If you’ve spent any time on BookTok or lurking in the "cozy fantasy" corners of the internet lately, you’ve probably seen a bright, lavender-edged book staring back at you. The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst has basically become the poster child for the cottagecore movement in fiction. Honestly, it’s about time.
People are tired. We’re all a bit burnt out on "save the world or everyone dies" stakes. Sometimes you just want to read about a grumpy librarian and a talking plant making jam.
What Actually Happens in The Spellshop?
The story kicks off with Kiela, an introverted librarian who works at the Great Library of Alyssium. She’s spent eleven years hiding from the world, surrounded by sentient books and her only real friend: Caz.
Caz is a magically sentient spider plant. He’s sassy. He’s protective. He’s probably the best part of the book.
When a revolution hits the capital and the library starts burning, Kiela doesn't grab a sword. She grabs as many illegal spellbooks as she can carry, hops in a boat with Caz, and bails. She ends up back at her childhood home on the island of Caltrey. It’s a mess. The cottage is falling apart, the island is suffering from weird magical storms, and Kiela has zero social skills.
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To survive, she starts a jam shop. But here’s the kicker: she uses the stolen imperial magic to make the jam better and help her neighbors' failing crops. In this world, that’s a "punishable by death" kind of crime.
The "Coziness" Factor is Real
You've probably heard this book compared to Legends & Lattes. It’s a fair comparison, but Durst leans much harder into the "nature" side of things. There are merhorses. There are forest spirits. There are flying cats.
The stakes are low-ish, but they feel huge to Kiela. Her biggest fear isn't just the empire catching her; it’s her neighbor, Larran, being nice to her.
Larran is a merhorse farmer. He’s the classic "handsome guy with a heart of gold" who keeps showing up to fix her roof and bring her food. For Kiela, who is clearly coded as neurodivergent or at least deeply socially anxious, this is terrifying. Watching her slowly realize that people might actually like her for who she is—not just what she can do—is the heart of the story.
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Why The Spellshop Hits Different in 2026
We’re seeing a massive shift in what readers want. The Spellshop tackles some pretty heavy themes—revolution, class disparity, and environmental collapse (those magical storms aren't just for show)—but it does it through the lens of community.
Kiela realizes that the Empire was hoarding magic, keeping it for the elite while the commoners struggled. By opening her illegal spellshop, she’s essentially committing an act of magical mutual aid.
It’s a "found family" story. It’s a "second chances" story. It’s also just a book that describes raspberry jam so well you’ll want to go to the grocery store immediately.
A Quick Reality Check on the Romance
If you're looking for "spice," look elsewhere. This is what people call a "closed door" romance. It’s sweet, it’s slow, and it’s mostly about building trust. It’s "romantasy" in the sense that there is romance and fantasy, but it’s definitely not "smut."
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What’s Next for the Series?
Sarah Beth Durst didn’t stop here. If you finished the book and felt a Kiela-shaped hole in your heart, you’re in luck.
- The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2): Released in July 2025. It’s a companion novel following Terlu (the woman who was a wooden statue in the first book). It features singing flowers and more sentient plants.
- Sea of Charms (Spellshop #3): This one is slated for July 21, 2026. It’s taking the cozy vibes to the high seas with a sea-loving sentient shrub named Ree.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Read
If you’re planning to dive into Kiela’s world, or you’ve already finished and want more:
- Read it when you’re stressed. This isn't a book to rush through. It’s designed to lower your heart rate.
- Check out the physical copy. Tor/Bramble did an incredible job with the production—sprayed edges and hidden cover art make it a "trophy book" for your shelf.
- Don't skip the "Author's Note." Sarah Beth Durst talks a lot about why she wrote this during a time when she needed a "sanctuary," and it adds a layer of depth to the reading experience.
- Look for the "Cottagecore" peers. If you liked the vibes here, your next stops should be The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna or Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
Basically, The Spellshop is the literary equivalent of a warm blanket. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it is trying to make sure the wheel is well-oiled and surrounded by flowers.
In a world that feels increasingly loud, Kiela and her sassy spider plant are a reminder that sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is take care of your neighbors and make some really good jam.
To get started on your cozy journey, you can find the first book at most major retailers, but supporting a local indie shop feels much more in the spirit of Caltrey. Keep an eye out for the third installment, Sea of Charms, later this summer.