Not the follow-up I wanted for Old Flames and New Fortunes. I was primed by the preceding book for a fun romance centered on Zelda and Morgan, yet that is easily the worst aspect of this story. He is a walking red flag for at least 75% of the tale, engaging in highly punchable behavior that she for the most part tolerates due to her physical attraction to him. Although Trevor is also this type of individual, the demeanor works with him because it's featured in much smaller doses, becoming infuriating when it is a primary feature of the male main character. The plot here is a disorganized jumble; I was glad to be reading instead of listening because I would have eventually been lost with the audiobook. However, the setting of Moonville and the characters within it are still quite charming, and I liked seeing how Zelda eventually came to accept the fact that she is a witch, with her ability to see unique creatures a clever invention. The last quarter is pretty great, and to me, what ultimately made this worth reading is Hogle's writing, which remains whimsical and strong, and I cherished her multiple beautiful passages that highlight the wonder of both words and books. While I don't mind weird or messy content, this tipped the scales too far into chaos, and I hope that Luna's story features more stability and satisfaction.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing this copy.
I loved and devoured Old Flames and New Fortunes in one sitting, but I lost interest halfway through this one because of the pacing. The concept of the book was promising but sometimes I felt lost and didn't feel the connection between Zelda and Morgan.

I have loved many of Sarah Hogle's books, but this just didn't work for me. Is this magical realism? I thought after book 1 that these sisters didn't actually have magic, but this book made me doubt that. Either way, the plot was very bizarre. I also got confused by the romance. In the beginning it seemed like maybe this was going to be a love triangle, but then it clearly wasn't. I still didn't feel the chemistry, though.

3.25 stars
The Folklore of Forever is a quick, fun, and whimsical read! I enjoyed the characters and creatures in this story.

Zelda being a skeptic with a family of witches made for some funny moments, but loved how her sisters’ feelings toward her remarks were also mentioned. Morgan grew on me. At first, I did not really care for him. I think his personality really shines in the last half of the book. Luna, Romina, and Aisling are lovely characters and I love their interactions with Zelda.

The journey to finding the Black Bear Witch is incredibly chaotic, which made it so difficult to put this book down. It is fun and intriguing with the newfound creatures and magical aspects.

Overall, this book was entertaining and lighthearted with witchy vibes. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle is a whimsical and heartfelt paranormal romance that takes readers on a magical journey through Moonville, Ohio. The story follows Zelda Tempest, a paranormal skeptic and writer struggling with creativity, who is reluctantly drawn into a ghost-hunting adventure by her charming and persistent neighbor, Morgan Angelopoulos. As Zelda begins to uncover the town's hidden magic, including bizarre creatures and mysterious voices in the woods, she also discovers the transformative power of belief and connection. Hogle’s signature humor and vivid descriptions bring Moonville to life, making it feel both enchanting and relatable. The banter between Zelda and Morgan is sharp and entertaining, adding depth to their evolving relationship. This book is a delightful mix of romance, magic, and self-discovery, perfect for anyone who loves a quirky, feel-good story with a touch of the supernatural.

In The Folklore of Forever, we get to go back to Moonville, Ohio. In this story, we follow Zelda, who is a well-known author and doesn’t believe in magic even though she writes about it and sees her family believe in it.
The story is whimsical and fun as we see Zelda and the protagonist, Morgan, search and truly believe in magic. The dialogue is witty and deep while Zelda and Morgan gradually learn to love and trust one another.
Overall, this story is pretty quirky and humorous, but it is very different from the rest of Sarah Hogle’s other stories so it might not be for everyone as it isn’t a straightforward romance and focuses more about finding magic and who you are.
Thank you to to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for my advanced copy and letting me share my own opinions.

3.5 stars maybe?

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Sarah for the ARC. I was excited to receive this since I had bought and enjoyed the first book in the series and couldn't wait to jump back into Moonville.

This was a quirky, charming book about magic and love but it lacked some romance between Zelda and Morgan. I loved the magic system, and how quirky and whimsical the writing is. The love and progression between the three sisters.

I needed more from Morgan as the MMC. It was too jumpy between him and Zelda during like the first half or more of the book. I think it would have helped if earlier on it showed how Morgan has trouble talking about strong feelings when they are real. I would have given this book a higher star rating if the romance plot was fleshed out better. I loved the banter between the two and how toward the end you see how both of them complimented and loved each other's unique strangeness.

This book felt like a lot happened but at the same time nothing happened.

It felt like a warm cozy autumn hug but also I felt very disconnected from the characters and the story.

Overall it’s enjoyable. Just maybe not my cup of tea.

This was a fun, cute paranormal romance but I really didn't have any strong feelings about it. For me, it was ok. I didn't think the plot was well executed and couldn't really connect with the characters.

I have been a Sarah Hogle fan since "You Deserve Each Other" left me laughing, crying, and rooting for Naomi and Nicholas to find their way back to each other. I have enjoyed every one of Sarah's books and won't let this novel deter me from picking up Luna's book but I really didn't enjoy this one. Morgan was immediately unlikeable and wasn't written in a way where I felt like he had earned any redemption. It was a slow burn, but we really didn't get much insight into what made Zelda begin to trust him and what actually made them fall in love. While the story was chock-full of Sarah's signature silliness and wit, at times it felt over the top to the point of making the story difficult to follow. This was especially true as the story dove deeper into the magical subplot and with the forest scenes til the end. Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

ARC Review of "The Folklore of Forever" by Sarah Hogle
⭐ 4/5 Stars

A whimsical and charming romantasy, “The Folklore of Forever” is a delightful blend of quirky magic, ghost-hunting adventures, and slow-burning romance. Forced proximity, a reluctant believer, and the boy-next-door make this not only a love story, but one of self-discovery and the power of belief.

This book made me smile so much! The magic was wonderfully weird, the humor was sharp and dry, and the love story unfolded in such a sweet, natural way. Zelda and Morgan’s banter had me grinning, and their slow transition from skepticism and teasing to something deeper was so satisfying to read. The town of Moonville itself felt like a character, full of oddities and charm that made every twist feel exciting, even when the pacing slowed at times.

The characters were imperfect in the best way - lovable, flawed, and full of personality. I adored how Zelda’s journey mirrored that of the protagonist in her own novel, showing how she was shaped by the people who loved her. And Morgan? He was just as charming and mischievous as you’d expect from a hero trying to make a skeptic believe in magic. Their relationship was layered, funny, and filled with quiet moments of tenderness that made me swoon.

As a(n obsessed) book lover, I especially enjoyed how books and storytelling were woven into Zelda and Morgan’s relationship. This was my first book by Sarah Hogle, and I’m excited to follow her work!

I was generously provided an ARC by G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own ♡

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7403081896
And StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/98bde4bc-9173-4a85-b11b-2f51d80f9ec8

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle. The book has an intriguing premise, and perhaps if I had read the first book, it would have clicked better. The themes are thoughtful, and there’s real depth to the story, but I struggled to connect—whether due to the pacing, style, or just personal preference. While I ultimately chose not to finish, I can see its appeal and would recommend it to fans of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Romance. Sometimes, a book just isn’t the right fit, and that’s okay! I’m still looking forward to exploring more from this author.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the early copy, but I unfortunately DNF this with a quickness.

2.5 stars

I’ve read and enjoyed a few of the other books from Sarah and I’m wondering if maybe I would have liked this one more if I would have read the previous book in the series (which I didn’t realize this was part of a series.)

I think I liked Zelda and Morgan. They’re both chaotic and messy and their relationship started out cute then Morgan showed his ass a bunch and then maybe it was cute again? I did like Zelda’s sisters and how supportive they were, but the real star of the book was Zelda’s niece Aisling.

Plot wise, it’s all over the place. I spent a good part of the book wondering if magic is actually real in this world or if everyone was just delusional (again, something that might have been established for me if I read the first book.) I skimmed portions of the pages and pages of inner monologue to find what was likely supposed to be sassy banter disguised as flirting, but by then, I just wanted answers.

Overall, something kept me reading this story, yet I can’t tell you what it was.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sarah Hogle for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Folklore of Forever coming out April 8, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love paranormal and cozy stories. I thought it was an interesting setting. I really enjoy stories about magic. I really wanted to love it. I just think the characters didn’t do it for me. Zelda wasn’t my favorite. It was a long story and it seemed to go in different directions. I would check out other books by this author.

This book is all over the place, like my brain, and I can definitely see that being hard to follow. It is, or at least it seems, intentional seeing as the characters are all a chaotic mess too. Well except for Dylan or Bob or whatever his name is. Which reminds me, why was he even there? (just kidding, kind of)

Zelda has returned home to Moonville only to be pestered by Morgan, a ghost hunting podcaster and all around weirdo, who wants to have magical powers. The book is pretty much an on-again off-again of them being magical investigative partners look for the Black Bear Witch.

Like the first book, The Folklore of Forever is for the weird girls that liked being outside by themselves a little too much. Zelda was entirely relatable as a child to me, wanting to be in the woods making up stories and reading books constantly. I really liked Zelda being able to reflect on her childhood and be proud of where she is in life.

Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an eARC of The Folklore of Forever in exchange for this review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I’ve loved every other work published by this author, but this was a huge miss for me. It didn’t start off great, in fact, for some reason; it almost seemed like a book within a book. I kept waiting for it to flash back to reality -which says a lot in a magical world. The characters didn’t have any chemistry whatsoever, and didn’t even seem to be more than one dimensional characters.

truly hate leaving bad reviews, but I just couldn’t get through this without cringing constantly. The MMC is insufferable, rude, and downright offensive to the FMC yet she swoons for him over and over and over. It’s 2025, we don’t need disrespectful MMCs in romance. It’s. A bad look.

I received an eARC and an ALC of this book. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to explore this book early.

Unfortunately, it is not for me.

A splendidly magical story of witches, wonder, and woven tales of myth and truth. Morganis a cute but a tad different guy who spends too much time staring at Zelda. Zelda had returned to her sisters’ Luna and Rumina as an author with no stories left in her. She has always been full of stories for as long as she can remember. She is also not a witch as her sisters are. She and Morgan find themselves working together to find paranimals and other magic tales of folklore.
A simply delightful novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I read my first Sarah Hogle book last year and quickly became a devoted fan. I love her small-town settings, quirky characters, and unique blend of comedy and romance. Happily, all of those elements are present in The Folklore of Forever.

Readers first met the Tempest sisters--Luna, Romina, and Zelda--in Old Flames and New Fortunes. (Don't worry; you don't have to read that one first, but I recommend the book!) While Romina and Luna fully embrace their magical gifts, Zelda is skeptical. After recently returning home to Mooville, Ohio, she is struggling to get her creativity flowing. Zelda is a successful paranormal author, but she can't even seem to write a grocery list these days.

As much as Zelda denies her magic, her eccentric but handsome neighbor, Morgan, is determined that not only is Zelda a witch, but she's a witch he can woo into giving some of her magic to him. Initially flattered by his attention, Zelda quickly sours on Morgan's whispered sweet nothings as soon as she learns the truth about why his interest in her turned so intense so fast. But avoiding someone in an enchanted small town that seems determined to force their paths to cross is nearly impossible.

While the overall setting is the same, The Folklore of Forever is a very different story than Old Flames and New Fortunes. This book feels darker--scarier in ways--and much more mysterious. Author Sarah Hogle turns up the flames of fantasy and adventure while readers journey deep into the forest surrounding the town. The romance between Zelda and Morgan is more a mix of silly and saucy than spicy and smoldering, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it!

My thanks to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam's Sons for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.