Hazel Thornton’s mess of spellwork, body-swapping with her werewolf neighbor Blake, and discovering strange, dangerous magic bubbling up beneath Moonridge make this book a wild ride, but in a cozy way. The enemies-to-something-more trope is fun, and the supernatural politics and mystery kept me guessing. If you like romance with magic, humor, and a dash of danger, this hits the spot.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I ended up finishing the book in just a few sittings and really enjoyed the story and characters.

Ok so very unique premise for this one, with a cross gender (and cross species!) body swap romance. Sounds like it shouldn’t work but it honestly did. The complete lack of spicy scenes helps keep this from going from wacky to icky. The storyline was interesting with the formulaic aspect I would expect from a YA book which this essentially is even with characters in late 20s. I enjoyed it overall, ancient prophesies and grudges and hilarious spin on forced proximity/enemies to friends to lovers. I will be reading the second book in the series as well; Mina was an awesome character and I’m looking forward to her story!

Thank you AA Lit for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was such a fun book! The story was very well written and I loved the chemistry between the main couple. This is a great book for fall!

3.5 ⭐

The core of this story is very entertaining. A magical town filled with endless interesting characters, complicated dynamics, and just the right blend of hijinks and emotional complexity. While I do think that the paranormal lore is a bit surface level it didn't really take away from my enjoyment of it. A body swap between two future romantic partners as they slowly fall for each others whilst literally walking in the other's shoes truly never gets old. There's definitely a lot of fun moments as they learn to function in the other's body. Them both wondering where the line was between their consciousness and the bones of the body, in terms of the truth of their burgeoning feelings, was quite compelling. The commentary on instilling fear about those who are different manages to parallel real life situations very effectively. These damaging viewpoints slowly infiltrate communities in ways that only the affected notice and by the time anyone else cares it's already too deeply seeded to quickly reverse course.

The prose itself got a bit too repetitive at times where ideas were already made clear previously but then are subsequently talked directly about in dialogue. There were many times where I already came to a conclusion that was later talked about like it just occurred to the characters themselves. There needs to be a greater trust in your audience that they will understand the quite evident conclusions because the first mention of it in your writing is strong enough to portray it. With some more editing the story would feel streamlined into something undeniably charming even moreso than it already is.

With all of this said, the last third of the book truly shines. The stakes are higher and the pacing is quicker. While the investigations around town were compelling enough to hold my interest throughout, it's at this point where so many intertwining pieces become impossibly knotted in the most satisfying way. Although I do wish that we could spend more time with Hazel and Blake as main characters, I am definitely looking forward to returning to this world for the next installment!

Once Upon a Blue Moon is a haunting, poetic journey—strange and familiar in ways that linger long after

Avery Arujo’s writing is warm, witty, and quietly clever in all the right ways. This book struck a good balance between cozy escapism and emotional sincerity. The atmosphere is soft and a little whimsical, without ever slipping into cliché, and the emotional arc is surprisingly grounded. I found myself grinning at the banter one minute and unexpectedly touched the next.

What stands out most is how the romance unfolds with a quiet kind of intimacy. It’s slow, thoughtful, and full of little moments that feel earned rather than forced. There’s chemistry, yes, but also emotional growth, vulnerability, and a deepening sense of mutual respect that makes the payoff all the more satisfying.

That said, it does suffer a little from the more modern tendency to tell the reader how to feel rather than letting the emotions unfold naturally. It’s not constant, but it’s noticeable at times, and I did find myself wishing for more “showing” instead of being told what a character was feeling or why a moment mattered. There’s also a bit of repetition here and there, though thankfully it’s not overwhelming or distracting.

It’s the kind of story that doesn’t need to shout to be heard. There’s charm here, and heart, and a subtle undercurrent of self-reflection that gives the whole thing weight. Perfect for when you want something magical but emotionally real, comforting but not hollow.

Fun freaky Friday ish switch between a slightly chaotic witch & her very grumpy werewolf neighbor.
The banter was great and the mystery was interesting. Just missed the spice.

What's not to love about a witch vampire romance that's also a bit of a rom com. You don't think it will work but somehow it does.

Rating: 3.5 stars

If you are looking for a small-town cozy romance, this is the book for you. There’s humor, drama, and mystery. It gives small-town vibes where everyone knows everyone.

The story begins with Hazel struggling to cope with a breakup with a guy who didn’t deserve her. He wanted someone… “normal.” In an attempt to cast a spell, Blake storms in. As you would guess, things go awry. They swap bodies, and things get real. While in each other’s bodies, they saw how the other lived and operated—revealing the level of care they deserved, as well as their biggest fears and insecurities. And because no one knew about the swap, they learned how others saw them.

The villain was easy to figure out: who the villain was, what she was, and what motivated her. It also wasn’t hard to guess what her plans were. However, she was well-written. You properly disliked her. I enjoyed the secondary characters: Mina (the bed and breakfast owner who will also be the MFC in book 2), CoCo (the intern working in the shop with Hazel), and Calvin (Blake’s brother) were great, and they helped move the story along. I do take issue with the usage of the Black best friend, La’Tasha. She would pop in for what felt like a research info dump, and then you wouldn’t see her again until the next time some research was needed… but she ran the shop with Hazel. This happened for most of the book.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was Hazel’s level of pettiness. The pranks she played on the townpeople, especially her ex-boyfriend (although, technically, that was Blake, but it was fantastic). If you love a romance with a witch and wolf shifter with cozy, small-town romance vibes, you’ll enjoy this.

This is available on Kindle Unlimited. Alternatively, you can borrow it from your local library, or you can support your local indie bookshop.

I enjoyed this book!

It was cozy and mysterious. Super sweet and I liked the freaky Friday switch vibes! I’m excited to read more from this author

Once Upon a Blue Moon was exactly the kind of magical escape I didn’t know I needed! Hazel’s witchy antics and Blake’s grumpy werewolf charm made for such an entertaining and sweet combo. When they magically swap bodies, the awkwardness and confusion that follow are pure gold—had me laughing out loud more than once.

What really stood out was how the story balanced humor, mystery, and romance without ever feeling rushed. The small-town setting gave it this warm, snug feeling, like a cozy blanket on a chilly evening. Plus, the way Hazel and Blake slowly open up to each other was so genuine and satisfying to watch.

If you love paranormal stories with quirky characters and a touch of magic, this book will totally steal your heart. It’s lighthearted but with enough twists to keep things interesting, making it perfect for a laid-back afternoon read. Honestly, I’m already looking forward to more from Avery Arujo!

Magical mishaps and accidental romance. Enemies to lovers in a fun and cozy way but so much fun! So good.

A grumpy werewolf and a sunshiney witch switch bodies and have to safe their town, Moonridge, from destruction!? So fun! This was such a cute, fun, quick read. Blake and Hazel absolutely hate each other, but when they switch bodies, they learn how difficult the other's life really is and they grow to appreciate each other. This is a romance as well, but definitely a closed door romance for those who don't want any spice! This is the beginning of a Moonridge series and I can't wait for the next book to come out! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

Rating: 3.5 stars

If you are looking for a small-town cozy romance, this is the book for you. There’s humor, drama, and mystery. It gives small-town vibes where everyone knows everyone.

The story begins with Hazel struggling to cope with a breakup with a guy who didn’t deserve her. He wanted someone… “normal.” In an attempt to cast a spell, Blake storms in. As you would guess, things go awry. They swap bodies, and things get real. While in each other’s bodies, they saw how the other lived and operated—revealing the level of care they deserved, as well as their biggest fears and insecurities. And because no one knew about the swap, they learned how others saw them.

The villain was easy to figure out: who the villain was, what she was, and what motivated her. It also wasn’t hard to guess what her plans were. However, she was well-written. You properly disliked her. I enjoyed the secondary characters: Mina (the bed and breakfast owner who will also be the MFC in book 2), CoCo (the intern working in the shop with Hazel), and Calvin (Blake’s brother) were great, and they helped move the story along. I do take issue with the usage of the Black best friend, La’Tasha. She would pop in for what felt like a research info dump, and then you wouldn’t see her again until the next time some research was needed… but she ran the shop with Hazel. This happened for most of the book.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was Hazel’s level of pettiness. The pranks she played on the townpeople, especially her ex-boyfriend (although, technically, that was Blake, but it was fantastic). If you love a romance with a witch and wolf shifter with cozy, small-town romance vibes, you’ll enjoy this.

This is available on Kindle Unlimited. Alternatively, you can borrow it from your local library, or you can support your local indie bookshop.

I am excited to read more in this series! I loved the Freak Friday supernatural plot line. I thought the chemistry between Hazel and Blake was well written too. I finished this in one sitting!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

The story kicks off with Hazel single and casting a beauty spell, when her werewolf neighbor Blake shows up to complain about the smell of it. Next thing they know, they’re trapped in each other’s bodies.

The book then goes down a twisty paranormal mystery with just the right amount of romance. I really enjoyed that the focus wasn’t solely on the romance but also on the characters learning to navigate each other's powers, working as a team, and uncovering something sinister happening in their town. The something sinister was really intriguing shout of to the historian in the book for keeping really good records.

The world-building was a highlight for me. It’s not just about Hazel and Blake, but about the whole community other witches, werewolves, and the hidden secrets of the town’s history. The slow-burn romance felt natural and balanced well with the mystery and magic.

Pick this one up if you’re in the mood for a cozy paranormal romance with heart, humor, and a dash of danger!

This book was so much more than I expected. I was prepared for silly body-switch humor and some light magic, and I got those moments as well, but the big bad was actually pretty evil and the whole world was well constructed.

Blake and Hazel don’t just peel away each other’s layers, they have to live inside them. Such an intense way to get to know someone better and it worked so well. They were so sweet and interesting together, their strengths complementing each other’s perfectly. The kind of match you can’t help but root for.

And the town and side characters were really interesting to me. I’d love to read another book about Hazel’s best friend or Blake’s brother or another member of his pack. I think a really fun series was set up here

Hazel and Blake's story was so sweet to read.

The coziness of the town and the comforting setting of the magic shop was amazing. I loved watching Hazel and Blake become closer and realize that they had been misjudging each other. I thought the switching of the bodies was such a clever way of having these two characters start to relate to one another and discover more about their histories and daily challenges.

The mystery aspect of this book was good too. It felt a little simple at times, but I liked the extra mystery element to the romance.

Overall, a good read that would be perfect to read in front of the fire while it's raining outside.

A hilarious cozy read.

The concept is wild, a body swap between a witch and a warewolf - what could go wrong?!

The character development on both sides throughout this book is brilliant, they learn so much about each others perspectives and find a new appreciation for each other during their swap. I really appreciated that there were no comments about their anatomy and that kind of weirdness you see in some films.