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An Uncanny Romance #2
Rough Around the Hedges
Will Murphy spends his down time doing subversive cross-stitch, crafting saucy baked goods for the romance book club he attends with his Nana, and desperately trying to hide the fact that he's been in love with Vanessa Woodbridge for, well, ever . For years, he's been content to wear the best friend label. But suddenly it's starting to chafe, right when Vanessa needs a trusted friend more than ever. Vanessa Woodbridge wants to be a hedge witch more than anything, but her chances of becoming one are laughable. Her father's pride stands between her and her dream of leaving her barista job behind in favor of crafting helpful potions and magical edibles at Wicked Brews. The Woodbridge patriarch has forbidden her from a career path that is, in his opinion, beneath their magical family legacy. She might not care about his feelings, but without his signature, Vanessa can't sign up for the classes she desperately needs to learn essential hedge witchery. She's ready to give up, but with Will at her back, she finds the courage to fight for what she wants. She's never been able to count on her dad, but she can count on her best friend. Will's her rock. He would never crumble. Only Will feels like he's doing exactly that. He's falling apart inside and he's not sure how long he can keep up the façade of the calm, platonic, best friend . But for Vanessa? He'd do anything to help her get her dream... Even if it costs him the one thing he cherishes most. Her.
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2023
About the author
Lish McBride
28 books1,345 followersLish McBride is the author of funny and creepy Young Adult books such as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer; Necromancing the Stone; Firebug; and Pyromantic. She has published short stories in the Normal School, Tor.com, and the anthologies Cornered, What to Read in the Rain, Freaks & Other Family, and Kisses & Curses. She got her BFA in creative writing from Seattle University and her MFA from University of New Orleans. Lish is also currently a bookseller and event host at Third Place Books, a giant thriving indie bookstore just outside of Seattle. Her first book, Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults title, Morris Award finalist, and won the Scandiuzzi Children’s Book Award. While she has no long term goals for world domination, she would like her own castle.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lishmc...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/lishmc...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 29, 2023
Short review: I adored it. The hero is wonderful. The story is fun. The side characters are a delight. I have a few critiques that make this not a total 5.
The hero is a pure delight. I pretty much adore every man in this friend group. They hug, they make jokes, they support each other, they cook and clean, they are emotionally sensitive and generous... ugh. This world is full of fabulous men.
The hero reads romance books with his Nana. So. Frickin'. Cute!
However, I struggled with him being in love with the heroine and lacking the courage to tell her. Ya, she was prickly and had a hard time with emotions, but it felt wrong for him to hold onto this secret for so long while they are so intimate in everything.
I had a little bit of a harder time with the heroine because she pushes everyone away so hard and is determined to do things on her own and not need anyone. But, she has an amazingly supportive friendship group/chosen family who aid her and push her to accept their love and help. I struggled with how long the heroine pushes away.
Both main characters have to be pushed hard by their friends throughout the book to move their relationship forward. And that made it slightly less enjoyable for me.
The world this author has created is so good. The characters are so lovable and interesting. I want to know about EVERYONE! I can't figure out whose story I want next.
We don't see Eva back in this one (she's a villain from the first book), but we do get to see Van's and Jule's father again... and he's got a secret agenda. We don't get to understand what it is... but it definitely also makes me want to have more of this series.
Love this series and have no regrets.
Safety deets
- no 0W. Will is a one woman man and he only wants Van. He doesn't need around. He just watches and longs and pines.
- Van has dated around. Thankfully, we do not see that in this book.
- By the end of the book, they are in their happily ever after and so cute. I love how her ferrets are involved with her love life. They are part of giving her advice on how to get Will back.
The hero is a pure delight. I pretty much adore every man in this friend group. They hug, they make jokes, they support each other, they cook and clean, they are emotionally sensitive and generous... ugh. This world is full of fabulous men.
The hero reads romance books with his Nana. So. Frickin'. Cute!
However, I struggled with him being in love with the heroine and lacking the courage to tell her. Ya, she was prickly and had a hard time with emotions, but it felt wrong for him to hold onto this secret for so long while they are so intimate in everything.
I had a little bit of a harder time with the heroine because she pushes everyone away so hard and is determined to do things on her own and not need anyone. But, she has an amazingly supportive friendship group/chosen family who aid her and push her to accept their love and help. I struggled with how long the heroine pushes away.
Both main characters have to be pushed hard by their friends throughout the book to move their relationship forward. And that made it slightly less enjoyable for me.
The world this author has created is so good. The characters are so lovable and interesting. I want to know about EVERYONE! I can't figure out whose story I want next.
We don't see Eva back in this one (she's a villain from the first book), but we do get to see Van's and Jule's father again... and he's got a secret agenda. We don't get to understand what it is... but it definitely also makes me want to have more of this series.
Love this series and have no regrets.
Safety deets
- no 0W. Will is a one woman man and he only wants Van. He doesn't need around. He just watches and longs and pines.
- Van has dated around. Thankfully, we do not see that in this book.
- By the end of the book, they are in their happily ever after and so cute. I love how her ferrets are involved with her love life. They are part of giving her advice on how to get Will back.
October 12, 2023
I'm still in love with this world the author created and this friend/found family group that is full of acceptance and love and positive masculine and feminine relationships. I love the diversity of their group and the diversity of the wider world, including the various magical powers and beings. Still a variety of possibilities in terms of what could happen next in the world and who the next romance leads could be and I'd love to see several other characters get their HEAs. This second book in the series continues the cozy feeling and lots of softness.
Will (H) was in love with Van (h) for years and then something comes about that shoves the idea of them romantically right under Van's nose. Her perspective on Will as the best BFF ever shifts to noticing him in new ways, which was sometimes funny and sometimes scary to read because you just knew Will was going to end up getting hurt in this with how frightened Van was of relationships. The story centers around their changing dynamics, along with Van's career goals and family drama (because her father stands between her and her goals and he's wretched). Like the first book, this one had an abundance of sweet moments, funny scenes, and a heck of a lot of heart. There are also heart wrenching times and big realizations. Written in first person, dual POV. No om drama, tiny sort of not really ow drama in that H is encouraged by friends to try dating apps and he goes on a couple coffee dates that do make the h jealous (this is while her perspective is shifting), and neither is a virgin (H seems to have been celibate for a while and he did have to witness h dating others but none of that is on page).
I loved Will in all his marshmallow center glory with his big heart and fun personality (he participates in a romance book club with his nana and made NSFW cookies for it, just one highlight). Van, I had a harder time loving unfortunately. I looked back at my review for book 1 and at the time, I thought Lou was pricklier than I preferred. Well, Van basically said to hold her beer while she showed what true prickliness and emotional hang-ups could be. So much fear of emotional vulnerability and lots of pushing away, albeit these were learned behaviors and internal protections thanks to her upbringing, but still. My friend Elizabeth, who also read and reviewed this book, makes an excellent point in her review that the friend group had to nudge along these two at times and that bothered me too. Van needed a fair amount of hand holding with the plot that was happening and the emotional changes and I got a little worn down by her attitude when I should have been more empathetic to her plight.
Steam-wise, these two light up once their relationship turns physical and they had well developed chemistry. The spicy scenes are open door and there are multiples. These times also felt emotionally intimate because they cared so much for each other. Though the emotional intimacy involved in being open about feelings and vulnerable took a long time and hit multiple road bumps.
Van's father was in the first book and he was fishy and he's moreso in this book. I have a lot of lingering questions and concerns about what's going on with him. I hated how he made his daughters feel, but I did love how supportive and protective their group was to be present anytime Van and her sister needed them after having to deal with their dad. Van's dream of being a hedge witch was endearing and I adored her reasoning. The resolution to that was also a good one I thought esp with her side errand after her meeting at the university.
This one does have a brief separation and some groveling has to occur. I personally wished for more in that scene, even if Van was hitting the right notes. I think I was so in love with Will in the book that I wanted her to suffer and work a bit more for the hurt she caused with her thoughtlessness (even if it came from her trauma response from her family). But Will was happy and they're in love and it was sweet. The ending is a HFN/HEA of them a few weeks later and whoever's book is next, I know that Will and Van will be featured in it. Lou and Declan were in this one and it was glorious getting to see them and esp Declan's alpha wolf caretaking of his pack. Will I read the next book? Almost certainly. Do I really hope the next one has a more emotionally available FMC? Definitely.
I also hope that some of the writing tightens up a bit, like with the tense changes that are still present. Sometimes it also wasn't clear due to the formatting what was being texted or what was someone's internal monologue as they were texting. Same with dialogue, a couple of times I had to reread a paragraph to separate who was talking at the start and who was talking at the end. But again, the world and characters that the author has built make up for these less significant moments.
Will (H) was in love with Van (h) for years and then something comes about that shoves the idea of them romantically right under Van's nose. Her perspective on Will as the best BFF ever shifts to noticing him in new ways, which was sometimes funny and sometimes scary to read because you just knew Will was going to end up getting hurt in this with how frightened Van was of relationships. The story centers around their changing dynamics, along with Van's career goals and family drama (because her father stands between her and her goals and he's wretched). Like the first book, this one had an abundance of sweet moments, funny scenes, and a heck of a lot of heart. There are also heart wrenching times and big realizations. Written in first person, dual POV. No om drama, tiny sort of not really ow drama in that H is encouraged by friends to try dating apps and he goes on a couple coffee dates that do make the h jealous (this is while her perspective is shifting), and neither is a virgin (H seems to have been celibate for a while and he did have to witness h dating others but none of that is on page).
I loved Will in all his marshmallow center glory with his big heart and fun personality (he participates in a romance book club with his nana and made NSFW cookies for it, just one highlight). Van, I had a harder time loving unfortunately. I looked back at my review for book 1 and at the time, I thought Lou was pricklier than I preferred. Well, Van basically said to hold her beer while she showed what true prickliness and emotional hang-ups could be. So much fear of emotional vulnerability and lots of pushing away, albeit these were learned behaviors and internal protections thanks to her upbringing, but still. My friend Elizabeth, who also read and reviewed this book, makes an excellent point in her review that the friend group had to nudge along these two at times and that bothered me too. Van needed a fair amount of hand holding with the plot that was happening and the emotional changes and I got a little worn down by her attitude when I should have been more empathetic to her plight.
Steam-wise, these two light up once their relationship turns physical and they had well developed chemistry. The spicy scenes are open door and there are multiples. These times also felt emotionally intimate because they cared so much for each other. Though the emotional intimacy involved in being open about feelings and vulnerable took a long time and hit multiple road bumps.
Van's father was in the first book and he was fishy and he's moreso in this book. I have a lot of lingering questions and concerns about what's going on with him. I hated how he made his daughters feel, but I did love how supportive and protective their group was to be present anytime Van and her sister needed them after having to deal with their dad. Van's dream of being a hedge witch was endearing and I adored her reasoning. The resolution to that was also a good one I thought esp with her side errand after her meeting at the university.
This one does have a brief separation and some groveling has to occur. I personally wished for more in that scene, even if Van was hitting the right notes. I think I was so in love with Will in the book that I wanted her to suffer and work a bit more for the hurt she caused with her thoughtlessness (even if it came from her trauma response from her family). But Will was happy and they're in love and it was sweet. The ending is a HFN/HEA of them a few weeks later and whoever's book is next, I know that Will and Van will be featured in it. Lou and Declan were in this one and it was glorious getting to see them and esp Declan's alpha wolf caretaking of his pack. Will I read the next book? Almost certainly. Do I really hope the next one has a more emotionally available FMC? Definitely.
I also hope that some of the writing tightens up a bit, like with the tense changes that are still present. Sometimes it also wasn't clear due to the formatting what was being texted or what was someone's internal monologue as they were texting. Same with dialogue, a couple of times I had to reread a paragraph to separate who was talking at the start and who was talking at the end. But again, the world and characters that the author has built make up for these less significant moments.
June 14, 2025
"She burst into laughter. Her eyes widened before she clapped her hands over her mouth. Like she could catch the sound and put it back. But it was too late—her laugh was already out there in the world. It was my new favorite sound."
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This got an audio! A duet! And it came out last week!
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This got an audio! A duet! And it came out last week!
June 25, 2023
After devouring the previous book, I dropped everything when I had the chance to read this one.
I loved Van and Will. They are the perfect example of crunchy and gooey. I am a sucker for the pining-away trope and this one was really great. Never before have I seen a drunken craft night turn into a glittery poster board presentation and it was easily one of my favorite scenes.
The friend group is hands down one of the best. I love their unwavering love and support, their offers to help hide the body, their easy way of complimenting each other. This is a group I would absolutely want to hang out with. And let's not forget about the ferrets...
Yes, yes, I know I'm not really reviewing this in a coherent way, but this is what I have right now. Maybe on a reread (which I'll definitely be doing), I'll be able to do something else.
I'm excited to read what's next in this world and I'm definitely here for anything Lish puts out.
**Huge thanks to Lish for spoiling me with an early copy**
I loved Van and Will. They are the perfect example of crunchy and gooey. I am a sucker for the pining-away trope and this one was really great. Never before have I seen a drunken craft night turn into a glittery poster board presentation and it was easily one of my favorite scenes.
The friend group is hands down one of the best. I love their unwavering love and support, their offers to help hide the body, their easy way of complimenting each other. This is a group I would absolutely want to hang out with. And let's not forget about the ferrets...
Yes, yes, I know I'm not really reviewing this in a coherent way, but this is what I have right now. Maybe on a reread (which I'll definitely be doing), I'll be able to do something else.
I'm excited to read what's next in this world and I'm definitely here for anything Lish puts out.
**Huge thanks to Lish for spoiling me with an early copy**
September 14, 2023
PSA :I cannot stand emotionally stunted characters who take forever to figure shit out when it’s right in front of their faces and as a previously emotionally stunted character I don’t know why that is.
As a person who has a long list of childhood trauma I can say with confidence that there’s a certain point you reach when you choose to let your past define you or choose to change for the better and it took Vanessa a very long time to make that choice. I’m not saying I’m right but I can say( I think I’m allowed to as a fellow survivor) that she annoyed the shit out of me 99% of the time. Her whole attitude towards Will was very off putting. I’m all for working through your trauma but taking it out on the people you love in such a violent and mean way does not sit right with me. Even if it’s eventually resolved. I know she has her good qualities and she’s truly lovely once you break down that wall but I can never just let all that negligence and obliviousness go.
That said , I enjoyed this book only because of all the other characters. They were my favourites in the first book and have remained my favourites throughout this one. I am a sucker for found family books and this one knocked that trope out of the park. The way they are all there for each other so fiercely made me heart skip a beat. I adore Jim and his minotaur, stern daddy wisdom. I love Trick and Dammnit. Lou and Declan are still precious beans. Don’t get me started on Bay,Juliet and Savvy because I will lose my shit and melt into a puddle. Nana is a boss babe and so are Emma and Thea. And finally, Willhardt has my whole heart. This man has the patience of a saint and the personality of a golden retriever. He was so precious and perfect and I feel protective of him in a way I haven’t felt with a character in a while.
Honourable shout out to Kodo and because I now crave having 2 mischievous ferret babies.
I am waiting for Bay and Juliet’s book and for Jim and Trick to find their lovely’s 💙 Ms McBride, please don’t make me wait too long 🙂
As a person who has a long list of childhood trauma I can say with confidence that there’s a certain point you reach when you choose to let your past define you or choose to change for the better and it took Vanessa a very long time to make that choice. I’m not saying I’m right but I can say( I think I’m allowed to as a fellow survivor) that she annoyed the shit out of me 99% of the time. Her whole attitude towards Will was very off putting. I’m all for working through your trauma but taking it out on the people you love in such a violent and mean way does not sit right with me. Even if it’s eventually resolved. I know she has her good qualities and she’s truly lovely once you break down that wall but I can never just let all that negligence and obliviousness go.
That said , I enjoyed this book only because of all the other characters. They were my favourites in the first book and have remained my favourites throughout this one. I am a sucker for found family books and this one knocked that trope out of the park. The way they are all there for each other so fiercely made me heart skip a beat. I adore Jim and his minotaur, stern daddy wisdom. I love Trick and Dammnit. Lou and Declan are still precious beans. Don’t get me started on Bay,Juliet and Savvy because I will lose my shit and melt into a puddle. Nana is a boss babe and so are Emma and Thea. And finally, Willhardt has my whole heart. This man has the patience of a saint and the personality of a golden retriever. He was so precious and perfect and I feel protective of him in a way I haven’t felt with a character in a while.
Honourable shout out to Kodo and because I now crave having 2 mischievous ferret babies.
I am waiting for Bay and Juliet’s book and for Jim and Trick to find their lovely’s 💙 Ms McBride, please don’t make me wait too long 🙂
June 13, 2025
I expected this to be awesome, and it was, even more than I expected!! I cried, I laughed, I swooned, I fanned myself... And I wanted to hug & shake Van at times, but mostly hug her!
Fantastic book and I cannot wait for the audiobook to come out to re-read it!!
Also extremely happy a third Uncanny book is coming out next year and I really hope it's Bay's book!!
Fantastic book and I cannot wait for the audiobook to come out to re-read it!!
Also extremely happy a third Uncanny book is coming out next year and I really hope it's Bay's book!!
December 29, 2023
4 stars (maybe 4.5) Review to come.
May 6, 2026
I’m a big fan of this authors YA series, “Hold Me Closer, Necromancer”, so you may wonder why I jumped into their urban fantasy romance series instead of something more in the same genre. The answer is: mind your business. I don’t actually have an answer, but when I met this delightful human at a book convention and they recommended this book after hearing my love for their other series, well, that’s all it took. Yes, this is the second book in the “Uncanny Romance” series, but all books feature new couples so it’s not technically necessary to read these in order. Technically.
It does seem the vast majority of the world building occurs in the first book of this series. You can figure out most everything from context clues as you read, as this is a pretty cozy romance with fairly low stakes, so there’s plenty of character interaction where the various magic types get introduced and, through the situations, are easily figured out. Not so much for the characters though. There are a lot of side characters in this book, and most of how they are connected to each other seems to be mainly in book 1, so it can be a bit easy to get lost with who is related to whom or living with so-and-so when just the names get tossed about. It’s not a huge deal, since those characters aren’t the stars of the show, but I did get a little lost at times.
But the characters when they're together? Pure delight! McBride has always done a lovely job having a diverse array of characters in her books, and this friend group is no different. This found family/friend group is so full of acceptance and love, as well as truly wonderful representations of positive masculinity and femininity in harmony with one another. It was wonderful seeing them all be so free with their affection and protectiveness for one another! However, only Vanessa seems to be in need of a character arc with personal traumas to work out that will make her open to a committed relationship, whereas Will is kind of perfect and steady all throughout. Nothing wrong with that, but I do prefer when both characters have something they need to work on that their partner helps them overcome.
Would I have liked a bit more tension and higher stakes in this story? Yes. There was ample opportunity with Vanessa’s father to have some real stakes at play here, and the story fell a little flat instead. Not necessarily bad if what you’re craving is something purely cozy in an urban fantasy setting, though. But that plus Will not needing the same amount of personal growth as Vanessa makes this 4 stars for me. However, there are more sexy scenes in this book than I first anticipated, so that was definitely a nice surprise! Plus, this book left me interested enough to go back to book 1 and see what I missed there, which I consider to be a good thing!
It does seem the vast majority of the world building occurs in the first book of this series. You can figure out most everything from context clues as you read, as this is a pretty cozy romance with fairly low stakes, so there’s plenty of character interaction where the various magic types get introduced and, through the situations, are easily figured out. Not so much for the characters though. There are a lot of side characters in this book, and most of how they are connected to each other seems to be mainly in book 1, so it can be a bit easy to get lost with who is related to whom or living with so-and-so when just the names get tossed about. It’s not a huge deal, since those characters aren’t the stars of the show, but I did get a little lost at times.
But the characters when they're together? Pure delight! McBride has always done a lovely job having a diverse array of characters in her books, and this friend group is no different. This found family/friend group is so full of acceptance and love, as well as truly wonderful representations of positive masculinity and femininity in harmony with one another. It was wonderful seeing them all be so free with their affection and protectiveness for one another! However, only Vanessa seems to be in need of a character arc with personal traumas to work out that will make her open to a committed relationship, whereas Will is kind of perfect and steady all throughout. Nothing wrong with that, but I do prefer when both characters have something they need to work on that their partner helps them overcome.
Would I have liked a bit more tension and higher stakes in this story? Yes. There was ample opportunity with Vanessa’s father to have some real stakes at play here, and the story fell a little flat instead. Not necessarily bad if what you’re craving is something purely cozy in an urban fantasy setting, though. But that plus Will not needing the same amount of personal growth as Vanessa makes this 4 stars for me. However, there are more sexy scenes in this book than I first anticipated, so that was definitely a nice surprise! Plus, this book left me interested enough to go back to book 1 and see what I missed there, which I consider to be a good thing!
September 9, 2023
I am absolutely in love with this series - more than I thought I would be, honestly.
The side characters don’t feel like side characters They are an integral part of the story, which makes having this be found family even more enjoyable. I love that no one is afraid to show affection, including the men (which, sadly, is not the norm).
The love story is the cherry on top to the relationships that are built here. I can’t wait to see what Lish has in store for us next!
The side characters don’t feel like side characters They are an integral part of the story, which makes having this be found family even more enjoyable. I love that no one is afraid to show affection, including the men (which, sadly, is not the norm).
The love story is the cherry on top to the relationships that are built here. I can’t wait to see what Lish has in store for us next!
August 14, 2023
Found family
As always, I just want to live in the world Lish creates, with sweet, funny, accepting people who are trying their best to be emotionally mature. And also have lovely consensual relations with the person of their choosing.
Looking forward to book 3 and uncovering what the nefarious Arcanist Woodbridge is up to.
As always, I just want to live in the world Lish creates, with sweet, funny, accepting people who are trying their best to be emotionally mature. And also have lovely consensual relations with the person of their choosing.
Looking forward to book 3 and uncovering what the nefarious Arcanist Woodbridge is up to.
June 11, 2024
3.5…I loved the first one, mostly because I loved Declan. Will was cute, but oh.my.god Van was so avoidant. I understand it’s a trauma response but for the love of god you have someone like Will and you’re treating him like that???
They get together early on, so there’s also very limited plot other than conflict.
They get together early on, so there’s also very limited plot other than conflict.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2025
So the first one had a dramatic plot of being attacked and hunted and had a dramatic fight at the end, but this one had so little external conflict they got together the moment one of them said they liked the other one?
I was waiting for a bigger plot to come idk what but the whole book felt a little too empty?
I was waiting for a bigger plot to come idk what but the whole book felt a little too empty?
February 8, 2024
Oh I’m obsessed omg
October 19, 2024
I shall now commence reading all of Lish McBride's books. So good!
Did Not Finish
March 31, 2026My DNF isn't a ding on the book itself; my problem is with the audiobook. I've read the ebook before, and liked it—although not the way I love the first book in the series, A Little Too Familiar. But when I tried listening to the audiobook, something about the male narrator's voice and cadence annoyed me. It doesn't sound or feel like Will to me. He over-emphasizes some words in a way that just doesn't work for me. I'll stick to reading the ebook next time I want to immerse myself in the Uncanny universe.
October 19, 2023
3.9⭐️ again LOVED the world, but the characters fell a bit meh for me. Well, not all the characters just the FMC. I could NOT get into her journey. Trigger warning for emotional abuse btw, but I just could not love her character, although that was offset by how GREAT the MMC was 😍 WILL!! Like come on, he’s perfect.
January 11, 2026
This book was cute but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one. I felt like I was being told how to feel about everything that happened. I will say though that this friend group / found family is something else. I was glad to be back with the characters.
December 18, 2023
Honestly, Will was my favourite. He was just so amazingly healthy in his behaviours, like I just want to emulate those traits.
March 10, 2024
I hate to say it. I KNOW she's had an awfully sh*t upbringing, but so did Juliet - same circumstances. But I'm gonna say it.
Vanessa did not deserve Will. Even in the end. I know Will loves her more than anything, but that man is absolute perfection and he deserved better.
This book was a drag because I just could not get onto the same page with Van. I didn't like her behaviour at all. I was so excited for this book because she was such a fiercely loyal friend and Will was the absolute best (except Bay - I'm a huge fan of Bay), but I'm so disappointed in Van's character.
Look, I GET that she's been through some hardcore brainwashing from daddy dearest. It's embittered her big time. But her lack of ability to apologise PROPERLY really grinded my gears. Listening to ferrits... really? She felt like that would be enough?! Girl, no. That man deserved for you to be able to figure out how to create worlds for him. I was also furiously annoyed at her inability to take sh*t from her friends. Maybe I'm a bad friend, but I would have grown really tired of her in this book. You wanna treat people like crap because you think they'll eventually leave? I'll show myself out.
Anyway, none of these people are real and I shouldn't be so fired up about it, but here I am, eh?
I feel like Book 3 is going to be Bay and Juliet and I really love both of them and unless Juliet turns out to be a closet pain in the a$$, I think I'm really going to love that one.
This series is trippy. I'm 2 for 2 being really on the fence with this, but I'm going to keep coming back for more. I love the world we're in and these other characters we have yet to explore are so great. I'm sad for Will - he deserved a better love story than what he got with Van, but maybe she'll grow up. We'll see how she behaves onwards. I beg the powers that be that Bay, Juliet, Trick and Jim all get HEA's as well.
Vanessa did not deserve Will. Even in the end. I know Will loves her more than anything, but that man is absolute perfection and he deserved better.
This book was a drag because I just could not get onto the same page with Van. I didn't like her behaviour at all. I was so excited for this book because she was such a fiercely loyal friend and Will was the absolute best (except Bay - I'm a huge fan of Bay), but I'm so disappointed in Van's character.
Look, I GET that she's been through some hardcore brainwashing from daddy dearest. It's embittered her big time. But her lack of ability to apologise PROPERLY really grinded my gears. Listening to ferrits... really? She felt like that would be enough?! Girl, no. That man deserved for you to be able to figure out how to create worlds for him. I was also furiously annoyed at her inability to take sh*t from her friends. Maybe I'm a bad friend, but I would have grown really tired of her in this book. You wanna treat people like crap because you think they'll eventually leave? I'll show myself out.
Anyway, none of these people are real and I shouldn't be so fired up about it, but here I am, eh?
I feel like Book 3 is going to be Bay and Juliet and I really love both of them and unless Juliet turns out to be a closet pain in the a$$, I think I'm really going to love that one.
This series is trippy. I'm 2 for 2 being really on the fence with this, but I'm going to keep coming back for more. I love the world we're in and these other characters we have yet to explore are so great. I'm sad for Will - he deserved a better love story than what he got with Van, but maybe she'll grow up. We'll see how she behaves onwards. I beg the powers that be that Bay, Juliet, Trick and Jim all get HEA's as well.
September 6, 2023
Oh these two, and also, this friend group! I love the world Lish is building here, she makes it look so effortless, like maybe her Seattle is the real one and I'm just not paying attention. The magical jobs, spells, tattoos, piercings, all of it fit so beautifully together. And continuing her theme from the first book, I am obsessed with her heroes. They are strong without being toxic, layered and complex, and given as much humanity as the heroine at every turn. They aren't perfect, but boy are they wonderful.
Will is a sweet treat wrapped up in a big man who likes tattoos and hugs. He's in a romance book club with his grandmother, and it's adorable. He has been pining for Van for years, and while he has been satisfied being her best friend, he wants more. He wants everything. But Van has a lot of family trauma and doesn't know how to accept more from Will. What follows is a fantastic push and pull as they navigate how to go from best friends to more.
I love every member of this extended friend group, they are all quirky without being obnoxious, and I want good things for them. They take care of each other, step up without being asked, and hold each other's broken pieces. The real fantasy here isn't the magic, it's that. I want it. Where is my minotaur roommate?
I loved this, I loved the first one, and I'm ready for whatever else Lish has to bestow on us in the future.
Will is a sweet treat wrapped up in a big man who likes tattoos and hugs. He's in a romance book club with his grandmother, and it's adorable. He has been pining for Van for years, and while he has been satisfied being her best friend, he wants more. He wants everything. But Van has a lot of family trauma and doesn't know how to accept more from Will. What follows is a fantastic push and pull as they navigate how to go from best friends to more.
I love every member of this extended friend group, they are all quirky without being obnoxious, and I want good things for them. They take care of each other, step up without being asked, and hold each other's broken pieces. The real fantasy here isn't the magic, it's that. I want it. Where is my minotaur roommate?
I loved this, I loved the first one, and I'm ready for whatever else Lish has to bestow on us in the future.
January 23, 2024
Characters that ignore their true feelings for the vast majority of a book irk me.
That being said, I'll take Juliet and Bay's story or Trick and I'm guessing McKendrick's story next, please and thank you.
That being said, I'll take Juliet and Bay's story or Trick and I'm guessing McKendrick's story next, please and thank you.
November 2, 2024
Cute but I thought the first book was better. I totally understand the reality of how Van reacted as a response to the trauma of the way she was raised. It made sense. It felt accurate. But it was a little exhausting to read after a bit. Took me a while to get through this story.
February 21, 2024
More! More! I need more!
April 24, 2026
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Did I like Rough Around the Hedges more than I enjoyed the first An Uncanny Romance novel? Well, yes, simply because I felt like the interpersonal dynamics were a little less weird in this one .
But do I like it more than the average romance that I usually read? Well, no, as I felt that both Will and Vanessa's characters felt a little flat, as they are primarily driven by two main characteristics - for Will, his secret crush on her for years that he's convinced will not go anywhere; for Vanessa, her determination to de-programme herself from her father's negligence/emotional abuse.
When Vanessa decides that she wants to pursue hedge witchery, she has to go back to her father for his endorsement that she's passed her earlier classes so that she can continue with her further education. Unfortunately, going back to her father means confronting her past trauma when dealing with him which isn't easily despite having Will with her.
Will and Vanessa have been best friends for years and are at this stage, almost family. Will knows about Vanessa'a terrible upbringing under Arcanist Woodbridge, an academic snob who held his daughters up to impossible standards. And Vanessa knows that Will is pretty much a ball of sunshine, warm, friendly and unfailingly reliable. However, Vanessa is probably the only one from their friendship circle that doesn't know that Will's feelings for her aren't just platonic but that he has secretly loved her for years.
This paranormal romance takes on a pretty classic concept, involving best friends turned lovers, and I think the author did try to inject in an extra dose of drama given Vanessa's villain of a father. However, I didn't really feel like the trials that he set her were much of a challenge and the stakes never felt all that high to me which was definitely an issue because the plot became a little boring as a result.
Your mileage with this book will really vary depending on how charming you find Vanessa and Will as a couple. While Will was absolutely a steady presence for Vanessa, Vanessa's treatment of him clearly seemed to bother him and wasn't really addressed until the end.
Did I like Rough Around the Hedges more than I enjoyed the first An Uncanny Romance novel? Well, yes, simply because I felt like the interpersonal dynamics were a little less weird in this one .
But do I like it more than the average romance that I usually read? Well, no, as I felt that both Will and Vanessa's characters felt a little flat, as they are primarily driven by two main characteristics - for Will, his secret crush on her for years that he's convinced will not go anywhere; for Vanessa, her determination to de-programme herself from her father's negligence/emotional abuse.
When Vanessa decides that she wants to pursue hedge witchery, she has to go back to her father for his endorsement that she's passed her earlier classes so that she can continue with her further education. Unfortunately, going back to her father means confronting her past trauma when dealing with him which isn't easily despite having Will with her.
Will and Vanessa have been best friends for years and are at this stage, almost family. Will knows about Vanessa'a terrible upbringing under Arcanist Woodbridge, an academic snob who held his daughters up to impossible standards. And Vanessa knows that Will is pretty much a ball of sunshine, warm, friendly and unfailingly reliable. However, Vanessa is probably the only one from their friendship circle that doesn't know that Will's feelings for her aren't just platonic but that he has secretly loved her for years.
This paranormal romance takes on a pretty classic concept, involving best friends turned lovers, and I think the author did try to inject in an extra dose of drama given Vanessa's villain of a father. However, I didn't really feel like the trials that he set her were much of a challenge and the stakes never felt all that high to me which was definitely an issue because the plot became a little boring as a result.
Your mileage with this book will really vary depending on how charming you find Vanessa and Will as a couple. While Will was absolutely a steady presence for Vanessa, Vanessa's treatment of him clearly seemed to bother him and wasn't really addressed until the end.
July 4, 2023
I need to thank Lish McBride for letting me read an early copy of Rough Around The Hedges.
Paul and Linda McCartney once wrote a song that goes “Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs ... what’s wrong with that?”
Lish McBride wants to fill the world with silly love stories that are also warm and human, serious at their core, and a wonderful blend of fantasy and romance. I’m here to say there’s nothing wrong with this, and I’m here for books that make me laugh so hard it hurts, and also make me cry over the hard parts of life.
Rough Around The Hedges is one of those books, and a sequel to A Little Too Familiar. Fans of A Little Too Familiar will find a cast of characters full of familiar faces, and the return of Damnit and the ferrets. (The ferrets have a starring role.)
Will and Vanessa have been best friends practically since the day they met. Will has loved her just as long, but he plays the best friend role, afraid if Van finds out how he feels, he’ll lose her. Will always has Van’s back, day or night, and since Van is a single mother, Will answers more than his share of cries for help in the middle of the night. He adores Vanessa’s daughter, and he’s calm in the face of a toddler screaming at midnight, and always prepared to handle the crisis. Will has a calming presence, and calms a frazzled Van down too.
Vanessa doesn’t know what she’d do without Will having her back. She thinks of him as the one person in her life who will always be there for her, and when the two of them give into the feelings and mutual attraction they’ve denied for years, her dad, with perfect timing, suddenly steps back into her life. Van’s PTSD, a gift from her psychologically abusive father, kicks into high gear. Watching Vanessa struggle with a self-sabotaging doubt about Will’s feelings, and whether reaching for her career dreams is foolish – this part of the story wasn’t silly, and McBride handled it very well.
The ferret’s helped. Five stars for the ferrets and how I still giggle each time I think of certain lines, and the balance they brought so the book didn’t get too serious. Another five stars for Will’s dad and step-mother for the same reasons.
Rough Around The Hedges was a well-written, well-balanced book from start to finish. Highly recommended.
Paul and Linda McCartney once wrote a song that goes “Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs ... what’s wrong with that?”
Lish McBride wants to fill the world with silly love stories that are also warm and human, serious at their core, and a wonderful blend of fantasy and romance. I’m here to say there’s nothing wrong with this, and I’m here for books that make me laugh so hard it hurts, and also make me cry over the hard parts of life.
Rough Around The Hedges is one of those books, and a sequel to A Little Too Familiar. Fans of A Little Too Familiar will find a cast of characters full of familiar faces, and the return of Damnit and the ferrets. (The ferrets have a starring role.)
Will and Vanessa have been best friends practically since the day they met. Will has loved her just as long, but he plays the best friend role, afraid if Van finds out how he feels, he’ll lose her. Will always has Van’s back, day or night, and since Van is a single mother, Will answers more than his share of cries for help in the middle of the night. He adores Vanessa’s daughter, and he’s calm in the face of a toddler screaming at midnight, and always prepared to handle the crisis. Will has a calming presence, and calms a frazzled Van down too.
Vanessa doesn’t know what she’d do without Will having her back. She thinks of him as the one person in her life who will always be there for her, and when the two of them give into the feelings and mutual attraction they’ve denied for years, her dad, with perfect timing, suddenly steps back into her life. Van’s PTSD, a gift from her psychologically abusive father, kicks into high gear. Watching Vanessa struggle with a self-sabotaging doubt about Will’s feelings, and whether reaching for her career dreams is foolish – this part of the story wasn’t silly, and McBride handled it very well.
The ferret’s helped. Five stars for the ferrets and how I still giggle each time I think of certain lines, and the balance they brought so the book didn’t get too serious. Another five stars for Will’s dad and step-mother for the same reasons.
Rough Around The Hedges was a well-written, well-balanced book from start to finish. Highly recommended.
October 27, 2024
This was disappointing. I looooved the first one so I was really excited for this. It really let me down.
Not only did my edition have COPIUS spelling/grammar/punctuation issues, but the synopsis on the back was for the wrong book? Normally stuff like that wouldn’t bother me, but it was to the point of I had to reread sentences a few times in order to understand what was being said. It was messy.
Let’s get into the story.
I h a t e d Vanessa. Did not like her one bit. She had a sum total of zero character development and expected everyone else to change for her. I get that her dad was supremely shitty and terrible but come ON. Literally everyone in the story treats her like she walks on damn water when in reality she’s emotionally stunted and refuses to recognize that she has issues. You spend the entire book following her and this journey into becoming a hedge witch yet you never actually see her growing or bettering herself into becoming a hedge witch. She simply exists and can somehow do everything perfectly but I’m supposed to believe that she thinks she can’t do anything? It was just weird vibes.
I didn’t hate Will, but I didn’t really love him either. He was kind of a huge pushover. He basically let Vanessa get away with being the shittiest person on earth with no repercussions. There’s a point in the book where Will is like “can we talk? We need to discuss the significance of the issues in our relationship” and Vanessa is literally like “sorry too busy” and then she’s actually just watching movies with her sister. Like????? And then she actually doesn’t understand why Will wasn’t going to keep waiting around for her. Nana was right: Will absolutely should have let her go. He deserved better. But also he definitely would have just continued to be a pushover no matter what so I don’t think he wants any better.
I wish I liked this more. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because of the love of my life Declan.
Not only did my edition have COPIUS spelling/grammar/punctuation issues, but the synopsis on the back was for the wrong book? Normally stuff like that wouldn’t bother me, but it was to the point of I had to reread sentences a few times in order to understand what was being said. It was messy.
Let’s get into the story.
I h a t e d Vanessa. Did not like her one bit. She had a sum total of zero character development and expected everyone else to change for her. I get that her dad was supremely shitty and terrible but come ON. Literally everyone in the story treats her like she walks on damn water when in reality she’s emotionally stunted and refuses to recognize that she has issues. You spend the entire book following her and this journey into becoming a hedge witch yet you never actually see her growing or bettering herself into becoming a hedge witch. She simply exists and can somehow do everything perfectly but I’m supposed to believe that she thinks she can’t do anything? It was just weird vibes.
I didn’t hate Will, but I didn’t really love him either. He was kind of a huge pushover. He basically let Vanessa get away with being the shittiest person on earth with no repercussions. There’s a point in the book where Will is like “can we talk? We need to discuss the significance of the issues in our relationship” and Vanessa is literally like “sorry too busy” and then she’s actually just watching movies with her sister. Like????? And then she actually doesn’t understand why Will wasn’t going to keep waiting around for her. Nana was right: Will absolutely should have let her go. He deserved better. But also he definitely would have just continued to be a pushover no matter what so I don’t think he wants any better.
I wish I liked this more. The only reason I gave it 3 stars was because of the love of my life Declan.
June 16, 2025
Rough Around the Hedges is a great follow-up to the first book in the series, with a cozy, sweet, friends-to-lovers romance. Will is a gooey cinnamon roll magical tattooist/piercer who fell hard for aspiring hedge witch Vanessa within 5 minutes of meeting her, however Van friend-zoned him immediately and after several years of strong friendship he doesn't want to expose his true feelings for fear of losing her. Van hasn't shut only him out, she pretty much shuts out everyone other than her sister. She was raised by a narcissistic a-hole and abandoned by her flighty mother, so she doesn't trust anyone to stick around. She's a caretaker to the core, but never lets anyone help her in return. Van is so out of touch with her feelings that she can't even acknowledge she has any.
When their friends accidentally stage a love intervention, Van's heart starts to crack open. She starts seeing Will and their relationship in a new light, but she still has a lot of work to do to overcome her past conditioning. It's also not helping that she is forced to reestablish contact with her father to obtain an educational certificate that will enable her to pursue her dream of becoming a licensed hedge witch.
I loved this book and totally sympathized with Van, her self-sabotaging, and her inability to open up and accept help. As for Will, he was adorable and so patient with her. I believe the author is planning a third book, focusing on Van's younger sister, and I so hope that she follows through with it as I would love to read more books in this world.
When their friends accidentally stage a love intervention, Van's heart starts to crack open. She starts seeing Will and their relationship in a new light, but she still has a lot of work to do to overcome her past conditioning. It's also not helping that she is forced to reestablish contact with her father to obtain an educational certificate that will enable her to pursue her dream of becoming a licensed hedge witch.
I loved this book and totally sympathized with Van, her self-sabotaging, and her inability to open up and accept help. As for Will, he was adorable and so patient with her. I believe the author is planning a third book, focusing on Van's younger sister, and I so hope that she follows through with it as I would love to read more books in this world.
June 18, 2023
Ohhh I love this series! It's set amidst the same wonderful, funny, kind and close-knit magical community as the first book in the series (A Little Too Familiar), but this time gives a long-time-best-friends-to-lovers romance that also tackles really big questions of how to learn to love and trust in the wake of abuse. Will's loved Van forever; Van is terrified of vulnerability after growing up with an abusive parent, and just as she and Will start taking their first steps towards a romantic relationship, she's forced back into her estranged father's reach, dragged back into temporary contact with him in order to pursue her professional dreams.
Thank goodness for their incredible friends group and found family, including witchy Van's adorable ferret familiars, all of whom surround them with love and glitter and wonderful moments of comedy as well as hard-headed emotional bolstering; and thank goodness for the clearsighted kindness in this book. It's an incredible achievement that I could love sweet, caring Will so much as a character, be genuinely horrified by the way Van treats him at a climactic point (reacting from the wounds of her old trauma) - and yet not only understand where she was coming from but absolutely root for her to work herself out and for them to become a couple that could really last. The ending made me tear up because it was so warm and perfect.
This is definitely my very favorite contemporary fantasy romance series!
Thank goodness for their incredible friends group and found family, including witchy Van's adorable ferret familiars, all of whom surround them with love and glitter and wonderful moments of comedy as well as hard-headed emotional bolstering; and thank goodness for the clearsighted kindness in this book. It's an incredible achievement that I could love sweet, caring Will so much as a character, be genuinely horrified by the way Van treats him at a climactic point (reacting from the wounds of her old trauma) - and yet not only understand where she was coming from but absolutely root for her to work herself out and for them to become a couple that could really last. The ending made me tear up because it was so warm and perfect.
This is definitely my very favorite contemporary fantasy romance series!
April 29, 2025
10 stars!!
Talking ferrets, shifters, minotaur's, witches and so much more!! This book was absolutely fabulous. It grabbed you from the first page like a warm loving, humorous, wonderfully sarcastic hug and never lets go. The feelings of family, acceptance, love, support and understanding are woven throughout this book, like beautiful yarn.
Will and Vanessa, are the best of friends and have been friends forever. Both had horribly upbringings, but Will at least had his Nana to fall back on, Vanessa only had her sister Juliet. Seeing how Will and Vanessa evolved from friends to a romantic couple was a wonderful journey. Unexpected, sweet, trusting and lighthearted. They had bumps, but the overcame them (with the help of the ferrets) because they knew what was important.
The eclectic cast of characters were amazing as well. Emma, Thea, Bay and Declan were my favorites. Thea and Emma were such a great couple, and so sassy. They also were Vanessa's safety net, helping and supporting her through everything. Bay and Declan were such fun irreverent characters too. The way Bay especially cared for Juliet and Savvy was such a beautiful thing. His protectiveness and care were incredible. It made you wish that you had someone like that who would go to the wall for you.
I want like 100 more books in this series, and I can't wait to read the other ones that are out.
Talking ferrets, shifters, minotaur's, witches and so much more!! This book was absolutely fabulous. It grabbed you from the first page like a warm loving, humorous, wonderfully sarcastic hug and never lets go. The feelings of family, acceptance, love, support and understanding are woven throughout this book, like beautiful yarn.
Will and Vanessa, are the best of friends and have been friends forever. Both had horribly upbringings, but Will at least had his Nana to fall back on, Vanessa only had her sister Juliet. Seeing how Will and Vanessa evolved from friends to a romantic couple was a wonderful journey. Unexpected, sweet, trusting and lighthearted. They had bumps, but the overcame them (with the help of the ferrets) because they knew what was important.
The eclectic cast of characters were amazing as well. Emma, Thea, Bay and Declan were my favorites. Thea and Emma were such a great couple, and so sassy. They also were Vanessa's safety net, helping and supporting her through everything. Bay and Declan were such fun irreverent characters too. The way Bay especially cared for Juliet and Savvy was such a beautiful thing. His protectiveness and care were incredible. It made you wish that you had someone like that who would go to the wall for you.
I want like 100 more books in this series, and I can't wait to read the other ones that are out.
October 5, 2025
Cozy for sure
Cozy casual pacing heartfelt story. It's a good story. I almost gave it 3 stars because it was literally all love and just mostly focused on a couple. The MMC is like so so good it's beyond fictional 😂. If men in real life were a quarter of the way this man is the world would be a better place. Not my normal type of read I like a bit more action that is another reason why I say 3 but it is more deserving of 4. Just because it is not my style does not mean the story is worth less. It's definitely a 4. I went into book blind sometimes I just buy books that have a duet available as well and do not pay attention. Because I like to read and listen for when I have things to do and I can not stare at my phone all day. I love fantasy and paranormal and as long as it falls at least in that category I just jump in sometimes I get tired of all the research. I am glad it did not have some major break your neck cliff hanger it is a great HEA. So if you like a nice stroll through the calm forest and relax this book is definitely for you. It's almost like a roll reverse. She needs to get her head in the game not him. I absolutely adore all the side characters. If this was my normal type of read I would definitely be looking into authors others works. I may still for when I need that cozy feeling.
Cozy casual pacing heartfelt story. It's a good story. I almost gave it 3 stars because it was literally all love and just mostly focused on a couple. The MMC is like so so good it's beyond fictional 😂. If men in real life were a quarter of the way this man is the world would be a better place. Not my normal type of read I like a bit more action that is another reason why I say 3 but it is more deserving of 4. Just because it is not my style does not mean the story is worth less. It's definitely a 4. I went into book blind sometimes I just buy books that have a duet available as well and do not pay attention. Because I like to read and listen for when I have things to do and I can not stare at my phone all day. I love fantasy and paranormal and as long as it falls at least in that category I just jump in sometimes I get tired of all the research. I am glad it did not have some major break your neck cliff hanger it is a great HEA. So if you like a nice stroll through the calm forest and relax this book is definitely for you. It's almost like a roll reverse. She needs to get her head in the game not him. I absolutely adore all the side characters. If this was my normal type of read I would definitely be looking into authors others works. I may still for when I need that cozy feeling.
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