I absolutely Love Lindsey Kelk! I was so excited to read a fantast book by her because I've only read her romance books. And I was not disappointed.

This book follows 16 year old Emily who after her father dies, is left an orphan and goes to live with her aunt and grandmother, who she had no idea existed. To top it off, she discovers she comes from a family of witches and she herself is a witch.

I really loved the descriptions of Savannah. The author really captivated the essence and feel of the city.

I did feel the love story happened super fast but I mean she is 16 and who doesn't fall in love in 2 weeks at 16? 😂

I'm really looking forward to the next book!

Sadly, I did not have time to give this a read before it hit shelves, but I can't wait to dive in when I can!

I was very excited to received a copy of The Bell Witches. After reading the synopsis, it seemed similar to The Once of Future Witches.

Emily, our main character, discovers she has a family after her father dies tragically. She moved to Savannah to the Bell House with her grandmother and aunt, whom she thought were dead. While the Bell House is a magnificent, historic home, it also has its secrets. Trying to belong, she meets Wyn, a boy staying in the city for the summer and the rest is history. But when she is told she is a witch destined to save and awaken other witches, she questions her place in her family.

I did enjoy this book. I did not tear through it, but knowing it’s a trilogy makes me want to know more. I do think it could have been a standalone with the way it ended, which is nice to have the story fully wrapped up, but I can see where the author might be able to go.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins360 for this free copy of "The Bell Witches."

This book reads like a witchy love letter to Savannah, GA - one of the most magical places I've ever visited. For all of its haunted houses, rich history, beautiful scenery, hospitality... and of course, Bonaventure Cemetery.

After Emily's historian father dies in an accident, she leaves Wales to live with her only living relations in Savannah, GA. Gorgeous Bell House, a family she didn't know, and Savannah itself are all enticing to Emily.

But why did her father change her given name? And what's in her grandmother's craft room and why does it keep calling to her?

And what was her father researching before his death? And why does his sister not want her in Bell House?

“Betraying someone to protect them never ends well.”

A classic coming of age, witchy story for YA fantasy lovers!

If you’ve ever been 16 where the weight of the world feels so heavy and emotions feel so big, then you can relate to this book.

Emily James lost her father in a car accident leaving her alone at the age of 16. She embarks on a journey living with her grandmother in Savannah, GA. In Savannah she meets twins, Lydia & Jackson, that quickly become her best friends as well as an intsa-love connection with Wyn. (typically, I don’t love the insta-love trope, but here it worked for me given everything that was interconnected with this story).

Kelk does an incredible job with setting the scene with all the details about Savannah that make you feel like you’re in the world alongside Emily. There were a few times that I audibly exclaimed, ‘what the hell.’

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I’m anxiously awaiting the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the US publication ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After losing her father, Emily leaves the only life she's known behind in Wales, to travel to the historic town of Savannah, Georgia. She goes to live with her Grandmother and Aunt in their family's huge old house. As Emily adjusts to her new life, she meets people in town and makes friends, but she also has started to experience odd changes and sensations that she can't quite explain.
Adjusting is becoming a challenge for her, as she learns about her family and town's history, she starts to realize how big the challenge that she is up against is.
Emily uncovers the truth about her lineage that changes everything, she’s a descendant from a long line of powerful witches.
She will have to decide who she can trust, in a town where everyone is keeping secrets.

"Because magic is not good or bad, it's the truth. Our connection to the blessing is strongest in places with history, where lives have been lived, happy and sad."
"There are only two things people could never have enough of, love and knowledge."

This story is about much more than magic though. The main theme centers around the pull between family loyalty and personal freedom, but it's also about finding unexpected friendships, and a risky and very rushed romance.
By the end, I found myself not invested in Emily’s journey at all anymore. I found myself rooting for the antagonist (not because I liked them, but because I wanted the story to be over.)
I felt like this book could have been so much more, but it just wasn't there.
The love felt rushed and not in a good way, the plot was minimal, and the characters weren't very likable. It wasn't a bad read, but there was nothing remarkable or different that it brought to the genre.


Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publisher for this ARC.

**Rating:** 2.5 stars

While the premise had potential, I struggled with several aspects of the execution. The magic system isn’t clearly explained, which made it difficult to understand how or why certain events were happening. Frequent reminders that the story takes place in the present day—such as references to TikTok and the Roman Empire trend—pulled me out of the world rather than grounding me in it.

As I read an ARC, there were some grammar and spelling issues (e.g., “self defense” vs. “self defence”), which I assume were addressed before final publication. Supporting characters felt underutilized, and the plot was quite predictable—though not necessarily in a negative way.

Overall, this felt like a story that could have been wrapped up in a single book rather than extended into a series. Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit rushed and seemed to be written only to setup the next book..

The book is YA so while there’s not a ton of romance, there is a romantic situationship at the center of our story. The romance doesn’t qualify as instalove, as it develops later in the story, but even by the 60% mark, it still lacked depth. It’s also worth noting that the protagonist is only 16, which influenced how I perceived the relationship dynamic.

This was sadly a DNF for me.

I adore Lindsey Kelk. I was obsessed with the I Heart series in my early twenties. I was so excited to see she was releasing a new book and stepping away from her usual writers playbook. This book was a let down, and I was sad that I didn't want to finish it.

One thing Lindsey Kelk does extremely well is creating the atmosphere of a read. She did this is her earlier books, and she did it again here! I felt like I was in Savannah. I've never been there, but now I want to go more than ever!

Overall, I just didn't like the book. Maybe I'm just too old to be the target audience? I typically don't struggle with teenage main characters, but I found Emily to be someone I couldn't relate to. The inst-love was super instant. That felt like a teenager swooning over a man, which is pretty appropriate for the character's age. But then Emily was willing to sacrifice everything for a guy she fell in love with at first sight. Maybe my thirty-something married self just can't relate.

I love a bewitching coming-of-age tale that is set in the steamy, moss-draped charm of Savannah. That is one of my favorite settings. The atmospheric writing brings Bell House to life, from shifting wallpaper to creaking floorboards, you feel every ghostly whisper and magical elements.
I also loved the family element, the family legacy and self discovery.
The supernatural rituals and slow-burn tension were spellbinding, the emotional stakes such as the tug between love and heritage, belonging and rebellion added extra tension. While the romance between Emily and Wyn sometimes leans toward “insta-love,” it still manages to lift the story, adding a touch of youthful urgency to the magic-laden narrative. It also reminded me that it is actually how love is when you ate that young.

The Bell Witches follows Emily, a recently orphaned 16 year old, whisked away to Savannah, GA where she is taken in by her estranged grandmother. She quickly learns that not only does the Bell family have more wealth and status; she is also descendant of a historically powerful line of witches - all which was kept from her for her entire life. This one fell a little flat for me. Maybe it was the fact that it’s a little more on the YA side, and too modernized to me to feel like a true fantasy read. I’m also not a huge fan of an insta-love, even when referring to inexperienced teenagers. The setting, however, was the best part - beautifully capturing the allure of Savannah that is reminiscent of times past.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun read! It was just gothic enough but not so much that if you're not a huge fan of the genre but want to dabble in it, it's perfect. The fantasy elements were well researched but not overwhelming.

There are some plot points that felt predictable but this didn't take away from the story at all.

Recommend for anyone who might be looking for a cozy, witchy read set in the South!

The diction in this book is just as beautiful as the cover. I ate up this story and connected with all the characters. The pacing was perfect. The world building was immersive. Definitely a new favorite!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review. This book had witches and Were’s, two things I love but I struggled with this one.

Emily is only sixteen so she of course will be immature and naive but falling in love with a boy you just met is too much for me. Overall, the writing wasn’t bad but the pacing was off for me, the first 75% moved so slow and I couldn’t get into it until the very end.

The Bell Witches

3.5 🌟🌟🌟

Things I loved about this book:

- The concept of a magical lineage that skips a generation (grandmother and granddaughter, but not mother)
- The descriptions of the herbs and their uses that Em magically knows like the back of her hand as a witch specializing in Apothecary magic
- The Bell house itself (I love old homes with a history)
- the last 15% was really enjoyable

Things I didn't love:

- I guessed the main plot very early on
- Insta-love (I get that 16 year olds can be like this but it feels forced)
- felt too modern and also not enough fantasy elements for me

I was really hoping to be blown away by this book. I wasn't, but it was still a fun read and I did read it in a single sitting. I think if the main character was older and there wasn't so much modern lingo in it I would have enjoyed it more. Also, I wanted more spellwork!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

More like a 3.5 stars for me. I am giving this book some grace since it is YA. The romance was the exact opposite of a slow burn, so intense so quickly with very few interactions or romantic moments for it to make any sense but, but for a YA, I wasn't surprised by it. What I did love was the setting and magic system that the author set up. Being in the south, especially Savannah, allowed the author to pull from very real historic events. This made the magic system even that much more interesting. Learning about several generations of witches was very cool but learning about the werewolves in this world felt like an add-on of convenience. I don't think I will be reading everything this author has written but I will definitely check out her titles with synopses that intrigue me.

I DNF’d this book around 60% mark. I really wanted to love this book but the characters felt underdeveloped and underwhelming.
There wasn’t much action so it just seemed to dragged.

If someone is looking for a cozy, cutesie coming of age book then this is for you.

Thank you, Harper 360 | Magpie
& NetGalley for my gifted advanced book copy 💕

This atmospheric YA novel transports readers vividly to Savannah, Georgia, evoking the lush beauty of the South with impressive sensory detail. The protagonist, Emily, discovers her identity as a witch in the wake of her father’s death, leading to a compelling family-centered narrative enhanced by standout supporting characters like her eccentric best friend Lydia and her complex aunt Ashley.

Unfortunately, the romance subplot undermines the story’s strengths. The instant connection between Emily and Wyn feels forced and shallow, with little chemistry or development. In contrast, Emily’s dynamic with Jackson offers more authentic interaction and emotional resonance.

Stylistically, the writing suffers from repetitive sentence structures and modern slang that feels out of place, particularly the use of “unalive” as a verb. Additionally, excessive Taylor Swift references date the narrative unnecessarily.

With stronger editing and a more nuanced romantic arc, this could have been an exceptional read. As it stands, it's a mixed experience—rich in setting and secondary characters, but hindered by weak prose and an underwhelming central romance.

FIRST: look how STUNNING this book is; it'd be a cover buy for me even if I hadn't read it yet, but I'm strongly considering getting this shelf-trophy!

This is such a great witch-coming-of-age story for Emily, who moves from Wales to Savannah, GA after her father's sudden death. She is taken in by her grandmother, Catherine and her aunt Ashley and immediately learns there are some secrets her parents had kept from her, including WHY they moved so far away from Savannah.
In her early days back in Savannah, Emily meets Lydia & Jackson, siblings that are grandchildren of Catherine's friend, and Wyn, who she immediately forms a bond with that grows romantic in nature.

The group of characters in this one were a mix of mysterious, sassy and humorous, catty, and romantic. I loved the found-family aspect of meeting blood-family members for the first time and the fast friendships with Lydia, Jackson & Wyn.
The story itself is mysterious and magical and simultaneously humorous and heart-felt with a mix of action & adventure.

I enjoyed how the secrets were slowly revealed as the story went along, and how the characters discover their families secrets/truths.
I did make a couple predictions but, honestly if you've read witchy books and given the young adult nature of the book, this, to me, was expected and didn't detract from the story overall.

Lindsey Kelk really paints the picture of Savannah: the squares, describing the old grand houses, cemeteries, trees & spanish moss...I really felt transported to the south.

TL;DR: witchy YA fantasy that borders on cozy, and did definitely FEEL young adult to me, but still enjoyable and would be an excellent addition to that witchy fall TBR you’re building!

The setting, the mystery, the twists and turns, the beautiful eerie feeling…this book was delivering! The atmospheric vibe The Bell Witches brings was unexpected but so deep. In the beginning I thought I knew where this book would take me and I was so wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed this read from page one but once I was in the Powell’s parlor I couldn’t put the book down. Great characters and a plot you don’t see coming until it smacks you between the eyes. Great end of summer read!

E-ARC Book Review—The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 360, and Lindsey Kelk for the E-Arc.

DNF at 48%

Synopsis: When Emily's father passes away she moves to Savannah, Georgia to live with an aunt and grandma she did not know existed. While Emily is excited to meet her family and learn more about them she quickly realizes that strange things keep happening to her.

While she tries to navigate the magical things going on she meets new friends and Wyn who may be something more.

Review:I can recognize this book as a YA is probably not for me. Wyn and Emily's relationship develops too fast and every time they were togehter it took me out of the story. I can see how this book would appeal to a younger audience but was not for me. Although I was enjoying learning more of Emily and her family but ultimately decided to dnf it. I would recommend this book to teens age 13+. I think this book had potential and other readers would greatly enjoy it if they want a quick love story with some magic to it.