I was super excited to read this book at the end of summer to ease me into the fall mood, and it did turn out to be a fun, witty read.

I did find that at some points, I was losing interest even though there was a lot going on. There may have been too many side characters for a standalone book, as I often found myself trying to remember somebody when their name came up.

I would still recommend picking up this book if you want magic, friendship and lots of action.

The Winx Saga but make it plus size and more fun. Teenage witch Thrash is in for the summer of her life after discovering that things aren't always what they seem, including herself. A delightful, witchy YA romp that shines a light on finding and loving yourself.

This was such a fun book! I loved the main character, and the side characters were all great as well. Each character felt very different from the others, and they were all pretty likable. The road trip was super fun, and the plot was very fast paced. I loved how body-positive it was! I also thought that the idea for the magic system (and mothers choosing the daughters' powers) was an interesting concept, as well. The world building was done super well; overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, witchy YA! :)

I really wanted to love this & was super excited going in but this just wasn’t my favorite. I appreciate what the author was going for & some aspects I liked more than others. I think this would realllllllly work for some people but just not me.

This is a very cute book with a unique concept, with social issues mixed in. The self acceptance message is lovely especially accompanied by powerful characters that fight for themselves.

The writing in the books is super fun! It’s really a fun and charming book to read during the last months of summer to get you read for fall. I loved the POVs in this book, it helped me connect with most characters. Will be recommending to others since it’s out!

Title: Fat Witch Summer
Publisher: Sword and Rose Press
Author: Lizzy Ives
Pages: 318pp
Price: $29.99 / $16.99 / $9.99

Thrash — plus-size, magenta-haired, bookish and a bit of loner — is the only child of Protectrix Osmarra, a powerful and elegant witch with the Gift of Glamour. When Thrash unexpectedly develops her “knack,” indicating that she does have an inherent skill for magic, she hopes this will finally earn her mother’s acceptance. But Osmarra is determined to force Thrash to accept the Gift of Glamour, changing her magic, her appearance, her very self. Terrified, Thrash jumps at an offer from three other witches — Cresca, Em, and Saki — to travel across the Thirteen States to New Salem University to steal the Gifts they really want. But their secret trip soon turns into a national obsession, and the girls find themselves being chased by journalists, bounty hunters, and even the powerful witch known as The Justice. And the more the girls learn about the nature of the Gifts, and the true nature of their “knacks,” the less they trust the system that upholds magic in the Thirteen States ….

I admit that I am not one to normally read coming of age teen books. But the cover was cute and the premise sounded interesting. So I decided to give Fat Witch Summer a shot.

I am so glad that I did, because I had a blast reading this book. Fat Witch Summer is more than just a coming of age/road trip adventure. There is so much more going on, as the story addresses everything from government oppression and gender expectations to mental health and body positivity.

Every single one of the characters is fully, individually realized, with their own quirks, foibles, and fears. We get to see inside not only Thrash’s head, but also that of Cresca, Em, and Saki — and even Osmarra. Cresca is not as perfect and glamorous as she appears to outsiders. Em, as the only child of a powerful witch and an exiled mer prince, is basically royalty, but she is also smothered and isolated. Saki suffers from terrible anxiety and, even though her parents are letting her choose her own Gift, she has no idea what she wants.

I also loved the world created by Ives for these characters. The Thirteen States are clearly modeled after the United States, but there are striking differences. This is a matriarchal society, and the country has Founding Sisters, not Founding Fathers. Two of the states have majority indigenous populations and follow their own laws, different from those of the other eleven states. Goddess is honored instead of a (male) God, and, given the dating system, I would assume that Christ was female. And, instead of an Industrial Revolution, the country underwent a Magical Revolution.

Fat Witch Summer is a great read, filled with adventure, magic, and self-discovery. Highly recommended to fans of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, A Rival Most Vial by RK Ashwick, Spell Bound by FT Lukens, Cinder Ella by ST Lynn, and The Runaway Princess by S. Usher Evans.

[Reviewed by Rebecca Buchanan.]

What a fun summer read! I really enjoyed the cast of characters we were introduced to, and the story kept me interested all the way through. I appreciate the nods we got to body positivity, though I wish we could have seen a bit more of this from three of the four girls. Similarly, getting to see them develop their friendships with Thrash was sweet, but I'd have enjoyed more of that. There was so much going on in this book and I think it could have benefited from being longer or being simplified a bit. The larger plot with the adults in the book is so interesting and I want a whole separate book about the origins of that.

I can't find anything online to indicate that there will be a sequel, but there's definitely opportunity there and I'd gladly pick up the next book if we got one. Anyone that likes YA stories about friendship and adventure should check this book out, even if fantasy/paranormal books aren't normally your jam.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sword & Rose Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Fat Witch Summer by Lizzy Ives is the most heart-warming, good vibes coming of age story I've read in a very long time. This is a world set in an alternate U.S. where witchcraft came out in the open after the Salem witch trials and the country is largely governed by witches. When a witch shows a magical Knack and comes of age, their mom chooses one of three Gifts: Glamour, Growth, or Sight.

Our main character, Thrash, has just learned she has a Knack. She has always wanted the Gift of Sight but is convinced her mom will never give it to her, instead saddling Thrash with her own gift of Glamour. A trio of cool witches from school adopt Thrash and the foursome sneak off on a road trip to steal their own Gifts allowing them to choose the Gifts they want.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It delves into incredibly hard and deep topics and yet maintains the best vibes throughout the book. The entire time I was reading, I felt like I was sitting outside on a pleasantly warm day, basking in the sun with the perfect glass of lemonade and a cool breeze. I don't know how else to describe the vibes of this book. It was so incredibly refreshing even while covering racism, classism, an unjust governing system, and navigating society's and especially your parent's expectations for you even when they don't match your own.

I wish I had this book when I was sixteen but I'm so glad that I got to read it at any point in my life.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️🌟(4.75)

#fatwitchsummer #NetGalley

Thank you to Lizzy Ives and the Sword & Rose Press team for this ARC of Fat Witch Summer in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up with the Secret Circle & the Cahill Witch Chronicles so Fat Witch Summer really scratched that itch for me. It's a fun book to read with an easy to understand magic system. I loved the road trip aspect of the story and how the backstories of the four main characters came out gradually throughout the road trip. I really enjoyed the character of Em and how being half mermaid affected her - I just thought it was such a cool idea! I felt there were a few threads left hanging by the end of the story but I feel this is the beginning of a series so it makes sense.

Best of luck to Lizzy in the future, you nailed your debut!

In this witchy coming of age novel, Thrash sets out to find the meaning of true friendship whilst also finding herself. In the process, she comes to terms with the fact that her mother just might not be the overbearing “witch” she thought her to be. While the novel started slow for me, it picked up about halfway through after which I couldn’t put it down.

This was the perfect summer read! A road trip, a magical reimagining of the US, and strong themes of friendship and mother-daughter relationships. I will say that it was a bit slow in some parts, but I enjoyed the time getting to know Thrash and the other girls and watching them become friends. The away was definitely a flawed character and I found myself annoyed with her at some points— but seeing her growth and how much she changed by the end was so rewarding and satisfying. I did feel like the ending was resolved a bit to quickly and easily. I would be interested in a sequel for this book! Give me a fun, travel book about the girls during their gap year! Overall, highly recommend this book!

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. The writing style was not for me, I’m also not a big fan of the third person POV. The writing just didn’t capture me, and I found myself not wanting to reach for it when I was in a reading mood. Thank you NetGalley for the E-Arc.

✨ 3.5 STARS ✨

the first half of this book was incredibly difficult for me to get through but the second half was a lot more enjoyable. though i almost marked this as dnf, i am glad i powered through and finished this book.

the story follows thrash, a plus sized teen witch, as she joins another trio of teen witches on a chaotic roadtrip to try and steal their magical gifts.

i loove a book with a detailed background, so i really appreciated the map and the history of the thirteen states and how they related to the history of the united states. i also really enjoyed the characters and their stories and individualism, and how they all meshed together. i thought it was an interesting story of teen girls just having a fun time and finding themselves.

[read through an arc from netgalley]

Thank you, Net Gallery, for the advanced copy of this book. This was a fun summer road trip book about teen witches picking their own paths and their own gifts. I was pleasantly surprised, and I would definitely recommend it. I appreciated the body positive message of the book.

Now this is a summer read I was waiting for and am so glad I got the chance to read! Definitely buying a physical copy for my home library. Fat Witch Summer by Lizzy Ives is as amazing and cute as the cover. It’s a body-positive story about witches on a road trip, can you blame me for not being able to pass on this read?!

Meet Thrash. She’s just coming into her magic, rejecting the status quo, and heading out on a road trip that is sure to change her life… right?
I found this to be an incredible journey through an extremely creative and original world that I’m excited to return to. I read this in one sitting because I just could not get enough of these witches, and I’m praying for a second installment.

I also loved how the characters have insecurities alongside their body positivity, as this make them relatable and helps people feel seen. Representation in stories is one of the most important things, which is why I highly recommend diving into this YA paranormal read. I promise you, it’s a cozy story you’ll return to again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sword & Rose Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s usually a moment of excitement when someone first shows signs of possessing magic. For 16-year-old Thrash, it’s just another stressor in her life. She’s always dreamed about receiving the Gift of Sight, but she knows her mom, Osmarra, is obsessed with giving her the Gift of Glamour. It wouldn’t be that big of a deal if people could choose their own Gift, but everyone’s parents choose their Gift, and Osmarra is completely against Sight. Just as Thrash thinks she can live with being stuck with the Gift of Glamour, she’s offered the chance of a lifetime: run away with three witches from school with plans to steal their Gifts. Thrash thinks it’s a crazy idea, but when faced with Glamour, she’d rather take her chances than get stuck in a life she never asked for.

The title and cover of this book drew me in and I’m sure glad it did! We follow a group of teenage girls who are determined to take their lives into their own hands: Thrash, Em, Cresca, and Saki. Together, the three of them plan to break in and steal the Gifts they aren’t legally allowed to choose for themselves. Along the way, we see what each of them struggle with, their secrets, and how this crazy plan that has them flying by the seat of their pants teaches them to appreciate their abilities somewhere along the way.

One of the things I like about this book is that Thrash, the main character, is plus size and proud. Books primarily following plus size characters who aren’t an insulting depiction are hard to come by, and we’ve got Thrash, who is very proud of her appearance. If anything, she resents how her mom is so focused on appearances and how the Gift of Glamour will help her fit in… by appearing smaller than she is. We also have a well rounded cast of interesting and amazing characters with a few “bad guys” thrown into the mix. It really makes every character wonderful to follow!

I found this book to be funny and heartwarming. Sure, there’s some sad moments that tug on the heartstrings and are relatable at times, but it was fun and really supports the fact that believing in oneself makes a difference. There’s a nice cast of characters outside of the four we follow, and I do wish we saw a little more of some of those characters. For example, there’s a lot more to Osmarra’s familiar but we never get to see it.

My only complaint is that the book doesn’t seem to finish up some of the storylines. The main one being the plot about magic and what the Gifts can do. We’re supposed to believe that it’s a huge deal for Thrash to steal Glamour when there’s, ultimately, nothing to support that in the long run. It fizzles out by the end and it’s almost like the ending was to a different book. It’s so light and carefree when the entire magic system as the characters know it is being challenged and changed. I just wish this major plotline was better planned and executed because we get to the end and it’s almost like the high stakes were fake all along. I think that this will make much more sense if it turns out this is really a series opener. Otherwise, I’m just disappointed about that particular plotline nearly evaporating by the end.

Fat Witch Summer really hit the spot for me! Thrash and her relationship with her mother was highly relatable. I had fun the entire time reading! Like I was reliving my own road-trip memories within the world of Thrash and the Lunes! The conflict of Thrash find her authentic truth while her controlling mother only cares about appearance is a big theme many can relate to. I loved this cozy book and bet many other witches will, too!

Fat Witch Summer takes the quintessential "find your self" road trip story and brightens it up with magic and and strong female characters. Main character Thrash is navigating the grief of losing a parent and deciding on her future while balancing a rocky relationship with her Mom. Trash and her Mom disagree on the path Thrash should take for her future, leaving Thrash to grapple between trusting her Mom or trusting her own intuition. While the road trip story isn't new, the unique magic system and characters make this an engaging and endearing summer read. Perfect for readers looking for a relatively low stakes story about growth, friendship, and finding your own identity. This book might be a skip if you're looking for high stakes excitement or a large element of body positivity. I felt the story fell short of true body positivity beyond the main character being plus size.

Big girls are having a moment and this story is part of that…but it’s more than that. It’s giving “The Craft” and “The Breakfast Club” vibes with much healthier and enviable friendships. Main character Thrash struggles with her identity and making friends and finds the perfect group of girls to runaway with to escape being labeled and confined for the rest of your life. Loved the world building and everyone’s story. Super fun adventure road trip that’s suspenseful and funny enough to keep you interested. Love that the story is about the ladies and finding themselves instead of a random love story thrown in just to check a box. It’s also giving body positivity and realness without getting lost. It’s super cute and perfect for a vacay or stayvaction read.

Special thanks to author #LizzyIves, Sword & Rose Press and #netgalley for the ARC.