This was my first Lindsey Kelk book but learned about this upcoming title from a book festival I attended in February. I am glad I applied for this because it was such a fun read and I love stories that have the witchy "spooky" side of Savannah. I really enjoyed reading this YA novel and how it reminded me of being an teen where your first love felt like all or nothing. I cant wait to see what book 2 has in store!

I really loved this so much! It reminded me of like nostalgic fall movies from the early 2000s. It was definitely predictable but that didn’t matter to me. I felt so immersed in the workd and really enjoyed going along with Emily to discover the mystery of her family.

Thank you NetGalley and Magpie for this ARC copy!

I really wanted to like this book, and I was so excited to read it but just never got invested in the story. In theory this is supposed to be a Sothern gothic with powerful witches and a COA for a young witch surrounded by magical creatures, but in reality, it was really just a little boring and the modern pop culture references really threw me off at times.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc.

This is a fantasy ya novel about witches of Georgia. I liked the concept of the magic system and how it seems to work with nature. You realize that grandma is not who she portrays herself to be. The love story was a bit too insta love for me, but they are 16 after all and you fall quick and easy at that age.

3.75 rounded to 4

First of all, I need the second book as soon as possible. Five stars all around, this book was such a good, slow-burning, YA coming-of-age story. Following Emily's return to Savannah after her father's death, we are treated to an incredible novel of witches, magic, werewolves, friendship, and teenage love.
As a Savannah native, Lindsey Kelk's writing truly brings Savannah to life on the page. The way she weaves together such a beautiful story of young love had me kicking my feet the entire time.
Every character was so diverse and beautifully thought out. I would add this to my cozy corner of books to read.


Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Lindsey Kelk for the ARC!

Based on the cover, I assumed this was Adult Fantasy. I quickly learned it isn't. Though the setting of Savannah lent a lot to the atmosphere and mystery of the story...the romance let me down.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lindsey Kelk for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Bell Witches coming out August 5, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I read by the author I really love witch stories. I think they’re really fun and spooky. I wasn’t really into the story though. It was a little dry for me. I would check out other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I found this very hard to get immersed in because of all the modern references. (Tiktok, Starbucks, etc.) it was just hard to get immersed in it with so many references to the present.

This one felt just a little too immature for me. I can usually get into YA but I need to see some growth. The story had an interesting premise though.

I’m not the biggest fan of insta love, especially with teenagers. it makes the books feel more juvenile. however, this book was a fun, cozy read!

The Bell Witches was such a fascinating and atmospheric read! Blending folklore, family legacy, and a touch of the eerie, this story pulled me in right away. The way history and haunting were woven together gave me chills in the best way. I loved how the characters navigated secrets, danger, and the heavy weight of the past, it felt immersive and hauntingly beautiful. Perfect for readers who enjoy a gothic, witchy vibe with suspense woven through.

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an ok read.
I wished that we got more from the plot and more from the MMC personalities wise because he felt a bit flat to me. I also didn't enjoy the insta love situation we had going on but the writing was pretty solid so I would check out more books from the author.

I really enjoyed this story. I felt like throughout the book I was growing and learning with Emily. The romance was very cute and exciting. The plot was very well laid out with some twists thrown in. This book gave me everything I could have wanted

This book was steeped in southern charm, and the Bell House itself was full of gothic, eery vibes. The plot features quirky friendships, magical drama and insta-love. I love a good werewolf romance - however this one fell a little flat for me. While some of the dialogue was very, very contemporary and could at times pull me out of the narrative, overall, I enjoyed the story. I look forward to seeing more from this author!

Lindsey Kelk is one of my auto buy authors, I look forward to her romcoms. This book is different from her others and tends more to the YA genre.
Emily is a teenager in the UK, living with her father, and suddenly her father dies and she becomes an orphan. Her deceased mother’s family in Savannah, GA steps in and suddenly Emily is living in a Southern mansion with her aunt and grandmother.
There’s more to her family than meets the eye, and Emily is shocked to discover that she’s an important part of a family of witches. She meets a boy (Wyn) and they fall for each other like only teenagers can. Emily is supposed to turn into a “full” witch on her 17th birthday, but she’s not sure about going through with the ceremony.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Bell Witches is Book one in the Savannah Red series, a cozy Southern gothic meets YA witchy mystery. Sixteen year old Emily, reeling after her dad’s death, is sent to Savannah to live with an aunt and grandmother she never knew. It turns out these relatives are not only mysterious, they are magical. And so is Emily.

The Savannah atmosphere is immersive. The trees dripping with Spanish moss, historic mansions whispering secrets, and that hazy Southern heat all come alive on the page.

Emily meets Wyn, digs into family lore, and navigates romance, prophecies, and her own awakening. The “Becoming” ceremony and the mystery of her Bell heritage keep things suspenseful.

There is a bit of insta love and a few moments where character motives pivot quickly, but if you are reading for atmosphere, witchy secrets, and a touch of paranormal charm, this one delivers. I mean, I remember being sixteen and everything felt like insta love, hormones and what not, so I guess it checks out.

Tropes

🏡 Magical family
🔮 Hidden witchy legacy

💕 Insta love

🌳 Southern gothic

Overall a fun and enjoyable read. I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the sequel.

This was enjoyable! The writing style was a little young for me but I am positive it's great for the intended audience. I loved the imagery of Savannah, GA. I have never been but felt like I was fully immersed in the city. There were points of the story that felt a little disjointed but overall a good read.

Lindsey kelk freaking does it again. I devour everything she puts out and I’m so freaking happy I read this. Now I just need fall weather

If you're looking for a good YA witchy read, go no further than Lindsey Kelk's The Bell Witches. The story takes place in Georgia, and it's like Savannah itself is a character. The beautiful homes, historical sights, old families (the other half), the cemeteries, rich traditions, and, of course, the supernatural. After all, Savannah is known for its ghost stories, but there's a lot more than ghosts lurking, as Emily will soon find out. It was a whole vibe, and I loved it.


Emily's trek into the supernatural is fraught with mystery, danger, and magic, but she handled herself fairly well. Asking questions, researching, and figuring things out while getting to know the family she never knew existed. Em was exceptional, and I'm not just talking about the witchy part; she's smart and has started to put together clues in the mystery of her life. After losing her dad and having her world shaken in so many ways, she manages to keep an open mind and heart. Along the way, she meets Wyn, and the connection is instant. Not exactly like fated mates, more like love at first sight. Things between them were easy for the most part. They make a cute couple. I liked Wyn for her. He eased some of her pain, took her out of her headspace, and just let her be without any expectations.


The story was incredible. There wasn't just a mention of magic like other books. No, this story was steeped in it. There were some pretty cool examples of magic, from elemental to intuition, and so much more. Emily was even seeing things, which kind of gave off the "is she going crazy?" vibes. Plus, it was all wrapped up in the big mystery that had Em asking a lot of questions. Why didn't she know about her other relatives? Why were so many things kept from her? These are just some of the questions that are mentioned. As the story went on, the darker it felt. Next thing I knew, it was complete chaos. Those burning questions get answered, thank Gods. However, I was even more shocked by the outrageousness of those final few chapters. So incredibly good. I'm telling you, if you like YA, Southern Gothic, and witchy reads, then The Bell Witches is a must.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC! The Bell Witches follows Emily as she discovers her family’s witch heritage after moving to Savannah. While the premise is intriguing, I found the story underdeveloped, the dialogue overly modern, and the romance very insta-love. Fans of contemporary, modern-witch stories may enjoy this, but it wasn’t quite for me.