Spells for Forgetting is a beautifully written book with a combination of crime, mystery and fantasy.

Many years ago a murder occurred on the island of Saoirse. Despite a lack of evidence, the citizens of the island were (and are still) convinced they accused the right person. But with no evidence to convict him, August and his mother fled the island and never returned. That is until August’s mother dies and her will asks him to bury her on the island.

Emery is beyond surprised to see August return. Her ex who was accused of murdering her best friend. She never believed it, not really, but seeing him is still too painful and complicated.

As more and more details are revealed and secrets uncovered, will the truth of that fatal night finally come to light?

This book is beautifully written, so very captivating and the perfect autumn read. I flew through it, at many times on the edge of my seat. The pacing of this book is slower than Adrienne Young’s YA books but absolutely perfect for her debut adult book. And wow does it pick up at the end!

I loved every second of this book and would highly recommend it! Especially during the autumn! The autumnal vibes are incredible.

I loved that book. It was a big MUST READ for me and so I was very thankful to get a copy provided by netgalley.

The beginning of the book was very slow, but I expected it. Like all AY books did before you slowly get into it but it has been written very clearly and well. I could feel the books magic , a haunted atmosphere and the story became more and more creepy. I couldnt put it down and finished it in just one night!

I loved the characters in the book so much. Its written from the main characters point of view and eveyone in this book was very well described , so strong, so magically. This is what I liked most in that story.

I can recommend it to all AY fans, fans of haunted and magical storys, autumn and halloween fans and it stays a clearly "Must Read" for me. I will give 5/5 stars for it!

An intriguing story with disturbing undertones. A teenage love is rekindled but at what cost? Totally enthralling.

This is my first book by Adrienne (Author) and I am certain it will not be my last. When I saw this book it was the cover that drew me in. I don't actually remember reading the synopsis at all. But then I started reading it and I will be honest, I thought, 'Oh no. It's another 'paranormal romance' I'm not going to like this'. I'm all about the honesty as you know if you read my reviews. But alas, I had to give the book a chance. So, I read one, then two chapters. All of a sudden I look at time time and realise I've been reading non stop for 4 hours! Yes, this book really reeled me in! I actually finished this in less than 24 hours of starting (But did have a sleep break in between). I enjoyed it that much!

It wasn't just the characters for me that kept me reading. I loved that although told mainly from August and Emery's points of view, there was also a lot of other 'Islanders' who had their own chapters and boy did they all have their secrets! This made the book that much more gripping. As the book progressed and the story of the island of Saoirse unvailed I don't think I could have stopped reading. You see, I did like Emery, I found her relatable. August was a typical 'book boyfriend' too to a degree. But it was the island and the magic, the history and the way Adrienne (Author) told it to me through her words. Now that's what I loved. This book wasn't just one or two things I liked, it was the total package. I didn't see the twisted ending coming and loved that final chapter in the kitchen - a very nice touch.

I don't often give 4 or even 5 star reviews but this book was VERY close to a 5! I'm giving it a solid 4.5 stars. It deserved all of those too. I will be checking out more of Adrienne's work too and dare I say, may even look at the paranormal genre again!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are spells for breaking and spells for mending. But there are no spells for forgetting.

Spells for Forgetting is told from the perspective of several inhabitants of the mysterious Saoirse Island, located along the north-western coast of Seattle, Washington.

The unexplainable death of Lilly Morgan and a devasting fire at the Salt Orchard on the same night 14 years ago are like wounds that refuse to heal for many islanders, particularly Emery Blackwood, the youngest of a long line of female herbologists who practice ‘The Old Ways’ and August Salt, the heir to the Salt Orchard, who finds his inheritance more of a curse than an honour.

Emery and Austin, former high-school lovers, are reunited when Austin reluctantly returns to Saoirse to bury the ashes of his late mother, Eloise. Austin has not been back since he and Eloise fled to the mainland under the cover of darkness shortly after Lily’s death all those years ago. Whilst the powerful bond struck between Emery and Austin under a blood moon when they were 16 remains, it has left them both battered and bruised following 14 long years of absence.

Austin is seeking to tie up the loose ends of his mother's estate and be gone as soon as possible. Emery, however, is still yearning for answers; who killed Lily and why did Austin leave without her?

Saoirse is full of secrets; everyone has something to hide, and Emery is determined to discover the truth.

Spells for Forgetting is a strong crime thriller, with smatterings of magic.

The writing is so evocative, excellently capturing the mystical, dark, and stormy island of Saoirse – you can almost taste the salt and dirt in the air.

The characters are complex and fully realised, with each character's motives, desires, fears, and pain beautifully articulated. The pace was solid, with chapters of varying length urging you to keep reading as you steadily uncover more and more of the past.

Each chapter was told from a different perspective, mainly focusing on Emery and Austin, but also a handful of other islanders which helped with the pace and storytelling. If you, like me, enjoy stories that meet within the Venn diagram of crime thriller and magical realism then Spells for Forgetting is definitely for you.

Spells for forgetting is an eerie mystery, I was so intrigued the whole time reading that I didn't want to put it down. It's the perfect book if you are in a reading slump as it is short and action packed.

I would have like to have more of the ancient magic as the story is more about the mystery, until it isn't.

I think this is the sort of book you should go in knowing as little as possible, so my tag lines are Lost love, unsolved murder, mysterious island, small town community and magical realism.

Thanks to Net Galley for providing me with a review copy.

This was a VERY atmospheric read!

Following lost relationships with an element of mystery, this book is set in a small town where everyone is hiding something. I thought the writing was really great, and in particular I really liked the dual POV that this story is told in. Both our main characters are living their lives, but unhappy to some extent, and when their paths cross once again, hidden secrets come to light. This is definitely a more character-driven book, and doesn't focus much on a concrete plot that is held throughout. But for the current season, this is the perfect Autumn read!

I would recommend you read this if you want that cosy, small town feeling with a dash of mystery!

I enjoyed reading this book so much, it felt that I have lived in its pages.

The story is dark, mystical and intense. AYs writing is a phenomenon in my opinion. She always manages to create captivating and immersive stories and this one is not an exception.

The characters are strong, relatable and with depth that come alive while reading. The world building is another strong element as the atmosphere is so realistic and the descriptions are vivid.

Don’t know what else to say. I just fell in love with this read.

Spells for Forgetting
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 4.5 out of 5 stars


Emery Blackwood leads a life she promised herself to avoid— running a family tea shop on a remote Saoirse Island. Her dreams of running away with her boyfriend were crushed when their common friend Lily died in mysterious circumstances, and August Salt was accused of murder. Years after, August returns to the island to bury his mother. His appearance disturbs the quiet community, waking the old suspicions and the ancient magic of Saoirse Island...
Spells for Forgetting is an absorbing read. It’s a very atmospheric novel because of the setting on a remote, misty island, where no one locks their doors, everyone knows everything about everyone and hiding secrets seems impossible. It is also a place where the local tea shop offers tea leaf readings, and every old family keeps their Grimoire. The book is soaked in a mysterious atmosphere and intangible magic that is more often hinted at than presented. But magic is but a background for a crime plot in this novel. August’s return reminds Emery not only about her love but also about the unsolved mystery of Lily’s death. She is determined to finally find the truth...
I enjoyed this book. It’s beautiful storytelling combined with an exciting plot. I just wish there was more magic involved...

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My review:
https://abookishdaydream.wordpress.com/2022/10/01/spells-for-forgetting/

Emoji Summary:
🏝 Eerie island setting
🔮 Magic
♥️ Soulmates
🪦 Murder mystery
🧙‍♀️ Witchy vibes
🤫 Lots of secrets
🌪 Twists
💬 Multiple POV
⏰ Multiple timelines

This was such an interesting read! Adrienne Young tried something different and I think she did it very well. It's beautifully written and the world building creates an eerie and compelling setting and story.
Spells for Forgetting revolves around an island off of Seattle where Emery lives. Each fall season, tourists flock to the island, and this year that includes August, who is there to bury his mother's ashes. When mysteries of the past start to surface, the two must work together to solve the mystery that destroyed their island, and their friendship so long ago. Couldn't put it down!

I just reviewed Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young. #SpellsforForgetting #NetGalley

You say a second chance romance with full of mysteries and magic spells.

Honestly I thought it’s gonna be a five star read but i’m the end I change my mind. Don’t get me wrong I still loved it and I’d had a lot a fun reading it. And the the family drama always the best thing. What I didn’t like is the plot twist and the whole truth about the deaths. And I wish there were more magical elements with the spells. Emery was really naïve and it was so hard to love her when all she did was being childish and refused to hear and accept the truth. And I wished to see more development in August’s character, because all he wanted to the is run away and it didn’t change in the end of the book.
About Lily. I didn’t like the outcome of hour death or all the council conflicts we got.
Let’s say I loved the first half of the book but it slowly went down down and down.
However I loved the writing and I’m looking forward to read more books from
Adrienne.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

Headlines:
Atmospheric and lamenting
Mysterious
Nature's grumblings

This book blew me away with it's haunting vibes, mystery and return to historical events on the Island of Saorise. The whole story just bled atmosphere and gave a sinister chill as you read. Told in present and some past narrative (not overused), the lives of four high school graduates on this small island was brought into the now of over a decade later. Murder, fire and conspiracy were afoot in this tale and the incredible prose kept me devouring the pages.

At the centre of this book were Emery and August with their two best friends in their orbit. That was back then...now there were three. Saorise was a place that was a lore rather than law to itself. The island spoke through the land, the trees, the weather and wildlife and the residents listened.

Sometimes the signs were subtle, like a fleeting shadow or an echo in the trees. Other times, the island wasn't gentle with her words.

The mystery surrounding Lily, the orchard and August's departure and return were completely compelling but so was the young romance between August and Emery. I was so invested in how that would end, even though it was often in the background. There's so much to keep reader's invested in this story.

Adrienne Young's storytelling was quite beautiful. I highlighted a lot and her writing captivated my imagination. This is the perfect autumnal read but really I'd recommend it anytime.

We'd had no beginning, I realized. We just always were.

Thank you to Quercus Books for the review copy.

2.5 out of 5 stars rounded down to 2 because I don’t understand the glowing reviews.

This was a confusing read.
I was expecting something else entirely and what I got wasn’t what I wanted.
For something that claims to be adult mystery thriller and a romance it was definitely not any of those things.

It read like a YA kinda magical fiction? I don’t know I’m confused!
The adults are cult like, vengeful, entitled, naive and you can’t possibly like any of them. They’re all acting like teenagers with secrets all the time.
The romance? Nonexistent, it was all tell but not show and I didn’t see the appeal.
The mystery? Aside from the whole atmospheric setting, this was literally 200+ pages of unnecessary petty drama.
And the magic aspect of it all? It was literally non existent, some mentions of it and that’s all.
Are you kidding me?

I didn’t want to rate it any less because some parts are quite interesting and I liked the atmosphere but other than that nothing else really worked for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Quercus for the digital ARC.

This was a confusing read.
I was expecting something else entirely and what I got wasn’t what I wanted.
For something that claims to be adult mystery thriller and a romance it was definitely not any of those things.

It read like a YA kinda magical fiction? I don’t know I’m confused!
The adults are cult like, vengeful, entitled, naive and you can’t possibly like any of them. They’re all acting like teenagers with secrets all the time.
The romance? Nonexistent, it was all tell but not show and I didn’t see the appeal.
The mystery? Aside from the whole atmospheric setting, this was literally 200+ pages of unnecessary petty drama.
And the magic aspect of it all? It was literally non existent, some mentions of it and that’s all.
Are you kidding me?

I didn’t want to rate it any less because some parts are quite interesting and I liked the atmosphere but other than that nothing else really worked for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Quercus for the digital ARC.
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Compulsive and unputdownable, this book had a stranglehold on me, I mean it, until I finished this book, it was all I could think about.

With the eerie and foggy magical island, the very insular and eccentric residents, and generations of secrets this book was everything I wanted.

The flashbacks and different perspectives (including the island!! Love that) perfectly weaved together a tale of intrigue and suspense.

The prose was not only beautiful, but it easily transported me to the burnt down orchard.

And while I did end up solving most of the mystery about a third of the way through, which is the only thing keeping this book from being a five star, that didn't impact on the absolute blast of a time I had with this book.

If you like Practical Magic, Salt to the Sea, or The Wicked Deep, than this is the book for you!

Now off I go to buy myself a copy.

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Quercus for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from page one. It’s subtle, emotional and atmospheric story with a sprinkle of magic. The mystery is intriguing and the characters relatable. Highly recommend!

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Spells for Forgetting is predictably unpredictable; I liked that you can tell in broad strokes what will happen, but the magic is in the details.

This is the first book I've read by Young, though Fable has been on my TBR for ages. Her writing is thoughtful and pays attention to the sensory details that help to place you on this island, making it feel like you've lived there your entire life.

There are some profoundly unlikeable characters, evil and rotten to the core. But there are also heartbreakingly endearing ones. I only wish that Albertine was much more present throughout the narrative.

I love that the island's magic is its own character, always present and ready to make itself known. Accepted as omnipresent by these residents, respected and feared. But it was done with such a light touch, the last pages leaving a haunting effect that I loved book-wise but struggled to overcome as I finished Spells for Forgetting alone at 1 am, desperately needing sleep.

I always say I need to move books up my TBR, and I always mean it, but I'm grateful to Spells for Forgetting for reminding me that there's a reason Young's books are on my shelf, and maybe I should finally get around to them.

"We'd had no beginning, I realized. We just always were. When I thought about it like that, it was comforting. Like there was no waiting for an end, either."

An island full of secrets and mysteries. A murder years ago that still haunts the town with a love that could be deadly to all involved.

Emery is a well featured strong character with a will to uncover the truth about the murder of her best friend and the doubt surrounding the gossip that her own boyfriend did it. This was a really easy and quick read with a bit of suspense and tip of magic. My inner self was not satisfied with the little bit of magic that was in this book. It is more a mystery and suspense book.

Overall the story was great and kept me turning pages. The writing has delightfully evolved from her earlier books.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for this ARC.

I am a huge fan of Adrienne Young’s novels. I love her writing style and she always manages to create incredible characters and fantastic worlds, but Spells for Forgetting is completely different from her previous novels. For starters, this is more of an adult novel instead of a young adult and it is contemporary. It’s a mystery story with a pinch of magic and folklore.

Spells for Forgetting is set on the island of Saoirse, in the state of Washington, where people take care of each other and secrets can turn deadly. Atmospheric and misty, the island is itself one of the protagonists of the story, always surrounded by an aura of mystery and magic. The other protagonists are Emery Blackwood and August Salt. Theirs isn’t a simple teenage first love, it’s the kind of love that lasts forever and that could reignite even after fourteen years apart.

When they were eighteen, Emery and August had a plan: leave Saoirse together. But then there was the fire and Emery’s best friend was found dead, murdered. August was suspected, even though his guilt was never proven. And then he and his mother left, without saying goodbye to anyone, leaving Emery heart-broken.

Fourteen years later, August returns to Saoirse to bury his mother and to cut his ties to the island once and for all. Emery still lives there, running her mother’s teashop. They haven’t seen each other in fourteen years, but they finally have the chance to deal with the feelings they both still have for each other, their history, and Lily’s death. However, the close-knitted community of Saoirse is not at all happy to see August back, especially as his presence risks bringing to light secrets and truths best left buried.

I loved Spells for Forgetting. It is a dark, haunting, intense story about secrets, lies, jealousies, betrayals, magic, and tradition and I never wanted it to end, even though I wanted to know the truth: who killed Lily? What is August hiding? What is Emery hiding? What is everyone on the island hiding? I couldn’t put it down until I found out!!!

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc of this book and I'm leaving the review voluntarily in my own words.

I would usually just not leave a review in cases like this so hopefully I won't be too harsh.

The premise of the book was interesting enough to request it but since the beginning the book felt flat. I gave the benefit of the doubt, thinking that at some point something will happen, but there were chapters where literally nothing happened and made me question the need of writing such a long book (I'm not saying it's a long book but for the purposes of the plot it could have been shorter). The thriller element, didn't see it anywhere like yeah I'm all for world building but going over and over about the fact that Lily died and almost everyone blames August was just that you know, nothing that adds to the plot. And God forbid we got some snippets from the past in August's POV, I mean that could have helped a bit. The mystery part was played way too much, unnecessarily.
Oh and don't even get me started on the fact that Emery describes her relationship as a thing. Like ma'am no one is forcing you, dumb him and mind your own business.