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Could It Be Magic #1
Like a Charm
Esme McLeod is a high-flying lawyer in London, but her life isn't as perfect as it might seem. She is estranged from her family, in a toxic relationship with a married man, and she’s a part-time witch.
As a teenager, Esme discovered that her meddling mother had cast a love spell on Esme’s boyfriend, Jamie. Mortified, she fled her hometown in the Scottish Highlands, cutting ties with her mum, Jamie and magic. Well, nearly all magic – sometimes getting served at a bar or finding a space in a busy car park without magic is just too much of a drag.
When Esme's aunt becomes ill, she reluctantly returns home to help out. What she doesn't expect is for her aunt's doctor to be Jamie. As Esme tries to repair her family relationships and master her unpredictable magic, could it be that sparks are flying between Jamie and her for real this time?
As a teenager, Esme discovered that her meddling mother had cast a love spell on Esme’s boyfriend, Jamie. Mortified, she fled her hometown in the Scottish Highlands, cutting ties with her mum, Jamie and magic. Well, nearly all magic – sometimes getting served at a bar or finding a space in a busy car park without magic is just too much of a drag.
When Esme's aunt becomes ill, she reluctantly returns home to help out. What she doesn't expect is for her aunt's doctor to be Jamie. As Esme tries to repair her family relationships and master her unpredictable magic, could it be that sparks are flying between Jamie and her for real this time?
215 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2013
134 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews
January 23, 2024
This book was utterly mismarketed - it is not a romance, but a badly written, women’s fiction with magical twist.
The main character Esme is as unlikable as they come - she is selfish, often envious of others self-pitying person, who is happy to sleep with a married man and sees nothing wrong with that but freaks when he cheats on her?
The main love interest is in literally 5% of this already very short book - there was no relationship build in here and they had less chemistry than that lady Millicent had with her husband.
This book tried to push many storylines in 200 pages and delivered to none - the conflict between Esme and her mom - solved within 1 conversation, which Esme just stubbornly didn’t want to have for 7 years because of plot reasons?? The cheating romance took way too long to resolve, for how meaningless and inconsequential it was. Bren’s thing was obvious from the start.
I felt Esme was written in the most frustrating way possible - she will switch her opinions on people and plans within the same breath, it felt almost nonsensical.
A lot of the chapters felt like they required more editing, both from grammar and storytelling perspective.
Overall, even though this book was really short, it was such an awful, frustrating experience I felt I had to push through it in order to finish it.
The main character Esme is as unlikable as they come - she is selfish, often envious of others self-pitying person, who is happy to sleep with a married man and sees nothing wrong with that but freaks when he cheats on her?
The main love interest is in literally 5% of this already very short book - there was no relationship build in here and they had less chemistry than that lady Millicent had with her husband.
This book tried to push many storylines in 200 pages and delivered to none - the conflict between Esme and her mom - solved within 1 conversation, which Esme just stubbornly didn’t want to have for 7 years because of plot reasons?? The cheating romance took way too long to resolve, for how meaningless and inconsequential it was. Bren’s thing was obvious from the start.
I felt Esme was written in the most frustrating way possible - she will switch her opinions on people and plans within the same breath, it felt almost nonsensical.
A lot of the chapters felt like they required more editing, both from grammar and storytelling perspective.
Overall, even though this book was really short, it was such an awful, frustrating experience I felt I had to push through it in order to finish it.
October 1, 2024
I regret to say I threw this book across the bed when I finished it.
But to it’s credit, it flew in the air Like A Charm xoxo
But to it’s credit, it flew in the air Like A Charm xoxo
October 23, 2023
I first of all can’t get over the fact that she was with a married man and not one person seemed to really call her out for how sh**y that was? She just played the victim of how he wouldn’t commit to her?? Bizarre
Esme was a generally unlikeable character and I couldn’t sympathise with her at all.
I feel like the book had potential but it just didn’t deliver and fell completely flat.
Esme was a generally unlikeable character and I couldn’t sympathise with her at all.
I feel like the book had potential but it just didn’t deliver and fell completely flat.
August 15, 2024
This was such a snooze of a witchy romance, with little to zero romance and an eye roll of a villain. There was no real ‘mystery’ given it was plainly obvious who the villain was going to be right from the start.
A matter-of-fact writing style that was super easy to read but only because there was no depth to it. I was also very surprised that the FMC is introduced right from the off as being the other woman… not sure why the author felt this would be appealing or at all relatable to your average reader? I found Esme pretty unlikeable and wasn’t really rooting for any of the characters in the end. A generous 2 stars.
A matter-of-fact writing style that was super easy to read but only because there was no depth to it. I was also very surprised that the FMC is introduced right from the off as being the other woman… not sure why the author felt this would be appealing or at all relatable to your average reader? I found Esme pretty unlikeable and wasn’t really rooting for any of the characters in the end. A generous 2 stars.
October 20, 2024
The reviews were right this is terrible
February 19, 2024
Ok , I’ve seen a LOT of bad reviews for this and frankly I don’t think it’s fair. This book was an adorable story about a girl returning to her home town and helping her family safe their cafe, the book includes a romance between the protagonist and the live interest. I will admit the romance was not the primary storyline of the book but I don’t think it needed to be! Their relationship was cute and heart warming,while the story brought us enthusiasm and excitement.
Though it’s not the best book I’ve ever read I would definitely say it’s a good pass time!
Though it’s not the best book I’ve ever read I would definitely say it’s a good pass time!
October 31, 2025
this book is advertised as a romance, but i’d change that to a poorly written literary fiction. the fmc is so insufferable - she is so self centred and doesn’t seem fazed by the fact that she’s involved with a married man??? to me it was just too much like normalising cheating and i just can’t stand that
the main love interest is in a miniscule amount of the book and their chemistry is literally non existent.
the author tried to fit in about a million different plot lines in 200 pages and most of them seemed irrelevant and did not interest me at all. esme and her mum’s 7+ year conflict was solved within one conversation and was so pointless, and the love interests got together on the last page after having maybe one slightly romantic interaction.
the only character i liked was suky and man she went through the wringer.
i wouldn’t recommend this book, unless you want to be bored out of your mind for 215 pages
the main love interest is in a miniscule amount of the book and their chemistry is literally non existent.
the author tried to fit in about a million different plot lines in 200 pages and most of them seemed irrelevant and did not interest me at all. esme and her mum’s 7+ year conflict was solved within one conversation and was so pointless, and the love interests got together on the last page after having maybe one slightly romantic interaction.
the only character i liked was suky and man she went through the wringer.
i wouldn’t recommend this book, unless you want to be bored out of your mind for 215 pages
November 2, 2023
For a book that was so short this really did take me quite a while to get through. Although a fairly easy read when it came to it, the lack of depth of the story line left me unenthusiastic about picking up this book (so much so that I had to put it down and read something else for a bit just to stop myself getting into a book slump). I’ve read a lot of witchy romances this month and just found this one particularly lackluster. For a so called “romance” there was little to no romance plot line involved until the very end and then the book just finished with no development on the romance whatsoever. I have to say I’m all round just a bit disappointed by this book that at first glance appeared to have so much potential. 2 Stars!
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March 25, 2024DNF @ page 91 … the damn main character in this book is unbearable 🙃 having an affair with a married man and giving it the whole please feel sorry for me because I’m ashamed and he will never pick me over my wife…give me strength 🤦🏼♀️
July 6, 2024
genuinely one of the worst books I’ve ever read
April 24, 2025
Easy, jam packed read.
October 25, 2023
(Book was republished and called like a charm )
I loved this book it was recommended to me in a book group on Facebook I wished it was longer but will be looking to download the rest in the series perfect to get you in the mood for Halloween I loved Esme and her family and how supportive and caring they were I really wish we got to hear Jamie's thoughts when Esme told him what she was in glad Esme and Jamie made ago to be together ❤
I loved this book it was recommended to me in a book group on Facebook I wished it was longer but will be looking to download the rest in the series perfect to get you in the mood for Halloween I loved Esme and her family and how supportive and caring they were I really wish we got to hear Jamie's thoughts when Esme told him what she was in glad Esme and Jamie made ago to be together ❤
September 7, 2023
The ending was so bizarrely abrupt but I guess I have to read number two.
The villain was such a nothing person.
The villain was such a nothing person.
July 30, 2024
Lovely little read that's left me wanting more
September 10, 2024
This is a nice short read, but it somehow also feels long? But then also there's not enough depth and it should be longer.. Idk.
June 22, 2025
Really enjoyed this book ,.
November 4, 2025
oh wow. Cosy autumnal vibes? Where?
I picked this up thinking it'll be a super short read, bound to be a fun lil pick me up witchy and romantic and... nope. Not one single character was likeable. Worlds smallest violin for the female main character who's sleeping with a married man and wants sympathy for not being chosen. Drowned out any sort of excitement and spells 🥲
I picked this up thinking it'll be a super short read, bound to be a fun lil pick me up witchy and romantic and... nope. Not one single character was likeable. Worlds smallest violin for the female main character who's sleeping with a married man and wants sympathy for not being chosen. Drowned out any sort of excitement and spells 🥲
February 19, 2024
Nothing special, wouldn’t recommend :(
June 23, 2024
diabolically bad
November 1, 2024
this was slightly tragic but i finished it
January 27, 2025
I don’t know, it was fine? It was predictable and the FMC was utterly unlikeable but that doesn’t make it an awful book
January 20, 2024
Shortest book ever but it was so boring it took me days to read
April 12, 2024
It was a quick read , showing how families can be fractured and bought back together with abit of magic thrown in
July 15, 2018
Going back to the beginning
A really terrific read. Family misunderstandings abound. Being asked to go home to help her mother when her aunt has to undertake cancer treatment is not what Esme wants. It means actually spending time with her mother and being without her married lover. The family business also seems to have reached rock bottom. What on earth is happening.? Why have the locals turned against them? By the way did I mention that the family are all witches. A great plot that has you enjoying every word as it delves not only into relationships (past and present ) but also into the underhand dealings of others. The characters are vivid and you can relate to them (you've probably know many like them). A really enjoyable read.
A really terrific read. Family misunderstandings abound. Being asked to go home to help her mother when her aunt has to undertake cancer treatment is not what Esme wants. It means actually spending time with her mother and being without her married lover. The family business also seems to have reached rock bottom. What on earth is happening.? Why have the locals turned against them? By the way did I mention that the family are all witches. A great plot that has you enjoying every word as it delves not only into relationships (past and present ) but also into the underhand dealings of others. The characters are vivid and you can relate to them (you've probably know many like them). A really enjoyable read.
November 24, 2024
I really wanted to DNF this book after the first chapter but momma didn’t raise a quitter.
I picked this up as a “blind date with a book” and it was advertised as a cozy, cafe, witchy fall romance. Oh boy was it not any of those things.
The pacing is horrible. So much “story” is packed into 200 pages. This book did not need to be split into almost 50 chapters.
None of the characters are like able. Not even in the slightest. You’re meant to feel bad for Esme and her relationship with a married man not working out. Esme is such a selfish character who throws herself a pity party for about 180 pages.
So many plot points feel like an afterthought.
The fact that this book took the author 6 years to write is astounding.
I picked this up as a “blind date with a book” and it was advertised as a cozy, cafe, witchy fall romance. Oh boy was it not any of those things.
The pacing is horrible. So much “story” is packed into 200 pages. This book did not need to be split into almost 50 chapters.
None of the characters are like able. Not even in the slightest. You’re meant to feel bad for Esme and her relationship with a married man not working out. Esme is such a selfish character who throws herself a pity party for about 180 pages.
So many plot points feel like an afterthought.
The fact that this book took the author 6 years to write is astounding.
September 16, 2014
A Sweet Little Story (that could do with some better editing)
This book really was quite lovely, and certainly written with a lot of heart. Sadly it's another one of those ebooks that could do with some solid editing, but really, most of the errors weren't enough to pull the reader out of the story, so... I would recommend it; it's just right for those of us who like a nice cozy read with a happy end.
This book really was quite lovely, and certainly written with a lot of heart. Sadly it's another one of those ebooks that could do with some solid editing, but really, most of the errors weren't enough to pull the reader out of the story, so... I would recommend it; it's just right for those of us who like a nice cozy read with a happy end.
February 23, 2025
As someone who is very interested in witches and witchcraft I found this book very enjoyable. The love story did take a while to develop and the story ends on a cliff hanger, so there is that. Other than that, I am eager to read book 2 and see what happens.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 219 reviews