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wilybooklover's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
There was a bit too much family drama for my personal tastes, but this was ridiculously bonkers in the BEST way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content and Death
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
“The best revenge is making peace with a past you can’t change and figuring out how to make the future a happier place for yourself to live in. That’s how you come out on top.”
➽ Just Like Magic is a goofy, festive rom-com and I loved it!! The premise is a bit outrageous, but that's just right up my alley! The story follows Bettie Hughes, the granddaughter of a famous actress who is now broke and homeless and trying to hide her predicament from her family. Bettie's a great unlikable main character, as she's often very petty and out to get revenge on the people who made fun of her in any way. Yet there's also a vulnerability in her that she usually keeps hidden from her family. Plus, she can be pretty funny and creative in her plans of revenge, so I found her very entertaining! When she accidentally summons a holiday spirit called Hall, Bettie finally has the magical means to make all her dreams come true and she's fully planning to take advantage of her luck!
➽ I adored Hall and his relationship with Bettie!! The audiobook is fantastic because it really brings both of their personalities to life. While Bettie is jaded and gleefully planning her revenge, Hall is jolly, optimistic and has a huge heart! I loved him immediately, as he's naturally kind, a bit awkward and also shocked at Bettie's plans. Nevertheless, since she summoned him, he has to obey her wishes. Bettie is ready to show her family that she's not a failure and introduces Hall as her boyfriend. I loved how the fake dating played out here, especially as Bettie cannot help but be charmed by Hall's innocent charm and wonder for the world. There are so many hilarious situations and I had the best time listening to this book!
➽ Just Like Magic is a goofy, festive rom-com and I loved it!! The premise is a bit outrageous, but that's just right up my alley! The story follows Bettie Hughes, the granddaughter of a famous actress who is now broke and homeless and trying to hide her predicament from her family. Bettie's a great unlikable main character, as she's often very petty and out to get revenge on the people who made fun of her in any way. Yet there's also a vulnerability in her that she usually keeps hidden from her family. Plus, she can be pretty funny and creative in her plans of revenge, so I found her very entertaining! When she accidentally summons a holiday spirit called Hall, Bettie finally has the magical means to make all her dreams come true and she's fully planning to take advantage of her luck!
➽ I adored Hall and his relationship with Bettie!! The audiobook is fantastic because it really brings both of their personalities to life. While Bettie is jaded and gleefully planning her revenge, Hall is jolly, optimistic and has a huge heart! I loved him immediately, as he's naturally kind, a bit awkward and also shocked at Bettie's plans. Nevertheless, since she summoned him, he has to obey her wishes. Bettie is ready to show her family that she's not a failure and introduces Hall as her boyfriend. I loved how the fake dating played out here, especially as Bettie cannot help but be charmed by Hall's innocent charm and wonder for the world. There are so many hilarious situations and I had the best time listening to this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
sab_rose's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Blood, and Violence
theespressoedition's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is officially a new favorite holiday book. You can guarantee that I'll be reading it every single December from here on out.
Imagine a festive romcom where the very snobby influencer protagonist summons the "Holiday Spirit" by playing Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You backward. That Holiday Spirit happens to be a very, very handsome man whose personality is like Buddy the Elf and whose "restrictions" are like Frosty the Snowman. It's an absolute clusterfluff of hilarity and hijinks.
I truly haven't laughed this hard while reading a book... I don't know... ever? There were a few times that my laughter was so hard that I actually cried a little bit. Even though I thought "gosh, this book is so bad" when I first started reading (namely because I don't enjoy seeing snobby influencers as protagonists, since it gives a bad rep to influencers/content creators/bloggers as a whole), it turned out to be so wildly entertaining that I stopped caring if it was "good" or "bad" and really just enjoyed the story for what it was.
There's something to be said for romantic comedies that actually provide the comedy part and do it really well. I so rarely see this being the case and especially when it comes to festive books, it should be more of a thing. I don't want any more dramatic, sad, angsty holiday books. I want something that brings Christmas cheer - and Just Like Magic definitely did that.
I honestly can't wait to read this one again. If it's on your list, prioritize it. You can thank me later.
Imagine a festive romcom where the very snobby influencer protagonist summons the "Holiday Spirit" by playing Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You backward. That Holiday Spirit happens to be a very, very handsome man whose personality is like Buddy the Elf and whose "restrictions" are like Frosty the Snowman. It's an absolute clusterfluff of hilarity and hijinks.
I truly haven't laughed this hard while reading a book... I don't know... ever? There were a few times that my laughter was so hard that I actually cried a little bit. Even though I thought "gosh, this book is so bad" when I first started reading (namely because I don't enjoy seeing snobby influencers as protagonists, since it gives a bad rep to influencers/content creators/bloggers as a whole), it turned out to be so wildly entertaining that I stopped caring if it was "good" or "bad" and really just enjoyed the story for what it was.
There's something to be said for romantic comedies that actually provide the comedy part and do it really well. I so rarely see this being the case and especially when it comes to festive books, it should be more of a thing. I don't want any more dramatic, sad, angsty holiday books. I want something that brings Christmas cheer - and Just Like Magic definitely did that.
I honestly can't wait to read this one again. If it's on your list, prioritize it. You can thank me later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Sexual content
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