3.5 stars rounded up! A very cute, simple story about Willow, a girl who owns a shop of magical curiosities. After her father's death, she takes over the shop and befriends Brianna, a newcomer to her village who has been cursed with the ability to give objects magical abilities with her touch, but only for 24 hours. While Brianna is searching for a way to rid herself of her curse, Willow seems to think that this so-called "curse" might be particularly beneficial for business....

This is one of those sweet, cozy stories that is perfect for October. Overall, it was a bit simplistic in parts, and the conflict itself was resolved a little too quickly, but I finished the book in only a few days, and generally had an enjoyable time while reading it. A nice palette cleanser for the fall season!

A Curious Kind of Magic is a whimsical and heartwarming fantasy that easily swept me off my feet with its quirky characters and delightful magical world. The cozy vibes and gentle romance felt like a warm hug—though the pacing occasionally dips, the charm never fades. All in all, it’s an enchanting and feel-good read that definitely deserves a solid 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Willow is an outcast in her own home town. She's nearly broke from trying to keep her deceased father's "shop of magic curiosities afloat. The problem is that everybody knows the "magical" objects are fake. Brianna is an outsider who just might be able to help. The problem is that she is magically cursed. When the two girls find each other, they strike a bargain that might benefit them both, or it could destroy them both forever.

This is a really fun read about two girls who need each other more than either one of them knows. My favorite part about this is that, although there is a romantic subplot, our two main characters do not have a romantic relationship. It feels different than many other ya books of the same genre for that reason, and while I appreciate romance as much as the next person, a female friendship is just would this book needed and what it delivered. I also very much enjoyed the small magic in this book. Not everyone can work magic, and many of those that can have only minor spells that they can perform or practical thins that they can do. This adds to the overall cozy feel of this story, and I enjoyed that immensely. That's not to say that there aren't high enough stakes in this plot because there are, but it manages to be just suspenseful enough without being overly intense and losing it's cozier vibe. I think magical realism and fantasy fans will enjoy this one, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the preview. All opinions are my own.

3.25-3.5 stars

No one is more surprised and disappointed in this rating than me. I have loved all of Mara's books from the very first. This one just didn't work for me, and I'm so sad about it.

My main issue is that I never really liked the FMC, Willow. I know that she's grieving, but she's kind of mean to her friends, she lies and evades, and her plans are utterly ridiculous. She's so lucky that Bri and Finley put up with her. But Mara does really excel at writing soft and sweet MMCs, and Finley is no exception.

The plot in the second half got a little bit out there with the dragon egg heist too. But the first half with the curiosity shop was better.

I think a younger audience will enjoy this one. I'll also always recommend Mara's other books!

This was such a fun read! I loved the premise of a magicless magic shop owner meeting someone with a Midas-like ability to turn items magical. And I liked that the focus was Willow’s reluctant friendship with Bri, which just a splash of slow burn grumpy sunshine romance with Finlay. The found family aspect of this was wonderful. I also enjoyed the sassiness of the wolpertinger. There were some great twists as well—a few I saw coming, others I didn’t

There is a side quest that probably could’ve been cut without affecting the overall plot much, though it was entertaining throughout and there was some character growth from it.

I’d definitely recommend this for anyone who loves witchy YA!

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

I received a eARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!

A curious kind of magic indeed! I found this story to be lighthearted and engaging. The main characters are lovable and it flows smoothly. The mysterious elements of this book keep you wanting more. There are many magical moments in this story that are sure to activate your imagination. I really enjoyed this story because it is innocent. Read it for yourself.

This was an enjoyable cozy read and I always enjoy the worlds that Mara Rutherford creates. I enjoyed all the little Irish flairs built into this book I just wish I had more fun with our main character Willow. I will say our trio of protagonists (along with Willow's cat) play off each other well and keep things moving along. The ending felt a bit rushed but maybe that's because I would have been happy reading more of Willow and Bri's magical artifact hunting. Not my favorite Rutherford but the competition but so far I've had a good time with everything she's released.

A thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming and adventure filled tale of grief, identity, attachment, and the true magic that is love. This is a cozy and heartwarming, quick read with humor sprinkled throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, Mara Rutherford, and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great story. I was hoping it was going to be a queer love story. There was a connection between Willow and Brianna but sadly they were just friends. I don’t have much more to say. This was a solid YA fantasy with romance. I found the magic to be interesting but it wasn’t explored. I would recommend it!

I got about a quarter of the way through and had trouble connecting with the characters. I unfortunately had to DNF this title

Review based on an early copy provided by NetGalley.

Mara Rutherford delivers a whimsical, slightly quirky fantasy that feels like a cozy mystery wrapped in enchantment. The story follows an engaging cast of characters whose banter and chemistry make the book a joy to read. The magical elements are woven in with a light touch—never overwhelming, but always adding a sparkle to the atmosphere.

While the plot’s mystery was enjoyable, I did find that some threads tied up a little too quickly, leaving me wishing for more depth in certain areas. That said, Rutherford’s writing style is warm and inviting, with a sprinkle of humor that makes the pages turn easily.

If you love charming magical towns, eccentric characters, and a story that feels like a whimsical escape, this is a delightful choice. It may not have reached the level of complete immersion for me, but it’s still a cozy, fun read that left me smiling.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this YA cozy fantasy about a young woman struggling to keep her recently passed fathers curiosity shoppe afloat. With the help of her best friend/maybe love interest and a new to town young woman, Willow Stokes encounters magical objects, witches, dragon eggs and learns that relying on others isn’t as hard as it seems.
This book gets three stars from me for being extremely just ok. While there isn’t anything particularly wrong with this book it isn’t particularly groundbreaking or really that enjoyable. This isn’t one I would recommend as it really just felt like nothing at all.

It’s the kind of book that wraps you up in its pages and leaves you feeling a little lighter. I truly enjoyed every moment and can’t wait for others to fall under its spell too. Very magical, whimsical and YA. Many thanks to Wednesday | St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of A Curious Kind of Magic!

Unfortunately I had to dnf this book due to the stomach flu and didn't have enough time to finish. I thought it was great what I read but it was only few chapters.

Cozy & magical

It’s been ages since I read a YA fantasy so I was a little worried going into this - but had SUCH a good time.

Unexpected magic leads to a quest (my personal fave when it comes to fantasy tropes). Hidden magic. Deception. Charm.

A delight to read

This would have been my whole personality if I was still a teenager. Don't pass a 'young adult' story up because you think you are 'too old'. Just go in with the right mindset and be ready to let go of the hard rules or realities that infect adult life.

A shop is the cozy dream of many stories, a cozy shop with chaos and real magic items is going back to when things were fun! Exciting and adventure happen! Go and find out more about this magical word.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of A Curious Kind of Magic!

This book was such a comforting, magical little escape. I fell in love with the small town vibes, the soft touch of romance, and the characters who were so easy to root for.
Willow’s journey especially stood out to me — her quiet strength, her stubborn independence, and the way she slowly let love in. I really connected with her.

It’s one of those books that just makes you feel cozy while reading. I had a great time with it and can’t wait to see more people fall in love with it too!

A Curious Kind of Magic is a mostly cozy YA fantasy about friendship, acceptance, and a girl trying to make it after the loss of her father. Willow Stokes has inherited her father curiosity shoppe after his passing. Her only friend is Finlay who delivers the papers. But when another girl comes into the shoppe one day looking for a magical grimore everything starts to change.
Something I did appreciate about the book was that they really told you what they were going to do and then it was executed. There wasn’t very much time in between it, and the pacing was medium to fast as Willow helped Bree search for this grimore. I do believe the most character growth we do see is from Willow. She does a lot by herself because she’s become used to it so letting other people in is hard for her and seeing her open up was nice. She does have a bad habit of doing things first and apologizing later or taking on tasks herself. And that really resonated with me.
I do think it was interesting that it went from mostly cozy. Low steaks to a bit of a heist later on. That did up the stakes more and made it more interesting. But overall I thoughts this was a great book and worth a read.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for this ARC! A Curious Kind of Magic is a charming and cozy YA fantasy that centers on Willow Stokes, a teenage owner of a run-down curiosity shop filled with fake magical trinkets - until Brianna Hargrave arrives and unexpectedly turns the sham into real enchantment. Their unlikely partnership, alongside a warm-hearted printer’s assistant named Finlay, brings together themes of found family, friendship, and self-discovery. The tone is whimsical and immersive, balancing lighthearted humor with emotional depth, even if some aspects of the magic system feel loosely defined. Overall, it’s a cozy, page-turning tale with lovable characters and a satisfying arc of growth and trust.