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Charming Cove #1
The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic
So here's the deal—I'm a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules...
1. Never get involved with magic
2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England
3. And definitely don't fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you've hated for years
So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It's the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family's magical potion shop.
But it's cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove-a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars-I will totally ignore Witch Weekly's Sexiest Man of the Year. I'll win the competition, and if I'm lucky, I won't turn myself into a toad in the process.
This'll be fine. It'll all be fine. Riiiight.
1. Never get involved with magic
2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England
3. And definitely don't fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you've hated for years
So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It's the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family's magical potion shop.
But it's cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove-a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars-I will totally ignore Witch Weekly's Sexiest Man of the Year. I'll win the competition, and if I'm lucky, I won't turn myself into a toad in the process.
This'll be fine. It'll all be fine. Riiiight.
356 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2023
4685 people are currently reading
22269 people want to read
About the author
Linsey Hall
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Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
For giveaways, contests and book discussion join my Facebook group
here!
Before becoming a writer, Linsey was an archaeologist who studied shipwrecks in all kinds of water, from the tropics to muddy rivers (and she has a distinct preference for one over the other). After a decade of tromping around in search of old bits of stuff, she settled down to start penning her own adventure novels and is freaking delighted that people seem to like them. Since life is better with a little (or a lot of) magic, she writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,105 reviews
October 10, 2023
Note to self: after DNFing a book at 20%, don't go back to it. Is this the worst book ever written? No. But is it remotely worth your time? Also no.
Things I didn't like about this book:
-Aria's entire backstory was so boring to me. Boohoo, she was bullied as a kid because her magic would blow up in her face when she tried! But look! She's actually a super rare kind of witch who draws her power from plants and is way more powerful than everyone else! A lot of things in this book were extremely derivative of the genre and I struggled to find something that distinguished this from other books.
- The entire relationship with Aria and Callan. There is absolutely zero chemistry between them! Hall relies too much on telling the reader what Aria and Callan are thinking about rather than showing it in their actions. For example, this interaction from the book made me cringe.
I'm sorry - in what world is that considered flirting? There were no markers in their dialogue or behavior that made it clear that was a fun or flirty exchange, other than a raised eyebrow. Another example is when Callan is staying in Aria's house and they're in the living room together, sitting quietly and reading.
Aria and Callan are both delusional weirdos whose only personality traits are thinking the other one is super powerful and "amazing". The romance is nonexistent and the characters literally go from making out to having a "great" night together and then freaking out about sleeping together.
Overall, I was really excited to read this book because the blurb seemed interesting enough and this close to Halloween/spooky season I tend to pick witchy books. But this read was disappointing. Do I have too high of hopes for witchy books? I hope not.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars.
Spice: cracked door - 1/5.
TLDR; if you're looking for a witchy romance book, skip this.
Things I didn't like about this book:
-Aria's entire backstory was so boring to me. Boohoo, she was bullied as a kid because her magic would blow up in her face when she tried! But look! She's actually a super rare kind of witch who draws her power from plants and is way more powerful than everyone else! A lot of things in this book were extremely derivative of the genre and I struggled to find something that distinguished this from other books.
- The entire relationship with Aria and Callan. There is absolutely zero chemistry between them! Hall relies too much on telling the reader what Aria and Callan are thinking about rather than showing it in their actions. For example, this interaction from the book made me cringe.
A: “Thank you again for this.”
C: “Any time.”
A: I raised a brow at him. “Really?”
C: “Really.”
A: Okay, that was way too close to flirting, and we were competitors.
I'm sorry - in what world is that considered flirting? There were no markers in their dialogue or behavior that made it clear that was a fun or flirty exchange, other than a raised eyebrow. Another example is when Callan is staying in Aria's house and they're in the living room together, sitting quietly and reading.
C:“Good. Just a bit to do tomorrow, then I’m done.”
A: He sipped his beer, and the moment of silence allowed me to realize how much sexual tension there was. It heated the air and made my breath come short. My skin was so warm that I wanted to rub the cold beer bottle against my forehead.
Aria and Callan are both delusional weirdos whose only personality traits are thinking the other one is super powerful and "amazing". The romance is nonexistent and the characters literally go from making out to having a "great" night together and then freaking out about sleeping together.
Overall, I was really excited to read this book because the blurb seemed interesting enough and this close to Halloween/spooky season I tend to pick witchy books. But this read was disappointing. Do I have too high of hopes for witchy books? I hope not.
Rating: 1.5/5 stars.
Spice: cracked door - 1/5.
TLDR; if you're looking for a witchy romance book, skip this.
October 22, 2023
this was fun, it kinda deserves 3.5 stars but i liked it more than the other books i read. the romance had me squealing but didn’t develop how i wanted it to but whatever!
October 1, 2023
A few of my friends love this book, so I decided to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. This was a cute story with very likeable MC’s. Aria and Callan were sweet together, eventually. The setting in the small town of Charming cove was perfect with the side characters to match.
There is no OTT drama, just a fun and easy read.
There is no OTT drama, just a fun and easy read.
June 7, 2023
Thank you, Netgalley, Linsey Hall, and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC 🩷
2.5 stars
Aria is a bit of a hot mess when it comes to her magical abilities. Her hometown of Charming Cove thinks she's a dud, but when her grandmother asks for her help to save their family shop, she can't say no. Now Aria finds herself back home and in a competition with the man she loathes, Callan Hawthorne. Callan is the sexy, billionare mage who has been intrigued by Aria since he met her. He sees the competition as an opportunity to change her opinion of him.
• enemies(ish) to lovers
• one bed
• romantic comedy
Alright. Before I even get into my review, the biggest complaint I had about this is that when Aria and Callan first meet, she's seventeen, and he's twenty-one. It's obvious from their initial interaction that Callan wanted her, and he even admits that he knows he shouldn't think about her because she's seventeen. I REALLY wish the author would have just aged her up to eighteen so we could avoid this uncomfortable situation to begin with. You can still have an age gap romance where both the characters are adults. Let's not make it weird.
This book was a cozy and lighthearted read. Although this is an adult book, it read a bit more like a YA book. I liked Callan and his determination to win over Aria, he's sweet, and you can tell how much he adores her. Aria has a lot of self-doubt, and watching her become more confident in her abilities was such a fun journey. The plants. Oh man, a witchy book with lots of plants? I didn't know that was something I needed in my life, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the plants.
The pacing was a little on the slow side in the beginning, but then it picked up about halfway through during the competition. The characters felt a bit flat, and I would have loved for them to have more depth.
Overall, it was a fluffy, easy read! I loved the magical fun, and the story was unique enough.
2.5 stars
Aria is a bit of a hot mess when it comes to her magical abilities. Her hometown of Charming Cove thinks she's a dud, but when her grandmother asks for her help to save their family shop, she can't say no. Now Aria finds herself back home and in a competition with the man she loathes, Callan Hawthorne. Callan is the sexy, billionare mage who has been intrigued by Aria since he met her. He sees the competition as an opportunity to change her opinion of him.
• enemies(ish) to lovers
• one bed
• romantic comedy
Alright. Before I even get into my review, the biggest complaint I had about this is that when Aria and Callan first meet, she's seventeen, and he's twenty-one. It's obvious from their initial interaction that Callan wanted her, and he even admits that he knows he shouldn't think about her because she's seventeen. I REALLY wish the author would have just aged her up to eighteen so we could avoid this uncomfortable situation to begin with. You can still have an age gap romance where both the characters are adults. Let's not make it weird.
This book was a cozy and lighthearted read. Although this is an adult book, it read a bit more like a YA book. I liked Callan and his determination to win over Aria, he's sweet, and you can tell how much he adores her. Aria has a lot of self-doubt, and watching her become more confident in her abilities was such a fun journey. The plants. Oh man, a witchy book with lots of plants? I didn't know that was something I needed in my life, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the plants.
The pacing was a little on the slow side in the beginning, but then it picked up about halfway through during the competition. The characters felt a bit flat, and I would have loved for them to have more depth.
Overall, it was a fluffy, easy read! I loved the magical fun, and the story was unique enough.
June 13, 2023
I’m sorry I had to dnf after she ran her tiny fingers through her messy hair bc she’s so tiny and dainty
April 30, 2024
I need to know who thought it was a good idea for the MMC to be attracted to the FMC when she was a minor and he was very much not???? Waiting for a child to be older does not make it better, especially when they acknowledge they were attracted to that child and they still end up together in the end???? This is some sort of grooming grey area and I was not here for it AT ALL. It's really, very much not difficult to age up characters even just slightly or you know, just not make it a point to have the love interest admit being attracted to a minor???
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December 29, 2023This was cute enough but kinda like a not that great hallmark movie 😅 All the characters are all very likeable and the plot is fine, but I wasn’t that captivated… I think I just read to finish the book ://
November 16, 2023
I would say this was a solid 2.5. I was hoping for a little more from the description of the book. Overall it was an easy read- the 2.5 is due to having a hard time connecting with the characters and something was slightly off with the story in general for me.
Aria is a woman adrift. She is living in London even though her family is in Charming Cove. She is a witch who can't access her magic. Her pride is holding her back from asking for help because she ran away after a misunderstanding between her and Callan Hawthorne, one of the most prominent mages around. However, she has been called on by her grandmother to save their family store. They sell herbs that they purchase from a local magical garden, and the gardener of said garden is hosting a competition to see who will take his place. When Aria gets the call, she thinks her grandma has lost it since she has no magic. How will she be able to win this thing? There is so much pressure. As long as she doesn't have to see Callan she thinks she will be ok. But of course he is one of her competitors.
Callan comes back to Charming Cove secretly hoping he will run into the young woman who toured him around the site that he turned into a smashing success of a bar/restaurant several years ago. He knows she is mad at him but doesn't really understand what he did, but either way he is a different man now. He isn't necessarily out to prove himself like he was before. He just wants the chance to understand what happened. He gets this chance and more. There is an instant attraction between him and Aria that he wants to pursue despite them being competitors.
When Aria realizes that all of this animosity between her and Callan could have been avoided, she starts to notice how sweet and charming he is. He makes a huge statement by helping her come into her magic which is a special kind. They still though can't pursue what they feel between them because ultimately she wants this garden. Or can they now that the competition is coming to a close?
I was disappointed at the big buildup of Aria's hatred of Callan for it to be resolved rather quickly. I was disappointed at the lack of spice. I did however like that there was not really a third act in this- as much as I like the angst it gives me angst LOL. I will try book 2 as the reviews seem to have improved and hope it is a little more developed than this one was.
Aria is a woman adrift. She is living in London even though her family is in Charming Cove. She is a witch who can't access her magic. Her pride is holding her back from asking for help because she ran away after a misunderstanding between her and Callan Hawthorne, one of the most prominent mages around. However, she has been called on by her grandmother to save their family store. They sell herbs that they purchase from a local magical garden, and the gardener of said garden is hosting a competition to see who will take his place. When Aria gets the call, she thinks her grandma has lost it since she has no magic. How will she be able to win this thing? There is so much pressure. As long as she doesn't have to see Callan she thinks she will be ok. But of course he is one of her competitors.
Callan comes back to Charming Cove secretly hoping he will run into the young woman who toured him around the site that he turned into a smashing success of a bar/restaurant several years ago. He knows she is mad at him but doesn't really understand what he did, but either way he is a different man now. He isn't necessarily out to prove himself like he was before. He just wants the chance to understand what happened. He gets this chance and more. There is an instant attraction between him and Aria that he wants to pursue despite them being competitors.
When Aria realizes that all of this animosity between her and Callan could have been avoided, she starts to notice how sweet and charming he is. He makes a huge statement by helping her come into her magic which is a special kind. They still though can't pursue what they feel between them because ultimately she wants this garden. Or can they now that the competition is coming to a close?
I was disappointed at the big buildup of Aria's hatred of Callan for it to be resolved rather quickly. I was disappointed at the lack of spice. I did however like that there was not really a third act in this- as much as I like the angst it gives me angst LOL. I will try book 2 as the reviews seem to have improved and hope it is a little more developed than this one was.
July 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this magical book. Aria and Callan are very likable characters, as are all the supporting cast of characters. I especially liked Aria's familiar, Boris the badger. I can't wait to read the next installment in the series.
June 7, 2023
Loved this book and the entire world created by Linsey Hall! The characters were all charming and the story was simple but entertaining throughout. Highly recommend this to anyone looking for a witchy romance, a quick read, or an overall cozy and feel-good book. Hopefully this will be the first of many in the Charming Cove series.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2025
Je crois que je suis dans ma cosy rom com paranormal era 🫣
October 17, 2023
This is a SUPER SWEET paranormal fantasy romance with exceptional world building and atmosphere! I enjoyed the side characters in this book a great deal as well. Boris is boss! 🦡
August 19, 2023
2.5/5
this book was not for me - I knew that going in as I have a hard time with stories about forgiveness/second chances (the problem is either undeveloped or the apologies don't feel fair to what caused a rift). this book is the second case, although Callan eventually did a grand gesture which sort of okayed the issue, Aria had already forgiven him by then after a brief talk without much emotional payout.
this book has good things: cozy small town, interesting magic setting, great side characters, awesome magic beings, a funny familiar. the descriptions are good, it really felt like I could see the places they were in. the challenges were also creative and I liked seeing how Aria approached them and how she sought solutions and felt more at ease with herself.
however, all this is super rushed and not well developed. there is a ticking clock because of the challenges they have to complete, but the author did not need to be in a time crunch. there was so much about the relationships between the main and secondary characters that could have developed! I want to see why these people love and support each other, not only see them doing the support. even with Serena - former bully - I felt there was potential that was not fully taken by the author.
the love story is... not good. it feels like everything solves itself out really easily without any real conversation and so the connection between them feels feeble. so when they actually get together, you, as a reader, does not feel any investment. the sex scene did not need to be there at all and it was so weird, I don't know why the author did not chose a fade to black moment. or decided to go through their attraction via another angle - more love-like and less desire-based, which maybe would make the love declarations seem a little less out of the blue.
there were also some story threads left here and there. the villain was a surprise - I appreciated it not being who everyone thought it'd be - but because we had basically no contact with the character it was a curveball and not a good one.
I love cozy reads and low stakes reads but this book wanted to be cozy and higher stakes and did not manage to balance those out well.
this book was not for me - I knew that going in as I have a hard time with stories about forgiveness/second chances (the problem is either undeveloped or the apologies don't feel fair to what caused a rift). this book is the second case, although Callan eventually did a grand gesture which sort of okayed the issue, Aria had already forgiven him by then after a brief talk without much emotional payout.
this book has good things: cozy small town, interesting magic setting, great side characters, awesome magic beings, a funny familiar. the descriptions are good, it really felt like I could see the places they were in. the challenges were also creative and I liked seeing how Aria approached them and how she sought solutions and felt more at ease with herself.
however, all this is super rushed and not well developed. there is a ticking clock because of the challenges they have to complete, but the author did not need to be in a time crunch. there was so much about the relationships between the main and secondary characters that could have developed! I want to see why these people love and support each other, not only see them doing the support. even with Serena - former bully - I felt there was potential that was not fully taken by the author.
the love story is... not good. it feels like everything solves itself out really easily without any real conversation and so the connection between them feels feeble. so when they actually get together, you, as a reader, does not feel any investment. the sex scene did not need to be there at all and it was so weird, I don't know why the author did not chose a fade to black moment. or decided to go through their attraction via another angle - more love-like and less desire-based, which maybe would make the love declarations seem a little less out of the blue.
there were also some story threads left here and there. the villain was a surprise - I appreciated it not being who everyone thought it'd be - but because we had basically no contact with the character it was a curveball and not a good one.
I love cozy reads and low stakes reads but this book wanted to be cozy and higher stakes and did not manage to balance those out well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2025
Une lecture pleine de charme et de peps ! Parfaitement cosy.
Après quelques années loin de son foyer familial, l'héroïne décide de rentrer à Charming Cove pour soutenir sa grand-mère et participer à une compétition de magie. Un défi pour cette jeune sorcière qui pense être défaillante. Sur place, elle retrouve son premier béguin (et son premier chagrin d'amour) et comprend qu'il sera l'un de ses rivaux. La jeune femme est déterminée à lui barrer le chemin... mais n'imaginez point de tension insoutenable entre eux. Du côté du sorcier, d'abord, il n'existe aucune animosité. Il souhaite une entente cordiale (et plus si affinités). En quelques chapitres, ils vont donc avoir une discussion à cœur ouvert et mener de front les énigmes du concours. Tout simplement !
On se coule avec délice dans cette ambiance magique et pleine d'allégresse. Les décors sont féeriques. Les personnages, tous attachants. Les épreuves convoquent des situations loufoques qui maintiennent le rythme soutenu. Ça se lit vite et ça donne le sourire. J'adore le cosy fantasy. ♥
Après quelques années loin de son foyer familial, l'héroïne décide de rentrer à Charming Cove pour soutenir sa grand-mère et participer à une compétition de magie. Un défi pour cette jeune sorcière qui pense être défaillante. Sur place, elle retrouve son premier béguin (et son premier chagrin d'amour) et comprend qu'il sera l'un de ses rivaux. La jeune femme est déterminée à lui barrer le chemin... mais n'imaginez point de tension insoutenable entre eux. Du côté du sorcier, d'abord, il n'existe aucune animosité. Il souhaite une entente cordiale (et plus si affinités). En quelques chapitres, ils vont donc avoir une discussion à cœur ouvert et mener de front les énigmes du concours. Tout simplement !
On se coule avec délice dans cette ambiance magique et pleine d'allégresse. Les décors sont féeriques. Les personnages, tous attachants. Les épreuves convoquent des situations loufoques qui maintiennent le rythme soutenu. Ça se lit vite et ça donne le sourire. J'adore le cosy fantasy. ♥
August 27, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley & Bonnie Doon Press for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
Described as a "fun, light romantic comedy", The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic delivers exactly that. I was very intrigued by the setup; a magic competition between the most powerful witches sounds incredible. But it should’ve been sold as a scavenger hunt slash friendly game with relaxed rules to allow time for making friendships and tackling outside problems. The writing was fun and light, and everything is very serious, but not so serious that there isn’t time for coffee and pastries.
It does seem a little strange that the central love story is a slow burn disguised as enemies to lovers based on one conversation many years ago when the age gap was more than a little troubling. It’s an awkward setup that takes some time to explain and ease into. Once that’s done, though, the obstacles seem to be overcome quite quickly, like most of the challenges in the narrative are. With all the supposed power and seriousness of this competition, I was expecting a little more going on below the surface, but I still enjoyed this read.
If you’re looking for light and enjoyable with a side of sweet romance, The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic has got you covered.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
Described as a "fun, light romantic comedy", The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic delivers exactly that. I was very intrigued by the setup; a magic competition between the most powerful witches sounds incredible. But it should’ve been sold as a scavenger hunt slash friendly game with relaxed rules to allow time for making friendships and tackling outside problems. The writing was fun and light, and everything is very serious, but not so serious that there isn’t time for coffee and pastries.
It does seem a little strange that the central love story is a slow burn disguised as enemies to lovers based on one conversation many years ago when the age gap was more than a little troubling. It’s an awkward setup that takes some time to explain and ease into. Once that’s done, though, the obstacles seem to be overcome quite quickly, like most of the challenges in the narrative are. With all the supposed power and seriousness of this competition, I was expecting a little more going on below the surface, but I still enjoyed this read.
If you’re looking for light and enjoyable with a side of sweet romance, The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic has got you covered.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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June 21, 2023
eARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Low stakes, light-hearted, easy read that could have been done with a British editor. From fireflies that do not inhabit the UK to the incorrect use of quid, wanker and bastard, pulled me out of the story every time. The connection with the love interest, Callan, felt quite one-dimensional and flat. The sex scene or lack of led me to read back in case I missed it, removing it would have benefited the book. The side characters, her grandmother, Borris and her best friend and co were absolutely adorable and brought so much more dimension to the world. Overall the premise sounded amazing but the execution could have done with a few more edits and research.
EDIT: I had listened along with the audio that I bought and I do not think it helped, the awful fake posh British accent didn't suit the main character at all, nor the fact she was cornish. Made me question at the start, if the modern in the book title was in fact set now or from the Regency era.
Low stakes, light-hearted, easy read that could have been done with a British editor. From fireflies that do not inhabit the UK to the incorrect use of quid, wanker and bastard, pulled me out of the story every time. The connection with the love interest, Callan, felt quite one-dimensional and flat. The sex scene or lack of led me to read back in case I missed it, removing it would have benefited the book. The side characters, her grandmother, Borris and her best friend and co were absolutely adorable and brought so much more dimension to the world. Overall the premise sounded amazing but the execution could have done with a few more edits and research.
EDIT: I had listened along with the audio that I bought and I do not think it helped, the awful fake posh British accent didn't suit the main character at all, nor the fact she was cornish. Made me question at the start, if the modern in the book title was in fact set now or from the Regency era.
June 12, 2023
Updated from 3 to 4 stars because I can't stop thinking about this. The story was so cute.
This was the coziest of romance novels with a sprinkle of magic. I loved the relationships the female main character had not only with the male main character, but with her family and everyone she encountered as well. She was so sweet and likable.
The misunderstanding part of this was a little weak and the ending felt a bit rushed, but overall this was a really cute read.
Favorite quote: You look like a sunrise after a decade of darkness. 🥺
This was the coziest of romance novels with a sprinkle of magic. I loved the relationships the female main character had not only with the male main character, but with her family and everyone she encountered as well. She was so sweet and likable.
The misunderstanding part of this was a little weak and the ending felt a bit rushed, but overall this was a really cute read.
Favorite quote: You look like a sunrise after a decade of darkness. 🥺
August 20, 2024
3/5⭐️
2/5🌶
Es una novela de cozy fantasy.
Me gustó toda la parte del mundo mágico y la trama que lleva a la bruja Aria a descubrir su poder.
Los personajes secundarios me gustaron bastante, (puntos para Boris), aunque a ninguno le dan mucha letra.
Ahora el romance es mediocre. Es muy secundario en la historia, aunque está todo el tiempo presente. O sea, ellos están ahí, siempre juntos pero... no pasa nada!!
Tensión cero. Drama cero. Para leer cuando uno anda sin ganas de tragedia.
Puntos para la portada que es preciosa ❤️
Cumple con entretener hasta ahí, lo justo.
2/5🌶
Es una novela de cozy fantasy.
Me gustó toda la parte del mundo mágico y la trama que lleva a la bruja Aria a descubrir su poder.
Los personajes secundarios me gustaron bastante, (puntos para Boris), aunque a ninguno le dan mucha letra.
Ahora el romance es mediocre. Es muy secundario en la historia, aunque está todo el tiempo presente. O sea, ellos están ahí, siempre juntos pero... no pasa nada!!
Tensión cero. Drama cero. Para leer cuando uno anda sin ganas de tragedia.
Puntos para la portada que es preciosa ❤️
Cumple con entretener hasta ahí, lo justo.
February 16, 2024
This was an enjoyable paranormal romance. Set in a small village of Cove Town, our protagonist is a witch whose magic has blown up. Aria and Callan's romance was delightful to read about but I felt the plot was kind of lackluster. I did love the setting of a small town though. Overall this was an easy, light, one-time read and I'd definitely recommend!
June 4, 2023
solid witchy romance book with a competition! My favorite thing was the cute familiar and other adorable types of magical animals! I also liked the planet magic but wish there had been a better explanation for it
October 22, 2025
2.75
Update: The more I reflect on this and talk about it with friends in my book club the lower I keep making my rating. There are just so many dropped threads and loose ends.
Overall, this was a cute read. However, I was pitched this book as a witchy rom com, when in reality, it's a cozy contemporary witch book with a side of romance. I just wanted so much more out of Callan and the whole relationship.
The real MVP of the book was Boris.
Update: The more I reflect on this and talk about it with friends in my book club the lower I keep making my rating. There are just so many dropped threads and loose ends.
Overall, this was a cute read. However, I was pitched this book as a witchy rom com, when in reality, it's a cozy contemporary witch book with a side of romance. I just wanted so much more out of Callan and the whole relationship.
The real MVP of the book was Boris.
January 3, 2024
This was a fast read - it was cute, fun and magical. I am excited to see where the rest of the stories go!
June 7, 2023
Oh gosh y'all, if you are looking for a cozy and cute paranormal fantasy romance, This. Is. It. The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic was really fun, low stakes, and funny. This book would be a great palate cleanser or comfort read, definitely worth checking out!
Aria grew up in the magical village of Charming Cove thinking that her magic was broken. She ends up leaving the town behind until her grandmother calls her back to compete for ownership of a magical garden. Aria is all in until she finds out that her nemesis, Callan Hawthorne, will be competing as well. Callan is a rich and powerful mage who Aria has hated for years - while he loved her from afar. Through Callan's attempts to win her over, Aria begrudgingly comes to see that he's not as bad as she thought, but she cannot let him win. Will she be able to overcome her issues with magic, win the competition, and repair her relationship with Callan and the people of Charming Cove?
I loved Callan. He's been enamored with Aria since he met her as a teenager, and he is so driven to get her to like him. I loved how sweet he is without being overbearing. Though she comes off as immature at first, I eventually grew to like Aria, and I loved her journey to finding her magic. Their romance was sweet when it finally took off, and though the spice was pretty vague, it does show up eventually. Definitely a tension-filled slow burn with lots of forced proximity.
My favorite characters of the book, however, were all side characters. Tabitha is so awesome as Aria's best friend and her young niece, Catrina, was adorably precocious. AND OMG, Aria's familiar, a badger named Boris, was 100% the best character in the book. He's hilarious, and stole the scene anytime he popped up.
Thank you SO much to Linsey Hall for sending me both the eARC and a physical copy of this book! It was a fun read for sure, and I'm thrilled that I had the opportunity to read it. It's out now on KU, snatch it right up!
Aria grew up in the magical village of Charming Cove thinking that her magic was broken. She ends up leaving the town behind until her grandmother calls her back to compete for ownership of a magical garden. Aria is all in until she finds out that her nemesis, Callan Hawthorne, will be competing as well. Callan is a rich and powerful mage who Aria has hated for years - while he loved her from afar. Through Callan's attempts to win her over, Aria begrudgingly comes to see that he's not as bad as she thought, but she cannot let him win. Will she be able to overcome her issues with magic, win the competition, and repair her relationship with Callan and the people of Charming Cove?
I loved Callan. He's been enamored with Aria since he met her as a teenager, and he is so driven to get her to like him. I loved how sweet he is without being overbearing. Though she comes off as immature at first, I eventually grew to like Aria, and I loved her journey to finding her magic. Their romance was sweet when it finally took off, and though the spice was pretty vague, it does show up eventually. Definitely a tension-filled slow burn with lots of forced proximity.
My favorite characters of the book, however, were all side characters. Tabitha is so awesome as Aria's best friend and her young niece, Catrina, was adorably precocious. AND OMG, Aria's familiar, a badger named Boris, was 100% the best character in the book. He's hilarious, and stole the scene anytime he popped up.
Thank you SO much to Linsey Hall for sending me both the eARC and a physical copy of this book! It was a fun read for sure, and I'm thrilled that I had the opportunity to read it. It's out now on KU, snatch it right up!
June 5, 2023
3.5/5 Stars
This was such an adorable story. I really enjoyed the characters and the charming magical world that Hall created. There were some fantastic secondary characters. I adored the female friendship in the book. The love interests had some nice chemistry but the romance was pretty tame for the most part. I liked the plot of the story and the execution of it. I also enjoyed the author's writing style. The only thing really lacking from the book was depth. Even if everything was there, the story felt really surface-level. A little more development and it would be perfect.
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⛔My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.
This was such an adorable story. I really enjoyed the characters and the charming magical world that Hall created. There were some fantastic secondary characters. I adored the female friendship in the book. The love interests had some nice chemistry but the romance was pretty tame for the most part. I liked the plot of the story and the execution of it. I also enjoyed the author's writing style. The only thing really lacking from the book was depth. Even if everything was there, the story felt really surface-level. A little more development and it would be perfect.
BLOG FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM GOODREADS TIKTOK TWITTER BOOKBUB AMAZON PINTEREST KO-FI
⛔My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers.
June 27, 2023
Meh.
This book intrigued me with its cozy fantasy x romance plotline but unfortunately I didn’t end up loving it, mostly due to the writing style. The cozy fantasy part was cute as our main character participates in a community garden challenge and explores her own magical skills, but felt underdeveloped overall.
The romance part was not interesting AT ALL, and I think that’s mainly because of Callan, the love interest. The book starts off as what seems to be a second chance type of thing because the two main characters have met previously, but this begins the book on a sour note for me because it was when Aria was a minor and Callan was older '(and this doesn't even end up becoming a plot line?).
I don't know. Overall ended up being bored and disinterested.
thanks to netgalley for the arc
This book intrigued me with its cozy fantasy x romance plotline but unfortunately I didn’t end up loving it, mostly due to the writing style. The cozy fantasy part was cute as our main character participates in a community garden challenge and explores her own magical skills, but felt underdeveloped overall.
The romance part was not interesting AT ALL, and I think that’s mainly because of Callan, the love interest. The book starts off as what seems to be a second chance type of thing because the two main characters have met previously, but this begins the book on a sour note for me because it was when Aria was a minor and Callan was older '(and this doesn't even end up becoming a plot line?).
I don't know. Overall ended up being bored and disinterested.
thanks to netgalley for the arc
June 14, 2023
Plants. Witches. Romance. A talking badger. This book has every ingredient of a witchy romcom! I cannot even begin to describe how much I enjoyed reading The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic. This adorable, witchy story feels like one big hug that immerses you the cozy world of witches and magic and I didn't want to leave. I found myself laughing out loud at times while slightly tearful at others. If you are a fan of enemies to lovers and low stakes, cozy fantasy, you definitely do not want to miss this one.
I will absolutely be buying a physical copy of this book and will be returning to it for a cozy, (probably annual) autumn read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bonnie Doon Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will absolutely be buying a physical copy of this book and will be returning to it for a cozy, (probably annual) autumn read.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bonnie Doon Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2023
I’ve been reading this author for years, so I had to follow her when she took a trip into writing a romcom. This was so darn cute. Aria is such a sweet character who really blossoms by the end of the book. Add in Callan, a sexy millionaire, who is very dashing and wonderful, and you have a wonderful time. I loved how fun, cute, and romantic this book is. This is definitely different than I’m used to from this author, but I fell in love with Charming Cove, and I can’t wait to visit it again to see the lovely inhabitants again. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
August 4, 2023
It’s boring and stuffed with too many unnecessary tropes. All the characters are flat the magic is missing any vitality. There’s literally nothing vibrant about this story; no originality or personality whatsoever. It was a pain to finish and the only reason I didn’t dnf it was because there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s the okayest of books.
September 18, 2023
My thought process while reading: Is this written for children? I’m very confused. The cover is truly what made me buy this book. Update: it’s definitely not for children. I love when there’s a nosy aunt or grandma or grandpa trying to match make 🤣. Ok I’m DNFing. If you removed the 1 steamy kiss and 1 mildly spicy scent, this would be an amazing children’s book 🫶🏽
May 25, 2023
This was such a great book! Easy read, heartwarming, and a nice little boost of serotonin. I hope I get to read more of Aria’s story soon! I received this eARC from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion. Thank you!
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