Cozy for the Holidays by Liz Maverick: A Cozy Bookshop Romance Review #CozyForTheHolidays

Cozy for the Holidays is a friends-to-lovers romance set in a NYC bookshop.

Summary:

In this big-hearted holiday rom-com, scientist Caleb is thrilled to purchase his dream brownstone—complete with an apartment upstairs and a cozy, mystery-themed bookshop downstairs—only to discover the shop still running and its owner mysteriously missing. Overwhelmed by the seasonal chaos and totally unprepared to run a bookstore, he turns to his bookish friend and cover designer, Sophie, whose quirky charm he’s secretly adored for years. As the two team up to keep the shop afloat during the festive New York City winter, Caleb and Sophie find that the magic of the season—and the close quarters of the unexpectedly inherited bookshop—might finally give them the perfect chance to turn friendship into a long-awaited happily ever after.

My Thoughts:

Cozy for the Holidays is a big-hearted holiday rom-com set in one of my favourite places to read about: a bookshop. When scientist Caleb receives an unexpected Hanukkah gift in the form of his dream brownstone—complete with an apartment upstairs and a fully operational, mystery-themed bookshop downstairs—he quickly finds himself in over his head. The shop’s owner has mysteriously vanished, and Caleb, who is far more comfortable with research than retail, turns to his bookish and creative friend Sophie for help. Longtime friends with unspoken feelings between them, the two spend the winter navigating the chaos of the shop, the magic of New York City, and the possibility of finally writing their own happily ever after.

I was immediately drawn to this story because I love a romance set in a bookshop, and friends-to-lovers is always a win for me. The setup was charming and full of promise, and I enjoyed the dynamic between Caleb and Sophie. However, I found the second half of the book a bit lacklustre. The way their relationship finally comes together felt anticlimactic, which left me slightly disappointed. I was also expecting more holiday vibes—there were very few seasonal activities or traditions, and it didn’t quite deliver the festive atmosphere I was hoping for. That said, I still enjoyed the story overall, even if it felt like it could have been so much more. It’s also worth noting that this title is available for free through the Audible Plus catalogue.

The Narration:

One definite highlight was the audiobook narration by Andrew Eiden and Eva Kaminsky. Their performances added warmth and personality to the characters and truly enhanced the listening experience, making it a joy to spend time in this cozy (if not quite festive enough) bookshop.