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An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating
An ancient witch explores the thrills—and perils—of online dating with hilarity and heart in a charming rom-com perfect for fans of cozy fantasy and witchy romance.
Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.
But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they’re not impossible.
With the help of the museum’s new curator—and her charming veterinarian brother—Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.
Meet Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch who’s having trouble finding love in the 17th century. Despite the local matchmaker’s efforts and Thorn’s arsenal of powerful love potions, she has yet to fall in love. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, Thorn was too caught up in…well, life, to focus on dating. Now, she fears she may have missed her chance.
But, when one of her potion brews backfires spectacularly, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future, landing in a bustling city where her once-isolated cottage is now a historical museum. While this unexpected leap through time may seem daunting, modern life does have its perks: indoor plumbing, electric kettles, and the world of online dating. At thirty-nine, the odds may not be perfect, but at least they’re not impossible.
With the help of the museum’s new curator—and her charming veterinarian brother—Thorn dives headfirst into the 21st-century dating scene. And as she searches for romance, she might also find herself along the way.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2025
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January 28, 2026cute and cozy. the MC reminds me of amelia bedelia bc of her charm and quirkiness. the LI is sweet and a good match for her as well. the MC's background story, the mystery of her memories, and the thematic lessons about believing in love were a nice touch of depth. i wish the MC also learned she didn't have to find validation in men though. she never seemed to challenge why she wanted a man so badly due to societal pressure, and i would've liked seeing that character development more.
August 8, 2026
"I love you," the man would soon say. And he would be forever hers.Thorn, the local witch, has a deep, burning passion...for finding love. What she wants, above all else, is to share her life with someone who is kind, loving, and willing to be there for her.
But at the ripe 'old' age of 39, she knows that her likelihood of attracting a husband in the 17th century is next to zero. Hence the potions.
However, Thorn (much like her late mother) cannot seem to get the True Love potion quite right...and after a potion mishap, Thorn finds herself thrown 350 years into the future.
Thorn's mother used to say, "Magic is like cooking. There are many recipes for chicken soup: They might not all cure colds, but they all soothe colds."
Her witchy home? A tourist attraction.
Her magic broom and potion stock? Long gone.
The dating scene? Well, there are some improvements after all.
Honestly, this one turned out way better than I expected. I did give the book a bit of a side-eye with the whole True Love potion (given that the premise is if you drink the potion, lock eyes with someone and say, "I love you" that you will forever be in love).
To me, that brought up quite a few moral quandaries regarding free will and servitude, which ultimately were addressed waaaaaay down the line in the book, but not to the depth that I would have preferred.
That being said, the rest of the plot was actually quite fun to read. I liked the easy acceptance of magic from the other modern characters, and the various mishaps that Thorn got into.
I won't give it away, but there was a few twists in the book that genuinely got me. And I always love it when a book manages to surprise me!!
September 2, 2025
✩ 4 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Mature Characters
➼ Talking Cats
➼ Quest for love
➼ 17th Century Witch
➼ Self Acceptance
➼ Cozy Fantasy
➼ Time Travel
➼ Rom-Com
➼ Narrated by Shakira Shute
➼ Third Person POV
This was the perfect rom-com set up! Such a fun and charming read! Thorn is a 39 year old Witch living in the 17th century who is desperate to find love. She will literally try anything from love spells to altering her appearance with potions. Whatever you can think of, she’s tried it! So when she accidentally time travels to the 21st century, of course the first thing she does is create an online dating profile. 😅
She has some ideas in her head about what might make a good match for her, but mostly she seems content to mold herself to fit a man. She is very naive and trusting and unaccustomed to modern concepts like “ghosting,” but she is forced to learn fast! She is so laser focused on finding someone, that she doesn’t see the man right in front of her (despite her magic working hard to bring them together). This is a romance so I don’t think it’s a spoiler to tell you that she does eventually find love, but she also finds herself along the way which to me felt even sweeter. 💖
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the implication that 39 is “old.” I think she was mainly referred to as “ancient” because she was from the 17th century, but the character also made it very clear that she believed herself to be almost geriatric. There were many subtle and not so subtle digs at someone in that age bracket and I wasn’t a fan. It did add a bit to the comedic air of the book, and I can understand that in the 17th century there would be more stigma for someone looking for love at that age, but in general I don’t enjoy it when characters have such low opinions of themselves. Some parts of it did add to the plot like her altering her appearance to please a man but then finding a man who liked her for who she was, but the author didn’t need to include things like her knees giving out after a short run, or her doctor prescribing her tons of supplements, etc.
There were some surprises later in the book that upped the stakes a bit and made the second half a little more exciting, and not TOO cozy which I think is a balance many other books in the genre fail to find. Overall, I thought this was a great plot that was well executed. The cozy witch genre is pretty over saturated, but this is one that I think is worth picking up! 🧙🏻♀️✨
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It’s officially pumpkin 🎃 spice season, so I had to pick a cozy read! I own this one, so I hope it’s good! 🤞🏻
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
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What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Mature Characters
➼ Talking Cats
➼ Quest for love
➼ 17th Century Witch
➼ Self Acceptance
➼ Cozy Fantasy
➼ Time Travel
➼ Rom-Com
➼ Narrated by Shakira Shute
➼ Third Person POV
This was the perfect rom-com set up! Such a fun and charming read! Thorn is a 39 year old Witch living in the 17th century who is desperate to find love. She will literally try anything from love spells to altering her appearance with potions. Whatever you can think of, she’s tried it! So when she accidentally time travels to the 21st century, of course the first thing she does is create an online dating profile. 😅
She has some ideas in her head about what might make a good match for her, but mostly she seems content to mold herself to fit a man. She is very naive and trusting and unaccustomed to modern concepts like “ghosting,” but she is forced to learn fast! She is so laser focused on finding someone, that she doesn’t see the man right in front of her (despite her magic working hard to bring them together). This is a romance so I don’t think it’s a spoiler to tell you that she does eventually find love, but she also finds herself along the way which to me felt even sweeter. 💖
The only thing that bothered me about this book was the implication that 39 is “old.” I think she was mainly referred to as “ancient” because she was from the 17th century, but the character also made it very clear that she believed herself to be almost geriatric. There were many subtle and not so subtle digs at someone in that age bracket and I wasn’t a fan. It did add a bit to the comedic air of the book, and I can understand that in the 17th century there would be more stigma for someone looking for love at that age, but in general I don’t enjoy it when characters have such low opinions of themselves. Some parts of it did add to the plot like her altering her appearance to please a man but then finding a man who liked her for who she was, but the author didn’t need to include things like her knees giving out after a short run, or her doctor prescribing her tons of supplements, etc.
There were some surprises later in the book that upped the stakes a bit and made the second half a little more exciting, and not TOO cozy which I think is a balance many other books in the genre fail to find. Overall, I thought this was a great plot that was well executed. The cozy witch genre is pretty over saturated, but this is one that I think is worth picking up! 🧙🏻♀️✨
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: It’s officially pumpkin 🎃 spice season, so I had to pick a cozy read! I own this one, so I hope it’s good! 🤞🏻
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
October 24, 2025
✨ Charming, witchy, & laugh out loud fun!
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward is a delightful witchy rom-com full of heart, humour, and just the right touch of magic. From the very first chapter, I was completely charmed by Thorn Scarhart, an ancient witch hurled 350 years into the future who finds herself navigating the modern world of online dating.
This story was exactly what I hoped it would be: light, whimsical, and full of warmth. The humour sparkles throughout, with laugh out loud moments balanced by genuine emotion as Thorn adjusts to life in the twenty-first century. I absolutely loved all the witchy details, from the potions and spells to Thorn’s old-world quirks that gave the story such a cozy, magical charm.
✨ Key thoughts
🎨 The cover is absolutely beautiful, and I even had a bookmark that matched perfectly.
🕵️ The time-travel twist and modern dating angle made for such a fun combination.
✍️ The writing is light, engaging, and easy to follow.
📖 Thorn is a wonderfully endearing character with so much heart.
💭 A delightful and warm story that made me smile from start to finish.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A funny, heartwarming, and magical read that left me feeling completely enchanted.
📖 Purchased copy by me
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating by Cecilia Edward is a delightful witchy rom-com full of heart, humour, and just the right touch of magic. From the very first chapter, I was completely charmed by Thorn Scarhart, an ancient witch hurled 350 years into the future who finds herself navigating the modern world of online dating.
This story was exactly what I hoped it would be: light, whimsical, and full of warmth. The humour sparkles throughout, with laugh out loud moments balanced by genuine emotion as Thorn adjusts to life in the twenty-first century. I absolutely loved all the witchy details, from the potions and spells to Thorn’s old-world quirks that gave the story such a cozy, magical charm.
✨ Key thoughts
🎨 The cover is absolutely beautiful, and I even had a bookmark that matched perfectly.
🕵️ The time-travel twist and modern dating angle made for such a fun combination.
✍️ The writing is light, engaging, and easy to follow.
📖 Thorn is a wonderfully endearing character with so much heart.
💭 A delightful and warm story that made me smile from start to finish.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A funny, heartwarming, and magical read that left me feeling completely enchanted.
📖 Purchased copy by me
June 30, 2025
a fun and quirky lowstakes cozy romantasy about 39 year old witch thorn trying to find her true love!
things go wrong when a potion sends thorn and her familiar bandit to the 21st century, but there she discovers indoor plumbing, cell phones, and dating apps, as well as the very handsome mad warlock (veterinarian) walls💗
things go wrong when a potion sends thorn and her familiar bandit to the 21st century, but there she discovers indoor plumbing, cell phones, and dating apps, as well as the very handsome mad warlock (veterinarian) walls💗
June 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers & author for this ARC! I was truly so happy to get this one!
Note : I did end up preordering a physical copy because the cat on the cover was TOO CUTE! So I read the published paperback but I’m still ever so grateful for the eARC!
(Thorn about her sibling) « Even though it seemed like the world was against them at times, they’d always had each other. » 💗
THIS WAS SO CUTEEEEEE I MELTED. It was such a wholesome read and it snapped me out of a truly horrible slump! I’m displaying this on my bookshelves for everyone to see because omg it was so sweet!
The writing pulled me in right from the start. Thorn is a 39yo woman whose considered a spinster. With the death of her mom and sister, she kinda ran out of time to put herself out there and she realizes she doesn’t want to end up alone forever. A spell goes wrong and poof! She’s in modern world.
Adorable - wholesome and just so sweet. Thorn is relatable and funny. I loved her so much. I’m always complaining how we don’t have enough FMCs over the ages of 23 so this was so refreshing! Bandit the cat was my absolute love 😭 he was so sassy and he made me laugh a few times.
I cried of wholesomeness a few times. This was the perfect cozy fantasy and I’m in love 🥰
« We just hear a whisper that someone somewhere sometime needs a cat, and off we go. »
Note : I did end up preordering a physical copy because the cat on the cover was TOO CUTE! So I read the published paperback but I’m still ever so grateful for the eARC!
(Thorn about her sibling) « Even though it seemed like the world was against them at times, they’d always had each other. » 💗
THIS WAS SO CUTEEEEEE I MELTED. It was such a wholesome read and it snapped me out of a truly horrible slump! I’m displaying this on my bookshelves for everyone to see because omg it was so sweet!
The writing pulled me in right from the start. Thorn is a 39yo woman whose considered a spinster. With the death of her mom and sister, she kinda ran out of time to put herself out there and she realizes she doesn’t want to end up alone forever. A spell goes wrong and poof! She’s in modern world.
Adorable - wholesome and just so sweet. Thorn is relatable and funny. I loved her so much. I’m always complaining how we don’t have enough FMCs over the ages of 23 so this was so refreshing! Bandit the cat was my absolute love 😭 he was so sassy and he made me laugh a few times.
I cried of wholesomeness a few times. This was the perfect cozy fantasy and I’m in love 🥰
« We just hear a whisper that someone somewhere sometime needs a cat, and off we go. »
May 26, 2025
What a cozy, delightful, and humorous read. I’m such a sucker for a book that feels like a warm hug, and this one delivers that vibe. It was funny, relatable, and just plain entertaining. I loved Thorn as our FMC and her interactions with Bandit, her sassy cat 🐈 familiar. I also loved how refreshing it was to read a romance with a character in her late 30s. You should read this book if you love:
🐈 Cozy fantasy romance
🌿 A sassy cat familiar
🐈 Found family
🌿 An eclectic cast of cat sidekicks
🐈 Dating app exploits
🌿 Laugh-out-loud humor… armadillos. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you get to that part. 😂
Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
🐈 Cozy fantasy romance
🌿 A sassy cat familiar
🐈 Found family
🌿 An eclectic cast of cat sidekicks
🐈 Dating app exploits
🌿 Laugh-out-loud humor… armadillos. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you get to that part. 😂
Thank you Saga Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 27, 2025
One of my favorites of all time! I LOVED this book!
May 1, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press/S&S, and author Cecilia Edward for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a swing and a miss for me.
I will start with saying any book with animal companions and a witchy vibe are going to find an audience quickly and easily.
However, this is not a cozy read in my opinion. Edward's writing style is extremely simplistic and redundant. There is an awful lot of telling and no showing. On top of that there was many times the use of language for Thorn's character, especially in the beginning in the book, took me out of the story to raise an eyebrow.
Originally I went in to this book excited. I read the synopsis and thought, "A cozy, witchy book where she gets thrown into the future by a magic mishap? Count me in!" After reading the book, I'm just left a little baffled and sad. I think the book could have greatly improved from a bit more continuity checks and maybe some more editing.
The absolute fixation on Thorn's age (I mean can you believe she is 39) gets really annoying, really fast. I got to the point where I started wondering if I should have counted or started a game of it. There is also really no elaboration on environments, descriptions of people are very minimal, and while there are large swaths of internal thoughts (one such introspection lasted three pages while she was riding a broom) they are very unimportant to the story.
There was portions of magic and potions that get referenced that I would have enjoyed more elaboration on but it doesn't come. Cozy does not mean the readers are just told things in simple terms. Cozy usually means a heavy focus on the vibes of the story. Descriptions of the potion making like the smell, the look of the potions, a look through the ingredients needed and so on. There are usually portions of describing a home or the build up of a relationship whether it be romantic or found family. I felt very little connection to any of the characters at the end.
I think there are definitely readers for the book somewhere, but I think this may be more of a palate cleanser than anything else. This is the kind of book you pick up to get over a book slump or hangover, quickly forget about it, and then move on.
This book was a swing and a miss for me.
I will start with saying any book with animal companions and a witchy vibe are going to find an audience quickly and easily.
However, this is not a cozy read in my opinion. Edward's writing style is extremely simplistic and redundant. There is an awful lot of telling and no showing. On top of that there was many times the use of language for Thorn's character, especially in the beginning in the book, took me out of the story to raise an eyebrow.
Originally I went in to this book excited. I read the synopsis and thought, "A cozy, witchy book where she gets thrown into the future by a magic mishap? Count me in!" After reading the book, I'm just left a little baffled and sad. I think the book could have greatly improved from a bit more continuity checks and maybe some more editing.
The absolute fixation on Thorn's age (I mean can you believe she is 39) gets really annoying, really fast. I got to the point where I started wondering if I should have counted or started a game of it. There is also really no elaboration on environments, descriptions of people are very minimal, and while there are large swaths of internal thoughts (one such introspection lasted three pages while she was riding a broom) they are very unimportant to the story.
There was portions of magic and potions that get referenced that I would have enjoyed more elaboration on but it doesn't come. Cozy does not mean the readers are just told things in simple terms. Cozy usually means a heavy focus on the vibes of the story. Descriptions of the potion making like the smell, the look of the potions, a look through the ingredients needed and so on. There are usually portions of describing a home or the build up of a relationship whether it be romantic or found family. I felt very little connection to any of the characters at the end.
I think there are definitely readers for the book somewhere, but I think this may be more of a palate cleanser than anything else. This is the kind of book you pick up to get over a book slump or hangover, quickly forget about it, and then move on.
November 30, 2025
An Ancient Witch’s Guide To Modern Dating doesn’t feel like it’s on the front foot of feminism, with all the allusions to Thorn’s advanced years as an impediment to finding love and the primary motivation being marriage – but the ending is a good one that rescues it somewhat from the jaws of archaic tropes. There’s no steam or spice – just good, silly fun and a few talking cats.
My full review of An Ancient Witch's Guide To Modern Dating is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of An Ancient Witch's Guide To Modern Dating is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
February 13, 2026
2 stars = Meh. Just ok.
“So many eligible men looking for love. And they were all contained in one palm-sized gadget.”
I knew this cozy fantasy romance novel would be predictable and sweet when I picked it, and it was. But it was enjoyable and scratched the itch for a romcom read, which is not my go to genre. People that love this type of story will likely enjoy it more than I did.
It would have been a stronger read with increased humor around the witch from the 1600s adjusting to modern day dating apps and with more of the love story shown which does not begin until very late in the book. But I did enjoy the plotline for what was causing the trouble behind the story’s climax. Recommended to fans of cozy witch reads, sweet and clean romcoms, and to cat lovers.
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First Sentence: “I love you,” the man would soon say.
Favorite Quote: Clearly, thirty-nine years old was when the body started to disintegrate.
“So many eligible men looking for love. And they were all contained in one palm-sized gadget.”
I knew this cozy fantasy romance novel would be predictable and sweet when I picked it, and it was. But it was enjoyable and scratched the itch for a romcom read, which is not my go to genre. People that love this type of story will likely enjoy it more than I did.
It would have been a stronger read with increased humor around the witch from the 1600s adjusting to modern day dating apps and with more of the love story shown which does not begin until very late in the book. But I did enjoy the plotline for what was causing the trouble behind the story’s climax. Recommended to fans of cozy witch reads, sweet and clean romcoms, and to cat lovers.
-----
First Sentence: “I love you,” the man would soon say.
Favorite Quote: Clearly, thirty-nine years old was when the body started to disintegrate.
June 18, 2025
Cute concept, but the forced love spell really bothered me at the beginning. It just made me uncomfortable. And while it got better-ish, the story was super slow at times was hard. I also wasn't a fan of being in your 30s= looking 60s. It is something I feel like we should move past in this generation.
HOWEVER, the cats!! They were my favorite and so were the side characters.
HOWEVER, the cats!! They were my favorite and so were the side characters.
March 24, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press/S&S, and author Cecilia Edward for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is July 1, 2025!
I LOVED the premise of this book - A witch from the 1600s who time-travels to the present day in search of love? And she can talk to cats? Sign me up!
Thorn, a 39-year-old witch, embarks on an incredible adventure with her sassy and adorable cat, Bandit. This was such a cozy and magical read. I can easily see it being the perfect book to curl up with around Halloween.
I rated this book 3.75/5 stars, rounded up to 4. The first few chapters started off a bit slow, and the world-building was a little confusing at first, but once the story picked up, it became much more engaging. Some of the plot twists were predictable, but they still kept the story interesting. One of my favorite elements was Thorn’s potions and magic. It made the story so intriguing, and I loved how they played a role in her journey.
Her love interests were… interesting, to say the least. Without giving anything away, let’s just say there were moments that had me raising an eyebrow and others that had me completely invested. But beyond the romance, what truly made this book special was the sense of found family. Thorn discovers a wonderful community that accepts her for who she is, helping her grow in confidence and learn to love herself. That emotional depth added so much warmth to the story.
The descriptive writing made it feel like I was right there in Thorn’s cozy cottage, experiencing the magic alongside her. There were moments that broke my heart for Thorn, especially regarding her family history, and others that made me laugh out loud—particularly a certain frog (but you’ll have to read to find out!).
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of romance, fantasy, and magical realism! Great job to the author on this one!
💜🧙🏻♀️🧪🪄
I LOVED the premise of this book - A witch from the 1600s who time-travels to the present day in search of love? And she can talk to cats? Sign me up!
Thorn, a 39-year-old witch, embarks on an incredible adventure with her sassy and adorable cat, Bandit. This was such a cozy and magical read. I can easily see it being the perfect book to curl up with around Halloween.
I rated this book 3.75/5 stars, rounded up to 4. The first few chapters started off a bit slow, and the world-building was a little confusing at first, but once the story picked up, it became much more engaging. Some of the plot twists were predictable, but they still kept the story interesting. One of my favorite elements was Thorn’s potions and magic. It made the story so intriguing, and I loved how they played a role in her journey.
Her love interests were… interesting, to say the least. Without giving anything away, let’s just say there were moments that had me raising an eyebrow and others that had me completely invested. But beyond the romance, what truly made this book special was the sense of found family. Thorn discovers a wonderful community that accepts her for who she is, helping her grow in confidence and learn to love herself. That emotional depth added so much warmth to the story.
The descriptive writing made it feel like I was right there in Thorn’s cozy cottage, experiencing the magic alongside her. There were moments that broke my heart for Thorn, especially regarding her family history, and others that made me laugh out loud—particularly a certain frog (but you’ll have to read to find out!).
I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of romance, fantasy, and magical realism! Great job to the author on this one!
💜🧙🏻♀️🧪🪄
March 16, 2025
This was such a cozy, magical read! It was full of potions, witches, cats, wishes, and comedy. This story wasn’t just an ordinary read, it was one of a kind. It had humor and romance. I was fully immersed while reading it. I love all the characters, including the minor characters that were involved. I especially loved her cat named Bandit and his witty personality. I loved Thorn and her trying to understand modern technology as she time traveled into the future!
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is about a thirty-nine year old witch named Thorn, who is eager to find love in the 17th century. She gathered ingredients to make love potions, but none of them worked for her. However, one of her potions that she made ended up going completely wrong and she was time traveled into 350 years into the future! She is now a modern witch, who is still trying to find her one true love.
This book left me feeling joyful and I am grateful to have read such a beautiful story! I give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend this to anyone that loves reading a fun and cozy fantasy book!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Cecilia Edward, and S&S Saga Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is about a thirty-nine year old witch named Thorn, who is eager to find love in the 17th century. She gathered ingredients to make love potions, but none of them worked for her. However, one of her potions that she made ended up going completely wrong and she was time traveled into 350 years into the future! She is now a modern witch, who is still trying to find her one true love.
This book left me feeling joyful and I am grateful to have read such a beautiful story! I give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend this to anyone that loves reading a fun and cozy fantasy book!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Cecilia Edward, and S&S Saga Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
July 2, 2025
Thanks also to @simon.audio and @librofm for the #gifted audiobook!
·..·˙✧˖°⋆⊹ 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚒𝚏 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ⊹⋆..·˙✧˖°·∘
Thorn is turning 40 and she’s still single (oh, the horrors!). She’s also living the 1690 cottage core lifestyle when a spell goes awry and lands her in the 21st century…
Hello, era of modern medicine, online dating apps, and sending nudes 🤣 (btw this is a no spice romance).
This leads to some really amusing dates gone wrong. I have a slight nitpick about the treatment of age 40 as being so elderly… A youth spell that shaves 10 years renders her unrecognizable at age 29??
This one’s for fans of the very secret society of irregular witches and cat lovers 🥰 Cozy and heartwarming, with some laugh out loud anachronistic moments.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Shakira Shute embodies the sweethearted nature of Thorn and her grumpy familiar to a T! Audio is my recommended format.
·..·˙✧˖°⋆⊹ 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎, 𝚒𝚏 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ⊹⋆..·˙✧˖°·∘
Thorn is turning 40 and she’s still single (oh, the horrors!). She’s also living the 1690 cottage core lifestyle when a spell goes awry and lands her in the 21st century…
Hello, era of modern medicine, online dating apps, and sending nudes 🤣 (btw this is a no spice romance).
This leads to some really amusing dates gone wrong. I have a slight nitpick about the treatment of age 40 as being so elderly… A youth spell that shaves 10 years renders her unrecognizable at age 29??
This one’s for fans of the very secret society of irregular witches and cat lovers 🥰 Cozy and heartwarming, with some laugh out loud anachronistic moments.
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Shakira Shute embodies the sweethearted nature of Thorn and her grumpy familiar to a T! Audio is my recommended format.
September 11, 2025
An absolute cozy read! This book is everything I love about fall and spooky season wrapped into one adorable, witchy package. From crisp autumn vibes to charming magical mishaps, it delivers all the cozy elements you live to see in a seasonal romance.
The characters were fun and relatable, the magical world-building was light but enchanting, and I found myself giggling and flipping pages late into the night. It's got that perfect mix of whimsy, warmth, and a little witchy romance.
If you’re looking for something that feels like a cup of pumpkin spice with a dash of spellwork, this is it. I seriously hope Cecilia Edward has more books on the way—I’d read them all in a heartbeat!
The characters were fun and relatable, the magical world-building was light but enchanting, and I found myself giggling and flipping pages late into the night. It's got that perfect mix of whimsy, warmth, and a little witchy romance.
If you’re looking for something that feels like a cup of pumpkin spice with a dash of spellwork, this is it. I seriously hope Cecilia Edward has more books on the way—I’d read them all in a heartbeat!
June 19, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating
Author: Cecilia Edward
Ahhh. More cozy witchy romcoms for my brain. Thank you so much Netgalley and Saga Press for this ARC! This was hilarious. Our main character, a 39 year old witch named Thorn, is looking for love. When she makes a love potion that goes awry, she somehow transports herself and her cat, (and erm… frog) into the 21st century. She’s desperate to return home until she discovers how easy it is to date in the 21st century. Her problems will be solved! She will find herself a man! 😆. Well, let’s just say it’s not as easy as it seems, and wherever Thorn seems to go disaster follows. From cats missing their lives, to sending pics of her kidneys, this book was so quirky and had me laughing the entire read. Also, the slow burn romance was so sweet. Extra stars for Bandit. 🐱
An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating
Author: Cecilia Edward
Ahhh. More cozy witchy romcoms for my brain. Thank you so much Netgalley and Saga Press for this ARC! This was hilarious. Our main character, a 39 year old witch named Thorn, is looking for love. When she makes a love potion that goes awry, she somehow transports herself and her cat, (and erm… frog) into the 21st century. She’s desperate to return home until she discovers how easy it is to date in the 21st century. Her problems will be solved! She will find herself a man! 😆. Well, let’s just say it’s not as easy as it seems, and wherever Thorn seems to go disaster follows. From cats missing their lives, to sending pics of her kidneys, this book was so quirky and had me laughing the entire read. Also, the slow burn romance was so sweet. Extra stars for Bandit. 🐱
July 1, 2025
nom nom nom
May 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Saga Press/S&S and the author Cecilia Edward for an ARC copy of this book. This is my honest review.
This wasn't a genre I usually read, but I wanted to try something different and I'm glad I did. The cover and title is what drew me in, but the plot was what made me stay. This was a fun, stand alone with a lot of comedic moments. One of my favourite parts was that the character was older. The overall concept was also really intriguing. A witch having to learn to adapt to suddenly being 350 years in the future was chaos in the best way.
My favourite character was probably the cat. And I loved the relationship between the cat, Bandit, and Thorn. I loved their banter, and I loved the character and attitude that Bandit gave off.
I did feel some aspects were a bit rushed, but that's a personal preference. I would have liked to see her learning things, and not being told that she had learned things especially when it came to using cell phones, and apps. And I would have liked to see her relationship with Meg develop a bit. It felt like we were just told that she'd helped her, but we didn't really get to see a lot of that interaction. But overall, I really enjoyed this read.
This was a really nice cozy read, and a great way to break up my other reads.
This wasn't a genre I usually read, but I wanted to try something different and I'm glad I did. The cover and title is what drew me in, but the plot was what made me stay. This was a fun, stand alone with a lot of comedic moments. One of my favourite parts was that the character was older. The overall concept was also really intriguing. A witch having to learn to adapt to suddenly being 350 years in the future was chaos in the best way.
My favourite character was probably the cat. And I loved the relationship between the cat, Bandit, and Thorn. I loved their banter, and I loved the character and attitude that Bandit gave off.
I did feel some aspects were a bit rushed, but that's a personal preference. I would have liked to see her learning things, and not being told that she had learned things especially when it came to using cell phones, and apps. And I would have liked to see her relationship with Meg develop a bit. It felt like we were just told that she'd helped her, but we didn't really get to see a lot of that interaction. But overall, I really enjoyed this read.
This was a really nice cozy read, and a great way to break up my other reads.
March 27, 2025
Thank you so much to Saga Press, Cecilia Edward, and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is marketed as a must-read for people who loved A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and The Ex-Hex by Erin Sterling and I think that is the perfect way to describe what this book was like. I love books about witches because they always have such a great atmosphere and Cecilia Edward's perfectly encapsulates that exact vibe.
This book is about 39-year-old Thorn Scarhart while she is struggling to come to terms with still being single at her age. She decides to create a more powerful love potion than the ones she tried to test before and ends up hurtling herself 350 years into the future. Watching Thorn try to navigate the modern world was absolutely hilarious. I genuinely had moments where I had to smack my forehead because of the silly things Thorn was doing. I did think there were some elements I did not totally love, like the jokes about Thorn's age. Because personally to me 40 is really not that old and it's not all that shocking that a 40-year-old could still be single in our day and age.
I think the timing of this books release is absolutely perfect. Around July is right when I start craving all the spooky, cozy, witchy books and I begin creating my TBR for the autumn. I think this will be a very fun very cozy book for people to read when they are craving a witchy book!
3.75/5 stars
This book is marketed as a must-read for people who loved A Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna and The Ex-Hex by Erin Sterling and I think that is the perfect way to describe what this book was like. I love books about witches because they always have such a great atmosphere and Cecilia Edward's perfectly encapsulates that exact vibe.
This book is about 39-year-old Thorn Scarhart while she is struggling to come to terms with still being single at her age. She decides to create a more powerful love potion than the ones she tried to test before and ends up hurtling herself 350 years into the future. Watching Thorn try to navigate the modern world was absolutely hilarious. I genuinely had moments where I had to smack my forehead because of the silly things Thorn was doing. I did think there were some elements I did not totally love, like the jokes about Thorn's age. Because personally to me 40 is really not that old and it's not all that shocking that a 40-year-old could still be single in our day and age.
I think the timing of this books release is absolutely perfect. Around July is right when I start craving all the spooky, cozy, witchy books and I begin creating my TBR for the autumn. I think this will be a very fun very cozy book for people to read when they are craving a witchy book!
3.75/5 stars
March 20, 2025
This was such a fun and cozy fantasy read! With its July release, it feels like the perfect transition for readers who love to get an early start on their fall reading lists.
I loved how Thorn truly lived up to her name—she constantly stands out and can be a bit prickly, though never intentionally. Deep down, all she really wants is love and to be loved, but her attempts at finding it are delightfully chaotic. Beyond the time travel and the immediate comedic shock of landing in modern times, watching Thorn navigate contemporary lingo and dating apps was hilarious.
One of my absolute favorite aspects was the talking cats, especially Bandit, who was delightfully sassy and playfully vicious. It was exactly how I imagine cats would sound if they could talk! Some of the plot points were a bit predictable, but I don’t think a cozy fantasy is meant to be a high-stakes, twist-heavy read, so that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. And without giving anything away, I absolutely loved the ending—it tied everything up nicely while still leaving the door (or maybe a portal?) open for a potential sequel.
Overall, this was a solid 4 to 4.5-star read for me, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends looking for an early witchy read this summer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved how Thorn truly lived up to her name—she constantly stands out and can be a bit prickly, though never intentionally. Deep down, all she really wants is love and to be loved, but her attempts at finding it are delightfully chaotic. Beyond the time travel and the immediate comedic shock of landing in modern times, watching Thorn navigate contemporary lingo and dating apps was hilarious.
One of my absolute favorite aspects was the talking cats, especially Bandit, who was delightfully sassy and playfully vicious. It was exactly how I imagine cats would sound if they could talk! Some of the plot points were a bit predictable, but I don’t think a cozy fantasy is meant to be a high-stakes, twist-heavy read, so that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. And without giving anything away, I absolutely loved the ending—it tied everything up nicely while still leaving the door (or maybe a portal?) open for a potential sequel.
Overall, this was a solid 4 to 4.5-star read for me, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends looking for an early witchy read this summer.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book! My opinions are my own and are freely given.
I love paranormal romances and was especially excited to read this one, as the time travel genre is one of absolute favorites. However, I immediately had reservations when Thorn was making love potions, as she was so concerned about getting married before she turned 40. Consent is so important, and love potions do not allow for consent one bit. This is a slight spoiler, but only so people understand the consent issues in the book, but nothing happens under the influence of love potions.
It's hard enough to navigate online dating, but imagine a witch from the 1700s trying to figure it out. When she just learned she has to turn the water off after turning it on. I laughed so hard at her response to her first dick pic. Omg.
Zero smut in the book.
Loved the book.
Triggers: Child death, love potions
I love paranormal romances and was especially excited to read this one, as the time travel genre is one of absolute favorites. However, I immediately had reservations when Thorn was making love potions, as she was so concerned about getting married before she turned 40. Consent is so important, and love potions do not allow for consent one bit. This is a slight spoiler, but only so people understand the consent issues in the book, but nothing happens under the influence of love potions.
It's hard enough to navigate online dating, but imagine a witch from the 1700s trying to figure it out. When she just learned she has to turn the water off after turning it on. I laughed so hard at her response to her first dick pic. Omg.
Zero smut in the book.
Loved the book.
Triggers: Child death, love potions
October 11, 2025
Cute in concept, criminal in execution.
December 6, 2025
This was cute, and had a unique premise. I enjoyed that it had an unexpected happily ever after. Taking off a star as it had so many modern internet slang that it made the book a little corny and would take me out of thw story at times.
April 5, 2026
Just a fun read! Super cute. Time travel with romance 🥰…the cat is the best character!
October 26, 2025
Time travel, magical potions, and cats.
June 16, 2025
This book was pure cozy joy! Thorn Scarhart is a 39-year-old ancient witch (an older FMC is refreshing) who accidentally time-travels 350 years into the future—where her cottage is now a museum, electric kettles exist, and online dating is a thing.
Navigating the modern world (and the dating apps) leads to all kinds of hilarious moments, especially with her sassy cat Bandit by her side. The cast is so lovable, the romance is sweet, and the humor had me literally chuckling. Thorn is an absolute delight and I adored every second of her chaotic journey.
If you’re into witchy romcoms or cozy fantasy with heart, this one’s for you! Big thanks to Saga Press and Cecilia Edward for the ARC
Navigating the modern world (and the dating apps) leads to all kinds of hilarious moments, especially with her sassy cat Bandit by her side. The cast is so lovable, the romance is sweet, and the humor had me literally chuckling. Thorn is an absolute delight and I adored every second of her chaotic journey.
If you’re into witchy romcoms or cozy fantasy with heart, this one’s for you! Big thanks to Saga Press and Cecilia Edward for the ARC
June 6, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up.
A 17th century witch trying to perfect a true love potion accidentally makes a time travel potion and transports herself and her cat familiar to the 21st century where she attempts modern dating?! It's as hilariously fun as it sounds!
I really liked Thorn as a main character. There was a great mix of her being great at her craft (being a witch) and finding out new things about dating and the modern world. Her backstory played more of a part than I originally thought it would, and I loved learning about her and why falling in love was so important to her. Her cat familiar was SO FUNNY OMG. The cat distribution system is given a magical explanation and every cat is an overlord to their human servant (in their heads anyway). Thorn's conversations with the cats were super funny and a great little quirk to the book.
Now, let's talk about Walls. Walls. Wallace. Walls. The man that you ARE. We're reading from Thorn's POV, but Walls is so sweet to her and Thorn realizes that. She recognizes how kind he is in his responses to her and how he validates her feelings always. There are two random chapters from Walls's POV, and I adored them.
I love it when an author's voice comes through, and Cecilia Edward's definitely has a distinct voice! The humor was quirky and I laughed aloud numerous times. This book is so unserious and wholeheartedly entertaining.
Is this a new favorite book of all time? Probably not. But could I see myself revisiting this story to laugh and have a low-stakes fun time? Yes, I can! More of this, please.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
A 17th century witch trying to perfect a true love potion accidentally makes a time travel potion and transports herself and her cat familiar to the 21st century where she attempts modern dating?! It's as hilariously fun as it sounds!
I really liked Thorn as a main character. There was a great mix of her being great at her craft (being a witch) and finding out new things about dating and the modern world. Her backstory played more of a part than I originally thought it would, and I loved learning about her and why falling in love was so important to her. Her cat familiar was SO FUNNY OMG. The cat distribution system is given a magical explanation and every cat is an overlord to their human servant (in their heads anyway). Thorn's conversations with the cats were super funny and a great little quirk to the book.
Now, let's talk about Walls. Walls. Wallace. Walls. The man that you ARE. We're reading from Thorn's POV, but Walls is so sweet to her and Thorn realizes that. She recognizes how kind he is in his responses to her and how he validates her feelings always. There are two random chapters from Walls's POV, and I adored them.
I love it when an author's voice comes through, and Cecilia Edward's definitely has a distinct voice! The humor was quirky and I laughed aloud numerous times. This book is so unserious and wholeheartedly entertaining.
Is this a new favorite book of all time? Probably not. But could I see myself revisiting this story to laugh and have a low-stakes fun time? Yes, I can! More of this, please.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
March 21, 2026
What drew me in? The cover; it’s very beautiful, so eye-catching. I didn’t bother reading the summary; I just wanted it because of the cover. I probably should’ve checked out the summary, although I still would’ve aimed to get this anyway.
I enjoyed the writing. Sometimes, I like complicated storytelling. Other times, I like simple things. The writing here was simple, yes, but maybe too simple sometimes.
I don’t have anything to say about the characters. I wasn’t invested in them. They were average, at best, I suppose if I have to say anything about them.
I think there should’ve been more descriptions of appearances, places, and I think maybe the internal thoughts should’ve been lessened, especially if it wasn’t anything truly important (keeping a bit of unimportant knowledge helps build character, give readers an idea of what the person is like, but oversharing can get tiresome and/or annoying, especially if it’s just random one-off information, coming from my own experience of doing this sort of thing).
I enjoyed the writing. Sometimes, I like complicated storytelling. Other times, I like simple things. The writing here was simple, yes, but maybe too simple sometimes.
I don’t have anything to say about the characters. I wasn’t invested in them. They were average, at best, I suppose if I have to say anything about them.
I think there should’ve been more descriptions of appearances, places, and I think maybe the internal thoughts should’ve been lessened, especially if it wasn’t anything truly important (keeping a bit of unimportant knowledge helps build character, give readers an idea of what the person is like, but oversharing can get tiresome and/or annoying, especially if it’s just random one-off information, coming from my own experience of doing this sort of thing).
June 3, 2025
Many thanks to Netgalley, Cecilia Edward, and Saga Press for this ARC.
I had such high hopes for the premise and the title, but unfortunately, this book was a disappointment for me.
Despite the premise, the book felt far too juvenile in its execution and did a lot more telling instead of showing. Additionally, it was jarring to have a 17th century witch speaking with so much modernity.
The main issue that made me consistently want to DNF was the hyperfixation on Thorn’s age and the repetition of her needing to find a husband because she was “so old”. The way the author kept bringing it up unnecessarily left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall this had so much potential to be good, but needed much more work on the execution.
I had such high hopes for the premise and the title, but unfortunately, this book was a disappointment for me.
Despite the premise, the book felt far too juvenile in its execution and did a lot more telling instead of showing. Additionally, it was jarring to have a 17th century witch speaking with so much modernity.
The main issue that made me consistently want to DNF was the hyperfixation on Thorn’s age and the repetition of her needing to find a husband because she was “so old”. The way the author kept bringing it up unnecessarily left a bad taste in my mouth.
Overall this had so much potential to be good, but needed much more work on the execution.
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