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A review by theespressoedition
Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
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.
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
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Grief