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Myrtlewood Mysteries #1
Accidental Magic
Welcome to Myrtlewood, a quirky town steeped in magic, tea, and mystery…
Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.
Despite her cousin's sinister maneuverings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. There's more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out—in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures, and endless cups of tea.
Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril—for at least a little while!
A small town with endless secrets, strange activities, and a house with a mind of its own.
Life’s a struggle for Rosemary Thorn and her teen daughter, Athena. But their regular troubles are turned upside down after Granny Thorn’s mysterious death.
Despite her cousin's sinister maneuverings, Rosemary returns to Myrtlewood and the sprawling, dilapidated Thorn Manor. There's more to the old house than meets the eye, as Rosemary and Athena soon find out—in a whirlwind of magic, adventure, mystical creatures, and endless cups of tea.
Life in Myrtlewood would be bliss if Rosemary could only clear her name in a certain murder investigation, solve the mystery and stay out of mortal peril—for at least a little while!
A small town with endless secrets, strange activities, and a house with a mind of its own.
10 pages, Audible Audio
Published July 25, 2023
7670 people are currently reading
13439 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,257 reviews
August 5, 2022
what a waste of time
I seriously don’t know where all of these five star reviews came from. Probably paid reviews. I absolutely could not stand weak, silly little Rosemary or her annoying over bearing daughter. Rosemary was so weak and silly and utterly useless. I very much disliked her as a character. The book very much blames her for all of the bad things that happen in her life because she is “scatter brained” and “silly”. Her daughter is completely awful. She took charge as the adult of the relationship and the way she spoke to her mother, Rosemary really made me want to slap her. Precocious she is not. I wanted to slap both of them multiple times. Their characters took so much away from what could have been a nice story. I wish Rosemary was a kick ass heroine, who told her daughter no. That would have made all the difference for this story.
I seriously don’t know where all of these five star reviews came from. Probably paid reviews. I absolutely could not stand weak, silly little Rosemary or her annoying over bearing daughter. Rosemary was so weak and silly and utterly useless. I very much disliked her as a character. The book very much blames her for all of the bad things that happen in her life because she is “scatter brained” and “silly”. Her daughter is completely awful. She took charge as the adult of the relationship and the way she spoke to her mother, Rosemary really made me want to slap her. Precocious she is not. I wanted to slap both of them multiple times. Their characters took so much away from what could have been a nice story. I wish Rosemary was a kick ass heroine, who told her daughter no. That would have made all the difference for this story.
February 26, 2022
I'm giving this book five stars for pure entertainment. It's been a while since I read a witchy paranormal and I don't think ever a cozy one.
I loved the characters, both good and horrid. The quirky village and it's magical ways. Rosemary and her daughter returned for a will reading after Gran died or rather was killed. The house was magical and too many people wanted it's secrets. Rosemary was determined to get to the bottom of the murder of her Gran and free herself from blame.
I loved the ending, not so much a cliff hanger but a mystery of a missing person to solve hopefully in book 2
I was thoroughly entertained on a lazy Saturday afternoon engrossed in this story. I highly recommend it.
I loved the characters, both good and horrid. The quirky village and it's magical ways. Rosemary and her daughter returned for a will reading after Gran died or rather was killed. The house was magical and too many people wanted it's secrets. Rosemary was determined to get to the bottom of the murder of her Gran and free herself from blame.
I loved the ending, not so much a cliff hanger but a mystery of a missing person to solve hopefully in book 2
I was thoroughly entertained on a lazy Saturday afternoon engrossed in this story. I highly recommend it.
January 21, 2023
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic, with a side of Buffy, plenty of tea, and the odd piece of cake 😂
This is a fast-paced, quirky read, holding true to what the author set out to do, write books similar to Gilmore Girls with a paranormal twist.
The writing is nothing spectacular, but it's easy to read and sucked me in. While reading, I pictured Lorelai and Rory Gilmore within the mother daughter exchanges, which really made me smile and laugh along.
Made a great little palate cleanser to hit refresh on my mind between heavier subject matter books, providing a little escapism within my reading.
Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic, with a side of Buffy, plenty of tea, and the odd piece of cake 😂
This is a fast-paced, quirky read, holding true to what the author set out to do, write books similar to Gilmore Girls with a paranormal twist.
The writing is nothing spectacular, but it's easy to read and sucked me in. While reading, I pictured Lorelai and Rory Gilmore within the mother daughter exchanges, which really made me smile and laugh along.
Made a great little palate cleanser to hit refresh on my mind between heavier subject matter books, providing a little escapism within my reading.
October 23, 2023
Reading this book gave me the same cozy Halloween vibes as watching Halloweentown for the first time 🎃 Granny Thorn’s murder brings Rosemary and her daughter Athena back to Myrtlewood where everyone talks about magic as if it’s a common occurrence. Despite how odd the town is, it’s a welcome change to Rosemary and Athena’s non-magical life back home where they’re constantly down on their luck. A combination of Granny Thorn’s cryptic messages and the talk of the townspeople help Rosemary and Athena uncover the mystery of their great/grandmother’s death. A great cozy read, perf for the fall, and magic/creatures are done so well that it doesn’t feel cheesy. 10/10 would read again.
April 6, 2022
Rosemary and Athena went from living a boring difficult life directly to adventure. And it got me. Love, humbleness, mistakes, adventure, learning from mistakes, motherhood; I could definitely relate to all that and find myself believing once more in my innerpower, womanhood. I can believe how much I needed to laugh out loud and relax with a nice and sweet story. Love it!
May 22, 2023
Not your usual witchy story!
Shades of a discovery of witches but more fun, mum and daughter find out their magical inheritance having been bound by mum's late grandmother for their protection. Secret evil society, quiet town where magic is openly talked about and strangers rarely visit, makes an enjoyable read.
Shades of a discovery of witches but more fun, mum and daughter find out their magical inheritance having been bound by mum's late grandmother for their protection. Secret evil society, quiet town where magic is openly talked about and strangers rarely visit, makes an enjoyable read.
February 21, 2022
This was a fun, quick, easy and cute read that I sped through. It was well writen with well developed and adorable characters and a good storyline that left me wanting more. I really liked it.
February 20, 2022
I absolutely adore paranormal cozies, and that is what this is a little bit more than anything else. Rosemary and Athena are such a cute mother/daughter duo with Rosemary a little ditzy and Athena more grown-up. We learn this might have to do with Dain (her ex), but that is a thread left for the next book I suspect. There was very little blood or swearing (so little I don’t even remember it), and of course with the magic in the title, there are a little bit of…well, magical-type things going on. This book wasn’t perfect, but I just love how the author dropped little things in that are unexplained (like Dain’s hold over Rosemary and Rosemary’s ditziness) that will probably be explained in later books. They are like little seeds waiting to grow. All in all, this was a fun book, and I can’t wait to see what’s coming next! Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
March 9, 2024
As a child of the 90's, growing up on Buffy and Charmed I have a huge soft spot for supernatural fiction. Funnily enough, I found this book reminded me very much of Gilmore Girls! I wasn't mad about it, I'm not going to lie. I loved the Gilmore Girls-esque dynamic between the mother and daughter heroines, Rosemary and Athena Thorn. I found the magical town of Myrtlewood and its quirky assortment of residents to be very reminiscent of Stars Hollow as well. I don't know if the author was a GG fan but I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear it.
The plot was entertaining but not overly complicated or nail-biting which is exactly what I was hoping for. This book was what I like to refer to as "candy"- it's pleasant and fun but there isn't much to it. This isn't meant as a criticism here, fun stories like these are so important for providing a much-needed respite from the real world. I am looking forward to reading the next 7 books in the series to find out what becomes of the Thorn witches and their quaint town of Myrtlewood.
The plot was entertaining but not overly complicated or nail-biting which is exactly what I was hoping for. This book was what I like to refer to as "candy"- it's pleasant and fun but there isn't much to it. This isn't meant as a criticism here, fun stories like these are so important for providing a much-needed respite from the real world. I am looking forward to reading the next 7 books in the series to find out what becomes of the Thorn witches and their quaint town of Myrtlewood.
April 21, 2023
Just my cup of (magical) tea!
Frankly, I am happy to read the same basic book every time: normal character with issues inherits house, only to find a quirky community, the paranormal, and her true self. Beaglehole does an exceptional job with this, adroitly creating a fantastic world that I adore. Notably, there are no grammatical or literary disasters to ruin the book for me, which is way too often the case. (I can carry grudges against editors for years.)
I hesitated to give the book five stars because honestly, it's no outstanding tome. Readers looking for something deep and different should go elsewhere. However, I upped my rating because in it's niche, it can't get any better than this. Like the renowned "Practical Magic," and Shawn McGuire's "Whispering Pines," "Accidental Magic" establishes characters, a town, and a story that lives on in your head long after you've finished the book.
If this is your schtick, I highly recommend.
Frankly, I am happy to read the same basic book every time: normal character with issues inherits house, only to find a quirky community, the paranormal, and her true self. Beaglehole does an exceptional job with this, adroitly creating a fantastic world that I adore. Notably, there are no grammatical or literary disasters to ruin the book for me, which is way too often the case. (I can carry grudges against editors for years.)
I hesitated to give the book five stars because honestly, it's no outstanding tome. Readers looking for something deep and different should go elsewhere. However, I upped my rating because in it's niche, it can't get any better than this. Like the renowned "Practical Magic," and Shawn McGuire's "Whispering Pines," "Accidental Magic" establishes characters, a town, and a story that lives on in your head long after you've finished the book.
If this is your schtick, I highly recommend.
July 2, 2022
Nope, couldn’t get through it
I couldn’t bear the way the daughter treated the mum. omg. I have 4 kids 15-23 years old, so I am familiar with mouthiness, sass, eye rolls & groans. But, honestly, I couldn’t stand the daughter, Athena. And Rosemary while clearly a survivor of domestic abuse, is also seriously dim. I wasn’t expecting greatness, mind, as the story was the tired trope of desperate woman suddenly finds she’s a witch and inherited a lot of money. I just was hoping for a fun read. I made it to Chapter 19, gave up & read the ending. Now, I am going to take an ibuprofen & find something else to read.
I couldn’t bear the way the daughter treated the mum. omg. I have 4 kids 15-23 years old, so I am familiar with mouthiness, sass, eye rolls & groans. But, honestly, I couldn’t stand the daughter, Athena. And Rosemary while clearly a survivor of domestic abuse, is also seriously dim. I wasn’t expecting greatness, mind, as the story was the tired trope of desperate woman suddenly finds she’s a witch and inherited a lot of money. I just was hoping for a fun read. I made it to Chapter 19, gave up & read the ending. Now, I am going to take an ibuprofen & find something else to read.
August 23, 2023
i read this after hearing it was “gilmore girls” meets “practical magic.” it is more like an off brand lorali with two brain cells meets halloweentown. the mother/daughter duo are almost unbearable BUT the story was interesting. i did enjoy the side characters.
October 19, 2022
Calling this book a cross between Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic is a disservice to both. I get Rosemary is supposed to be absent-minded but she is literally being raised by her bad attitude 16 year old. I read where someone said that it gets better in the second book but I'm having such a hard time finishing this book that I don't think I even want to try the second. The dialogue is forced, there's no depth to the characters, and Athena and Rosemary are beyond annoying. I don't recommend this book.
March 11, 2024
2 out of 5 stars
This book had a lot of potential but ultimately I couldn’t get over how much I disliked the characters. The mother was ditzy and the daughter was condescending. The author also used one of my biggest pet peeves to introduce conflict: have the main characters refuse to ask key questions or do urgent tasks even when the situation logically demands it.
At one point the main character learned she needs to find a clue. Instead of attempting to look for it, she became annoyed and went to take a nap. This is after she knew she was in danger and had an urgent task to do. The mother and daughter also kept leaving strange men alone in their house. In one instance they decided to have tea and another they just went to bed. Tf?!
Lastly, I hated the mother-daughter dynamic. The daughter treated the mother like a child and for some reason, the mother allowed it. Neither of them had enough curiosity for me and so they ended up seeming dumb. I HATE reading from dumb POVs.
This should have been a cozy and fun mystery. But I was too irritated to enjoy it. I will not be continuing on with the series.
This book had a lot of potential but ultimately I couldn’t get over how much I disliked the characters. The mother was ditzy and the daughter was condescending. The author also used one of my biggest pet peeves to introduce conflict: have the main characters refuse to ask key questions or do urgent tasks even when the situation logically demands it.
At one point the main character learned she needs to find a clue. Instead of attempting to look for it, she became annoyed and went to take a nap. This is after she knew she was in danger and had an urgent task to do. The mother and daughter also kept leaving strange men alone in their house. In one instance they decided to have tea and another they just went to bed. Tf?!
Lastly, I hated the mother-daughter dynamic. The daughter treated the mother like a child and for some reason, the mother allowed it. Neither of them had enough curiosity for me and so they ended up seeming dumb. I HATE reading from dumb POVs.
This should have been a cozy and fun mystery. But I was too irritated to enjoy it. I will not be continuing on with the series.
January 9, 2024
It's a fairly common theme in cozy mysteries for a woman who's struggling financially to suddenly inherit a house and other property in a small town--and perhaps discover there's magic involved and that she, herself, is actually a witch. Maybe her first job is to find the murderer of her relative, often a grandmother. Maybe the dear departed's ghost even puts in an appearance. And of course there have to be some scary enemies to deal with.
I've seen many variations on this idea, some barely readable, most okay or not so great. This is one of the good ones. The interactions between mother and teenage daughter are a delight, and the descriptions of magic in operation are enough to convince me, at least for the duration of the story. There's also plenty of suspense to keep you reading. As for daydream material, who wouldn't want a sentient, self-cleaning, self-repairing house that even stocks the refrigerator.
I've seen many variations on this idea, some barely readable, most okay or not so great. This is one of the good ones. The interactions between mother and teenage daughter are a delight, and the descriptions of magic in operation are enough to convince me, at least for the duration of the story. There's also plenty of suspense to keep you reading. As for daydream material, who wouldn't want a sentient, self-cleaning, self-repairing house that even stocks the refrigerator.
March 30, 2024
Amazing book one!
I always read reviews before starting any kindle book and several people made comments about the negative banter between Rosemary and Athena but I would like to point out that is completely typical of any number of relationships between a middle-aged mom and a 16 year old teenage girl, thoroughly realistic! This story follows Rosemary and Athena Thorn, granddaughters of Galderall Thorn a very powerful witch from a powerful witch family, it’s wonderful when they slowly and surely accept their family legacy and witch gifts. Its wonderful to be avwitness to their transformation into who they were meant to be all along and they are where they are meant to be with their ancestral home Thorn Manor who repairs itself and provides the two ladies with food and most everything else they require. I absolutely love this story and I can already tell I'm going to love this series. I also loved how Rosemarys and Athenas relationship grew during this story and that was awesome! I'm very excited for book two! I refuse to leave spoilers but the ending!!! WOWWW!!! IM SO EXCITED FOR BOOK TWO!!
I always read reviews before starting any kindle book and several people made comments about the negative banter between Rosemary and Athena but I would like to point out that is completely typical of any number of relationships between a middle-aged mom and a 16 year old teenage girl, thoroughly realistic! This story follows Rosemary and Athena Thorn, granddaughters of Galderall Thorn a very powerful witch from a powerful witch family, it’s wonderful when they slowly and surely accept their family legacy and witch gifts. Its wonderful to be avwitness to their transformation into who they were meant to be all along and they are where they are meant to be with their ancestral home Thorn Manor who repairs itself and provides the two ladies with food and most everything else they require. I absolutely love this story and I can already tell I'm going to love this series. I also loved how Rosemarys and Athenas relationship grew during this story and that was awesome! I'm very excited for book two! I refuse to leave spoilers but the ending!!! WOWWW!!! IM SO EXCITED FOR BOOK TWO!!
February 23, 2022
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Rosemary and Athena; the women main characters everyone has asked for and finally received! I normally shy away from FMC because they are always written to be either over the top badasses -OR- they are the wimpiest, whiniest women that ever graced the page. I rarely find ones that are in between but when I do, I don't want to let them go. A mother daughter duo that are down and out, on their last wish and dollar when an inheritance changes everything. The two women move back to Rosemary's grandmother's house and the fun begins.
I love the town, it gives me some Halloweentown vibes, while being romantic and picturesque. The author writes in such a way that nothing is overly described. She sets the scene and the picture to a degree but then lets it up to the readers imagination to fill in the blanks and see everything the way they want to with her guidance; the mark of an excellent write to me. The town doesn't shy away from magic and their allusions to magic in the beginning and fantastic.
Book one focuses on Rosemary and Athena as they get their footing in this new world of theirs. A world complete with magic, shifters, and vampires to start. I cannot wait for the second book, I want to see more of the townsfolk and the different types of magical people. I want to learn more about Dian, Perseus, and Liam. I'm not sold on any one male party yet but I am intrigued by them all and want so much more.
A beautiful debut that deserves all the praises and accolades it is bound to receive. Don't wait, pre-order it because you are not going to want to miss this astounding debut novel. Cheers and happy reading!
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Rosemary and Athena; the women main characters everyone has asked for and finally received! I normally shy away from FMC because they are always written to be either over the top badasses -OR- they are the wimpiest, whiniest women that ever graced the page. I rarely find ones that are in between but when I do, I don't want to let them go. A mother daughter duo that are down and out, on their last wish and dollar when an inheritance changes everything. The two women move back to Rosemary's grandmother's house and the fun begins.
I love the town, it gives me some Halloweentown vibes, while being romantic and picturesque. The author writes in such a way that nothing is overly described. She sets the scene and the picture to a degree but then lets it up to the readers imagination to fill in the blanks and see everything the way they want to with her guidance; the mark of an excellent write to me. The town doesn't shy away from magic and their allusions to magic in the beginning and fantastic.
Book one focuses on Rosemary and Athena as they get their footing in this new world of theirs. A world complete with magic, shifters, and vampires to start. I cannot wait for the second book, I want to see more of the townsfolk and the different types of magical people. I want to learn more about Dian, Perseus, and Liam. I'm not sold on any one male party yet but I am intrigued by them all and want so much more.
A beautiful debut that deserves all the praises and accolades it is bound to receive. Don't wait, pre-order it because you are not going to want to miss this astounding debut novel. Cheers and happy reading!
March 2, 2022
This is a book about magic however the writing style is more inline with MC Beaton (Agatha Raisin) than it is with Alice Hoffman. Accidental Magic is a charming light-hearted story that encompasses a murder mystery as well as magical happenings.. The characters, though larger than life in some ways, are fun and engaging: the single mother who discovers she is a witch, the typically defiant teenage daughter and a host of village characters who each have their own magic powers. as such, it fills a gap that has been left by the passing of MC Beaton which can only be a good thing. I enjoyed trying to guess the culprit and getting to know characters who are likely to recur in later books. As this one ends on an epilogue that creates a bit of a cliffhanger, I am looking forward to the next in the series.
August 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! I will continue reading this series, taking it book-by-book. The characters are fun, it's set in the UK, I can hear the accents clearly in my mind, and I only guessed at a few things and was completely wrong about the whole who-did-it aspect which I love! There were a few moments of things being a bit fumble-y but not much. I can't wait to read the 2nd book!
October 11, 2023
Really wanted to like this book. Loved the premises of the quirky magical town but the characters had no depth and I found the MC to be weak and irritating. The dialogue was a struggle and I ended up giving up after about 60% as I wasn't enjoying it and wasn't invested in the story at all.
January 22, 2025
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
if you swapped tee with coffee you would basically have witchy gilmore girls, which i wouldn’t be completely against if the characters were a little less cliché.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
one star is just for the atmosphere and the setting.
and the magic.
if you swapped tee with coffee you would basically have witchy gilmore girls, which i wouldn’t be completely against if the characters were a little less cliché.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
one star is just for the atmosphere and the setting.
and the magic.
July 27, 2024
I was lucky enough to score an early copy of this book (thank you to NetGalley and Te Rā Aroha Press for providing me with the eARC!) and I have to say the first thing that drew me in was the gorgeous cover.
Also, I like the premise - an eight book series where a woman returns to her family home with her teenage daughter in tow to uncover secrets and save things in the process? Yes please! I like the fact the main character is older, and I liked that she was a bit scatterbrained - I’m intrigued to see how it will play out. I also enjoy the dynamic between the mother and daughter characters, and their banter is so sweet!
Sometimes the action feels a bit slow but I find most first books are like that - their main job is setting the scene which means introducing us to the world, the characters, the Big Bad, the overarching story line, etc. It’s a lot of stuff, but I think Accidental Magic carries it off well - although sometimes it was slow, I didn’t feel like it dragged and I wasn’t bored. By the end, I felt I had a good grasp on the world, where the story was heading, and who the main players were which I think are super important heading into the next part of the series when all the action really starts kicking off.
I also thought the epilogue was inspired - when I first read the epilogue title in the table of contents I thought it was unusual, but it made so much sense when I got to it and was not what I was expecting at all! The perfect hook to get me coming back for book #2!
Also, I like the premise - an eight book series where a woman returns to her family home with her teenage daughter in tow to uncover secrets and save things in the process? Yes please! I like the fact the main character is older, and I liked that she was a bit scatterbrained - I’m intrigued to see how it will play out. I also enjoy the dynamic between the mother and daughter characters, and their banter is so sweet!
Sometimes the action feels a bit slow but I find most first books are like that - their main job is setting the scene which means introducing us to the world, the characters, the Big Bad, the overarching story line, etc. It’s a lot of stuff, but I think Accidental Magic carries it off well - although sometimes it was slow, I didn’t feel like it dragged and I wasn’t bored. By the end, I felt I had a good grasp on the world, where the story was heading, and who the main players were which I think are super important heading into the next part of the series when all the action really starts kicking off.
I also thought the epilogue was inspired - when I first read the epilogue title in the table of contents I thought it was unusual, but it made so much sense when I got to it and was not what I was expecting at all! The perfect hook to get me coming back for book #2!
January 1, 2025
This little gem of a book captures the essence of Practical Magic perfectly. The pacing I thought was fast for me, even though a lot seems to be conversation, but this doesn’t detract from the story. I really liked the mother-daughter relationship which is unusual to put it mildly. I loved the images of teacups at the beginning of each chapter and the beautifully written chapters. It’s the small things that matter don’t you think?
The author creates a charming, light-hearted atmosphere with humour and supernatural elements in the town of Myrtlewood which is full of strange and interesting characters. The added bonus of magic as really appealed to me. However, there are few drawbacks. The mystery takes a long time to develop but compensates by feeling all warm and fuzzy when resolved also the mother does seem a tad dense at times (actually a bit more than at times) which can be frustrating.
Overall it’s an enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries and magical stories. While it has its flaws, it sets up an great world and characters that could appeal to those looking for a lighthearted paranormal series. And on another note us Brits don’t all drink tea like it’s going out of style, we drink coffee with the same gusto..
The author creates a charming, light-hearted atmosphere with humour and supernatural elements in the town of Myrtlewood which is full of strange and interesting characters. The added bonus of magic as really appealed to me. However, there are few drawbacks. The mystery takes a long time to develop but compensates by feeling all warm and fuzzy when resolved also the mother does seem a tad dense at times (actually a bit more than at times) which can be frustrating.
Overall it’s an enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries and magical stories. While it has its flaws, it sets up an great world and characters that could appeal to those looking for a lighthearted paranormal series. And on another note us Brits don’t all drink tea like it’s going out of style, we drink coffee with the same gusto..
April 10, 2024
loved it
What a nice change from my normal heavy reading. I truly enjoyed the whimsical nature while still keeping my on the edge of my seat! Almost like a magical game of clue! Kudos!
What a nice change from my normal heavy reading. I truly enjoyed the whimsical nature while still keeping my on the edge of my seat! Almost like a magical game of clue! Kudos!
October 18, 2023
Reminded me of a mixture of Charmed and Gilmore Girls. Both characters were a little frustrating, with the daughter being a little bratty and the mother being a little dense. Overall, I enjoyed the magical story!
dnf
April 30, 2025Edit 4/30/25: I was talking with a friend today about this book and revisited the Goodreads page for it. Super uncomfy to learn that the author reads the reviews (common in self-pub land, not my fav but okay), comments on reviews (this seems highly questionable), and asks her followers to go read and like reviews (SUPER NOT COOL). You've gotta realize this is going to weaponize a percentage of your base who will attack negative reviewers.
Blech. Won't pick her up again.
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Picked this up with a friend after Olivia Atwater recommended it in a newsletter.
Unfortunately 27% in was too much for me and I DNFd. I try to be kinder to self-published works and I continued on for a fair bit with this one, but the writing puts me off too much. I'm sorry :(
The premise is very charming, but the writing was poor and reminds me of when I would read fanfiction written by teenagers and pre-teens. Too many characters say things aloud that aren't internally consistent with how they would behave, because the author hasn't yet figured out how to otherwise convey information (though it's also okay to sometimes omit things the reader doesn't have to know).
Mini Rant Example:
And there were a lot of moments that totally took me out of the book because it didn't ring true-- eg a random dude has them do a thankless, unpaid chore in the town square and out of nowhere the narration states that tying the ribbons around the trees was like stitching herself and her life back together (or something along those lines).
And I just... why? She doesn't know this man. This isn't some deeply sentimental or meaningful action that she's currently involved in. She's not suddenly spending time with her daughter when she hasn't before, because from everything else I know they're basically Lorelai and Rory Gilmore and their voices are identical apart from the Rory daughter being slightly more responsible. But there was no symbolism or greater meaning here, so there was no reason I should think that one chore a day after she arrived in town was suddenly mending her broken spirit or whatever.
Show me, don't tell me. But if you have to tell me, at least let it be verisimilitudinous.
Blech. Won't pick her up again.
-----------------------------
Picked this up with a friend after Olivia Atwater recommended it in a newsletter.
Unfortunately 27% in was too much for me and I DNFd. I try to be kinder to self-published works and I continued on for a fair bit with this one, but the writing puts me off too much. I'm sorry :(
The premise is very charming, but the writing was poor and reminds me of when I would read fanfiction written by teenagers and pre-teens. Too many characters say things aloud that aren't internally consistent with how they would behave, because the author hasn't yet figured out how to otherwise convey information (though it's also okay to sometimes omit things the reader doesn't have to know).
Mini Rant Example:
And there were a lot of moments that totally took me out of the book because it didn't ring true-- eg a random dude has them do a thankless, unpaid chore in the town square and out of nowhere the narration states that tying the ribbons around the trees was like stitching herself and her life back together (or something along those lines).
And I just... why? She doesn't know this man. This isn't some deeply sentimental or meaningful action that she's currently involved in. She's not suddenly spending time with her daughter when she hasn't before, because from everything else I know they're basically Lorelai and Rory Gilmore and their voices are identical apart from the Rory daughter being slightly more responsible. But there was no symbolism or greater meaning here, so there was no reason I should think that one chore a day after she arrived in town was suddenly mending her broken spirit or whatever.
Show me, don't tell me. But if you have to tell me, at least let it be verisimilitudinous.
October 8, 2023
I wish I had something good to say about this book, because it seems like it would have everything I wanted, a mother-daughter team, witches, a granny, an enchanted town, seasonal festivals. But despite having every cottage core element a girl could ask for this book is unbearable. Rosemary is totally brainless and unremarkable, and the way she makes her daughter be the adult in the room in every situation is really unpleasant. The terrible writing is also a major distraction. I couldn’t get past how Rosemary scented her evil cousin’s perfume on the wind (in the middle of a blazing fire that burned down a building) - seems pretty unlikely, and also that just never comes back up. Or maybe it does. I had to quit a few pages before the end.
October 9, 2023
The book started off quite good... and I was definitely in need for something light and fun, but after 20% mark it got just a bit too ... well, let's put it this way: it's all me, not the book. It was just too quirky for me overall, and the fact that mother/daughter relationship is a sordid mess where the daughter is more level-headed than the mother is can get old quite fast, too. It's the thing with wit and humor, it can go both ways for any reader.
That said, I can see a lot of readers love this book. Myrtlewood itself is a town full of magic and fantastic people with powers (but also the enemy lurks). It simply wasn't for me, but I am glad I gave this a go...
That said, I can see a lot of readers love this book. Myrtlewood itself is a town full of magic and fantastic people with powers (but also the enemy lurks). It simply wasn't for me, but I am glad I gave this a go...
October 2, 2023
Ok, it’s a little corny, a little cringe, and very cozy. But I enjoyed the low stakes ease of this read. It’s Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic but very British. The dialogue annoyed me because I can’t imagine any 40 (?) year old saying “Oh bother” and the quips between mother and daughter (Lorelai-Rory style) were forced and cheesy. But it was cute and witchy and it’s Halloween season so why not. I will read the next in the series and hope that the main character is less flighty, the dialogue improves, and we see more of that vampire love interest.
April 27, 2024
1 star for an inane story.
I really wanted to like this book. I really tried to like it, but I just couldn't. The daughter is this weird mix of know-it-all and scared dependant child, and the mother is too oblivious to survive breathing, let alone everything that happens in this story. It tries way too hard to be everyone's cup of tea (pun intended) and misses the mark completely.
I really wanted to like this book. I really tried to like it, but I just couldn't. The daughter is this weird mix of know-it-all and scared dependant child, and the mother is too oblivious to survive breathing, let alone everything that happens in this story. It tries way too hard to be everyone's cup of tea (pun intended) and misses the mark completely.
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