⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. Impractical Magic was a fun, magic-y read! Scarlett is called back to her hometown of Oak Haven when something is affecting the magic in town and her family needs her help fixing it. There’s also some second chance romance with her old almost-boyfriend, Nate. Overall this had an interesting take on magic and lots of adventures.

This was a great read to start off spooky season. The story of the estranged sisters coming together, bringing back their memories was a heartwarming one. The magical aspect brough whimsy, and a cozy feel to reading this book.

I really wanted to like this book. Cozy small-town/witchy/second-chance romance is right up my alley!

Unfortunately, it took so long to get to the heart of the conflict. And while you learn who one of the bad guys is, you never find out who the Big Bad is. As far as I know, this is a standalone book. And having a vague Boss who is never revealed just doesn't work for me. I wish it was a more simple antagonist if it really is just a standalone. This book could easily be 30-50 pages shorter if it got to the point faster.

As for the romance, I don't mind slow burn (I'm a huge fan of Assistant & Apprentice to the Villain IYKYK), but I want excessive amounts of internalized pining in my slow burns. Nate is Down Bad for Scarlett, but we don't learn much about him beyond what we see in the story. And Scarlett just seems like she's lusting after him, not so much in love with him.

I agree with other reviews that describe the characters as flat. And Scarlett's internal struggles get repetitive.

This book will be available on 10/1.

** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

Thank you to Emily Grimoire and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it had so many gilmore girl references, but make it magical. This was a cute and cozy fall read that is a perfect pallette cleanser if you read thrillers or fantasy in the fall. I loved how I couldn't put the book the book down. The writing was intriguing, and the description of the settings was well done.
I loved Scarlettss relationships development with Nate as a second chance romance lover, but more importantly I loved there relationship growth with her family since their relationship was also strained, I feel like alot of people could relate to this.
Overall, this was the perfect cozy fall read, and I highly recommend it.

I had a tough time getting into this book. The magic in it was a little too animated for my taste, but some people like that! The book was compared to Charmed and Gilmore Girls. Both of which I could see. The tension between the sisters was present, but surfaced and light. Overall, I would call this a very feel good, predictable fall story. Great if you are just looking for a reading break from anything heavy.

I fear that I had to DNF at 53%. I kept waiting for it to get better, but all that happened was that I dreaded reading this book. I think the premise would have been super cute, but the follow-through just was not for me, I fear. The FMC was unbearable, and the other characters were not much better. The dialogue was also tough to follow. I think it trying too hard to have Gilmore Girls dialogue, but unfortunately, I don't think it translated well as a book.

Impractical Magic
by Emily Grimoire
Publication Date: October 1, 2024

I really enjoyed this fall story! I loved Scarlett and Nate's relationship and the town of Oak Haven. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy read.

Thank you to Emily Grimoire and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book based on the blurb.

The perfect autumn read where Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in a cosy second-chance romance with a sprinkle of magic. Perfect for readers of Pumpkin Spice Café, Erin Sterling and Lana Harper.

There are so many things I love packed into that sentence. And while this book was enjoyable, it didn't wow me. Perhaps the blurb oversold it. Or perhaps it was trying too hard to live up to the marketing.

What I liked about it (and what you might like too):
-Second Chance
-Quirky Small Town
-Magic on the Fritz

The ending was my favorite part of the book because I feel like the plot finally broke into something orginal and away from trying to fit into a mold. Some of the Gilmore Girl's references were so forced, they were awkward.

Not a bad book for fall, but there a definitely others out there.

If Stars Hollow had a lot of gourds... and magicians. Scarlett has a lot of baggage when she comes back to Oak Haven from San Francisco. Magic was a thing of her past -- and so was Nate. With her hometown in turmoil, overrun by magicians (ick!), and the oak grove sick by a bug infestation, can Scarlett overcome her past traumas to return Oak Haven to its magical state? And what about her relationship with Nate?

Emily Grimoire crafts a fun read that makes a town as cozy as Stars Hollow with town characters just as memorable as their shops. The settings are developed well, and Scarlett's family is a cast of characters. You get a cozy set of characters and a nice autumn vibe. If you're looking for something "spicy", this is not the book for you. It's very light on that subject, which isn't a deterrent for me. It read fine in the context of the plot.

As for the plot, towards the end of the novel, things felt very rushed. Scarlett's place with the oak grove suddenly becomes rushed forward as time moves. While the pieces and players make sense and fall together well, it doesn't feel like it was planned thoughtfully. If this were a television show, it feels like what should have been covered in a season was done in two episodes. There's an incomplete feeling in the way this novel is written, but it's fine reading.

If you're looking for a cozy autumnal read, you'll find it in this.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Such a fun seasonal book! I really enjoyed this one. It’s not something I would usually read but wanted something vibey for fall time and this delivered!

I only requested this book because I love books about magic, and I like a little suspense in them. This seemed a little more romancey, but that was ok. It didn’t take long for me to be immersed in the story, and it was a very light-hearted and fun engagement. I did get a little tired of the bickering between the sisters, but that was an only a mild negative. I was pretty sure I knew what was going on, and I was right, but it was interesting to find out the why. I really enjoyed this book overall, and even if the end bugged me a little, a preference, not an author problem, and it was cute. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This book was really cute! It’s the perfect cozy Autumn/Spooky season read. I loved all the pop culture references that Emily Grimoire worked in.

Thank you to Avon UK and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy of Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire.

This novel fell flat for me. It was pitched as a Gilmore Girls meets Charmed and I just didn't find that to ring true. Yes, it was set in a small town like Gilmore Girls and yes it was about witches like Charmed, but that's where all the similarities ended for me. This novel had so much potential with the premise.

I found the writing to be a bit to youthful sounding while also being far too descriptive in some places. At times I felt like I was reading a middle grade novel, but with some of the pop culture references I knew it wasn't.

The plot dragged at times until the last 20% of the book where the plot seemed rushed.

What a treasure! This book felt like a love letter to Gilmore Girls fans + magic. When I realized the chapter titles were paying homage to GG episode titles, I was so charmed! Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book! Perfect cozy book to read in the fall 🍂

While I loved the premise of this book, it unfortunately did not keep my attention. I really enjoyed the plot. The synopsis promised Gilmore Girls + magic and delivered ! Unfortunately I just found the text hard to follow. It felt like it needed a few more edits. Also any Donald Trump references in a book will always give me the ick. Please don’t give this man more attention.

One of the highlights of the book is its exploration of various magical practices, which adds depth to the story. The familial relationships are equally engaging, providing a rich backdrop to the unfolding narrative. While the romantic storyline may follow a familiar path and lacks some intensity, it offers a sweet resolution, especially for a character who patiently waits a decade for love.

The inclusion of magician elements is intriguing and leaves room for further exploration in a potential sequel. Each sister possesses a distinct and powerful personality, making the prospect of individual stories for them particularly appealing.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

This book was the perfect cozy magical book to kick off spooky season! I loved how they described the town with its foliage and full of pumpkins. This book reminded me of a grown up version of Halloweentown, which is one of my favorite cozy spooky season movies.
Scarlett has been away from Oak Haven for over a decade after guilt over magic gone wrong and the death of her father. She is only returning because her mom and sisters request her help with a problem with Oak Grove and the magic of the town. She is returning to her childhood friend Nate. They were on the cusp of becoming more than friends when she left abruptly. Now, she must decide what they are and come to terms with her past to save her town.
"It was crazy magic, but also beautiful magic and very, very you."
Thank you @netgalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love the idea of this book! Perfect for fall and great witchy vibes. The dialogue did make this a bit challenging to get through and I wish parts of the plot were more fleshed out, but overall a fun easy read.

This was a cute book, great for those who love a light-hearted whimsical romance. It was not for me personally but I think that plenty of people will enjoy this book. I felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie or some other made for tv romance. The story was cute, but predictable. I had trouble relating to any of the characters. Overall, I really did not look forward to finishing this story because I just was not invested. I do think this author has some great potential and maybe with a little more time in editing and rewriting, this could have easily been a 4 star read.

I received this ebook as an ARC. Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher.

This book did give off the cute fall vibes with witchy elements.

I did love the premise of the book. That the town had its quirks and that the non-magic people forgot the towns existence.

However, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the dialogue and did not find myself connecting to the characters.

If you’re looking for a quick fun fall read I think this would be for you, but unfortunately it didn’t hit for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this eARC.