Thank You NetGalley and Harper 360 for the ARC!

I really loved the atmosphere and setting! Gothy southern? Summer? Magic? Loved it! You can tell a lot of thought went into this book, from the history to the research on plants. It made me interested in learning a it about them myself! Emily is such a likeable and lovable character that I felt needed just a bit more push in the right direction to truly make the book shine a bit more. The insta friendship/romance was a bit cliche, especially since Emily is a bit more on the standoffish side. I still loved the book, but I wish there was a bit more to truly make me love this book more.

I'm still trying to figure out how I felt about this book. I'm a big fan of the author and witches. But the book never grabbed me, I never felt compelled to read it. Every night for weeks I read about 15-20 minutes and called it good. I did love the setting of Savannah and just never felt connected to the characters or the story. I'm glad I finally finished the book but I'm unsure of how I feel about it.

An extremely fun YA fantasy.

I didn’t love the really insta aspect of the friendships and love interest but I was really impressed with the research behind the herbal mentions, really liked the writing (the imagery, the pacing too), and would read more of this series.

Recommended!


Thank you to Magpie and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you so much Harper 360, Lindsey Kelk, and NetGalley for this arc!

There were so many parts of this books that I really liked. Being set in Savannah, Georgia, I loved the historical backdrop. I think it added a mysteriousness to the book. The imagery that Lindsey created of the city drew me in, and completely captivated me. The Bell’s being this historical family definitely intrigued me drew me in to the book.

The side characters really stood out to me in the best way. Lydia and Jackson were fantastic characters. Lydia was the perfect quirky best friend, and I definitely felt there was chemistry between Emily & Jackson, even if her heart did belong to Wyn. I loved Ashley! She played the perfect resentful aunt trying to hold up appearances.

Sadly, Emily as our FMC was a bit of a miss for me. At times I found her to be either rude or apathetic. I know she was a teenager, and that attitude is to be expected, but I can only take so much sarcasm. I knew that the author was building to Emily’s coming of age “becoming” when she turned 17 but it just didn’t grip me the way I had hoped.

There were so many pieces of this book that I loved, but some things were just a miss for me. Overall it was a good read and thank you again for the opportunity

I enjoyed the Bell Witches. This definitely felt like a more teen/YA fantasy novel. The plot was fairly paced and I really enjoyed the Savannah setting and history (already wanted to visit, but now even more so?). I really enjoyed the side characters and wished/wanted more from them as the story went on, as well as even more of the witchcraft and werewolf lore + action. Hoping for more of all of these in book 2! Thank you Net Galley, Harper Collins and Lindsey Kelk for the ARC!

Out Aug. 5th, 2025
The trademark Kelk humor is alive and well, and the characters? Total charmers. They’re messy, magical, and often up to no good, which is exactly what you’d expect (and want) in a story like this.

The plot’s got a wild edge, like it was brewed in a cauldron of Gen Z sass and old-school supernatural shenanigans. That said, the pacing dipped in spots. A few scenes dragged their broomsticks a little too long, and some twists felt more quirky than compelling. But as a fan, I was still grinning through most of it.

If you love a blend of cozy chaos and witchy weirdness, you'll have fun here. Just don’t expect it to cast a spell quite as strong as Kelk’s best—more of a flicker than a fireball.

Would I hand this off to my fellow Kelk-loving friends? Definitely. Would I want a sequel? Yes, but maybe with a bit more enchantment next time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for an early arc! The book follow a soon to be 17 year old Emily who has loss her father in an accident. After years of being with her dad she reunite with her family in Savannah. She is not only finding out she has family that are alive, but also adjust to a new country and secret of who she is. There are family secrets, betrayal, tension, first love and growing family in the book. I loved reading the places in Savannah because I could picture being back there. This would be perfect witchy book for the summer to get you into the upcoming fall season.

Im a tad a bit mixed. I’m 28yo and felt like it was a bit too young for me? But that being said… I’m quite loving the atmosphere and story overall. Just felt a bit juvenile at points but once I remembered our FMC age I was like oh well, actually, it’s not bad!
So I’d say that perhaps it’s my age that made it a bit of a you get book but still worth for the atmosphere itself

An easy and gripping fantasy! I dived right into it with no expectations and I was blown away, the characters and plot were amazing, the cover is to die for.

This is a great gothic witchy fantasy book. I love a witchy vibes book. It was very atmospheric with a great setting. I was left with so many questions so a 2nd book is definitely needed…..ASAP!

The Bell Witches was such a fun read, and I was hooked. It’s set in Savannah, where sixteen-year-old Emily moves in with her mysterious aunt and grandma after her dad dies. Their mansion is gorgeous but creepy, and it’s clear her family’s hiding some serious magical secrets. The story blends gothic fantasy with a coming-of-age vibe, and Emily’s curiosity and sarcasm make her easy to root for. There’s a slow-burn romance, magical tension, and just the right amount of Southern eeriness. I flew through it. So so fun!

Emily isn’t a bad lead, but she never stood out or pulled me in emotionally. As a result, I didn’t really care about what she was going through. There are unusual, possibly supernatural events occurring, but Emily spends more time chasing after the guy she fell for at first sight than engaging with the mystery. It makes her feel unfocused, and the story’s intriguing elements get crowded out.

The Bell Witches had a totally different vibe than I’m used to from Lindsey Kelk, and I loved it. The story follows sixteen-year-old Emily, who’s sent to live with her mysterious aunt and grandmother in Savannah after her father’s death. Their old Southern mansion is gorgeous but eerie, and it doesn’t take long before Emily realizes her family is hiding some serious magical secrets.

Emily is sharp, curious, and has just the right amount of skepticism. As she uncovers more about her family’s legacy and her own powers, the story blends coming-of-age with gothic fantasy in a way that feels fresh. There’s also a slow-burning romance and a lot of tension around a magical ceremony that could change everything. It’s spooky, heartfelt, and full of Southern charm.

The Bell Witches
2.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360/ Harper Collins for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I really wanted to like this book. It had everything that I *should* have loved. Savannah is one of my favorite places to visit in the US (seriously, SO BEAUTIFUL!) and the witch element is right up my alley. Unfortunately, it was just poorly executed.

Emily, our protagonist, is likable enough but ultimately lacks any personality outside of kinda being snarky. Shes not fierce, she’s not smart (she’s pretty dumb if I’m being honest) and she spends most of this book just letting people tell her what to do without asking for any more information. um HELLO BABE STAND UP.

The relationship: okay so they’re literally children, so I can semi excuse the insta love part (still annoying) but we barely get to know either character, Wyn is just kinda…there? For like 2 scenes before he’s gone. And the “twist” of him being a (spoiler alert) “Were” wasn’t a twist at all. Saw it coming a mile away.

Speaking of twists, it’s so obvious from the jump that Catherine killed Emily’s father. SO OBVIOUS. Catherine is creepy the entire book. Also, what’s up with her weird random change of heart mid chapter after she’s been on an evil monologue the entire last chapter? I don’t get it. Felt weird.

Side characters: Lydia was pretty cool, I actually really liked her. She was fun, she was kind, and she deserved better. Ashley was horrible but I understand why, what I DONT understand is why Emily was just like “yeah she’s a total bitch to me 24/7 but I’m not gonna advocate for myself” like babe I was 16 once too and if anyone spoke to me even remotely similar to how Ashley was I would have been throwing hands. WHAT ARE YOU DOING STAND UP!

And now to my biggest gripe…why, dear god, why are we using the term “unalive” in actual dialogue said by actual characters?? Unalive is a way to get around social media algorithms and censors. And it would be one thing if it was the 16 year old saying it, WRONG (also yes, the 16 year old did say it as well) IT WAS THE 30 SOMETHING WHO SAID IT WHILE BEING DEAD SERIOUS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ACTUAL LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE.

I don’t know, premise was cool, execution…not so much.

I was so excited for this book and really wanted to live it but I don’t think I’m the target audience. It reads as verrrry YA and I went in expecting a southern gothic book but felt so thrown off by all the silly teenager slang and the way the main character talks and thinks. It just really pulled me out of the story. I wanted more gothic, more family, more witchy, less teenager lingo and less insta love.

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

Emily James had just become an orphan at 16 after her dad passed away in an accident. She originally stayed in Wales thinking she had no family, but her dad’s younger sister came and got her and brought her back to Savannah, Georgia where her parents were from to live at Bell House with her Grandmother Catherine.

She soon finds out their family holds a secret that grandmothers pass to granddaughters…they’re witches. At almost 17, she’s close to her “Becoming” where she gains her full powers as a witch. There are more secrets though that her dad never told her, and a prophesy that will change everything for her.

This was such a good read. Instantly I felt like I was in this world. It’s modern so there are current day references and language, but the story made me feel like I was living in Savannah in the summer heat. I was worried I’d rather read a witchy story in the fall, but this had all the summer witch vibes. Perfect for reading during hot summer nights. Was it insta-love with the romance portion? Yes, but for a YA that didn’t bother me. While the story was totally different, it made me nostalgic for reading Twilight the first time. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
🫑 YA Fantasy

I was given an e-arc to review by Netgalley, but all thoughts are my own.

A witchy, contemporary Southern gothic

The Bell Witches follows Emily across the ocean as she reconnects with the family her father left behind when she was just a child. In the wake of his death, Emily is desperate to understand the people and place he kept hidden, and Savannah is ready to spill its secrets to her.

This story is an emotional, mysterious, and magical take on the Southern gothic. With its primarily-teenaged cast and closed-door romance, it’s a great YA pick for the summer.

Personally, I liked the real connections to Savannah, and I savored the whimsy elements of nature and place, like Spanish moss with a mind of its own. The rituals were fun, but I wouldn’t necessarily call the magic within the book a “system”. However, the author has laid the groundwork for a coming-of-age series full of fantasy and found family, so I’ll read whatever comes next.

3.75/5 ⭐️

This book was an easy read, and it had a lot to like. The premise was intriguing, and I really enjoyed the family dynamics that evolve throughout within the Bell family.

While I really enjoyed the world building of the neighborhood, it did admittedly require some amount of suspension of disbelief. It’s supposed to be modern day Savannah, but at the same time, there didn’t seem to be references to crowds or tourists in the historical areas, and the number of coincidental meetings seemed more akin to a fictional small town rather than a real city.

Unfortunately, the romance aspect of this book lets it down, namely the “instalove.” The sixteen-year-old FMC and MMC are fully in love and committed after having met about twice, without any real development or reasoning shared. Unfortunately, this is difficult to overcome, considering how important the romance is to the plot and our FMC's decisionmaking towards the end of the book.

I have read books by Lindsey Kelk before and enjoyed them so I was excited to give 'The Bell Wiches' a read. I did not realize until a chapter in that it was a YA novel but I enjoyed the story and kept reading.

For a YA novel, the story was intriguing and the novel included a lot of researched history and botany. I thought that the added information about tides, historical events, and herbs was a great touch for a younger reader. As a character, Emily was compelling and her growth in the novel felt natural. Her relationship with its sudden declarations of love was a bit more far fetched for an older reader but I hope further background or explanation is included in a sequel (which was set up well at the end).

Overall, I enjoyed this read and would read a sequel. I thought the premise, plot, and information were compelling for a YA reader and I found it a fun read. I would recommend this to highschoolers and I look forward to reading the next installment!

This book was very captivating and something I read super quickly. The writing and the plot kept me hooked and left me wanting more. Emily is forced to return to Savannah after the tragic death of her father. There, she meets family, friends, and Wyn (the love interest). I think Emily and Wyn’s story had the potential to be amazing, but unfortunately it was one where it seemed like they said “i love you” on their second meeting. Their relationship really had no time to develop and I think it got too intense too fast. Writing YA is a very delicate task and is hard get right sometimes. I felt that way in this book because of the use of the words “rizz”, “unalive”, “mid”, and mention of Tiktok and the Roman Empire trend. These things took me out of the book but luckily, I was sucked back in by the writing. Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.