Sweet and charming read. Really enjoyed reading this one and looking forward to more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for giving me the chance to read this book.

The cover and synopsis immediately caught my attention, and I couldn’t wait to read it.

I absolutely loved this book. The story, the setting, the characters — everything felt magical.

On one side, we have Luna, a half-fae with a difficult relationship with her father, determined to do whatever it takes to keep Cliff House, a place that means a lot to her.
On the other, there’s Vincent, a fae from an important old fae family. He writes recommendation pieces for a newspaper — about places, items, and so on — but he’s far from satisfied with that work and hopes to cover more meaningful topics in future.
By chance, the two meet and end up making a deal that could be mutually beneficial. What they don’t expect are the consequences that come with spending so much time together.

The setting is simply charming. The cobbled streets, the buildings, the little shops and taverns — everything feels warm and intimate, with just a hint of mystery. It has that cozy, familiar vibe that makes you feel at home. I almost felt like I had visited these places before.

I adored the characters. Both are well-developed, with strong personalities and clear goals. No whining, no unnecessary drama — just mature, reasonable, sensible people. It was lovely to see how, little by little, they learned to understand each other, and genuinely care. Even in moments of difficulty, they used their heads (which doesn’t happen often in books!) and handled things beautifully.

I also really enjoyed the magical element in the story — the powers given to the characters and the way magic shaped the world around them. I think it was integrated perfectly into the story, making sense within the plot and staying consistent throughout.

If you enjoy light fantasy with a sprinkle of romance and mature-minded protagonists, this book is definitely the book for you.

I loved this book. The characters both had some growth as individuals. The romance developed nicely, and the MC's were likable for the most part. This was a cozy fantasy, not overly suspensful, with a nice drop of humor. A good story for those who want an easy and low stress read. I'll need to look at the authors backlist and I'll be keeping an eye out for the next in the series. *I received this story from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

3.5 ⭐️

Cute cosy fantasy! I usually prefer books to have higher stakes so that’s to be taken into account with this review. I had a good time reading this but could feel myself drift off a good bit. The book was written well, the characters were well written but I didn’t over connect to any. It is on the slower paced side. The vibes were fun as was the mystery

Utterly adorable cosy fantasy romance with some lovely worldbuilding. I really enjoyed Luna's journey to self-acceptance, and the power of female friendship. Vincent's magic is adorable, too!

This was so so cute, and I enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book, I will definitely be following along with this author.

This book continues to explore the unique world introduced in Compass Points, with its interesting take on magic tied to the cardinal directions. I liked seeing more of this setting and the way the characters balance their personal goals alongside their relationships. Luna and Vincent had a good dynamic, and their story felt comfortable and familiar.

That said, the pacing felt a bit rushed at times, and some parts of the plot didn’t get as much attention as I would have liked. The focus is clearly on the romance, which works for the tone of the book, but it left me wanting a bit more depth or development in other areas.

Overall, it’s a light, easy read with a pleasant mix of magic and romance!

I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance in this story. What begins as a simple arrangement—Luna needing help attracting customers to her inn and Vincent seeking information about her mysterious father for his article—gradually blossoms into a heartfelt connection.

The unique element of sentient wind powers added an intriguing layer, bringing the characters closer and revealing more about Luna’s hidden abilities.

The book also weaves in a bit of spice, family drama, and secrets waiting to be uncovered, making for a well-rounded and engaging read.

3.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for sending me an e-arc!

Bargains with Benefits follows half-fae Luna Pierce, who’s desperate to save her family’s inn before her estranged father sells it. Her only hope is to strike a bargain with Vincent Andiveron, an arrogant journalist whose investigation could make or break them both. What starts as a simple deal quickly unravels into secrets, fae politics, and an unexpected romance.

This was a cute, low-stakes romantasy with a cozy atmosphere, engaging plot, fun characters, and just the right amount of steam (2/5 🌶️).

The worldbuilding was enjoyable but could’ve used a bit more depth, and while the plot was predictable at times, it was still a delightful read.

If you like fae bargains, opposites attract, and warm, magical romances, this book is for you!

reading this book was like drinking a warm cup of tea by the fireplace. i loved escaping reality with this world. this was a heartwarming story full of cozy charm, hidden magic and sweet stolen glances.
i will absolutely be picking up the second book in the series.


huge thanks to NetGalley for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy fantasy romance in a small town with lush nature? Sign me up!

✨Worldbuilding
I'll start with what I think it's done well. The world is very detailed, well thought out and charming. I didn't read the previous series set in the same universe, so for me the amount of worldbuilding felt like a bit overwhelming at the beginning. I would have liked to discover it though the story and plot.

✨ Tropes and vibes
- all the cozy feels
- a charming seaside inn that gives *all* the cottagecore vibes
- a wonderful recurring theme that a person is not their family or their background
- lots of unfortunate miscommunication
- slow burn romance with sweet and respectful protagonists
- sweet scenes where they stand up for each other in front of their respective families

✨ The couple
Both Luna and Vincent are sweet personalities but they felt a little one-dimensional to me. The curious thing is that they both are presented as warm and sympathetic to everyone... except each other. IMO the miscommunication trope is quite unfortunate and did not make the story better.

The progress of the romance felt jagged, made up of a series of scenes in which they manage to be sweet to each other but also by the end of it they go back to a bad assumption about the other. The story felt a little too long because of that too.

✨ The fun thing
The MMC's magic saves the pacing and the romance. It's a golden retriever of a magic ability and the thing I found most different and enjoyable about this book. Does it participate in the spice too? You bet!

It's presented as somewhat part of Vincent and somewhat not, but it's my favorite character because it has take more chances, has more opinions, blunders a bit too but in a way that makes it endearing.

Overall, it's a sweet low-stakes story and I think we have some hints of what the couple in the next book is going to be.

I will admit that I requested this book and didn't really know much about it but it turned out to be the cozy fantasy romance I never knew I needed in my life.

I really enjoyed this book. I think I'd just come out of reading a really intense book and this just felt like such a cozy, easy read!

Luna and Vincent were such great main characters. They both have their issues which cause some mishaps but I enjoyed watching them grow and their relationship change.

I really liked the world building in this and the hotel by the sea (I want to go stay by the way!). It really gave me Gilmore Girls vibes.

The characters are great, the story is enjoyable and I am so glad I picked this up!

Thank you to Netgally, the author and Victory Editing for the arc. This is my own honest review of the book.

This was such a cute and cozy read. Bargains with Benefits gave me soft fae magic, flirty banter, and the kind of romance that makes you want to curl up with a blanket and just vibe. Luna is trying to save her family’s inn, and Vincent needs a story to get his career back on track. So obviously, they make a deal and things get complicated. Emotionally. Romantically. Magically.

I really liked Luna. She is determined, a little stubborn, and just wants to prove she can do things her way. Vincent is a sweetheart with wind magic that has more personality than some book boyfriends. Seriously. The wind has opinions and I loved every second of it.

It is refreshingly low stakes for a fantastical premise. That honestly made it feel like such a comfort read. There is a little family tension and a touch of angst, but nothing overwhelming. Just a really enjoyable story with magical charm and a romance that builds at a nice pace.

I had fun with book one and can’t wait to see what’s next in Fae by the Bay series.

Tropes and vibes
🏡 Fae magic meets small inn charm
💼 Bargain turned romance
🌬️ Magic with a mind of its own
💘 Opposites attract
📚 Light spice and good vibes

I loved this book. Possibly my new favorite. It was good. I was entertained and I absolutely loved the characters. Great job to the author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

a super cute, low stakes, very cozy fantasy that brings together humans, faes, and other magical people together in an area where high fae currently control the world.

luna has been taught to fear the high fae, particularly her father, who she is estranged from. but once her mother has passed she's given multiple opportunities to get to know other high faes who might just help to change her mind.

i would definitely recommend this one. it's a great book if you, like me, are kind of missing fall right now. it's such a perfect cozy cool read for the summer.

read this if you like:
▫️strong fmc
▫️enemies-to-lovers (ish)
▫️found family
▫️second chance family
▫️playful magic

I absolutely adored every word of this book. I think the magic system is very unique and layered but no so complex that you have to study it to understand. This is something I really appreciated because while really advanced systems can be fun to read I feel like this just allowed me to enjoy the book in a different way. I also love the banter this text!! I fee like sometimes banter can really be repetitive or feel reused. However, the interactions between characters felt new and refreshing while somehow also feeling familiar in a homey way. I can not say enough about how absolutely adorable this was !!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jillian Witt for giving me the opportunity to ARC read Bargains With Benefits in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the pinnacle of cosy romantasy! with low stakes, loveable characters, set in an interesting fae world.

I loved that it was told from Dual POV, I adored the slow-burn romance in this! What began as a simple bargain, Luna helping Vincent with his article, and him bringing business to her inn, soon blossomed into a tender connection full of heart. The sentient wind was such a lovely touch, nudging them closer as Luna’s hidden powers quietly unfurled. With a dash of spice, family secrets, and a whisper of magic, this was a charming and whimsical read from start to finish. 💫

The writing itself was fast paced and easy to follow, it gave all the feels for a cosy, fun, feel-good read. 😍

Tropes Included are;
🧚‍♂️Fae Bargains
💖Cosy Fantasy
💕Forced Proximity
💞Opposites Attract

THE ENDING!! Can't wait to see what's next.

Taking place in the same world as Jillian Witt's Compass Points novels, we get the story of Luna, a half-fae who is trying to rescue her father's inn after he threatens to sell it, and Vincent, a reporter for the local paper who has been pigeonholed into writing reviews, but hopes for a big juicy investigative story. Luna and Vincent cross paths as Luna's father, Darius, has been rumored to be stopping payments to the local government, forcing the shutdown of a magic school that welcomes all - not just high fae. Luna hopes to get Vincent to write a review of her inn, while Vincent wants to gain access to Luna's father.

This was a lot of fun - it's a lower stakes novel, but I wouldn't necessarily classify it as cozy. I've previously enjoyed Jillian Witt's other novels around the Compass Points, so it was fun to pick this up in the same universe. That being said, I think it could absolutely be read as a standalone without having the backing of the rest of the series. This is a sweet love story with some great development for Luna, supported by some great side characters. It does delve into parental trauma for both of our main characters, so be wary if that is something concerning, but I think it's absolutely worth the leap.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the advanced copy.

Thanks to Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC!

I am 50-50 on this book. On one hand, I really liked it and enjoyed the characters. This a great book for someone looking for a cozy and cute fantasy novel. However on the other hand, the pace felt off. Maybe because I'm older than the characters so I expect more. But the pace was on the slow side for me.

Luna has a dream. She wants to run the inn that she and her mother visited when she was a child. Even though it is owned by her fae father, she never imaged that she (only half fae) would get the opportunity to do so in fae society. But, the new Compass Points (another series) have made some changes that may give her just the boost she needs. The problem is....no one has visited the inn for a very long time. There is some bad magic keeping people away. So, what better to do than to get her smarty pants friends to help her crack the bad magic code and the local recommendations writer to write a piece on the inn to attract more visitors. Unfortunately, she didn't make the best impression when she threw a drink in his face at the bar. Now she has to suck up her pride and ask for help. Then he makes her a bargain that she can't refuse.

This is cute. I did like this much better than the Compass Points series. You do not have to read that series first to enjoy this one. It is completely different. I'm just not sure I like this author. The Compass Points books were trying to be romantasy and were just so....blah. This is more enjoyable because it wasn't trying too hard. But, it was predictable and kind of slow. I don't think I will read anything else by this author.