Doreen and Ambrose are both trapped in an ancient curse and must work together to break its chains. This is more romance than anything - it's very much about enemies to lovers- but it's got good worldbuilding. The characters are oddly given that they are, well, witches believable and the plot zips along. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This will be perfect for fans of witches and magical realism.

2.5/5⭐️

Thanks to the publisher for the early copy.

This book had a promising premise, and there were aspects I enjoyed, but I spent most of it feeling pretty confused.

I like books that center around curses and curse-breaking, and this was a cool curse. The vibe of the magic-casting was also fun. My favorite aspect was the relationship between the two cousins/best friends. I loved how supportive they were of each other, and how they overcame their disagreements.

I constantly felt like I was a step behind while reading, though. The magic was never explained fully enough, and I never got a grasp on it. Where the trials take place is pretty dream-like, and things weren’t explained clearly enough for me to keep up. I was often confused about where we were, what was happening, and what some scenes meant. The POV switching, sometimes mid-section, didn’t help my confusion.

Maybe my confusion here was just a me-problem that others won’t have. If you can go with the flow easier than me you might be fine.

Overall this was an interesting premise, but I didn’t connect with the story very well as I felt like I couldn’t keep up.

I wanted to love this one because the premise sounded great, but this one fell a bit flat for me. I felt the storyline was a bit confusing and all over the place. I am not a fan of insta love and this one sort of seemed like that in how the romance aspect of it felt rushed. This one was overall just okay to me.

Premises sounded so good, an ancient curse, a two enemies coming together at cross purposes and probably falling in,love. The execution unfortunately was not for me. The writing and story did not flow for me, it felt like I stepped in mid story and there was not enough show and too much tell. Others might enjoy more.

Witchy romance will always pique my interest!

This one follows a family that has been cursed in love and Doreen has decided she will make it her mission to end the curse once and for all.

Premise was great. World building lacked a little- it was hard to picture more than running from task to task. Many little info dumps instead of feeling immersed in a story.

Thanks to netgalley and st martins press for an eARC

Thanks much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! This book was cute! I enjoyed the journey that it took you through, the trials, the enemies to lovers plot and the witchiness of it all. There were some parts that were hard to buy into but overall, I enjoyed this read!

2.5⭐️

I’ve been in a witchy mood since fall so I was here for this one. Also the cover is what sucked me in.

Unfortunately, it had a lot going on and would switch between POVs with the two MCs and then other side characters arbitrarily so I had to keep going back to see who was speaking just to then have it swap again in a paragraph or three. It also had LONG chapters, 20 plus mins which I really struggled with.

It was an intriguing concept and had a lot of potential but for me, the execution was a let down.

A witch determined to break her family's generational curse of never finding true love must break the curse of the very witch who set the curse on her family... while trying to avoid falling for him. Doreen MacKinnon is doomed to die of a broken heart if she can't break the centuries old curse placed on her family by Ambrose MacDonald, a powerful male witch who fell in love with Doreen's ancestor Lenora and cursed her family when they hide her from him. But every curse has a cost and in order to curse thee MacKinnons, Ambrose was imprisoned by the witches and doomed to live eternally... until Doreen frees him. Doreen figures that if she can break him out he can undo the curse he put on her family before her 30th birthday because in her family if she doesn't marry by 30 she will die and she is determined to marry for love only... but in a family where she can thrall people she can never know if they truly love her or are under her thrall. Doreen knows she can't trust Ambrose and that he has his own agenda for going along with her.... but she has no choice and as they embark on a series of trials Doreen realizes that she is falling for the very same witch that is head over heels still obsessed with his ex who is a ghost and destroying her family.... but the more time Ambrose spends with Doreen the more he begins to question whether or not he truly loved Lenore or if the impossible has happened and he has found himself another witch to fall for. A story filled with trials, ghosts, family wrongs, and broken hearts... this story also shows the hope of new love, of fighting for your heart, and of doing everything you can to chase what you want. I've been a fan of Paige Crutcher's books for. along time now, ever since I got my first arc of her very first book, I've had a fun time reading every single one. She writes such soft magical and lyrical romances that just feel so whimsical but so much more. There is a depth to her characters and her stories and I would absolutely recommend this for someone looking for a read that is more than just romance but of growth and family.

Release Date: February 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I was so excited to get a free copy of this book from NetGalley, as this sounded so amazing. It really was hard for me to pin down why the book didn't hold my attention (I think I read about 20 books before coming back to this one). It wasn’t that the story was boring or horribly written, or anything. The main characters were well-developed. After quite a bit of reflection, I figured it out. This should would have been much better as a series, rather than one book. There was so much packed into the book that they spent almost no time together, and when they did, it was trying to break the curse. No talking about life or feelings or anything. Then suddenly they are in love.

I really think this author is worth checking out in this future, even though this wasn't my favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given!

Fun and engaging book! The pacing was good and easy to get swept away in. The characters were well developed and interesting. I especially liked enjoyed the world building.

Old curses and finding love are always great prompts for story telling. This was a wonderful book about resilience and family and how a broken heart can cause so much trauma that becomes a generational curse. I really enjoyed the lore and magic system used throughout the book. I would have loved a bit more depth on Ambrose and Doreen's journey to falling in love as it felt a bit of insta-love at times.

Overall, it was a beautiful story of love, family and healing.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 34%. I liked this concept, but I felt like I was dropped into a world without much worldbuilding, and it was hard to become attached to the characters while I was also trying to untangle their discussions to determine what was actually happening here and what rules we were playing by. There were also fairly abrupt POV changes throughout, and the pacing is inconsistent.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would!

What I loved:

1) enemies to lovers troupe
2) Doreen the MC and her cousin. Loved the fact that they were super powerful due to being the 13th generation. Loved the banter between them
3) I enjoyed all the family drama
4) I loved the premise that Angus, the male MC was the witch that cast the curse on Doreen’s family 300 years ago
4) Loved the trials, and the fact that Doreen and Ambrose opted to work together to get through them and try to break the curse

This is my first book by this author, and I plan to get caught up on her backlist asap!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

I love books about witches, so I naturally gravitated toward this one. While the book is an enjoyable blend of magic, trials, and an enemies-to-lovers romance, I found it stumbled a bit - especially in the areas of pacing and plot clarity. Despite these issues, I still found it to be a fun read that reminded me of a lighter version of "A Discovery of Witches" sprinkled with a little "Practical Magic".
 
The novel follows a twenty-nine-year-old woman named Doreen MacKinnon. Doreen is a witch burdened with a centuries-old family curse that dooms her and her descendants to heartbreak and loneliness. No man will ever truly love them, but if they don't marry by the time they are thirty, they will die.

The origin of this curse is rooted in a forbidden love story: Ambrose MacDonald, a powerful male witch, fell in love with Lenora MacKinnon three hundred years ago, only to be separated and banished from her by the MacKinnon family of witches. In his grief and rage, he cast a curse upon their family, ensuring that none of them would ever find true love. But the curse came at a price: Ambrose was imprisoned, doomed to be forever alive and eternally alone.

Doreen, as the 13th-generation MacKinnon witch, is not only one of the most powerful in her bloodline but also desperate for honest companionship. Doreen is coming up on her thirtieth birthday, and she doesn't want to marry just anyone to ward off the curse - she wants real love or no love at all. But she also doesn't want to die, so she does what any headstrong witch would do - she sets out to break the curse. Doreen releases Ambrose from his magical prison, hoping that he will help her, but he sees this as an opportunity for revenge - setting the two on a journey filled with danger and love that neither could have imagined.

The concept of the book is definitely fun, and I really liked the characters. Doreen is strong-willed and determined but also extremely lonely. Her connection with her cousin, Margot, is one of the strongest aspects of the book, offering moments of warmth and loyalty that ground the story emotionally. I also liked Ambrose, even if he did tend to fall into stereotypical "broody bad boy" territory.

The trials that Doreen and Ambrose must endure together in an attempt to break the curse are another fun part of the novel. These challenges inject excitement and adventure into the plot, keeping the momentum moving even when the romance feels uneven. The magic system, though not particularly unique, is enjoyable enough, with its spells, enchantments, and familial lore adding a rich texture to the story.

That said, there were several elements that felt underdeveloped or unclear. One major point of confusion for me was Doreen's aunt Stella's decision to prevent her from forming romantic attachments as a teenager, despite knowing that marriage was essential to Doreen staying alive. Did she want Doreen to die? Was there an alternative plan that was never explained? Why did she stop her from building a relationship but not Margot? Did I miss something?

Another thing that felt off was that the romance between Doreen and Ambrose leans heavily into the enemies-to-lovers trope, but the execution felt a bit rushed. While it's clear from the start that a romance will develop between them, the transition from adversaries to lovers happens abruptly. It seemed that one moment, Doreen and Ambrose despised each other and the next, they were in love. The emotional build-up was lacking, which might disappoint readers who enjoy a slow burn.

My only other complaint with this one was the pacing felt really off. We are dropped into the action within a couple of pages, and I never felt fully grounded before we were off on the adventure. I also felt like there were some chapters that could have been edited down and others that could have used a bit more exposition.

Despite these flaws, the book is still an enjoyable read, especially for those looking for a lighter fantasy romance. The trials and adventure elements are engaging, and Doreen is a character I had no problem rooting for. The romance, while abrupt, has its charming moments, and Ambrose makes for a compelling - if somewhat underdeveloped - love interest. If you're looking for a fun, magical romance that doesn't take itself too seriously, this book might be for you.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin, for this ARC. When I first received this book, I was very excited because the premise was right up my alley. The lore in this book was captivating. I loved the trials, the curse concept, the family dynamics, and, of course, the enemies-to-lovers theme. The romance is mild but still enchanting.

Unfortunately, I had a challenging time connecting with it at first. The story throws you in without much context, which can sometimes work, but in this case, it felt like I was jumping into a sequel (it is not one). However, I enjoyed it more once I became accustomed to the plot and the characters. I just never felt that "hooked" feeling.

I received this ARC early, so I hope a few more revisions are planned. I intend to reread it once it is published, but I would rate it around a 3.5 for now. It has a lot of potential, but there was simply too much going on. I would still recommend this one to anyone who enjoys fantasy/witch stories with romantic elements.

Pub date: February 25, 2025.

As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤

Super cute read. Witches on a mission to break a curse, deal with family trauma, and an unwanted yet beguiling chemistry. What more could ya want? This was a fun quick read. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing it with me.
~T

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book!

A Circle of Uncommon Witches could best be described as a combination of Practical Magic (the book, not really the movie (iykyk 👀)) and Coraline?!?!? I went into this book thinking it was going to be a cute witchy romcom... that was my bad 😂 This book is a lot more of a magical realism + fantasy romance (not romantasy) + action + adventure + kinda women's fiction + dash of literary elements! I know that's a lot to take in but it's the best way I can think to describe this complex story! There's family issues, a love curse, magical trials, a LOT of suspense and so much more!
I was worried that with all of the vibes going on in this book, it would feel that it was slow paced and boy was I kind of wrong! There was SO much packed into this book that it never got boring and I was so intrigued as to wth was happening! There was so much action filled and tense moments that I never really knew what was going to happen. And let me tell you, the ending?!?!?! INSANE but also confusing...but also kind of why the story also reminds me of Coraline 👀 I was such an interesting combo and the ending had me sitting there in shock because WHAT DOES IT MEAN!?!? 👀 If you want a book that is going to throw you for a loop, this is definitely the book for you! 💖

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, for this book.

Spells, witches, and romance where can you go wrong?

Doreen and Ambrose are the perfect rnemies to lovers couple. The suspense was fantastic and I just became engrossed it the story.

I know others found it drawn out and lacking debth, but i enjoyed every page.

Recommend.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really loved this one! I am not the best at writing reviews sometimes, but sometimes books take you by surprise and this one did just that. I got invested a few chapters in and couldn't put it done. It was so good! I highly recommend this one.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher follows a witch named Doreen MacKinnon and her attempts to break a 300 year old curse that ensured she would die broken hearted. Kicker is the only one who could possibly break the curse is the man who placed the curse. With the help of said witch Doreen embarks on a quest to ensure her happiness with a sprinkling romance.

A Circle of Uncommon Witches was a cute read! I am always a sucker for a romance where the male love interest is dark and broody with an initially antagonistic relationship with the main character . Overall this book was a cozy and quick read to settle down for the night with. Throughout the book I was rooting for the end romance. There were parts where I did have re-read to completely understand but that comes with the witchy nature of the plot. I would recommend if you are truly looking for an easy read with a dash of magic and romance.