Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells.

This book follows Carrie who is from a mountain town called Woodsmoke. Carrie left her town ten years ago because she wanted to travel. She left her fiancé at the altar when she did this. Now she is back because Carrie’s grandmother died, and she must go back and see to her cottage. There Carrie finds a handsome man named Matthieu who she is drawn to. She then feels at a loss about what she should do. Keep running or finally call this place home.

Carrie finds herself having to choose Mattieu or the book. That is what her aunt Cora told her. When he goes missing, she is determined to find him. She is torn between wanting to find him and the Book of spells. It also follows her ex best friend Jess who married Carrie’s man at the altar. Her and her husband have been growing distant and it’s made worse when Carrie comes back. This part of the story I found a bit annoying because Jess seemed to blame it all on Carrie. They seemed to have problems before Carrie came back but now that she is back because her aunt died it’s all Carrie's fault that Jess’s marriage is falling apart. I find that Jess was never a true friend if she thought that her friend would come back just to take him back. Carrie showed no interest in him and yet Jess sees her as a threat. Jess is just jealous and acts like a child. I found that I could have done without her.

This book is very atmospheric and filled with magic that is passed down. I found that though this book is interesting it didn’t get my full attention the way I was hoping it would. I was able to put it down and walk away. I didn’t need to find out what Carrie would do. The ending was not what I was expecting, and I was a bit let down by it. I will say that Winter is a perfect time to read it.

DNF @ 48%

Thank you @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was whimsical and had magical elements to it.
The problem I had with it is that it slogged on and on and on.
I personally need something more fast paced, or with more conflict to keep my interest.

I think many will love this book however.

This book is about a woman returning to her hometown after her grandmother dies. Her family is presumed to be witches, and her great aunt is the keeper of the spell book. The magic of the mountains in this book is interesting because it keeps you guessing as to whether or not it is real. Overall, this book was an unexpected delight. If you liked Sarah Addison Allen’s Garden Spells or Adrienne Young’s Spells For Forgetting, check this one out.

I liked the eerie feeling The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells has. The opening where Carrie goes to the mountains but knows not to stray off the path. Even more when she feels eyes on her that night. Set a spooky tone and it will come and go.

My attention was not held completely. In the middle I noticed that I was looking at the page but not fully immersed in what I was reading. Glad there was a happy ending and the mystery with Matthieu is solved.

I did not finish this book, but Rachel Greenlaw’s premise and characterization is compelling. I think the writing style just isn’t for me, and I had to stop reading because of it. But her lush descriptions and magical storytelling definitely made the portions I read a worthwhile experience!

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a tale woven in generational magic and the journey between finding the pathway home or searching for a new one. This was a perfectly cozy read for October or for whenever you’re feeling magical.

When Carrie returns to her mountain town after the death of her grandma, her plan is to fix up the cottage in the winter and sell it the following year. Of course, she meets Matthieu, who she has hired to help and she falls for him. All along the journey she is having to come to reality with her past and future and face questions that must be answered.

I was definitely expecting there to be a bit more magic and for the pace to pick up a little since it was a mystery but I still enjoyed it. The world building was great and that really made the story even cozier and helped you escape into the mountain town.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy, witchy, heartfelt, atmospheric. I wish there was some more magic in it, but the lack of more didn’t really ruin the reading experience. Very folklore vibes!

This book has the bones of a good story but fell short of my expectations. I was hoping for more witchy vibes based on the title and felt the story needed some elaboration to make connections. Additionally the end felt rushed and I am still unsure what exactly the “curse” was….

A very atmospheric read, that I enjoyed.
The mountains were almost a character themselves. Somehow sentient, but watchful more than active. They cast their own looming presecence throughout the book.
The plot was well done, as was the writing. The magic system more internal and background rather than an external manifestation. It's not my favorite way to portray magic in books, but it worked here.
The characters I had a bit of an issue with, as they almost all seemed angry and bitter, with little self-reflection on the cause until well into the story.
Overall I enjoyed it, and it left me reflecting on the story afterward.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells follows Carrie after she returns to her hometown following her grandmother's death. What I liked : the setting and the ending. What I disliked : the majority of the characters until the very end. Unfortunately I failed to connect with the characters and hoped for more magic.

I received an ARC from Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel Greenlaw’s The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is a delightful and enchanting novel that transports readers to a world of magic, mystery, and sisterhood. This whimsical tale follows the lives of three extraordinary women, bound together by their shared love of nature and the ancient art of witchcraft.

Greenlaw’s vivid descriptions of the woodsmoke women’s magical practices and their deep connection to the natural world are both captivating and inspiring. The author’s skillful blending of historical folklore and contemporary storytelling creates a rich and immersive reading experience.

This charming novel is perfect for anyone who enjoys a touch of magic in their lives. Whether you’re a seasoned witch or a curious newcomer, The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is sure to cast a spell on your heart.

Thank you so so so so much to the publisher for my ARC and finished copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and the storyline. The writing was lyrical and beautifully written. The setting was magical and enticing. The characters and the alternating points of view really helped to develop the story in both the present and through the flashbacks. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book to find out what would happen at the end and who the mystery man really was.

If you enjoy books that are realistic with a touch of magic, along with beautiful settings and conflict between friends, old lovers, and family, you will love this book!

3.5 ⭐️

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells is an atmospheric, witchy, and mysterious read that follows several generations of the Morgan family’s women and the magic they draw from the mountains surrounding their home.

The writing is beautifully done but the pacing is a bit slow and while I’m usually a fan of multiple timelines and POVs those just didn’t work as well for me in this story. There are some Practical Magic vibes happening, which I loved. I think this definitely makes for a solid fall read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

In a magical new direction for One Christmas Morning author Rachel Greenlaw, an evocative and mysterious story about lost love and the magic of coming home, for readers of Adrienne Young and Breanne Randall.
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This was such an engaging story! A story told in multiple timelines as we hear about two sisters but then one of their daughters and her best friend as well. The magic and spells made in this charming small town beneath majestic mountains. The mountains that have as much folklore as the Morgan family with their witchy ways.
Each character had so many secrets and so much misdirection. Loved how it ended with so much of the stress and worry mostly relieved by finally being able to talk it out. It is so hard to see someone again after a long time and they left under hurtful circumstances its hard to talk. But they finally made the right deal with the mountain or stopped making deals with the mountain and things settled. And her mystery man was such a fun twist.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

not the best magical realism/witch-esque novel i’ve ever read, but not the worst either. i enjoyed the three different povs but didn’t necessarily care about the characters’ problems…

Carrie is a woman who left her fiancé at the altar 10 years ago and hasn’t been home since. After her grandmother dies and leaves her cabin to Carrie, she returns home to the mountains that call the women of her family with magic and promises and curses. A beautiful story of family, love and forgiveness that is fantastically atmospheric.

I enjoyed this story! Though it took me a while to get into it, I couldn’t put it down once I did! I loved Carrie and Jess. They were such flawed and complicated characters, and I think that’s what made me fall in love with them. I like how the story was set up, with perspectives from Carrie, Jess, and Cora as readers got better insights into how the story came together in the end, making you realize that there wasn't really a bad guy in the story, which made this such a realistic read.

I’m a sucker for a witchy read, especially during the fall months, and this was so fun! If you’re looking for a little romance with a magical twist, this one is for you! It was cozy and warm, albeit a little slow at times. The world-building was good and overall just a fun read!

4 stars.

Such a magical delight. It felt like a heartfelt treat with a mixed bag of romance, magical realism, and folklore.

Set in Woodsmoke, Carrie - the FMC - let the town for bigger and better things, only to return after being left her grandmother's cottage and shop. Carrie has great big plans for renovations, and plans to sell as soon as the spring comes, but will she?

Mattieu is hired to help her with renovations, and although there are warnings - Carrie quickly falls for him, only for him to disappear! It was magical, and the journey of self discovery and relationships was really well done. Carrie is lost and adrift, but as she settles into the world she begins to find her place.

This is an incredible well written story - the 3 POV's made me hesitate just a bit, but I was able to quickly connect with them and read. The story was atmospheric and the book was incredibly thought-provoking.

Thank you to Rachel Greenlaw and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw
This was a beautifully written, atmospheric story about Carrie Morgan and her tentative return to her hometown of Woodsmoke. When Carrie comes back, she’s confronted by the ghosts of choices she made a decade ago when she fled. Now, she’s back to fix up her grandmother’s cottage, left to her in the will. Determined to stay only for the winter, Carrie’s plans start to shift when she meets Matthieu. He arrives with the frost, and she feels an instant, almost otherworldly connection with him. However, Aunt Cora warns Carrie that Matthieu is too much like the spirits from old folklore—tricky beings who vanish with the thaw, leaving broken hearts in their wake.

As Carrie navigates this relationship, she also has to figure out if Woodsmoke is truly her home. Is Matthieu—and the bond they’re building—real? Or will it melt away with the winter frost?

I enjoyed many aspects of this story. It’s soft, atmospheric, and perfect for readers who love that kind of vibe. However, I could have used a bit more intrigue—the author could’ve taken some plot elements further. At the same time, everything wrapped up nicely for me in the end and I was left overall satisfied.

I’m giving this book 4 stars, which feels fair based on the quality. That said, if I’m being extra specific, my personal enjoyment lands somewhere closer to 3.75 stars.

I think this would be a great read for fans of Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young and/or Weyward by Emilia Hart.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.