warm happy feeling. That is the magic of one of the Cozy Cottage stories and this one doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.
If you didn’t want a cuppa when you started this book, I’m pretty sure that before you go 20 pages you suddenly got a hankering. The only problem is, most of the teas in this book include fanciful ingredients that you won’t have in your cupboard (or any other cupboard on the planet) and you might just read the entire book without having your desires assuaged. The cottage, in this episode, if the title didn’t give it away for you, is a small little tea shop run by Gala, a warm, wonderful, giving person. Suddenly appearing into her life is a girl on the run from being dragged into a war. The story is Gala and the girl building a life together.
This episode is also amazing because it’s the origin story of the cottage
Liz Delton hits it out of the park once again. I might encourage her to try marketing these books as a cure for high blood pressure. They are a calming delight to read, just beautiful.
If you didn’t want a cuppa when you started this book, I’m pretty sure that before you go 20 pages you suddenly got a hankering. The only problem is, most of the teas in this book include fanciful ingredients that you won’t have in your cupboard (or any other cupboard on the planet) and you might just read the entire book without having your desires assuaged. The cottage, in this episode, if the title didn’t give it away for you, is a small little tea shop run by Gala, a warm, wonderful, giving person. Suddenly appearing into her life is a girl on the run from being dragged into a war. The story is Gala and the girl building a life together.
This episode is also amazing because it’s the origin story of the cottage
Liz Delton hits it out of the park once again. I might encourage her to try marketing these books as a cure for high blood pressure. They are a calming delight to read, just beautiful.
September 6, 2026
Okay, so this has been a struggle to rate for me, so let's get into it!
This a cosy, easy read, no stakes fantasy! Gala lives on the edge of the woods and makes incredible herbal teas. As a trained herbalist and aromatherapist myself, this is what drew me in, and I definitely did not regret it. The descriptions of teas from herbs, spices, scents, I swear you can smell them 😂. On top you hear about the different boiling temperatures and the odd food recipe like the scones where you actually get the recipe with cooking temp and time if you want to make them in your own kitchen. This was all a major win for me!
Nadia is our second FMC who ends up in Galas cottage after escaping a bad situation (this sounded so interesting, but we dont get any details). Lastly Hugo is the MMC, more of a side character truthfully. Yes, he is the romantic interest but it's such a tiny part of the story, and he has very little on page time.
This is where it becomes hard to rate as there is low stakes, and then there is this book, which is basically zero stakes with no overarching story. It's basically the daily life of Gala and her new house guest Nadia, who becomes family. There is a little magic sprinkled in, but there is no bad guy, nothing to overcome, just making tea, visiting towns to buy tea ingredients, and serving customers with a side of Hugo.
I did enjoy it though, and it was a perfect in-between read as most books I listen to are plot heavy with a lot going on and higg stakes. It was very relaxing, the gorgeous tea blends, knowing there was no drama ahead. A bit like the once a year hallmark movie I will find and be in the mood to watch late fall 🤣. So I would definitely recommend it. It's a quick read at just over six hours, and the audio narrator, Deborah Balm did a good job with the characters making it an enjoyable listen. So it's a 3.5 from me, rounded up to a 4 (as most places dont allow half stars 🤣).
This a cosy, easy read, no stakes fantasy! Gala lives on the edge of the woods and makes incredible herbal teas. As a trained herbalist and aromatherapist myself, this is what drew me in, and I definitely did not regret it. The descriptions of teas from herbs, spices, scents, I swear you can smell them 😂. On top you hear about the different boiling temperatures and the odd food recipe like the scones where you actually get the recipe with cooking temp and time if you want to make them in your own kitchen. This was all a major win for me!
Nadia is our second FMC who ends up in Galas cottage after escaping a bad situation (this sounded so interesting, but we dont get any details). Lastly Hugo is the MMC, more of a side character truthfully. Yes, he is the romantic interest but it's such a tiny part of the story, and he has very little on page time.
This is where it becomes hard to rate as there is low stakes, and then there is this book, which is basically zero stakes with no overarching story. It's basically the daily life of Gala and her new house guest Nadia, who becomes family. There is a little magic sprinkled in, but there is no bad guy, nothing to overcome, just making tea, visiting towns to buy tea ingredients, and serving customers with a side of Hugo.
I did enjoy it though, and it was a perfect in-between read as most books I listen to are plot heavy with a lot going on and higg stakes. It was very relaxing, the gorgeous tea blends, knowing there was no drama ahead. A bit like the once a year hallmark movie I will find and be in the mood to watch late fall 🤣. So I would definitely recommend it. It's a quick read at just over six hours, and the audio narrator, Deborah Balm did a good job with the characters making it an enjoyable listen. So it's a 3.5 from me, rounded up to a 4 (as most places dont allow half stars 🤣).
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gala is the owner of a tea shop at the edge of town in the woods. She lives a pretty quiet life until one day Nadia literally pops into the cottage. With Nadia needing somewhere to stay and a job, Gala allows her to stay at the cottage and become her tea apprentice. As Nadia starts to realize what her magical amulet can do, Nadia, Gala and even Hugo (Gala's not quite suitor) begin taking adventures they never thought they'd be able to. But when Nadia comes face to face with her past, the magic takes an unexpected turn.
Gala is such a warm and caring person. I can't think of many people who might take in a girl who just appears in their home without hesitation, but she does. She always looks on the bright side of things and takes everything in stride, even when her cottage becomes magical. Nadia is a young girl who wants to escape the witch wars and her father who is the general of that war. She is timid at first but quickly comes to trust Gala. Even the side characters are all wonderful and welcoming.
Oh my gosh, this was such an amazing fun and cozy adventure. This is finally the story about the origins of the cottage in this series and it is just as wonderful as I knew it would be. The world is so whimsical and I wish I had a magic cottage of my very own. The faraway places that the characters got to visit were magical and even if you are not a tea lover, your mouth will be watering thinking about all the different tea blends as well as from the pastries as well. I absolutely loved learning this story and the bonus story about the cat was brilliant as well!
Gala is such a warm and caring person. I can't think of many people who might take in a girl who just appears in their home without hesitation, but she does. She always looks on the bright side of things and takes everything in stride, even when her cottage becomes magical. Nadia is a young girl who wants to escape the witch wars and her father who is the general of that war. She is timid at first but quickly comes to trust Gala. Even the side characters are all wonderful and welcoming.
Oh my gosh, this was such an amazing fun and cozy adventure. This is finally the story about the origins of the cottage in this series and it is just as wonderful as I knew it would be. The world is so whimsical and I wish I had a magic cottage of my very own. The faraway places that the characters got to visit were magical and even if you are not a tea lover, your mouth will be watering thinking about all the different tea blends as well as from the pastries as well. I absolutely loved learning this story and the bonus story about the cat was brilliant as well!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an advance copy of The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood in exchange for an honest review, and Liz Delton has done it again. Thank you Net Galley & Liz Delton for this opportunity.
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is book three in Liz Delton's standalone cozy fantasy series, and it might be my favorite yet. From the opening chapters, this reads like a Disney film for adults — sweet, wholesome, and utterly inviting.
Gala is a quiet woman who spends her days blending teas and tending her garden in a small village, until she walks into her cottage one day to find a wayward girl, Nadia, standing in the middle of it. With no idea who she is or what she wants, Gala invites her to stay while she finds a job and a home of her own. The two bond quickly, and the story soon introduces Hugo, a traveling vendor who trades wares with Gala and slowly becomes her sweet, slow-burn love interest — as gentle and G-rated as it gets.
This story has a bit of everything a cozy fantasy reader could want — gentle magic, found family, a soft-hearted romance, a village festival, and characters who feel like old friends. Liz Delton also gives us Wolf, a mysterious stray cat drawn to the cottage's magic, who absolutely deserves his own story someday. Fair warning: you'll finish this one wanting to upscale your tea collection immediately. As Gala puts it, "…Tea is magic after all." If you love cozy fantasy with heart, this one belongs on your shelf.
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is book three in Liz Delton's standalone cozy fantasy series, and it might be my favorite yet. From the opening chapters, this reads like a Disney film for adults — sweet, wholesome, and utterly inviting.
Gala is a quiet woman who spends her days blending teas and tending her garden in a small village, until she walks into her cottage one day to find a wayward girl, Nadia, standing in the middle of it. With no idea who she is or what she wants, Gala invites her to stay while she finds a job and a home of her own. The two bond quickly, and the story soon introduces Hugo, a traveling vendor who trades wares with Gala and slowly becomes her sweet, slow-burn love interest — as gentle and G-rated as it gets.
This story has a bit of everything a cozy fantasy reader could want — gentle magic, found family, a soft-hearted romance, a village festival, and characters who feel like old friends. Liz Delton also gives us Wolf, a mysterious stray cat drawn to the cottage's magic, who absolutely deserves his own story someday. Fair warning: you'll finish this one wanting to upscale your tea collection immediately. As Gala puts it, "…Tea is magic after all." If you love cozy fantasy with heart, this one belongs on your shelf.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a heartwarming story of found family, community connections, and magic, and it was an unexpected delight from the first to the last page.
I loved the bond that formed between Gala and Nadia. It was full of support, reassurance, humour and a total absence of judgement. What a comforting and comfortable read! In fact, the whole book was judgement free (except for one memorable scene involving Gala and a guard!) and that felt like a rare and joyful thing, since actions can have major and occassionally negative consequences in most of the other books I read.
The magic was lovely. It made for a wonderful setting where anything felt possible. And the tea descriptions.....so good! What a brilliant way to add a cosy, welcoming vibe.
The romance arc was gorgeous. All honesty and authentic care.
This is part of a series of connected standalones so it's no wonder that all the characters felt solid, full of beguiling depths and held their own potential stories. Really good character development throughout.
I feel like I'm running out of positive adjectives for this book but I think it's the perfect story for the world we often find ourselves in these days, all wrapped up with beautiful artwork. What's not to love??!!
•○●○• ♡♡♡ •○●○• ♡♡♡ •○●○•
"With all the bad going on in the world, finding a little joy was everything to her.
I loved the bond that formed between Gala and Nadia. It was full of support, reassurance, humour and a total absence of judgement. What a comforting and comfortable read! In fact, the whole book was judgement free (except for one memorable scene involving Gala and a guard!) and that felt like a rare and joyful thing, since actions can have major and occassionally negative consequences in most of the other books I read.
The magic was lovely. It made for a wonderful setting where anything felt possible. And the tea descriptions.....so good! What a brilliant way to add a cosy, welcoming vibe.
The romance arc was gorgeous. All honesty and authentic care.
This is part of a series of connected standalones so it's no wonder that all the characters felt solid, full of beguiling depths and held their own potential stories. Really good character development throughout.
I feel like I'm running out of positive adjectives for this book but I think it's the perfect story for the world we often find ourselves in these days, all wrapped up with beautiful artwork. What's not to love??!!
•○●○• ♡♡♡ •○●○• ♡♡♡ •○●○•
"With all the bad going on in the world, finding a little joy was everything to her.
September 2, 2026
Thank you to @netgalley and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for the ALC of this book
I received the invitation to listen to this audiobook on a chilly, wet afternoon and the cosy premise seemed the perfect antidote to the weather. I was not disappointed, this cosy fantasy is full of warmth and hopefulness, enhanced by the narration of Deborah Balm's perfect cosy tone which enveloped me and immersed me in the story. I couldn't put it down and listened to it all evening.
Nadia wishes to escape frome the Witch War and finds herself standing in a strange, her confusion and fear is calmed by the gentle Gala when she returns home. Gala calms Nadia and although curious, does not pressure her into explanations, taking her along to visit the wonderfully dramatic Duchess.
Deborah Balm perfectly switches between the older grounded tea-blender and the fearful runaway narrator match for this story. I disappeared into the world of tea-mixing and friendly village setting.
The story was engaging, the perfect balance of cosy characters and setting. The accidental house magic is fun. The sweet, slow-burn romance between Gala and Hugo, a travelling merchant, develops with an authentic vibe. The "found family" dynamic becomes a found village. I loved this beautiful book, full of gentle magic, hope, and developing friendships I would recommend this to people who want a cosy, gentle story to curl up with on an autumnal evening.
I received the invitation to listen to this audiobook on a chilly, wet afternoon and the cosy premise seemed the perfect antidote to the weather. I was not disappointed, this cosy fantasy is full of warmth and hopefulness, enhanced by the narration of Deborah Balm's perfect cosy tone which enveloped me and immersed me in the story. I couldn't put it down and listened to it all evening.
Nadia wishes to escape frome the Witch War and finds herself standing in a strange, her confusion and fear is calmed by the gentle Gala when she returns home. Gala calms Nadia and although curious, does not pressure her into explanations, taking her along to visit the wonderfully dramatic Duchess.
Deborah Balm perfectly switches between the older grounded tea-blender and the fearful runaway narrator match for this story. I disappeared into the world of tea-mixing and friendly village setting.
The story was engaging, the perfect balance of cosy characters and setting. The accidental house magic is fun. The sweet, slow-burn romance between Gala and Hugo, a travelling merchant, develops with an authentic vibe. The "found family" dynamic becomes a found village. I loved this beautiful book, full of gentle magic, hope, and developing friendships I would recommend this to people who want a cosy, gentle story to curl up with on an autumnal evening.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Galantina Grant lives at a cottage at the edge of the woods, preparing tea blends for the citizens of Melodigha. Her craft is famous enough to attract the interest of the Duchess, preparing her usual festival in big style - and this time, Gala gets the heroic task to prepare the perfect tea blend for the party. Knowing the Duchess, it is no easy feat, especially with the distance between the tea shop cotaage and the Duchess' residence, and with the lady's own whims - if she only knew what she exactly wants! On top of this quest, Gala has another mystery on her hands - a young girl that seems to have appeared in her cottage out of nowhere, which seems to be running away from something, and Gala wants to discover her secrets..
This standalone in the series is actually the beginning of the cottage's magical journey, explaining how the humble dwelling turned magical. The story is warm and cozy, highlighting the true meaning of family, using magic for the good of everyone, and having fun moments especially when the Duchess is involved - that woman is like a tornado, born to leave bold first impression. I truly enjoyed reading this story, exploring the places alongside the characters, and getting to know the characters better. It was a nice escape from reality, and I would happily read it again somewhere next to a warm fireplace with a cup of hot tea :)
This standalone in the series is actually the beginning of the cottage's magical journey, explaining how the humble dwelling turned magical. The story is warm and cozy, highlighting the true meaning of family, using magic for the good of everyone, and having fun moments especially when the Duchess is involved - that woman is like a tornado, born to leave bold first impression. I truly enjoyed reading this story, exploring the places alongside the characters, and getting to know the characters better. It was a nice escape from reality, and I would happily read it again somewhere next to a warm fireplace with a cup of hot tea :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My rating is 4.5
Liz Delton is an auto buy author for me!
These Cozy Cottage stories are some of my favourite in the cozy fantasy space. You can't go wrong with tea and magic but yes please, let's also throw in a super sweet found family and slow burn romantic love interest! This is a great place to start with the series as it tells us how the cottage becomes magical but you can read them in any order (just read them all!!)
Gala gets a big surprise when Nadia "appears" in her tea shop out of nowhere. Who she is and where she comes from is a mystery that needs solving but there are other priorities too in the cozy world of Melodigha. The Duchess is hosting a festival and Gala has to supply the main event, the tea tasting.
When the cottage becomes magical, the adventure for all of our characters really takes off. I love the romantic lead in Hugh, he's a great character and becomes very important to them all.
I think the small side quest involving Tav and where she ends up is such a bright spot and I'm hoping we see their story next! I can imagine the sparks even now.
Adventure and love on all fronts makes this a wonderful read. The added illustrations within the book are incredible...they add to the experience and bring it to life.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. My thoughts are my own!
Liz Delton is an auto buy author for me!
These Cozy Cottage stories are some of my favourite in the cozy fantasy space. You can't go wrong with tea and magic but yes please, let's also throw in a super sweet found family and slow burn romantic love interest! This is a great place to start with the series as it tells us how the cottage becomes magical but you can read them in any order (just read them all!!)
Gala gets a big surprise when Nadia "appears" in her tea shop out of nowhere. Who she is and where she comes from is a mystery that needs solving but there are other priorities too in the cozy world of Melodigha. The Duchess is hosting a festival and Gala has to supply the main event, the tea tasting.
When the cottage becomes magical, the adventure for all of our characters really takes off. I love the romantic lead in Hugh, he's a great character and becomes very important to them all.
I think the small side quest involving Tav and where she ends up is such a bright spot and I'm hoping we see their story next! I can imagine the sparks even now.
Adventure and love on all fronts makes this a wonderful read. The added illustrations within the book are incredible...they add to the experience and bring it to life.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. My thoughts are my own!
September 24, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing for the advanced audio copy.
I absolutely loved The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood! I haven't read the other two books in the Cozy Cottage series, but I had no trouble jumping into this one. I never felt lost or like I was missing something important, which I really appreciated.
Gala's quiet life of gathering ingredients and creating tea blends was so cozy, and I loved when Nadia mysteriously showed up and completely changed everything. Add in a cottage that suddenly seems to have a little magic of its own, an autumn festival, mysterious thefts, and a traveling merchant bringing a little romance into the mix, and this was pretty much everything I wanted from a cozy fantasy.
I especially loved the relationship that developed between Gala and Nadia. The found-family aspect was probably my favorite part of the story, and I loved watching their friendship grow as Gala tried to figure out who Nadia was and what she was running from.
The tea shop and autumn festival gave the whole book such a warm, comforting atmosphere. There was enough mystery and magic to keep me interested, but it never lost that cozy feeling.
This was sweet, magical, heartwarming, and just an all-around feel-good read. Now that I've finished it, I definitely want to go back and read the other books in the series!
I absolutely loved The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood! I haven't read the other two books in the Cozy Cottage series, but I had no trouble jumping into this one. I never felt lost or like I was missing something important, which I really appreciated.
Gala's quiet life of gathering ingredients and creating tea blends was so cozy, and I loved when Nadia mysteriously showed up and completely changed everything. Add in a cottage that suddenly seems to have a little magic of its own, an autumn festival, mysterious thefts, and a traveling merchant bringing a little romance into the mix, and this was pretty much everything I wanted from a cozy fantasy.
I especially loved the relationship that developed between Gala and Nadia. The found-family aspect was probably my favorite part of the story, and I loved watching their friendship grow as Gala tried to figure out who Nadia was and what she was running from.
The tea shop and autumn festival gave the whole book such a warm, comforting atmosphere. There was enough mystery and magic to keep me interested, but it never lost that cozy feeling.
This was sweet, magical, heartwarming, and just an all-around feel-good read. Now that I've finished it, I definitely want to go back and read the other books in the series!
August 4, 2026
The Tea Shop at the Edge of the Wood is the latest standalone entry in this cozy fantasy series and takes us back in time to the beginnings of the magical cottage. It's very much a cute and cozy read, with a small amount of tension but in a very low stakes way. If you're looking for found family and acceptance, this is the read for you. I also loved seeing the very beginnings of the story and how the cottage came to be magical.
Galantina lives a simple life, collecting ingredients and making tea. Her simple life is turned upside down though when a girl turns up on her doorstep. Nadia is clearly running from something, and Gala sees something in her. With a festival on the horizon requiring copious amounts of tea, Gala has her hands full and maybe Nadia can help. When the cottage starts acting magical, it seems like all their wishes have come true.
Let's be straight, this was almost a five star read. It's cute, it's cozy and it's wonderful. I loved the background to the cottage, I loved the relationship that builds between Nadia and Gala and I always love tea. Tea is the life blood of society. Or at least it's the life blood for me. Don't talk to me before tea. It's small stakes, but important stakes. The characters care and so you care. The depictions of both characters are really well done as a whole and I genuinely cared. The descriptions of tea were glorious to behold and I now want that tea. I am owed this.
The main niggle I had, and it's absolutely a personal niggle. was the adoption references. In one case, this was really well done and even in a fantasy world managed to cover the fact that things are never going to be perfect. There was chafing and the recognition that you can be proud and furious at the same time. The other one though... felt forced and rushed. Like a 'here's a happy ever after' but without any work put into it. And my experiences as a foster kid chafe at that, particularly when it has actually been recognised and explored otherwise. It's a small thing. A minute thing. And in the grand scheme probably won't matter to anyone but me.
It's still a brilliant novel and one that needs all the love.
Galantina lives a simple life, collecting ingredients and making tea. Her simple life is turned upside down though when a girl turns up on her doorstep. Nadia is clearly running from something, and Gala sees something in her. With a festival on the horizon requiring copious amounts of tea, Gala has her hands full and maybe Nadia can help. When the cottage starts acting magical, it seems like all their wishes have come true.
Let's be straight, this was almost a five star read. It's cute, it's cozy and it's wonderful. I loved the background to the cottage, I loved the relationship that builds between Nadia and Gala and I always love tea. Tea is the life blood of society. Or at least it's the life blood for me. Don't talk to me before tea. It's small stakes, but important stakes. The characters care and so you care. The depictions of both characters are really well done as a whole and I genuinely cared. The descriptions of tea were glorious to behold and I now want that tea. I am owed this.
The main niggle I had, and it's absolutely a personal niggle. was the adoption references. In one case, this was really well done and even in a fantasy world managed to cover the fact that things are never going to be perfect. There was chafing and the recognition that you can be proud and furious at the same time. The other one though... felt forced and rushed. Like a 'here's a happy ever after' but without any work put into it. And my experiences as a foster kid chafe at that, particularly when it has actually been recognised and explored otherwise. It's a small thing. A minute thing. And in the grand scheme probably won't matter to anyone but me.
It's still a brilliant novel and one that needs all the love.
September 5, 2026
Review of advance listener copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 3 stars ⭐️
🫖 tea shop
🏡 traveling cottage
🧙♀️ magical amulet
❤️ found family
Review:
This was a sweet, cosy read. I’d call it a slice of life type story - I kept waiting for something to happen but it is just one of those cosy fantasy books that stays cosy and comfy.
Unfortunately I just struggled to connect with this story and the characters. It was nice enough, it was easy to read but just wasn’t a stand out read for me. I haven’t read the earlier books in the series so that may have contributed to my experience.
For me, the narration didn’t add anything to my experience of this story. The narrator wasn’t bad, but I kept drifting off while listening and I struggled to engage and immerse myself in the story. I also found it difficult to distinguish between the different POV’s.
I liked the tea shop and I loved that this prevailed throughout the whole story. I also enjoyed the found family aspects to it and as I said, it was a very comfy read. I think cosy fantasy readers will enjoy it.
Thank you to Liz Denton, Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing and NetGalley for this ALC. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 3 stars ⭐️
🫖 tea shop
🏡 traveling cottage
🧙♀️ magical amulet
❤️ found family
Review:
This was a sweet, cosy read. I’d call it a slice of life type story - I kept waiting for something to happen but it is just one of those cosy fantasy books that stays cosy and comfy.
Unfortunately I just struggled to connect with this story and the characters. It was nice enough, it was easy to read but just wasn’t a stand out read for me. I haven’t read the earlier books in the series so that may have contributed to my experience.
For me, the narration didn’t add anything to my experience of this story. The narrator wasn’t bad, but I kept drifting off while listening and I struggled to engage and immerse myself in the story. I also found it difficult to distinguish between the different POV’s.
I liked the tea shop and I loved that this prevailed throughout the whole story. I also enjoyed the found family aspects to it and as I said, it was a very comfy read. I think cosy fantasy readers will enjoy it.
Thank you to Liz Denton, Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing and NetGalley for this ALC. All opinions are my own.
September 17, 2026
This audiobook tucked me beneath a warm blanket, handed me a cup of tea, and then aggressively surrounded me with so much love that I nearly combusted. 😂☕🌲
The Teashop at the Edge of the Woods is a cozy fantasy at its absolute finest! Gentle magic, an enchanting woodland setting, lovable characters, and the kind of found family that sneaks up on you and squeezes your heart.
The story still has enough danger and mystery to keep things interesting, but its true magic is the overwhelming warmth running through it. It’s about finding safety, choosing your people, and discovering that “home” can be something you build together.
By the end, my heart was ridiculously full, my eyes were suspiciously damp, and I was ready to immediately go back and read every previous book in the series. Apparently, my TBR needed another entire cozy fantasy world. 😂
A beautifully comforting five-star listen for anyone who enjoys magical teashops, woodland adventures, heartfelt friendships, and stories that feel like a hug.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tourmaline and Quartz Publishing, Deborah Balm, and Liz Delton for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
&& as always, HAPPY READING! 🫶🏼
The Teashop at the Edge of the Woods is a cozy fantasy at its absolute finest! Gentle magic, an enchanting woodland setting, lovable characters, and the kind of found family that sneaks up on you and squeezes your heart.
The story still has enough danger and mystery to keep things interesting, but its true magic is the overwhelming warmth running through it. It’s about finding safety, choosing your people, and discovering that “home” can be something you build together.
By the end, my heart was ridiculously full, my eyes were suspiciously damp, and I was ready to immediately go back and read every previous book in the series. Apparently, my TBR needed another entire cozy fantasy world. 😂
A beautifully comforting five-star listen for anyone who enjoys magical teashops, woodland adventures, heartfelt friendships, and stories that feel like a hug.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tourmaline and Quartz Publishing, Deborah Balm, and Liz Delton for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
&& as always, HAPPY READING! 🫶🏼
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