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Estrada Family
The Anatomy of Magic
A young woman learns to embrace all the messy imperfections of life and love with some help from her magical family in this next novel by New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes.
Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers—and her confidence—spiraling out of control.
Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past—Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.
Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers—and her confidence—spiraling out of control.
Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past—Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2025
118 people are currently reading
21454 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Cervantes
20 books842 followersJ.C. is a New York Times best-selling author. Her books have been published in more than twelve countries and have appeared on national lists, including the American Booksellers Association New Voices, Barnes and Noble’s Best Young Reader Books, and Amazon’s Best Books of the Month. She has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including the New Mexico Book Award and the Zia Book Award.
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
She currently resides in the Land of Enchantment with her family and spoiled pups, but keeps part of her heart in Southern California, where she was born and raised. When she isn’t writing, she is haunting bookstores and searching for magic in all corners of the world.
Author also writes under Jennifer Cervantes
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
December 21, 2024
The Anatomy of Magic is a multicultural fantasy second chance romance about Lily and Sam. They grew up together and had a secret love affair that ended suddenly with the words "I dont love you anymore."
Years later Lily is in emotional turmoil, her medical career is in chaos and her heart is protected by a spell keeping her from forming emotional connections. When she returns home to take comfort with her family and their magical flower farm she reunites with Sam and has to learn to trust herself and her heart again.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin/Park Row for the opportunity to read and review this book which I am giving 2.5/5 stars. I feel there is a disservice being done to this book as it is clearly the sequel to the book The Enchanted Hacienda yet it is not being advertised that way at all from what I can tell. While I did enjoy the prose and style of writing in this book it suffers the same issue I had with the first book in that I did not like either of the main characters or their relationship together.
I am a big fan of a second chance romance, but this couple and their issue rubbed me the wrong way. I hated the big reveal of the cause of their breakup and how it was handled by Sam, essentially a man making a decision for a couple in a relationship completely on his own and not even having the respect to discuss or involve Lily in any sort of way.
Unfortunately I cannot recommend this book and have no desire to promote this on my social media. At this point I dont think I will be continuing with anymore books by this author as both of the books in this series have disappointed me,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2025
This story was a perfect companion to The Enchanted Hacienda! I hope the author keeps giving us stories for all the sisters and cousins! A look back into the lives of the mom and aunt would be fantastic too! I even would love a novella about the owner of the coffee shop, Pasaporte.
Based on the previous book, I was thinking Lily was the sister/cousin that had life mostly put together and yet from this story we find she may just have been the most broken. I loved digging into her past with Sam and watching their story unfold.
The continued weaving of mexican mythology and the magical flower farm kept me locked into the story. I think I read 80% of the book in 1 sitting. This book released earlier this week and I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR!
Based on the previous book, I was thinking Lily was the sister/cousin that had life mostly put together and yet from this story we find she may just have been the most broken. I loved digging into her past with Sam and watching their story unfold.
The continued weaving of mexican mythology and the magical flower farm kept me locked into the story. I think I read 80% of the book in 1 sitting. This book released earlier this week and I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR!
June 15, 2025
Sometimes I just need magic...
September 29, 2025
Um. Alright...
Let me start by saying that I picked this book from the Goodreads Bookmarks Challenge based on the magical vibe, the promised childhood friends romance, and a close-knit family that embraces love in its truest form. I fear I was deceived. Lied to. Humiliated.
Okay, good things first! I love a magical family where each member has their own power -- especially when there is a cool theme that ties them all together. The theme here was flowers, and I liked how the flowers' meanings and properties were accurate to the real world! The holistic healer in me was overjoyed with this creative application. At first, I liked the main female character Lily as well. I felt connected to her as an academically, driven, emotional woman and recognized the perfectionist control-freak to tired burnout pipeline immediately. The main male character Sam was sweet too.
Now, the not-so-good things. First of all, "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran being THE long song of the couple was the first red flag. I love my ginger king, but I don't need him creeping up in the books I'm reading. Secondly, the inner monologue was more prevalent than the actual plot. The first forty percent of the book is a description of Lily's guilt and shame from a medical error in her career, her yearning (yet hatred) for her childhood best friend who broke her heart, and her inability to see past her failures. I thought that some of the thoughts here were well-developed, but the sheer amount of nonsense overthinking was not good for the integrity of the novel. Why was the only plot present in the very end of the book where Lily was making HORRIBLE DECISIONS?!? I cannot stand when the main character sacrifices things that OTHER people care about due to her own stupidity.
Now, the romance. I was originally really captivated by the childhood best friends to lovers arc that ended badly. I wanted to see more childhood memories of innocence and blissful love, as well as an actual deep friendship between the two characters. I wanted angst for the heartbreak caused (that led to TEN YEARS of pain and grief) and accountability mixed with true character development. Instead, I got an undeveloped explanation for the cause of all that pain, a half-assed apology, and nothing but sex scenes to imitate the "intimacy" these characters wished to have. It was NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. The characters in themselves were not awful per se, but there was not enough sustenance for me to see the beauty in their relationship. I was quite disappointed with their one-dimensional promises to each other and the lack of tropes (i.e. plot points) to solidify their love.
Nope, I do not recommend. I wanted to like it so badly, but the plot and romance were simply not enough. I did like some of the quotes below! <3
Favorite Quotes:
"I feel a sudden urgency to see him, to see the boy who was everything I couldn't be, reckless and free, a boy who grew into pure fortitude on two legs. A boy who's haunted my dreams, who I've tried so hard to forget, even if it meant leaving pieces of myself in his wake."
"It's a strange thing to have someone in your life for so long that they carve neural pathways in your brain. They cement themselves in your memory and then one day, they're just ... gone.
And in the space of their absence, you can't help but wonder who they've become without you. Clearly, some big details have changed, but it's the little, seemingly insignificant things that peck away at you."
"Your identity changes when someone stops loving you because you're not that person anymore. You're left with only the crumbs of what was instead of what will be."
Let me start by saying that I picked this book from the Goodreads Bookmarks Challenge based on the magical vibe, the promised childhood friends romance, and a close-knit family that embraces love in its truest form. I fear I was deceived. Lied to. Humiliated.
Okay, good things first! I love a magical family where each member has their own power -- especially when there is a cool theme that ties them all together. The theme here was flowers, and I liked how the flowers' meanings and properties were accurate to the real world! The holistic healer in me was overjoyed with this creative application. At first, I liked the main female character Lily as well. I felt connected to her as an academically, driven, emotional woman and recognized the perfectionist control-freak to tired burnout pipeline immediately. The main male character Sam was sweet too.
Now, the not-so-good things. First of all, "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran being THE long song of the couple was the first red flag. I love my ginger king, but I don't need him creeping up in the books I'm reading. Secondly, the inner monologue was more prevalent than the actual plot. The first forty percent of the book is a description of Lily's guilt and shame from a medical error in her career, her yearning (yet hatred) for her childhood best friend who broke her heart, and her inability to see past her failures. I thought that some of the thoughts here were well-developed, but the sheer amount of nonsense overthinking was not good for the integrity of the novel. Why was the only plot present in the very end of the book where Lily was making HORRIBLE DECISIONS?!? I cannot stand when the main character sacrifices things that OTHER people care about due to her own stupidity.
Now, the romance. I was originally really captivated by the childhood best friends to lovers arc that ended badly. I wanted to see more childhood memories of innocence and blissful love, as well as an actual deep friendship between the two characters. I wanted angst for the heartbreak caused (that led to TEN YEARS of pain and grief) and accountability mixed with true character development. Instead, I got an undeveloped explanation for the cause of all that pain, a half-assed apology, and nothing but sex scenes to imitate the "intimacy" these characters wished to have. It was NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. The characters in themselves were not awful per se, but there was not enough sustenance for me to see the beauty in their relationship. I was quite disappointed with their one-dimensional promises to each other and the lack of tropes (i.e. plot points) to solidify their love.
Nope, I do not recommend. I wanted to like it so badly, but the plot and romance were simply not enough. I did like some of the quotes below! <3
Favorite Quotes:
"I feel a sudden urgency to see him, to see the boy who was everything I couldn't be, reckless and free, a boy who grew into pure fortitude on two legs. A boy who's haunted my dreams, who I've tried so hard to forget, even if it meant leaving pieces of myself in his wake."
"It's a strange thing to have someone in your life for so long that they carve neural pathways in your brain. They cement themselves in your memory and then one day, they're just ... gone.
And in the space of their absence, you can't help but wonder who they've become without you. Clearly, some big details have changed, but it's the little, seemingly insignificant things that peck away at you."
"Your identity changes when someone stops loving you because you're not that person anymore. You're left with only the crumbs of what was instead of what will be."
October 9, 2024
3.75 stars (rounding up)
This is Ashley Poston meets ENCANTO in an adult romance with magical realism.
Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
SUMMARY: Lily is an OBGYN and after a tragic event at work, she runs home. But she’s been running for a long time from life and love.
In this journey of healing, Lily must confront her past including her first love, Sam. There is just something about first loves ...
MY THOUGHTS: (SOME SPOILERS ISH)
I loved the magic and the family dynamics in this book. The way the family interacted and respected nature and used their magic for love and healing was incredible. The story of Sam and Lilian was the true gut punch of first loves. It felt a little bit like Sam was a bit insta-forgiven and would have liked to see a bit more development of his story/communication but that is just probably more about how I would have responded in Lilian's shoes (lol)
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to J.C and her publishing team for honoring me with the chance to read it early.
This is Ashley Poston meets ENCANTO in an adult romance with magical realism.
Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
SUMMARY: Lily is an OBGYN and after a tragic event at work, she runs home. But she’s been running for a long time from life and love.
In this journey of healing, Lily must confront her past including her first love, Sam. There is just something about first loves ...
MY THOUGHTS: (SOME SPOILERS ISH)
I loved the magic and the family dynamics in this book. The way the family interacted and respected nature and used their magic for love and healing was incredible. The story of Sam and Lilian was the true gut punch of first loves. It felt a little bit like Sam was a bit insta-forgiven and would have liked to see a bit more development of his story/communication but that is just probably more about how I would have responded in Lilian's shoes (lol)
Overall I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to J.C and her publishing team for honoring me with the chance to read it early.
March 14, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
—
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline Eternal and J.C. Cervantes for an ARC of this book! ✨
This book felt like a delightful crossover between Ashley Poston and Encanto, and I really enjoyed that combination! ✨ The whimsical, heartwarming atmosphere was paired with a unique magical system that felt fresh and engaging. I loved how the magic was woven into the story—it was creative, fun, and added an extra layer of charm to the book. The characters were well-developed and easy to root for, though I wasn’t a fan of the main character’s cigarette use. It felt like an odd choice that didn’t really add much to the story.
The pacing was incredibly fast, making it a quick and easy read. 📖 While this kept things exciting, it also meant that certain aspects of the story felt underexplored or a little vague. Some moments could have used more depth, especially in the worldbuilding and emotional development. However, I later realized that this was actually the second book in a series, which might explain why I felt like I was missing some context. Even without reading the first book, I could still follow the plot, but I do wonder if I would have appreciated it more with the full backstory.
One of my favorite parts was the second-chance romance. ❤️ The chemistry between the main characters was sweet, and I liked how their history played into their relationship. That said, they did get together very quickly, which made their reunion feel a bit rushed. A little more build-up would have made their romance even more satisfying.
Overall, The Anatomy of Magic is a fun, romantic, and magical read that’s perfect if you’re looking for something light and fast-paced. ✨ While it had a few flaws, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves a mix of magic, romance, and heartwarming storytelling!
—
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline Eternal and J.C. Cervantes for an ARC of this book! ✨
This book felt like a delightful crossover between Ashley Poston and Encanto, and I really enjoyed that combination! ✨ The whimsical, heartwarming atmosphere was paired with a unique magical system that felt fresh and engaging. I loved how the magic was woven into the story—it was creative, fun, and added an extra layer of charm to the book. The characters were well-developed and easy to root for, though I wasn’t a fan of the main character’s cigarette use. It felt like an odd choice that didn’t really add much to the story.
The pacing was incredibly fast, making it a quick and easy read. 📖 While this kept things exciting, it also meant that certain aspects of the story felt underexplored or a little vague. Some moments could have used more depth, especially in the worldbuilding and emotional development. However, I later realized that this was actually the second book in a series, which might explain why I felt like I was missing some context. Even without reading the first book, I could still follow the plot, but I do wonder if I would have appreciated it more with the full backstory.
One of my favorite parts was the second-chance romance. ❤️ The chemistry between the main characters was sweet, and I liked how their history played into their relationship. That said, they did get together very quickly, which made their reunion feel a bit rushed. A little more build-up would have made their romance even more satisfying.
Overall, The Anatomy of Magic is a fun, romantic, and magical read that’s perfect if you’re looking for something light and fast-paced. ✨ While it had a few flaws, I still enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves a mix of magic, romance, and heartwarming storytelling!
April 17, 2025
4 stars! The magical realism in this book was like Encanto meet The Good Witch and I ate these vibes up. There’s romance, heart break (and healing), family dynamics, loss, and love. Overall, a really wonderful story to get lost in. Side note: I did not know this was a companion novel/interconnected standalone to The Enchanted Hacienda. I did not read that and did not find it necessary to do so and nothing seemed left out of this story.
December 19, 2025
The first half was so good 🤣
March 1, 2025
4.5 Stars
Lily Estrada finds herself returning to her family home in Mexico, following a tragedy with one of her patients in Los Angeles. Lily comes from a long line of women with unique magic, and her memory magic has been affected by what happened at the hospital. Returning home is hard for Lily, since she’ll be facing her family, dealing with her magic that has become out of control, and unexpectedly reconnecting with the man she loved many years ago.
I listened to the audiobook of The Anatomy of Magic and really loved the story. Diana Bustelo narrates the book, and I enjoyed the way she voiced the characters, especially since the majority of them were female. This is just a really great story that does a beautiful job of mixing women’s fiction with magical realism.
The magic in Lily’s family has been passed down to the women in each generation, and it is centered around flowers/plants. The magic is a great contrast to Lily’s profession of being a doctor, and I loved seeing her science side and her magic side. There are some great side characters among the women in her family, and I loved seeing their support for Lily, even when she keeps secrets from them.
The romance in the book is a second chance romance, and I thought it worked well in the story. Lily already had an established relationship with Sam, and I enjoyed seeing how their feelings unfolded after being away from one another for so long. They both have issues to work through, that bring some good tension to their relationship.
Cervantes really weaves a magical story of family legacy and loyalty, a rich cultural heritage, overcoming mistakes, revealing long-kept secrets, and finding what really makes you happy, in The Anatomy of Magic.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio through NetGalley for providing me with a free audiobook copy of The Anatomy of Magic. All opinions are my own.
Lily Estrada finds herself returning to her family home in Mexico, following a tragedy with one of her patients in Los Angeles. Lily comes from a long line of women with unique magic, and her memory magic has been affected by what happened at the hospital. Returning home is hard for Lily, since she’ll be facing her family, dealing with her magic that has become out of control, and unexpectedly reconnecting with the man she loved many years ago.
I listened to the audiobook of The Anatomy of Magic and really loved the story. Diana Bustelo narrates the book, and I enjoyed the way she voiced the characters, especially since the majority of them were female. This is just a really great story that does a beautiful job of mixing women’s fiction with magical realism.
The magic in Lily’s family has been passed down to the women in each generation, and it is centered around flowers/plants. The magic is a great contrast to Lily’s profession of being a doctor, and I loved seeing her science side and her magic side. There are some great side characters among the women in her family, and I loved seeing their support for Lily, even when she keeps secrets from them.
The romance in the book is a second chance romance, and I thought it worked well in the story. Lily already had an established relationship with Sam, and I enjoyed seeing how their feelings unfolded after being away from one another for so long. They both have issues to work through, that bring some good tension to their relationship.
Cervantes really weaves a magical story of family legacy and loyalty, a rich cultural heritage, overcoming mistakes, revealing long-kept secrets, and finding what really makes you happy, in The Anatomy of Magic.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio through NetGalley for providing me with a free audiobook copy of The Anatomy of Magic. All opinions are my own.
June 8, 2025
This book was hard to finish. I really dislike stories of women pining over a man and that’s what a majority of this book was. I thought it would be more magical. But we hardly spent time with the magic at all. Most of this book was “why doesn’t he love me” “I need to clear him from my mind” then “I could never not love him”. Just boring shit honestly.
The character building with lily could have used some work. Clearly throughout the book, we are meant to feel bad for her through her loss of smell, surgery trauma, lost love, etc. But I felt as if I don’t know lily enough to really feel for her so the overthinking did get a bit annoying. I just wish we saw another side to Lilly other than anxious and sad
I love the concept of this book, but it really let me down. It was a very easy read and at some times in the beginning lead my imagination in many places regarding to the magic and environments we lived in. But there wasn’t much of that. It was boring.
The character building with lily could have used some work. Clearly throughout the book, we are meant to feel bad for her through her loss of smell, surgery trauma, lost love, etc. But I felt as if I don’t know lily enough to really feel for her so the overthinking did get a bit annoying. I just wish we saw another side to Lilly other than anxious and sad
I love the concept of this book, but it really let me down. It was a very easy read and at some times in the beginning lead my imagination in many places regarding to the magic and environments we lived in. But there wasn’t much of that. It was boring.
February 9, 2025
If you’re like me and find yourself hooked on second-chance romances, then this book is a gem. I’ve always been frustrated when the first time around, the couple didn’t make it—what was wrong with them, right? The tension, the heartache, and that lingering "what if" feeling always stayed with me. But this story? It’s everything I wanted in a second chance: the heartbreak, the longing, the growth, and, of course, the ultimate redemption. I adored how the characters were given the chance to rework their past, heal old wounds, and find their way back to each other. It felt real, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch their journey unfold. If you love the thrill of knowing that love can be rekindled, then this book will hit all the right spots.
March 21, 2025
4 Stars, 1 Spice
This was super cute! I want to be friends with Lily, the narrator was the perfect voice selection for her and made her really come to life. She felt so raw and painfully human as she went through a journey of self discovery and healing. I got really caught up in the narrative and binged something like 80% of the book in one go. I also enjoyed the second-chance romance in there. I was shocked by the reason behind why it ended between them the first time. Did not see that coming! I think the author did a good job of showing Lily's character development. I also really enjoyed how unique the magic system is in this book. Its a very realistic way to incorporate magical realism. No character was over-powered with magic in any way, it all had very reasonable boundaries and was well thought out. The other characters were all pretty flat, so that's my only negative.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance listen copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
This was super cute! I want to be friends with Lily, the narrator was the perfect voice selection for her and made her really come to life. She felt so raw and painfully human as she went through a journey of self discovery and healing. I got really caught up in the narrative and binged something like 80% of the book in one go. I also enjoyed the second-chance romance in there. I was shocked by the reason behind why it ended between them the first time. Did not see that coming! I think the author did a good job of showing Lily's character development. I also really enjoyed how unique the magic system is in this book. Its a very realistic way to incorporate magical realism. No character was over-powered with magic in any way, it all had very reasonable boundaries and was well thought out. The other characters were all pretty flat, so that's my only negative.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance listen copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
March 28, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for the audio ARC of this book.
This book was phenomenal! The magic system was super unique and easy to follow. I absolutely loved Lily’s character arc in this. My first read from Cervantes but definitely not my last. The writing makes you feel part of the family and like you’re there experiencing everything with Lily and her family. Absolutely perfect!
This book was phenomenal! The magic system was super unique and easy to follow. I absolutely loved Lily’s character arc in this. My first read from Cervantes but definitely not my last. The writing makes you feel part of the family and like you’re there experiencing everything with Lily and her family. Absolutely perfect!
March 18, 2025
I loved how she overcame past trauma and healed her inner child
October 9, 2025
3.5/5
February 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ALC!
The Anatomy Magic is a cute story of a magical family and one of the member's journey for a second chance romance. Much of the book deals with the unknown of why Lily came back to her hometown very quickly and without saying to her family. The story also very much revolves around her devastation and heartbreak of her ex who broke her heart without reasoning.
This story is one of heartache, love, forgiveness, and mystery. It's about trying again and embracing your grief and trauma. I did enjoy this book but quickly got overwhelmed with the amount of references to different types of flowers and their quality. I understand that's the whole point- it was just a lot for me.
Overall, this audiobook was incredibly cute and I did enjoy it very much.
The Anatomy Magic is a cute story of a magical family and one of the member's journey for a second chance romance. Much of the book deals with the unknown of why Lily came back to her hometown very quickly and without saying to her family. The story also very much revolves around her devastation and heartbreak of her ex who broke her heart without reasoning.
This story is one of heartache, love, forgiveness, and mystery. It's about trying again and embracing your grief and trauma. I did enjoy this book but quickly got overwhelmed with the amount of references to different types of flowers and their quality. I understand that's the whole point- it was just a lot for me.
Overall, this audiobook was incredibly cute and I did enjoy it very much.
November 18, 2025
This book had so MUCH potential but it fell really flat. the characters lacked depth and I didn't really care about them. It's not something I would reread and I also wasn't a big fan of the audiobook narration.
October 19, 2025
This book was pretty cute, but not really something that I fell super hard for. The magic, while cool, was not as big in the story as I thought it was going to be. I also don’t really understand how someone who prides themselves on being logical like Lily could make some of the insane choices that she made just because of a man. She sacrificed so many people in her life just to maybe change the outcome of Sam’s tests…… be so for real that’s so insanely selfish. And I get that teenagers make crazy choices, but not telling your girlfriend you have cancer, lying to her that you don’t love her anymore, and breaking up with her over it is actually the most illogical way I’ve ever heard someone deal with a cancer diagnosis.
But overall, this story was easy to get through, the family dynamics were cute, and the love was there.
But overall, this story was easy to get through, the family dynamics were cute, and the love was there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2025
A big thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let's do the time warp again, and again, and again, and again. And I don't quite know why.
The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes is a magical realism novel that really reminded me of Encanto, but with less Disney magic. Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers—and her confidence—spiraling out of control. Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past—Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.
For one, I really liked the inclusion of Bullet, the dog. And I am so glad nothing tragic happened to him. I also really liked the plot in that it stayed in one central location. Which allowed for plenty of character reveal. Especially that in Lilian, and her general growth and learning from her mistakes. But at the same time, I didn't like Lilian. In that she was mostly meh, in that they were a stranger to the narrative and Cervantes didn't give you all that much time to learn about them.
Let's do the time warp again, and again, and again, and again. And I don't quite know why.
The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes is a magical realism novel that really reminded me of Encanto, but with less Disney magic. Lilian Estrada seemingly has it all: an ob-gyn star on the rise, a master at balancing work with whirlwind romances and part of a family of fiercely loyal and exceptional women, all bound together by an extraordinary secret. The Estrada women each possess a unique power, and Lily shines with the rare gift to manipulate memories. Yet not even her mystical abilities can shield her from a harrowing event at the hospital, one that sends her powers—and her confidence—spiraling out of control. Seeking solace, Lily retreats to her family's ancestral home in Mexico, only to find herself face-to-face with a ghost from her past—Sam, the first love she never forgot. Nearly a decade since she last saw him, Sam is hardly the boy she once knew, and as old flames spark to life, Lily must navigate the mysteries of their shared history and the depths of her own heart if she hopes to control her unpredictable magic.
For one, I really liked the inclusion of Bullet, the dog. And I am so glad nothing tragic happened to him. I also really liked the plot in that it stayed in one central location. Which allowed for plenty of character reveal. Especially that in Lilian, and her general growth and learning from her mistakes. But at the same time, I didn't like Lilian. In that she was mostly meh, in that they were a stranger to the narrative and Cervantes didn't give you all that much time to learn about them.
June 17, 2025
Think about your high school boyfriend. Now imagine you got so hung up on that joker for ten years after the breakup that you nearly wreck your career and your family’s business for him. That’s what you have here.
Second chance romances are generally really sweet. I did not feel like this one was. If anything, it was annoying. Neither Lily nor Sam was developed enough for me to care about them individually, and their relationship wasn’t developed really at all. Typically with an interconnected World Series, I expect that some of the initial character development is going to come from the first book. Especially since, in the Enchanted Hacienda, Lily was Harlow’s sister that featured most prominently. But the Lily in this book does not seem like that same Lily at all. She is a cynical perfectionist who, despite it never being outright stated, gives “not like other girls” vibes in the way she describes herself. So, that is annoying. On top of that though, character descriptions of her are completely inconsistent with her actions, making it even harder to connect to this character because you don’t know who she really even is. She spends so much time talking about how she’s all logic, perfectionist, follows steps, etc. but she breaks literally every rule associated with her family’s magic with zero hesitation.
I loved the Enchanted Hacienda, so I was really disappointed with this being the follow up.
Also, TW: cancer, death with semi-graphic surgical descriptions, pregnancy, childbirth (close to premature)
Second chance romances are generally really sweet. I did not feel like this one was. If anything, it was annoying. Neither Lily nor Sam was developed enough for me to care about them individually, and their relationship wasn’t developed really at all. Typically with an interconnected World Series, I expect that some of the initial character development is going to come from the first book. Especially since, in the Enchanted Hacienda, Lily was Harlow’s sister that featured most prominently. But the Lily in this book does not seem like that same Lily at all. She is a cynical perfectionist who, despite it never being outright stated, gives “not like other girls” vibes in the way she describes herself. So, that is annoying. On top of that though, character descriptions of her are completely inconsistent with her actions, making it even harder to connect to this character because you don’t know who she really even is. She spends so much time talking about how she’s all logic, perfectionist, follows steps, etc. but she breaks literally every rule associated with her family’s magic with zero hesitation.
I loved the Enchanted Hacienda, so I was really disappointed with this being the follow up.
Also, TW: cancer, death with semi-graphic surgical descriptions, pregnancy, childbirth (close to premature)
October 14, 2025
dnf at 70%. insufferable main character, insufferable love interest, 0 chemistry, lacks depth
September 14, 2025
Grief. Rage. Regret.
They’ve all moved in. Unwanted visitors that have made themselves at home, and for the first time in my life, i don’t know what to do. I don’t have a next step, or anything close to a solution.
This one is for the overachievers and perfectionists. Those of us who tell ourselves we'll slow down when we check off the next big achievement. Who logic our way out of emotions (or stuff them down). For whom only some sort of external interruption could stop us. And, not just stop us, but wreck us.
I loved being back with the Estrada family on their magical flower farm. Lily truly felt like a past version of me, making this story feel deeply personal and impactful.
Lily seems to have it all, but, on the inside, she's struggling. The book opens with her running from an incident at the hospital where she works. Broken and alone, she escapes back to her family's enchanted flower farm, looking for healing and hope. We follow along, the speed of the story reflecting her internal state, as she unbinds her heart, wreaks havoc, and gets her HEA.
Yes, I did say "wreaks havoc." Bc this book went to a few places that surprised me. So many authors these days seems afraid to give us real stakes. And, while i do wish the ending had been drawn out a bit more, I'm mostly happy with how the story played out.
(Unlike many reviewers, I questioned neither Sam nor Harlow's decisions. They made perfect sense in the text!!!)
I fell in love with J.C. Cervantes' lyrical-but-not-overdone writing when I read The Enchanted Hacienda a few years back. The Anatomy of Magic solidified her as an auto-buy and favourite author.
4.25 stars rounded down
CWs: cancer
February 24, 2025
**5-Star Review: *The Anatomy of Magic* by J.C. Cervantes**
Okay, this book had me *hooked* from page one. If you love stories with magic, family secrets, and a second-chance romance that will *wreck* you in the best way—*The Anatomy of Magic* is *the* read for you.
Lilian Estrada is on track to be a top ob-gyn, but when a traumatic moment shakes her confidence *and* her ability to control her family’s unique magic (which involves manipulating memories—casual, right?), she retreats to Mexico. Enter Sam—her first love, the one who got away, and the last person she expected to run into. Cue all the tension, all the emotions, and a *whole* lot of swoon-worthy moments.
J.C. Cervantes blends magical realism with deep, emotional storytelling, creating a world that feels both whimsical and *so* real. The Estrada family’s magic is woven beautifully into the plot, making it feel like an extension of their personal struggles and growth. And the romance? Absolutely *chef’s kiss*. Sam and Lily have undeniable chemistry, and their journey will have you rooting for them *so* hard.
If you love books with rich cultural elements, a sprinkle of magic, and romance that makes your heart ache in the best way (*think: Emily Henry meets Isabel Allende vibes*), this one’s for you. Add it to your TBR *immediately*!
**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**
Okay, this book had me *hooked* from page one. If you love stories with magic, family secrets, and a second-chance romance that will *wreck* you in the best way—*The Anatomy of Magic* is *the* read for you.
Lilian Estrada is on track to be a top ob-gyn, but when a traumatic moment shakes her confidence *and* her ability to control her family’s unique magic (which involves manipulating memories—casual, right?), she retreats to Mexico. Enter Sam—her first love, the one who got away, and the last person she expected to run into. Cue all the tension, all the emotions, and a *whole* lot of swoon-worthy moments.
J.C. Cervantes blends magical realism with deep, emotional storytelling, creating a world that feels both whimsical and *so* real. The Estrada family’s magic is woven beautifully into the plot, making it feel like an extension of their personal struggles and growth. And the romance? Absolutely *chef’s kiss*. Sam and Lily have undeniable chemistry, and their journey will have you rooting for them *so* hard.
If you love books with rich cultural elements, a sprinkle of magic, and romance that makes your heart ache in the best way (*think: Emily Henry meets Isabel Allende vibes*), this one’s for you. Add it to your TBR *immediately*!
**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**
October 6, 2025
The Estrada family possess the power of magic through flowers; each one with their own property to heal and protect. When Lily Estrada finds herself in a tough situation at work she seeks solace back home in Mexico with her family. But when she arrives she is faced with the ghost of her past; a man named Sam, who broke her heart 10 years ago. With the help of her family and the magic within she embarks on a journey to find herself and set things right in all aspects of her life. This was such a fast-paced novel that was written really well that the reader didn’t want to put it down. The plotline with the magic and the flowers was so fun to read. This reader isn’t a fan of magical realism, but it really worked for them in this novel. That is a testament to Cervantes writing how great a job she did by bringing this world to life; it was so beautiful and powerful. The overall plot was good, the way that it was written, where we got to discover things slowly bit by bit instead of all at once was good because it left things feeling a little mysterious and left us craving more. Although, the reveal of the romance plot was a little lacklustre. The whole plot with Lily and Sam, while it was cute, it just felt flat that our main character was pining after a man for 10 years and could never move on. It was a bit of a weak conflict to move the plot; then when we find out the original reason for the break up, it was an all-around flimsy story at best. Regardless though, this was still a lot of fun to read. It was a joy getting to know Lily and Sam on their own; the relationships they had to the other characters and the bonds of family was all written very well. This felt like such a cozy read that despite its faults, this was enjoyable to read.
May 7, 2025
Received this as an ARC and so happy that I did. I had been dying to read J.C. Cervantes, The Enchanted Hacienda and had know idea that this book was even a continuation into that world. Which makes me even more excited to start that book! Where to start, this was like Encanto meets second chance romance. I was so enchanted by the magic of the Estrada family farm and every character that appeared throughout this book. The magical connection Lily had to her family farm, you could feel that radiating off the page. I found myself rooting for her to find out why were magic was essentially blocked and how to heal her magic, as well as her heart. This story was absolutely beautiful. This is a must read.
March 6, 2025
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Anatomy of the Magic is clearly about the connection of magic, flowers, and family. It starts off with the power of flowers and continues to the unintended consequences of magic. Lily's story is about the unintended consequences of magic of wishing the pain away, of thinking we can prevent the future. Just because we have the power, doesn't mean it's the best choice to use it. The Anatomy of Magic illustrates that the past won't stay buried even when we excise it.
The Anatomy of the Magic is clearly about the connection of magic, flowers, and family. It starts off with the power of flowers and continues to the unintended consequences of magic. Lily's story is about the unintended consequences of magic of wishing the pain away, of thinking we can prevent the future. Just because we have the power, doesn't mean it's the best choice to use it. The Anatomy of Magic illustrates that the past won't stay buried even when we excise it.
October 27, 2025
This one was okay. I liked the magic system, but I didn’t feel that it was fully explored (although this could be because I realized about halfway through that this was the second book in the series, so maybe the first got a bit more in-depth with the magic?). Besides that, I thought the main girl was annoying, the main love interest was a major red flag, and they lacked any sort of chemistry to make me care about them or their relationship.
December 10, 2025
"Is that what love is? Giving your heart away to someone who can destroy you and trusting they never use that power?"
This book started off a bit slow, but omg, what a heartbreaking but also beautiful story. 🥹
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This book started off a bit slow, but omg, what a heartbreaking but also beautiful story. 🥹
Website | Bookstagram | BookTok
June 14, 2025
This book overall was decent. I struggled with the first half to be honest, I found it verrrrrry slow and repetitive, I just kept waiting and waiting for the rest of the story to happen. The second half was much better and flowed at a much quicker pace, and I did enjoy the story and the characters. I hope the author continues to give us stories about this family, I really enjoy their love of each other, their land, and their magic.
July 2, 2025
My favorite part of this book was the plant magic! My least favorite part was the main character so that’s a bummer… I think I just struggle with a first person narrative with the “I can’t tell you” trope because the reveal is never as strong as it’s needed to be.
Still looked forward to reading this though and enjoyed it!!
Still looked forward to reading this though and enjoyed it!!
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