This adult version of H.P. and the Goblet of Fire is funny, sexy, and totally relevant! With more diverse characters, more adult themes, and wittier dialog you won't even miss that other wizard's storybook. Seriously, clear your calendar because you won't want to put this down.

Can't wait for the next one!

This was another witchy sapphic book that fell a little short for me!

Overall, the book was fine and had moments that were sweet but not enough to rank higher with my rating. I wish there was more magic in the book, it really felt like it took a backseat to the other action going on.

I liked the John Tucker Must Die trope, but perhaps it could be updated to fit the more adult characters?

If you are looking for a cute witchy sapphic rom-com, you will want to check this one out. I just wasn't for me!

Thank you Netgalley for an arc. Here is my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book, but sadly I was disappointed. Paybacks a witch was just a boring book. The characters felt very one dimensional; there was nothing complex about them. The pacing felt slow as well and I just struggled to finish this book.

Payback's a Witch is the book I was hoping for or at least expecting when the crop of witchy contemporary rom-coms was announced. (I reviewed The Ex Hex and Witch Please previously.) It's fun and witchy, with more world-building and more use of magic and a bit of danger. The sapphic romance at the heart of the book is also more compelling than the romances in the other two, so that's a big plus.

Emmy returns home to fulfill her witchy duty in a once-in-a-generation magical contest between the founding families of Thistle Grove. She's been avoiding town for years for a few reasons, but the primary one is the man who broke her heart, Gareth. Gareth is such a piece of garbage that he doesn't even recognize Emmy when they run into each other at a bar her first night back. Talia is the scion/heir of another family in town--necromancers--and she's the sexy gothy witch I wanted her to be.

If a Hallmark movie was sexy, full  of chemistry and actual magic and had a generations-old witchcraft competition instead of a baking contest, this would be it. There's focus on family, on coming home, on remembering why the small town life is not as bad as the protagonist remembered.

There is, however, too much of Gareth. Turns out Talia and half the other women their age were also mistreated by Gareth and it turns into a pact to take him--and his wealthy butthead family--down.

At least we got two bi women leads! In my experience, bi women find each other and I always like when fiction reflects that.

In all, this is was a fun read and I recommend it, but there are some minor plot holes and Too Much Man.

Lana Harper’s PAYBACK’S A WITCH (Berkley, 352 pp., paper, $16) is the sexy Sapphic modern Gothic I didn’t know I needed. It’s a return-to-your-hometown story with a witchy twist, starring a bisexual heroine, Emmy, who’s done her level best to leave her ex and her Midwestern magical heritage behind. But family obligations have called her back to be the arbiter for this year’s all-important magic competition, where her best friend, Linden, and a dangerously sexy ghost-befriending witch named Talia have also been hurt by Emmy’s ex — and want to make him suffer for it.

What makes this a Gothic as well as a paranormal is its sense of gorgeous unreality. Gothics have something luxurious or decadent about them. And “Payback’s a Witch” is filled with sublime turns of phrase: the way the moon shines down “like a magician’s trick,” or a new crush offering “forbidden pleasure, the kind that kept crossroads demons in the business of buying souls.” Yet the book is also fresh, sharp and often frankly hilarious. I stayed up with this one past midnight on a storm-tossed night, drunk on the words and the unalloyed joy at the ending.

In short, a perfect winter read, highly recommended for one of the longest nights of the year.

This queer witchy romance is a great option for your spooky season reading needs. I loved the mood and spooky (but not creepy/scary) vibes of this book, and the romance was very sweet. Parts of the book felt a little juvenile (despite the characters all being adults), and the whole magic competition aspect of the plot gave me weird Triwizard Tournament vibes (which was odd because, again, adults). But if you just overlook some of the illogical aspects of the worldbuilding and just ~go with it~, the book is a quick fun escape.

This book is cozy, relatable, and heartwarming. The town of Thistle Grove sounds like absolute heaven and I desperately wish it was a real place that I could visit. The magical parts of the novel were delightful and the gauntlet had a TriWizard Tournament kind of feel. The relationships between the women, both platonic and romantic, were portrayed so authentically, and I found myself often identifying with Emmy. I mean, who hasn't wanted to team up with some badass women to knock their toxic ex down a peg or two? Overall, this was a truly great read that would make a perfect holiday gift for the witchy friend in your life!

This was far too long. I made it about 80% of the way in and gave up on it. Perhaps I will pick it up again at a later date but it just dragged for me and I had a hard time getting through.

Revenge, friendship, and witchcraft oh my. Emmy Harlow is back home after five years to be the Arbiter of the Gauntlet. At breakfast with her best friend Linden, she finds out that Gareth had been dating her (but don’t tell anyone) but then seeing Talia on the side. And this after pulling the same thing on Emmy, giving rise to her wanting to leave. The Blackmoores, Gareth’s family, have won the Gauntlet every time, except that one time when they set themselves and another on fire. Talia and Linden have come up with a plan to keep Gareth from winning, but they need Emmy’s help. As arbiter, Emmy isn’t supposed to be involved, but she really wants Gareth to squirm, even if they don’t beat him. Emmy and Talia have a connection that they want to explore, but Emmy isn’t planning on staying but she’s also not sure she wants to leave again. As Emmy is falling in love and remembering what’s wonderful about the town, she’s torn because she loves her job outside of the town. Snark abounds in this great book, with inside jokes and friendship. It’s a fun read.

this was a really cute, seasonal read!! lots of fun rom-com vibes but its GAY so its BETTER!!

it definitely isn't an all time favorite now, nor will I likely reread it; but I enjoyed my time reading it nonetheless.

This was queer, cozy, romantic, slightly creep perfection, and I loved it. Payback's a Witch is one of those perfect Halloween season books that readers are going to want to come back to again and again, right alongside their yearly Hocus Pocus viewing.

I really just wanted more from this one, and it fell so flat. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed Emmy as a character and the family secrets that she uncovers throughout the games she heads up in Thistle Grove, but the whole Gareth Blackmore storyline just wasn’t for me.

I received an advanced copy of Payback’s a Witch through Netgalley so I could share my review with you!

Ancient magical families run the town of Thistle Grove, just as they have done since the town’s first days. Emmy Harlow, the heir to one of the families, has been avoiding this legacy for quite some time. But, against her best efforts, she is called back into Thistle Grove for a traditional spellcasting competition that she is expected to moderate. Once there, she is forced to confront past hurts and future romances alike, all while balancing the weight of her family’s expectations.

You can get your copy of Payback’s a Witch now from Berkley!

When I saw that Payback’s a Witch was a sapphic romance with witchy roots, I knew that it was going to be on my must-read list for the year! It was a nice, quick read for me, perfect for reading while traveling for the holidays. My favorite part of this story was the elements of magical competition. The family histories and relationships were woven beautifully into the story, adding a layer of intrigue to every interaction. I do wish that the romance would’ve had a little bit more time to develop emotional stakes, but overall I enjoyed the story!

My Recommendation-
If you aren’t quite over Halloween yet, Payback’s a Witch should be your next read! This book has the best spooky vibes, mixed with a to-die-for-sapphic romance. If you love Sabrina the Witch or Hocus Pocus, you’ll want to pick up a copy of Payback’s a Witch!

This books was a lot of fun!

A sapphic triwizard tournament meets John Tucker Must Die! We love to see it!!

I gave this a 3.5 ☆ rating because it was fun but very light. I wish there could have been a bigget sense of danger or urgency in the story; something to make my heart pound.

I also felt at times like the main character was just battling with the same problems over and over and that they got resolved way too easily for the amount of discussion there was on the matter.

All in all, the characters were lovable and the premise was fun! And I'll never say no to another sapphic read!

This is a weird one. I loved the premise for this, loved the setup and the characters had interesting, diverse voices, all of which were entertaining to read. The issue for me was that this is labeled a romance, which it is, but god there is so much pining for a man from YEARS ago that I immediately rolled my eyes at our character. She is still obsessed with a high school boy despite being in her 20s, and I found that to be not only annoying to read about but also wanted to shake this woman. I did love the setting and general witchy themes though, so I wish the author would have leaned more into that. This book also has weird pacing in that it reads a lot more like a YA novel than a contemporary romance, aside from the swearing and language choices. This is a hodgepodge book I can't fully express my feelings on, but it was okay, especially if you like witchy romance.

A contemporary romance with a witchy twist. Good read for lovers of magical stories and simply easy romance stories.

So this was supposed to be my halloween read but here I am finishing it a month later. I was initially interested in the "John Tucker Must Die" vibes, but this book took me a long time to get through. I was not really invested in the characters or their romance. Though the characters were developed well, I just wasn't that interested in them. Emmy's personal arc and the ending were quite predictable.

I thought the romance wasn't as developed as it could have been. The characters didn't seem like they were in love, more like in lust. Their conflict near the end didn't seem like it would actually last that long, even though the protagonist made it seem dramatic.

That being said, I did like the plot idea, and the atmosphere of the novel. The novel had a lot of world building that really helped to develop the story.

3.5/5

So much about this was right up my alley but I struggled to get into it. Loved some of the pop-culture references and the descriptions of the different families. The romance was decent but not the main storyline so it was a lot of making eyes at each other kind of thing.

3.5 stars

Easily the best of this fall’s witchy rom-com slate. I super liked the magical tournament aspect. I had a couple quibbles/questions about the worldbuilding but overall appreciated that it wasn’t hollow — it wasn’t surface-level, which is all I ask for. Re: the romance itself… hmm. I liked both MCs but felt something was lacking. Maybe it was the single POV? Too much focus on Asshole Gareth? I don’t know. But I definitely think this is worth a read and I’ll try the second installment in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Really 3. 5 stars. I really enjoyed the premise of having the gauntlet/tournament and having the various magical challenges. Maybe it's my failing, because I don't normally read romance, but I just didn't buy that Emmy's romance with Gareth would have meant she completely derailed her life and abandoned her family. Or that the parents of an only child would actually leave her alone if she ran away. I also didn't really buy the romance between Talia and Emmy, and I though the ending was too saccharine, and I was particularly irked that Emmy thought it would be ethical to recommend her company exclusively use Talia's family business. All that being said, I like the atmosphere of Thistle Grove, and the concept of how the magic worked there.