Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells
Rachel Greenlaw
The story is of Carrie, who has returned home to deal with family issues, and must navigate the family history of magic and jealousy which have torn the family apart. While Carrie is coming to terms with family drama, she finds herself and love in a way that she would never have imagined in her past.

The characters in the book are believable and flawed. The family in the story is not just Carrie’s direct family, but her extended friends, and the author allows us to see the emotions that Carrie’s return stirs up and how those feelings and emotions are resolved through the events of the book. Even the woods where Carrie lives becomes a character in the story with emotions to overcome. In addition, the plot of the book is told through a dual POV and dual timeline device. Carrie and her current family are the modern POV, but her aunt and grandmother form the backbone of historic POV and timeline, as their relationships have a direct impact on Carrie and her life in the modern story. For the most part, the book goes along at a good pace. It does not feel rushed in any places, and almost has a thriller type/scary vibe at some points in the story. The story does pull you in and you want to know more about Carrie and her family. Personally, I liked the scary vibe of the book, it made it feel like the story was not just another girl coming home, falling in love kind of story. I liked the intrigue of it. My major problem with the book, and it might just be me, is I could not tell where the book was set. I was confused the entire book on where in the world we were supposed to be. It shouldn’t have mattered, but it detracted from my reading enjoyment. The target audience of this book is adult fiction, and fantasy. I believe that this book meets its target audience and that everyone would enjoy this book. I recommend the book and give it 4.5 stars.

In conclusion, Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is an enjoyable read. The story is engaging and contains elements of a haunting vibe that makes it different than other books in this genre. It is well worth a read!

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw is the first book I have read from Greenlaw. I really enjoyed reading this book it was the perfect book to read this spooky season.
A small town, family of women, and a curse say no more. It gave me Practical Magic vibes which I loved; this would make for a good Hallmark movie.
This book was a happy surprise and I’m intrigued to read more of Rachel Greenlaw’s work.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. This novel fell short of meeting my expectations for an entertaining escapist read. The pace was slow at times, and I never connected with Carrie as a sympathetic protagonist. The descriptions of her emotional struggles were repetitive and not very convincing. Lastly, the magic was portrayed as both punitive and rewarding.

The Morgan women have had an unusual reputation among the residents of Woodsmoke, a small town at the foot of three mountain peaks that hold magical properties. Carrie Morgan always felt like an outsider except for her two childhood friends, Tom and Jess. Just as she is about to marry Tom and leave the town to pursue a more adventurous life, she discovers he has kept secrets that precipitate her abrupt departure.

Carrie returns after 10 years to rehabilitate the cottage her late grandmother bequeathed her. Many things have changed – Tom and Jess are married with a daughter; her great aunt is in possession of the Morgan legacy book of legends and magical spells; and her relationship with the mountains and their magic is fraught with questions. Over time, Carrie begins to reestablish her relationships with friends and family, comes to peace with her decision about the cottage and explores the possibility of love with a mysterious stranger.

Overall, this novel was satisfactory but not particularly engaging. I do not feel I can give it a strong recommendation.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

It took me a bit to get into this book but I’m glad I stuck with it. It was a lovely tribute to nature, magic, and women.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I actually really enjoyed this book. The plot immediately grabbed my attention and I was rooting for Carrie. I wish the friendship reconciliation had happened a little earlier so we could have gotten more of that particular relationship. I also wish we had gotten a little more of Jess and Tom's story after Carrie left -- I wanted to really feel that Tom had always loved Jess.
3.5 rounded up to a 4 star.

This was an easy, pleasant read. It’s very light on the magic and fantasy. It’s heavy on family relations, grief, and personal growth. There were moments that grabbed me but overall it was just fine. It’s a good palette cleanser after reading a series or something pretty heavy.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a cozy, magical, atmospheric tale about family, friendship, love, moving on from the past, and finding a place to call home. I really appreciated the magical elements and how it’s not entirely clear if they’re real or not. The small town in the mountains was the perfect setting and really added to the eerie witchy feel.

I enjoyed the different POVs and how they allow you to get a feel for all of the characters and how intertwined their lives have been. The romance isn’t the main focus but it was one of my favorite parts nonetheless - it was very emotional and always kept me guessing. I would recommend this to fans of Rachel Griffin and Adrienne Young!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

4.5 stars

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw is a super cute story that takes place present day after beloved Ivy Morgan passes away - she leaves her dilapidated cottage to her granddaughter Carrie — who left Woodsmoke 10 years ago and never looked back… leaving her fiancé at the alter and her best friend without a clue. This story follows the POV of Ivy’s younger sister Cora (Carrie’s great aunt), Carrie’s ex-best friend Jess, and Carrie.

This story has cozy small town witchy vibes and a mystery that needs to be solved. I don’t want to reveal too much, but if you are a fan of multiple female POV, small town gossip, generations of witches, spells & curses, family drama, heartwarming elderly couples, non-linear timelines, and mysterious love interests then this one is absolutely for you! Each POV is unique and guides the story along in a beautiful way — this one was fast paced and so hard to put down… if you had a free rainy afternoon you could probably devour this in one sitting.


This will be perfect to read when it comes out around Halloween so grab your copy on October 22, 2024! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Rachel Greenlaw for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to reading more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an electronic copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Rachel Greenlaw's "The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells" is a story about the bonds that tie us not only to family and lovers, but also to the places we like to call home. Through masterful writing Greenlaw depicts the eerie and dangerous mountains of Woodsmoke, the mountains that our main character Carrie both left and come back to. When she returns, she accepts the mountains, but how does she know the mountains except her back? Filled with mystery, this story explores difficult family relationships, the fear of falling in love, and the heartbreak of losing old friends.

The story was very gripping and the atmosphere was vivid. I took my time reading through the copy and found myself thinking of the book throughout the day when I was not actively reading it. The stories of the mountains were mysterious. The magic was portrayed as dangerous, but also enchanting in a way that made you want to dabble in it.

I felt that despite the incredible atmosphere, the character work was lacking. The dialogue did not flow as naturally as I would have liked and the characters lacked the depth that make me forget they are not real while I am reading. This impacted my ability to be emotionally invested. The plot had some pacing issues and was not as clear as the synopsis laid it out to be.

Overall, I had a good experience reading The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells and would recommend it for readers who are fans of mysteries and fantasies. This would be a good fall time read around the spooky holidays.

I loved the small town, cozy magical vibes so much of this book. This isn’t a book I would typically read but I’m so glad I did.

Rachel Greenlaw’s "The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells" is a beautifully crafted, evocative tale that combines lost love, magic, and the powerful pull of home. This novel, perfect for fans of Adrienne Young and Breanne Randall, weaves an enchanting story set in the mystical mountain town of Woodsmoke.

Carrie Morgan, who fled Woodsmoke ten years ago, returns to renovate her grandmother’s dilapidated cottage. The Morgan women have always been connected to the mountain’s magic, with their spells and curses deeply embedded in the soil. Carrie’s journey back home is a reluctant one, and she intends to stay only for the winter. However, she meets Matthieu, a charming newcomer who helps with the renovation and stirs feelings in her heart despite her great-aunt Cora's warnings about the old stories.

Greenlaw expertly blends the cozy, magical atmosphere of Woodsmoke with deeper, more poignant themes of grief, sacrifice, and identity. The setting feels like stepping into a Pinterest aesthetic board, complete with dried herbs and worn books, creating a witchy, small-town vibe that is both comforting and haunting. The romance between Carrie and Matthieu is tender and bittersweet, heightened by the ever-present legend of a stranger who appears with the first snow and disappears with the thaw, leaving broken hearts behind.

The narrative moves between past and present, exploring Carrie’s relationships with her family and friends, and the deep, ancient magic of the Morgan women. While the pacing is slow initially, it picks up as the story unfolds, drawing readers into Carrie’s quest to find Matthieu and confront her past. The multiple POVs and non-linear timeline add depth to the story, revealing the intricate dynamics of the Morgan family and the town of Woodsmoke.

One minor criticism is the simplicity of the plot, which may leave some readers wanting more exploration of the townspeople and the implications of the magic. However, for those looking for a cozy, atmospheric read with a touch of magic, "The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells" is a delightful escape.

Overall, this novel is a heartwarming and enchanting read, perfect for the colder months or any time you crave a magical journey. Rachel Greenlaw’s writing is poignant and whimsical, making "The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells" a spellbinding tale of love, loss, and the enduring magic of home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"There is an old tale woven through the mountain town of Woodsmoke about a stranger who appears as the first snow falls in winter, who will disappear without a trace as the frost thaws in spring, leaving a broken heart behind."

TW: abandonment, blood, death, death of a loved one, grief, infertility, injury/injury detail, medical content, pregnancy.

Perfect for fans of Rachel Griffin and Practical Magic, The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells was one of the most heartwarming books I've read in awhile.

This book delivered everything I wanted it to. Cozy, small-town, magical vibes with the kind of witchy atmosphere that feels like a Pinterest aesthetic board - complete with dried herbs and old, worn books. From the very first chapter, I was immediately captured by the setting and the characters - a feeling that didn't let go for the entirety of the novel.

Along with all of the cozy, higher budget Hallmark vibes there was also an undercurrent of heavier themes which is something I really appreciate. Amidst the little book clubs and tall trees, there are also discussions of grief and sacrifice and identity and beginnings/endings and what it means to call a place home. It was the kind of book that finds beauty even in tragic circumstances.

The only... criticism (if you could even call it that) I would give is that this book is very simple. I really enjoyed this and it's what I was looking for, but I could see some readers expecting more from this book. If you love Rachel Griffin's short, cozy take on witchy fantasy, I really think you'll enjoy this. But if you're wanting them to do a deeper look at the other townspeople and their lives and the implications of the magic, you won't get much more than a topical but still meaningful read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and I will in fact be recommending it to everyone - especially those looking for a cozy read for the colder months (or any time of the year, really.)

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the arc in exchange for an honest review. Such a FUN read! We have multi POV’s (which I love), magical realism, romance, small town, cozy. In Woodsmoke, there is a tale in which a stranger shows at the first sign of snow, they will disappear before the coming spring. The legend eventually becomes true. We have a non linear timeline in which Carrie is going through it. As well as Morgan. Tragic and heartbreaking

The mountains in Carrie’s hometown of Woodsmoke hold deep magic, harnessed by the bloodline of the Morgan women. Carrie returns to Woodsmoke after 10 years away, but will the town and the mountains welcome Carrie back?

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a lovely tale that includes a lot of deep reflection on interpersonal relationships. The pacing was a bit slow at first, but really picked up after the first third of the book. There is a romance element to the book, but it isn’t the main thread of the story. The core of the story, and the more interesting aspects of the story, focused on Carrie’s relationships with her aunt and her friend old friend Jess.

I did enjoy the story over all. The setting was lovely, and I really liked the deep digging into these female relationships and the hurt and healing that can be had.

This is a story about homecoming, about the magic that glints at the corners of our world and about a man who appears with the first frost, and disappears as the frost thaws. This book has for me almost a cozy gothic vibe. Carrie comes home after being gone for 10 years to renovate her late grandmothers cottage. She's unsure of her future and what she wants, but she knows she needs to do this to fulfill her grandmothers will.

A family of women, a book compiled by the generations before, love traded for power, will remind readers of Alice Hoffman.

Mystery. A Lost Love. Magic. Coming Home. The Mountain Town of Woodsmoke.


In the town of Woodsmoke, there is a tale. It is said that when a stranger shows at the first sign of snow in the winter months, they will disappear before the coming spring. There will be no clue, no obvious answer as to how they would have left. In their wake, there will be a bleeding, broken heart.

Carrie Morgan is from that snowy Mountain town. She had left the town behind in her rear-view mirror, no intention of ever coming back. Carrie had run away to pain in Europe for nearly a decade, doing what she loved. Except, her friends and loved ones always haunted her in the back of her mind. Never able to completely leave her loved ones behind.

Morgan had left more than friends and family, however. She had chosen to leave behind that ancient power that drew from the mountain and the creeks and the trees. The spells and the curses that ran through her veins and poured out into nature and the town.

Carrie's grandmother has passed away, she inherits dilapidated cottage that needs time, care, and love to renovate it. In this process, our main character meets Matthieu, a stranger that sweeps into the town as the spring turns to fall, as full turns to winter months.

Feelings begin to stir in her heart for this newcomer, despite the old wife's tales.

But then, the old legend becomes true and Matthieu disappears without a trace. Carrie knows he is real, despite the tale and despite the townsfolk warnings.

All in all, I think this was beautiful and tragic and heartbreaking. The history of the town was well written, the romance bittersweet. The generational magic of Carrie Morgan's family is something ancient and magical. This novel had a clever plot line, and the characters felt real. The issues felt like they would be a real struggle through family bonds.

Resurrecting old family ties and reigniting friendships was heartwarming. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!

3.5 ⭐️ The magical world of Woodsmoke and its mountains was unique and enticing. I was drawn into the story within pages. The book has a poetic lilt - "Folklore" vibes. The story focuses on the Morgan women and the book of spells that passes through the generations in their family and how it affects the whole town. Some of the character development was purposefully vague, but I would have liked to see more of it by the end of the book. It would be a stretch to classify this book as a romance. It's all in the title - it's about the women of Woodsmoke.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC e-read.

Really lovely book with clever plot line and writing. Family history mixed with family drama in a small town with a paranormal twist.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

This book has for me almost a cozy gothic vibe. Carrie comes home after being gone for 10 years to renovate her late grandmothers cottage. She's unsure of her future and what she wants, but she knows she needs to do this to fulfill her grandmothers will. While doing this, she finds love and figures out herself and what she really wants and needs. The magic is subtle and there are multiple POVs. The story moved a little slow for me, overall I enjoyed the book.