I admit it, sometimes, I decide to read a book based mostly on the title. This is one of those times. (Okay, I did read the description too, but the title is what won me over first and foremost.)

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days by Jessie Sylva tells the story of Pansy, a halfling who wants to be independent, to live life on her own terms. She finds an opportunity to do so when she inherits her late relative’s cottage in the woods, and so she sets off. Once there, however, she discovers that a goblin called Ren has taken up residence per goblin conventions regarding abandoned dwellings. The problem, though, is that goblins and halflings are opposed on many matters, and Pansy is furious. So she and Ren strike a deal: whoever’s driven out first forfeits their right to the cottage. But as time passes, and the two navigate cohabitation, their feelings start to change… to affection?

Ah, cozy fantasy. Sometimes you’re really delightful, and this was one of those times. Maybe it’s because of my lifelong desire to live in a hobbit hole, but I had a great time with this story.

Firstly, the setting is amazing, obviously. The main place is a halfling home in the woods, how can you not love that? It’s so homey and cute, full of food and tea and growing things. I can practically hear the Howard Shore score in my head, just thinking about it. And the other locations featured, like the halfling village and goblin caves, are also vivid and lively and distinct. I want to live here. To whom do I speak about living in this universe?

Secondly, I thought that Pansy and Ren were great together. Their initial antagonism isn’t bothersome (a contrast to how I’ve felt about similar dynamics in other books). These feelings are rooted in acquired prejudice, and clearly intended to serve as the foundation for character development as they are confronted with contrary evidence to their preconceived notions about each other. I love the idea of two people from such different cultures having to live together, and then of course learning new information and having new experiences. Appreciating another way of life is such a beautiful thing, and this book is a real celebration of that.

It’s also a sweet love story, though as usual, I thought the pacing was a little fast in that regard. The gradual getting to know each other and developing feelings was nice, but the speed at which they jumped to declaring their intense love seemed a little rushed for me. And in fact, some of the revelations they have/character development in general was pretty unsubtle. I didn’t need some of their changes of heart spelled out in their internal monologues, since they’re clearly demonstrated in their actions. However, they’re still cute together, and the development was natural-feeling enough, so I’m not actually mad.

This is definitely lighter on the fantasy elements than some books, being more focused on the characters and themes, but there are still some fun moments of magic. For example, there’s a wizard, otherworldly plants and fungi, and so on, which are delightful. Some of these things drive the plot forward too, in big and small ways. And the things we learn about goblin culture especially feels very fantastical.

And in the end, I don’t have much more to say at the moment except that How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a deeply charming tale. I loved the audiobook, narrated by Maggie Bain. The characters are fantastic, from protagonists to minor figures. The setting is rich and down-to-earth (literally), with magical elements that elevate it. And the themes of how to overcome prejudice, how to bring together disparate cultures, and how to get along with people with very different dispositions are really lovely. This is a wonderful, feel-good story, and a great debut novel.

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is available now!