Title: Books & BewitchmentAuthor: Isla Jewell
Series: Arcadia Falls #1
Pages: 368
Publication Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Publisher: Del Rey
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Contemporary, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance
Synopsis:
In this cozy, witchy romcom, a young woman works to turn a run-down small-town video store into the bookshop of her dreams, only to discover a powerful magic that’s been lying dormant—and a forbidden love she can’t resist.
Dutiful and hard-working, Rhea Wolfe lives a simple, mundane life with her pet parrot in small-town Alabama. Sure, she may not love her desk job working for an insurance agency. And her on-again-off-again relationship with the local mechanic may not have the fiery passion she’s read about in her favorite books. Still, things are stable, which is more than she can say about the two hopelessly immature younger sisters who rely on her.
But when Rhea’s estranged grandmother dies, leaving her everything—including a magical heritage Rhea never knew she carried—she finds herself in Arcadia Falls, the quaint mountain town her mother made her swear to avoid at all costs. While the defunct business she’s also inherited needs a serious upgrade, Rhea’s lucky that resident handyman Hunter Blakely is more than happy to help—and more than easy on the eyes. If only he wasn’t the grandson of her grandmother’s sworn enemy in witchcraft.
As Rhea works to build a future, strange occurrences begin to make her think someone—or something—is trying to drive her out. As she gets closer to solving the mystery, each clue she uncovers points to Arcadia Falls’s magic hanging in the balance. To keep her new home safe, Rhea must step into her enchanted birthright . . . before it’s too late.
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This is such a fun and cosy romantic fantasy with so much charm and cute moments, as well as a quirky mystery. The story follows Rhea, who has just lost her job and broken up (again) with her boyfriend, when she learns she has inherited property from her estranged grandmother. Rhea seizes the opportunity to start fresh and heads to a new town with her pet bird to open a bookstore.
Arcadia Falls sounds like an entertaining and magical place to live. I really liked the small-town charm and the found family vibes and the fact that Rhea is welcomed into the community fold. She meets some unique new friends and a particularly swoon-worthy contractor, who also happens to be the grandson of her grandmother’s sworn enemy. I love Hunter as much as I did Rhea. They’re both endearing and easy to root for, and their love story is fantastic. The banter is fabulous, and they have so many great moments together. Plus, they have the whole star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet vibes, just without all the tragedy. lol
Rhea talks a lot about her love of reading, and her feelings are so relatable. She puts into words how many of us feel about the power of words and stories. There’s also a magical mystery and some comical shenanigans that were super fun. Add to that a feisty bird and a bookstore renovation, and there’s a lot to enjoy in this book.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
- small town romance
- found family
- forced proximity
- only one tent
Brilliant review, Julie! This sounds like the perfect cozy read.
I enjoyed your review. This sounds cute and something I’d enjoyed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sounds fun, thanks for sharing your thoughts