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.

I really enjoyed reading Bargains with Benefit. It gave me just the cute, cosy vibe I needed. The chemistry between Luna and Vincent (and his wind) is super, I was waiting from the beginning for them to get closer with every page!

I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a romantic, cutesy fairy fantasy. For me, this book will definitely be a reread!

4/5 ⭐️
1/5 🌶️

Cozy fae romantasy with low stakes mystery

This is a cozy fantasy read with is set in what feels like a small town setting, filled with humans, fae and half fae. Our story follows Luna a half fae bartender trying to save her local inn, and Vincent a fae who writes the towns recommendation column. They meet by chance and decide to strike a bargain to achieve their own goals but their goals become entwined along the way.

There were so many fun and sweet aspects/ tropes in this book, which include found family, low stakes mystery, naughty elemental powers, and grumpy/sunshine.

Highly recommend for anyone looking for their next cozy low stakes read!

Unfortunately I really couldn't get into this book like i did the Compass Points series. The pacing felt off to me and I felt there was a lot of information that was presented several times in different ways. I will however say that I loved the world building. I love that this author makes such a beautiful world for us to get lost in.

This was a super fun read.
I loved the atmosphere and the characters! It had cozy elements and subtle magic. With a nice little romance to tie everything together, this is was definitely enjoyable.
My only thing was; the spicy scenes felt a little out place. Everything was so cute and cozy that I was taken a little aback by the spice. I feel that closed door scenes would've fit the vibe better. Probably took it down about a half star for me.
I did still really enjoy this and I'll be recommending it to others.

⭐️ Rating: 3.5/5
📚 Genre: Cozy Romantasy (Fantasy + Romance)

💬 Quirky Vibe Check: Like sipping moonlit tea in a charming inn—cozy, enchanting, but missing just a dash of enchantment ✨

Thoughts:
This one has that warm “opposites attract” glow, and I genuinely enjoyed Luna’s defiant sparkle and Vincent’s brooding charm. Their banter felt like a gentle dance—gradually turning anticipatory tension into something sweeter. The magically locked room and fae politics added texture, but I craved deeper emotional stakes; it felt a bit like dipping a toe in enchanted waters instead of diving in. The pacing glided along nicely—think more honey butter muffins than a full-flavored feast. Delightful, but not unforgettable.

💖 Why You’ll Love It:
✨ A cozy fae bargain set against a charming inn backdrop
✨ Flavorful world‑building blending warmth, magic, and a hint of mystery
✨ Slow‑burn chemistry with gentle digs and tentative trust
✨ Themes of belonging, family, and embracing one’s half‑fated identity

📦 Tropes:
🌙 Faerie Bargain
🏰 Struggling Inn Restoration
💞 Opposites Attract
🧩 Hidden‑Magic & Family Secrets

☕ Final Thoughts:
Bargains with Benefits is like a soft loam beneath ancient oaks—comforting, quietly magical, and rooted in gentle charm. A snug read that’ll leave you with a satisfied sigh and a wish for more moonlit whispers 🌙📖

A cute little fantasy romance. Some adorable characters and a cute little world. Easy to follow and an enjoyable read. A slow burn ending in some mild spice. I really enjoyed that the characters, rather than being deceiving or hiding stuff, just actually communicated. It was a nice change of pace for a fae romance.

This was a cute, cozy read with a bit of spice. I read this without knowing it was related to another series, but, that didn't impact my reading much. I may not have had as much understanding of the world and fae as readers who read Compass Points, yet I couldn't help but root for the characters. There were just enough hints and tidbits of information seemingly related back to Compass Points to make me curious about the series without overwhelming me with information out of context.

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS:
Luna is a half-fae who is finally getting the chance to run her estranged fae father's inn. It hasn't had a visitor in months and he intends to sell it, but if she is able to fill all the rooms by Long Night, he'll change his mind. Vincent is part of an old fae family and is the writer of a successful recommendations column for the Bayside Times, but he's longing for a feature story. Vincent's boss asks him to investigate a tip that they received, and if he writes the story, it'll finally get him onto the path of serious journalism. When Luna and Vincent meet by chance at the Parkview Tavern, they strike up a bargain to help them both reach their goals: Vincent will feature the inn on his recommendations column, and Luna will get Vincent into her estranged father's home to investigate the truth about the tip Vincent was told about her father.

Okay first of all, how CUTE is the series name "Fae by the Bay"?! This was a very cute and cozy read! I wasn't really "hooked" on the story, but an enjoyable read. The side characters were so supportive and likeable, and Vincent's wind was a fun "side character"! The romance seemed lacking to me (rushed maybe?) and the spicy scenes involving the wind weren't really my thing lol. But the political theme involving the exclusivity of the rich was well written and the ending made me happy!

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC which was published earlier this month on 6/3!

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: cozy fantasy, cozy fantasy romance
Tropes: allies to lovers, slow burn, fae bargains, dual POV
Trigger warning: death of a parent, absent parent