3.5 stars

When I first heard of this genre, it was perfect timing and really piqued my interest because I was just coming off of a pretty intense, epic fantasy series and really needed a palate cleanser. I still wanted to read a fantasy story, but was feeling fatigued and wanted a story without a lot of stress.

I saw all the hype about this book and knew I had to pick it up right away. This was my first cozy fantasy book, and it didn’t disappoint in the cozy area. It was a delightful, charming, and easy read that only took me a few days to get through the entire book. It’s whimsical, cozy, and gave me the warm fuzzy feelings. However, I do feel it’s a bit overhyped for what it is.

What I Didn’t Like:

☕ It had a slow start, which was a bit boring for me. I didn’t feel like I needed to know every single detail of the building renovations and creating the coffee shop. I didn’t need to read the extensive details on installing certain pieces of equipment. I found myself skimming over the more technical parts of the book. I know it’s a slice-of-life story, but some of those portions of the book were a bit too drawn out for me, and it felt tedious and boring at times. I wanted a bit more conflict or action.

☕ I think my biggest complaint is the lack of fantasy elements in the coffee shop. We are taken to a fantastical world where there is so much potential for creativity, but I felt it really fell short of what it could’ve been. Instead of creating new fantastical drinks and food with magical ingredients, we get modern-day coffee drinks and food. This story basically places our contemporary Starbucks and atmosphere in a fantasy setting. There could’ve been way more imagination in creating the setting and the characters.

What I Liked:

☕ All the characters are very likable and wholesome. My favorite was the little rat-baker, Thimble. Viv was my second favorite character. We learn more about her, such as she negotiates really well, she knows how to read people well, she knows how to get what she wants, but in a nice way, she’s very resourceful, she’s not afraid to go after what she wants, and she’s very committed to her dream. You just have to applaud her determination to open her coffee shop. I found myself rooting for her throughout the whole story. I did care what happened to her and wanted her to succeed, but I wasn’t overly invested.

☕ There is a found family element. Many of the side characters become Viv’s friends or employees, and they create this cute, sweet found family. There is also quite a bit of humor, and I did find myself chuckling or giggling to myself throughout the story, which was a pleasant surprise.

☕ I enjoyed the characters learning about coffee and the baked goods, and tasting everything for the first time. I liked the descriptions of the aromas and tastes of the food. I also enjoyed seeing the menu evolve throughout the story. We even see the menu expand as they try out new drinks and baked goods.

If you enjoy slice-of-life, cozy books, or if you are like me, a beginner in the cozy fantasy genre, and want to inquire about all the fuss, this is a good first book to start with – high fantasy with medium to low stakes. Again, the characters are likable, the story is interesting, and it’s an easy, quick read. Also, if you’re in a reading slump, you may find that this book will get you out of it.

Definitely recommend!