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thehobbitbarbie's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
4.0
This book has been on my fall TBR since it published, and it absolutely delivered on the promise of a cozy fall read! This is such a feel-good book with a lovely English setting and a charming cast of characters. At times, it does suffer from having too many characters, but each of them is so lovely and feels so fully realized that it's hard to stay mad about it.
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here!
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months.
My biggest complaint is that this book, like so many new adult romance novels, makes great use of tropes, but still seems embarrassed by them. When I pick up a romance novel like this, I expect and want to see tropes. When a book points out how ridiculous its tropes are, it completely rips me out of the world and makes me feel like I'm being ridiculed for enjoying it. Romance novelists, it's okay to be a little corny! That's why we're here!
Soap box aside, this is a fantastic cozy fantasy that will give you all the warm fuzzies to carry you from fall into the cold, dark winter months.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Abandonment, and Alcohol
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: Sexual content, Alcohol, Cursing, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Abandonment, 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: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Cursing, Confinement, Outing, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Violence
pixelpigeon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. I loved it so much. Such a sweet story about found family. Some very good twists towards the end! Some I saw coming, but others I definitely did not expect.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Confinement
Minor: Alcohol, Body horror, and Death of parent
clarabooksit's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.25
I couldn’t put down this sweet story of a lonely young witch bonding with a houseful of strays that have made a home in each other.
This gem of a feel-good story was a very happy surprise, for me. I just loved it.
It’s not perfect, but it’s a cozy, engaging and diverse read with a likable lead, cute kids, found family and a soft enemies-to-lovers romance. I fell hard for the way Mandanna wove loneliness and whimsy together in her writing and I’m really looking forward to the sequel coming out this year.
This gem of a feel-good story was a very happy surprise, for me. I just loved it.
It’s not perfect, but it’s a cozy, engaging and diverse read with a likable lead, cute kids, found family and a soft enemies-to-lovers romance. I fell hard for the way Mandanna wove loneliness and whimsy together in her writing and I’m really looking forward to the sequel coming out this year.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Xenophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
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: Abandonment and Grief
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Physical abuse
britwalsh16's review against another edition
emotional
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
I’m only giving it 4 & a half stars because there are a couple things I wish they had figured out. Like I was seriously hoping they would somehow break the curse that orphaned young witches in the end! Like come on!!! But honestly, besides that, I absolutely LOOOVED this book! It was a great book, especially for the month of October & all my witchy wants!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
Moderate: Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcohol and Cursing
elledanie's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Cursing, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, and Sexual content
rayreyes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.5
Good natured, grounded characters. Loved having nonwhite witches to fall in love with. Story flowed well and moved along steadily, which I loved. The characters were lovely and warmly, self possessedly addressed conflict. It felt honest and easy and the ending wasn’t rushed. I’d recommend suspending hypotheses and trying to guess thibgs just to enjoy the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Confinement, Death, Child abuse, and Cursing
librarymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book so much! It was such a fast and addictive read, and each and every character is so very easy to love!
The way in which the author navigates difficult social issues, and integrates addressing them into the story itself is gorgeous. She fits the necessity of self-representation and seeing oneself in one's mentors/seeing someone who looks like you thriving in a life you'd like to live when you grow up into the narrative in a way in which it is recognizable, but also slots neatly into the narrative like the rest of the lessons taught to the characters. The evolution of Mika and Jamie's relationship, the history of Ian and Ken's and the nuance given to all of the characters in the book make them all so round and lovable! Knowing this to be fantasy, and having read one too many fantasy novels with a prevalent male gaze, I was really pleasantly surprised with how the characters' traumas were explored, addressed, and healed. I should have known better than to expect the worst, but I was so pleasantly surprised that Mika's traumatic experience at University was not a sexual assault. I also really appreciated how the characters spoke to one another. Miscommunication tropes are some of my least favorite, but the way in which Mandanna explores what in Mika's past could cause her to misunderstand her being deserving of love and the idea that she is loved added so much depth to the story.
I might need to come back to edit this review later. I don't know that I can currently explain all the feelings I'm having about this book, other than to say that I waited two days to read the last chapter, after reading the rest of the book in one day because I was bereft at the thought of leaving this world and these people behind.
I might need to come back to edit this review later. I don't know that I can currently explain all the feelings I'm having about this book, other than to say that I waited two days to read the last chapter, after reading the rest of the book in one day because I was bereft at the thought of leaving this world and these people behind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Homophobia, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse