Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe
Fantasy Romance
Published April 14, 2026 by Ace

Reviewed by Kate

While reading the description for Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe, you can be forgiven for thinking it sounds like many of the other cozy fantasy books that are out there right now. However, Stay for a Spell exceeded my expectations and was such a fun read. 

In Stay for a Spell, Tandy gets cursed and is stuck in a bookshop until she finds her heart’s desire. I will admit the most stressful part of the book (for me) was the beginning since it is in the description that she gets cursed, but I wasn’t sure when it was going to happen (very early on) and I was worried that it was malicious (it doesn’t seem to be). After that, the stress level is very low as Tandy figures out how to run a bookstore, learns some basic magic in order to clean and feed herself and discovers what her heart’s desire is! 

The plot of the book is fairly low-key, especially since it nearly all takes place in the bookshop. However, for me it really worked because there were multiple different threads going through the whole book – first, Tandy’s curse. Then, running the bookstore! We also have the seven princes who come by, each honestly more ridiculous than the last and offering a lot of humor. Lastly, there’s the cursed pirate who hangs out in the bookshop with Tandy, and how to resolve his curse. It offered enough variety to keep me engaged. Another aspect I loved was the way that Stay for a Spell plays with fairy tale tropes like how kissing a prince breaks curses. It was cute little details like those that really made the book for me. 

The characters are also delightful. Tandy’s issues seem so realistic – who among us hasn’t ever felt a little lonely because of all of the demands of our lives? Honestly, if I could be cursed to never leave a bookshop in a small town, I might take it. I loved the teenager, Sasha, who became Tandy’s assistant. Her grumpy moods and her girly crush were so appropriate to her age and it added a fun dimension. Bash, the pirate, was a super fun addition, and I was always thrilled when he showed up in the shop. I especially enjoyed the various princes coming in and out, as well as the townsfolk that Tandy got to know as the book went on. 

There were some weird world building things, like Tandy not having a bathtub or never seeming to replenish books in her store even though she was selling so many. I also sometimes questioned how the teenager who hung out in the shop had so many great ideas about selling books. But once you let those things go, it’s a very fun read. 

I would recommend this book to anybody who is looking for a truly cozy fantasy without too much drama or high stakes, but with enough of a flow to keep it from being boring. If you liked The Keeper of Magical Things or Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore, you will likely enjoy Stay for a Spell. 

Grade: A