Bad Luck Charm

Y'all. If you needed any convincing to read this I have two words for you. THE BANTER.

I've always been and will always be a sucker for some good banter. I need an outlet to gush about how amazing this book was and how much I loved it so the rest of this review will just be that.

That said I loved this book top to bottom, left to right, up down, start finish, This book was amazing. Holy crap it blew my socks off with how much I loved it. I know this book is going to make it into my reread rotation, especially for the fall.

The opposites attract enemies to lovers was really well done and the MCs chemistry was through. the. freaking. roof.

I loved the side and background characters as well and then with the murder mystery witchy content in the background it really got me to pay attention to characters I otherwise wouldn't have given a second glance. The twist, though I did predict it, was aptly twisty! I saw it coming a handful of chapters ahead and still gasped.

Audibly. I gasped audibly. Everyone knows how good a book has to be for you to emote out loud. This book had me doing that the whole time. I need it in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audible *immediately*.

*Arc provided by netgalley*

5⭐️
3🌶

- witchy mystery (no actual paranormal activity)
- enemies to lovers (kind of)
- he falls first
- single pov
- First person

I am in love with this book! Set in Salem, so you know its got all the aesthetic witchy vibes going on. The writing is very descriptive, and now Salem has been added to my bucket list.
There was a great mix of spice, romance, and plot, and I already cannot wait for more from this series.

Bad Luck Charm is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and supernatural elements that had me captivated from beginning to end. The author's skill in character building is evident, as the backstory of the characters is compelling and adds depth to the narrative. The small-town setting creates an enchanting atmosphere that further immerses the reader into the story.

The slow-burn romance was exceptionally well-done, keeping me hooked and unable to put the book down. The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and their journey towards love was both satisfying and heartwarming.

The pacing of the story was fantastic, with a perfect balance of suspense and humor. There were moments that genuinely made me laugh out loud, thanks to the clever writing and the entertaining antics of the characters. The blend of humor, suspense, and romance created a fast-paced narrative that held my attention throughout.

Overall, Bad Luck Charm is an absolutely adorable book that effortlessly combines romance, mystery, and the supernatural. It's a quick and enjoyable read that had me hooked from the very first chapter. I highly recommend it to anyone in search of a fun and entertaining story that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Bad Luck Charm is the witchy/fall read everyone has been waiting for. It’s taken its place among my favorites such as Practical Magic. The atmosphere the author brings to the town of Salem, and even Gwyn’s occult shop The Gallows. I found myself instantly transported into the setting. The imagery was rich enough to where I could picture even the last details of Gwyn’s Colonial style home. Despite the witty banter and anecdotes that Gwyn provides, it does explore some darker themes so beware. But do to the lightheartedness of our characters it definitely keeps our book more balanced.
Let’s get into our characters. Gwyn is one of my favorite main characters. She’s strong and defiant in the best possible way. Even more than this, she has jokes for days. If you are looking for a main character packed with sarcasm and sass, she’s your girl. On top of all of this she’s the most stubborn and fearless heroine in all of Salem. Despite all of this she has a penchant for keeping her walls up, thus causing every single page to be another layer of her peeling back to expose more.
When it comes to Graham Graves there is a lot to be said. I found myself blushing and kicking my feet like a little girl throughout the whole novel. The man knows how to make a girl swoon. He is the typical protective guy in a romance but it’s not unflattering in this story. If you think Gwyn is stubborn then Graham is her perfect counterpart. He doesn’t know how to take no for an answer and will not be cast aside. On top of being a swoon worthy romantic, he is dedicated to those he cares about. You are guaranteed to be drooling over him by the end of the novel.
Bad Luck Charm is a funny witchy mystery that will do nothing short of taking you for every twist and turn. You will fall in love with the town of Salem and its atmospheric setting. If you add any book to your fall reads list this year it needs to be this one!

I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN. I read it in one evening because it was that good.

This was such a fun rom com with the perfect mix of witchy mystery added in. Gwen was so easy to love, the banter between her and Graham *swoon* and the spice by the end of the book 🤌🏻 I was surprised by the amount of action there was but I absolutely loved every second of it.

This book was so charming it has completely invaded my mind and I can think of nothing else! It was absolutely spellbinding! I adored this book and Gwen and Graham! There has to be more from this setting!! I need more!! This is the Salem Massachusetts that I have always wanted to know!
I just reviewed Bad Luck Charm by Julie Johnson. #BadLuckCharm #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

"Bad Luck Charm" is a sweet and spicy, slow-burn romantic suspense that I absolutely loved! Gwendolyn Goode inherits a house and witchy store in Salem, MA from her aunt who raised her during her childhood summers. She has a best friend/hilarious sidekick, Florence, and Flo's boyfriend Desmond, who's best friend is a hunky, alpha male, Graham Graves, that Gwen would rather avoid at all possibilities. When animal sacrifices and kidnappings start happening Gwen realizes Graham is the only person who can keep her safe.

This book is filled with small-town charm, amazing banter, and a feeling of absolute certainty that I need to visit Salem soon! I've read plenty of Julie Johnson's other books but this one has taken the favorite slot! You could read this book anytime of the year but I highly recommend reading it during the spooky season.

‘Bad Luck Charm’ was a gem to read, with so much to love about it. It had the perfect slow burn pairing that had me rooting for them from the start, plenty of steam, lots of banter, a little mystery, witchy twists, characters that were easily swooned over, & it was set up well for book two of the series, At Last Sight (coming in Winter 2023). I was able to read an advance copy of Bad Luck Charm thanks to NetGalley & throughly enjoyed it! I could hardly put it down, & can’t wait to read book two of the Witch City Series by Julie Johnson.

Wow, this is easily one of my favorite 2023 reads so far, and hello to a new top tier book boyfriend in Mr. Graham Graves...PHEW is it hot in here?? A huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

Five whole incredible stars for Bad Luck Charm. All of the stars really--if there were an option for more than five, this book would have it. It has everything you need for the absolutely perfect fall/spooky romance: lots of gooood spice. love. romance. murder. witches. spells. fortune tellers. pirates. crystals and tinctures. history. characters you will both relate to and fall in love with. friendship. amazing writing. the wittiest of witty banter. Reading this felt like actually perusing Gwen's shop in Salem with smoky incense burning in the background, drinking one of her pumpkin spice lattes while listening to (and ogling) Graham while he banters with/obsesses over Gwen. Going beyond the romance, this book honestly had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going on and who was behind the occult ritual sacrifices and what was going to happen?? I couldn't put this down.

So Gwen and Graham...are now one of my honest to god favorite book couples. Gwen is a self-preserving, brave, feisty redhead who is a tad reckless and takes-no-shit in a totally non-obnoxious way (a lot of FMC's who are like this tend to be overdone and annoy me..Gwen was written perfectly.) The more I read about her, the more I wanted to be her best friend. And GRAHAM. Woah boy. Tall, sexy, dark haired green eyed Graham the former teenage lifeguard turned Harvard educated fixer. Graham is the epitome of a book boyfriend. I am now addicted to him. Their relationship is a well-done enemies to lovers with the most amazing banter and a tad of unrequited love. He is FERAL over her and definitely an alpha male, but she fights him all the way. Their chemistry is off the charts. So, so good.

You can find me rereading this in October, complete with my burning incense and pumpkin spice latte, pretending to be (with Graham) in Gwen's shop. Come for the spooky murder witchy vibes. Stay for the absolute god-tier man that is "handyman" (hehe) Graham Graves and his relationship with Gwen. I will be purchasing a physical copy of this and placing it in a place of honor of my shelf. That's how much I loved this.

Wow… just wow. Once I started this cute witchy mystery enemies to lovers romance I could not put it down!!

Liked: I loved the banter between the main characters. I literally was laughing out loud at the sassy one liners. Gwen is definitely my new idol. She is the perfect funny, tough, sweet and vulnerable. I couldn’t get enough of her character development!! Graham is now my new favorite book boyfriend. 💜 The author did an amazing job of brining the story together and keeping me guessing on what was going to happen next.

Disliked: N/A