💀 Content Warnings
-Abandonment
-Toxic families
-Childhood trauma (see: abandonment)

🧡 Read if you love
-Scottish setting
-Witches & ancient curses
-Fall/winter vibes
-Cozy small town
-Unrequited teenage crush to adult “enemies” to lovers
-Cute & cuddly familiars

My thoughts
This is a cozy supernatural romcom perfect for fall and/or winter. I felt like I should’ve been curled up with a hot apple cider while reading this, but it was still 90+ degrees outside.

The author says this book is “enemies-to-lovers,” but I’d say it’s a very light version of that trope. Sloane MacGregor’s family has been cursed for centuries so they can never stay in one place for too long. She and her sisters return to Briarhaven, Scotland when her grandma gets a premonition that three witches will break the family’s curse. Almost as soon as they arrive, a blizzard magically appears. Knox Douglas’ family has lived in Briarhaven for centuries, and as provost (mayor, for us Americans), he’s worked hard to rebuild the town’s reputation. So, the last thing he needs is a series of magical mishaps brought on by the MacGregor curse. He and Sloane argue frequently at the beginning, but the obvious mutual attraction undercuts any animosity between them.

Unlike some other fantasy romance books, this one has a plot other than the two MCs fighting their growing attraction. There’s the mystery of how Sloane’s magic will manifest on her 25th birthday, and how she’ll manage it once it does. And, of course, there’s the mystery of how to remove the curse, which isn’t completely resolved by the end. It is the first book in a series, after all. There is a small cliffhanger, but it’s not too infuriating.

Sloane and Knox’s relationship isn’t the only important one, either. Sloane’s relationships with her sisters and grandma were also important parts of the book, as well as the sisters’ estranged relationship with their mom and dad. I loved that both MCs have familiars that they can communicate with telepathically. Sloane’s familiar is an emberwolf named Blue. I’m not sure emberwolves are actual mythological creatures, but Sloane's is based off the author’s own Boston Terrier. So sweet. 🥹

In departure from the typical grumpy MMC trope, Knox is actually well-liked and respected by all the residents of Briarhaven. The only person he doesn’t get along with (at first) is Sloane. He also has a soft spot for helping injured and disabled animals. His two familiars are Haggis, a highland “coo” (cow, I think?) that uses a wheelchair, and Oswald, a blind cat. All I can say is that more authors should include pets, familiars, or animal sidekicks in their books, because it’s adorable.

Overall, this was a really cute and funny read with some spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️). I’ll be looking forward to the next installment when it releases!

A cursed witch, a knightly warlock, and a small town in Scotland filled with magic! Sloane MacGregor is a witch in a family of witches who have been cursed and the curse has kept her and her family constantly moving. Sloane has vowed never to return to Briarhaven, the small town she was raised in but when her twenty fifth birthday comes around and it also happens to be the day her magic will awaken... meaning the curse will come into full impact, she is forced to return to Briarhaven at her grandmother's request and now she and her sisters have to find a way to break the centuries old curse haunting them. Then there is Knox Douglas, Brarhaven's grumpy mayor who grew up as the town's golden boy and comes from a family of knights and he is also a warlock. It's Knox's duty to keep Sloane and her family from destroying the town and he needs them gone.. but from the moment he sees her his past crush on her comes roaring back to life and now he's determined to help her break her family's curse while also proving to her that he really does in fact want her to stay in town... more specifically, to stay with him. Filled with cozy magic, a hot romance, adorable familiars, and magic, this was just a really cute autumnal read perfect for my Practical Magic/ Charmed girlies!! I can't wait to read the second book and to see more of Lyra and Nova's potential romances as well!

Release Date: August 26, 2025

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

*Thanks Netgalley and Gallery Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Love's a Witch was a spectacular cozy romantasy.
Tricia O'Malley outdid herself with this one!
A fun enemies to lovers and second chance romnace was utterly delightful.
The characters were so much fun, and their chemistry was adorable.
I thought the writing was quick, fun and engaging.
Such a wonderfully written, funny and heartwarming rom-com that kept me grinning and swooning.
Overall, I very much enjoyed reading this new title. Can’t wait for book two.

Thank You NetGalley and Gallery Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7858915192

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loves-a-witch-tricia-omalley/1147020417

Ok so I absolutely LEAPT at the opportunity to read this book because the cover is too freaking cute! It perfectly reflects the vibes of this book.

The short version is, Sloane and her sisters return home to join forces with their grandmother with the hopes of breaking a centuries old blood curse placed on their family. Sloane was a character that I very much related to in that she has a persistent need for control and is always focused on fixing everything and everyone but herself.

To start with the positive, Love's a Witch was a gooey and cozy feel-good easy read start to finish! If you're a Hallmark kind of girly, this book is definitely for you and you should get excited because this book is setting the stage for more installments. It reminded me so much of Halloween town (but if Marnie and her siblings were adults and actually knew that they were magickal all along. Now I'm sitting here going back and forth between wanting to pick up another book and having a cup of hot chocolate while I binge those movies! This book is definitely being released at the exact right time of year. Bonus points for Blue and his obsession with cheese. He was by far my favorite character. Just precious!

My gripes fall into two categories. Number one, and this may not be an issue for many readers (especially of the hallmark-y variety), Knox is too perfect. Yes he has the family tension and he wants the MacGregors to leave town but he is otherwise sparkly and flawless and that really just pulled me out of the story. But again, if that's your thing, you are in for a treat! Number two, the pacing drove me a little bananas. We know from chapter one that the goal is to return to Briarhaven to break the curse. It's constantly talked about and made out to be an extremely urgent matter yet very little action is taken by anyone, even once they know what they have to do to break it. In general, the ending felt a bit rushed.

All of that being said, Love's a Witch was a very cute and cozy, witchy romance! While it wasn't entirely my cup of tea, I would consider buying it or recommending it for a friend!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Tricia O'Malley and Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster for providing me with an eARC of this book!

“There was just something about Sloane and her witchy eyes that made me think my future would be irrevocably changed if I let the MacGregors stay.”

✔️cozy romantasy
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️second chance
✔️its always been you
✔️returning home
✔️he falls first

4.5⭐️

This is just a cute, magical, cozy book and I really enjoyed reading it. It definitely has Hallmark movie (but make it a book and a little bit spicy) vibes, and that is exactly what I was hoping for. The enemies part of the enemies to lovers trope actually makes sense, and the banter that comes from their dynamic brings the perfect amount of levity to the story. This book is mainly about witches, though other magical creatures are referenced and appear in the story as side characters.

In the prologue, we see the ancestor of Sloane (FMC) be cursed by a heartbroken young witch, and as a result her bloodline is cursed. This causes their magic to be a little bit wonky (especially right when their magic awakens on their twenty fifth birthday) and her family is never able to stay in one place for long. Briarhaven, the town where the MacGregor sisters grew up, is a safe haven for magical beings but is also a tourist attraction, and Sloan’s return to town causes panic and anger when the weather pattern suddenly changes. Knox (MMC) is determined to run her out of town, until old feelings resurface and he becomes determined to help her break the curse.

While the romance is the most important part of the book, the other plot lines are equally compelling and make for an overall fun reading experience. There is drama in the coven, family dynamics that are complicated (to say the least), a reunification with an estranged parent, and the FMC figuring out how to give up a little bit of control and put down roots. There is also a sweet emberwolf familiar named Blue (who loves cheese), a sassy cat and a highland cow that uses a wheelchair to get around — the perfect animal companions for our MCs. While Sloane and Knox’s story is complete, the next book (focused on one of her sisters) is set up nicely and I am excited to read it!


*Thank you so much to Gallery Books, the author (Tricia O’Malley) and Netgalley for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*

Thank you so much to Tricia O'Malley and Gallery Books for the eARC of this. I devoured this book so quick! I loved it so much that I now need my trophy book for it. It's a spicy, enemies to lovers, second chance romance. Highly recommend this. It's perfect for fall!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* He falls first
* Enemies to lovers
* Second chance romance
* New found witchy powers
* He’s a knight/mayor

Thank you to NetGalley, Tricia O’Malley, and Gallery Books for this eARC!

I liked how this starts with a prologue in the past, which helps set up some ominous and mysterious foreshadowing for what happens between Knox and Sloane. Knox is devastatingly sexy, confident, and sure knows how to please Sloane. He can’t keep his hands off her, despite knowing she could cause such havoc to the town. He gives her patience and understanding, which she isn’t used to. And their chemistry is steamy!! Sloane can’t deny him once he gets his hands on her, like they’re magnetic towards each other. And the author does wonderful work detailing their first time so well 🫠😉

In addition, I really enjoyed all of the other characters, especially Blue and Sloane’s family! I hope we get additional books for both her sisters soon ☺️

As a huge Tricia O'Malley fan, I would like to thank NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I adore cozy fantasy books and this was an incredible read. Knox and Sloane have the best dynamic. The way their dialogue and chemistry play out was so sweet to read. This book made me giggle so many times. This book is the first in the series but can be read as a standalone.

This was a really cute, cosy read. Three sisters return to their home village in Scotland to try to break the centuries old curse on their family. It has all of the perfect Scottish elements - kilts, tartan, a mini highland coo, sexy men; with the perfect mix of charm - dragons, familiars, wonky magic.

I am interested to see how the story continues as this book focuses on the eldest sister, and I assume the next two will focus on each subsequent sister.

I also really enjoyed that she referenced a company from her Enchanted Highlands series (which I adore).

I'm a Tricia O'Malley stan account and had a grand ole time reading this cozy witchy read! And dare I say this is Tricia's spiciest book yet??

✨ Cozy and Spicy Romantasy
✨ Small Magical Scottish Town
✨ Centuries Old Family Curse
✨ Second Chance and Enemies to Lovers
✨ "It's Always Been You"
✨ Hilarious Grandmother
✨ Animal Familiars (including a highland cow!)
✨ Haywire Magic

This is an absolutely adorable witchy romantasy that is Charmed meets Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Sloane MacGregor and her sisters are summoned back to their small magical hometown of Briarhaven as her 25th birthday looms- the day when witches come into their magic. The MacGregor family has been cursed for centuries and their grandmother believes they can finally break the curse once and for all. But, the town's mayor - Knox Douglas, wants them and the magical havoc that always follows them, to leave town before their magic destroys everything in its wake. It doesn't matter that Knox has always had a crush on Sloane and that his feelings might muddle his duty to his town - the MacGregor sisters have to go.

This was a delightful read just in time for the fall season (or really any season!). This story had many laugh out loud moments as well as those that tugged on my heartstrings. The fact that the MacGregor sisters can't really put down any roots because of their curse made my heart hurt for them. The enemies-to-lovers relationship between Sloane and Knox was filled with banter and hijinks, and also endearing and unexpectedly spicy! The way Knox showed Sloane she is worthy of love had me swooning for him.

I also loved the magical town of Briarhaven and it's quirky group of townspeople. It's a village where magical beings are safe and free to be themselves as well as be a tourist destination. It's a town I would definitely want to visit! The magical animal familiars are also quite the side characters and I adored every one of them! There's Blue, an emberwolf - a flying dog with dragon ancestors, Haggis, a small Highland Cow with a wheelchair and the personality of a golden retriever, and Oswald, the grumpy blind tabby cat.

I absolutely can't wait to see what comes next in this series! Thank you so much to Gallery Books for the advanced copy! 🖤

This was the cutest book I have read in a long time! I loved everything about it. It was cozy, witchy, and set in Scotland… could it get any better?! Yes, it could! It’s a rom-com with mystical creatures as familiars all of whom have quite the personality! If you are looking for a heartfelt love story with feet kicking moments, look no more. I loved the sisters figuring out their curse and watching them put down roots. I can’t wait for the next installment!

4.25 ⭐️ 2 🌶️

What to expect:

✨ Cozy Fantasy Romance
✨ He’s a Scottish knight and town protector
✨ She’s a cursed witch with control issues
✨ Grumpy x Grumpy
✨ Haywire Magic
✨ Talking Familiars
✨ Kilts & Banter

Before we begin, I would like to thank Gallery Books for providing an eARC of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

One prince, a noble knight, two witchy best friends, and a curse so bitterly wicked, it spans generations… Oh yeah, this story is going to be good!

In “Love’s a Witch” by Tricia O’Malley, our story begins with Sloane MacGregor, one of three sisters from a cursed bloodline who cannot catch a break. Generations ago, their ancestor was the unlucky recipient of a prince's admiration, sparking jealousy so intense, she was cursed on the spot by her best friend. For generations, that curse has plagued the MacGregor bloodline, wreaking havoc on their magical abilities and leaving them with no choice but to constantly move from place to place.

In present day Scotland, Sloane and her sisters have just arrived back to their hometown of Briarhaven after years of being on the move with their estranged mother. Inspired by a vision and determined to break the curse once and for all, their grandmother, Broca, convinces them to come back to where it all began.

The sisters spent their childhood in Briarhaven, the longest time they had ever stayed in one place. Though their childhood had been turbulent, they did manage to forge relationships that have come back to haunt them. Rearing its ugly head, the curse has caused an early winter for the people of Briarhaven, spreading bitterness and dissent amongst its inhabitants.

Enter Briarhaven’s very own knight, Knox Douglas, town mayor and protector, hailing from the original knight’s bloodline. He has one job; to get the MacGregor’s to leave Briarhaven before they can cause permanent damage, but can he get them to leave when the woman he has thought about every day since she left is one of them?

What I loved:

This is a cute & cozy fall romance, perfect for those looking for a witchy read with the right amount of spice (this was ⅖ chilis). We’ve got Scottish men in kilts, grumpy witches, and a whole lot of tension.

The banter is definitely the star of the show! I just about melted every time Knox put Sloane in her place (look, the girl needed it, she was on edge and needed to relinquish some control).

The tension was tensioning, the spice built up naturally, and the way that man commands the bedroom…like, okay, where is my kilted lover at?! (I’m happily married, but I’m a sucker for that accent). The buildup of Knox and Sloane’s relationship was steady, heated, and believable, and did not distract me from the subplot of the MacGregor family curse. If this is anything to go by, I cannot wait to see how the story unfolds for Sloane’s sisters in the books to come.

The little magical village that O’Malley created in Briarhaven was adorable. For some reason, I pictured Halloween Town in my head, thinking of all the magical people living together in one community. This might have been the millennial in me, but whatever. My version of Halloween Town was in the Scottish Highlands in my head, so it worked for me!

And then we have the talking magical familiars! I have a huge soft spot for helpless creatures, and the fact that Knox takes care of not one, but two disabled familiars made me swoon. I’m not usually a sucker for a cinnamon roll MMC, but the way that he sees the value in everything really made me fall for the guy. I was rooting for Sloane to see the error of her ways almost immediately.

Anyways, if you need a cute and cozy witchy read, this is the book to add to your TBR. It officially releases August 26, 2025 and is worth the hype!

Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to go ask my husky why she doesn’t communicate with me telepathically…

This book was so cute and cozy! Perfect to get in the fall mood! Exactly what I needed for a book reset.

I haven't read any of the other titles in the series, so this was my first exposure to the MacGregor clan. I always love it when the MMC falls first, so this was right up my alley. Some of the fantasy elements were a little toooooo much for me, but overall I really liked it! Characters were loveable and well-rounded, the banter was good, and the romance was to die for.

A big thank you to Tricia O'Malley and Gallery books for the eARC via Netgalley!

I've read many of Tricia's books as an ARC reader, and I was so thrilled to have been given the opportunity to read her first trad published book (CONGRATS, TRICIA!!!)!

I always love reading the sweet small-town witchy romances that Tricia graciously bestows on us, and this one fit the bill, Once again, we get to see a tight-knit female friendship group in the form of family and a kind of quirky coven, in Briarhaven. It is also refreshing to see a matriarchal bloodline be the one of importance (yay girlpower!), and all of her books have strong female characters.

Have you ever thought what it would look like for magickal beings (witches, fae, ogres, trolls, etc.) to live alongside humans? If so, Briarhaven, Scotland is the town for you; seriously, it is such an adorable small town, filled with all sorts of magick around!

Our FMC, Sloane, is one of the many cursed MacGregor women that has been cursed to never settle, else she bring doom to wherever she stays. Our MMC, Knox, is the sworn knight and protector of the village, and is tasked with getting the MacGregor women to leave town. Can they beat the curse so they can settle down?

If you've ever read any of Tricia's books, just know that you're in for a special treat all the way from Loren Brae <3

I really waned to like this book, but I just didn't. The writing felt cloying instead of cozy to me, and I think it might be because it's tone reads a bit more New Adult/YA in tone than I typically prefer. Despite being 25 the FMC just felt really young, and I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters since they seemed to be surface level descriptions. I also had a problem with the entire premise of the curse - the curse felt like an over the top reaction, and then everyone sides with the mean girl? For hundreds of years?
It just all felt like it was trying too hard to be cozy and instead missed the mark. I just couldn't. From reviews, I am in the minority of this, so I think there are many people for this book, but I am just not one of them.

A lot of witchy conversations. Some spicy bits here and there but not enough. I liked the quirky town of Briarhaven.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded to 4.

🧙🏼‍♀️ Okay witches, this was the cutest cozy, witchy read.

It started off a little slow for me, but once it hit the halfway mark the story started to pick up. Normally I’d save a book like this for fall/spooky season (because it gives all the autumn vibes 🍂🕯️), but since I had an ARC I dove in sooner. As a mood reader, I think I would’ve enjoyed it even more with a cool breeze and some hot apple cider in hand—but regardless, it was still a fun read.

The humor was spot on, the plot kept me engaged, and the MCs (plus the quirky small-town cast and Scottish setting) were delightful. Honestly, the banter and lighthearted moments were some of my favorite parts.

Overall, this was a quick and cozy read that left me smiling and I’ll more than likely continue the series. ✨📖

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the free E-ARC.

I love a good witchy romcom, so I went into Love’s a Witch with high hopes. It has all the ingredients for a fun, magical romance that I love, but for me, the execution fell a little short.

The romance felt a bit forced and didn’t seem to develop naturally, which made it harder to connect with the couple and fully invest in their HEA.

There were also some inconsistencies in the plot, particularly with the magic system and the characters’ reactions to it. The FMC’s magic reacts in unpredictable ways when she interacts with the MMC, often causing quirky or chaotic effects around town. While he’s clearly frustrated that her magic can impact the town and its tourism, he still knowingly does things that will trigger it, creating consequences he’s supposedly trying to avoid. This contradiction was a bit frustrating for me.

The pacing also felt a little stuttered. Some events happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to fully engage or get excited about them, while other parts of the story seemed glossed over or not given enough attention. One of the central plot points revolves around breaking a curse, but this storyline is surprisingly underdeveloped. It lingers in the background rather than driving the narrative forward, leaving the resolution feeling rushed and ultimately unsatisfying.

This book had so much potential if more attention were given to plotting, pacing, and relationship building. That said, Love’s a Witch is still a cute, cozy witchy romance and a quick, light, easy read. And I will probably pick up the next book in the series to see where it goes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Love’s a Witch by Tricia O’Malley is light, funny, and full of charm. Sloane MacGregor returns to her hometown in the Scottish Highlands to break a family curse and runs into Knox Douglas, the grumpy mayor who doubts her magic. There is witty banter, quirky neighbors, and magical creatures like cheese-loving ember wolves. The romance builds naturally with just enough spice to keep it interesting. While the enemies-to-lovers plot is familiar, O’Malley’s humor and vivid details make it feel fresh. It is a cozy, magical read and a promising start to The Scottish Charms series.