I really enjoyed this. The beginning tricked me into believing this would be a cozy fantasy and it also started a little slow, so I was wondering if I’d maintain interest, but once we met the coven and Bella began her trials, I was hooked. I was not anticipating the ending and my jaw was on the floor in several spots. I was proud of the way Bella grew through the whole book. That’s my girl.

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a cute world, great characters, and an interesting story. Great read!

Let's be real: When it gets to fall, we all start looking for all the witchy reads we can find, and we don't necessarily discriminate much beyond that. Witchy book + bookstore vibes? I think that's a lot to sell a lot of us. And this book delivers on both of those things, so if that's what you're looking for, you really don't need to read this review further. You already know this book is for you!

The author mentioned in the audiobook post-interview that the book originally had much stronger 90s vibes that were toned down during editing, and personally, I feel that their removal was a major loss. I think that a stronger sense of intentionality about the atmosphere in this book would have really set it apart; as it stands, it felt like it was going for "Practical Magic" and landed instead in "Halloweentown." Realistically, the atmosphere is why most of us are going to pick up books like this, so just a note for publishers: Give us our 90s next time, pleaseeeee.

But as for the plot? It existed. It was nice, low stakes, fun. Belle's mentor was a complete delight and carried the book, and he deserved every page of attention he got and more. Be aware that this book has a romance element, but it is absolutely not a romance—the romantic plot feels like an afterthought more than anything, so if you're reading to swoon, you'll likely be disappointed! Read for magical hijinks instead.

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ebook copy of this book! All opinions are, of course, my own.)

I shouldn't judge a book by its cover...but the cover is what sold me on this. Look at it. It's gorgeous. I just wish I could've felt the same way about the inside of the book. I'm not sure if it was a case of misleading marketing, if it's a debut author thing, or if it's a me thing, but I feel like Rewitched, much like its main character Belle, suffered from an identity crisis.

Billed as a cozy fantasy with themes of self discovery and a slow-burn, low-heat romance, I got hints of all of these things but felt they never came together in a way that made me feel anything but meh. The biggest problem for me is that the subplots were not handled very evenly: most of the book concerns Belle re-discovering her magic after a particularly dreadful "EquiWitch" trial, but there is a romantic subplot between her and a fellow witch that kinda conveniently disappears when Wood doesn't need this man around, and then a subplot of Belle's job being the literal worst, which again, vanishes when not needed. The subplots felt a bit too neatly categorized for me, like they were shoved in little boxes in a plot diagram. ("OK, now it's time for the romance--enter stage left: our lead, and oop, he's served his purpose. You, good sir, vanish from the narrative entirely for 100 pages.") The pacing, too, suffered as a result. Not a lot happens up until the halfway mark, which is kinda par for the course for cozy fantasy. It was a little boring, but mostly fine. But then, at the last minute, there is this big conspiracy and magical battle which feels shoehorned in because we decided to go for the big splashy plot at the 75% mark. So it felt like the book didn't know what to be plot-wise, and that made it an uneven reading experience.

As for what I did love about this book: Wood's writing style is delightfully British, and I adored following Belle's third person POV. There was enough wit and charm in the writing itself that I was compelled to keep reading, even when the plot didn't hook me. I also loved Belle herself. She was so relatable, and the relationships in her life felt very realistically drawn. Ariadne, Belle's bestie, is a standout, as is her mentor, the disgraced witch Artorious (Arty). It also felt so refreshing to have an FMC with literally zero baggage; she just didn't use her magic because life burnt her out and she didn't feel very magical anymore, which I felt so hard. That made Belle's motivations really clear and made her easy to root for. I wanted her to do well in the trials...I just didn't quite get the trials themselves.

Even given all of this, I do like Lucy Jane Wood's style a lot, and I'd give another of her books a try. I just see this as suffering from the classic debut book problems: pacing, worldbuilding, juggling multiple subplots. If Wood's next book is set in this same world (as I believe it will be? I know I technically got this ARC a year after its release), I definitely would give it a shot, because I do think Selcouth/the non-wicche world was a fun place to spend a few hours.

3.5/5 - solid beach read/cozy read that lagged in times and suffered from a genre confusion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkely Publishing Group/Ace, and Lucy Jane Wood for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for this ARC of this book.

It has taken me a long time to write this review. I have been struggling to put my thoughts into words. Belle is a witch who owns a bookshop. This is why I wanted to read it. On her 30th birthday, she is called to the coven for them to decide if she deserves her powers. She is judged on how she has used her powers. She only had really one person on her side with all the other old biddy's hoping she would fail. I just found it catty. This could be a me thing.

The writing was beautiful, but I found myself putting it down and not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I did find it boring at times and lack of intrest or even a care for what happens to her. I am sure this is a me thing but I was still saddened that I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.

I really enjoyed the overall premise of this story. The characters were an integral part of the charm. I really liked Artorious and the role he played. There were some areas throughout that felt like they drug a little. Which made it hard to stay engaged.
Thank to you NetGalley and the publisher for this e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.

4 ⭐️

A sweet and cozy fantasy about a 30 year old witch undergoing a trial to keep her powers. The message of believing in yourself was a touch heavy handed, but also something I needed a reminder of. The twist was something I probably should’ve caught, but I was in the thick of it and felt the appropriate level of betrayal (mild of course because cozy fantasy). Would’ve liked a bit more development in the romance because it kind of came out of left field, but we love a broody yet protective tall warlock.

Belle is a witch with magical abilities, but she wants to live like an ordinary girl, so she rarely uses her magic—mostly just for everyday tasks. But shortly before her thirtieth birthday, she learns that the coven might take her powers away. Belle realizes she doesn’t want to lose them, so she decides to do everything she can to stop that from happening.

This is a sweet and cozy fantasy novel that’s perfect for autumn reading (even the cover gives off those vibes). But to me, the story was a little too fairytale-like. I loved the beginning and the ending, but the middle felt slow—there were too many detailed descriptions of Belle’s magical training.

Out of all the characters, I liked Rune the most. He’s so sweet, and even though Belle kept pushing him away, he genuinely cared about her and always tried to help. There isn’t much romance in the book, and I wish there had been more emotional depth between the two of them—the couple had so much potential.

Even though the main character is thirty, I’d say this book would appeal more to a younger audience—maybe teens. That said, the story gave me warm and nostalgic feelings, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try this fall—with a cup of hot tea or cocoa in hand.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Ace) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sweet and quirky with solid world building, there's a lot to like about this novel, even if some parts feel a little slow. I personally struggle with characters who are hesitant and wary of stepping into their power, magical or otherwise, but that's my own reader pet peeve. I truly loved the descriptions of the bookshop and all the details that go into making it a treasured space.

Way more high fantasy than the cozy lil vibe I expected, but still such a fun ride. The magic system is interesting and reminds me of the kinds of books I read growing up (but obviously for an older audience).

Belle was sooo relatable and I was rooting for her and her little journey so hard, and also I need a magical bookshop with cinnamon buns asap. I was so stressed out for her basically the entire book. I'm a sucker for found family, so I adored that. Small gripes: first, I wanted more Rune!! Also, the pacing was a little messier than I would have liked.

I'm really looking forward to reading the second book! I'd recommend this to fans of slow burns, magical trials, and major life milestones.

This was fascinating, cozy read with your heart going out to Belle immediately. A witch that uses her powers in ordinary ways but perhaps not enough, is called for a tribunal where her magic might be stripped from her. Through a series of trials and help from everyone around her, this is a story that uplifted and made you cheer for the final outcome. Excellent writing, good, believable characters. It wraps up quite nicely but there is still interpretation open for a second or even third book.

This was the most cozy, magical, whimsical, swoony, heart wrenching book! Wow! I really read this at the right time in my life.

My thoughts on this title will reveal some spoilers.

I really liked that this story was really about believing in yourself. That the FMC felt like everything was falling apart in her life, when if she was willing to try and own her story, she could do so much more.

The twist was interesting. I know he was set up as a bubbly character, but I kept wanting to not trust him. I figured he knew the sabotage things because he was doing them, not realizing it was someone else.

I also loved the mom and the best friend.

I have this title in my posting plan, to post in mid July.

Such a great fall witchy read. Absolutely loved the FMC & her roommate. Rewitched is everything I could have wanted in a small town romance witchy rom-com & more. Thanks to netgalley & the publisher Berkley for this read. Can’t wait for the next one!!

I thought that this was a great story! Belle, aka Belladonna Blackthorn, is a witch who came into her powers at 15 and has largely been ignoring them since. Sure, she does quick spells to pick out the right outfit for the day or clean, but as far as expanding her craft...not so much. She is completely shocked, at 30, to be thrust into the Equiwitch trial to show that she's worthy of her magic. She might have missed that point when studying (or not) her grimoire, but she panics thinking she might lose her magic. Bronwyn, one of the coven sages, gives her a last chance - she can mentor with Artorius Day during the month of October to prove she can save her magic. Belle has been afraid to move forward with a few things - both in her non-magical life (she's afraid to make a move to purchase her beloved bookstore) and in her magical career. This felt like a coming of age tale, even though Belle isn't your typical adolescent. I enjoyed it - it felt like an empowering story about finding your own magic and that 30 is not necessarily the end of your life. Belle is a likable protagonist, there are some twists in the story, and overall, I would recommend to fans of paranormal and heartfelt stories.

sweet, cozy, entertaining, and a quick read. I wish that there was a bit more romance involved with the love interest. overall, I really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down.

Belle Blackthorn - full name Belladonna -works at a bookstore, Lunar Books. She brings a magical quality to the store, not only because of her passion for it, but also because she’s a witch, not that anyone around her knows it. Living in regular, non-witch world, she has to keep it a secret - even from her best friend and roommate. Right around her 30th birthday, she learns a troubling fact - her coven has demanded that she participate in a trial in order to keep her magic. If she fails, she’ll lose it forever. There’s mystery, there’s some romance, twists, and - as to be expected - there’s a whole lot of magic.

To my delight, some of my all time favorite tropes appeared in this novel - namely found family, trials, and all the witchy vibes. It was also incredibly cozy, which I appreciated even though it was May/June when I read this (it’s been unseasonably cold where I live!) It’s also Summerween, which I’ve never been involved in, but this was a great read for it.

One of the things that surprised me most was that it took place in London, which I loved. I’ve always wanted to visit, so hearing the British phrases and words was so fun to read and learn about. I wasn’t expecting it going in, but it was a welcome surprise.

The other thing I wasn’t expecting was all of the beautifully written descriptions throughout. I was expecting a romcom so to hear such detailed prose was unexpected. It made everything really immersive and everything was painted to the reader in such a pretty way. The way the story unfolded was enriched due to the amount of detail.

If you’re going into this just expecting a romance novel, I need you to dial your expectations back. Though the romance is there, it’s not the main focus of this novel. It’s more about Belle’s journey as a witch and her quest to discover her strength. Though I enjoyed the romance aspect - the love interest is protective and sweet, (and good looking too!) - I liked reading about Belle’s journey the most.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the characters, the story, and most of all - experiencing this world. I’m looking forward to reading Uncharmed, the second novel in this series, which is set in the same world, but features a different main character. I’m excited to see how this particular witchy world grows and where the story’s headed next! If you like cozy fantasy as much as I do, I recommend you pick this up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a free copy of this book. As always, this review has been written honestly.

2.5 out of 5 stars

I find it hard to believe that a person who works in a bookstore would not read a book about the magical powers they possess. I think the temptation to open a grimoire would be too hard to pass up.

Belladonna Blackthorn, Bella for short, is a bookstore-working witch who does not like to use her powers. She lives an unassuming life, trying not to snap at her overbearing boss. But when she reaches her thirtieth birthday, Bella is forced by her coven to participate in a trial that will determine her worthiness to keep her powers. After an uncertain result, Bella is given a month to pass more trials and prove her worth.

I was promised a cozy read, and I do not feel like this book delivered. I found it difficult to get into the story, and none of the characters ever grew on me. I thought Bella was boring, Rune’s devotion to Bella did not make sense to me, and I was annoyed by the codependency of Ariadne. The book had a decent plot, but I just could not get over the characters. I often found myself thinking that none of the characters talked like real people.

Along with the uninteresting characters, the writing could not grab my attention either. It seemed to me that the writing was trying to be whimsical like a witch’s spell, but that made the writing drag and I wanted them to get to the point. I do not think the plot moved slow, however, the writing made it appear that way. There is a way to make a witch story magical, but this method did not work for me.

This book had so much potential and I really wanted to like it, but it fell flat for me. I cannot get over the boring characters and the writing. I wanted a cozy magical story with an interesting slow-burn relationship, but I got none of those things.

I read this courtesy Berkley and NetGalley. In this charming and sprightly story, Belladonna needs to get her magical groove back, so to speak. She hasn’t used her witchy abilities well enough to be proficient, so when she turns thirty, she gets a notice from her coven that she’s got to prove she’s worthy of being a witch. She has a month (October, of course) to work on it, and she has to use every advantage she can get her hands on to do it, including involving the guy she’s been assigned to protect her. I found this to be a fun, light read, and perfect for the witchy season.
#Rewitched #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for the ARC!

Please note that my star rating is very specific to my own rubric. The stars themselves do not directly equate to my feelings around the specific elements of the book, but more closely align with my top tier (reread every year) kind of ranking.

Pros:
Wood does an incredible job at building cozy settings. It is incredibly easy for me to picture Belle's apartment, Lunar and even Arty's house. The overall imagery and consistency in how these locations are described, as well as, the emotions when the characters are there come across very strong. There was great language leaning on readers' personal experience with bookstores to help vet out the impact Belle's magic had on the store.
Similarly, Wood does a good initial job with dialogue. Some of the banter between Belle and Ariadne immediately click into the diatribe between two best friends. It's witty, it's acerbic but also filled with affection and a lifetime of shared history. Truly well done. There are likewise some moments between Rune and Belle that are top notch dialogue. It helps to drive the initial interest for the reader.

Personal Opinions;:
All of this being said, the book reads incredibly chaotic and it's not even an intentional writing design to place mistrust on the narrator. There needs to be more on the page of this magical world and the structure between the wicches and non-wicche community. Oftentimes it felt like there were entire chapters I was missing but the book kept speeding along like I had a plethora of internal context. This only led to shockingly obvious moments of inconsistency.

How is it that Belle has never encountered another wicche, but she can take a city metro to the Coven's holding, her mentor is somehow within walking distance to her home and bookstore (which is supposed to be in a small town or township?), and despite being where she grew up and went to school -- her mother lives a shocking distance away?
60% of the way into the book we learn that there are wicche covens such as Selcouth, but also independent witcches and other covens. Despite this different hierarchal structure of the wicche world, Selcouth somehow has the power to take away Belle's magic even though she's not a practicing member of this coven. This doesn't make sense within the world Wood builds. If Belle was an "independent wicche" would her magic still be under threat?

Moving away from the world building, I have some beef with how Belle is presented. Her insecurities drive the entire book and in a "oh my gosh, I'm embarrassed to keep reading for you" kind of way. All people struggle with insecurity, but Belle blathers on about her deepest darkest insecurities to literally everyone. Including a room of massive strangers, minutes within meeting them. This doesn't align with how Belle sees herself across the rest of the book and her interactions with her community. Let's take Rune as an example. Early on, Belle is bashful and blushing upon first meeting Rune. There is initial physical attraction which rackets up her insecurities. Then she spills all her darkest secrets in front of and to the man. After five very short dialogues exchanges (that cannot be constituted full conversations), Belle is suddenly falling in love. Belle is falling in love with a man CENTURIES older than her. (Why must this trope continue??) Belle goes from shy and bashful to full blown aggressive and harsh with Rune, with my only assumption being that she's annoyed she's attracted to him?? Nevertheless, she continues to torture herself without bothering to leverage Rune as a resource which just gets repeatedly irritating when we spend whole chapters of her complaining about being exhausted from doing everything on her own.

There is so much potential here. I truly think that with flushing out more of the world elements, Wood could build so many beloved characters into her robust scenery work. I would be very curious to see how Ariadne's life is after the conclusion of "Rewitched" and further vetting of the town in which they all live.