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That Witch!
Cassidy Ryan and Brynn Michaels attend the same high school, but they live in different worlds. Cassidy’s a popular cheerleader, and Brynn’s the social leper. One is all sunshine and rainbows, while the other could’ve been carved from an Edgar Allan Poe book.
Both girls have their problems, though. Cassidy is coming into her birthright—a long line of ancient magic Cassidy isn’t ready to have. Brynn is coming into her sexuality—something that will definitely cause problems with her very conservative family.
When a teacher assigns Cassidy and Brynn to work together on a project, the girls find themselves in a heap of trouble, because what they feel for each other can’t be denied. If they have any hope of changing ignorant and frightened minds, they’ll have to listen to their own hearts first.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 31, 2017
Zoe Lynne is an author that wants to bring LGBT youth stories they can relate to with characters they love and love to hate...
That said, this isn't the War and Peace of a YA lesbian story and, if this were a movie, it would mimic the feel of "Clueless", "Mean Girls", or even "Heathers" where the teenage experience is almost a caricature. It's not to say that there aren't serious points in any of those plots, or in this one, but nearly everything is almost an exaggeration, too.
Cassidy is the tricked out popular girl whose entire world is about keeping herself at the top of the social pyramid and Brynn is the pink haired goth girl freak that could care less where she ranks as long as she's not singled out to be bullied. Cassidy already knows she's a lesbian and Brynn is yet to find out. Either way, it's a secret to be kept but the likelihood of that falters when the two unintentionally fall for each other...insert instalove and drama.
I have to say, this is kind of an oddball story. On the one hand, it's this over the top, light teenage story but it strikes a more serious note towards the end that downgrades to an after-school special. There's also some strange conflicts on who is a villain. Cassidy is an obnoxious bully and stays that way through the book which is just odd since she shifts to "the good guy". Laura, Brynn's purple haired best friend, is supposed to be cast in an unflattering light but I was completely on Laura's side in the beginning, not agreeing with Brynn or Cassidy, and I don't think we're supposed to be.
And, in general, I also got the sense this was a modern day fairy-tale especially with the turn things take in the end.
What is strange is that, for some odd reason, Cassidy is a real-life witch but NOTHING is done with that plot point. The only purpose it holds is to bring Brynn into the fold and perhaps convey that superficial Cassidy actually is serious about Brynn. Or that Cassidy is more complex than she seems. Instead of b*tch being thrown as an insult, it's changed for "witch" and it's sort of an inside joke that Cassidy actually is one.
The writing for dialogue and pacing is well done and the book is a polished edit. The author does write well. "That Witch!" doesn't have a lot of character nuance but at the same time it's kind of fun.
A few reviewers have critiques on the characters, character development, or lack thereof and those critiques are valid, and the book shouldn't get a free pass there. But, I don't take this book in the same seriousness as I would if I were reading Siera Maley because of the tone it strikes from the first page onwards. It's a bit like a pop song. Enjoy it for what it is and you'll have more fun.
3.5 stars.
That said, this isn't the War and Peace of a YA lesbian story and, if this were a movie, it would mimic the feel of "Clueless", "Mean Girls", or even "Heathers" where the teenage experience is almost a caricature. It's not to say that there aren't serious points in any of those plots, or in this one, but nearly everything is almost an exaggeration, too.
Cassidy is the tricked out popular girl whose entire world is about keeping herself at the top of the social pyramid and Brynn is the pink haired goth girl freak that could care less where she ranks as long as she's not singled out to be bullied. Cassidy already knows she's a lesbian and Brynn is yet to find out. Either way, it's a secret to be kept but the likelihood of that falters when the two unintentionally fall for each other...insert instalove and drama.
I have to say, this is kind of an oddball story. On the one hand, it's this over the top, light teenage story but it strikes a more serious note towards the end that downgrades to an after-school special. There's also some strange conflicts on who is a villain. Cassidy is an obnoxious bully and stays that way through the book which is just odd since she shifts to "the good guy". Laura, Brynn's purple haired best friend, is supposed to be cast in an unflattering light but I was completely on Laura's side in the beginning, not agreeing with Brynn or Cassidy, and I don't think we're supposed to be.
And, in general, I also got the sense this was a modern day fairy-tale especially with the turn things take in the end.
What is strange is that, for some odd reason, Cassidy is a real-life witch but NOTHING is done with that plot point. The only purpose it holds is to bring Brynn into the fold and perhaps convey that superficial Cassidy actually is serious about Brynn. Or that Cassidy is more complex than she seems. Instead of b*tch being thrown as an insult, it's changed for "witch" and it's sort of an inside joke that Cassidy actually is one.
The writing for dialogue and pacing is well done and the book is a polished edit. The author does write well. "That Witch!" doesn't have a lot of character nuance but at the same time it's kind of fun.
A few reviewers have critiques on the characters, character development, or lack thereof and those critiques are valid, and the book shouldn't get a free pass there. But, I don't take this book in the same seriousness as I would if I were reading Siera Maley because of the tone it strikes from the first page onwards. It's a bit like a pop song. Enjoy it for what it is and you'll have more fun.
3.5 stars.
December 4, 2013
I was pretty excited to read this book. First, because it’s a LGBT Young Adult, and second because it’s a lesbian coming out story. I am in love with Harmony Press, an offshoot of Dreamspinner Press, pursuing the young adult LGBT stories out there.
A good f/f story is something you have to hunt for. I have a few go to authors that do both f/f and m/m that I am confident I will get a solid story out of, but the authors are rare and books are few in number.
I had to stop myself sometimes and revert to teen thinking while reading this book. I have two teens, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch. I had to push back to the hallways of high school and remember the cliques that populate the classrooms and every cafeteria in America. I knew Brynn and Cassidy in high school, and my teens have those girls in their schools right now. The ones who are either hiding, trying to stay invisible and safe, or those who learn to project a false persona to help them cope with the difficulties of growing up and discovering that maybe they are a little different.
In the case of Cassidy, she is a lot different, being a witch along with accepting she is also a lesbian. Brynn also has to struggle with the sudden realization of her sexuality.
We get a good picture of the life of these young ladies. We fall in love with Cassidy’s mother and grandmother and get mad at Brynn’s family for their reaction to her coming out. We see these young women experiencing sexual attraction for the first time. And the author does a good job of developing their new relationship.
Okay here is where I get nit picky. There is a phrase in the military when it comes to learning new things. Crawl, walk, run. These girls didn’t. They stood still and then ran as fast as they could. The time from when Brynn hates Cassidy to the moment they declare everlasting love is a max, of two weeks. That drove me bonkers. I don’t like insta-love in my regular adult romances and I sure didn’t like it in this YA one either. Here is my bias. I have two teens. I didn’t like the amount of sexual exploration and sleeping together in this book for such young ladies.
Here is what I loved. I loved that the girls’ families reached out to community resources to learn what their girls were going through and how to support and love them well. I liked the reconciliation that occurred throughout the book. And I liked that this story felt like it was written to it’s audience. The author’s voice felt young and appropriate. The setting was realistic (with the exception of the magic bit) and it worked within the context of the story.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. I liked the love story that evolved between these girls and the cute story. I would love to read more young adult female/female love stories and I hope this author keeps writing such good ones.
Reviewed by Beans
A good f/f story is something you have to hunt for. I have a few go to authors that do both f/f and m/m that I am confident I will get a solid story out of, but the authors are rare and books are few in number.
I had to stop myself sometimes and revert to teen thinking while reading this book. I have two teens, so it wasn’t that much of a stretch. I had to push back to the hallways of high school and remember the cliques that populate the classrooms and every cafeteria in America. I knew Brynn and Cassidy in high school, and my teens have those girls in their schools right now. The ones who are either hiding, trying to stay invisible and safe, or those who learn to project a false persona to help them cope with the difficulties of growing up and discovering that maybe they are a little different.
In the case of Cassidy, she is a lot different, being a witch along with accepting she is also a lesbian. Brynn also has to struggle with the sudden realization of her sexuality.
We get a good picture of the life of these young ladies. We fall in love with Cassidy’s mother and grandmother and get mad at Brynn’s family for their reaction to her coming out. We see these young women experiencing sexual attraction for the first time. And the author does a good job of developing their new relationship.
Okay here is where I get nit picky. There is a phrase in the military when it comes to learning new things. Crawl, walk, run. These girls didn’t. They stood still and then ran as fast as they could. The time from when Brynn hates Cassidy to the moment they declare everlasting love is a max, of two weeks. That drove me bonkers. I don’t like insta-love in my regular adult romances and I sure didn’t like it in this YA one either. Here is my bias. I have two teens. I didn’t like the amount of sexual exploration and sleeping together in this book for such young ladies.
Here is what I loved. I loved that the girls’ families reached out to community resources to learn what their girls were going through and how to support and love them well. I liked the reconciliation that occurred throughout the book. And I liked that this story felt like it was written to it’s audience. The author’s voice felt young and appropriate. The setting was realistic (with the exception of the magic bit) and it worked within the context of the story.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. I liked the love story that evolved between these girls and the cute story. I would love to read more young adult female/female love stories and I hope this author keeps writing such good ones.
Reviewed by Beans
August 1, 2017
Overall really liked this. The supernatural aspect? I'm not sure why it was even there. It was so far buried in the story arc, it was like, why even include it. Anyway the rest of it was pretty cool so...
November 27, 2016
Well. That was a struggle to finish.
So, first things first. If you like light and fluffy books with a simple plot and a sweet romance, then I genuinely do recommend this book for you. Read it, enjoy it, and don't let anyone who doesn't like you tell you otherwise.
For anyone who wants the slightest bit of nuance in a plot or characters that actually develop for the better over the course of the book? Look elsewhere, there's many other options available that will present a better experience.
Let's start with a broader problem I had, that isn't too important overall. So, Cassidy is a popular cheerleader, and as it turns out, she's also a witch. As in a real witch, magic and all. That's not really a spoiler, because it's not at all relevant to the plot. Ever. It's mentioned a handful of times, she avoids using her magic in public a few times because of emotional outbursts, and she receives one lesson that's not described at all from her mom and grandma. Otherwise, it's only used a handful of times to move a few objects around and show off. That's it. One of the things that drew me into the book was having the cheerleader/popular character be a witch - there was a lot of potential for fun with combining those two tropes. Instead, it's ignored. The description puts an emphasis on her being a witch, but if you took it out of the story, literally nothing would change.
Sadly, that's a minor complaint, and in the grand scheme of things, what ended up being the thing that bothered me the least. And the fact that it's a HUGE WASTED POTENTIAL for the entire story to ignore such a potentially huge plot line...that's not a good sign.
The book started off promising. Brynn and Laura are social outcasts, relying on each other for friendship and support. Cassidy and Jenna (whose name I had to look up just now because she disappears after the first half, so whatever) are friends and popular cheerleaders who tend to either ignore or pick on those beneath their status. An incident causes Cassidy to pick on Brynn, and then, in English class, they get paired up for an assignment together. (Another irrelevant plot point - it's brought up a handful of times but is otherwise only a plot device and never actually relevant to the plot or theme at all.)
Though initially horrified at having to work with a loser, Cassidy starts to realize that Brynn has more to her character than just being emo. And Brynn starts to realize Cassidy has more to her character than just being a popular cheerleader. It turns out that Cassidy likes girls, and Brynn might as well. Hijinx ensue.
Problem #1: Cassidy is a bully at the beginning and this never really changes. She picks on Brynn and then later on Laura. She prides herself on being a popular cheerleader and being untouchable.
Problem #2: Laura. Oh, Laura. Let's get the big thing she does out of the way first. This is pretty much going to be all spoilers.
Problem #3: Brynn herself. I liked her at first. She seemed shy, a bit sweet. Intelligent. Friends with a fellow outcast.
Problem #4: All spoilers here, about a major event that happens later on in the book.
Problem #5: Spoilers about the epilogue and the entire story in general. Yay!
This book is just so bizarre. It tries to promote the importance of understanding and not being judgemental, and yet, the characters are not understanding and they're very judgemental. It tries to invert tired cliches, while still taking advantage of many bad ones. It says bullying is bad, while the character that's supposed to be good is being a bully. It presents a sweet image, and then tries to throw in a real life dramatic element that gets resolved in an almost insulting way, considering the kind of drama it brings about in real life.
Look, there's nothing wrong with a light, fluffy story. I enjoy them. But there HAS to be some kind of substance to go along with it. Brynn is an outcast. She's converted into a 'normal' popular kid by Cassidy and they end together, and she's accepted and happy because of it. Laura is both bullied and a bully, but gets better when she ends up in a relationship. It's immature. There's no nuance here. Everything is all surface. Problems are brought up and solved a few pages later. Cassidy is a popular cheerleader that likes to bully, and then her family is perfect, and she's secretly a lesbian, and she's out and proud and no one cares and bleeeeehhhh.
There was so much potential here. A popular cheerleader who tries to maintain a popular image...while also liking girls and possessing magical powers. She's attracted to a social outcast. There's so much potential there! Take advantage of the fact that she has magic. Turn the fact that she's trying to maintain her popularity into an actual problem. Don't reward characters for being bullies. Don't have characters give soapbox speeches that manages to convince everyone in the world that they're right.
Am I being hard on this book? Yeah, I am. Just because it's trying to be a lighthearted adventure doesn't mean it gets a free pass for using bad cliches and presenting a conflicting message.
So, first things first. If you like light and fluffy books with a simple plot and a sweet romance, then I genuinely do recommend this book for you. Read it, enjoy it, and don't let anyone who doesn't like you tell you otherwise.
For anyone who wants the slightest bit of nuance in a plot or characters that actually develop for the better over the course of the book? Look elsewhere, there's many other options available that will present a better experience.
Let's start with a broader problem I had, that isn't too important overall. So, Cassidy is a popular cheerleader, and as it turns out, she's also a witch. As in a real witch, magic and all. That's not really a spoiler, because it's not at all relevant to the plot. Ever. It's mentioned a handful of times, she avoids using her magic in public a few times because of emotional outbursts, and she receives one lesson that's not described at all from her mom and grandma. Otherwise, it's only used a handful of times to move a few objects around and show off. That's it. One of the things that drew me into the book was having the cheerleader/popular character be a witch - there was a lot of potential for fun with combining those two tropes. Instead, it's ignored. The description puts an emphasis on her being a witch, but if you took it out of the story, literally nothing would change.
Sadly, that's a minor complaint, and in the grand scheme of things, what ended up being the thing that bothered me the least. And the fact that it's a HUGE WASTED POTENTIAL for the entire story to ignore such a potentially huge plot line...that's not a good sign.
The book started off promising. Brynn and Laura are social outcasts, relying on each other for friendship and support. Cassidy and Jenna (whose name I had to look up just now because she disappears after the first half, so whatever) are friends and popular cheerleaders who tend to either ignore or pick on those beneath their status. An incident causes Cassidy to pick on Brynn, and then, in English class, they get paired up for an assignment together. (Another irrelevant plot point - it's brought up a handful of times but is otherwise only a plot device and never actually relevant to the plot or theme at all.)
Though initially horrified at having to work with a loser, Cassidy starts to realize that Brynn has more to her character than just being emo. And Brynn starts to realize Cassidy has more to her character than just being a popular cheerleader. It turns out that Cassidy likes girls, and Brynn might as well. Hijinx ensue.
Problem #1: Cassidy is a bully at the beginning and this never really changes. She picks on Brynn and then later on Laura. She prides herself on being a popular cheerleader and being untouchable.
Problem #2: Laura. Oh, Laura. Let's get the big thing she does out of the way first. This is pretty much going to be all spoilers.
Problem #3: Brynn herself. I liked her at first. She seemed shy, a bit sweet. Intelligent. Friends with a fellow outcast.
Problem #4: All spoilers here, about a major event that happens later on in the book.
Problem #5: Spoilers about the epilogue and the entire story in general. Yay!
This book is just so bizarre. It tries to promote the importance of understanding and not being judgemental, and yet, the characters are not understanding and they're very judgemental. It tries to invert tired cliches, while still taking advantage of many bad ones. It says bullying is bad, while the character that's supposed to be good is being a bully. It presents a sweet image, and then tries to throw in a real life dramatic element that gets resolved in an almost insulting way, considering the kind of drama it brings about in real life.
Look, there's nothing wrong with a light, fluffy story. I enjoy them. But there HAS to be some kind of substance to go along with it. Brynn is an outcast. She's converted into a 'normal' popular kid by Cassidy and they end together, and she's accepted and happy because of it. Laura is both bullied and a bully, but gets better when she ends up in a relationship. It's immature. There's no nuance here. Everything is all surface. Problems are brought up and solved a few pages later. Cassidy is a popular cheerleader that likes to bully, and then her family is perfect, and she's secretly a lesbian, and she's out and proud and no one cares and bleeeeehhhh.
There was so much potential here. A popular cheerleader who tries to maintain a popular image...while also liking girls and possessing magical powers. She's attracted to a social outcast. There's so much potential there! Take advantage of the fact that she has magic. Turn the fact that she's trying to maintain her popularity into an actual problem. Don't reward characters for being bullies. Don't have characters give soapbox speeches that manages to convince everyone in the world that they're right.
Am I being hard on this book? Yeah, I am. Just because it's trying to be a lighthearted adventure doesn't mean it gets a free pass for using bad cliches and presenting a conflicting message.
September 15, 2017
This is my first book from the author.
I have mixed emotions on this one, I'm also torn on my rating but after finishing this I've settled with 3.
Well, frankly I have some questions.
Brynn and Laura have been friends since forever then all of a sudden when Cassidy noticed Brynn everything is ruined. Like wow!
I was kind of pissed with Brynn actually. She's a bad friend. She's not even defending Laura when Cassidy bullied her.
It's like the author wants Laura to be the bad guy but for me she's just put on a bad light.
Maybe I'm not just a fan of dumping friends when you're on a relationship kind.
Second - Brynn's parents is described as strict especially her father. Catholic plus navy strict.
They don't even celebrate Halloween yet she's a goth and her parents acts like it's normal.
There's also a scene were Cassidy and Brynn is watching a movie (wild things) then suddenly Brynn's "If her mom and dad caught her watching such filth, they would ground her for life"
but then again at home when She and Laura are on their movie night it's normal for them to watch Sweeney Todd or something gruesome.
Cassidy the other hand she's a witch, a queen bee and a bully. All her life she's pretending to someone she's not just to fit in. I think Between Cassidy and Brynn I like Cassidy more.
Also the conversation is a but force. The use of slang word, chick, totes etc.
Maybe I just can't connect to them, I will try again after a few months. :(
3.5
I have mixed emotions on this one, I'm also torn on my rating but after finishing this I've settled with 3.
Well, frankly I have some questions.
Brynn and Laura have been friends since forever then all of a sudden when Cassidy noticed Brynn everything is ruined. Like wow!
I was kind of pissed with Brynn actually. She's a bad friend. She's not even defending Laura when Cassidy bullied her.
It's like the author wants Laura to be the bad guy but for me she's just put on a bad light.
Maybe I'm not just a fan of dumping friends when you're on a relationship kind.
Second - Brynn's parents is described as strict especially her father. Catholic plus navy strict.
They don't even celebrate Halloween yet she's a goth and her parents acts like it's normal.
There's also a scene were Cassidy and Brynn is watching a movie (wild things) then suddenly Brynn's "If her mom and dad caught her watching such filth, they would ground her for life"
but then again at home when She and Laura are on their movie night it's normal for them to watch Sweeney Todd or something gruesome.
Cassidy the other hand she's a witch, a queen bee and a bully. All her life she's pretending to someone she's not just to fit in. I think Between Cassidy and Brynn I like Cassidy more.
Also the conversation is a but force. The use of slang word, chick, totes etc.
Maybe I just can't connect to them, I will try again after a few months. :(
3.5
February 3, 2014
When two very different girls are stuck on an English project together sparks fly.
Cassidy Ryan and Brynn Michaels go to high school together, but orbit in completely different circles. Cassidy is an A lister cheerleader and Brynn is a Goth recluse. They avoid each other like the plague until one day when Brynn begins to feel a sudden fascination with the vivacious Cassidy. Horrified beyond belief, Cassidy throws a fit when the two are assigned to be on the same English project. Neither girl is pleased, but Cassidy takes it hard. When she reluctantly gives Brynn her phone number, a series of events unfolds that will change both of their lives forever.
Cassidy is hiding in more than one way. She is a closet lesbian, terrified of what the cheer squad would think if they knew she was into girls. That isn’t the only secret she’s holding on to. When Brynn enters her life, finds herself growing more and more attracted to the quiet girl and soon her heart is lost. A hereditary witch with powers that are manifesting, she has some growing pains and struggles to share all of herself with her new girlfriend.
Brynn is from a conservative religious family. As she gets to know Cassidy while they work on the English project, friction between her friend Laura becomes an issue. Laura resents the time Brynn is away from her and as the relationship between Brynn and Cassidy propels to a more intimate level, she feels betrayed. Taking matters into her own hands, she sets Brynn up for a terrible fall setting an irrevocable chain of reactions into play. Brynn is scared and very vulnerable as everything about her life is turned upside down-everything but Cassidy and the new and budding love they share.
I really enjoyed this book. It looks at emerging sexuality with a sweet and innocent eye with the appropriate level of heat for this age range. There is some kissing and touching, but nothing that you wouldn’t read in any teen novel these days. Brynn is a character that spoke to my heart. When her parents find out she is a lesbian, they freak out and shut her out of the house. Cassidy is there with her loving family to pick up the pieces. She is lucky as that is not always the case. Cassidy’s mom and Nana are well versed in the LGBT lifestyle and help the girls to cope and get adjusted to just what it means to come out. Nana pushes Brynn’s parents into learning more about PFLAG, an organization that helps loved ones of gay and lesbian teens.
The voice of the book grabbed me from the beginning. Many times I found myself grinning and a few times found myself in tears. Finding out that love of your parents is not unconditional is devastating. Watching as Brynn had to navigate through that ripped at my heart. Society’s rules must never be broken-if you do, you pay a horrible price. I think the author did a marvelous job showing how hard it can be to finally become the person you are destined to be. Also, she showed how small minded individuals twist things and make them ugly when they just don’t understand. Brynn and Cassidy’s story was beautiful and I hope to read more about them as the series continues.
I want to say too that it is sometimes difficult to find LGBT stories for YA audiences and this author did a wonderful job with it. She has other books about lesbian youth and I have already downloaded one into my e-reader.
5/5 Awesome sauce story! More, more, more!
Cassidy Ryan and Brynn Michaels go to high school together, but orbit in completely different circles. Cassidy is an A lister cheerleader and Brynn is a Goth recluse. They avoid each other like the plague until one day when Brynn begins to feel a sudden fascination with the vivacious Cassidy. Horrified beyond belief, Cassidy throws a fit when the two are assigned to be on the same English project. Neither girl is pleased, but Cassidy takes it hard. When she reluctantly gives Brynn her phone number, a series of events unfolds that will change both of their lives forever.
Cassidy is hiding in more than one way. She is a closet lesbian, terrified of what the cheer squad would think if they knew she was into girls. That isn’t the only secret she’s holding on to. When Brynn enters her life, finds herself growing more and more attracted to the quiet girl and soon her heart is lost. A hereditary witch with powers that are manifesting, she has some growing pains and struggles to share all of herself with her new girlfriend.
Brynn is from a conservative religious family. As she gets to know Cassidy while they work on the English project, friction between her friend Laura becomes an issue. Laura resents the time Brynn is away from her and as the relationship between Brynn and Cassidy propels to a more intimate level, she feels betrayed. Taking matters into her own hands, she sets Brynn up for a terrible fall setting an irrevocable chain of reactions into play. Brynn is scared and very vulnerable as everything about her life is turned upside down-everything but Cassidy and the new and budding love they share.
I really enjoyed this book. It looks at emerging sexuality with a sweet and innocent eye with the appropriate level of heat for this age range. There is some kissing and touching, but nothing that you wouldn’t read in any teen novel these days. Brynn is a character that spoke to my heart. When her parents find out she is a lesbian, they freak out and shut her out of the house. Cassidy is there with her loving family to pick up the pieces. She is lucky as that is not always the case. Cassidy’s mom and Nana are well versed in the LGBT lifestyle and help the girls to cope and get adjusted to just what it means to come out. Nana pushes Brynn’s parents into learning more about PFLAG, an organization that helps loved ones of gay and lesbian teens.
The voice of the book grabbed me from the beginning. Many times I found myself grinning and a few times found myself in tears. Finding out that love of your parents is not unconditional is devastating. Watching as Brynn had to navigate through that ripped at my heart. Society’s rules must never be broken-if you do, you pay a horrible price. I think the author did a marvelous job showing how hard it can be to finally become the person you are destined to be. Also, she showed how small minded individuals twist things and make them ugly when they just don’t understand. Brynn and Cassidy’s story was beautiful and I hope to read more about them as the series continues.
I want to say too that it is sometimes difficult to find LGBT stories for YA audiences and this author did a wonderful job with it. She has other books about lesbian youth and I have already downloaded one into my e-reader.
5/5 Awesome sauce story! More, more, more!
May 21, 2013
So the first thing that drew me to this book was the cover and it really could not have fit the description of the MC's better. I had their images in my mind the whole time I was reading.
This book read very true to the hierarchy and cliques that I remember from high school. And the verbiage that the author used sounded a lot like my own teenage daughter and her friends so that was spot on.
Cassidy at first comes across as a bitch but as you get further into the story you realize that most of it is a defense measure. Her protective nature really comes out once she admits her feelings to herself and from that point on you messed with Brynn at your own risk.
Brynn's shyness was adorable and I was so happy when she finally found her voice and stood up for herself. My heart broke for her at the betrayals that she experienced on several different fronts. She was a much more forgiving person than I think I could have been in her shoes.
The secondary character's played such an important role in this story, some good and some bad. I wish every teenager could have a Nana in their corner no matter their sexual orientation.
This is a sweet, emotional story of first love and the heartache that comes when not everyone is accepting. Would be a great read for any teenager in your life!
This book read very true to the hierarchy and cliques that I remember from high school. And the verbiage that the author used sounded a lot like my own teenage daughter and her friends so that was spot on.
Cassidy at first comes across as a bitch but as you get further into the story you realize that most of it is a defense measure. Her protective nature really comes out once she admits her feelings to herself and from that point on you messed with Brynn at your own risk.
Brynn's shyness was adorable and I was so happy when she finally found her voice and stood up for herself. My heart broke for her at the betrayals that she experienced on several different fronts. She was a much more forgiving person than I think I could have been in her shoes.
The secondary character's played such an important role in this story, some good and some bad. I wish every teenager could have a Nana in their corner no matter their sexual orientation.
This is a sweet, emotional story of first love and the heartache that comes when not everyone is accepting. Would be a great read for any teenager in your life!
November 23, 2014
Two girls who are total opposites in school are instructed to work together on a project. One is quiet and wears black, but dyed her hair pink. The other is Miss Popular, with lovely blonde hair and fashionable clothes.
Only when they have unwillingly got to know each other and made a few changes so the other girl will be more comfortable, does it dawn on the pair that they have more in common than they knew. They both find girls attractive, though it's not really something you can mention in school. Nor are all parents going to be comfortable with the idea.
This was quite a fun read but had rather more high school talk than I enjoy, and a fantasy element was very minor and didn't contribute much to the story. I would say a young adult still in school would identify with the characters.
Only when they have unwillingly got to know each other and made a few changes so the other girl will be more comfortable, does it dawn on the pair that they have more in common than they knew. They both find girls attractive, though it's not really something you can mention in school. Nor are all parents going to be comfortable with the idea.
This was quite a fun read but had rather more high school talk than I enjoy, and a fantasy element was very minor and didn't contribute much to the story. I would say a young adult still in school would identify with the characters.
February 3, 2014
This is a great story about two teen girls struggling with their sexuality. Two totally different girls find themselves thrust together on a school project and find their is more to each other than meets the eye. This is an age appropriate story about two girls who fall in love and discover that their lives are about to be turned upside down.
Great read and I can't wait for more in this series.
Great read and I can't wait for more in this series.
Want to read
August 17, 2013I'm not really into lesbian books but I'll try it because it is a free tweetaway!
June 19, 2019
Ooof. I should have listened to what the cover told me.
August 9, 2016
Never have I seen a book cover so perfectly capture what's inside it as That Witch! does, yet for all the sincere sweetness and goofy likability of almost every character involved, there's something I can't exactly put my finger on that takes away a bit of the magic.
Maybe it's that things go just a little too well for both girls soon after That Witch! opens? Not in respect to what happens when they both come out (though that does go a bit more without a hitch than would probably happen in real life) but more so in how quickly and easily Cassidy and Brynn bypass the cliques and social protocols involved in two wildly different people coming together in high school.
In the very beginning, there's promising (and very realistic) conflict in Cassidy's cold statement to Brynn: "I don't want to be the object of your affection." But in less time than it takes to sneeze, suddenly both girls realize they really (really, really) like each other and believability takes a back seat to romance. What could have been an honest and sometimes heart breaking look at what it's like to be uncool and gay in high school suddenly becomes just a little too lovey dovey.
Of course, if all you're looking for is an afternoon's great escape and a cute little (and very loving) romance that parental disproval, a nasty and judgmental best friend and high school cattiness can't shake for even a second, then That Witch! does its job.
I don't mean to be snarky, especially when romance and true love are usually my undoing, but there's just so much wonderful potential here that misses its mark ever so slightly..
Maybe it's that things go just a little too well for both girls soon after That Witch! opens? Not in respect to what happens when they both come out (though that does go a bit more without a hitch than would probably happen in real life) but more so in how quickly and easily Cassidy and Brynn bypass the cliques and social protocols involved in two wildly different people coming together in high school.
In the very beginning, there's promising (and very realistic) conflict in Cassidy's cold statement to Brynn: "I don't want to be the object of your affection." But in less time than it takes to sneeze, suddenly both girls realize they really (really, really) like each other and believability takes a back seat to romance. What could have been an honest and sometimes heart breaking look at what it's like to be uncool and gay in high school suddenly becomes just a little too lovey dovey.
Of course, if all you're looking for is an afternoon's great escape and a cute little (and very loving) romance that parental disproval, a nasty and judgmental best friend and high school cattiness can't shake for even a second, then That Witch! does its job.
I don't mean to be snarky, especially when romance and true love are usually my undoing, but there's just so much wonderful potential here that misses its mark ever so slightly..
July 28, 2016
good read, Several gripes I have; the portrayal of Brynn in the early stages of the book and how her character seemed to have a complete reversal as the story progresses. She went from somewhat resolute, to completely helpless all too quickly. She honestly just felt too frail for a "Goth vibe" girl as the book claimed she was and had Cassidy completely eclipse her in terms of strength of character. I'd just wish she did at least a bit more fighting for there relationship considering her very own feelings claiming to be as strong as they were. The whole witch thing also didn't add much to the actual story to the point it seems somewhat just a tacky add-on which I would argue either could've been implemented a bit more or not at all. And lastly, the sexual innuendo "starting phase" felt rushed in and took me by complete surprise luckily it slowed things down a bit afterwards. Honestly though I have a bias for these kind of books so I'll stop there o.O
Still despite its flaws was a pretty short enjoyable read and would recommend, Cassidy more then making up for it, she's awesome!
Still despite its flaws was a pretty short enjoyable read and would recommend, Cassidy more then making up for it, she's awesome!
August 10, 2015
DNF. Too juvenile; middle school at best, rather than YA. Plot and characterization are given the most cursory treatment possible. The leads go from stereotypical conflict to being attracted to each other with zero development, then confess as if it was the most banal thing, all with the briefness and shallowness of a news report.
Almost everything is repeatedly spelled out, just not explored. About halfway in, it hit me: when Laura is mentioned as the best friend in almost every scene, I just have to give this book up as meant for children with low reading level who might not remember who all the 4 named characters are. It's not aimed at very young children though (the leads being attracted to each other is pretty much just wanting to make out, and relentlessly presented as such).
I'm idly curious if Cassidy being a witch becomes relevant at some point. Not curious enough to even skim through the rest of the book though.
Almost everything is repeatedly spelled out, just not explored. About halfway in, it hit me: when Laura is mentioned as the best friend in almost every scene, I just have to give this book up as meant for children with low reading level who might not remember who all the 4 named characters are. It's not aimed at very young children though (the leads being attracted to each other is pretty much just wanting to make out, and relentlessly presented as such).
I'm idly curious if Cassidy being a witch becomes relevant at some point. Not curious enough to even skim through the rest of the book though.
September 18, 2021
This wasn't the book I thought it was going to be, but by the time I realized this I was really enjoying it. It felt like a continuation of the Swedish movie 'Show me love' (aka Fucking Amal) which I also enjoyed very much. Am I the only one who thinks this book would also make a great movie?
The characters came to life for me and I had to keep reading to find out what happened to them. I also liked that it was the popular cheerleader who was OK with coming out and the Emo Goth who was worried what everybody at school would say.
I am not a reader of romances of any kind but I loved this book, I hope the author can see her way to writing a fantasy in the future, I would love to read it.
Five well deserved stars and I will give a copy to my daughter just in case she has something she wishes to share with me!
The characters came to life for me and I had to keep reading to find out what happened to them. I also liked that it was the popular cheerleader who was OK with coming out and the Emo Goth who was worried what everybody at school would say.
I am not a reader of romances of any kind but I loved this book, I hope the author can see her way to writing a fantasy in the future, I would love to read it.
Five well deserved stars and I will give a copy to my daughter just in case she has something she wishes to share with me!
October 8, 2014
I absolutely loved this book. The characters were so well fleshed out that I had no trouble immersing myself in the world. Both from completely different backgrounds and yet both lovable and identifiable to the reader. I found that the struggles they faced were realistic and Ms Lynne handled the conflicts and resolutions extremely well. I really enjoyed watching the girls get to know each other and learn to embrace their differences while under the usual pressures of a high school social strata.
My only criticism of this book was that it was a paranormal romance and I feel that could have been explored in much more depth. However, in saying that, It does appear to be the first in a series so I look forward to seeing what else is in store for these girls! A recommended read :)
My only criticism of this book was that it was a paranormal romance and I feel that could have been explored in much more depth. However, in saying that, It does appear to be the first in a series so I look forward to seeing what else is in store for these girls! A recommended read :)
February 22, 2016
This is was a lovely and refreshing read. I liked that we were given both Brynn's and Cassidy's percpectives. I really liked the main characters and their relationship. The ending put a smile on my face that stayed for long after.
P.S.Nana is the best!!!
P.S.Nana is the best!!!
May 17, 2013
This was actually a good YA novel. A bit stereotypical and cliched with popular girl and outsider hooking up. I'm also not a fan of idealism. Overall, very sweet.
lurking-in-kindleland
August 17, 2013Harmony Ink tweetaway freebie 17.8.13
July 31, 2014
Loved the book. Great characters. well written book.
November 20, 2016
I was promised witches and magic, but did not receive. I repeat MINIMAL WITCHERY AND MAGIC. Big turn off, sorry
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