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Witches of West Harbor #2
The Magic We Made
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26She doesn’t believe in magic. He is magic. But when they meet, a spark is lit, and neither will ever be the same—in this charming new stand-alone in the Witches of West Harbor series from New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot.
Frankie
A trained therapist, Francesca Giovanni knows there’s a scientific explanation for everything. Unfortunately, she lives in West Harbor, CT, a town that’s recently exploded in popularity thanks to “witch tourism.” Suddenly, witches are everywhere, offering locals their psychic services. Frankie’s fine with this…until aspiring teenage witches begin to disappear, and strange things start happening in the lake house next door. Frankie begins to suspect not all newcomers to West Harbor have the good of the community in mind—especially not her new neighbor, Ash Merit.
Ash
Ash Merit finds lost things—and people—for a living. All he wants is to help his clients, and maybe get to know the stunningly beautiful (and newly single) Dr. Frankie Giovanni a little better. But thanks to some troublesome young witches—not to mention his often faulty psychic “superpower”—everything goes wrong. If only Frankie wasn’t so distractingly attractive…and so unwilling to admit there might not be a logical reason for everything, including the flames that ignite whenever the two of them kiss. Ash hopes to change that, but first he and Frankie have to find the missing girls, as well as the truth about what’s happening in West Harbor…a truth that could change everything they thought they knew about themselves—and the magic of love.
Frankie
A trained therapist, Francesca Giovanni knows there’s a scientific explanation for everything. Unfortunately, she lives in West Harbor, CT, a town that’s recently exploded in popularity thanks to “witch tourism.” Suddenly, witches are everywhere, offering locals their psychic services. Frankie’s fine with this…until aspiring teenage witches begin to disappear, and strange things start happening in the lake house next door. Frankie begins to suspect not all newcomers to West Harbor have the good of the community in mind—especially not her new neighbor, Ash Merit.
Ash
Ash Merit finds lost things—and people—for a living. All he wants is to help his clients, and maybe get to know the stunningly beautiful (and newly single) Dr. Frankie Giovanni a little better. But thanks to some troublesome young witches—not to mention his often faulty psychic “superpower”—everything goes wrong. If only Frankie wasn’t so distractingly attractive…and so unwilling to admit there might not be a logical reason for everything, including the flames that ignite whenever the two of them kiss. Ash hopes to change that, but first he and Frankie have to find the missing girls, as well as the truth about what’s happening in West Harbor…a truth that could change everything they thought they knew about themselves—and the magic of love.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 11, 2026
1104 people want to read
About the author
Meg Cabot
193 books35.4k followersLibrarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 7, 2026
✨ Bookish Thoughts
This was such a weird book for me, which genuinely surprised me because I usually love Meg Cabot. It is still hard to fully articulate what felt off, but I will do my best. The story could not decide if it wanted to be a fun paranormal romance or an investigative mystery. At several points, I honestly questioned whether there was actually magic in this town at all.
The FMC, Francesca, felt odd and off putting almost from the very beginning. She came across as unlikable. The dialogue overall felt forced, and the interactions did not feel natural. I really wanted to like this one, but even the ending fell flat for me and felt disappointing and anticlimactic.
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 2.5 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a weird book for me, which genuinely surprised me because I usually love Meg Cabot. It is still hard to fully articulate what felt off, but I will do my best. The story could not decide if it wanted to be a fun paranormal romance or an investigative mystery. At several points, I honestly questioned whether there was actually magic in this town at all.
The FMC, Francesca, felt odd and off putting almost from the very beginning. She came across as unlikable. The dialogue overall felt forced, and the interactions did not feel natural. I really wanted to like this one, but even the ending fell flat for me and felt disappointing and anticlimactic.
_ _ _
⭐ Final Score: 2.5 stars
📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
📝 Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
November 4, 2025
Magical romance, kittens and a murderous teenage girl cult.
I really liked these main characters.
Both Frankie and Ash have good personalities, and their relationship had a pretty smooth development, which I liked.
I want to call this enemies to lovers, but it’s not really. It’s more “I don’t like you that much” to lovers?
But in my head, it still counts as an enjoyable trope.
I wish we got to see more romantic moments between them though! But I get that a lot of the story is focused on a bigger part of the plot, by design.
I will say that I thought some of this was maybe a little bit stretched. Nothing too bad, but there were a few moments where things felt overdramatized and unrealistic- even for a book about witches and cults.
I also thought there were some basic and corny parts, that really reminded me of something like the Disney movie Hercules.
I’m not really noting this as a “bad” thing.
I do think some people would probably like that- especially if they’re into mythology.
I love reading stories with witchy themes and major occult vibes and some parts of this story are giving that exactly.
This is like something you would watch in a cult documentary. It gave me of weird, kind of creepy and kind of “how could you possibly fall for that?” feelings.
(But seriously… I can’t believe they fell for that! Social media influencer culture will be the death of me.)
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and author Meg Cabot, for providing me with the eARC of “The Magic We Made”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 11, 2026
I really liked these main characters.
Both Frankie and Ash have good personalities, and their relationship had a pretty smooth development, which I liked.
I want to call this enemies to lovers, but it’s not really. It’s more “I don’t like you that much” to lovers?
But in my head, it still counts as an enjoyable trope.
I wish we got to see more romantic moments between them though! But I get that a lot of the story is focused on a bigger part of the plot, by design.
I will say that I thought some of this was maybe a little bit stretched. Nothing too bad, but there were a few moments where things felt overdramatized and unrealistic- even for a book about witches and cults.
I also thought there were some basic and corny parts, that really reminded me of something like the Disney movie Hercules.
I’m not really noting this as a “bad” thing.
I do think some people would probably like that- especially if they’re into mythology.
I love reading stories with witchy themes and major occult vibes and some parts of this story are giving that exactly.
This is like something you would watch in a cult documentary. It gave me of weird, kind of creepy and kind of “how could you possibly fall for that?” feelings.
(But seriously… I can’t believe they fell for that! Social media influencer culture will be the death of me.)
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and author Meg Cabot, for providing me with the eARC of “The Magic We Made”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 11, 2026
March 30, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
I didn’t realize when I requested this title it was apart of a series, so I did read Enchanted to Meet You first. There are some references to the first book in this one, but you do not need to read the first of the series to read this one. However, there are spoilers in the second for the first, as you may expect. Same setting, some characters that cross paths, but nothing dependent on the other. I did enjoy the second book better.
Frankie is a very confident character and does not require the admiration of others. I do feel like she can seem set in an opinion and change it rather quickly though. The witches in this book were more compelling to me, and I enjoyed that Frankie was not one of them like I was expecting.
This was a cute, atmospheric, palette cleanser. I was not ever very compelled to pick this one back up, mainly because it all felt very surface level. It was fine, and depending on the plot lines I may continue with the series if Meg Cabot writes more.
Are other albums up for discussion or are we sticking to Speak Now? Second chance romance for Back to December next?
3.5 stars
I didn’t realize when I requested this title it was apart of a series, so I did read Enchanted to Meet You first. There are some references to the first book in this one, but you do not need to read the first of the series to read this one. However, there are spoilers in the second for the first, as you may expect. Same setting, some characters that cross paths, but nothing dependent on the other. I did enjoy the second book better.
Frankie is a very confident character and does not require the admiration of others. I do feel like she can seem set in an opinion and change it rather quickly though. The witches in this book were more compelling to me, and I enjoyed that Frankie was not one of them like I was expecting.
This was a cute, atmospheric, palette cleanser. I was not ever very compelled to pick this one back up, mainly because it all felt very surface level. It was fine, and depending on the plot lines I may continue with the series if Meg Cabot writes more.
Are other albums up for discussion or are we sticking to Speak Now? Second chance romance for Back to December next?
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a cozy, comforting read with just enough heart and magic to make it feel special. Meg Cabot does what she does best here: warm small town vibes, complicated family dynamics, and a touch of romance wrapped in gentle witchy charm.
West Harbor feels like the kind of place you want to escape to when life is heavy. The magic in this story is soft and emotional rather than flashy, rooted in relationships, grief, healing, and choosing yourself even when it is hard. I really loved how the story explored what happens when old wounds resurface and how love, both romantic and familial, can evolve instead of staying frozen in the past.
The romance is tender and slow burn, full of history and longing, which made it feel earned and realistic. I also appreciated the focus on found family and generational magic, especially how the women in this story carry strength, secrets, and resilience in different ways.
If you like cozy witchy stories with autumn vibes, second chances, emotional depth, and a hopeful tone, this is absolutely worth picking up. It feels like a warm mug of tea, a crackling fire, and a reminder that magic can be made again, even after loss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
West Harbor feels like the kind of place you want to escape to when life is heavy. The magic in this story is soft and emotional rather than flashy, rooted in relationships, grief, healing, and choosing yourself even when it is hard. I really loved how the story explored what happens when old wounds resurface and how love, both romantic and familial, can evolve instead of staying frozen in the past.
The romance is tender and slow burn, full of history and longing, which made it feel earned and realistic. I also appreciated the focus on found family and generational magic, especially how the women in this story carry strength, secrets, and resilience in different ways.
If you like cozy witchy stories with autumn vibes, second chances, emotional depth, and a hopeful tone, this is absolutely worth picking up. It feels like a warm mug of tea, a crackling fire, and a reminder that magic can be made again, even after loss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
December 8, 2025
This isn’t the first Meg Cabot book I’ve read (I love you, Avalon High), and it won’t be my last! This book was genuinely so much fun to read, and I’ll happily recommend it to people who are looking for a little spooky romance next season!
It is an interconnected standalone, so you don’t have to read the first to jump into the world of West Harbor. However, as someone who hasn’t read the first book in the series, this one might be more enjoyable if you read them in order.
I tend not to be the biggest fan of dual POV books; however, I loved how Cabot managed to do this one. Having three POVs, the FMCs, the MMCs, and the missing girl's POV to keep readers engaged in that plot was so brilliant. The missing girls were never pushed off to the side in any of the other POVs, but I found that whenever I was going to call it a night with reading, I always read one more chapter if I was going to end on Emma’s POV, I needed to keep going.
Everything about this book is so fun, from the cast, the dialogue and the plot. It was so easy to become invested in the town of West Harbor. Cabot’s writing is still as warm and witty as what I remember all of those years ago. For such a big cast of characters, Cabot did such an amazing job at making everybody stand out in their own way. I would love to see more of the Giovanni family as the series progresses. Of all the unique personalities throughout the book, Ash is hands down my favorite character, and how could he not be when he comes from a divine family? I think his magic is so unique, and I love how we see his own arc come together so perfectly in the end.
My only qualm with the book is how quickly Frankie and Ash go from hating each other (though it was only Frankie who hated Ash) to saying I love you in just a few days. I’m a sucker for slow burn, and I know that not every book is going to scratch that itch. Even then, how quickly Frankie and Ash admit their feelings for each other doesn’t ruin this book for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
It is an interconnected standalone, so you don’t have to read the first to jump into the world of West Harbor. However, as someone who hasn’t read the first book in the series, this one might be more enjoyable if you read them in order.
I tend not to be the biggest fan of dual POV books; however, I loved how Cabot managed to do this one. Having three POVs, the FMCs, the MMCs, and the missing girl's POV to keep readers engaged in that plot was so brilliant. The missing girls were never pushed off to the side in any of the other POVs, but I found that whenever I was going to call it a night with reading, I always read one more chapter if I was going to end on Emma’s POV, I needed to keep going.
Everything about this book is so fun, from the cast, the dialogue and the plot. It was so easy to become invested in the town of West Harbor. Cabot’s writing is still as warm and witty as what I remember all of those years ago. For such a big cast of characters, Cabot did such an amazing job at making everybody stand out in their own way. I would love to see more of the Giovanni family as the series progresses. Of all the unique personalities throughout the book, Ash is hands down my favorite character, and how could he not be when he comes from a divine family? I think his magic is so unique, and I love how we see his own arc come together so perfectly in the end.
My only qualm with the book is how quickly Frankie and Ash go from hating each other (though it was only Frankie who hated Ash) to saying I love you in just a few days. I’m a sucker for slow burn, and I know that not every book is going to scratch that itch. Even then, how quickly Frankie and Ash admit their feelings for each other doesn’t ruin this book for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 20, 2026
I’m not really sure what to make of this one. There were parts I really enjoyed but a lot of it left me feeling confused. This book is advertised as a stand-alone, but I feel like maybe I missed something by not reading the first book set in this world.
This book is told from three POVs. Frankie is a recently divorced psychologist who enjoys spending her time alone. She especially hates Ash and everything about him, despite there being no narrative to substantiate this hate. Ash is Frankie’s friendly neighbor she sees about once a year. He is financial advisor and also has a special power to help find lost things. Emma is the lost girl he is looking for, who is suspected to have run away from home to join a coven of witches.
The romance between Frankie and Ash just fell a little flat for me. It felt rushed and I didn’t feel much connection beyond their physical attraction to one another. I found Emma’s storyline to be the most interesting part of the book, but it kept getting more far fetched and confusing as it went on.
Despite the holdups I had, this is by no means a bad book. I really liked how fast paced and suspenseful the book was. It kept me engaged and I finished it in one day. I just wish there had been a little more clarity with the magic, deities, and witches.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is told from three POVs. Frankie is a recently divorced psychologist who enjoys spending her time alone. She especially hates Ash and everything about him, despite there being no narrative to substantiate this hate. Ash is Frankie’s friendly neighbor she sees about once a year. He is financial advisor and also has a special power to help find lost things. Emma is the lost girl he is looking for, who is suspected to have run away from home to join a coven of witches.
The romance between Frankie and Ash just fell a little flat for me. It felt rushed and I didn’t feel much connection beyond their physical attraction to one another. I found Emma’s storyline to be the most interesting part of the book, but it kept getting more far fetched and confusing as it went on.
Despite the holdups I had, this is by no means a bad book. I really liked how fast paced and suspenseful the book was. It kept me engaged and I finished it in one day. I just wish there had been a little more clarity with the magic, deities, and witches.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2026
The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot is such a fun, cozy read. She did a great job of combining a love story with a little bit of magic.
Frankie is a therapist who hardly ever leaves her house and doesn’t believe in magic at all. Ash is a self-confident man who does believe in magic. When girls start going missing in the witchy town of West Harbor, Ash is on a mission to help one family find their daughter. During this time, Frankie, who doesn’t like Ash at all (even though Ash really likes her), gets pulled into his world.
As they spend more time together, they figure out they’re truly compatible and quickly fall in love. This is not a slow-burn romance, but I truly enjoyed the evolving relationship between the two characters and the dual POVs.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC read!
Frankie is a therapist who hardly ever leaves her house and doesn’t believe in magic at all. Ash is a self-confident man who does believe in magic. When girls start going missing in the witchy town of West Harbor, Ash is on a mission to help one family find their daughter. During this time, Frankie, who doesn’t like Ash at all (even though Ash really likes her), gets pulled into his world.
As they spend more time together, they figure out they’re truly compatible and quickly fall in love. This is not a slow-burn romance, but I truly enjoyed the evolving relationship between the two characters and the dual POVs.
Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4/5 ⭐️
Romance: Closed Door
This is the second in the Witches of West Harbor series, but honestly, it could be read as a standalone. I read the first book 2 years ago, and barely remember any of those details.
This is a cute romance story told in 3 POVs. Getting the Emma POV takes any mystery or thriller aspect out of the story, so it is just a fun cozy read. This story is perfect for those that love a quick low-stakes paranormal romance.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC!
Romance: Closed Door
This is the second in the Witches of West Harbor series, but honestly, it could be read as a standalone. I read the first book 2 years ago, and barely remember any of those details.
This is a cute romance story told in 3 POVs. Getting the Emma POV takes any mystery or thriller aspect out of the story, so it is just a fun cozy read. This story is perfect for those that love a quick low-stakes paranormal romance.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Francesca "Frankie" Giovanni hates nothing more than her neighbor Ash Merit. He is loud (especially his ridiculous truck), always on his phone, and he put speakers on his deck that a guest once used to play Jimmy Buffet at insane levels for several days.
Ash Merit has a gift. Lost things will find him, so he goes to his cabin to hopefully locate a lost girl. The fact that he will be right next door to the beautiful Francesca is just a bonus.
But, Frankie does not believe in magic, and Ash knows it exists. Can the two find a common ground or are they destined to fall apart before they even begin?
Frankie is a skeptic but also a romantic at heart. She is smart, capable, and level headed. I love that she is 37, established in a career, owns her own home. Mybe she is a little grumpy at first but she quickly comes around.
Ash comes across as flighty, but he is willing to admit when he is wrong. He is funny, self-depricating, and intent on finding the missing girls. And on winning Frankie's heart.
Meg Cabot has written a fun mystery laden romance with witches, goddesses, influencers, Italian food, a mischievous gang of children and several newborn kittens. I enjoyed every minute.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the Advanced Copy of this book.
Ash Merit has a gift. Lost things will find him, so he goes to his cabin to hopefully locate a lost girl. The fact that he will be right next door to the beautiful Francesca is just a bonus.
But, Frankie does not believe in magic, and Ash knows it exists. Can the two find a common ground or are they destined to fall apart before they even begin?
Frankie is a skeptic but also a romantic at heart. She is smart, capable, and level headed. I love that she is 37, established in a career, owns her own home. Mybe she is a little grumpy at first but she quickly comes around.
Ash comes across as flighty, but he is willing to admit when he is wrong. He is funny, self-depricating, and intent on finding the missing girls. And on winning Frankie's heart.
Meg Cabot has written a fun mystery laden romance with witches, goddesses, influencers, Italian food, a mischievous gang of children and several newborn kittens. I enjoyed every minute.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for the Advanced Copy of this book.
December 6, 2025
One of my most anticipated books of the year! It’s not often you pick up a book and it’s everything you wanted it to be -this was the perfect witchy read -I immediately hit preorder after reading my galley and can’t wait to reread next spooky season.
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Full review to post week beginning 12th July
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With thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyage for the free e-ARC in exchange for sharing an honest review.
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Full review to post week beginning 12th July
——
With thanks to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyage for the free e-ARC in exchange for sharing an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this book. While I cannot purchase it for my elementary library I will definitely recommend it to my secondary colleagues.
After reading one cannot help but wish that magic were real!
After reading one cannot help but wish that magic were real!
November 30, 2025
Description says it is a standalone novel. I felt like if I were to have read the first book in the series, I’d feel less disappointed about my experience with this book.
The magic didn’t exist to me. It was a concept that was promised, but never actually executed. I waited and waited for SOMETHING to happen, and when it did, I was so confused. Things made little sense. A lot was being revealed, but you just couldn’t seem to understand where this was coming from. It was so out of the blue and outrageous. I had anticipated so much just to be let down.
The “romance” between Frankie and Ash should’ve been kept out. I don’t think this plot line was necessary to the story. If you’re going to imply spicy time, you might as well leave it out all together. There was no point to this. Sex should not be the ONLY thing that brings two characters closer together. This was their catalyst, an empty, meaningless plot device.
Their demeanor when they were together was off putting. The entirety of their interactions were of them either ogling the other, or wondering if the other was thinking about ogling them. Ash mentioned the way Frankie’s ass looked THREE times in one chapter. How was it possible that these two could have had ANY chemistry, when they spent so much time noticing how the other looked and not on what truly mattered-their values, morals, etc!!! Their love didn’t feel real or believable.
The only thing that worked with this book was the plot centered on the missing girls. I loved reading Emma’s chapters. I wish we would’ve gotten more.
Also, the other only thing I LOVED WAS THAT CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you were looking for something magical and interesting, this might not be it for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc. This is my honest review.
The magic didn’t exist to me. It was a concept that was promised, but never actually executed. I waited and waited for SOMETHING to happen, and when it did, I was so confused. Things made little sense. A lot was being revealed, but you just couldn’t seem to understand where this was coming from. It was so out of the blue and outrageous. I had anticipated so much just to be let down.
The “romance” between Frankie and Ash should’ve been kept out. I don’t think this plot line was necessary to the story. If you’re going to imply spicy time, you might as well leave it out all together. There was no point to this. Sex should not be the ONLY thing that brings two characters closer together. This was their catalyst, an empty, meaningless plot device.
Their demeanor when they were together was off putting. The entirety of their interactions were of them either ogling the other, or wondering if the other was thinking about ogling them. Ash mentioned the way Frankie’s ass looked THREE times in one chapter. How was it possible that these two could have had ANY chemistry, when they spent so much time noticing how the other looked and not on what truly mattered-their values, morals, etc!!! Their love didn’t feel real or believable.
The only thing that worked with this book was the plot centered on the missing girls. I loved reading Emma’s chapters. I wish we would’ve gotten more.
Also, the other only thing I LOVED WAS THAT CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you were looking for something magical and interesting, this might not be it for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Despite being someone who grew up happily reading Meg Cabot’s Mediator and The Princess Diaries series, I realized I hadn't read any of her books for adults. I stumbled across The Magic We Made, a romantic novel involving witches on NetGalley, and decided there was no time like the present. Like all of Cabot's books, The Magic We Made has her distinctive blend of humor, quirkiness, and relatability.
The novel is told from two alternating perspectives of Francesca “Frankie” Giovanni and her next door neighbor, Ash Merit. Frankie is a newly divorced financial therapist, with a massive Italian family that has lots of opinions. Though she's not one of the magical people in the novel, the amount of events she's survived in her personal life without completely falling off feels nothing short of miraculous. I immediately admired what a strong woman she is. Her irritation with her peace-disturbing neighbor, Ash, is highly entertaining.
Frankie cannot stand his sound-barrier breaking truck or his loud music, and also how he rents out his property to summer tourists. Due to their town becoming known for its witches, tourism is definitely thriving. But to Frankie’s disbelief, Ash attracts more than just mildly curious vacationers. He has a knack, or magical talent, to find lost things. More specifically, these lost things find him.
This talent is crucial, as Ash is on the hunt to find one of many missing young women in the area. Before she knows it, straight-laced, skeptical Frankie finds herself confronting two very frighteningly real possibilities: a) the first man she's fallen for since her divorce has a mental illness or b) magic is very real.
The Magic We Made is a fun read that is fast-paced, but still finds the time to flesh out its characters. Cabot tells the story in a way that makes you feel like you're reading about your best friend's life, or sitting in the main character's passenger seat. Despite the fact that I had not read the previous book in the series (and was clueless that one even existed), I was perfectly able to understand everything important in the world-building. If I didn't know the specifics of events in the first book, it felt like it was merely because Frankie wasn't there and wasn't interested in the supernatural. This prevented me from feeling like the odd one out and allowed me to better appreciate Frankie's shock at actual magic.
Though I picked up The Magic We Made primarily for the romance, I was, surprisingly, more interested in the mystery involving everything to do with the witches! I found Cabot's depiction of gods with familiar names and origins to be pretty original, and I've read a lot of them. The blend of realism and magic just feels so natural and matter-of-fact in this world. Instead of other novels that relegate magic to a hidden subsection of the world that must be kept secret, The Magic We Made provides an atmosphere that says, “well, of course gods, goddesses, and witches are real, but you still have to show up for work on Monday.” This approach felt like a breath of fresh air.
As far as the romance of The Magic We Made goes, I was a little disappointed. If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I'm a huge fan of the slow-burn. I could easily (and happily) read an entire series based on the will-they-won't-they build up. Alas, in The Magic We Made the feelings are acted upon around the 50% way mark of the book. There are plenty of readers who will enjoy the direct communication about feelings between the characters (and their immediate acting upon said feelings), but I felt like all of the anticipation was gone and had a feeling of, “well, now what?”
In many stories where the love interests get together so soon, I feel like authors are forced to throw in a last minute conflict or miscommunication. This inevitably means the love interests we just spent all of this time rooting for get together, break up due to some contrived nonsense that was usually completely avoidable. Then they finally realize how stupid they were and reconcile by the end of the novel. I just really don't care for that type of plot line. Personally, I would just rather spend the entirety of the novel wondering if it's ever actually going to happen.
But thankfully, as it turns out, Cabot still had plenty to tell. Though the romance is doing a version of the plotline I don't like, it's handled in an adult way that does justice to the personalities of the characters. Neither character is doomed to suffer these circumstances in silence and still has full agency to make their next steps. It is at the moment that the supernatural comes to the forefront that the story between Frankie and Ash becomes less about romance, and more about love and what one is willing to believe, accept, and do in order to keep it. I don't want to give too much away, but I really enjoyed everything about how the climax of all the different storylines came together, and was even delighted at a twist that I didn't see coming.
All in all, The Magic We Made is a light and fun read that I would say feels pretty cozy. The true magic of the novel lies not in the magic itself, but in the uniqueness of how it is presented. It is a delight watching the characters, especially Frankie, rise to meet it. The Magic We Made honestly made me want to go back and read my favorites of Cabot's other works. I will definitely read more of Cabot's adult works in the future, especially in this series.
Despite being someone who grew up happily reading Meg Cabot’s Mediator and The Princess Diaries series, I realized I hadn't read any of her books for adults. I stumbled across The Magic We Made, a romantic novel involving witches on NetGalley, and decided there was no time like the present. Like all of Cabot's books, The Magic We Made has her distinctive blend of humor, quirkiness, and relatability.
The novel is told from two alternating perspectives of Francesca “Frankie” Giovanni and her next door neighbor, Ash Merit. Frankie is a newly divorced financial therapist, with a massive Italian family that has lots of opinions. Though she's not one of the magical people in the novel, the amount of events she's survived in her personal life without completely falling off feels nothing short of miraculous. I immediately admired what a strong woman she is. Her irritation with her peace-disturbing neighbor, Ash, is highly entertaining.
“So why can’t I leave it at that? Because I’m physically incapable of doing so. It’s my genetic destiny: no Giovanni can ever leave anything well enough alone.”
Frankie cannot stand his sound-barrier breaking truck or his loud music, and also how he rents out his property to summer tourists. Due to their town becoming known for its witches, tourism is definitely thriving. But to Frankie’s disbelief, Ash attracts more than just mildly curious vacationers. He has a knack, or magical talent, to find lost things. More specifically, these lost things find him.
This talent is crucial, as Ash is on the hunt to find one of many missing young women in the area. Before she knows it, straight-laced, skeptical Frankie finds herself confronting two very frighteningly real possibilities: a) the first man she's fallen for since her divorce has a mental illness or b) magic is very real.
“‘I don’t have a cape or a police scanner. I do have superpowers, though. You do too.’
‘Do I?’ She raises a single questioning eyebrow.
‘Sure. Everybody does. You should know that; you’re a therapist. It’s your job to help people figure out what their superpower is.’
She looks surprised to hear this.
‘Is it?”
‘Yes, because most people don’t know. We’ve all got a little magical gift inside of us, something we love and can do well, but it can sometimes take a lifetime to discover it, let alone trust that it’s real.'”
The Magic We Made is a fun read that is fast-paced, but still finds the time to flesh out its characters. Cabot tells the story in a way that makes you feel like you're reading about your best friend's life, or sitting in the main character's passenger seat. Despite the fact that I had not read the previous book in the series (and was clueless that one even existed), I was perfectly able to understand everything important in the world-building. If I didn't know the specifics of events in the first book, it felt like it was merely because Frankie wasn't there and wasn't interested in the supernatural. This prevented me from feeling like the odd one out and allowed me to better appreciate Frankie's shock at actual magic.
Though I picked up The Magic We Made primarily for the romance, I was, surprisingly, more interested in the mystery involving everything to do with the witches! I found Cabot's depiction of gods with familiar names and origins to be pretty original, and I've read a lot of them. The blend of realism and magic just feels so natural and matter-of-fact in this world. Instead of other novels that relegate magic to a hidden subsection of the world that must be kept secret, The Magic We Made provides an atmosphere that says, “well, of course gods, goddesses, and witches are real, but you still have to show up for work on Monday.” This approach felt like a breath of fresh air.
“Before I have a chance to assure my sister that nothing she says could ever offend me—after what she did as a child to my Barbie collection, I no longer value her opinion—Dina chimes in with, ‘A spell is definitely cheaper than therapy. Asking an online witch to cast a love spell on someone these days only takes a few minutes, and costs about twenty-five bucks. Therapy to figure out why someone doesn’t love you can take months, if not years, and cost thousands of dollars.’”
As far as the romance of The Magic We Made goes, I was a little disappointed. If you've read any of my other reviews, you know I'm a huge fan of the slow-burn. I could easily (and happily) read an entire series based on the will-they-won't-they build up. Alas, in The Magic We Made the feelings are acted upon around the 50% way mark of the book. There are plenty of readers who will enjoy the direct communication about feelings between the characters (and their immediate acting upon said feelings), but I felt like all of the anticipation was gone and had a feeling of, “well, now what?”
In many stories where the love interests get together so soon, I feel like authors are forced to throw in a last minute conflict or miscommunication. This inevitably means the love interests we just spent all of this time rooting for get together, break up due to some contrived nonsense that was usually completely avoidable. Then they finally realize how stupid they were and reconcile by the end of the novel. I just really don't care for that type of plot line. Personally, I would just rather spend the entirety of the novel wondering if it's ever actually going to happen.
But thankfully, as it turns out, Cabot still had plenty to tell. Though the romance is doing a version of the plotline I don't like, it's handled in an adult way that does justice to the personalities of the characters. Neither character is doomed to suffer these circumstances in silence and still has full agency to make their next steps. It is at the moment that the supernatural comes to the forefront that the story between Frankie and Ash becomes less about romance, and more about love and what one is willing to believe, accept, and do in order to keep it. I don't want to give too much away, but I really enjoyed everything about how the climax of all the different storylines came together, and was even delighted at a twist that I didn't see coming.
All in all, The Magic We Made is a light and fun read that I would say feels pretty cozy. The true magic of the novel lies not in the magic itself, but in the uniqueness of how it is presented. It is a delight watching the characters, especially Frankie, rise to meet it. The Magic We Made honestly made me want to go back and read my favorites of Cabot's other works. I will definitely read more of Cabot's adult works in the future, especially in this series.
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December 3, 2025
First and foremost, thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review:
Meg Cabot has done it again! As someone who grew up loving The Mediator series, I dove into The Magic We Made without reading the first book in the series—and I'm happy to report that it absolutely works as a standalone (though now I'm rushing to grab Enchanted to Meet You because I need more of this world).
What I Loved
The Character Dynamics: The real magic in this book lies in the chemistry and interactions between
the two main male characters. Cabot has a gift for creating relationships that feel genuine and engaging, and the dynamic between these characters kept me turning pages. Their banter, their conflicts, and their growth throughout the story felt authentic and compelling.
The Witch Timeline Mystery: The subplot involving the missing teenage witches added an intriguing layer of suspense that elevated the story beyond a simple romance. I found myself genuinely invested in unraveling what was happening in the witches' timeline, and Cabot wove this mystery throughout the narrative in a way that kept me engaged without overwhelming the character-driven story.
Cabot's Signature Style: The writing is exactly what I've come to expect and love from Meg Cabot—witty, warm, and effortlessly readable. It's cute without being saccharine, and she strikes that perfect balance between humor and heart that made The Mediator series so special.
Why Not 5 Stars?
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there were a few minor elements that kept it from being a perfect read for me. However, these didn't significantly detract from my overall enjoyment, and Meg Cabot once again proved why she's been a favorite author of mine for years.
Who Should Read This?
If you loved The Mediator series, you NEED to read this. Cabot brings the same charm, engaging character work, and supernatural intrigue that made us fall in love with Suze and Jesse to this adult romance series. It's the perfect next step for fans who grew up with her YA work and are looking for something with similar heart but aimed at an older audience.
Final Thoughts
The Magic We Made is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and magic that showcases why Meg Cabot remains one of the most reliably entertaining authors in the genre. Whether you're coming from her YA backlist or discovering her for the first time, this book delivers exactly what you want: engaging characters, an intriguing plot, and that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from a well-crafted story. I'm already looking forward to going back to read book one and continuing with this series.
Meg Cabot has done it again! As someone who grew up loving The Mediator series, I dove into The Magic We Made without reading the first book in the series—and I'm happy to report that it absolutely works as a standalone (though now I'm rushing to grab Enchanted to Meet You because I need more of this world).
What I Loved
The Character Dynamics: The real magic in this book lies in the chemistry and interactions between
the two main male characters. Cabot has a gift for creating relationships that feel genuine and engaging, and the dynamic between these characters kept me turning pages. Their banter, their conflicts, and their growth throughout the story felt authentic and compelling.
The Witch Timeline Mystery: The subplot involving the missing teenage witches added an intriguing layer of suspense that elevated the story beyond a simple romance. I found myself genuinely invested in unraveling what was happening in the witches' timeline, and Cabot wove this mystery throughout the narrative in a way that kept me engaged without overwhelming the character-driven story.
Cabot's Signature Style: The writing is exactly what I've come to expect and love from Meg Cabot—witty, warm, and effortlessly readable. It's cute without being saccharine, and she strikes that perfect balance between humor and heart that made The Mediator series so special.
Why Not 5 Stars?
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there were a few minor elements that kept it from being a perfect read for me. However, these didn't significantly detract from my overall enjoyment, and Meg Cabot once again proved why she's been a favorite author of mine for years.
Who Should Read This?
If you loved The Mediator series, you NEED to read this. Cabot brings the same charm, engaging character work, and supernatural intrigue that made us fall in love with Suze and Jesse to this adult romance series. It's the perfect next step for fans who grew up with her YA work and are looking for something with similar heart but aimed at an older audience.
Final Thoughts
The Magic We Made is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and magic that showcases why Meg Cabot remains one of the most reliably entertaining authors in the genre. Whether you're coming from her YA backlist or discovering her for the first time, this book delivers exactly what you want: engaging characters, an intriguing plot, and that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from a well-crafted story. I'm already looking forward to going back to read book one and continuing with this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot.
I'm hovering around a 3.5 rating for this second book in the series. I think new readers would generally be okay starting with this book or the first in the series, Enchanted to Meet You -- they are fairly solid standalones set among the same friend group in the small town of West Harbor, CT.
The Magic We Made is a great Meg Cabot fan comfort read. I recently also read Jen Deluca's Haunted Ever After, which has similar vibes and feels like it also has Cabot influence, so readers of that series may also find this appealing. I think this will be a great Halloween 2026 spooky cozy read for witchy vibes and romance.
What didn't work for me, and why my rating is hovering between stars, is that it felt like the mystery of the missing girls was overpowering the romance between Frankie and Ash. For me, Frankie and Ash's story felt very rushed and surface level instalove where both of them just seemed to fully commit after one actual conversation. As a longtime Meg Cabot reader, and as someone who read the 1-800-Where-Are-You series as a teenager dying for the main characters to kiss after several books -- I know Meg Cabot can write a story of yearning and build a romance, and I just wasn't connecting with it in this one. I think I just didn't care for Ash well through the first 40% or so of the book -- I thought the scene where he gives the baseball card to a man harassing women on the train to be a weird type of reward for a person behaving badly -- and so it really elevated all of Frankie's year+ worth of dislike of him well into the story and even after they got together - it was kind of an irredeemable scene for me, especially when Ash is just like "whoops, that's just my superpower." Then the story of the missing girls felt a bit more extreme/had more potential for violence than I would have thought a Meg Cabot novel would go with. There are a lot of warnings at the start of the novel on how she consulted with experts on some of the harmful behaviors and actions that occur in the plot, but I think the extremism of it all was sort of jarring to the cute romcom part of it and so the story felt disjointed between light/cozy and dark/unsettling themes.
I've read so many Meg Cabot series over decades now, and I think, while this one was still fun and cute, it wasn't my favorite of her works, though it may still be exactly what many of her other fans are looking for.
I'm hovering around a 3.5 rating for this second book in the series. I think new readers would generally be okay starting with this book or the first in the series, Enchanted to Meet You -- they are fairly solid standalones set among the same friend group in the small town of West Harbor, CT.
The Magic We Made is a great Meg Cabot fan comfort read. I recently also read Jen Deluca's Haunted Ever After, which has similar vibes and feels like it also has Cabot influence, so readers of that series may also find this appealing. I think this will be a great Halloween 2026 spooky cozy read for witchy vibes and romance.
What didn't work for me, and why my rating is hovering between stars, is that it felt like the mystery of the missing girls was overpowering the romance between Frankie and Ash. For me, Frankie and Ash's story felt very rushed and surface level instalove where both of them just seemed to fully commit after one actual conversation. As a longtime Meg Cabot reader, and as someone who read the 1-800-Where-Are-You series as a teenager dying for the main characters to kiss after several books -- I know Meg Cabot can write a story of yearning and build a romance, and I just wasn't connecting with it in this one. I think I just didn't care for Ash well through the first 40% or so of the book -- I thought the scene where he gives the baseball card to a man harassing women on the train to be a weird type of reward for a person behaving badly -- and so it really elevated all of Frankie's year+ worth of dislike of him well into the story and even after they got together - it was kind of an irredeemable scene for me, especially when Ash is just like "whoops, that's just my superpower." Then the story of the missing girls felt a bit more extreme/had more potential for violence than I would have thought a Meg Cabot novel would go with. There are a lot of warnings at the start of the novel on how she consulted with experts on some of the harmful behaviors and actions that occur in the plot, but I think the extremism of it all was sort of jarring to the cute romcom part of it and so the story felt disjointed between light/cozy and dark/unsettling themes.
I've read so many Meg Cabot series over decades now, and I think, while this one was still fun and cute, it wasn't my favorite of her works, though it may still be exactly what many of her other fans are looking for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Magic We Made | Meg Cabot | 2.75 ⭐️ (Rounded up)
“Yes, that’s popcorn, Daisy. You’re going to see a lot of it if you decide to stay here with me. But popcorn isn’t for cats. It’s people food. You have your own food in the laundry room—hey!” The hey was because Daisy had stuffed her entire head into the bowl and begun chowing down as if popcorn was her favorite food.
After reading the first book in this series, I was really excited to pick this one up! The first one had its flaws, but was overall a very quick and easy read. This one didn’t grab me quite as quickly as the first, though.
Character-wise, I was super happy to see some connections and cameos to characters from the first book, including (spoilers for the first book) . That made my heart so happy. For the MCs of this book, I found myself warming up to them as we went on, but initially, I found Ash to be quite dismissive of Frankie (who is very highly accomplished). On various occasions, he made comments saying that she was "trying to sound serious" or "authoratative" but he couldn't take her seriously because she was too cute or her body was too distracting. It did get a lot less frequent though once they got together. In general, I found the characters to both be much more likable and engaging when they became a couple.
I did really enjoy the missing witches plotline, and the cutaway chapters to Emma were really well done. That being said, the two plot lines (romance and mystery) felt kind of disconnected from each other until the last 25% of the book. I wish that she had tied them together sooner because that last quarter of the book was so compelling and well done.
I am a sucker for a pet in a book, and Daisy was no exception. And that's all I have to say on that.
I was very conflicted while reading this book, and even after parsing through my thoughts, I still have mixed feelings. I think that this book for sure has readers that will enjoy it because of both the mystery and romance aspects, but there were just some detail things that I got really hung up on.
“Yes, that’s popcorn, Daisy. You’re going to see a lot of it if you decide to stay here with me. But popcorn isn’t for cats. It’s people food. You have your own food in the laundry room—hey!” The hey was because Daisy had stuffed her entire head into the bowl and begun chowing down as if popcorn was her favorite food.
After reading the first book in this series, I was really excited to pick this one up! The first one had its flaws, but was overall a very quick and easy read. This one didn’t grab me quite as quickly as the first, though.
Character-wise, I was super happy to see some connections and cameos to characters from the first book, including (spoilers for the first book) . That made my heart so happy. For the MCs of this book, I found myself warming up to them as we went on, but initially, I found Ash to be quite dismissive of Frankie (who is very highly accomplished). On various occasions, he made comments saying that she was "trying to sound serious" or "authoratative" but he couldn't take her seriously because she was too cute or her body was too distracting. It did get a lot less frequent though once they got together. In general, I found the characters to both be much more likable and engaging when they became a couple.
I did really enjoy the missing witches plotline, and the cutaway chapters to Emma were really well done. That being said, the two plot lines (romance and mystery) felt kind of disconnected from each other until the last 25% of the book. I wish that she had tied them together sooner because that last quarter of the book was so compelling and well done.
I am a sucker for a pet in a book, and Daisy was no exception. And that's all I have to say on that.
I was very conflicted while reading this book, and even after parsing through my thoughts, I still have mixed feelings. I think that this book for sure has readers that will enjoy it because of both the mystery and romance aspects, but there were just some detail things that I got really hung up on.
December 6, 2025
I took a chance on reading this as an early copy without having read any of the author’s other books, especially the first in the Witches of West Harbor. This was mentioned as a standalone so I thought I’d be safe :)
While it seems to be a good possible standalone, I’m sure having read the first (#1 in series) might have helped me enjoy it quite a bit more.
Positives ~ I liked the witchy vibe of the town, and their claim to fame about a witchy encounter. The tourism spike helps keep the town alive and thriving, but it took me awhile to figure out if this was truly a magical town with magical interferences. The main characters, Frankie and Ash are fun and charming and some of their togetherness is very cute. Unfortunately, or fortunately? My favorite character is the cat newly named Daisy and her kittens. I’m a sucker for a cat character, and she was quite entertaining in her immediate acceptance of Ash vs. having held off Frankie for quite some time playing hard to get under the front porch 😁
Not really negatives, but things I was so so about? While I liked Ash and Frankie, for me personally I thought maybe they were just a little bit insta-love (to use a friend’s turn of phrase). There really wasn’t a lot of buildup in their relationship, it just seemed to be they meet and then fall in love so quickly. Secondly, I had a hard time figuring out if the whole side story of the book was supposed to be a magical and witchy coven, or if this was a more sinister, mysterious cult and potentially even a concern for the survival of some of the characters. All of this could truly be my fault in reading this as a standalone and not having read the first book prior to diving into The Magic We Made.
It’s still a cute, magical read, and with patience, the author provides all the answers and a fitting ending. If I am to recommend, I’d go back and read some of the authors other work, and definitely read the first in the Witches of West Harbor to see if it assists in my enjoyment of this book.
While it seems to be a good possible standalone, I’m sure having read the first (#1 in series) might have helped me enjoy it quite a bit more.
Positives ~ I liked the witchy vibe of the town, and their claim to fame about a witchy encounter. The tourism spike helps keep the town alive and thriving, but it took me awhile to figure out if this was truly a magical town with magical interferences. The main characters, Frankie and Ash are fun and charming and some of their togetherness is very cute. Unfortunately, or fortunately? My favorite character is the cat newly named Daisy and her kittens. I’m a sucker for a cat character, and she was quite entertaining in her immediate acceptance of Ash vs. having held off Frankie for quite some time playing hard to get under the front porch 😁
Not really negatives, but things I was so so about? While I liked Ash and Frankie, for me personally I thought maybe they were just a little bit insta-love (to use a friend’s turn of phrase). There really wasn’t a lot of buildup in their relationship, it just seemed to be they meet and then fall in love so quickly. Secondly, I had a hard time figuring out if the whole side story of the book was supposed to be a magical and witchy coven, or if this was a more sinister, mysterious cult and potentially even a concern for the survival of some of the characters. All of this could truly be my fault in reading this as a standalone and not having read the first book prior to diving into The Magic We Made.
It’s still a cute, magical read, and with patience, the author provides all the answers and a fitting ending. If I am to recommend, I’d go back and read some of the authors other work, and definitely read the first in the Witches of West Harbor to see if it assists in my enjoyment of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: The Magic We Made
Author: Meg Cabot
Synopsis: Frankie
A trained therapist, Francesca Giovanni knows there’s a scientific explanation for everything. Unfortunately, she lives in West Harbor, CT, a town that’s recently exploded in popularity thanks to “witch tourism.” Suddenly, witches are everywhere, offering locals their psychic services. Frankie’s fine with this…until aspiring teenage witches begin to disappear, and strange things start happening in the lake house next door. Frankie begins to suspect not all newcomers to West Harbor have the good of the community in mind—especially not her new neighbor, Ash Merit.
Ash
Ash Merit finds lost things—and people—for a living. All he wants is to help his clients, and maybe get to know the stunningly beautiful (and newly single) Dr. Frankie Giovanni a little better. But thanks to some troublesome young witches—not to mention his often faulty psychic “superpower”—everything goes wrong. If only Frankie wasn’t so distractingly attractive…and so unwilling to admit there might not be a logical reason for everything, including the flames that ignite whenever the two of them kiss. Ash hopes to change that, but first he and Frankie have to find the missing girls, as well as the truth about what’s happening in West Harbor…a truth that could change everything they thought they knew about themselves—and the magic of love.
Review: Meg Cabot still has that special quality in her writing where I can’t help but continue reading time after time! This novel had a combination of paranormal and murder mystery which was an entertaining read! I enjoyed Ash and Frankie’s relationship it felt very natural and not rushed at all! There chemistry was fun and I really enjoyed their conversations!
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and author Meg Cabot, for Giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
Author: Meg Cabot
Synopsis: Frankie
A trained therapist, Francesca Giovanni knows there’s a scientific explanation for everything. Unfortunately, she lives in West Harbor, CT, a town that’s recently exploded in popularity thanks to “witch tourism.” Suddenly, witches are everywhere, offering locals their psychic services. Frankie’s fine with this…until aspiring teenage witches begin to disappear, and strange things start happening in the lake house next door. Frankie begins to suspect not all newcomers to West Harbor have the good of the community in mind—especially not her new neighbor, Ash Merit.
Ash
Ash Merit finds lost things—and people—for a living. All he wants is to help his clients, and maybe get to know the stunningly beautiful (and newly single) Dr. Frankie Giovanni a little better. But thanks to some troublesome young witches—not to mention his often faulty psychic “superpower”—everything goes wrong. If only Frankie wasn’t so distractingly attractive…and so unwilling to admit there might not be a logical reason for everything, including the flames that ignite whenever the two of them kiss. Ash hopes to change that, but first he and Frankie have to find the missing girls, as well as the truth about what’s happening in West Harbor…a truth that could change everything they thought they knew about themselves—and the magic of love.
Review: Meg Cabot still has that special quality in her writing where I can’t help but continue reading time after time! This novel had a combination of paranormal and murder mystery which was an entertaining read! I enjoyed Ash and Frankie’s relationship it felt very natural and not rushed at all! There chemistry was fun and I really enjoyed their conversations!
Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and author Meg Cabot, for Giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mystery with numerous clues, weak on the romance
Although I raised three sons, I’ve always loved the Princess Diaries movies (even having to watch them solo). So I was excited to try a title by the same author, Meg Cabot, that also fell into my currently favorite genre of paranormal.
There is a first book in the Witches of West Harbor series from 2023 that I have not read, but I don’t think that impacted my reading of “The Magic We Made.”
The first quirk I noticed is that the town of West Harbor works hard to hide its magical side. Reasonable explanations are found for supernatural happenings. No one buys into the anti-magic explanations than our heroine Francesca “Frankie” Giovanni. As a trained therapist, Frankie is squarely on the side of a rational explanation for everything.
I will say that our hero, Ash Merit, was a delight. But I still had questions. Ash and Frankie have been next-door neighbors for at least a year if not longer. He knows so much about her life, yet she seems to have no recollection of him actually being around. Instead, she believes he’s the absentee landlord of a house that brings Summer People to Frankie’s beloved lakeside community. Although never explicitly stated, perhaps it stems from Frankie’s inability to look beyond facts.
“The Magic We Made” also includes a mystery. Numerous young women have disappeared from the area and authorities are unable to find them. This situation, in fact, is what brings Ash to West Harbor at this time.
For me the two primary elements, a budding romance between Frankie and Ash and the mystery of the missing young women, did not gel well. I give this title 3 ½ stars.
Cabot is a talented author. She did a fantastic job of sprinkling clues throughout that I didn’t notice until the ending when I slapped my head! In general, however, “The Magic We Made” just wasn’t for me, and I don’t anticipate returning to West Harbor for a new adventure.
Although I raised three sons, I’ve always loved the Princess Diaries movies (even having to watch them solo). So I was excited to try a title by the same author, Meg Cabot, that also fell into my currently favorite genre of paranormal.
There is a first book in the Witches of West Harbor series from 2023 that I have not read, but I don’t think that impacted my reading of “The Magic We Made.”
The first quirk I noticed is that the town of West Harbor works hard to hide its magical side. Reasonable explanations are found for supernatural happenings. No one buys into the anti-magic explanations than our heroine Francesca “Frankie” Giovanni. As a trained therapist, Frankie is squarely on the side of a rational explanation for everything.
I will say that our hero, Ash Merit, was a delight. But I still had questions. Ash and Frankie have been next-door neighbors for at least a year if not longer. He knows so much about her life, yet she seems to have no recollection of him actually being around. Instead, she believes he’s the absentee landlord of a house that brings Summer People to Frankie’s beloved lakeside community. Although never explicitly stated, perhaps it stems from Frankie’s inability to look beyond facts.
“The Magic We Made” also includes a mystery. Numerous young women have disappeared from the area and authorities are unable to find them. This situation, in fact, is what brings Ash to West Harbor at this time.
For me the two primary elements, a budding romance between Frankie and Ash and the mystery of the missing young women, did not gel well. I give this title 3 ½ stars.
Cabot is a talented author. She did a fantastic job of sprinkling clues throughout that I didn’t notice until the ending when I slapped my head! In general, however, “The Magic We Made” just wasn’t for me, and I don’t anticipate returning to West Harbor for a new adventure.
January 27, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ and 2 🌶️
I received this digital ARC from NetGalley. This review and all the opinions therein are all my own opinion.
This was a magical realism romance with a mystery woven throughout. It was also enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first. It was also a bit of grumpy/sunshine where she is the grump.
This story follows Frankie and Ash. They are neighbors and she hates him because he rents his house out to summer people and those people are always bothering her. She hates him for this 😆. I thought her grumpy divorcee attitude was pretty amusing to read.
This book starts with Ash coming back to live in his house for the fall. He does this because he has been tasked by his boss to find one of the missing girls in the area. The authorities aren’t searching for these girls because they are all over 18. Ash’s boss believes there is something sinister going on.
Ash is asked to find this missing girl because lost things find him. That is his superpower…we learn later that it is more than just that but that is how he explains it to everyone. He moves into his rental house and we find out that he has been infatuated with Frankie since he bought the house and she was still married to her horrible ex. Now that she is divorced and he is in town for a longer time, he decides to start to pursue her. It is actually amusing how many times he asks her out and she pretends to have plans so she can avoid him.
Mingled into their chapters, we also get Emma (the missing girl’s) chapters. These really help us understand the ending.
The ending is wild and I didn’t expected such a magic heavy ending but it was amusing to read.
I liked the connection between the MC’s even if I do think their falling in love was fast. I think the whole book covers about 1-2 weeks. Either was nice to read about adults (high thirties) falling in love and not college students.
I received this digital ARC from NetGalley. This review and all the opinions therein are all my own opinion.
This was a magical realism romance with a mystery woven throughout. It was also enemies to lovers, forced proximity, he falls first. It was also a bit of grumpy/sunshine where she is the grump.
This story follows Frankie and Ash. They are neighbors and she hates him because he rents his house out to summer people and those people are always bothering her. She hates him for this 😆. I thought her grumpy divorcee attitude was pretty amusing to read.
This book starts with Ash coming back to live in his house for the fall. He does this because he has been tasked by his boss to find one of the missing girls in the area. The authorities aren’t searching for these girls because they are all over 18. Ash’s boss believes there is something sinister going on.
Ash is asked to find this missing girl because lost things find him. That is his superpower…we learn later that it is more than just that but that is how he explains it to everyone. He moves into his rental house and we find out that he has been infatuated with Frankie since he bought the house and she was still married to her horrible ex. Now that she is divorced and he is in town for a longer time, he decides to start to pursue her. It is actually amusing how many times he asks her out and she pretends to have plans so she can avoid him.
Mingled into their chapters, we also get Emma (the missing girl’s) chapters. These really help us understand the ending.
The ending is wild and I didn’t expected such a magic heavy ending but it was amusing to read.
I liked the connection between the MC’s even if I do think their falling in love was fast. I think the whole book covers about 1-2 weeks. Either was nice to read about adults (high thirties) falling in love and not college students.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced reader's copy.
I haven't read anything by Meg Cabot since The Princess Diaries, but I was drawn in by the TS lyric as the title choice and the concept seemed really intriguing. It was a fun read and I'd probably read the next book in the series, but it wasn't a book I'm likely to revisit or that I'll be raving about.
All in all it was a bit of an odd read. It's a mystery/para-normal/cult/romance novel. While you can read this as a stand-alone, which the synopsis claims, there are a lot of references to the previous book in the series. If it were just references to characters, I think it would be stand alone, but there are also numerous references to the events that happen in the first book. I started reading Enchanted to Meet You just to catch myself up.
The romance is just so-s0. I don't normally read a ton of closed door romance, because I don't see it done well a lot of the time. This book proves that point. The FMC goes from hating our MMC to saying that she loves him in less than a week and I think that there could have been more so the reader believes that transition. Especially because at some points Ash says that he's distracted from what she's saying because she's too cute and that her body causes him to not listen to her- which is a huge ick for me.
I really loved the cult/witchy/magic aspect of the story and wished we had more chapters from Emma's point of view. I would have loved a more developed magical system and more depth on how Emma
The cat might just be my favorite character.
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
I haven't read anything by Meg Cabot since The Princess Diaries, but I was drawn in by the TS lyric as the title choice and the concept seemed really intriguing. It was a fun read and I'd probably read the next book in the series, but it wasn't a book I'm likely to revisit or that I'll be raving about.
All in all it was a bit of an odd read. It's a mystery/para-normal/cult/romance novel. While you can read this as a stand-alone, which the synopsis claims, there are a lot of references to the previous book in the series. If it were just references to characters, I think it would be stand alone, but there are also numerous references to the events that happen in the first book. I started reading Enchanted to Meet You just to catch myself up.
The romance is just so-s0. I don't normally read a ton of closed door romance, because I don't see it done well a lot of the time. This book proves that point. The FMC goes from hating our MMC to saying that she loves him in less than a week and I think that there could have been more so the reader believes that transition. Especially because at some points Ash says that he's distracted from what she's saying because she's too cute and that her body causes him to not listen to her- which is a huge ick for me.
I really loved the cult/witchy/magic aspect of the story and wished we had more chapters from Emma's point of view. I would have loved a more developed magical system and more depth on how Emma
The cat might just be my favorite character.
Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley & the Publisher for this ARC of The Magic We Made! I read the first book in the series (my first book by Meg Cabot) just to prepare for this ARC and was not let down.
I really enjoyed this. It matches the tone of its predecessor, Enchanted to Meet You, while giving us a different plot that doesn’t feel repetitive from the previous book. I like also that it’s beginner-friendly, and that this is a “sequel/stand alone” you can pick up without having read the first book in the “Witches of West Harbor” series. Cabot does a great job at explaining basic world lore without it feeling too repetitive to those of us who already know the vibe.
Now onto my only gripes with this. Bear in mind this was an ARC, so things may be corrected in the final edition. These are just some thoughts I had about Frankie as a main character:
*The reader is never expressly told about Frankie’s swimming skills until she needs them. I won’t say more than that because it gets into spoiler territory, but I would have appreciated some additional depth into making that a characteristic of hers.
*Frankie’s career seems fairly unclear. At first the reader is led to believe she’s helping manage tenants? But then later we are told she is a Doctor. It seems a bit disjointed, but the doctoral background does match her skepticism toward magic better.
The fact that it’s only two little issues like this tells you how much I enjoyed this. I’ll be continuing reading more of Meg Cabot’s backlog and looking forward to the third installment of The Witches of West Harbor series. For those of you reading this who don’t know, Cabot is the author of The Princess Diaries. She has phenomenal writing, wit, and clearly a passion for storytelling.
I really enjoyed this. It matches the tone of its predecessor, Enchanted to Meet You, while giving us a different plot that doesn’t feel repetitive from the previous book. I like also that it’s beginner-friendly, and that this is a “sequel/stand alone” you can pick up without having read the first book in the “Witches of West Harbor” series. Cabot does a great job at explaining basic world lore without it feeling too repetitive to those of us who already know the vibe.
Now onto my only gripes with this. Bear in mind this was an ARC, so things may be corrected in the final edition. These are just some thoughts I had about Frankie as a main character:
*The reader is never expressly told about Frankie’s swimming skills until she needs them. I won’t say more than that because it gets into spoiler territory, but I would have appreciated some additional depth into making that a characteristic of hers.
*Frankie’s career seems fairly unclear. At first the reader is led to believe she’s helping manage tenants? But then later we are told she is a Doctor. It seems a bit disjointed, but the doctoral background does match her skepticism toward magic better.
The fact that it’s only two little issues like this tells you how much I enjoyed this. I’ll be continuing reading more of Meg Cabot’s backlog and looking forward to the third installment of The Witches of West Harbor series. For those of you reading this who don’t know, Cabot is the author of The Princess Diaries. She has phenomenal writing, wit, and clearly a passion for storytelling.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Magic We Made (book #2 in the Witches of West Harbor series) was such an enjoyable read!
The story takes place in a world that feels just like ours, except magic and witches are very real, even if Frankie (our main female character) does not quite believe in them. Frankie is a financial psychologist who sees everything through the lens of science and logic.
Her longtime neighbor, Ash, who she has never quite known what to make of and pretty much despises, is back in town. He comes from a very magical, very witchy family, which adds an interesting layer to their already complicated dynamic. At the same time, several girls have gone missing in the area, and the story slowly builds into something more suspenseful than I expected. I found this book’s storyline, featuring three point of views (Frankie, Ash, and Emma’s- one of the missing girls) really interesting!
I really liked how this book balances mystery, magic, romance, and family without leaning too heavily into explicit content. They don’t mess around hating each other for long at all, and the romance is quick to start which I enjoyed. I especially loved the scenes with Frankie’s big Italian family. They bring so much warmth and personality to the story.
Most of all, I enjoyed watching Frankie grow stronger and more confident after everything she has been through. If you enjoy witchy, magical vibe reads with a solid plot and a touch of romance, I would definitely recommend this read. I can’t wait to see what’s to come next in this series!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Magic We Made (book #2 in the Witches of West Harbor series) was such an enjoyable read!
The story takes place in a world that feels just like ours, except magic and witches are very real, even if Frankie (our main female character) does not quite believe in them. Frankie is a financial psychologist who sees everything through the lens of science and logic.
Her longtime neighbor, Ash, who she has never quite known what to make of and pretty much despises, is back in town. He comes from a very magical, very witchy family, which adds an interesting layer to their already complicated dynamic. At the same time, several girls have gone missing in the area, and the story slowly builds into something more suspenseful than I expected. I found this book’s storyline, featuring three point of views (Frankie, Ash, and Emma’s- one of the missing girls) really interesting!
I really liked how this book balances mystery, magic, romance, and family without leaning too heavily into explicit content. They don’t mess around hating each other for long at all, and the romance is quick to start which I enjoyed. I especially loved the scenes with Frankie’s big Italian family. They bring so much warmth and personality to the story.
Most of all, I enjoyed watching Frankie grow stronger and more confident after everything she has been through. If you enjoy witchy, magical vibe reads with a solid plot and a touch of romance, I would definitely recommend this read. I can’t wait to see what’s to come next in this series!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 6, 2025
✨ THE MAGIC WE MADE by Meg Cabot
Witches of West Harbor #2 • Cozy, witchy, romantic chaos incoming 💜🔮
If you love your romances witchy, whimsical, and just a little unhinged, The Magic We Made is the perfect late-summer read. Think: small-town magic, therapist-meets-psychic chaos, missing witches, and a chemistry spark that literally sets things on fire.
Frankie is all logic and science.
Ash is… absolutely not.
Put them together? Instant sparks, reluctant attraction, and the funniest “this cannot be happening” energy.
✨ Read this if you love:
🔮 Cozy witch vibes
💘 Slow-burn, “I don’t like you (but actually I do)” romance
🌊 New-neighbors + shared-danger trope
🧙♀️ Magical mishaps
🔥 A broody psychic MMC who is magic incarnate
🐈 Cute animals + chaotic familiars
🕯️ Light mystery with cult-y, spooky undertones
😂 That signature Meg Cabot charm
This one reads like a mash-up of:
witchy rom-com + cozy mystery + small-town magic + soft, surprising chemistry.
It’s quirky, warm, slightly spooky, and full of that “magic is real if you’re willing to see it” heart. Frankie and Ash are adorable together, even when everything around them is falling apart (sometimes literally).
If you’re into Practical Magic meets a Hallmark witch movie with a dash of cult drama and romantic fireworks then you’ll devour this.
#TheMagicWeMade #MegCabot #WitchesOfWestHarbor #CozyFantasy #WitchyReads #RomanticFantasy #FantasyRomance #BookstagramMagic #Avon #HarperVoyager #WitchTokReaders
Witches of West Harbor #2 • Cozy, witchy, romantic chaos incoming 💜🔮
If you love your romances witchy, whimsical, and just a little unhinged, The Magic We Made is the perfect late-summer read. Think: small-town magic, therapist-meets-psychic chaos, missing witches, and a chemistry spark that literally sets things on fire.
Frankie is all logic and science.
Ash is… absolutely not.
Put them together? Instant sparks, reluctant attraction, and the funniest “this cannot be happening” energy.
✨ Read this if you love:
🔮 Cozy witch vibes
💘 Slow-burn, “I don’t like you (but actually I do)” romance
🌊 New-neighbors + shared-danger trope
🧙♀️ Magical mishaps
🔥 A broody psychic MMC who is magic incarnate
🐈 Cute animals + chaotic familiars
🕯️ Light mystery with cult-y, spooky undertones
😂 That signature Meg Cabot charm
This one reads like a mash-up of:
witchy rom-com + cozy mystery + small-town magic + soft, surprising chemistry.
It’s quirky, warm, slightly spooky, and full of that “magic is real if you’re willing to see it” heart. Frankie and Ash are adorable together, even when everything around them is falling apart (sometimes literally).
If you’re into Practical Magic meets a Hallmark witch movie with a dash of cult drama and romantic fireworks then you’ll devour this.
#TheMagicWeMade #MegCabot #WitchesOfWestHarbor #CozyFantasy #WitchyReads #RomanticFantasy #FantasyRomance #BookstagramMagic #Avon #HarperVoyager #WitchTokReaders
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC.
I am a fan of Meg Cabot's work and read a lot of her YA books years ago as a teenager. This was the first time I've read something she's written for adults. I found the concept really interesting, a magical link to gods and goddesses along with a sweet small coastal town and a crazy murderous witchy girl cult, it was a little bit mystery, a little bit romance and a lot of fun.
Unfortunately, I didn't find the romance between the main two characters very believable - they went from enemies to eternal-love entirely too quickly. The MMC, Ash, comes off rather stalkery knowing basically everything about Frankie from barely being neighbors, and I had whiplash from how quickly Frankie went from not being able to stand him and resenting his entire being to jumping into bed with him and being willing to risk her life to save him.
I also found the storyline a bit slow at times and confusing with the addition of so many named side characters, but that's likely due to the fact that this is a series. The cat storyline and the chapters from Emma's perspective (one of the girls in the cult) was what kept me reading it! I honestly wish the whole storyline had just been her and Ash's perspective and Meg had left the romance out entirely, the mystery of it all was far more compelling.
It feels more like a YA book at its core, but it was definitely a fun read that I would recommend for Halloween or if you're into witchy magic!
I am a fan of Meg Cabot's work and read a lot of her YA books years ago as a teenager. This was the first time I've read something she's written for adults. I found the concept really interesting, a magical link to gods and goddesses along with a sweet small coastal town and a crazy murderous witchy girl cult, it was a little bit mystery, a little bit romance and a lot of fun.
Unfortunately, I didn't find the romance between the main two characters very believable - they went from enemies to eternal-love entirely too quickly. The MMC, Ash, comes off rather stalkery knowing basically everything about Frankie from barely being neighbors, and I had whiplash from how quickly Frankie went from not being able to stand him and resenting his entire being to jumping into bed with him and being willing to risk her life to save him.
I also found the storyline a bit slow at times and confusing with the addition of so many named side characters, but that's likely due to the fact that this is a series. The cat storyline and the chapters from Emma's perspective (one of the girls in the cult) was what kept me reading it! I honestly wish the whole storyline had just been her and Ash's perspective and Meg had left the romance out entirely, the mystery of it all was far more compelling.
It feels more like a YA book at its core, but it was definitely a fun read that I would recommend for Halloween or if you're into witchy magic!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay I’m just going to be honest… I don’t think this one was fully for me, which feels so strange to say because I usually love everything Meg Cabot writes.
This one follows three POVs: Frankie, a recently divorced psychologist who keeps to herself, Ash, her neighbor (who is literally sunshine and can find lost things, maybe?), and Emma, the missing girl at the center of everything. I loved the setting and vibes! Small coastal town, witchy lore, gods and goddesses, mysterious covens… I was so ready to be obsessed, but I did find myself a little confused at times. This is a standalone, but I really feel like I might have missed something by not reading the first book in the Witches of West Harbor series. There’s a lot happening with the magic, deities, and covens, and I just wanted a bit more clarity to fully sink into it.
The romance also didn’t fully hit for me. It leaned a bit insta-love, and I wanted more buildup and emotional connection. Ash? Adorable, loved him immediately. Frankie took me a little longer to warm up to, which made it harder to fully latch onto their relationship. BUT Emma’s storyline was easily my favorite part. It kept me hooked and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next, even if it got a little chaotic and confusing at times. Also… Daisy the cat and her kittens? Absolute icons. No notes.
Even with my hangups, this isn’t a bad book at all. It’s fast-paced, a little chaotic, a little witchy, and I flew through it in one day. I just wish a few pieces had been a bit more developed and clear.
This one follows three POVs: Frankie, a recently divorced psychologist who keeps to herself, Ash, her neighbor (who is literally sunshine and can find lost things, maybe?), and Emma, the missing girl at the center of everything. I loved the setting and vibes! Small coastal town, witchy lore, gods and goddesses, mysterious covens… I was so ready to be obsessed, but I did find myself a little confused at times. This is a standalone, but I really feel like I might have missed something by not reading the first book in the Witches of West Harbor series. There’s a lot happening with the magic, deities, and covens, and I just wanted a bit more clarity to fully sink into it.
The romance also didn’t fully hit for me. It leaned a bit insta-love, and I wanted more buildup and emotional connection. Ash? Adorable, loved him immediately. Frankie took me a little longer to warm up to, which made it harder to fully latch onto their relationship. BUT Emma’s storyline was easily my favorite part. It kept me hooked and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next, even if it got a little chaotic and confusing at times. Also… Daisy the cat and her kittens? Absolute icons. No notes.
Even with my hangups, this isn’t a bad book at all. It’s fast-paced, a little chaotic, a little witchy, and I flew through it in one day. I just wish a few pieces had been a bit more developed and clear.
November 30, 2025
Rounded up from 3.5
Frankie is completely skeptical about all the new 'witch' stuff in town; she thinks it's a scam. She finds herself working with Ash, the irritating but hot next-door neighbor to find some missing girls. Sparks begin to fly as they start to feel some serious magic between while they uncover the town's secrets. Frankie reconsiders what she knows about love and magic.
This book had cute overall plot and I really liked the characters of Ash and Frankie. I loved Frankie's extended Italian family with its noisy ritual of Sunday Gravy. It is obvious that Meg Cabot researched the involvement of Wicca with Gaia and Hecate. She did great at explaining the difference of being a "good" witch and a "bad" witch.
But that's where I had a little issue with the book, there is a lot of explaining or defining in the book. At one point Frankie explains the meaning of the term "groupthink" to Ash; which, truthfully is pretty self-explanatory. It felt a tad condescending. The romance of Ash and Frank was a bit fast and could have been more flushed out.
But overall, a cute book with some great scenes that worked really well. I do think that reading the first book in the series prior to reading this book would be a good idea.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Meg Cabot for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.
Frankie is completely skeptical about all the new 'witch' stuff in town; she thinks it's a scam. She finds herself working with Ash, the irritating but hot next-door neighbor to find some missing girls. Sparks begin to fly as they start to feel some serious magic between while they uncover the town's secrets. Frankie reconsiders what she knows about love and magic.
This book had cute overall plot and I really liked the characters of Ash and Frankie. I loved Frankie's extended Italian family with its noisy ritual of Sunday Gravy. It is obvious that Meg Cabot researched the involvement of Wicca with Gaia and Hecate. She did great at explaining the difference of being a "good" witch and a "bad" witch.
But that's where I had a little issue with the book, there is a lot of explaining or defining in the book. At one point Frankie explains the meaning of the term "groupthink" to Ash; which, truthfully is pretty self-explanatory. It felt a tad condescending. The romance of Ash and Frank was a bit fast and could have been more flushed out.
But overall, a cute book with some great scenes that worked really well. I do think that reading the first book in the series prior to reading this book would be a good idea.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Meg Cabot for sharing this ARC with me, in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Meg Cabot delivers another enchanting witchy rom-com with The Magic We Made! As having read the first book in the Witches of West Harbor series (Enchanted to Meet You), I was thrilled to dive into this standalone story featuring skeptical therapist Frankie Giovanni and her mysterious new neighbor, Ash Merit—who happens to literally be magic.
Frankie doesn’t believe in the supernatural, preferring logic and therapy sessions to spells. But when teenage witches start disappearing in their quaint Connecticut town and weird things happen next door, she’s forced to team up with the distractingly handsome Ash. The chemistry between them is electric (literally—those kiss scenes spark flames!), blending Cabot’s signature humor, heart, and heartfelt moments perfectly.
I loved the mix of cozy small-town vibes, light paranormal elements, and a romance that feels both fun and meaningful. The mystery of the missing girls keeps you turning pages, while themes of believing in the impossible (and in love) add emotional depth. Cabot’s witty dialogue and relatable characters shine as always—it’s pure escapist joy!
If you enjoy feel-good paranormal romances with strong heroines, swoony heroes, and a touch of magic, this is a must-read. Can’t wait for more from West Harbor! Highly recommend for fans of Cabot’s adult romances.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review
Frankie doesn’t believe in the supernatural, preferring logic and therapy sessions to spells. But when teenage witches start disappearing in their quaint Connecticut town and weird things happen next door, she’s forced to team up with the distractingly handsome Ash. The chemistry between them is electric (literally—those kiss scenes spark flames!), blending Cabot’s signature humor, heart, and heartfelt moments perfectly.
I loved the mix of cozy small-town vibes, light paranormal elements, and a romance that feels both fun and meaningful. The mystery of the missing girls keeps you turning pages, while themes of believing in the impossible (and in love) add emotional depth. Cabot’s witty dialogue and relatable characters shine as always—it’s pure escapist joy!
If you enjoy feel-good paranormal romances with strong heroines, swoony heroes, and a touch of magic, this is a must-read. Can’t wait for more from West Harbor! Highly recommend for fans of Cabot’s adult romances.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Magic We Made
(The Witches of West Harbor #2)
By Meg Cabot
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC!
Frankie is just trying to enjoy newly found singleness in her small town - she wants to garden in peace and swim in the lake. She does not want to deal with her neighbor, Ash. She hasn’t even met him yet, but she’s already made up her mind about him due to the noise of his car and music left on outside the house.
When Ash’s magical ability to find missing things brings him on a more lengthy than usual stay in West Harbor to track down a missing girl, Frankie realizes she might have been a little too quick to judge him. Possibly because he’s also a cat whisperer.
Frankie becomes tangled up in Ash’s mission to find Emma, the missing girl that’s immersed herself in a “witchy influencer cult”.
I haven’t read a Meg Cabot book since my Princess Diary days! She was a must read YA author in my teenage years, so I was excited to get into it! The story was fine - I just realized I’m not much into the paranormal stuff with my romances. I was cool with him finding lost cats, but once we started getting into Ash’s mystical family tree, I started losing interest.
I read this as a standalone and did fine with it - I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything, but also wasn’t inspired to pick up the first from the series.
The Magic We Made will be published August 11, 2026.
(The Witches of West Harbor #2)
By Meg Cabot
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eARC!
Frankie is just trying to enjoy newly found singleness in her small town - she wants to garden in peace and swim in the lake. She does not want to deal with her neighbor, Ash. She hasn’t even met him yet, but she’s already made up her mind about him due to the noise of his car and music left on outside the house.
When Ash’s magical ability to find missing things brings him on a more lengthy than usual stay in West Harbor to track down a missing girl, Frankie realizes she might have been a little too quick to judge him. Possibly because he’s also a cat whisperer.
Frankie becomes tangled up in Ash’s mission to find Emma, the missing girl that’s immersed herself in a “witchy influencer cult”.
I haven’t read a Meg Cabot book since my Princess Diary days! She was a must read YA author in my teenage years, so I was excited to get into it! The story was fine - I just realized I’m not much into the paranormal stuff with my romances. I was cool with him finding lost cats, but once we started getting into Ash’s mystical family tree, I started losing interest.
I read this as a standalone and did fine with it - I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything, but also wasn’t inspired to pick up the first from the series.
The Magic We Made will be published August 11, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager/Avon for the earc!
Meet Frankie and Ash.
They are polar opposites.
One believes in rational and scientific explanations.
The other believes in the supernatural (and is supernatural). One resides in the countryside by a lake, and the other resides in an upbeat city.
Frankie absolutely loathes the rental property next door to her, which is managed by Ash. All a girl wants is some peace and quiet, but life's difficult when you have renters blasting "Margaritaville" for the fifth time. However, a strange occurrence causes for the latest renter to vacate the property.
After all, there are numerous news articles floating around about these young girls that have gone missing in West Harbor, and no one seems to have found them. An unexpected tag team is soon formed between Frankie and Ash when they decide to unravel this mystery together. Where did these missing girls go? What is the connections between them?
Get ready to embark on this supernatural mystery with Frankie (the non-believer), Ash (the aggravating but wait...he's kinda cute property manager that moves in next door), a mom-to-be cat, as they search for a cult.
Right around the 70% mark? Strap in your seatbelts, readers! That plot twist is going to take you for a wild ride!
A perfect read for the autumn and spooky season!
P.S. Oh, and Richard really IS a dick!
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