This book has been on my TBR since mid 2024 when I came across it on TikTok. It was the first book that I had ever seen with sprayed edges. I can’t remember if it was the author herself or if it was a reader who posted the video and talked about its cozy story. I just remember I was immediately sold and wanted to read it. However, for one reason or another, I never got around to it.

A couple of months I ago, I finally put a hold request for it at my local library. This month, it became available. I rushed out to get it even though I had four other books I was reading at the time. However, once I got it home, I realized I was scared to read it. I had waited nearly a year to read this. I have been on a dark romance kick lately. I am a different person than I was last year. Would it measure up? Would I be disappointed?

After finally beginning the read of this book two days ago, I could not put it down. I stayed up way too late last night just to finish it.

Here’s the synopsis of the story: Kiela is an extremely introverted, socially awkward, possibly neurospicy librarian who loves her books. She has a cute sentient plant as a sidekick named Caz. How unbelievably creative is that?! Her beloved librarian is burned in a rebellion, and she and Caz sail to Caltry, the island where she was born. She hopes to remain incognito, but quickly realizes she needs to get out of the house in order to survive. Aside from that, her nosey (and admittedly handsome) neighbor will not let her be. Despite all her reservations, she finds it not to be as bad as she feared. Its the perfect small town full of charm, but its missing jam. She decides to open a jam shop, with a side hustle of selling magical (possibly illegal) remedies.

“Of course knowledge is dangerous.” Kiela felt herself grinning. She’d never done anything the least bit dangerous before. It felt like a deep breath of sea air. Maybe the taste of the breeze is going to my head. “But ignorance is even more dangerous. In this case, ignorance means failure, and failure means no food, no way to stay here, and nowhere else to go.” (Durst, 66)

This story had me giggling. This story had me crying. This story even had me wanting to throw it across the room, just to go and pick it back up again. I said, wanting to throw it. I didn’t actually throw it. My elementary school librarian would be chasing me down if I were to do that.

I absolutely love this book. It has become one of my favorites, if not my favorite book. I definitely see myself re-reading this book many times in the future. I need to go buy a physical copy!!