Unforgivable

Cate Corey's Unmagical Life #2

by Jenn Lessmann

How do you protect yourself from someone else's fear?

MAGIC IS GOING MAINSTREAM.

BUT NOT TODAY.

When Cate Corey returns to college after spending Spring Break in her enchanted hometown, she's tasked with tracking down a wayward witch.

Finding the girl is easy.

The real trick will be stopping her from revealing their secrets to the world.

With the safety of everyone at home on the line, and witch hunters on her trail, Cate must choose between endangering her community and betraying a friend.

This urban-cozy sequel to a witchy mystery will appeal to fans of The Craft and Freaks and Geeks who wished for college seasons.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2024

About the author

Jenn Lessmann is the author of the Cate Corey's Unmagical Life series: Unmagical (2023), Unforgivable (2024), Unbelievable (2025), as well as a new companion novel, The Healer's Guide to Managing Telepathy (May 1, 2026).

A former barista, stage manager, and high school English teacher with advanced degrees from impressive colleges, she continues to drink excessive amounts of caffeine, stay up later than is absolutely necessary, and read three or four books at a time. She loves lists and the rule of three. Irony too.

Jenn is currently studying witchcraft and the craft of writing, and giggling internally whenever they intersect. She writes snarky paranormal fantasy for new adults whenever her dog will allow it.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication day to Jenn Lessman 🫶🏼

This was an amazing sequel to Unmagical. It took the story from the first book and absolutely ran with it; the world building was stronger and I was so engaged from start to finish.

The romance continues to be a slow burn, but everything else that Cate deals with in this book is so fantastically action-packed that my focus was strong the entire time.

This is quickly developing into a brilliantly witchy series 🌙

[Susan Reads Cozies · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the second book gave me The Craft vibes and I was loving it. I like how Cate is going back to college to finish this life journey she started. She takes on the challenge of trying to help another witch who could use some guidance. It makes it even harder when that witch does not think she needs any help. There was so much going on and kept me guessing as to what would happen next. I am looking forward to seeing how this trilogy wraps up.

Thank you to the author for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Kristin R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Book one in the series was incredible and this book was just as great! I love how Jenn writes in a way that pulls the reader in…into the world she has created of magic and mundane. She is able to make characters who feel real, solid, and magical come to life. I particularly enjoy the threads of magical realism that run through both books. If you know magick, the world Jenn has crafted rings true in terms of practices and knowledge.

Our main character, Cate, is a college student and while I am far from my college years now, I can relate to her character still. That is the skill of a good author …. To create worlds and characters we can relate to as readers in some way. Jenn does this with panache and fun! In this book, the magick and the mundane collide and it was fun to see how Cate navigates her new role in both worlds.

Without giving anything away, you need to read this book!! My favorite quote: “She practically had ‘Danger to Myself and Others’ tattooed on her forehead!“

(Honored to have been both a beta and an ARC reader for this book. Congratulations to Jenn Lessman on a wonderful second book in the series!)

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to confess that when I got this book as an ARC reader, I didn’t realize it was book 2 in a series. Whoops. 😅 I just dove right in and hoped for the best. There were a few moments where I had to pause and figure out who was who, but honestly? It still made sense. I didn’t feel like I was totally lost, and I think the author did a good job dropping in enough context without making it feel like a recap dump.

The plot flew by — I was done before I even realized it! It was fast-paced in the best way, with something always happening to keep me turning the pages. There were a few emotional scenes that hit, though some moments that should have felt deeper kind of fell flat. That said, the characters were relatable enough to carry it. I found myself rooting for them even when the plot wobbled.

That said, I do wish I had gotten to know more of the side characters. Aside from Cate and Tori, most of the others felt like background noise. Maybe if I’d read book one, I’d have had more of a connection — but coming in fresh, I didn’t feel like I knew who anyone really was beyond the basics.

The overall vibe, though? So good. It hit that perfect balance of feeling grounded in real-world places and emotions while still being packed with enough magic and action to keep things interesting. I wouldn’t have minded a bit more worldbuilding — but honestly, too much extra detail might have slowed the story down, and I liked the pacing as-is.

The only times I found myself confused were when characters referred to things from book one. It wasn’t overwhelming, just enough to make me go, “Wait, what happened there?” But again, totally on me for skipping ahead. 😅

I’d recommend this one for readers who love magical reads but don’t want to commit to a 500-page tome. It’s lighter than a lot of fantasy books, easy to fly through, and full of characters who feel like they’ve lived real lives — even if you’re meeting them halfway through their story.

[Alex S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one picks up right where Unmagical left off and it’s hard to believe it’s like only a few weeks between these adventures!!
Cate is back at school but now with all the energy release, Hunter’s are after the witches. Though Cate is not great at controlling her new found gift, she wants to find out more about it but she needs to lay low.

A goth witch at school starts causing trouble when she tries to start a school Coven and the energy is most definitely going to attract the hunters!!
- I liked Tori, she was a bit of an entitled witch but I guess she comes from a different community so she’s not hiding as much. She’s a Salem witch! I liked her aesthetic and her attitude was pretty kick ass! You’re a witch, own it girl!

I whole plot was really awesome, some scenes were intense!! Tori, Nora, Thomas, and Brian all added extra layers and I liked that. I enjoyed all the magical rituals and lingo, it felt like Jenn really knows what she’s talking about! Hmmm 🧙🏽‍♀️
Brian as well seems super cool, I loved how he went all physics on Cate instead of being like omg a witch. It made me giggle! I really hope he left Jasmine

There was only a few scenes I was a bit confused. A lot of theatre tech stuff that I didn’t really understand in chapter 27/28, I’ve never taken drama so I was just kinda skimming over the set stuff. I’m sure it was a theatre kids dream.

I also just wanted a bit more from Adam and Cate. I know they’re together but I actually was so confused at what they were when she left. I didn’t feel the love ya know? It didn’t need to be sexy, but it just felt off. Hopefully a bit more lovey in the 3rd book!

Overall I really love this world and it’s just so easy to read about. I can’t wait for book 3!

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"How do you protect yourself from someone else’s fear?" Cate is back! After spending her Spring Break in her hometown of Queen's Creek, Cate is back to school and ready to return to her mundane ways. But some witch hunters have other plans. Cate must reunite with her brother Thomas and boyfriend Adam and a few new friends to prevent a modern day Salem-style witch hunt.

I love a good witchy cozy! Unforgivable is the 2nd book in the Cate Corey's Unmagical Life trilogy. It follows immediately after the events of Unmagical and is fast-paced and suspenseful with, of course, magic at its core.
Cate is such a smart and powerful heroine! Once the pieces fall into place for her, there's no stopping her ability to get things done!

Thank you to Jenn Lessmann for the opportunity to read an ARC of the first two books in this trilogy. Looking forward to the final piece of this trilogy, Unbelievable, coming 2025.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the first book, so I was eager to start this second one. I love how Cate is still going on with her life after the events of the first book, and she still wants to have both a magical and an “unmagical” life. This book was an introduction to the witches’ enemies, the witch hunters, and our/their introduction to other witches and how they “survived.” One fly in the ointment for me in this book was Tori. She acted like a toddler at times, and I really had a hard time with that. That’s one of the reasons I’m not fond of YA/NA; I have enough teen drama of my own. LOL! Anyway, I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to see how Cate, Adam, and Thomas are going to succeed with the next adventure. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Hilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unforgivable by Jenn Lessman is the second book of Cate Corey, who is charged with finding a missing witch, who, when found, needs some help.

This is really a good book for this spooky season, it is a sweet and cozy witch mystery. I enjoyed the first book, and this book gave me the same cozy feeling. It is a good story, with a likable FMC, and a flowing writing style. Cate is a great character, she is smart and she has attitude, in a good way. There is also danger as the witch hunters are on the hunt, and that all made for reading on and on.
Unforgivable is a great sequel in a cozy witch series, a series I have come to love and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

So If you want to read a book this spooky season, this is the book, but do start with book one first.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installation in the Cate Corey's Unmagical Life trilogy! These characters are so vivid and so realistic that you truly, truly feel like they could be your friends in real life. As a theater nerd, the reality of what it is like both on and off the stage is so true, and Lessmann immerses the readers in that world in this book, just as she did with the world of Queen's Creek in the first novel. The addition of Tori, Madi and Morgan was awesome, and the "twist", although slightly predictable, was strong. And oh those hunters are diabolical. This book gave off serious The Craft vibes and I was hear for all of it. I cannot wait to see how Cate's journey ends, although I will be sad to end our literary friendship.

[Melonie Kirchoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Who was I? Prophesy Girl?"

Wow, book two in Cate Corey's Unmagical Life did not disappoint! This book felt rich with the recent events of the previous book shaping Cate's decisions and emotions.

Unforgivable follows Cate back in college on a new mission and, while I missed the lush world-building of the first book, the academic (and theater EEEK!) setting shaped up to be the perfect backdrop for another witchy EMERGENCY.
"It's always an emergency with you girls."

I loved watching Cate's sass come out with classmates, new witches, and especially her twin brother, Thomas, who is becoming one of my favorite characters. I can't wait for the next installation!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cate Corey has set magic free. With her gift unbound, she has eliminated the boundary of her small town and magic is out. Cate intends to live a normal life, even with her "new" power. When she returns to school, she meets another witch that is not keen on hiding her ability. This now brings out a new threat - witch hunters.

Tori has no desire to hide. If anything, she wants the hunters to find her. They killed her sister 3 years prior and she has vendetta to settle.

This book was even better than the first - quick paced, a great read!

[Cecilia Cramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgivable combines the best elements of a mystery with modern-day magic and a touch of daring heroines. I enjoyed reading this book as much as I did the first. I can relate with Cate feeling the pressure of being almost extraordinary but not quite meeting expectations of family and friends. I encourage anyone reading this book to take a moment of reflection and find what makes them feel ordinary because it might just be what makes you unique.

[Angelica Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was pleasantly surprised with how invested i’ve become in this soon to be trilogy. cate corey is one of my new fav fmc’s and following her journey has honestly been such a treat! im a sucker for cozy witchy vibes and i was pleased with how fast-paced this book was compared to Unmagical.
Unforgivable available 9/13!!

[Tera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent continuation of the series! We get to follow Cate as she returns to school in Chicago, picking up after the events in her hometown of Queen's Creek in the first book, where she finds herself with new challenges to overcome. Very intriguing from start to finish and loving The Craft references!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenn Lessmann does a fantastic job in writing this book, it worked with what I've read from the author previously. The characters were everything that I was wanting and thought worked in the genre. The plot was engaging and was invested in what was happening to them.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bookish Venturess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely amazing book. I liked this one better than the first book. I didn't think that was possible but it was. Again it's action packed with magic and mystery. Loved how the book was written and the story line. I can't wait for the next one.