If you told me a YA book could feature a friends to enemies to lovers romance, I am not sure I would believe that. It seems like a lot to fit into a short life. And yet, that's exactly what Julie Abe did in writing The Charmed List. And she added magic, too!

Ellie and Jack grew up as best friends until Jack started ignoring her in middle school. Now it's the summer before their senior year, and she has created an Anti-Wallflower List, determined to not be invisible anymore. But it all goes wrong, and she ends up on a road trip with Jack.

This book was truly charming. I did not want to put it down. It's told entirely from Ellie's perspective, and I regularly wished for insight into what Jack was thinking, too. I found it fascinating how she saw herself and related to her feelings of being a wallflower.

Some of my favorite aspects were how magic worked in the story world. The distinction is between those who are magic aware and those who are not. And magic could only be used for small charms, rather than bigger, life changing events. That felt like a powerful metaphor that made me quite thoughtful about what can be fixed.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

This is my first Julie Abe book, and I must admit, I was utterly charmed.

The magic system in the book was wonderful, and I was immediately interested in learning more about it. There weren’t people wielding magic all over the place, but rather the magic-aware charmed items to makes people’s lives a little better. Learning about each charmed object was a treat, and as a steadfast contemporary reader, I enjoyed the way the magic was simmering in the background while allowing the friendship/romantic plots to take center stage.

There were multiple friendships explored in this book, too. Central to the story was the broken friendship between Jack and Ellie. It was fantastic flashing back to their early years. Those were some warm and fuzzy memories until they weren’t. Though I feel like the break may have been one-sided, I was overjoyed to see them mend that bridge, and also become aware of some stronger feelings they harbored for each other.

Abe also focused on the relationship between Lia and Ellie. I always enjoy seeing a strong female friendship in the spotlight, and this was a good one with a lot of history. Lia was not magic aware, and things took a bit of a wrong turn when she learned of Ellie’s sorcery background. My heart ached for Ellie as she stressed over Lia’s silence and separation. Her love for Lia ran deep, and I was rooting for them to work things out.

Another standout element of the story was the Anti-Wallflower List. It was list of thirteen things Ellie was challenging herself to complete during the road trip (and, WHOO HOO, road trip!). These were things she greatly desired to accomplish, but was too shy or scared to attempt. It was great the way Ellie pushed her boundaries to complete some of these challenges, and it was also really sweet the way Beckett, on his own accord, sought to help Ellie with the list. One item was completed in such spectacular fashion that it moved me to happy tears.

The Charmed List was a story of family, friendship, and love with magical touches that delighted me.

The Charmed List is such a cute premise, and I love the blend of magic with the conventions of a contemporary YA romance. Unfortunately, I found the writing fairly pedestrian and the characters frustrating (I don't mind miscommunication as a plot driver when it makes sense, but it felt both overused and somewhat illogical in this). Still, a sweet, fluffy read that I hope others will enjoy more.

Thank you Wednesday Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of The Charmed List by Julie Abe. This YA book will be published July 5, 2022.

Ellie and Jack were once best friends then his mom died and he pulled away and ignored her. Now, years later, the two are finishing their junior year of high school. After a prank leads to Jack revealing magic to Ellie’s non-magic aware best friend, the two are punished. They will have to carpool down the California coast to a magical convention. Neither is really looking forward to spending so much time together, but proximity may be exactly what they need.

I feel the only fitting word for this book is charming, absolutely charming. I loved the magical world Abe created. Ellie and Jack’s story is so cute and magical. While there is an obvious romance plot line, the book is also about forgiveness, growing up, and family. The story moved at a brisk pace and was full of fun, flirting, and humor. This would be a delightful summer beach read as it’s light and fun. While it is classified as young adult the story is sweet and adorable, and I would feel comfortable including it in my middle school classroom library.

I very much enjoyed the premise of this book. The writing style just wasn't for me, and the dialogue left me wanting a bit more. However, the feelings that the settings evoked were unmatched. It transported me to the warm breezy boardwalk, and the cool summer nights of being a teenager.

After a spell gone awry, Ellie is forced on a road trip with her nemesis, Jack. Along the way, there is lots of magic and quite possibly an end to a years long rivalry.

This was the perfect start to summer! What’s better than a road trip with two best friends turned enemies turned friends turned to lovers…. (?)! Filled with magic and fun, The Charmed List was a delightful read! The magic system was presented in a digestible way that was super refreshing.

The pacing of this book was spot on and I never felt bored. The characters, even Jack who we’re not supposed to like at first, are so lovable right away. You can’t help but root for not only the romantic relationships, but also the siblings and friendships too. I think my favorite part was that even though the characters are 16 they are so mature with their relationships. Miscommunications happen, sure, but they resolve them in a realistic way. Additionally, I liked that in a conflict scene, they never immediately solved a problem. They would work through it and usually come to a stopping point where they would return to later to finish. Even in the third act conflict, it wasn’t immediately resolved like nothing had ever happened.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the eARC!

CW: cancer, death of parent, bullying, toxic friendship, abandonment, racism

2⭐️

I didn't really like this book... It was giving 4th grader reading a romance book but they want magic in it? like post Harry Potter... it was also set in cities that I know and streets that I have been on... overall don't recommend as YA more of a kid read??

I loved Julie Abe’s middle grade and was so excited to read this one, and I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s gonna be my new go to author when I need a pick me up. This book was so sweet and magical and immersive, I wish I could live in this little world she’s created because I definitely didn’t want to leave it when the book was done. There were some instances with a liiiiittle bit of over description but from a YA debut, that’s hardly dealbreaker or even hugely noteworthy.

So yeah, this was dare I say charming, and super sweet!

If I could walk into the world of The Charmed List and stay there forever, I would.

I loved this cozy fantasy for its interesting world building, the way it balanced a traditionally contemporary story with magical elements, and the friends to enemies to lovers romance at its heart.

This book is the perfect summer vibes road-trip book! It’s perfect for fans of friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, and anywhere in between! It does a great job at mixing romance and familial relationships while also being about a girl’s journey to let herself out of her shell.
The writing was a little cheesy at times, but the ending was so well written and a lot of the romantic quotes had me swooning!

This was a little cheesy and read like it was for the younger side of YA. I liked the magic elements and the characters and it was a nice quick read.

The Charmed List certainly charmed me! Julie Abe’s YA urban fantasy was a quick, easy, fun, and enjoyable romp. Although I was not fully invested in the relationship between the characters (simply because I felt like the backstory dynamic is overused. the plot is fresh so i’m sad that this part was cliché) I was invested in the characters themself. I also had tad bit of a problem with the whole urban fantasy plotline. I was no doubt entertaining but I was confused at times. Still, I throughly enjoyed The Charmed List!

*4 stars

I really enjoyed this book!

The Charmed List follows Ellie who ends up going on a road trip with her childhood friend turned worst enemy after a prank gone wrong. And that was it, I. Was. Hooked. If the childhood-friends-to-lovers/enemies-to-lovers vibes don’t real you in—did anyone mention that there’s magic? Not your black hat and rabbit magic, oh no. I’m talking spells and charms, curses and potions. And I was here for it.

This was really a unique, sweet YA story. It had a great romance, playing up both tropes (or is that one trope on it’s own???). And let me just say, it was enemies-to-lovers done RIGHT. They legit hated each other! YES! (You know you’re a reader if this makes you happy 😊) I loved Ellie and Jack’s back and forth, no matter what stage they were in.

The Charmed List also had wonderful characters: the Kobatas, the Yasudas, Ellie, Jack, Lia, Remy, Cam, and everyone else who just popped up. Julie Abe writes great characters and I loved how they were unique without feeling *quirky*. Also, maybe I’m wrong, but I felt like there was possibility for both Remy and Lia to have their own books???? Let’s make it happen people!

Now about the magic system. Was it perfect? No probably not. But did I love it?? You bet I did! Not that I have much knowledge or anything to compare it to, (What can I say--I’m a contemporary girl) but the magic system was just fun and unique. It was more a feelings-based magic—drink this tea and you’ll be happy; use this journal and you’ll have courage. But then there’s also healing creams? You can make the roof of a cottage disappear? Patch a tire with a packet of I-don’t-know-what? There wasn’t really any limits other than magic is rare, you can’t do just anything just like that, and of course, you can’t really do anything super serious like bring someone back from the dead. So while I loved the magical element of this book, I know there will be some people who need rules to the magic system that were sort of lacking. (But it’s so fun—I mean come on! There’s a magical Amazon called, wait for it…Magizon!)

The Charmed List was a very sweet, unique story of romance, friendship, self-discovery, and of course, magic! I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a summer contemporary with a different kind of charm.

3.5 rounded up.

This is a super sweet light contemporary fantasy romcom. It's truly friends-to-enemies-to-lovers. It hits a lot of the loved tropes (one bed, road trip) but feels honest and the characters aren't afraid to have real conversations - there's not really a miscommunication trope (YAY). It's pretty light hearted but there are several grieving characters for some deeper moments.

The magic system is so fun and wonderful, but I wish it had been a little more in depth, but I love the concept of how magic exists and how the magic-knowing have integrated their world and modern society.

I would say it's a less high-stakes and non-Queer version of These Witches Won't Burn.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, I enjoyed this one! I did think it was a bit too slow paced for my liking, though. I haven't read a ton of road trip romances, so it's difficult to say if that's a common theme for them. It was cute, though, and I loved the magic. Just missed a bit of that oomph.

Still a nice, soft read, if that makes sense? Probably a Greta summer read!

I loved EVERYTHING about this book! The characters, the world that they exist in and all the little magical throw-ins along the way!

This book did a nice job of blending a contemporary world with a bit of fantasy/magic. It reminded me of the Disney TV show, Wizards of Waverly Place because the family has to hind the fact that they use magic and they own a local business. I am a huge sucker for bucket lists in books, and Ellie’s charmed list was really cute and a great way for her to breakout of her shell. I liked the dynamic that Ellie had with her family and best friend. Her relationship with her former best friend Jack was fun to see progress back into their friendship. However, the romance aspect was unexpected and I felt that Ellie and Jack made more sense being friends. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys secret magic society’s and tension between main characters.

the charmed list is a sweet and adorable summer romance. it’s actually filled with more adventure than i initially thought— ellie’s daring goal to complete her bucket list, no matter the circumstances. jack and ellie, as childhood friends/strangers/lovers, have hidden and intimate feelings for each other as more time goes on. lots of fun and popular romcom tropes for readers!
ellie and jack’s story revolves around magic and unfortunately, i felt that part wasn’t too memorable for me. otherwise i enjoyed this!

thanks to st. martin’s press and netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Cute cute cute!

Some of my favorite types of YA identity exploration is when the Mc sets out on a mission and ends up getting more than they bargained for. In this case, Ellie and Jack, the romantic leads whom are woven into the friends-to-lovers/one bed trope, take off on a road trip while Ellie is housing so many secrets from everyone. Though her secret is of the magical variety, I feel like the premise is relatable—wanting to come out of one’s shell while avoiding judgment for the thing that sets one apart from others.

This was a light fun read and an absolutely sparkledusted story. Loved it!

Julie Abe mixes magic, sweet romance and the will to come into our own in such an engaging way in The Charmed List. A delightful read that makes you want to visit a magical village and revisit the time where young love was freshly budding and new.