How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days

Name: How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days
Brand: Hachette Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Jessie Sylva
ISBN: 9781668655290

Author: Jessie Sylva

Narrator: Maggie Bain

Unabridged: 9 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 01/20/2026

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Cozy, Romance, Humorous Fiction

Synopsis

From debut author Jessie Sylva comes the cozy tale of a halfling and a goblin who must learn to love each other despite their differences. How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is brimming with warmth and popular romance tropes—perfect for fans of The Honey Witch and The Spellshop.

★ “Cozy, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

What if cottagecore and goblincore fell in love?

When a halfling, Pansy, and a goblin, Ren, each think they've inherited the same cottage, they make a bargain: they'll live in the house together and whoever is driven out first forfeits their ownership.

Amidst forced proximity and cultural misunderstandings, the two begin to fall in love.

But when the cottage—and their communities—are threatened by a common enemy, the duo must learn to trust each other, and convince goblins and halflings to band together to oust a tall intruder.

“A wonderful and charming treasure of a book that will warm your heart!” ―Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

“An adorable story that will fulfill your cottagecore dreams.” ―M. Stevenson, author of Behooved

“Cozy fantasy lovers will tuck into this lovely story and want to savor every last morsel.” ―J. Penner, author of A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic

Featured tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Grumpy sunshine
Opposites attract
There’s only one bed

Reviews

Goodreads review by Krystal on January 20, 2026

3.5 stars 🌱🌻🌱🌻 Expected cuteness meets unexpected substance. 🍎🍏🍎🍏 The first time I saw this cover it was a tiny thumbnail sized blip that had my brow furrowed wondering what it was. Upon enlarging it I couldn't help but laugh at the title remembering the film How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. It brought to......more

Goodreads review by Laura❄️📚 on December 02, 2025

Thank you to the publisher Little Brown Book Group UK for providing this book for review purposes via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This book read like a love letter to the world of Middle Earth/The Hobbit with a dash of the magic from How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and a generous sprinkle of gr......more

Goodreads review by Taylor on November 16, 2025

A blend of The Lord of the Rings and Stardew Valley, with a dash of rivals to lovers, this book is a delightful cozy fantasy treat. Pansy Underburrow, a halfling from the quaint village of Haverow, has always felt like an outsider, valuing adventure and curiosity over tradition and conformity. When s......more

Goodreads review by Tereza on January 17, 2026

Oh, this book was so sweet. I always enjoy cozy, warm fantasy stories where the stakes aren’t too high and you can gently flow through the narrative. These days, I even prefer them to romantasies. This story follows Pansy and Ren, two unlikely friends who develop a gentle love and understanding desp......more

Goodreads review by Rishali on December 23, 2025

(3.5 stars rounded up) How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a sweet, cozy fantasy that leans fully into low stakes and gentle vibes. The story is very simple, and like other cozy fantasy books, there is not a lot of plot heavy action going on. Still, it was engaging enough to keep me invested, especi......more

Quotes

"Opposites attract when a halfling and a goblin vie for ownership of a forest cottage in Sylva’s utterly enchanting romantasy debut. Underneath the comforting focus on food, home, and fulfillment, Sylva layers in deeper, more complex themes of tradition, obligation, and duty. Pansy wants to challenge how her community perceives her, while Ren, willing to sacrifice almost everything for their clan, must learn to grasp happiness for themself. The result is cozy, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying."—Publishers Weekly (Starred review)

"An adorable delight! This wonderful and charming treasure of a book will warm your heart!" —Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

“How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is an adorable story that will fulfill your cottagecore dreams—and also carries a poignant message about acceptance, belonging, and community. This sweet, cozy tale is the perfect escape for anyone seeking comfort, warmth, and a dash of magic.”
—M. Stevenson, author of Behooved

"Imagine a honey sweet enemies-to-lovers story set in a high fantasy world of hobbits, goblins and wizards. How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is a charming tale that weaves delicious food descriptions, a burgeoning queer romance and cute animal sidekicks with the too often ignored wisdom that embracing differences makes for richer lives. Cozy fantasy lovers will tuck into this lovely story and want to savor every last morsel." —J. Penner, author of A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic

"How to Lose a Goblin in Ten Days is the cozy, cottagecore fantasy romance of my dreams. It's full of endearing characters and swoonworthy moments where opposites find common ground, acceptance, and love against all odds. Cozy fantasy lovers will adore this charming story."—Jenna Wolfhart, author of Forged by Magic

"How To Lose A Goblin In Ten Days redefines “coziness” in the most romantic and charming manner. Jessie Sylva settles readers into a soothingly familiar world before gently and thoughtfully upending all expectations of it. An utterly lovely and unforgettable book – comforting as freshly-baked shortbread or the softest of moss– that I already want to read again!"
—Sylvie Cathrall, author of A Letter to the Luminous Deep