“Once Upon a Blue Moon" is a cozy paranormal gem—fun, quirky, and full of heart. Hazel’s magic mishaps had me laughing, especially once she and her grumpy neighbor Blake end up in a magical body-swap mess. The banter is top-tier, the mystery keeps things moving, and I loved watching both characters grow through all the chaos. Snark, suspense, and slow-burn romance? Yes, please. This one totally hit the spot.

This was a pretty solid story, but I kept wishing that there was more tension and spice, especially for a body swap fantasy romance. I really wanted the two main characters to have more of a romantic connection than there was.

Avery Arujo has a rock-solid premise in Once Upon a Blue Moon, with enjoyable characters and a a plot that rockets along. It ticks the boxes for a "clean" romance, but never quite surpassed the basics for me.

My biggest issue was the writing style--it was very "tell" rather than "show," which became ever-clearer as the climax approached and the emotional stakes continually fell flat for me and the real physical/magical stakes felt stilted. I can see this writing appealing to some, especially those transitioning into adult romance or adult paranormal fantasy books. However, for me, it work.

I always feel bad not being able to enthusiastically praise a debut, indie author and book. I want them to be successful, and I think Arujo has the building blocks for a good book, but ultimately, it wasn't for me. Thanks to NetGalley and AA Lit for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher (BookBuzz ) for the E-ARC.

Once Upon a Blue Moon is exactly the kind of charming paranormal rom-com I love sinking into. A werewolf and a witch swapping bodies—especially when they weren’t exactly friends in the first place? Sign me up. It immediately reminded me of a certain Korean drama I adored (Meteor Garden, anyone?), and luckily, the contents of the book did not disappoint. Avery Arujo casts a spell that’s hard to resist.

Hazel is a delightfully messy potion-brewer with a big heart and zero chill, and Blake is her surly, brooding werewolf neighbor who just wants peace and quiet. Naturally, the universe decides to trap them in each other’s bodies—and the results are magical mayhem. From awkward spellwork to unexpected emotional growth, the body swap trope is used in the best possible way: to challenge the characters, deepen their connection, and spark plenty of banter.

The chemistry between Hazel and Blake crackles from the start, and their evolution from annoyed neighbors to reluctant allies to something sweeter was an absolute treat. I especially loved the moments of introspection and vulnerability that came through as they began to see each other in a whole new light—literally.

The supporting cast was just as lovable. Coco brought charm and humor to every scene she was in, and Calvin’s dynamic with Hazel felt organic and genuinely heartwarming. Even the villains had flair, adding tension without ever dragging the tone too far from cozy.

Pacing-wise, the book struck a nice balance—sometimes brisk, sometimes lingering in the emotional beats—and it worked well for the story. And while there’s no spice in this one, the romantic tension and soft moments still deliver the feels.

With its small-town magic, swoony slow-burn romance, and a plot that hits the sweet spot between cozy and adventurous, Once Upon a Blue Moon is a delightful start to a series I’ll definitely be continuing.

The perfect summer-ween read. I loved the characters and setting so much I just might re-read it when fall rolls around!

📖 Title: Once Upon a Blue Moon-Welcome to Moonridge #1

✍🏾 Author: Avery Arujo-debut

📅Publication date: 7/1/25 | Read: 7/10/25

📃 Format: eBook 337 pgs.

Genre:
*Paranormal Romance
*Mystery

Tropes:
*small town
*body swap/Freaky Friday
*enemies to lovers
*witch/werewolf pairing
*magic
*grumpy H
*forced proximity

👆🏾POV: 1st person, dual

⚠️TW: death of loved ones, experiments on children. mind manipulation


🌎 Setting: Moonridge

Summary: When magic goes haywire while Hazel is casting a beauty spell, her and Blake -the local pack leader- are body-switched. They live each other's lives while reversing the spell and later must save the town.


👩🏾 Heroine: Hazel Thornton-27, has unpredictable magic & owns The Blue Moon Apothecary

👨🏾 Hero: Blake Carter- 28, leader of wolf pack & construction worker

🎭 Other Characters:

* La 'Tasha-Hazel's BFF, a great researcher
*Calvin-Blake's brother
*Mina Cartwright-B&B owner
*Evan-Hazel's ex-boyfriend, dated 3 yrs. just broke up
* Agnes Thorton-Hazel's grandmother (deceased)
* Ben Harlow-the local sheriff
*Bianca Mayweather/Ravena Blackwood -wellness guru who believes wolves are dangerous. Her alias is an immortal and dangerous witch trying to control the town.
*The Wolfsbane Amulet-keeps peace between witches and wolves
*Coco Montoya-an unfocused yet powerful witch


🤔 My Thoughts: I loved how Hazel and Blake got to walk in each other's shoes, literally! They grew an appreciation for each other as well as learned the history between witches and werewolves in town. It was hilarious when they first body-swapped, adjusting body movements, strengths, and weaknesses. I thought Hazel prejudged Blake more because she dismissed him as a grumpy, aggressive, werewolf. I loved the century old story about Rose, Samuel, and Adeline compared to Hazel, Blake, and Ravena. The side characters such as Mina, Coco, and Calvin were corky and even kept me interested. I will definitely read more in this series.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 1/5 🌶️ clean romance-kissing only

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, AA Lit, and Avery Arujo for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

4 stars

~

After her breakup, witch Hazel Thornton, needing a little pick me up, performs a simple enchantment spell. But one botched spell later she finds herself in the body of her grumpy werewolf neighbor, Blake Carter. Trapped in each other’s bodies, Hazel and Blake work to reverse the body swap as magic and the local werewolf population go out of control, putting the town of Moonridge in danger. With a darker force at work, they have until the full moon to uncover the town’s secrets and put an end to the plans threatening drive Moonridge apart.

This was my first time reading a book with the body swap trope and I can say that I completely enjoyed it. The author wrote the story in such a way that the overall concept was not weird. There were no weird or overly sexual comments about the bodies they were trapped inside. The book has no spice, which I am thankful for considering their predicament. The romance progressed naturally and they got to learn about each other and their pasts without becoming too overwhelming for me as the reader. I loved the way they learned to appreciate and admire each other for what they did each day, despite their earlier dislike for each other. Additionally, there was quite a lot of character development and introspection that added to the story and made me more appreciative of the characters.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

A witch and a werewolf body swap? Heck yeah! This is a recipe for paranormal delight.

Take two beings (the witch and the werewolf).
Add a helping of “I can’t stand you” type of conflict.
Mix with a huge amount of mysterious villain out to take over the town.
Fold in the feelings of admiration and care that the witch and werewolf begin to feel for each other.

Simmer over heat.

Yield is a delightful story that got better and better as I proceeded through the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Once Upon a Blue Moon is a cozy paranormal delight with the perfect mix of snark, suspense, and slow-burn romance. I really liked how the author balanced Hazel’s quirky magic mishaps with a deeper mystery unfolding beneath the surface—especially as she and grumpy neighbor Blake navigate their magical body-swap mess. The banter was sharp, the plot twists were solid, and I genuinely enjoyed how both characters grew through the chaos. This was a super fun read that gave me both laughs and a little swoon.

Okay first of all - WITCH. WOLF. BODY SWAP. I didn’t even read the rest of the blurb before diving in because that alone sold me. And let me tell you, I was not ready for the sheer amount of ✨chaos✨ this book served.

Hazel is that messily loveable, potion-spilling, mildly cursed witchy girlie who has never once had a normal Tuesday in her life. And Blake? Grumpiest werewolf to ever grump. Like if “leave me alone” was a person but secretly cared way too much.

I came here for light witchy fluff and some steamy shifter vibes. What I got was an actual magical mystery unraveling under an apothecary basement, creepy cultish wellness vibes, and me holding my breath because something ancient and mad just woke up. Moonridge, sweetie, are you okay??

AND YET. The banter?? Top tier. The romance?? Slow burn but emotionally devastating in the best way. Like they’re both so bad at feelings and yet somehow perfect for each other?? Kill me.

🌶️ level: Barely a simmer. This is cozy romance land, not full-blown feral werewolf territory. But honestly, didn’t miss it - the tension and world-building totally carried.

Final verdict: If you love chaotic witches, grumpy wolf boys, magical shenanigans, and the kind of enemies-to-lovers that starts with “I hexed your plants” and ends with “I would burn down the forest to keep you safe,” Once Upon a Blue Moon is your new bestie!

Once Upon a Blue Moon was a highly unexpected read and I am loving it! Blake and Hazel’s story starts out as two enemies who become friends in order to save their beloved town. These two embark on a journey with their siblings and other close friends to protect their town from an evil witch and blood magic that is affecting the citizens of Moonridge.

This was a 4.5/5 ⭐️ read for me. I loved the banter back and forth between Hazel and Blake but I also lived for the sweet moments when they took the time to get to know one another and the struggles they faced in their earlier years. Being able to get to know each other while in each other’s bodies was a huge part of the story falling into place. This book will absolutely make you laugh out loud, gasp with fear and concern, and heart melt with the love that is shown!

Witch, please—this book is spellbinding chaos in the best way! 🌕

Hazel’s a hot mess with a spellbook, and Blake’s a brooding werewolf with attitude—so yeah, of course I devoured Once Upon a Blue Moon like a bag of cursed gummy bears. This body-swap madness had me laughing out loud and rooting for their magical mess to turn into something swoony. If you love awkward romance, magical oopsies, and grumpy-sunshine energy with claws, this book totally brings it. It’s like Halloween and Valentine’s Day had a baby. 🐺💜🧙‍♀️

As someone who opts for audiobooks over physical and ebooks because she reads too slow, I was super surprised by how quickly I finished this one. I couldn't put it down!!

Hazel, a slightly chaotic but overly cheerful witch and Blake, a grumpy werewolf who tells himself he dislikes magic to avoid his true feelings, take on impromptu challenge after challenge when an evil witch comes after them and their town. They experience a wild body swap straight out of Freaky Friday while fighting against a villain no one saw coming. ✨Spoiler: Like any good romance with an HEA – love of community, friends, family (and of course romantic love) conquers all.✨

Things I loved:
The entire story felt like it pulled influence from all of my favorite things. There were strong Buffy/Scooby Gang vibes, a Luna Lovegood-esque character (quirky but amazing at magic and super intelligent) and I couldn't help picture the town as though it were set in Stars Hollow. It really was like reading a script to a favorite late 90s/early 2000s paranormal teen show – in all of the very best ways.

The body swap meant forced communication. This wasn't a romance where miscommunication was the main catalyst for everything. They had to learn about each other in ways other romance characters cannot, and that was a nice change of pace for me.

Things I didn't love:
Hazel, while clearly a powerful witch, seemed to rely heavily on her friends to do all of the heavy magical lifting. Some of that could be explained by the body swap, but there were never ideas coming from her on how to fix things or what spells to cast until the end.

The amount of times the book mentioned "running my hands through my hair" or something of the like and reminding the reader that they were body swapped felt a little excessive – but this might just be me trying to nitpick a story I genuinely liked 😅

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Werewolf & Witch Romance, Small Town Romance
Spice: 0/10 (very much a closed door)
Cliffhanger: Yes

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avery Arujo, and BookBuzz for this ARC. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and author Avery Arujo for this ARC for my honest review below:

This was actually a very enjoyable read! It was the type of book you should read on a crisp fall day curled up in a blanket with the smell of falling leaves all around and something tasty cooking in a crock pot and a hot drink in hand . It is just one of those cozy fall reads that is so easy to pick up and finish in a single day. Is this a book that will change your life forever, no. But not every book should. This is the perfect amount of cozy, mixed with romance and magic, set in a town we all wish actually existed. I can absolutely see how this will become a series following all the magical, mundane, and paranormal inhabitants we have already met that live in this quaint little town of Moonridge. Pick this up and you won't be disappointed with a quick and easy enjoyable read that just leaves you feeling like you just got to have a quick escape and a sprinkle of magic mixed into your day!

Although this is based during the summertime, you get some of those cozy fall feelings with this one. A sweet little, small town romance that will fit in perfectly with The Pumpkin Spice Café and a warm tea. The light banter between the FMC and MMC is adorable. The supporting characters are lovable and fun. The villain is the villain you love to hate. There is lots of angsty moments in here with plenty of sexual frustration. There are “maybe” closed door scenes, but honestly, it is pretty wholesome in that department. It is a plot point, so you will find out why. Great writing. This was just a fun read.

📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚
Once Upon a Blue Moon by @averyarujo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75/5 stars)

Hazel is a witch still coming into her power. She's been known to make a spell go awry when she is upset.

Blake is the leader of the local werewolf pack. His life is all about control. Control control control.

When Hazel tries to use magic to get back at her ex, things go wonky, and she ends up body-swapped with Blake. Soon, the rivals discover that the swap was the result of darker spell work that threatens to split their small town apart, pitting witch against werewolf. It will take the two working together and learning to understand each other to save the town.

I thought this was a very cute supernatural romance. Hazel and Blake were great foils, each with an unspoken childhood crush on the other that they masked with teasing and petty arguing.

Hazel could have easily become a stereotype of a bumbling witch, but this was subverted by having her as a respected figurehead in the witch community. My favorite aspect of her personality was the magical pranks she pulled on people who angered her. They were low-key hilarious.

Blake is my favorite kind of MMC - an alpha hero with secret tenderness. The way he protects his pack and later Hazel is swoon-worthy.

I love the idea of a body swap, but I wish it hadn't happened so early in the story. I didn't feel like I had a real sense of who Hazel and Blake were beyond first impressions before they were swapped.

The villain was great, and their reason for using blood magic to take over the town was well-developed. I love a good research scene, and this book delivered on that, providing context and motive.

That being said, I felt mixed about how La'Tasha, Hazel's BFF, was used for what felt like mostly exposition. She seemed to pop up to give a research dump and then disappear until more info was needed. This went on until the last 20% of the book. In contrast, Blake's brother Calvin and B&B owner Mina were well-utilized. Their interactions with the main characters contributed to their emotional development and advanced the plot.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys cozy small-town romances.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: none
Tropes:
* Enemies to lovers
* Witch x werewolf romance
* Romantic suspense

Thank you to NetGalley, Avery Arujo, and BookBuzz for the eARC! I really enjoyed this book and am grateful for the opportunity to to read it.

I like how it’s quick to get right to the plot and includes great dual POV. It’s such an interesting concept for two very different but powerful magical creatures switching bodies, letting alone their genders!

The mystery surrounding what was happening was engaging and well thought out. Nicely paced and synced well with the romantic plot as well. Ravena was such a good evil character, with such long revenge that she was seeking to enact. So seeing Blake and Hazel doing all they could to work together, while falling for each other, made this an exciting and enjoyable story! I’m looking forward to reading future books in this series.

I have not dived so fast into a book like this paranormal read. this book was a perfect level of mystery, love and laughter, I couldn't put it down if I wanted to! I was rooting for the characters to get their heads out and see what was there. I loved the sassy levels in this read!

4.5✨ (Rounded Up To 5)

🐺Werewolf | Witch 🧪🌸
🖤Enemies To A Sweet Romance💕
✨Magical Mishaps and Mayhem✨
🌇Cozy Small Town

This was such a fun, cute and cozy read! I binged it cover to cover in under 24 hours and will definitely be continuing on in the series when book two is released!

The plot is packed with magical mishaps, a bit of mayhem and an enemies to romance storyline that was incredibly sweet. I really enjoyed seeing Hazel (FMC) and Blake (MMC) start as unlikely alias working together and end as something much more.

I think this would be a really great addition to everyone's Fall TBR and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Thank you Avery Arujo, Net Galley and AA Lit for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Hazel is a witch and Blake is a werewolf. When a spell backfires and they end up switiching bodies, it gets interesting. Liked it overall, although the demon felt a bit over the top (must admit I skimmed some of that). Did like the banter and fun as their romance grew. Would recommend.