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lunep's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This was a very welcome softer read. It had the found family, the magic, life passions/ambitions, the kids were cute, and let's not forget the swoony words!
I don't know if I would change the rating if I reread it but since it's the first in a series I will continue when more books are released, there's a chance.
I don't know if I would change the rating if I reread it but since it's the first in a series I will continue when more books are released, there's a chance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
lectricefeministe's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Abandonment
glitterdeww's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A very sweet and cozy story! This had lovely characters, charming magic, and with anything British, so... MUCH... TEA. This book is predominantly about the vibes and the comfort. There are stakes laid out for plot, but at no point did I feel truly worried or unsure of what was going to happen.
Also, and without looking up any press that may have covered this with the author... Mandanna 100% wrote Ian McKellen as one of these characters, right? 🤣
Also, and without looking up any press that may have covered this with the author... Mandanna 100% wrote Ian McKellen as one of these characters, right? 🤣
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, and Racial slurs
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A delightful cross between House In the Cerulean Sea and Pride and Prejudice. A light read that was rather predictable, but that didn't make it any less enjoyable. I loved every character and the cottage/witch-core scenery was aimed at a very particular audience. And I am that audience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Homophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was like a warm hug. Each personality was so distinct but worked with the others so well to create a beautifully diverse family in more ways than one.
I loved Mika and the way she was able to work through her trauma and even help Primrose with hers. Mika was able to create space for everyone around her including the three young witches who needed it most. The slow burn between Jamie and Mika was really sweet and showcased the grumpy x sunshine trope well.
Overall, I came to love each of the characters and the way they fit into the family. Was it a tad predictable? Sure. But was it heartwarming and fun? Absolutely.
I loved Mika and the way she was able to work through her trauma and even help Primrose with hers. Mika was able to create space for everyone around her including the three young witches who needed it most. The slow burn between Jamie and Mika was really sweet and showcased the grumpy x sunshine trope well.
Overall, I came to love each of the characters and the way they fit into the family. Was it a tad predictable? Sure. But was it heartwarming and fun? Absolutely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse and Death
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
karen_lo's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Great book if you want to read something super cozy, super relaxing and cute. This is a feel-good book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Cursing, Homophobia, and Racism
lauren_shilling's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was such a good time to read! I adored all of the characters so much, and I just had so much fun falling in love with this found family! These characters complimented each other so well, and all of their relationships to one another were so wonderful to read about. To break down each of the characters, I really liked the three little girls in this book. Rosetta was the one I connected to the most, because as much as I did love Terracotta, I found her to be a bit frustrating at times, and her development felt a bit rushed to me. I loved what I saw from Altamira, but I felt like it wasn't enough, and I didn't really grasp her character. Ian and Ken were incredible in every way, both as individuals and together. Ian made me smile or laugh every time he spoke, and Ken was just such a kind and wonderful person to hear about. They were also just incredibly cute together, and their relationship will stick with me for a while. If I don't have a love like theirs when I'm that old, then marriage wouldn't have been worth it. Lucie was also a great character, but one I needed more from to really understand as well. I feel like her backstory, which I would have loved to know more about, was glossed over a bit too much for my personal taste. Mika was certainly a favorite, not just in this particular story but overall! I really appreciated everything about her character, even though I was worried in the beginning she might end up being a bit over the top for me. She is such a well rounded character, and I loved every second of what I got from her. I think the main disappointment for me character-wise was actually Jamie, which is such a shame because I do really really like him!! I think, though, that in the end, I really wanted the story to peel back his layers, and it didn't really do that to the extent that I wanted it to. He seems like such a complex character, and I really liked him, but I feel like it didn't really go anywhere, at least not to the extent that I would have wanted. As a result of this, his romance with Mika felt a bit underdeveloped as well, which was a bit disappointing. This is one of the few stories where I would say I honestly wish it was longer! Usually when I complain about length it's to say it was too long, but this book definitely could have benefitted from some more character building scenes. I feel like sometimes we jumped from one plot point to the next in ways that did not feel entirely natural, and a lot of that is because I felt like I was missing something. I think what I was missing was more pages dedicated to in depth character building for Jamie, Lucy, Terracotta, and Altamira. The ending also felt like it wrapped up a bit too neatly a bit too quickly, but I was glad to suspend my disbelief in order to accept the quick fixes that seemed to present themselves. I think my favorite part of this novel (besides the amazingly written found family) was the setting and the magic! The setting was amazing and crafted a perfect cozy atmosphere, and the magic in this book was perfectly done, in my opinion. I loved the way the characters talked about magic and what they love about it and how it impacts their lives in both good and bad ways. I love how Mika loves and cherishes her magic and how passionate she is about it as well. I really do love all of the descriptions of it, and I would honestly reread this book for those parts alone, even if it weren't for the other things I loved about the story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
margaret_k30's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, and Alcohol