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Stay for a Spell

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What to expect

A joyful, cosy fantasy romance for anyone who's ever wished they could live in a bookshop.

The instant Sunday Times and #1 Indie bestseller!

'Hot chocolate for the heart' India Holton, bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

'A daydream, a bonbon, a joy!' Brigitte Knightly, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

'Filled to the brim with warmth and joy' Patrick Ness, award-winning author of The Knife of Never Letting Go

One curse, seven princes, and a bookshop that you’ll never want to leave…

Princess Tanadelle of the Widdenmar longs to build a life of her own making. During a royal visit to the cosy town of Little Pepperidge, Tandy’s dream comes true when she finds herself cursed to remain in a run-down bookshop until she finds her heart’s desire.

More than a little thrilled, she hires a new assistant, teenage goth Sasha, and settles into life among the stacks. Despite the infuriatingly handsome pirate, Bash, who keeps showing up at the shop with his good looks and his own curse to figure out, Tandy’s new life might just make her happy.

There are just seven, minor, problems. With her royal duties unfulfilled, the frantic King and Queen send the seven princes of the realms to bestow upon Tandy a kiss, each one hoping to break the curse.

After all, what more could a princess want, than a prince?

A whimsical, heart-warming fantasy romance for fans of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels, Legends and Lattes and The Princess Bride.

Amy Coombe’s Stay for a Spell was a No. 6 Sunday Times bestseller and No. 1 Independent Bookhop bestseller w/c 2026-04-27

Critics Review

‘Coombe has the Diana Wynne Jones knack … at the start it’s playfully comic; by the end it’s bittersweet and utterly gorgeous’ —The New York Times
‘Hot chocolate for the heart … [i]f you're in the mood to be charmed, entertained, and joyously amused, then this is the perfect book for you!’ —India Holton, bestselling author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
‘Absolutely cozy and positively delightful, this book will warm your heart and soothe your soul … I loved it!’ —Sarah Beth Durst, bestselling author of The Spellshop
'A delightfully whimsical read … suggests that the secret to happiness really can be found in your local bookstore (with a devilishly handsome pirate to boot)' —Jenna Levine, bestselling author of My Roommate is a Vampire
'This book was a daydream, a bonbon, a joy … Five sparkling stars!’ —Brigitte Knightly, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy
'A delightfully cozy and romantic escape' —Stephanie Burgis, author of Wooing the Witch Queen
'A magical novel filled to the brim with warmth and joy' —Patrick Ness, award-winning author of The Knife of Never Letting Go
'Get ready to fall for your new favorite cozy fantasy’ —Kirkus (starred review)
‘A grown-up novel that captures the magic, wit, and warmth of the princess stories I adored as a child’ —Sylvie Cathrall, author of A Letter to the Luminous Deep
'A charming and warm-hearted fairy tale for anyone who’s ever thought a bookshop feels like home' —M. Stevenson, author of Behooved
‘Utterly delightful, ridiculously charming and effortlessly compelling' —Claire North, author of The Sudden Appearance of Hope
'Amy Coombe has captured in book form that fuzzy feeling of sitting by a hearth with a cup of something hot, the comfortable weight of a cat on one's lap, and, of course, a dashingly good book at one’s fingertips' —Marianne Gordon, author of The Gilded Crown
'A delightfully heart-warming bookish fairy tale that enchanted me from start to finish' —Nadia El-Fassi, author of Best Hex Ever
Author Amy Coombe
Narrator Lottie Bourne
Duration 11 hours and 15 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9780008758981
Format Audiobook
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Comic (humorous) fantasy, Fantasy romance, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Romance: fantasy and paranormal, Romance: wholesome
Availability AU, GB, IE

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