I’ve fallen a little behind with full-length book reviews lately (hello new pup taking up my time), and rather than let these lovely reads quietly disappear into my reading journal, I wanted to share some shorter reviews.
Today I’m sharing mini reviews of four books—two romance reads and two fantasy adventures that I’ve finished since February this year.
Jump to: A Cottage in the Country | City Girls Forever | Nightshade & Oak | Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter
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Romance Reviews
A Cottage in the Country by Katie Ford
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publication date : 12 Feb. 2026
- Print length : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1526690780
- ISBN-13 : 978-1526690784
This was such a feel-good read and I couldn’t wait to get back to spending time in this world. It always lifted my spirits, and that feeling carried over into real life too.
Hattie is a strong lead. I loved that she’s an action taker … when her mind is set on something, there’s no stopping her! And she gets results. She has an unusual ‘skill’ that leads her to meeting some fabulous people and their families, while also giving her the opportunity to help others uncover truths that could change their lives.
When you’re emotionally attached to the main characters, the conflict hits hard. One character on the periphery really provoked me. I kept thinking, how could you do that to someone?
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. A Cottage in the Country is Katie Fforde at her best.
Perfect for readers who enjoy an independent heroine, strong community ties, friendship, romance, and a gentle sprinkle of magic dust.
City Girls Forever by Patricia Scanlan
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster UK
- Publication date : 12 Feb. 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 528 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1398538388
- ISBN-13 : 978-1398538382
I haven’t read any of the previous books in the City Girls series, but that didn’t matter—I loved being part of Devlin, Maggie, and Caroline’s lives. They’re all very different characters, yet they complement each other perfectly and share a lasting bond.
If you have read the earlier books in the series, I’m sure you’ll love reconnecting with them and seeing where life has taken them now in their menopausal years.
This is one of those stories you become really involved in, not just with the women themselves but with their families and relationships too.
I found it easy to identify with each of the women. Maggie’s life struggles will feel familiar to many readers, while Devlin and Caroline face more specific challenges of their own. Each storyline felt believable, and I was quickly drawn into their lives and invested in how things would work out for them.
The real strength of this book for me is the friendship between the women and how they always have each other’s backs. They’re supportive, loyal, and sometimes brutally honest with one another—the kind of honesty that comes from love and years of true friendship.
Would I recommend it? Yes. City Girls Forever is a heartwarming, emotionally rich story about friendship, family, and facing life’s changes together.
Perfect for readers who enjoy heartfelt women’s fiction, strong female friendships, and stories that deal honestly with real-life challenges.
If you’d like more recommendations for romantic fiction, you can also browse my reviews here.
Fantasy Reviews
Nightshade & Oak by Molly O’Neill
- Publisher : Orbit
- Publication date : 3 Feb. 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0356522636
- ISBN-13 : 978-0356522630
This isn’t a fast-paced story, but as a quest filled with mythology and slow-burn romance, it works beautifully.
I loved the blend of history, mythology, and the challenges the characters face along the way—especially the connection to Boudica’s daughter, Belis, and the Romans.
Mallt Y Nos, the Goddess of Death, is particularly amusing early on in the story in her human form. Her weakness compared to Belis’ strength creates plenty of tension and bickering between them, which made their dynamic really enjoyable to read. Watching them gradually learn to work together to stop the poison spreading through the afterlife was one of the strongest parts of the book. Both characters show really satisfying development.
The middle does slow a little, but the ending felt absolutely right—it couldn’t have ended any other way.
Would I recommend it? Yes. Nightshade and Oak is a beautifully written, character-driven fantasy with rich mythology and a satisfying emotional journey.
Perfect for readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, myth-inspired fantasy, and character-led quests.
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
- Publisher : Orbit
- Publication date : 17 Feb. 2026
- Language : English
- Print length : 368 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0356525783
- ISBN-13 : 978-0356525785
Having enjoyed the Emily Wilde series, I couldn’t wait to get started on this story.
I loved everything about it, from the cats and their individual personalities to the magic and the mayhem. I looked forward to escaping into 1920s Montreal setting whenever I had the chance.
Even though this is a cozy fantasy, the source of the magic is illicit and chaotic, which makes it feel unusual. I really liked that contrast and would happily have explored even more of the magical world.
Agnes is such an easy character to root for. She always sees the goodness in others and tends to put herself last, with the cats and their needs always coming first. She’s incredibly organised (perhaps because it’s the only way she feels fully in control) and when she unknowingly rents the space above a dark magician’s basement shop, life becomes much more complicated.
Havelock brings a real whirlwind energy into her carefully structured life. He reminded me of the classic mad professor archetype—obsessed with magic, unconcerned with social conventions, and happiest while creating spells and enchantments in isolation. His magical experiments and coveted enchantments lead to some heart pounding magical confrontations, although some of those enchantments prove surprisingly useful for the cat shelter too.
Agnes’ organisational skills really come into their own when Havelock’s several floors of magical Artefacts need cataloguing in the search for one particular item. It’s during this time that feelings begin to grow between them, even if neither of them quite knows what to do with them.
I also really enjoyed Agnes’ relationship with her sister, and I was genuinely shocked by one character’s betrayal.
I thought that the plot was incredibly clever, and the way everything ties together feels so creative and satisfying.
The ending, for me, represented how far Agnes had come … learning to let go of rigidity, embrace freedom, and step beyond the safety of what she knew.
If you’ve enjoyed Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series, this has that same magical charm and cosy fantasy feel. You can also read my thoughts on Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands, and Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales.
Would I recommend it? Yes. It’s a wonderful story of second chances—for both the people and the cats.
Perfect for readers who love magical, whimsical settings, charming cat stories, romantic tension, and Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series.
If you’d like more recommendations for fantasy reads, you can browse my reviews here.
Reading these four books reminded me how much I love stories that completely pull you into their world—whether that’s through friendship, romance, family drama, or a little magical chaos.
From heartwarming women’s fiction to myth-filled fantasy adventures, each of these books gave me something different, and I’m glad I didn’t let them slip by without sharing at least a few thoughts.
Have you read any of these books? Or do you have a recent romance or fantasy recommendation I should add to my ever-growing TBR? I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading in the comments.
If you’d like more book recommendations, you can also browse my full collection of book reviews here.
