Title: Letters from the Last Apothecary
Author: Bita Behzadi
Narrators: Samara Naeymi & Andrew Gibson
Genre: Cozy Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romantasy
Format: Audiobook (ALC)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5★, rounded up)
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Synopsis
Josie Pinova doesn't believe in fate, but fate seems determined to prove her wrong.
After losing her job, she unexpectedly finds work at the last magical apothecary in Tressport while waiting to hear whether she's been accepted into the prestigious Institute of Magic.
The apothecary's resident grump, Aufidius Reid, isn't exactly thrilled by the arrangement.
In person, the two clash constantly.
Through anonymous letters exchanged as fellow Institute hopefuls, however, they're slowly falling in love.
As the future of the apothecary hangs in the balance and anti-magic sentiment continues to grow, Josie and Reid must fight for their dreams, their livelihoods, and perhaps even each other.
My Thoughts
One of the reasons I picked up this audiobook was actually the narrator, Samara Naeymi.
I previously listened to What She Saw by Mary Burton, and she absolutely kept me hooked until the very end. So when I saw she was narrating this one too, I was immediately interested.
Then I read the blurb.
Grumpy x sunshine? ✔️
Anonymous letters? ✔️
Magic? ✔️
Apothecary? ✔️
Needless to say, I was sold.
And thankfully, this ended up being exactly the kind of cozy fantasy I was hoping for.
At the heart of the story are Josie and Reid, two characters who are both struggling to find their place in the world, albeit for very different reasons.
Josie was probably the character I connected with the most. She desperately wants to learn magic, improve her skills, and prove herself worthy of opportunities that society seems determined to deny her. As a woman living in a world where those doors are often closed before she even gets the chance to knock, her frustration felt completely understandable.
Did she occasionally complain enough that I wanted to gently tell her to take a breath? Maybe 😅
But I never stopped rooting for her.
Reid's struggles were different, but no less compelling.
While Josie battles societal expectations and misogyny, Reid struggles with his own sense of belonging. Despite his talent, he constantly feels like an outsider looking in when it comes to the academic world he desperately wants to be part of. I appreciated that both characters had insecurities and obstacles to overcome, which made them feel relatable and well-rounded.
Of course, one of my favorite parts of the book was the apothecary itself.
I loved the day-to-day aspects of running the shop: helping customers, creating remedies, organizing inventory, and uncovering the mysteries surrounding its future. The apothecary felt like a living, breathing place, and I found myself enjoying those quieter moments just as much as the larger plot developments.
The romance was equally charming.
The contrast between Josie and Reid's interactions in person and through their anonymous letters was absolutely adorable. Watching them bicker face-to-face while unknowingly opening up to each other on paper made for a very satisfying slow-burn romance.
And honestly? The letters might have been my favorite part of the entire book.
The audiobook narration also deserves special mention. Samara Naeymi once again delivered a fantastic performance and made it incredibly easy to get lost in the story. I genuinely think the narration elevated the experience and helped smooth over some of the slower sections.
Speaking of which, my only real complaint is that there were occasional moments where the pacing dragged a little and certain scenes felt longer than necessary.
But even then, I remained fully invested in the story, the characters, and the world.
Final Thoughts
Letters from the Last Apothecary is a charming debut filled with cozy magic, lovable characters, a delightful romance, and one of the most inviting fantasy settings I've encountered in a while.
If you enjoy magical shops, epistolary romances, grumpy x sunshine dynamics, and stories that feel like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day, this is absolutely worth checking out.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Tressport and will definitely be picking up the next book in the series.
ALC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Audio for providing the ALC. All opinions are my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment