This book ripped my heart out and then sewed it back into my chest in the coziest way possible. Emma is incredibly easy to identify with and the world created around her is full without being overwhelming to the story. I did find it a bit slow in the very beginning as we got to know the characters but after about the 20% mark I could not put it down.

Witches Emmalyn (Emma) and Bastian were facing an arranged marriage when Bastian took flight. Their parents drew up a magical contract years before and Emma was devastated when he left. Seven years later, Bastian reappeared and announced he wanted marriage planning to recommence.

Emma wasn't so sure. She had moved from the family home in New Orleans to Chicago where she opened a bar, Toil and Trouble. She was living as a human. She felt happy and in balance. Bastian's reappearance was like a bomb dropped in her quiet world. Each of them had secrets they couldn't share. Bastian needed the wedding to happen. Emma's mother was intent that they marry: she wanted to the higher status in society the marriage would offer her family. So, Emma and Bastian must work out how to cope with their secrets and work out a solution to appease their parents. One they can live with.

Recommended to lovers of light romcoms and those who enjoy a touch of magic in their readings. We'll look forward to the next installment in the series.

The Witch is Back was a quick and cute witchy romcom with an interesting magical system. I wish I could simply step through a portal to my destination anywhere in the world. But if the miscommunication trope is a big turn off for you, this one may not be for you. That didn’t bother me as both MC had secrets they were keeping from the other for but for magical reasons. I loved Emmaline’s familiar and emotional support pet. He was just as imperfect as she was.

- marriage of convenience
- Second chance romance
- Forced proximity

Emmaline and Bastian had been childhood friends and were arranged to be married due to a magical contract between their families. Bastian runs off before they are wed, leaving Emmaline brokenhearted (she truly did love him). Years later, Bastian returns and proposes a marriage of convenience. For reasons. She’s not the same meek witch he left behind and she’s determined not to fall under his spell.

Overall a cute magical read that kept me entertained while running errands. And sometimes that’s exactly what I need.

This was an adorable witchy read featuring the second chance romance trope.

This book has:
-A shy introverted heroine and an extroverted sunshine hero
-The friends to lovers trope with (seemingly) unrequited love from one of the parties
-Forced proximity and the marriage of convenience trope
-An “it’s always been you” scene
-Betrayal trope in the third act

This is only my third Witchy book I have read. First I have to start off by saying the cover of this book is absolutely adorable!! This is a heartfelt childhood friends to lovers book. I thought Emma and Bastian were really good characters. I can't wait to read more books by Sophie H. Morgan. I definitely recommend this book.


Thank you NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada) for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

The Witch is Back by Sophie Morgan features one of my favorite tropes – fake dating (that, of course, turns into a real relationship). I thought the book was a little slow to get started but ended up really liking it. I think my issue at the beginning could be that one of my least favorite tripes in a romance novel is when the love interests don’t tell each other something important for not any real reason. The book did explain why they weren’t being completely honest with one another, but it just wasn’t working for me. It took about a third of the book for me to really feel like things were moving. I LOVED the end of the book, though.
I will also say that even though this was a book about witches that came out in the fall, it did not really have any fall vibes. This isn’t a complaint - more a note for anyone looking for autumnal reading.

This one didn’t work for me. The rules of magic and the world of the witches is not very well defined. I disliked both main characters and did not feel chemistry between them.

3.5✨
I liked! 🤍At first I wasn't very convinced but in the end I liked it, it was very nice and easy to read, it also has a dual pov, ✨it was very entertaining, it's good to pass the time, there were some things I didn't like, but other than that, it's fine. Emma and Bastian are very cute.🤍
I hope Emma's brother (Kole) has a book, I need it.👀

What a fun, contemporary, fantasy romance! This is the perfect witchy read for Fall. This will be great for anyone who enjoyed “The Very Irregular Society of Witches” or “Practical Magic”

3.5 stars rounded up

I finished reading this book a month ago but didn’t have time to write a review then. What has stuck with me is that I had a hard time with the beginning of the book, but I stuck with it, and eventually I did really like the story overall. You learn a lot more about Emma’s history, and that explains a great deal about her flaws—seriously traumatic childhood.

One thing I never understood: if witches can just portal to wherever they want to go, what prevented Clarissa from just following Emma and continuing to torture & torment her?

For readers’ advisors: story doorway is primary, character secondary. Plenty of swearing, some steamy sex scenes. No onscreen violence but discussion of child abuse.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eBook ARC!

Witchy books. We love them, right?

Ugh, guys....this book was...AMAZING!
Listen, I don't hand out 5 stars on goodreads every day. But this one, this one got it. I absolutely adored the magical world that @sophiehmorgan created. And the characters? *chef's kiss*

"Love is a hex of a thing. Former childhood sweethearts fake a relationship in this charming, witchy romcom.

There’s nothing wrong with being a wallflower. Not to Emmaline Bluewater, anyway. Emma may have been born into witch society, but her days of trying to fit in where she doesn’t belong are over—they ended seven years ago, when the man she’d hoped to marry left town without a word. She’s much happier now, living a delightfully mundane human life in Chicago and running her bar, Toil and Trouble.

Until Bastian Truenote walks through the door and announces that he wants her back.

Bastian had his reasons for leaving—even if he can’t tell Emma what they are. Now, to win Emma’s heart, he’s got to face down an adorably goofy dog familiar, a best friend who’s all too eager to hit him with a carefully aimed hex, and a woman who’s far from the meek witch he remembers.

Magical contracts aren’t easily broken, but as far as Emma’s concerned, not even a marriage of convenience will have her falling under Bastian’s spell again…"

I don't know where to start this review except to say both characters suck, but boyyyyyyy does Bastian really suck.

Emmaline and Bastian have been betrothed since they were children, as is normal in witch society. When they were 21, Bastain disappeared. He leaves a note for his parents saying he can't marry Emmaline, and that's it. Now, 7 years later, he waltzes back into Emma's life because he needs something. His mom is sick because he turned his back on the marriage contract, so Emma HAS to marry him now.

Emma is a doormat, so obviously, she agrees. To be fair, she's worried about a woman's health and life, but still. She's grumpy and sets boundaries, but not really. Bastian just steamrolls her and her life while she is having an internal meltdown pretty much constantly.

I DNFd this at 55%. I just couldn't. Bastian barely even likes Emma. It seemed like he used to take her friendship for granted. Emma was head over heels in love with him, and he dropped her like a hot potato, and now that he needs something, he'll be charming. Right. Ok. My problem is that Bastian DOESN'T EVEN REALLY LIKE EMMA. And yet, he keeps making sexual remarks, commenting on her mouth, kissing her, using his telekinetic grabby hands, but then thinking all sorts of unfavorable or judgy thoughts about her. Like c'mon.

This leads us to the next reason for the DNF. The miscommunication trope. This trope is hot garbage, and in this book, it's a flaming dumpster. It's honestly not even miscommunication so much as "I'm just not going to explain anything ever, ok?". The frustration levels were high at this point, and I just had to stop.

I will say I loved the dog, and I loved Emma's relationship with her little sister. The magical world could have been interesting, but it was flat and kind of problematic. I appreciate the ARC opportunity from NetGalley, but this just missed all the marks for me.

🍃🍂 I thought this was a cute fun fall read! Second chance romance between Emmaline Bluewater and Bastian Truenote (yes you read those names correctly). Emma has left the witching world for the muggles, if you will, and tries to steer clear of magic since she isn’t the greatest at it. Her old flame, also old fiancé who walked out on her, comes back into her life.

🌜If one thing drives me crazy it’s the miscommunication or lack of communication and this story was chock full although I still enjoyed the premise of the story and the increasing love between Emma and Bastian. If you’re into a cute young adult witchy read you’d love this one!!

I struggled with connecting with the characters. The miscommunication was too strong upfront. I ended up DNFing it about 20% of the way in.

The Witch is Back is a wonderful sweet, flirty, and fun read! I really enjoyed the lighthearted story - a fun addition to any witchy season read!

Thank you so much to Harlequin and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book. I loved it so much! A great witchy romance with a great plot and memorable characters. A perfect read for this witchy season!

This was a cute romance book which I think is good in theory but I didn't love the characters and world-building. I found it to be a little one dimensional, however, if all you are looking for is a cute, easy, romance that distracts from real life this would be the book for you. The author's writing style is nice and easy to read but unfortunately the story wasn't really for me.

Rom-Com with a bit of magic.

This book was a fun, quick read, but it was slow and a few parts. I did like the whole set up/world building, and also the relationships between the FMC and her friends. I do like second chance romances, but the MMC was frustrating at some points for me. I didn’t like how he shows up after years of being away, he ”needs” to marry the FMC.

While I enjoyed the book, I am on the fence about the next book in the series. However, hopefully book two will be edited/paced, to make for a more engaging story.

I absolutely adored this book!

Emma and Bastian were darling, I really enjoyed the push and pull of watching them fall for one another and learn to trust each other!

Emma was so tender, I just wanted to protect her from her vial family every time they were on the page. Emma’s growth was great and I enjoyed watching her come into her own.

Things you’ll find in this book:
-Arranged Marriage of convenience
-Second chance romance
-friends to strangers to lovers
-fairy tale vibes
-evil mothers
-magic and humans
-friend group
-magical nefarious plots
-miscommunication trope

All in all I had some slight grievances with the plot, but nothing too terrible! It was a quick, easy, and enjoyable read!

This was such a cute childhood friends to lovers romance. Emma and Bastian are really great together, and the side characters witch, human, and animal are all fantastic!
I'm seriously hoping Leah and Tia get their happily ever afters, too.

The Witch Is Back was witchy,charming,sexy, and a pleasure to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.