This was such a cute, cozy read with a really fun premise. I loved the witchy elements mixed with the modern setting—it gave the whole story a light, whimsical vibe that was easy to enjoy. The writing was charming, and the humor added a nice touch throughout.

That said, the pacing felt a bit slow in places, and while I liked the romance, it leaned more toward a friends-to-lovers dynamic without quite hitting that full romantic spark I was hoping for. It felt more sweet than swoony.

Overall, it was a fun, magical escape with great cozy vibes—perfect if you’re in the mood for something light and whimsical, even if the romance didn’t fully sweep me off my feet.

I was very excited to read this one after I read the summary. I was craving a cozy read and it totally delivered. Thorn as a witch wanting to date in the modern world was a classic setup for comedy. I loved the time traveling twist plus the cat familiars. I think that was my favorite, the cat familiars and their banter. I loved the twist of the cats and Walls being a veterinarian helping the cats who are scared.
I was really hoping to see that second date but still I was very happy with that ending.

I just finished a good book. An Ancient Witches Guide to Modern Dating is available soon and is one you should put on your list.

3.5 ⭐️

This was a really cute book!! I think if you’re in the mood for a cozy romance with magic, witches, and humor this is something you should pick up!

Our FMC is a witch who often makes potions to find her one true love. While making a potion she accidentally messes up the recipe & ends up making a time traveling potion. She lands herself in the same house, but in the twenty first century. This book was funny & felt so unserious, but in the best way.

One thing I disliked about it was the “modern slang” this author referred to. It was a littleeeee cringy at time and gave millennial vibes 😭😭 but overall I liked the story!

Thank you so much to the Saga Press for allowing me to review this book! All opinions are my own.

This was a silly little witchy romance. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the time travel, and I think Thorn's adjustment period was a little unreasonable, but overall it was a great story. I wish she had been slightly less focused on the priority of needing a man, but in the context of her family, it made sense.

Rating: 3.75 stars

A lighthearted, cozy, witchy romance. It was quirky and humorous. It is about a 39-year-old witch who is trying to find true love, and through a magical mishap, ended up in the 21st century. You would think dating in the 17th century was tough, but watching our main character navigate the modern world, picking up new slangs, and learning the dos and don’ts of modern dating, was just chaotic and hilarious in the best way possible. I truly adored Thorn’s character. Knowing about her history and learning why love is so important to her, made her really relatable. It was just wonderful to watch her grow from this person who thinks she is unlovable to someone who learns to cherish herself. However, my favorite character was probably Bandit, Thorn’s familiar who is a white cat. He is bold, has an overlord attitude, and sassy as hell. Despite the constant banter between him and Thorn, he remains fiercely loyal and protective.

The romance between Thorn and Wallace (aka Walls) was really sweet. It was really satisfying to see how their relationship developed naturally, with Thorn taking the time to focus on her own development. I also really liked the nickname that Thorn has for Wallace when communicating with the cats. The “mad warlock” was really cute. I did wish we could have explored Wall’s past a little bit more. I think it would have added more depth to his character. There was also a mystery in this novel that was unexpected and left me with some mixed feelings. Although I liked how everything was tied together, the conclusion felt a bit abrupt and overly convenient.

Overall, I really enjoyed this cozy, magical read. Perfect for the Fall season!

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

AN ANCIENT WITCH'S GUIDE TO MODERN DATING - An enjoyable story with wonderful characters, good story lines, confusion, honesty, family, and some laughs. Thorn doesn't have modern problems, head games and that other silliness, but learning has its moments and the reader cannot help rooting for her success. Plenty of talking cats and a bit of evil? Source: Netgalley. 4*

4.5 stars rounded up

This looks to be a debut book and I found it to be super charming, lighthearted, and unexpected. It has middle age love (late 30s female character), animal familiars, and time travel going for it. A witch out of the 17th century ends up in the current world, experiencing modern day conveniences and the dating scene. The inclusion of a character in the veterinary field was a fun addition. The side characters were interesting as well and added to the main character arc.

Thank you Saga Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Thorn Scarhart is a witch who struggles to find love and is frustrated by the fact that, at 39, she is still single. One night, while working on a love potion, she accidentally time travels to the future.

I LOVEEEE a good witchy book, and this one did not disappoint. I had such a fun time reading this book. It was cozy, charming, and had me giggling. The vibes were just overall great. Watching Thorn navigate modern technology and trying to understand the slang was so funny. And her attempts at modern dating, along with meeting some of the weirdest men online, were equally entertaining. I especially loved the cat interactions because Thorn can talk to them. My favorite was Bandit, her familiar. He definitely had some of the best moments in the book, and the banter between them was great.

Overall I would recommend- I had a fun time reading and will definitely be reading it again in the fall!

Disclaimer: Thank you to Saga Press and NetGalley for providing An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edwards for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars Rounded up to 4!

I originally requested An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edwards because I was totally bewitched by the cover, but after reading the plot blurb, I was completely spellbound. The promise of a mature FMC getting tossed into the 21st century with her cat familiar in tow sounded like exactly the kind of magical chaos I needed.

An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating is cozy, quirky, and wonderfully weird. It’s the perfect palate cleanser if you're burned out on angsty 19-year-olds trying to save the world with their fated mates. If you're craving something magical but low-stakes, keep reading for my full ARC review of this witchy rom-com.

Overall Impressions 😊

This book was like being under a cozy blanket in front of a fireplace with magic shooting stars in it. Does it make sense? No. Should it? Please no. It is wonderfully weird, absolutely absurd, and just a good time.

I enjoyed this quite a bit. I wasn't sure what to expect given that it's a debut novel, but it's a solid first outing for Cecilia Edwards. It gives a bit “adult fairy tale” and feels like someone had the thought, “What if a spinster got thrown into the 21st century?” and absolutely ran with it.

Thorn, our main character who is 39 and desperate to find a husband, finds herself in the 21st century where dating is… different. Watching her figure out Tinder is a complete delight.

This book has all the good makings of a romcom. It's lighthearted, effortless, and the perfect escapism for when you need something airy and witchy without the emotional baggage.

Perfect For Fans Of… 🌟

If you're bored of your usual reads, whether it's fantasy romance or contemporary romance, and looking for a genre change or a palate cleanser, this will probably do the trick.

It kind of reminded me of Enchanted as a movie where the princess finds herself in a modern world, and a bit of anything written by Kevin Wilson, namely Nothing to See Here, if you're a fan of absurdism in modern-day settings.

Characters 👥

It was a breath of fresh air to have an older FMC. Thorn is 39, and it was just nice to spend time with actual adult characters. I liked Thorn’s motivations, aspirations, inner monologue, and just her general befuddlement with 21st-century life.

Walls, the handsome vet who keeps crossing paths with Thorn, was a lovely main character. Meg was fun, and even side characters like Madam Maude added to the charm. Everyone had that Alice in Wonderland energy, with their quirky, grown-up fairy tale vibes, and overall, it was just a good time.

I adored all the cats, especially Bandit, who had a total Disney princess sidekick attitude but just enough snark to remind me he was still a cat. He was a standout character in his own right and brought some of the funniest moments in the book.

Plot 🗺️

This had the usual workings of a quirky romcom, from the meet cute all the way to the HEA. Thorn finds herself in modern day and has to figure out how to find herself a husband, and shenanigans ensue.

I didn’t expect there to be quite so much of a B plot mystery, both around Thorn and the other side characters, but it tied the plot together really well. This book is, more or less, a slice of life fantasy, and that fits, the real joy is watching Thorn try to figure out how to work a stove or a sink. It just works.

All in all, it’s light, effervescent and funny.

Writing Style and Narration ✍️

The tone and writing are just like the topic, witty and light. There isn’t a lot of dense prose, nor should there be, but the picture is drawn clearly enough that we get solid worldbuilding to immerse ourselves in.

The magic system is explained just enough that it doesn’t distract from the events of the story. It gives the world enough roots to feel whole without getting in the way.

The length of the book is just right at around 300 pages. It’s long enough that it doesn’t read like a novella, but short enough that it doesn’t go on longer than it needs to.

It’s a lovely, cute story tied with a neat bow, the perfect snack.

Closing Thoughts 🧃

An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edwards is everything I wanted from a cozy little fantasy book. It's witty, funny, and a great distraction when I wanted something light. It’s the perfect book to reset your palate after reading heavier content or when you're swapping genres. Either way, you can curl up in your chair and devour this with a warm cup of tea.

This was a fun, cozy, endearing read. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood yet for a cozy read.

But, I felt like the pace struggled for a lot of the book. I found the time jump to be a bit too much for the way it was written. There were moments that felt awkward reading it and I didn't necessarily vibe with the book as much as I hoped.

I did enjoy the humor along with Thorn and Bandit(bandit is the star!). There were moments I laughed and those were the highlight for me!

I didn't connect much to Walls because we didn't learn a lot about him.

If you love cozy, witchy reads, this may be perfect for you! I can definitely see a lot of readers loving it.

Thanks to Saga Press for the eARC of this book! :)

I loved this book so much! It was so fun and lighthearted! I really enjoyed the characters and the writing so much. Bandit and the other cats were adorable and I absolutely loved Thorn. This book would be perfect for autumn and had such cozy vibes! My only complaint is how often Thorn’s age/oldness was mentioned, other than that it was great! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Adorable and hilarious! This book really got with modern times. I absolutely love Thorn and think that traveling to modern times actually helped her discover herself. I was also delighted with all of the cats. Thorn learns that love isn't meant to be something found by a potion, but rather found authentically. And what isn't to love about a charming vet? This is the perfect book if you are looking for a pick-me-up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the Arc.

I've been in a reading slump so this took me a lot longer to get through than planned but it was so cute and refreshing. It was very PG but that's not a bad thing. I'd definitely love to keep reading about the main characters and I'm glad it ended the way it did.

A 17th century witch trying to perfect a true love potion accidentally makes a time travel potion and transports herself and her cat familiar to the 21st century where she attempts modern dating?! It's as hilariously fun as it sounds!

I really liked Thorn as a main character. There was a great mix of her being great at her craft (being a witch) and finding out new things about dating and the modern world. Her backstory played more of a part than I originally thought it would, and I loved learning about her and why falling in love was so important to her. Her cat familiar was SO FUNNY OMG. The cat distribution system is given a magical explanation and every cat is an overlord to their human servant (in their heads anyway). Thorn's conversations with the cats were super funny and a great little quirk to the book.

Now, let's talk about Walls. Walls. Wallace. Walls. The man that you ARE. We're reading from Thorn's POV, but Walls is so sweet to her and Thorn realizes that. She recognizes how kind he is in his responses to her and how he validates her feelings always. There are two random chapters from Walls's POV, and I adored them.

I love it when an author's voice comes through, and Cecilia Edward's definitely has a distinct voice! The humor was quirky and I laughed aloud numerous times. This book is so unserious and wholeheartedly entertaining.

Is this a new favorite book of all time? Probably not. But could I see myself revisiting this story to laugh and have a low-stakes fun time? Yes, I can! More of this, please.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5 (3.75)
Thanks to NetGalley, Saga Press/S8S, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publishing July 1, 2025!

A time-traveling witch from the 1600s looking for love—and she talks to cats? I was hooked! *Thorn* is a cozy, magical story that’s perfect for fall reading.

While the beginning was a bit slow and a few plot twists predictable, the story found its rhythm and kept me engaged. Thorn’s potions and spells added a fun magical layer, and Bandit the cat totally stole the show.

The romance had its ups and downs (some eyebrow-raising moments!), but the real heart of the book was Thorn’s journey of self-love and found family. The writing is warm and atmospheric—I felt like I was right there in her enchanted cottage.

A charming read for fans of fantasy, romance, and magical realism.

A witch accidentally time travels into the 21st century in her pursuit of True Love. From learning about modern dating to wearing Jean's pants, the antics never stop.

Overall, this book was fine. Not great, not bad.
The pros: Bandit was my favorite part of this book, hands down. He was a funny grumpy cat and added a good amount of realistic levity to the book. All the cats really, and I loved that Thorn could talk to cats.
I also enjoyed the detail of potion ingredients that were plants, but were named for how they looked so it was easy to spot them when foraging.
The supporting characters almost felt like full characters more than the main characters. Charlie, Meg, and Walls really felt like whole people outside of the storyline.

The Cons: The themes were a bit juvenile and simple. The story felt jumpy and disjointed. The premise and overarching storyline was good, but it definitely needed more development. The arcs felt incomplete and rushed, especially the sister storyline.
It was also illogical to me to still be so focused on something that had happened thirty years ago, to the point of hurting another person. And for someone who was fine in her own to become so incredibly consumed by the pursuit of true love.

Cecilia Edward delivers a clever and light-hearted fantasy with a unique premise and endearing characters in An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating.

What stood out to me most was the humor. Edward's writing is sharp and witty, and the fish-out-of-water moments are handled with charm rather than cliché. Thorne’s blunt and often hilarious observations about the modern world were a consistent highlight. The magical cats added another delightful layer of personality to the story—quirky, sassy, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

I also appreciated that the romance leaned sweet rather than steamy. It was refreshing to see a story about older characters falling in love, with an emphasis on emotional connection rather than physical intimacy. The pacing was gentle but steady, and the magical elements added just enough sparkle to keep the story feeling whimsical without overwhelming the character-driven plot.

While the tone was light, the book also explored themes of identity, adaptation, and vulnerability with subtle depth. My only critique is that at times, the humor slightly overshadowed the emotional beats, making a few key moments feel less impactful than they could have been. However, this didn’t detract significantly from my enjoyment.

Overall, An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a charming, funny, and well-crafted fantasy that balances magic, humor, and heart. A great pick for readers who enjoy cozy, low-steam romance with a dash of enchantment.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Cecilia Edward, and Saga Press for this ARC.

I had such high hopes for the premise and the title, but unfortunately, this book was a disappointment for me.

Despite the premise, the book felt far too juvenile in its execution and did a lot more telling instead of showing. Additionally, it was jarring to have a 17th century witch speaking with so much modernity.

The main issue that made me consistently want to DNF was the hyperfixation on Thorn’s age and the repetition of her needing to find a husband because she was “so old”. The way the author kept bringing it up unnecessarily left a bad taste in my mouth.

Overall this had so much potential to be good, but needed much more work on the execution.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks so much to Saga Press and Simon and Schuster for this ARC!

Okay, this was such a cozy surprise. It had everything I didn’t know I needed—second-chance magic, fish-out-of-water comedy, and the grumpy sunshine vibe that actually worked for me. Thorn was hilarious (her commentary on modern dating?? I screamed), and I loved watching her navigate this whole new world with a sarcastic cat familiar and a vet who slowly stole my heart right along with hers.

It gave rom-com with just the right amount of witchy chaos and soft feels. Honestly? I had way too much fun reading it. If you love cozy fantasy, a little magic, and characters you root for, I’d definitely recommend picking this one up.