What Magic Is This? (Everyone Can Be a Reader

by Holly Bourne

When the magic circle is set, I close my eyes and summon the power that I know is in me. I chant the words to this blessing spell like I’ve known them my whole life. “Spirits of Mother Nature,” I say. “I call on you. I ask that you bless us all and bless our friendship that makes us stronger. Grant us strength in our together and strength in our apart.” 
 
Best friends Sophia, Mia, and Alexis are clinging on to a spark of hope that maybe–just maybe–magic truly does exist. Could they really be witches with the power to cast life-changing spells? When the three friends gather to cheer up heartbroken Sophia, they’re ready to put their theory to the test. But then long-held secrets are revealed, and hard truths start to hit home. Suddenly, their night of bewitching fun takes an unexpected turn.

Union Square & Co.’s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Middle Grade, Mental Health, Romance

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2019

About the author

Holly started her writing career as a news journalist, where she was nominated for Best Print Journalist of the Year. She then spent six years working as an editor, a relationship advisor, and general ‘agony aunt’ for a youth charity – helping young people with their relationships and mental health.

Inspired by what she saw, she started writing teen fiction, including the best-selling, award-winning ‘Spinster Club’ series which helps educate teenagers about feminism. When she turned thirty, Holly wrote her first adult novel, 'How Do You Like Me Now?', examining the intensified pressures on women once they hit that landmark.

Alongside her writing, Holly has a keen interest in women’s rights and is an advocate for reducing the stigma of mental health problems. She’s helped create online apps that teach young people about sexual consent, works with Women’s Aid to spread awareness of abusive relationships, and runs Rethink’s mental health book club.

Reviews

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published by Barrington Stoke (for readers who have Dyslexia and/or are reluctant readers!)

Well, this was both fun and heartbreaking at the same time! A group of three friends gather themselves together for a sleepover unlike any other, where they cast spells to see if magic does exist and their dreams come true. A T/W for self-harm but for a 150 page read with an array of characters, I thought the story was quite well-written. If you like Holly's books or are new to her writing, this is for you!

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Witchy Wishes - Ohne Magie klappt das nie" ist ein Einzelband von Autorin Holly Bourne.

Für Erwachsene kann ich dieses Buch leider nur bedingt empfehlen. Themen wie Schule und erste Liebe müssen einem dafür wirklich liegen. Ich persönlich finde die Protagonistin sehr naiv und die Sprechstimme im Hörbuch ist meiner Meinung nach richtig unpassend. Man merkt direkt, dass die Sprecherin schon etwas älter ist.

Das Ende der Geschichte finde ich wirklich schön und die Message dahinter gefällt mir gut. Mut zur Selbstliebe ist ein wichtiges Thema. In "Witchy Wishes" werden auch einige Probleme thematisiert, für die ich eventuell sogar eine Triggerwarnung angemessen finden würde. Ich möchte jetzt aber niemanden spoilern.

Die Idee mit den Zaubersprüchen im Buch mag ich auch. Generell ist das eine interessante Geschichte für Jugendliche, die sich für Wicca und Zauberei interessieren. Mir persönlich ist das mittlerweile aber leider etwas zu langweilig. Ich vergebe daher nur 3 Sterne.

Hier folgen noch einige Infos zum Hörbuch:
2 Stunden und 57 Minuten / Ungekürzte Ausgabe
Sprecherin: Christine Garbe
Ich würde der Sprecherin 4,5 Sterne geben. Sie spricht wirklich toll, ihre Stimme passt aber leider gar nicht zum Alter der Protagonistin.
Verlag: Sound Neverrest UG

[Stacey | prettybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Magic is This? is Holly's first novella with Barrington Stoke, who publish readable and accessible books for children with dyslexia and reluctant readers. For example, they use a dyslexia-friendly font specially created to make reading easier, and heavier paper with a gentle tint helps reduce visual stresses.

Continue reading this review over on Pretty Books.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun short story.
I always love Holly Bournes work for her friendship groups and her writing - they remind me so much of soke of my own, but always make me smile.
This was a great story about friendship and learning to love yourself, something that is close to my heart.
A wonderful story to make you laugh out loud, smile and cry. It was only a short read but I felt attached to these wonderful characters so quickly!

[alli ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖ “because learning to love yourself, and finding people who love yourself too, that’s the real magic.” ⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet endearing novella about friendship, heart break and mental health.

I absolutely loved this novella! I especially loved the friendship group, you follow three best friends who believe they are witches. I especially related to Mia, my heart really did go out to her.

This was a really fun and quick to read book. Easy to read in one setting.

One of the great things about it also was the fact that its designed for reluctant readers or those with dyslexia, so it has big font. Which makes it really easy to read.

It had some really great meaningful messages to take away away from this book

I of course loved the writing and it made me chuckle a few times!

I would love to read more abou these girls in the future

Overall, this was such a fun, lovely novella! Can't recommend enough

TW: unhealthy relationships and self-harm

[Odette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik had behoefte aan het boekequivalent van comfort food, en dat is voor mij Holly Bourne. Het zou alleen verboden moeten worden dat ze korte boeken schrijft! Dit was maar 75 blz!

Maar zoals altijd stelde Holly Bourne echt niet teleur. Een prachtig boek over de magie van vriendschap en over wat belangrijk is in het leven. Wat kan ze schrijven zeg!

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reasons why I read this were,
a) It's about witches and
b) It's spooky season
and that's it.

To be honest I really wasn't expecting much from the story. Young adult but actually more middle grade romances just are not my thing. Imagine my surprise when this book turned out to be actual fun.
Sure, the characters are a bit obnoxious and their problems are the typically teenager issues (I was never more glad to be an adult lol), but the message behind it is really great.
It was a lot about self-love and acceptance, trust and friendship. It was also encouraging to seek help when it comes to self-harming, which is really important to talk about.
So yeah, it's a lot packed into the barely 100 pages of this.
I'm still shock I enjoyed it as much as I did, but I'm guessing it has also a lot to do with the great writing. I've never read a book by Holly Bourne (although her name does sound somewhat familiar), but I definitely need to check out her other works, too!

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I adore Holly Bourne but lover her even more after reading this book she wrote for dyslexic readers. Accessibility in all forms is incredibly important to me and I am so happy that this book exists.
It is short and sweet but made me smile and laugh. A typical Holly Bourne book with strong female friendships and tackling some important issues.
I loved it!

[mylibraryofdreams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Persönliche Meinung
Das Buch zog bei mir ein, weil es 1 von Holly Bourne ist und 2 ganz neu rauskam als ich an der YALC war und es da von Holly signieren lassen konnte. Es hat knapp 170 Seiten und ist riiiesig geschrieben und eignet sich daher mega gut für zwischendurch.

Die Geschichte ist nicht neu, aber die Charaktere sind liebenswert und typisch Holly und die Botschaft am ende doch berührend. Mir hat es unglaublich viel Spaß gemacht das Büchlein zu lesen und ich habe die drei Mädchen direkt vor mir gesehen. Es war erfrischend und süß und einfach ein kurzweiliges Lesevergnügen. Ich habe absolut nichts zu bemängeln, außer dass es zu kurz war. Die Story ist zwar in sich rund und abgeschlossen aber ich wollte meeeehhhrrr! Mehr von Sophia, Mia und Alexis.

Wer also mal was Lockeres und Fröhliches zur Überbrückung braucht what magic is this? ist das perfekte Buch dafür!

Fazit: mega süße Kurzgeschichte über Freundschaft und Selbstliebe

[Laura Tenfingers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read, with a good message in true Holly Bourne style, but it turns out it's for young YA readers, which wasn't made clear in the description, and it's quite short and simple.

The main characters are in year 9 and are pretty innocent and clueless (as they should be) and most of the events take place over the course of a few weeks of life as a high schooler. The general message is about self-love and not letting another person's reaction to you define how you feel about yourself. Especially when said other person is a narcissistic arsehole.

It's a bit infantile if you're an adult who likes to read YA, but as a mum I like knowing that books like this are out there. As always, thanks Holly.

[Ex_Libris_J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine süße kurzweilige Geschichte über Freundschaft, Liebe und so viel mehr 🥰

[LR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Bourne never misses as usual! I thought I was delusional but the main character casting a spell to make a boy fall for her takes the biscuit! (I wouldn’t put it past me though ;))

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

You’ve put a spell on me Holly! @holly_bourneYA - What Magic is This? Is just perfect, honest, funny and pure voice of friendship! I’ve missed Holly’s writing style, it really is everlasting! I loved it! (Which is no surprise there) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @kirstinlamb @BarringtonStoke

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a super sweet and quick novella to read, I felt Spinster Club vibes in this witchy story all about friendship and absolutely loved it. Taking place in one night with a Super Blood Wolf Moon high in the sky, three high school girls cast spells, each on something close to their heart.

The characters introduced were brilliant and I especially loved the ending where we see the trio a few years later. Friendship is magic indeed, and the last couple of lines are words of wisdom to remembe!

This novella is also dyslexia-friendly as well which is great! The font is in a bigger size and in a simpler style, and the language wasn't too intricate to understand. A great witchy novella!

[Takealookinsideabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Learning to love yourself and finding people who love yourself too, that's the real magic"💗
Considering this story is only 167 pages its still packs a punch with its great content and such an important message. A brilliant read that I've thoroughly enjoyed and powered through in one sitting, which doesn't happen for me often! I hope to read more about Sophia, Mia & Alexis is the future 💜

[Janneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Bourne has managed to prove to me once again why she's my favourite author. Her books always feel so amazing and important to have read and this novella was no exception. I absolutely loved it. I had tears in my eyes during the last chapter and the epilogue and I'm quite certain I would have actually cried if I hadn't been in public in a plane

[daisys_buch_reise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Bourne schafft es definitiv genau das anzusprechen, was man eigentlich nicht hören will. Ob nun mit ihren Romanen für Erwachsene oder dieser Kurzgeschichte für Jugendliche.

Wer würde schon öffentlich darüber sprechen, dass man Neid empfindet, wenn jemand anderem ein Kleidungsstück besser steht als einem selbst? Ich denke niemand. Und wer würde sich schon hinstellen und zugeben, dass er oder sie seine Freund*innen zu anstrengend findet, weil sie sich immer in den Vordergrund drängen wollen und man selber sich zu wenig beachtet fühlt?

All diese negativen Dinge, die keiner hören will, niemand zugeben mag aber die dennoch da sind - genau solche Dinge sprich Holly Bourne in ihrem Roman "Witchy Wishes" frei heraus an.

Sie hat es geschafft in eine Kurzgeschichte so viele wichtige Themen zu packen und es dennoch nicht überfüllt wirken zu lassen. Ich als erwachsene Frau würde vielleicht behaupten, dass mir manche Themen fast zu oberflächlich angekratzt sind (Mia's Problem zum Beispiel) wenn ich aber davon ausgehe, dass es sich ja um einen Roman handelt, zu deren primärer Zielgruppe ich nicht direkt gehöre finde ich, dass sie genau den richtigen Ton getroffen hat. Sie geht sensibel aber offen mit wichtigen Themen um und vermittelt die Bedeutung von Freundschaft, Liebe und Vertrauen.

Ich mochte das Buch wirklich sehr gern und kann es jungen Leser*innen und natürlich auch Leser*innen in meinem Alter oder älter empfehlen. Denn auch wenn man kein Teenager mehr ist, heißt es nicht, dass man die Liebe zu sich selbst und das Vertrauen in seine Mitmenschen schon gefunden und akzeptiert hat.

Besonders niedlich fand ich im übrigen auch die Aufmachung des Buches, denn die Mädchen wirken ja drei Zaubersprüche und diese sowie den Spruch zum Bilden des Zirkels wurden auf charmante Weise mit etlichen Illustrationen im Buch abgebildet. Am Ende wurde außerdem Platz geschaffen, damit man seine eigenen Zaubersprüche eintragen kann! Absolut niedlich und zauberhaft gemacht.

[Kara Babcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle-grade novella was a great way to get into the New Year and relax in the bath during my first arduous week back at work. What Magic Is This? is short and sweet. Let’s be clear: if you go into this expecting Holly Bourne’s usual perspicacity from her adult or young adult reads, you might feel disappointed by how simplistic this book is in comparison. But if you approach this from the mindset of your middle-school self, you’ll have much more luck enjoying this. Aimed at alloromantic girls in Year 9 (Grade 8) in particular, this is a book about the tensions between friendship and infatuation, and the lines we draw between reality and fantasy.

Trigger warning in this book for discussions of self-harm/cutting.

Sophie thinks of herself as the boring one in her friendship trio. Alexis is the dramatic one, Mia is the dark/quirky one, and Sophie is the boring one. She hopes to change that one night by casting a spell. Each of the girls wishes for something different, and by the end of the night, it’s possible each girl’s spell came true. Or maybe it’s just wishful thinking. This is not a book about magic. It’s a book about teenage relationships.

Bourne’s characterization, while obviously less subtle than her novels for older readers, remains just as skilled and apt as ever. In particular, I love her turns of phrase and I love the way she establishes the bonds among friends. The running gag with Alexis’ ability to eat entire frozen pizzas from (insert any feeling here), for example, feels quite real, like it’s something that would have actually happened if I had such a friend group at that age. Likewise, Sophie’s first-person narration feels every bit a type of Year 9 girl who is beginning to explore her romantic feelings. Bourne captures the urgency of youthful infatuation.

The plot that frames this story and ties together its characters’ struggles is perhaps the least important element of the book, ironically. What Magic Is This? uses witchcraft to help us learn what these girls are dealing with, but this isn’t a book about girls who believe they are witches. The epilogue that takes place a year later makes this clear, draws a nice line underneath the whole story and provides some good closure.

While Sophie and Mia receive a fair amount of development, Alexis feels like the odd girl out. Her struggle is coming to terms with grief—she lost a dog, whom we are told she actually hated while he was alive—and we also learn she has a flair for drama. That’s about it. Unlike Mia, who at least is revealed as Sophie’s foil through her flare-ups with both Sophie and Alexis, Alexis herself remains the most enigmatic and least used character.

This is a cute book, with many satisfying elements, tightly plotted so it doesn’t overstay its welcome. I think for its target audience it’s a win. As I said in my introduction, older readers will need to approach it with that awareness in order to appreciate it. But I am a huge Holly Bourne fangirl, and I love that she now has stories for all ages.

Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

What Magic Is This? at it's heart, is a tale of friendship. It is the binding agent to this spell, one of the most important 'ingredients'.

Sophia, Mia and Alexis are all well-rounded, distinct characters, each going on their own personal journey in the course of this novella. This was very well done, as this is such a short book, but it manages to create and follow through on a story arc for all three of the characters. The characters deal with a discourse on self-love and self-worth, mental health, and explore relationship dynamics both romantic and platonic. These are similar topics/issue that we all have dealt and deal with - therefore, making this book instantly relatable. And hopefully, as it did for me, end with a heart warming feeling that these are things you can grow, evolve and learn from.

However, I do think I would have enjoyed this more if I haven't read so much of Holly's other work, or read this in such a close time frame to The Places I've Cried in Public, as they all begin to feel very similar. The relationship between Sophia and Aiden in this felt like a very watered down relationship to the one within The Places I've Cried in Public. This doesn't mean that Holly can't write about the same themes and topics more than once, but I find that her catalogue is beginning to feel like the same idea, over and over again.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her first novella for Barrington Stoke, Holly Bourne tells the story of three girls named Sophia, Alexis and Mia who come together to give witchcraft a go in order to cheer up one of their number, which turns into a night of sharing long held secrets that changes all of their lives forever. I loved all three girls and felt like I really knew them all deeply by the end, even though it`s not that long, and I loved the dynamic between them as friends as well. The book has some great messages about friendship and finding magic in the everyday, which I really appreciated too- it touches on difficult themes but overall it`s such an uplifting book. Also, I really enjoyed how reminiscent of Spinster Club this was- I adore that trilogy and even though this was totally different too, those vibes were definitely there and it made me so happy! 4.5/5

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because it is about witchcraft and female friendship. Despite the short length of this novella, it manages to pack a lot in. Three friends get together for a sleepover and decide to cast some magic spells to fix problems in their lives. It's worth a try, isn't it? Even if they're not fully convinced that they can really do magic.
I liked how this book shows the strong bonds between the three girls despite their differences and the love they have for each other. I guessed the 'twist' when it happened, but felt that it fitted really well with the characters.
A short but entertaining and heart-lifting read all about the power of friendship.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middlegrade novel warmed my heart! Even though it's an extremely short book with thick pages and a huge font (perfect for dyslexia or reluctant readers!), it is an important story that every young girl should read. It brought back memories of being an awkward teen and learning to accept yourself. (Oh and don't forget my short obsession with wicca myself.) The female friendship is so so amazing and it shows that friends should pull you up instead of bring you down. This was so cute and lovely, I highly recommend!

[Kat (Bookish Blades) · Rating 4 out of 5]

- ... was it magic or wasn't it? we'll never know
- friendship!!! good, good friendship!
- realization that this friendship is the best and nothing and nobody can compare
- subtly deals with self harm and depression and how to talk about it and get help
- I was a dumb teenager and can identify, oh, the cringey memories this conjured
- short but full of good themes (friendship, mental health, family, learning to love yourself)

[Letanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die drei Freudinnen Sophia, Mia und Alexis haben sich zu einem gemütlichen Abend mit Fastfood zusammengefunden. Außerdem wollen sie einen Zauber ausprobieren, den sie im Internet gegoogelt haben, denn gerade Mia ist festen Überzeugung, dass sie Hexen sind.

Mit gerade einmal 144 Seiten handelt es sich hier um ein recht dünnes Buch, trotzdem schafft die Autorin es, mich mit ihrer zauberhaften Geschichte über Freundschaft, Liebeskummer und Gefühle in den Bann zu ziehen. Die drei Mädchen sind sehr unterschiedlich, aber bereits seit dem Kindergarten befreunden. Jede hat so seine Probleme, die an diesem Abend thematisiert werden. Und vielleicht gibt es tatsächlich auch Magie, das überlässt die Autorin der Fantasie ihrer Leser.

Eine wirklich wunderschöne Geschichte, die man ganz schnell fertig gelesen hat und die einen zufrieden zurück lässt. Von mir gibt es die volle Punktzahl.

[RubyTheReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Loved it! <3
- A wonderfully short and light read...perfect for getting out of a reading slump with!
- Some brilliant themes and girl power!
- Discusses some difficult topics, but as per usual, Queen Holly Bourne handles them well and manages to pull them off with a light touch!
- I adored the witchy vibes
- Such a great message :))
-5/5 Stars ⭐

[Isa Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 Sternis

Dieses Buch war unterhaltsam und genau das brauchte ich, daher habe ich es angefangen. Es war nichts allzu Besonderes und der Plot war vorhersehbar. Aber da ich genau das gesucht habe, bin ich zufrieden. Witchy wishes ist eher für jüngere Leser gedacht, eignet sich aber doch für einen schnellen fiktiven Exkurs. 😂���💖

[Siobhan Leahy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story about learning to live and respect yourself and the power of friendship. Aimed at younger teens I think, definitely going to get my daughter to read this. Nice pallet cleanser before I go back into the depths of my TBR.

[Julias Leseecken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eine süße und kurze Geschichte über drei Teenager Mädchen, dich auch an magischen Ritualen versuchen und von den Ergebnissen überrascht werden. Das Buch hat man wirklich sehr schnell durch und es ist auf jeden Fall für ein jüngeres Publikum geschrieben. Ich fands ganz süß für Zwischendurch.

[Booksrubyreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful short and sweet novella surrounding the magic of having good friendships.