Day’s YA: MY UNFAMILIAR

MY UNFAMILIAR by Mara Rutherford
9781250359902
12/1/2026 
Wednesday Books 
Ages 13-18 

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

MY UNFAMILIAR is a fluffy, pink cream puff of a cozy fantasy novel with a gentle message of self-kindness as its sweet filling. As comforting as hot tea on a rainy afternoon, it’s perfect for anyone with cottagecore aspirations!

Bastian, a promising but reserved young mage, is still reeling from a terrible loss when he lands on Winnie’s pink doorstep. After his owl familiar/best friend is murdered in a tragic hunting accident, Bastian reluctantly seeks out a replacement in time for the Royal Mage Competition. The competition is a boon for Bastian: it would establish his career with a lauded position in the palace, and it wouldn’t hurt to show up his classist nemesis by winning, either.

Enter Winnie: endlessly empathetic, frequently weepy, and a talented familiar matchmaker. Bastian is all-business in the face of Winnie’s charming menagerie, and they get off on the wrong foot (hoof?). This is all the more unfortunate when it turns out that Winnie is Bastian’s new familiar, and the two accidentally bond with a single touch. Human familiars are all but illegal, which makes this a misfortune that threatens both of their livelihoods and reputations. With the perilous Royal Mage Competition just around the corner and familial pressures mounting, this grumpy-sunshine pair must work together to win the competition and break the bond…provided they still want to part ways after their souls intertwine.

This sour-first-impression-to-lovers story turns toothachingly sweet. Nothing sweeps me away faster than mutually requited pining, so I especially enjoyed the dual-POV as Bastian and Winnie’s bond develops. The closer they grow, the more delicious, well-intentioned miscommunications arise. After all, what is there to misunderstand when telepathy is on the table? 

Winnie’s struggles to reconcile her confidence in her talent with external doubts about her aspirations are relatable. I appreciated the tension between the themes of self-love and selflessness, and the grace with which Winnie navigates them. 

Likewise, Bastian’s archivist approach to every interaction with Winnie will feel familiar (no pun intended) to anyone who’s experienced the unique pangs of a crush—before realizing it was a crush. A considerate darling, Bastain proves his suitability as a supportive partner through girl dinner delicacies and care for Winnie’s animals, who are a major highlight. 

The animals don’t speak, but they’re often as intuitive as Disney’s woodland creatures. The novel is dusted with fairytale tropes turned gently on their heads, and has a sprinkle of political intrigue for seasoning, but my favorite part was watching love and magic become nearly indistinguishable.

Mara Rutherford is a perfect author for fans of Sarah Beth Durst, UNTIL THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT, and Miss Abbott and the Doctor.

Happy reading!
<3 Jadyn

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