Book Review: How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days

Quick Overview

Title: How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days

Author/Publisher: Jessie Sylva / Orbit

Date Published: January 2026

Summary: Pansy, a Halfling, and Ren, a Goblin, are forced to share a cottage and hope to drive the other out. Things don’t go to plan when they start to fall in love.

Tags: Fantasy, Romance, Queer, LGBTQ, Nonbinary, Goblin, Halfling, Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Cottagecore, Gardening, Baking, Overcoming Prejudice, low action

Pages: 331

This delightful Cottagecore book is a fantasy romance as Pansy, Halfling, and Ren, Goblin, overcome their differences and become closer while forced to share a cottage. How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is Jessie Sylva’s debut novel. It was published in January 2026 by Orbit.

The Summary

Pansy, Halfling, and Ren, Goblin, thought they were from two different worlds. When they each think they’ve inherited the same cottage, they come up with a bargain to find the cottage’s true owner. While living together, whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership. They will overcome cultural misunderstandings and a common dangerous enemy as they grow closer and begin to fall in love.

Warning! Slight Spoilers Below

The Evaluation

Other than taking place in a cottage, this book nails the cottagecore vibe. The cottage is filled with a homey atmosphere as Ren decorates their home with moss and mushrooms and Pansy bakes delicious sounding food in the kitchen. As Ren and Pansy are forced to live together, they confront their unconscious biases for the other race. Their relationship development is similar to enemies to lovers. Both thinking the other’s race is worse, only to realize they are bring influence by prejudice. The theme of How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is facing and overcoming cultural prejudice. As the couple works through those feelings, they start to fall in love. Their cottage begins to show this in the interior decorations of both cultures mixing

Spice Rating:

Two out of five Spice Peppers

What I like

I really enjoyed this book. It is a cozy read with low action that relaxes the reader and transports them to a comfy fantasy world with magic. As it is a low action book, many plot elements deal with gardening and baking until near the end. Pansy’s and Ren’s love story was so sweet. I enjoyed their story as they began to appreciate the other and realize they don’t want to drive the other out of the cottage.

I was impressed with Sylva’s world building. She developed a realistic culture for each race that makes her story more deep. She even added excerpts at the beginning of every paragraph that adds to the story, world building, and culture in wonderful ways. The rich world building in How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days made the story even more appealing.

‘“Look-alike, look-alike, / Do you think you guessed it right? / Sure, that mushroom does look tasty, / Better not to be too hasty! / Is it red-on-white or white-on-red? / Made a mistake, and now oops--/ you’re dead!

“Mushroom Mistake”, A Goblin Nursery Rhyme”’

The cover art is fantastic. It features the cottage door surrounding by heart shape leaves and flowers with mushrooms and other objects. The design is very pretty and matches the book’s aesthetic. It was designed by Raahat Kaduji and Sophie Ellis.

What Didn’t Work for Me

The betrayal near the end caused drama that felt a bit forced. I don’t understand why one character felt the need to keep a secret or why the other assumed the worst when the couple had gotten so close. This is a small note though as the story is quite charming.

The Rating

The Bookworm Snack rates How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days five out of five stars.

How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a cozy, cottagecore fantasy book about a Halfling and Goblin overcoming their cultural misunderstandings and falling in love. There is rich world building, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a positive message to overcome biases. There is a minor forced drama, but that isn’t a rule breaker for me. The Bookworm Snacks rates How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days five out of five stars. I recommend reading and rereading this book!

What is your favorite cottagecore book?

How Rating Works

Spice:

1 Chili Pepper --Kisses and Hugs (PG)

2 Chili Pepper --Intimate touching and intent. Fades to black (PG-17)

3 Chili Pepper -- At least one graphic sexual scene (vanilla sex for love)

4 Chili Pepper --Multiple graphic sexual scenes. (Friends with Benefits)

5 Chili Pepper -- Detailed graphic sexual scenes that consistent throughout story. (Erotic books level)

Stars

1 Star --I couldn’t finish the book

2 Star --I read the book, but didn’t enjoy it

3 Star --Good book with solid writing (likely wasn’t for me)

4 Star --Great book (likely a one time read for me)

5 Star --Wonderful book that I will reread again (likely immediately!)