*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book*

This is going to be a weird review, but parts of the book were 4-5 stars and other 1-2 stars, which is why I chose 3 stars.

What I really liked:
- Boris the badger is absolutely amazing and I would've liked to know more about him. What a wonderful familiar!
- Cornwall as a setting was very nice too. As somebody who spent all her childhood summers close to the Lizard peninsula, a fantasy book set in Cornwall was really something I enjoyed.
- the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory idea of a competition to come up with the heir was a nice touch
- Cornish Gardens as magical, inhabited by magical plants and creatures was nice too. Sadly no real Cornish Gardens were references which was unused potential
- Plant witch! Nice idea!

What I really disliked:
- the main character: she's your stereotypical oh so beautiful protagonist who struggles with her magic (what a trope!) but only needs to unlock it because she is so powerful! And of course she needs a man to help her do it! No character development apart from that, petty conflict, her lusting after the dude she supposedly hates is so annoying (no real enemy to lovers).
- the love interest, who is quite the creep, lusting initially after the 17yo old protagonist when he is early 20s. He's also terribly flat character, but he's super rich and handsome and has a magic d*ck, so whatever? No character development whatsoever, just lusting after her and being a Good Guy Greg.
- all side characters are flat and lack complexity, e.g. her best friend with the adopted child, her grandmother, her dead grandfather, the entire little town who stands behind her without question, the rich garden dude too. Nothing makes sense
- all conflict is super easily resolved and it's so predictable that no matter what happens, our protagonist will win the competition
- main protagonist's character background also stupid: what happened to her family? Why did she go to London really and why doesn't she choose a profession where her plant affinity is of help? It just makes no sense.
- world building weak and lazy: yeah, the 'muggles' are just not coming to the town???
- story super predictable and even the romance / sex is boring af

So, I LOVE BORIS TO PIECES but everything else mostly sucked. Sorry.

Thank you, Netgalley, Linsey Hall, and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC

This book was such an adorable cozy and lighthearted read. I truly enjoy Callan and his determination to win over Aria. His love and adoration for Aria wins me over constantly. Aria is such a lovable main character and I loved watching her grow and evolve throughout the book. I also enjoyed the magicla premise. I see a lot of magic that is intrinsic but the connections to the flora and fauna truly make this a unique and fun witchy read.

This was such a cute story. I loved the town and crew of characters. This has potential to be a very fun series.

I went into this series reading book 2 first, but instantly knew I had to come back and read this one. Cosy, light hearted and perfectly witchy - what more could you want. I absolutely adored the setting, the characters and the story development, hooked from page one into this cute world. I will without a doubt be reading more from Linsey and getting lost in her magical creations!
Highly recommend as a fun, cosy read for all times of year.

Pros; Cute romance, with magical hijinks and the competition of a lifetime. An interesting mix of characters and a fairly easy read. Boris was a hoot. Cons; the romance was only okay, even with the misunderstanding there was no real tension between Callum and Aria. Also I wish Aria’s magical journey had been led more by her and less by Callum. Overall an enjoyable read (3 ⭐️)

A lovely story of a witch that needs to find her inner power, and the people who love and support her through a magical challenge.

“The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic” by Linsey Hall is book 1 in a new, charming series that’s perfect for witchy readers.

This book is fun, magical, and a quick read. The rom-com aspect of it is sure to get any romance lovers attention as well.

I enjoyed it and can’t wait for book 2.

Thank you NetGalley, Linsey Hall, and Bonnie Doon Press for approving me to view this ARC.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. Aria has rules for herself and most of them about the use of her powers. She is a witch after all and that is something that has to be kept quiet. Humans are not to know about it. I found this book kind of sweet and fun in the most magical ways. It is set in Charming Cove. The first book in series of standalone stories.

DNF @ 18% this book just didn’t click with me, I don’t buy the two at all. I don’t get how he fell in love with her after just overhearing her and their dynamic just seems kind of insta-lusty marauding as insta-love and kind of cringe

2.6
Kinda cute, in an underdeveloped and frankly slightly juvenile way, but the magic system was paper thin and the characters were alarmingly unobservant. Ten year old me would have thought this was incredible, probably.

I'm in love - a witch that can't control her magic, a meddling grandma, a billionaire hero, a snarky familiar & a charming potions shop by the English seaside. Pretty much all my favorite things. ✨

Super cute!! The author has this magic pen that transports you in this super cute and cozy book. I will forever be grateful for this founding family.

I really enjoyed this! The characters, the world building and the plot were great. It was slightly predictable but I didn't expect anything too thrilling. I would definitely read the others in the series! I'd recommend to fans of whimsical romances, enemies to lovers, and charming characters.

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for my eARC.
This was an enjoyable wee read, the pacing was good however I didn't really relate or resonate with any of the characters in a way I would've liked. The overall premise of the book was good however a few minor plot points could've been improved on that would've made this a 4* read for me.

"The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic" by Linsey Hall is a delightful romp into the world of magic, sprinkled with humor, love, and enchanting escapades.
The protagonist, a self-proclaimed magical disaster from a family of witches, sets forth her rules for avoiding magical entanglements. However, the narrative takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself entangled in a competition for the largest magical fortune in England and grappling with feelings for the very mage she has despised for years, Callan Hawthorne.
As the story unfolds, the quirky charm of Charming Cove, with its ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars, becomes a backdrop for the protagonist's quest to save her family's magical potion shop, Seaside Spells. The romantic comedy weaves laughter, love, and magical hijinks into a captivating narrative.
Linsey Hall crafts a light-hearted and entertaining tale, blending the magical elements seamlessly with the romantic plot. The protagonist's journey, filled with mishaps and unexpected turns, adds a layer of relatability and charm to the narrative.
"The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic" is not just a romance; it's a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and the acceptance of one's magical imperfections. It serves as the perfect introduction to the seaside village of Charming Cove, promising readers a series of stand-alone romances with a touch of magic.
In summary, if you're in the mood for a whimsical and heartwarming escape into a world of spells, love, and laughter, this book is the perfect potion.
*I express my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for providing an advanced copy of this enchanting e-book.*

Ich habe das Buch abgebrochen. Irgendwie konnte mich die Geschichte nicht genug fesseln. Die Charaktere waren mir nicht tiefgründig genug.

A feelgood, easy, breezy, cosy romcom! I found it delightful and magical.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC copy of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

I really enjoyed this story – a romcom with some lovely light-hearted magic – and gardening – on the side!

Aria, our main character, is forced to return to the hometown she fled, in order to save her family business (and by extension, the whole town) by competing against her childhood bullies and the man who she most hates (waggles eyebrows in enemies-to-lovers knowingness). But everyone else has magic and hers is wonky and unreliable… who can possibly help her ‘fix’ her magic, save the day and find true love?!

This is a really sweet romance and I LOVED the plant magic and all of the details of the magical competition, complete with unique magical creatures and an interesting magic system. But, as is often the case, it is the characters that really won me over – Aria’s gran, Tabitha and Catrina, Boris the badger, and of course, Callan Hawthorne (boo, hiss, swoon!). And Aria herself. She is a very relatable main character and I was 100% on her side throughout. She has her flaws but is willing to work hard to overcome them, and to admit when she gets things wrong – what’s not to like?!

If you are looking for a feelgood, easy read that will give you a warm, cosy glow on a chilly winter’s evening, then look no further! I look forward to reading more from the Charming Cove series in future.

This book is about 3.5 stars for me. It was charming and fun, and I liked the main characters. I thought the romance was pretty lacking, and I would have liked an epilogue of some kind. I also would have liked to learn more about the main character's magic.