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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Confinement
Minor: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Mental illness, Racism, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Grief
Mention of orphanages, s slur, heart attack.bringmybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
<<<<<<<<< cozy fantasy
(that's it. that's the tweet)
(that's it. that's the tweet)
✨ 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 ✨ B̷O̷R̷R̷O̷W̷ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
(JK - I, of course, have more to say)
Okay, so last year the sub-genre "Cozy Fantasy" starts getting thrown around a whole lot, and I'm intrigued. I then discover that some of my favorite series as a kid fall into this category, and I'm even more intrigued. I then read Legends & Lattes and I'm HERE. FOR. IT.
So on a whim I buy the hardcover UK edition of L&L and while on the site I snag this adorable UK hardcover of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches as well. And I debate waiting until October to read it, but then I don't, which I'm glad for because HELLO THIS WAS DELIGHTFUL.
Okay, but seriously. This book was pure magic. The relationships, the magical system, the plot, the characters, the romance, the ending, just ... all of it. I was hooked pretty much immediately and once Mika Moon (also, the name? I mean? are you kidding me?) gets to Nowhere House I didn't want to put this book down until I finished!
(The absolute. only. thing. that gave me pause was the amount of cussing in it. Well, not necessarily the cussing because I don't really care about that, but more so that there were a number of times that it seemed like the three young children would have been in the room with the cussing just flying around and that wasn't my fav)
That aside - I genuinely LOVED this book and I cannot WAIT for the next book to come from Sangu Mandanna!
(according to her IG, it's A WITCH’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING and it's coming in April 2024!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
Minor: Murder, Homophobia, Death, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
microbemom's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Adorable!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Xenophobia
Minor: Death, Child abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Bullying
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.75
A warm hug in book form. This story is healing, this story is tender, and this story is beautiful—an invitation to take a chance on love, even if it opens you up to the potential for heartbreak. It highlights the importance of relationship, and of kindness. I loved every second of it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Bullying
Minor: Grief
ashleycmms's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death of parent, Death, Grief, and Child abuse
dolancf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
I love this story so much!!! It has everything I love about RomComs all in one place
+ an adorable older gay couple who acted as the perfect grandpas
+ a stern older woman who raised Mika in isolation for her own good (it’s a long story)
+ a grumpy librarian; I love Jamie’s wounded heart of gold
+ a kind and loving motherly housekeeper
+ MAGIC!!! 🌟 💫
++++ not just any dog … A GOLDEN RETRIEVER!!!
+ an adorable older gay couple who acted as the perfect grandpas
+ a stern older woman who raised Mika in isolation for her own good (it’s a long story)
+ a grumpy librarian; I love Jamie’s wounded heart of gold
+ a kind and loving motherly housekeeper
+ MAGIC!!! 🌟 💫
++++ not just any dog … A GOLDEN RETRIEVER!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
mamawantsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Homophobia
msennflinn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death
wilybooklover's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
This book is simply delightful. A lonely witch finds love and acceptance when she agrees to tutor three children in all things witchcraft.
I absolutely loved this story. Mika uses her sunshine-y nature as a mask to keep the world – and her loneliness – at bay. Jamie, the librarian she falls in love with, similarly uses grumpiness as his mask. Ultimately, though, this was a story about found family. As the book progresses Mika becomes intertwined with this quirky, endearing family and it was so wonderful to see her walls come down and accept all of these wonderful people into her heart. I’m not always a fan of children in books, but I really enjoyed their inclusion in this story. They were maybe a little precociously funny but they had some lovely moments of connection with Mika. The whimsical way that the witchcraft was written was the cherry on top and really fit the vibe of the story.
Just a beautifully written cosy and romantic story that made me smile as I read it. I really needed something uplifting when I picked this up and it fit the bill perfectly. This is one for the comfort re-read pile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Child abuse, Racism, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
I personally want to exclaim how freaking good this audio is!!!!!!
To be in honest, I did not give this much thought in the beginning. My love of witchy woo things and seeing readers on insta rave about this title peeked my interest. So I placed a hold on it at my library and forgot about it. Now, I am so happy past me did this as I'm on my second round of listening to it. Now I'm kinda bummed missing out on Fairyloot's special edition of this book and hope to get a copy in the future.
I adore Mina Moon's character along with the entire cast. Later discovering it contains "found family" made my heart swell and love TVSSOIW even more🥰 mixed with a bit of romance was the frosting on top of this magical cake
To be in honest, I did not give this much thought in the beginning. My love of witchy woo things and seeing readers on insta rave about this title peeked my interest. So I placed a hold on it at my library and forgot about it. Now, I am so happy past me did this as I'm on my second round of listening to it. Now I'm kinda bummed missing out on Fairyloot's special edition of this book and hope to get a copy in the future.
I adore Mina Moon's character along with the entire cast. Later discovering it contains "found family" made my heart swell and love TVSSOIW even more🥰 mixed with a bit of romance was the frosting on top of this magical cake
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Emotional abuse