What a treat to see an old school Mara vlog! Love to see you loving the books you're reading, especially The Spellshop! We all need books that bring us joy right now. I recently read Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy and think it might be up your alley. It's been smacked with the cozy label not because it has no plot (it does) or stakes (it does) or bad things happening in it (it does) but because the PROJECT of the book is to make you feel delighted (and it does!). It's got a rather slow burn MM romance, magical university, academic rivals, magical forest, grumpy love interest, rakish MC, and an Ella Enchanted like curse. I think I'm finding that I like the cozy fantasy that the purists like to say isn't cozy because it has stakes, which i think is truly silly, since all stories have stakes. I think for me, it's cozy if I know, and the author lets you know, it's all going to be okay in the end, because that's the whole point. The romance will romance, the heroes will win, and the light aspects will always balance out the dark.
I'm so glad you enjoyed The Spellshop. It's such a delightful book - I read it and then came back to listen to the audiobook later in the year because I enjoyed it so much.
I gotta say, I'm feeling very emotionally connected to the gimbal. Every time it does that gentle slide, I'm like, same dude. Also, The Spellshop is definitely one of my favorite books of the year!
We Solve Murders will most likely be my favorite book of the year! I LOVED it - it really felt like the perfect plot match for Osman. He does characters and quick wit so well that the fast-paced adventure mystery plot fits perfectly. So glad you liked it!
So glad you read so many good books and that you loved The Spellshop! It is one of my favorite books of the year and the one I've recommended to my irl friends. ❤
So much fun to watch. I loved Just for the Summer and a a bit sad it only got second place. Such a good book! It’s also my first Abby book but now I want to read the other two. 😂
So glad you got a 5 star from this vlog, it seems like reading books you were already interested in is the way to go! I LOVE Sarah Beth Durst's writing style, but I barely read YA these days. I didn't realize The Spellshop was an adult book, it sounds delightful! Need to get it asap
Great vlog ! I enjoyed We solve Murders as well. The Spellshop was on my TBR for spooky season this year but I didn't get to it, undecided for if I want to wait til next year to read it or not.
"The Spellshop," sounds delightful. There is just one tiny hiccup for me. I absolutely cannot do a sentiment plant. The Little Shop of Horrors messed me up for life. Nope, nope, nope. Happy Reading 📚 😅
Part of Your World definitely doesn’t have the same amount of emotional strife as Just for the Summer although the second Yours Truly does (def still read this when you are in the mood as it is so good!). Your tree looks beautiful! Excited to read We Solve Murders from your character love
That's good to know! Yeah, I didn't pick up Yours Truly because I could tell from the synopsis it was going have a lot of Feels, but I'm looking forward to Part of Your World next year
Your description of Hyunam Dong bookshop reminds me of What you are looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, which is a charming, thought-provoking book about books and community you might enjoy
I felt similarly about Part of Your World. High quality and well written, but it had a lot of angst and conflict that made me feel more anxious than I want to be when reading a contemporary.
So I was surprised to see The Spellshop in the Romantasy category since I thought it was a fantasy book with a romantic element rather than a romance set in a fantasy world. What did you think? I don’t have a lot of experience with romance (the genre, lol), frankly, so I could be completely off-base.
I really enjoyed Allie Hazelwood's The Bride. Was it the best book? No. Was it a silly, fun good time? Yes, which it sounds like you're looking for in romance right now.
I love Richard Osman’s writing and plots, but I had to abandon Thursday Murder Club and might have to with the new series too after I finish We Solve Murders. I can’t quite describe my issue with his books, but it’s like there’s no real conflict because everything just goes the good guys’ way and nothing goes the bad guys’ way. (Ex. Steve at the airport vs Eddie at the airport) That can be a hallmark of the cosy genre, but somehow it feels too Mary-Sue in his books. I wish I enjoyed them as much as everyone else because there’s really so much I also like!
I have a similar issue with Just for the summer. I think it went too hard to have “depth” but it felt like a trauma dump to me. I personally think the ping ponging of tone leaves a bad taste in my mouth. - Funny story by Emily Henry was actually lighter and less of a trauma dump & more enjoyable than just for the summer.
I need Abby Jimenez (and Emily Henry) to write something besides romance. I like their writerly voices but I can’t do romance right now/anymore. Though I do need Abby to resolve her internalized misogyny/mom issues because she’s very hard on older women. Like as a 39-year-old gal I sometimes feel like she’s going in on women like me in ways that are about her issues because I have not done any of the shiz she builds into her baseline writing assumptions.
The Hard Drive Tragedy literally robbed us of many delightful videos this year but we stay strong well into the new year.
What a treat to see an old school Mara vlog! Love to see you loving the books you're reading, especially The Spellshop! We all need books that bring us joy right now. I recently read Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy and think it might be up your alley. It's been smacked with the cozy label not because it has no plot (it does) or stakes (it does) or bad things happening in it (it does) but because the PROJECT of the book is to make you feel delighted (and it does!). It's got a rather slow burn MM romance, magical university, academic rivals, magical forest, grumpy love interest, rakish MC, and an Ella Enchanted like curse. I think I'm finding that I like the cozy fantasy that the purists like to say isn't cozy because it has stakes, which i think is truly silly, since all stories have stakes. I think for me, it's cozy if I know, and the author lets you know, it's all going to be okay in the end, because that's the whole point. The romance will romance, the heroes will win, and the light aspects will always balance out the dark.
Ooo, I will have to check that one out!!
I'm so glad you enjoyed The Spellshop. It's such a delightful book - I read it and then came back to listen to the audiobook later in the year because I enjoyed it so much.
ooooh i am SO excited to read the spellshop!! and just for the summer!!
I gotta say, I'm feeling very emotionally connected to the gimbal. Every time it does that gentle slide, I'm like, same dude.
Also, The Spellshop is definitely one of my favorite books of the year!
You and me both!
We Solve Murders will most likely be my favorite book of the year! I LOVED it - it really felt like the perfect plot match for Osman. He does characters and quick wit so well that the fast-paced adventure mystery plot fits perfectly. So glad you liked it!
So glad you read so many good books and that you loved The Spellshop! It is one of my favorite books of the year and the one I've recommended to my irl friends. ❤
Ah I'm going to be reading The Spellshop this week and I'm so excited!!!
So glad this project went well for you! 💖
Loved this vlog! I enjoyed Just for the Summer, but Part of Your World was my favourite of the three. Cheers!
The Spellshop is one of my favourite books of the year. Had a feeling you'd also love it! Can't wait for her 2025 release b
loved the vlog! found some new books to add to my TBR!
So glad to see you read Just for the Summer! It's one of my favorite romances, and was so heartfelt and genuinely funny at the same time.
It's so good!
I just purchased The Spellshop based on your review here. I'm really looking forward to reading it. Plus it's so pretty, so it was hard to resist.
Yayyy...it's Christmas Mara 💙👍💙🎄🎉🎄🎉🎅
Yay for you getting another 5 ⭐️ for the year! 😊
Yaaaaas so happy you enjoyed The Spellshop, it truly is DELIGHTFUL
GCA videos, surprisingly good reads coming out of them, and upcoming list videos... it's the most wonderful time of the year!
Couldn't agree more! 🥂
So much fun to watch. I loved Just for the Summer and a a bit sad it only got second place. Such a good book! It’s also my first Abby book but now I want to read the other two. 😂
Yay for a successful Maura reading vlog! I can’t wait to read Spellshop ❤
So glad you got a 5 star from this vlog, it seems like reading books you were already interested in is the way to go! I LOVE Sarah Beth Durst's writing style, but I barely read YA these days. I didn't realize The Spellshop was an adult book, it sounds delightful! Need to get it asap
Great picks! I LOVED the new Osman & the Spellshop 🙌 also WOOO a Mara Vlogggg!! 🎉
Happy you generally had a good time with Just for the Summer!
We Solve Murders is on my TBR list as well. Do you have a knitting podcast as well. Knitting and reading is what I love to do.
I tried When Among Crow who was a nominee and it was delightful :) I will have to read the Spellshop next!
Great vlog ! I enjoyed We solve Murders as well. The Spellshop was on my TBR for spooky season this year but I didn't get to it, undecided for if I want to wait til next year to read it or not.
It will be a treat whenever you get to it 🥰
"The Spellshop," sounds delightful. There is just one tiny hiccup for me. I absolutely cannot do a sentiment plant. The Little Shop of Horrors messed me up for life. Nope, nope, nope. Happy Reading 📚 😅
lol what would say if I told you there is also a sentient cactus by the end…
@bookslikewhoa screams, running for the hills😆😆😆
You should try the honey witch if you liked the spell shop
So glad that you enjoyed the books as I know that is not always the case.
Part of Your World definitely doesn’t have the same amount of emotional strife as Just for the Summer although the second Yours Truly does (def still read this when you are in the mood as it is so good!). Your tree looks beautiful! Excited to read We Solve Murders from your character love
That's good to know! Yeah, I didn't pick up Yours Truly because I could tell from the synopsis it was going have a lot of Feels, but I'm looking forward to Part of Your World next year
Will start the new year with We Solve Murders and The Spellshop
Loved We Solve Murders.
Your description of Hyunam Dong bookshop reminds me of What you are looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama, which is a charming, thought-provoking book about books and community you might enjoy
Ooooh, I'm now 3rd in line on libby for the Osman (started 70) and the Durst should be available in a couple of months! Can't wait!!
You have some treats ahead of you!! 🎉
I felt similarly about Part of Your World. High quality and well written, but it had a lot of angst and conflict that made me feel more anxious than I want to be when reading a contemporary.
The Spellshop was delightful and relaxing on audio.
i accidentally bought the audiobook for the spellshop so this makes me feel better about it lol
I love Abby Jimenez books. Always a good back story, not just sex like lots of contemporary romance books.
So I was surprised to see The Spellshop in the Romantasy category since I thought it was a fantasy book with a romantic element rather than a romance set in a fantasy world. What did you think? I don’t have a lot of experience with romance (the genre, lol), frankly, so I could be completely off-base.
I agreed with you, I’d say it reads more like a cozy fantasy with strong romantic elements than romantasy
I really enjoyed Allie Hazelwood's The Bride. Was it the best book? No. Was it a silly, fun good time? Yes, which it sounds like you're looking for in romance right now.
I love Richard Osman’s writing and plots, but I had to abandon Thursday Murder Club and might have to with the new series too after I finish We Solve Murders. I can’t quite describe my issue with his books, but it’s like there’s no real conflict because everything just goes the good guys’ way and nothing goes the bad guys’ way. (Ex. Steve at the airport vs Eddie at the airport) That can be a hallmark of the cosy genre, but somehow it feels too Mary-Sue in his books. I wish I enjoyed them as much as everyone else because there’s really so much I also like!
I have a similar issue with Just for the summer. I think it went too hard to have “depth” but it felt like a trauma dump to me. I personally think the ping ponging of tone leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
-
Funny story by Emily Henry was actually lighter and less of a trauma dump & more enjoyable than just for the summer.
You’re changing you’re vote, to? Lower or higher?
Sorry, from BRIDE to JUST FOR THE SUMMER in the Romance category
Love Sarah beth durst. I've been a reader since 2011
I'm so excited to get into her backlist!
I also prefer my romance to be more of a straight line in terms of relationship development. 😅
I need Abby Jimenez (and Emily Henry) to write something besides romance. I like their writerly voices but I can’t do romance right now/anymore. Though I do need Abby to resolve her internalized misogyny/mom issues because she’s very hard on older women. Like as a 39-year-old gal I sometimes feel like she’s going in on women like me in ways that are about her issues because I have not done any of the shiz she builds into her baseline writing assumptions.
I’d highly recommend This Spells Love as a very readable romcom without the Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez heaviness.
Apparently the gimble thinks reading vlogs are improved by dutch angles.