Thank you so much for this arc!

This was seriously one of the cutest, most unique stories I’ve ever read. I really enjoyed the plot, with the MCs being contestants on the magical equivalent of a cooking show. I’ve never read something like this before and it was fun imagining all of their creations in the challenges.

I also loved the trope of Gil being Penelope’s pen pal but she’s not aware. It was handled really well and I appreciated that when she found out, they resolved it quickly. Same for the miscommunication they had. That’s a trope I usually don’t like but it wasn’t dragged out at all which was refreshing.

The cast of characters are great. Gil and Penelope are two of my favorite MCs. They both have so much depth and watching them grow was satisfying. The ending… is that hinting at a sequel with Eme??? If so I cannot wait.

I LOVE the concept of a magical realism romance story but overall this just wasn’t a hit.

I struggled to get into the story. The dialogue did not feel natural to me and I had a hard time rooting for the characters to be together.

This was a quick, easy read about Leandro (an Internet celebrity who is secretly Gil) and Penelope, a former clerk who is fired by her awful boss. Unbeknownst to Penelope, she has been writing Gil emails from her position as a clerk at the shop. Gil, on the other hand, is aware of who Penelope is, and at the beginning of the book, he is already well enamored with her. The twist in this story is that both are spellcasters, and they are partnered up in a reality TV show that has them casting spells for specific missions. The celebrity winner (Leandro/Gil) gets money for a charity, and the non-celebrity winner (Penelope) gets money and a chance to work at a swanky studio for a year to develop a passion project. Given that Penelope is fired, she needs the opportunity, and Gil wants to win to fund his grandfather's charity.

Penelope thinks Leandro is a silly celebrity who relies on funny, cutesy tactics to get likes and subscribers, even if it puts people in danger. She tells him this much the day before both of them join the reality TV show, so of course, both are a bit surprised when they find out they are paired together.

What ensues is fake-dating (the producers put Leandro and Penelope up to this for viewership) amidst a magical reality TV show that morphs into a romantic connection. All the while, the pair try to stay afloat in the competition while some clear sabotage starts to threaten each of the competitors (there are 5 pairs in total).

Overall, this book seems to have an identity crisis in a few places. For example, both characters are portrayed as quirky leads who use words like "bro" to refer to each other (Penelope), or "m'lady" accompanied with a bow (Leandro/Gil), or cat puns like "right meow" (both of them). This is endearing, albeit a little cheesy. However, it gets a little cringe once the spice is thrown in, which feels a little bit random and forced to be honest. Gil starts showing signs of this at 34% with more intimate stuff coming up around 50% or later. It really just seems like the two transform into different characters for the sake of the spice. This ultimately upended the whole vibe of the book for me, as it is no longer a quirky romcom but more like an R rated version of a magical Big Brother TV show?

I also felt that the third act conflict is a little forced--at least from a romantic standpoint--and is unnecessary since it resolves almost immediately with no fallout. The plot conflict is more surprising, but that too resolves very quickly. Lastly, the ending is just abrupt and odd. I guess I did not realize this was not a standalone?

I would recommend this to readers who want a light-hearted book with some spice and dad jokes thrown in there. I am not sure if I would continue the series, but the premise is interesting, so I think readers should definitely give this first book a try.

Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read this early.

This book was fantastic in so many ways. Fake dating and secret identities. COMMUNICATION. All the makings for a perfect romcom.

Cute, witchy romcom with the reality TV comp treatment. Good palate cleanser. Thanks to the publisher for ARC access.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

This book feels like it was written for all the girlies who love reality tv shows, feet kicking cute romance stories, and some cozy magic. If you dislike any of those things, this book is probably not for you. Luckily for me, those are all my favorite "guilty pleasures" wrapped into one.

This is one of those books where it isn't reinventing the wheel but it is just so fun to read. I loved the idea of the reality show mixed with magic. The premise is really what I was drawn to most. Though, to be very fair in my review, it isn't fleshed out enough for my personal liking. I would have loved MORE on the show and really the magic in general. This is really what prevented it from being a five star read for me which is more disappointing I think on paper (since it was such of a big reason I was drawn to the book at first) than it was when I was reading it.

I forgave the not super developed magic system after like ten pages in when I was already just enamored with our main characters. Penelope is so driven and focused. Stress practically replaces her blood with how much of her is driven by it. When she is paired with Leonardo (Gil), her worst nightmares of being paired with someone who takes nothing seriously seems to be coming true for her.

Gil is honestly the best part of this book for me. He does the Hannah Montana of being one thing by day (a pranking viral magic sensation Leonardo) while being the cutest, sweetest, and most caring person when the cameras turn off. I loved both characters connection to family, and how the more the book went on, the more both of them felt so real. It was impossible not to root for them especially since they both seemed to handle things as actual adults. Conversations happened when it felt natural between the two. It never felt like miscommunication was dragged out, more patiently thought out.

The other thing I really loved with this book was just the culture of it. It was infused with Cuban culture that felt more sweet than anything. it actually played to give a deeper depth to a story that could have easily been JUST a fun read. Instead, it really did develop culture and trauma and how people come together and grow in a relationship, even one thrown together for the sake of being better TV.

One minor hope moving forward is that this becomes a series because I would love to explore more of the side characters introduced. They seemed so fun but just didn't get enough time (as in, their own books where I can feet kick and giggle my way through).

Why I Would Recommend: Overall just a good, quick read. It is exactly what I thought it would be slightly elevated.

Who Should Read: Lovers of reality tv, cozy romances, fans of the fake dating books, books where the main character falls for the same guys twice, golden retriever boy friends, and anyone looking for a light, fun, and quick read that will live in your head long after you finish.

Feet-kickingly sweet all the way through. This is a perfect rom-com.

Set in a world where magic is the norm, something people can major in in college. The magic system in this book is like cooking or chemistry, knowing how different ingredients or symbols work together.

If you’re here for the magic and fantasy element, you might be a little disappointed at how mundane magic is in this world.

The characters are competing in a spell casting competition — which has all the traits of a real world cooking or design competition. So in a sense, the competition could be switched out for a cooking show with very little change to the plot. Magic is just there to hang the plot on.

On the other hand, the author gives a perfect level of detail to make the magic and the work involved seem real. Characters talk about “reagents” and “catalysts” and use symbols and various ingredients to create their magic projects. It has that perfect techy touch without actually needing to be real. That’s a lot of fun.

The main couple are swoony and sweet and perfect for each other. They crush on each other as anonymous email pals first, before meeting in the competition. If that sounds like, “You’ve Got Mail,” it is. But You’ve Got Mail was based on the movie The Shop Around the Corner, which was based on the play Parfumerie. (Broadway musical She Loves me was also based on Parfumerie.)

Witch You Would is a delightful new entry to that tradition.

The cover art is absolutely stunning—it’s what first caught my eye and drew me in. The synopsis made it sound right up my alley, and while it wasn’t amazing, it wasn’t too disappointing either. This is a fun, easy read with a really intriguing magical reality show premise.

The magic system had some cool ideas, but I found myself wishing it had been explored in more depth. It felt a bit underdeveloped at times, but the story still had plenty of charm. I really enjoyed the Miami setting and the infusion of Cuban culture, with all its spicy and sweet notes woven throughout.

Both main characters had personal traumas to work through, and their love for their grandparents gave the story a warm emotional core—which stood out in a lovely way. The dual POV worked well, and I enjoyed the adorable chemistry between Penelope and Gil. Side characters were fun and memorable without distracting from the main storyline.

The writing style was a bit hit or miss for me—some parts flowed nicely, others didn’t quite click. The ending felt a little abrupt, so I’m hoping there might be a second book. Also, the slang and lingo occasionally felt overdone and pulled me out of the story.

Honestly? This book is a little bit charming rom-com, a little bit telenovela, full of heart, and totally low-stress. It’s the perfect quick read to pick up when you’re in between heavier books or just feeling stuck in a slump. No, it wasn’t a top-tier favorite—but it was enjoyable enough to finish, and I had a decently good time with it.

- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 | 𝘈𝘷𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐ᡣ𐭩

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.25/5)

Witch You Would by Lia Amador is a cute, cozy, and low-stakes read—no high drama or violence, just a warm story filled with magic, heart, and light competition. The Miami setting added a personal touch for me as a Florida native, making the story feel especially familiar and grounded.

One of my favorite elements was the magic system. I always appreciate when magic is rooted in reality and cultural history, and Amador did a lovely job incorporating that, especially through Penelope’s connection to her abuela and ancestral traditions. It brought an authentic depth to the magical elements that made them feel meaningful rather than just whimsical.

The dual POV between Penelope and Gil was a great choice, allowing readers to get a clear sense of both characters' emotions—not just throughout the competition, but also as their relationship developed. Their perspectives balanced each other well and added a layer of sincerity to the narrative.

That said, the competition show itself felt a little cheesy at times—but honestly, in the best way. We've all watched a reality show thinking, this is ridiculous, only to find ourselves binging a whole season. This book has that same vibe: light, fun, and easy to get wrapped up in.

🎥 Bookish Thoughts
This was a fun and easy read. I liked the magical reality show premise. The magic system was very interesting, and I liked the Miami-Cuban culture woven into the world building! But the slang was a bit much to be honest. It pulled me out of the story more than once. I also kept wanting more from the magic system. It felt like there was a cool idea there, but it didn’t seem fully flushed out? Still, it had charm and I enjoyed it.

💫 Read if you like:
• Magical reality TV
• Fake dating
• Secret admirers
• Grumpy sunshine
• Enemies to lovers
• Light rom-com vibes
• Mistaken identity
• Low Angst

Pub Date: September 2, 2025
ARC provided by Avon via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️ 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!

As a former native Miami citizen, I enjoyed the tidbits of a city I used to live in from the food and culture to mentions of rush hour. I wish I could say I enjoyed this book more but in reality it felt rushed to read even though it took me several days to finish. Gil and Penelope’s relationship is very healthy but I wouldn’t consider this an enemies to lovers as mentioned in the description, there was no hate or rivalry from the beginning. I think the there was some conversations and puns used that were very outdated dare I say cringy? I think the book is very millennial-coded and it was too much for me to read? The conflict didn’t seem so conflicting with no actual consequences nor repercussions to the story’s plot. I did enjoy the last chapter where we get glimpse to a next book? I probably wouldn’t read this again and probably lightheartedly recommend if someone needed something quick to read.

3.5 stars! Witch You Would is an adorable, easy read. Penelope is a hardworking spell caster with big dreams. Leandro is a magical influencer hopeful for the future. Both take a leap of faith on a magical competition show unaware of the outside obstacles to come, including each other. I love the concept of a magical competition show. The romance was a bit cringy at times, but overall I enjoyed Penelope and Gil’s relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the opportunity to read this e-ARC.

Lia Amador’s Witch You Would is a refreshing, hilarious, and delightfully punny read. As a longtime fantasy lover, I don’t typically gravitate toward urban fantasy, but this one surprised me in a good way. The lore behind its magic system was well thought out, and the “reality TV show meets magical competition” premise was entertaining and creative.

That said, even as a low-stakes, romance-forward story, the pacing felt a little uneven. I would’ve loved to see more of the reality show element explored in-depth—especially the other contestants, who mostly came off as names on a list rather than fully developed characters.

Another small caveat: the puns and bilingualism. Some puns were clever and genuinely funny, others made me groan (in a good way). As a Spanish-English bilingual ESL teacher, the code-switching and use of Spanish didn’t always feel entirely natural—but that might be a personal quirk more than a flaw in the writing.

Overall, Witch You Would was a fun and easy read. If you’re in the mood for an urban fantasy rom-com with a bit of spice, low stakes, and a unique premise, this is a great book to pick up.

Witch you would us an extent cute, cozy, magical rom-com story! Penelope is a sassy and hard working sales person helping people fix their spells and Gil has a secret persona who does goofy spells on social media.
What I liked about this book was it was funny and super entertaining, but I do wish it ended a little differently, but this read was very enjoyable! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this magical story!

A witchy reality show? Say less. This was so cute and fun. Withy vibes but not super halloween or fall just more witch in general.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and the author for the eARC!

Think of The British Bake Off, but add magic!
The reality show Cast Judgment casts an ordinary spell caster with a "Spellibrity" (someone who is famous for being a spell caster) and teams them up to compete to win 100k for the regular person and an 100k donation to the celebrities charity. Penelope and Gil/Lenardo are teamed up and end up falling in love.
This book gives so much, fake dating, secret identities, and so much more.

I absolutely loved this book, except for the part where Penelope referred to something as her "happy place" IYKYK.

thank you so much for the ARC!

I'm not going to lie to you, it was my very first net gally approval, so thanks for that!

check the trigger warnings first also it's a 3 on the spice and language scale. if your picking this up for your tween just keep this in mind

that being said, if they didn't have the "read to me" option on net gally I might have dnfed it

that said. I'm giving it a 3 5 because the puns were bad. if it were 2009 and I were 19 again I might have given it a 4 but the puns pulled me out of the story.

the story itself was adorable, but not much to it, I might have done a better job (less banana puns and all) and don't get me started on the kitten puns. it was just...it does get better but you have to wait to get there but the mystery with the game show is cute

As a die-hard fan of competition shows (specifically cooking and arts related), the premise of this read was RIGHT up my alley! Penelope and Leandro (a.k.a Gil), have the most adorable, dorky, rom-com chemistry and it was a joy to read how they worked off each other and together for some serious spell-casting magic. The side characters are all unique and fun in their own ways, but stay pleasantly at the side without being obnoxious or taking the spotlight. I can't think of a single-one that made me think, "Really? were they THAT important to the story?" (No, not even Regular Manny). I would also like to add that I LOVED that there wasn't the ridiculous, over-the-top "miscommunication" chapter. While there is definitely that point of "wait, hold on... that's not what they meant!", the telanovela-esque melodrama was resolved in a wonderfully reasonable timeframe. It's so frustrating to think, "oh my goodness, just TALK to each other already!!". Thankfully, this read saved us from that nightmare! Another great aspect of this book was the wonderful way in which the author added in the spicy and sweet notes of Cuban culture and family dynamics. It's clear that while both characters have their own traumas to work through, their love for their respective grandparents kept them grounded and provided wonderful arcs of growth - especially in Penelope's case.
Unfortunately, this book sort of missed the mark for me in terms of over-using various Gen-Z lingo. While I whole-heartedly love how endearing and cute the main characters are, they read a tad like YA in some moments; which sort of takes you out of it a bit when you're later reminded they are closer to 30 and Gil specifically has a degree he's defended with a whole dissertation (btw - not saying 30 year old's can't be goofy and have their fun! but, ya know...).
All-in-all, this was a cute, quick, light read that I will absolutely be recommending to all of my light romance and rom-com loving reader friends. Shout-out thanks to Netgally, Harper Collins and the author for the eARC!
P.S. I am also really in love with the cover-art! 2025 is the year of my crochet book blanket and I can't wait to get the coordinating square made up for this read!

I adored this! The main characters were doofy instead of suave, which was so relatable 😅 The romance was cute, the miscommunication trope (my personal petpeeve) was not overdone, and I loved the game show setting. My only complaints are that it was a little rushed and weirdly overly-descriptive about clothing? Overall it was a really impressive debut! Pub date Sep 2, 2025.

🪄 magical game show
💘 fake dating
🫠 anxiety representation

Thank you to @netgalley, @harpercollins, and @liaamador for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For fans of Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Legends & Lattes, Emily Wilde

Cute characters and concept. My issue with the book is this I’m a white person that doesn’t speak Spanish and most of the Spanish words used there was no translation for in the kindle. It would’ve been nice if there had been a Spanish dictionary of sorts in the book of the words used in the book. I would’ve enjoyed this more than I did.