This wad a decent read. I loved the witch vibes and the intriguing mystery. However, it was a bit slow and the ending was quite disappointing. I also felt this could have been whittled down to the one main POV and had more impact.

Thank you to NetGalley and K. L. Cerra for an ARC of this title!

I have to say, I feel like the cover and the description for "Under Her Spell" do not do the story justice - this was MUCH darker than I thought it was going to be based on surface vibes (in a good way)! I felt this was definitely a read that leaned heavy into vibes with its writing style, which I really enjoyed. I think if you like the atmosphere of American Horror Story (specifically the witchier seasons like Coven, and maybe a dash of the OG), the dark edges every 90s teen witch show, the Netflix Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Netflix Wednesday, and then throw it on a mid-2000s Fall Vibes Pinterest board, you get a sense for how this book will feel. But wait, there's more! You also have to throw in feminist rage, mommy AND daddy issues, betrayal, the call of the woods, and a healthy dose of body horror. Oh, and if you don't like bugs, this may not be the book for you. What you end up with is something that looks like it jumped off the features shelf in the Young Adults section in the library on the outside, but is more akin to Midsommar in a lot of ways by the end. I think this will be a great atmospheric read when it comes out in September, just in time for spooky szn.








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I'm going to admit, it took me a minute to get into the story as I did not find the premise absolutely compelling, and I felt like the story was going to be much more Stepford Wives than it turned out to me. Like some other reviews have mentioned, I think some of the characters that could have been more interesting to peer into were left in rough-draft form, or were unfinished or one-dimensional, and I would have liked to see some more resolution in their story lines (e.g. Liv's father, Everett, Sam's stepmother, the various people Liv texted in the beginning). I especially would have liked to find out what happened to Avery, although I think we were just intended to surmise based on Sam that she met a similar fate. She seemed way more important in the "Then" section, so I was surprised she never really came up in the "Now" section beyond a few off-handed comments. I think that could have been a really interesting angle to incorporate, plus exploration into others Eden and Cora had "auditioned" for the third spot, if any, and why it was so important to always have three. Same with the lore behind their Sisterhood powers and Oliver and Harriet's origins. However, by the time the last quarter of the book came around, I figured we had enough "plot" to get a tolerable conclusion despite my misgiving above and I was able to let it go since I was more curious about what was happening with current events. Despite this, I think a little more development in the periphery could have pushed this into a 4.5 star, or stronger overall 4-star read (truthfully I would put this around a 3.75 if allowed but 4 felt perfectly fine based on entertainment). I definitely love good world-building and plot, but I also admit I am probably more of a vibes/enjoyment reader than a really academic or detailed one, and if I had a good time with the book, I can be pretty forgiving with things that probably could have been explained better.

What really grabbed me by the hand and dragged me along was when the story turned to Liv's internal panic as she saw the collar around her sister's neck being buckled around her own re: marriage and childbirth. As a childfree woman currently living in the age of the 4B movement, I think this part of the story really resonated with me, and I was really drawn to the idea of Liv having this special Charmed-like relationship with Eden and Cora. My friends and I constantly talk about having a giant house once we are a little more settled as an alternative to constantly putting ourselves out there year after year, having to extricate for suffocating relationships with men much like the ones in this book - not bad by any means, but with their own dreams and agendas that never seem to factor in that women are also people who don't want to be reduced to the titles of self-sacrificing parenthood. As the story continued to tip in a much more sinister direction, it became clear that the life Live was spellbound by was, like the life she walked in with, the "wrong" choice, and I honestly felt bad for being disappointed by that. I know this is a horror story but I almost feel like having Eden and Cora turn out to be these completely unhinged witches who were manipulating Liv into compliance takes away from the idea that single, childfree women living and working together could be a good thing. But on the other hand the book does the same thing with people who want to get married and have kids in a "traditional" sense, so I guess it would be hypocritical to be mad about it. And I really like that in the end, Liv's problems aren't magically solved by getting married and having a kid. She proves in some senses that she can "have it all" as she says, and that power and freedom are not the black-and-white choices she was being strong-armed into accepting. There is power in compromise, and in recognizing the importance of equal partnership (Blake sounds lie a gem). I think showing that she is still haunted by the women she left behind - and possibly even wistful for that call of the void - is much more realistic however, and it kept me from being underwhelmed by the conclusion. I think this book will sit with me for a while, and I hope it finds its way into the hands of people on the precipice like Liv, and even like the brides chosen by Beloved.

3.5 Star

"A woman who returns to her hometown to investigate her childhood friend’s disappearance soon finds herself embroiled in a deadly web of half truths, cover-ups, and dark magic"

I have mixed reviews on this book. I enjoyed the spooky witchy vibe of the book. I thought the dual mysteries, with one being in the past that helps reveal what happened to the relationship between Liv and Sam, and the current mystery, was the best part of this book.

I do feel like the pacing issues of the book diminished my enjoyment and then I felt like the ending of the book was lackluster.

Overall I thought it was an enjoyable read and the mystery fantasy aspect drew me in from page one.

I am interested to read more from this author.

Received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one was up and down for me. Some aspects were well done but it didn't need to be done in dual timelines bc nothing about what happened between the MC and Sam seemed relevant enough to draw that out; it could've been done differently. The other parts regarding the sisterhood put a woman in two boxes, and two boxes only. And if you bucked their way then you were obviously the problem (although oddly enough in my experience if that was the way you chose - opposite of what Eden preached - you were the weird one). The victims get no justice. But it went by quickly and had a decent vibe for a book hitting as spooky szn hits. Just needs some sitting (Everett, Maddie, magic system, erc)

This gives you those creepy vibes, where you know something isn't right but you can't put your finger on it. It was definitely a slow burn, with most of the action happening at the end. I also wanted more from the end, it felt a bit rushed and vague.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a pleasant surprise of a thriller. It was kinda creepy, a bit heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful.

Wow, this was one heck of a book! I've said before that I couldn't put a book down to do normal, human activities sometimes, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'll say it again. Admittedly, there were times that Sam's actual disappearance and her life leading up to tha point almost seemed secondary to the goings on Liv, Eden and Cora, but never to the point that it was a distraction or a different book.... I want to say that I was happy with the ending, for the most part, so glad Liv got a good ending, even if it wasn't the one she anticipated..... it was touch at go at times, and I worried that Liv wouldn't get away intact at certain moments. Underneath all the action, magic, and female drama runs an important question- Can a woman be a mother and not completely lose herself? Can she go against what society sometimes expects, and hold on to SOME sense of self? Essentially, can a woman "have it all"??? Or will she always have to pick one over the other? I don't want to give anything away, but this is one of those rare books I'd actually consider rereading, so that alone speaks volumes. Will definitely be recommending this one!

Under Her Spell by K.L. Cerra was such a good thriller. I loved the premise of the story and Cerra does an excellent job giving you all the spooky/mysterious feels. I would say this is a medium paced read and one you will definitely enjoy reading. A solid 3.5 star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Well, another eerie but strangely alluring fantasy thriller with spooky witchy and feminist vibes left me with complex feelings! The best thing about this book is the dual mysteries: one about the past, involving the failing friendship between two girls, and the other in the present, where Sam vanishes under suspicious circumstances. I was captivated by the creepy, sensational witchy Sisterhood vibes and the balanced pace that kept me guessing about where the story was heading. One of the twists, which I didn't see coming, was truly heartbreaking.

The only thing that held me back from giving this book a full five stars was the somewhat vague message at the end, and I didn't fully enjoy the conclusion. Additionally, I didn't really like each of the characters. Even Sam, who seemed like the victim of the story, was bossy, unpredictable, and manipulative instead of being a supportive friend. The main character, Liv, was also a bit clueless about people's motives and was too easily charmed by Eden and Cora’s eccentric ways. And Liv’s fiancé, Noah, insisting on having nearly half a dozen children made my eyes roll. Is this guy for real? He felt like a character from another century.

Anyway, I’m still rounding my 3.5 stars up to 4 surprising, magical, but also spookily horrific stars for this book. Here's a quick recap of the plot:

Meet Liv Edwards, 26 years old, recently laid off from a paralegal job she hated, engaged to her boyfriend of eight years, Noah, and sharing a beautiful apartment in Boston. She receives a suspicious message from her estranged high school friend Sam, folded into the shape of a heart just like the notes they used to share. It seems like Sam is in trouble and needs Liv’s help. These close friends had a big fallout in the past related to something unforgivable that Liv had done. With guilt churning inside her, Liv decides to return to her hometown, leaving behind her unhappy family life where her parents always fought and she dealt with it alone after her sister left for college.

As soon as she arrives, she finds herself in the middle of an investigation into Sam's disappearance. It seems like her friend has completely changed, living and working with Eden and Cora in a fancy bridal boutique, even though she rejected Eden’s dark, cultish group in high school. While tracing the footsteps of her missing friend, Liv finds herself tasting Cora’s exquisite cakes, trying on couture gowns, and getting drawn into the mysterious and strange web of these two women and their eccentric attributes, which makes her question her own relationship with her fiancé.

What if Sam didn't go to Europe as presumed and put her life in danger by getting involved with these two women? How far is Liv willing to go to pay her debts and find her friend, even if it means endangering her own life?

Overall, it’s a well-paced, mysterious fantasy that allures you from the first page, keeping you rattled and excited till the end. I mostly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more works by the author in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Bantam for sharing this intriguing book’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Between the magic and the mystery of the missing friend, Under Her Spell has such a captivating premise. And even though it's well-written, the pacing just did not hold my attention. I can't figure out exactly why — maybe because Liv is propelling herself to solve this mystery, but there's no real tension around it or her involvement? Likewise, the reappearance of Eden felt more lackluster than it should be.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, I could not compel myself to keep reading. Obviously, it wasn't a fit for me, but I hope other readers will enjoy it more.

Thank you to the publisher for my arc!


This was an interesting read. the story was fast paced and kept me intrigued however the ending was super lackluster to me. I wanted more of a reveal instead of we kind of got one and then it was kind of just swept under the rug.

Wonderful and enchanting. I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I am absolutely going to go back and read the author's first book.