Impractical Magic
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Pub Date Oct 1 2024 | Archive Date Oct 14 2024
Avon Books UK | Avon
Description
Perfect for readers of Pumpkin Spice Café, Erin Sterling and Lana Harper.
In Oak Haven, this witch is about to brew up more trouble than she bargained for…
When Scarlett Melrose receives a call from her estranged sisters, she immediately knows something is wrong. The magic at their mother’s inn – and in fact, the whole of Oak Haven – has gone awry, and they need her help to save it.
As the conflicted middle-child, returning home has given Scarlett the heebie jeebies. And to make matters worse, she’s just come face-to-face with charming old flame and handyman, Nate.
When her spell to fix the magic goes horribly wrong, all Scarlett wants to do is flee back to the peace and quiet of her San Francisco flat. But she can’t keep running away forever, and she’ll need all the help she can to solve this magical mess.
With time slipping away, Scarlett must learn that sometimes the greatest spells really do come with the greatest responsibility – especially when love is involved…
***
Perfect for fans of:
Grumpy x sunshine ☀️
Slow burn 🔥
Witchy aesthetic 🔮✨
Cosy small town 🍂☕
Readers are adoring the cozy world of Impractical Magic!‘I absolutely loved this book from the first chapter’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review
‘You will read it in one sitting’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review
‘A perfect autumnal, magical read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review
‘If you like a cozy witchy story then you will enjoy this one’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9780008718695 |
| PRICE | £0.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 1015 members
Featured Reviews
Librarian 1005357
This novel is so much more than just about magic and romance; it’s about embracing responsibility and facing the past to find true happiness. The slow-burn romance and the grumpy x sunshine dynamic between Scarlett and Nate were beautifully done, making this story a delightful escape into a world where love and magic are inextricably linked. It left me with a warm, satisfied feeling, knowing that sometimes, the greatest spells are those that heal the heart.
This was a perfect cosy read and would be perfect for autumn months! It really gave that autumn magic vibes and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I will definitely be looking at buying the physical copy of this as it was really enjoyable!
JOYCE C, Reviewer
Scarlett and Nate was a fabulous couple. Although the romance is casual almost it is deep rooted in their history. I loved his dedication to her and that his love never waivers even at the end when he says "he won't wait". I could not put the book down until I knew what happened. Absolutely loved the story and the characters. Excellent read.
“In a region known for its crisp autumn air and cozy clapboard houses and pumpkin-spice everything, Oak Haven was by far the crispest, the coziest, the spiciest.”
🍂 Cosy Small Town
🎃 Family of Witches
🍂 Second Chance
🎃 Spells Gone Wrong
Overall Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 1/2 a 🌶️
World Building: 🌎🌎🌎
Romance: ♥️♥️
Characters: 👤👤👤
“In that moment, she knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that this was what home felt like.”
What I would give to be transported to Oak Haven! This book was such a fun wholesome read, Emily Grimoire gives you this cosy New England setting with these utterly beautiful descriptions that make you want to dive right into the pages. Then if the setting alone doesn’t completely win you over you get this adorable second chance romance! Scarlett and Nate’s ‘will they or won’t they’ history as teenagers made for lots of complicated feelings now that Scarlett has returned as an adult.
“When Nate grinned at her, Scarlett grinned back, and she suddenly realized that there were no bad feelings here, just complicated ones, and she didn’t want the moment to ever end.”
I loved Scarlett’s transformation through this story. She is a character that holds so much guilt and she spent ten long years avoiding it. Now she is forced to confront what happened in the past and heal, in doing so she embraces her magical heritage. Even with this I found this book to be such a fun and lighthearted read, from Scarlett’s quirky family, the many endless Earls and the most hilarious ‘villains’ I think I’ve ever read… I really enjoyed it
“Thanksgiving represented everything they loved about Oak Haven, where traditions were honored, where magic and wonder were celebrated, and where the bonds of family and friendship were strong.”
A return to the magical village and another good read. Nate has waited for Scarlet whilst she lived in the real world and denied her witchiness, now she is back. Scarlet is back as the village is failing,themagic is draining away. This book is all run through with magic and spells and portals, however it it a book about family, and being forgotten and feeling left out at its heart. Nate and Scarlet are will they won’t they for years and this comes to a head. The book weaves the magic in well, a few oddities aren’t are smooth such as the time to unravel the end and the unpicking of scarlet’s guilt but the rest is great,
Really loved this book, super cute and cosy read which is perfect for the upcoming fall season.
I’d defo highly recommend to friends and family
I absolutely loved this book,it’s absolutely perfect for any charmed and Gilmore girls fan,this cute and cosy book will be perfect for those cosy days in and I will definitely be re-reading this during the autumn time
An impractical five-star read, I don’t know with this one, I really enjoyed the whole story, but it took me a little while to get stared as I just wasn’t sure on the writing style at first, it felt weirdly negative, but them the more I read the more I got into the story and was able to put that aside. I think it helped that we got to know Scarlett better, as she was a little whiney at first, I found, and I just didn’t like her at first, I loved her soon after, just not for he first handful of chapters. The learning curve this book went in was what made it five-stars for me, the way they took what they learned and improved the town for its less witchy inhabitants. This had its good points, I liked how Violet was shown and the struggles of a teenage girl in modern times dealing with a mixed-up life, but it also had its negatives as well, and they were glossed over. If you like a cozy witchy story then likelihood is you will enjoy this one.
Oak Haven Witch offers a delightful blend of family drama, romance, and supernatural intrigue. The story follows Scarlett Melrose, a reluctant witch returning to her hometown to confront her past and save her family's inn.
The author skillfully weaves a captivating narrative, filled with enchanting characters and magical twists. Scarlett's journey is both heartwarming and suspenseful, as she navigates her complex relationships and grapples with the challenges of her newfound responsibilities.
Fans of cozy mysteries and paranormal romance will find Oak Haven Witch a charming and enjoyable read. With its well-developed characters and engaging plot, this novel is sure to cast a spell on readers.
I really enjoyed this book, it’s the perfect autumn hug as you watch the rain and leaves fall with a hot chocolate and a blanket and I can’t wait to reread this book in that exact scenario. Scarlett and Nate make a really cute couple who I was routing for all through the story!
Summary: When Scarlett returns to Oak Haven to fix its magic, she faces an old flame, her sisters, and a magical mess.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
What a sweet, quick, humorous and light hearted read!
Impractical Magic is a story that follows Scarlett and her family, the Melrose’s, who reside a quaint little witchy town called Oak Haven. Thriving off a largely untapped pool of magic entwined in Centuries old Oak trees, Oak Haven is largely inhabited by females, of which happen to be Witches! When something happens to the oak trees and the magic starts malfunctioning, it’s up to Scarlett and the Melrose’s to figure out what is causing it and how to rectify it.
The characters were loveable, the plot was written exactly like a cheesy hallmark autumnal movie (which is LOVED) and it was entirely hilarious throughout. I was entranced by the descriptive language used to describe oak haven, and the imagery it conjured of what could possibly be the most perfect town 😍
A beautiful story about family, love, friendship and just all round girl power, Impractical magic is fast paced and enjoyable and is the perfect read for those ‘ber’ months!
Reviewer 1241053
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. This book is a very cozy fantasy that follows Scarlett who is returning to her hometown after ten years because something is wrong with the town's magic. The blurb that convinced me to read this book compared it to Charmed and that drew me in. This book has complicated family dynamics between Scarlett and her sisters and her Mom. Also has a complicated relationship between Scarlett and her childhood best friend Nate, with whom she had a will they won't they relationship. This book was a cute east read, I recommend giving this book a try if you like Charmed or Gilmore Girls.
“Impractical Magic” was compared to a blend of Gilmore Girls and Charmed, and I believe it really captured that essence. It exuded a cozy, magical autumn feel with a splash of second chance deep rooted romance. I appreciated the bond between the sisters and their strong ties to Oak Haven and how they all came together to find a way to save their magical little town.
The you have the relationship between Scarlett and Nate that developed slowly, creating a will-they-or-won't-they tension that I found engaging. The only predictable aspect of the book was the identity of the culprit behind the town's magical mishap. Overall, I found the book to be an enjoyable read just in time for Autumn!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!
This perfectly cozy read for fall has it all. A picturesque inn, quaint little town, and a good looking handyman that makes the best coffee in the town? Oh, don't forget the magic. What more could you want?
Scarlett hasn't been home in 10 years. But after a ominous voicemail from her estranged sister, she races home to see just was trouble has fallen upon Oak Haven.
This was absolutely quirky as hell and I loved every second of it. I love a witchy small town story and this didn't miss. I did get frustrated with the characters and how they communicated with each other. It got annoying rather quickly with how quick they were to turn on each other. I get it, 10 years is a long time to build up some resentment but good lord.
All in all, a wonderful fall time romance.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Impractical Magic was absolutely adorable! Seriously so cozy and just all around the perfect fall read!
I loved this book! Scarlett is a very relatable character when it said
‘The thought of returning home filled Scarlett with a nausea-inducing blend of gleeful anticipation and overwhelming dread. There was so much wonderful waiting for her down in that valley, and so much awful.’
I got that, I wasn’t expecting the book to be funny aswell as romantic and a little sad, I really hope there is more books especially with the spell Nate is trying to conquer at the end.
P.s shout out for mentioning pippi longstocking too many people haven’t heard of her :(
If you are looking for a cute "romantasy" then you have come to the right place. The sibling banter between the 3 witch sisters is so funny to me and very realistic. The slow burn trope is usually one of my least favorite types, but this author did it very well and the ending was very worth it for me! At points, it did seem the author was forcing romance between Scarlett and her lover, but honestly the whole town was so it kind of made sense why it felt this way.
Title: Impractical Magic
Author: Emily Grimoire
Pages: 384
Rating: 5/5*
Arc Copy - review left voluntarily
Publish date - 10th October 2024
It's been 10 years since Scarlett fled from her hometown. After an urgent voicemail left from her sister she returns to chaos. Something's happened to the magic!!
Oh my gosh. I LOVED this. The world building in this book was brilliant! I adored the puntastic names of places. The back story of the Earl's. The inclusion of Spam. Everything about this was so cleverly thought out! There was a little bit of spice and some wholesome romance. With a "will they won't they" slow burn trope. The "whodunnit" was predictable but the rest of the story wasn't. EG portrayed the characters so well in this. You could feel the emotions. I did feel the ending was rushed a bit as I wanted to stay lost in this book for an age.
A beautiful debut!! If you're looking for your next cosy autumn read. - then get this on your pre-order!! (Link will be in the stories)
Will you be reading it??
*Note from me: I never want to dim people's shine. It's brave for the author to put themselves out there in the public eye. Books/stories are personal preferences. What might be my cup of tea may not be yours. And vice Versa! Keep on creating!
I really enjoyed this! I loved the slow burn romance, the setting and the main characters! This is the perfect autumn read and one I think I’ll definitely return to. It’s cosy and uplifting and I highly recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC
Reviewer 1453589
I’ve just finished the latest spooky romance. If you are a fan of spooky romance novels, pick up Impractical Magic.
Thank you Net Galley for this amazing ARC! This is just what I needed to get me into the fall spirit. There’s everything you need…a small, women-led, witchy town, bickering sisters, the will-they-won’t-they romance, and of course, general magic-related chaos. Sure, there were some parts that fell a little flat or were rushed/too drawn out, but this is just a little feel good story that I very, very much enjoyed.
Holly M, Reviewer
Scarlett hasn’t been back to her hometown in ten years, but when her older sister calls for help, she returns. Oak Haven is a place where the women are witches and when people leave they forget the town ever existed. As soon as Scarlett is back she senses that things are different. Something is wrong with the magic in the town and nobody knows how to fix it. Scarlett and her two sisters, including her mom, try to find the solution. She’s also still having feelings with Nate, the one that got away. This has the small town feeling, magic, witches, family, and love. I think this would/will be a good Fall read.
📖📖 Book Review 📖📖l Somehow in all of the time I lived in Boston and have been back to visit, I missed the exit for the magical Oak Haven and I am devastated. Bring it the pumpkin spice and everything nice because this is a town where autumn is beyond any picturesque, quintessential New England town; and magic is alive in the air. But it’s not enough to keep Scarlet from escaping to San Francisco to pursue her dreams away from her sisterly coven. But when alarm bells ring in Oak Haven and her sisters call for help, she returns to her hometown to face her own demons from the past along with the current town troubles. Between the mystery and the magic is a heartwarming tale of returning home and healing with those you love. Impractical Magic is a splendid fall read with the perfect setting and wonderful characters that would lend themselves to a nice little series if you ask me…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Review is on Goodreads and will be posted on instagram closer to publication date and on Amazon when published!
Reviewer 1335240
A great cozy mystery book all ready for Autumn. I fell in love with Oak Haven and its residents (and ex resident Scarlett). The Melrose family are thrown back together when the magic in their town starts to go on the fritz. Scarlett has to deal with the trauma from her father’s death years ago in order to help save her family and friends and the life that they love. I only occasionally read books like this and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer 378873
Impractical Magic by new to me author E. Grimoire, published by Avon Books is the perfect autumn, cozy small town story.
Scarlett is reluctantly returning to her hometown only to learn some surprising things. Time didn't stand still for Oak Haven.
Blurb: In Oak Haven, this witch is about to brew up more trouble than she bargained for…
When Scarlett Melrose receives a call from her estranged sisters, she immediately knows something is wrong. Their mother’s inn has been in trouble, and they need her help to save it.
As the conflicted middle-child, returning home is giving Scarlett the heebie jeebies. And to make matters worse, she’s just come face-to-face with charming old flame and handyman, Nate.
When her spell to break the curse goes wrong, all Scarlett wants to do is flee back to the peace and quiet of her San Francisco apartement. But she can’t keep running away forever, and she’ll need all the help she can to solve this magical mess.
With time slipping away, Scarlett must learn that sometimes the greatest spells really do come with the greatest responsibility.
"In a region known for its crisp autumn air and cozy clapboard houses and pumpkin-spice everything, Oak Haven was by far the crispest, the coziest, the spiciest."
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how I fell in love with autumn all over again.
I could quote sonnets from this book and its gorgeous description of Oak Haven, but I don't want to spoil it. All I can say is that this book has me extra excited for September 1st so that I can throw on a sweater, grab a PSL, and re-read this autumnal delight.
In Impractical Magic, Scarlett Melrose must return to her enchanting little hometown that she's been avoiding for the past few years, after receiving a worrying (and somewhat cryptic) phone call from her estranged sisters. As she reluctantly ventures back home, Scarlett is shocked to find that the magical town she left behind is now in disarray - and it's up to her to fix it! Trying to rectify the magical mayhem that has ensued becomes all the more complicated as she battles with feelings of guilt from the past as well as the reappearance of her old flame, Nate.
This novel is a blend of coziness, autumn vibes, magic, and second-chance romances. We see Scarlett transform from a reluctant heroine to someone who begins to embrace her magical roots, and I loved her quirky family and the slow-burn romance. The descriptions in this book are impeccable and it really does feel like a combination of Gilmore Girls x Charmed! So if you're looking for a cozy, magical read with a touch of romance and a dash of family drama, pick this up!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC.
Firstly, thank you so much for letting me read impractical magic early.
This cosy autum book was perfect, had that cosy feeling of Gilmore Girls with Hocus Pocus
We follow Scarlett battle the love for her family, and riddled in guilt from losing her father. But her town needs her and the rest of the witches to find out why the magic has stopped working.
I loved this book! I hope I read more from the Melrose sisters in the future
Reviewer 904067
This was definitely a slow burner, but a great change of pace between heavy, lore-ridden fantasy sagas!
I loved the idea of the witchy town and its cosy characters and autumnal setting. Nate and Scarlett were fun to read and I loved following their development. Overall, I wish ithad perhaps fleshed out the magic problems a little more, but it was a fun and cosy read.
Cosy mystery strikes again with this cute, magical tale. Scarlett returns home after a ten year hiatus only to find the town in disarray! I really enjoyed the bickering between the sisters and I thought Nate sounded great. I absolutely thought Kelly was a bitch and it wasn’t until writing this review I saw her for being the “Emily” of the story. The book wasn’t about solving the mystery in the end. It was about family dynamics. The description is correct in saying if you love Gilmore girls and Charmed you will love this.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book to read and review!
Fun Fun Fun!
Cozy. Whimsical. Very much Gilmore Girls and the Good Witch. Mystery. Magic. Family. Great characters.
Read when the night cools down, wrap yourself up in a soft blanket, and sip on some hot cider!
4/5 stars!
10 years ago Scarlet Melrose leaves the magical town of Oak Haven after a tragic accident. Now she has returned, can she let go of the guilt of the past and save the town she called home?
This was a cosy read, ideal for the autumnal/fall months. The second chance will they won't they romance that runs through the story with Scarlets childhood friend Nate is well paced. However, the main plot is the mystery behind the towns magical mayhem that is causing problems, and how can Scarlet and her two sisters help fix it. The characters are established well enough, with scope to grow them further and the Melrose family dynamic is one that I'm sure many reader will resonate with.
The story ends well, but several plot points leave the book open for a sequel, maybe even two. A possibility that i find very intriguing.
I have rated this 4 ⭐, it was closer to a 3.5⭐ but i can only give a whole star and it was worth more than 3.
I received this as an ARC and I just want to say that I loved this book. It was so cozy and cute. It explored some difficult concepts when it came to Scarlett’s feelings of guilt and inadequacy.
Scarlett is a witch from the town of Oak Haven, who fled 10 years ago to San Francisco. She receives an urgent message from her older sister asking her to come home because the magic has gone haywire. Reluctantly, she makes the trek home to discover that not much has changed since she last left. Her mother is still harsh and her sister’s witty, but her almost love? He’s turned into a hunk! This story follows Scarlett’s time back home and she rediscovers her first love and faces the things that made her flee in the first place.
I love a good second chance romance. Nate and Scarlett were always meant to be. And the way he stayed in the grove for a whole year put the icing on the cake. He never rushed her, even though she was hot and cold. He literally followed her lead and would follow her anywhere.
The dynamic between the sisters is what you would expect from teenagers. That’s something that I didn’t quite like. Generally, the personalities would mature after 10 years, but it seemed the sisters literally picked up where they left off. Not the mention the way Scarlett immediately felt inadequate around her mom. Her mother has a terrible way of expressing her concern and love. But not everyone can be perfect, so I did find her mom to be relatable.
The plot was pretty easy to follow and the culprit was pretty easy to sus out. You didn’t quite know the depth of all the treachery and it left a lot of questions that could be answered in a second book, perhaps following the love story of a different sister?
Reviewer 1443899
Such a great story! Loved reading this just in time for halloween! Overall a cute and quick read for halloween
Educator 281599
Impractical magic was a fun read, but it managed to tackle the subject of grief in a good, well researched way.
I liked the idea of magic needing the woodland to thrive.
The romance was nice but fairly slow going. I did really like the ending and I wanted the main characters to end up together.
Educator 768055
**Book Review: *Impractical Magic***
*Impractical Magic* is the perfect read for anyone seeking cozy fall vibes, complete with a dash of witchcraft, heartwarming friendships, and small-town charm. Set in the enchanting town of Oak Hollow, a quaint little witchy haven where magic lurks around every corner, this novel exudes autumn warmth in every page, making it the ideal book to curl up with on a chilly day.
The story follows a lovable young witch who is struggling to master her powers while juggling the demands of her magical lineage. The town itself feels alive, with cobblestone streets, bustling local shops, and a close-knit community of quirky characters that make Oak Hollow a place you'd love to visit. The author does an excellent job of weaving together magic and mundane life, giving the story an almost tangible coziness that mirrors the beauty of fall.
What stands out most in *Impractical Magic* is how well-written it is. The prose flows effortlessly, with vivid descriptions that bring the magical town and its inhabitants to life. The characters are charming and relatable, and their relationships—whether familial, romantic, or platonic—are warm and genuine. There’s a sense of nostalgia in the way the book captures the magic of small-town life, layered with just the right amount of whimsy and witchy wonder.
For fans of magic, friendship, and heartwarming stories set against the backdrop of a vibrant autumn landscape, *Impractical Magic* is a must-read. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to light a candle, pour a cup of tea, and immerse yourself in its cozy, magical world.
Warm and cute.
I wouldn't mind rereading it next year around the autumn season again...
But it needs some good editing and more relatable dialogue and phasing, I think.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and author Emily Grimoire for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Small town girl Scarlett has avoided going back home to her family. When her sisters ask her to come back, she knows there must be trouble. Upon arrival she runs into her ex boyfriend and discoveries he’s her family’s handyman.
With the help of her family Scarlett must get to the bottom of whatever is messing with the magic in her hometown… while catching feelings for her ex.
This was a cute fall read, it gave me the same feelings of how cozy I feel when I watch the show Good Witch. If you enjoy that Hallmark show (and the movies that came before it) you’ll love this book!
Some things felt a tad over explained in the beginning but I eventually got over it. I would recommend this anyone looking for a fun relaxing read this fall.
This book did exactly what it promised. I would highly recommend this book to book clubs looking for an atmospheric fall read. I definitely felt the Gilmore Girls-meets-Halloweentown vibes and loved every second of it. Was the writing the most compelling? No. Was the story light, enjoyable, exciting, a little mysterious, and pumpkin-spiced? Absolutely yes.
What a great cosy witchy book! I really enjoyed this book and it’s perfect for the upcoming season! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
Magicians versus witches as the oak grove is under seized and magic runs amok. Can the witches save the town? Will Spam take over the kitchen? And will the two of them ever get together? A fun ride to find out.
I was excited to read this book as I loved the title, cover and blurb. If you love stories about magic this is the book for you,
Scarlett returns home to Oak Haven after 10 years away. She fled to San Francisco after the death of her Father for which Scarlett blamed herself.
Oak Haven is no ordinary place. It’s a magical town that’s not on any maps and anyone who finds it forgets their visit the moment they leave, Scarlett returns home to find magic in trouble and she needs to work with her sisters and Mother to fix it before the magicians take over.
I had a fun time reading this. It is very halmark and sometimes that is what you need! I had a great time. The writing style is alittle hard for me to get thought and feels very forced at times but i can look past it for a fun read.
thank you netgalley and publisher for a copy!
This was the perfect read for the start of fall! I loved all the small town Gilmore Girls vibes and am always a fan of a character having to return to a home that they were trying to get away from! The plot was amazing, I was gripped from the start! As for the romance, I LOVE a good second chance and this one did not disappoint! I cannot wait to see what's next for Emily Grimoire!
Reviewer 1515096
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for providing an advance ready copy in exchange for my honest review.
Let me start by saying that this book was cute and I enjoyed it. If you’re looking for something lighthearted and cozy, Impractical Magic is a great choice - the imagery used to describe the town and its magic, especially during autumn, is perfect. And so many of the town’s characters are lovely.
That said, the main character is extremely unlikeable, as is her family for the most part. Scarlett’s self-blaming and guilt is too much of a focus and really doesn’t allow her character to develop beyond that. I can’t remember any other descriptors of her, other than this constant self hatred. With that, the family’s resentment toward her is also a bit extreme. These negative feelings seemed out of place in a book where the scenery was so lighthearted and cozy.
This book is also a bit long, in my opinion, and it started very slow. I wanted more details about the history of the struggles with magic, the main conflict and plot line, the magicians, etc. The book really picked up toward the halfway point, but then it felt rushed when things started to get interesting. I found myself thinking that there was a lot of detail in areas that weren’t moving the story along, but when I wanted details about the magicians and the trees, they weren’t there.
Last thing I’ll say is that there were some cringey parts that felt a bit like the author was trying to prove relevance or knowledge of current trends, in a “how do you do fellow kids?” kind of way. Some of the pop culture references just felt really out of place to me.
All in all, I really did enjoy this as a light fall read and I would recommend it to friends, with the caveat that the atmosphere and peripheral characters are what make the story.
Jill H, Reviewer
This is such a cute read and just in time for fall! Scarlett's sisters summon her back to her hometown to help figure out what has gone wrong with the magic around town. Scarlett dreads going home, but knows she has to help. She runs into an old flame and has to navigate avoiding Nate while trying to help her family and the town. This is a cute, fluffy fall read. Loved it!
Calene N, Reviewer
Thank you to Avon BooksUK for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Scarlet Melrose is called back to her hometown Oakhaven by her sisters as something is wrong with the magic in their hometown. What follows is a really fun and cute Halloween/Fall read.
I enjoyed this novel, for fans fiction with Halloween, Witch or fall vibes
Scarlett Melrose is a witch, one that ran away from her hometown and her entire family 10 years ago, she hasn’t been back, until now. After a phone call from her sister basically summoning her back to her hometown to help with the current crisis, of magic going wrong. Scarlett wants to get it over with and slink back to her life. It isn’t helped at all by her could have been something, maybe, one day, old flame she almost had with Nate, who’s aged magnificently in the 10 years since she left. Things go from bad to worse after her fix goes horribly wrong. So can Scarlet actually help solve the problem with magic?
I will admit I loved this book, it was fun, it was a great story with magical mayhem and all those great small town vibes. I loved that the town was a giant secret and had the forgetting spell. The magic system was great, well explained throughout the book and fairly simple to follow.
I will say my favourite bit of the book was the characters, they are fab and actually I think I enjoyed them all even the one I got bad vibes from. My favourites were obviously Scarlet and Nate but I also loved Zanir and Aphra just as much.
The storytelling was great, It is well paced with good dialogue scenes mixed in. I did guess where the books was going and I had my suspicions on some characters, which all played out as expected, but I didn’t go into this wanting to be surprised about the storylines direction. It was a joy to read and in the beginning I really enjoyed the cute nods to other magical books / systems from other fictional works. Such as the title. However these little nods quite quickly turned into something that felt a bit more forced and in one instance there was a whole chapter dedicated to a single quote from Gilmore Girls, I totally get that it was a big inspiration for the book and it’s setting and contents, However I feel this chapter was very much played upon to meet that reference rather than being a very important piece of the puzzle. Another instance saw a very intentional addition to the end couple chapters where another reference is placed. This also felt like it was mentioned to meet a quote rather than nicely rounding the story being told out. So I have docked my rating down to four stars as this book could have been epic without the forced references. While we are on the subject, I have my suspicions that Emily Grimoire is possibly a pen name, although I could be totally wrong, the opening page of the book is her life story and it has a very, striking resemblance to that of a rather famous character from a TV show called Emily.
With all that being said, this book is a wonderful autumn/ Halloween read and its release will be perfectly timed for October 1st. I highly recommend for any romance readers who love a small town vibe and witchy characters. It was very good and a great, easy read to enjoy.
Thanks NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC of this book.
This is a super cute romantasy with a few romcom and finding your way home vibes. The writing was really nice and I appreciated the authors storytelling style. The characters were well rounded for the most part. The reason this is a 4 star read for me is there were just so many unresolved threads at the end of the story for something not billed as first book in a series. I was left with so many ‘but what about’ thoughts at the end I was sure there would at least be an epilogue but no the book was just done. It doesn’t distract from the story, and if you aren’t the type to care that every little thing is wrapped up you probably won’t even notice.
This book features Scarlett and her family; her coming home and finding herself (and obviously saving the town). Her struggles to fit in and forgive herself featured prominently and was presented in a relatable way. The love interest started off feeling a little one dimensional but as the story progressed his own story was fleshed out and I grew to really love him.
This was a super cute read and overall I recommend.
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: October 01, 2024
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:
Do you love a cozy read you can devour while sipping on a hot pumpkin spice or hot cocoa 👀…this book is for you. I absolutely love this time of the year when spooky season books start coming out and when I saw Impractical Magic I jumped so fast at the opportunity to read it. This book was so fun and so very cute! I truly love the writing style of our author and this was my first book by them. The backdrop for this couldn’t be better and I loved watching our characters grow and develop throughout the book. I will continue to read more to come out by Emily Grimoire. Definitely a book I’ll be recommending and needs to be on your TBR.
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Cozy, Small Town, Second Chance, Witches, Grumpy Meets Sunshine, Gilmore Girl Vibes
Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC copy.
I loved this book I think it's the perfect Autumn read. I really enjoyed watching the relationships grow throughout the book and loved all the witchy vibes. This will 100% be added to the Fall Reads I recommend to people.
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Yuzuru Kuki
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