A review by wardenred
Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Because that’s what it means to be a Harlow, my Emmy. Thistle Grove is where we become who we are. Which means that no matter where you turn, where you visit or escape to, this will always be the place that calls you back.

Stories about characters going back to the hometowns they’ve left behind under suitably dramatic circumstances are my jam. It’s one of those tropes that immediately spikes my interest. And when it’s also enmeshed with witchiness and a big magical competition? Plus women bonding over a revenge against a shitty shared ex? Can’t pass that by.

Funnily enough, the magical competition turned out to be the part of the story that I most wanted to skim. It wasn’t bad exactly, there were some fun moments, but the magic often felt over-the-top and kind of cartoonish (while outside of the competition scenes there was a really cool witchy vibe). Ultimately, it felt like a plot device to lure Emmy back to Thistle Grove and not a central plotline. The revenge subplot also fell flat to me: the horrible ex just seemed so insignificant and uninteresting as a person. I could barely figure out how he managed to charm those three awesome female characters in the first place. I guess with Emmy it made sense because she was a teen back then, but with Linden and Talia? Come on, they should have known they deserved better.

Everything else about the book, though, I absolutely dig. The homecoming trope was done so right. I adored Emmy and Talia’s romance, how they sort of circled each other in smaller and smaller circles, the kiss in the haunted woods, the sushi date, the tattoo talk—everything. These two had such awesome chemistry! And then there were all the other relationships, like Emmy and Linden’s friendship, and how they addressed the issues between them and reaffirmed their bond throughout the book. And also Emmy’s reconnection with her family, especially her Mom—there was a scene in the latter half of the novel that made me tear up a little because of all the love and acceptance.

I also really enjoyed that while Emmy did miss a lot of things about her hometown and the magic permeating it, she was also quite happy with the life she’d built for herself in Chicago and her job there. It made the choice she had to make so much more meaningful. And while I’m listing off all the positives, I may as well mention all the awesome descriptions: a masterclass in engaging all the senses, truly, and such a great, grounding sense of place throughout.

I don’t re-read books often (there are just so many of them! And only 24 hours in every day, how is that fair???), but I might make an exception and pick this one again around Halloween sometime. It’s made for that spooky season.
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