Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Spells for Lost Things

I wasn't expecting to be so blown away by this book but I'm so glad that's what happened! Spells for Lost Things really took me on the most emotional journey and I actually felt like I was walking in the shoes of both Willow and Mason (and some of the other fantastic characters introduced along the way).

While the story takes place in the summertime, I still found it to be the perfect read for October. It's set in Salem and has all the witchy goodness that I was craving during the Halloween season. It's contemporary, with magical elements that create an air of mystery and wonder.

Speaking of mystery, I was completely HOOKED on that aspect of the plot. There were so many pieces of the puzzle that needed to come together and I couldn't put the book down until I had figured everything out. While parts of it felt slightly predictable, for the most part, I was impressed by the answers to the questions the reader is asking themselves from the beginning.

These characters have phenomenal depth. Quite frankly, they felt a lot older to me than 15-16 years old. While it was very obviously a YA novel (parents planning dates, school discussions, and teenage angst), the way the heavier topics were handled was really mature (though still age-appropriate). As an adult reading YA, I often get annoyed by the characters and their childish behavior (while still realizing that it's totally normal for this age group), but I didn't feel that way with Spells for Lost Things. It was completely enjoyable despite being unable to "relate" to their particular issues.

As I just mentioned, there were some pretty challenging topics discussed in this book. Things like substance abuse, abandonment, grief, and other tough content were navigated throughout the story. I personally felt as though the author navigated them beautifully. It made my eyes well up in the best way and I really connected to the different characters, despite having never gone through any of the struggles they have.

I truly hope that Jenna decides to write more books like this because I am in love.

Content Warnings

map_to_neverland's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Book Review: Spells for Lost Things
Rating: 3.5 / 4

This book comes out tomorrow 🎉🎉

Book Details:
-Genre: YA romance
-Setting: Salem
-written by the author of the Love & Gelato series
-Publication Date: 9/27/22
-Features Salem witchiness, an exploration of family ties, and a really cool house

Seasonal Read
If you are looking for something seasonal to read, but you aren’t a huge scary/fantasy person, this could be a great option! Since it is set in Salem, it is very atmospheric and has a lot of elements that fit well into spooky season. There is magic, but it’s still predominantly a romance (think romance with magic elements rather than a fantasy romance).

Personal Connection
Personally, one of my favorite things was reading this after having been to Salem recently. There are so many mentions of various locations, and many of them I had been to just weeks ago. Throughout the book I was excitedly texting my friend who went to Salem with me about all the things mentioned in the book that we saw while there!

Family History / Timelines
One of the unique elements of this book is that it heavily focuses on family dynamics and family history. While the story is set in the present, there are ways the past is weaved in as well that I really enjoyed. It balances found families and gaining an understanding of your own family history in a meaningful way.

Overall
This book is a quick read and engaging. It feels magical in a cute way, but also deals with heavy topics. I love how it weaves in family history as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings

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