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Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate
The culinary world is full of secrets. For one, recipes can become powerful spells. Of course, fourteen-year-old Sylvie Jones knows this. Sylvie has been dreaming of attending her mom’s alma mater, Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic, since she was old enough to reach the stove. Unfortunately, the last name Jones has a horrible stain on it—something that could destroy her dream. So, when Sylvie is given the opportunity to prove that she's got the skills to be a great chef and put an end to the rumors that her famous chef mother cheated her way to victory at the world's greatest magical cooking competition, The Golden Whisk, she takes it.
But the opportunity she’s been given may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. If Sylvie truly wants to make her own mark and earn a place at Brindille, she needs to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. But some will go to great lengths to ensure Sylvie fails, and she soon finds herself tangled in a web of deceit.
With the unlikely help of frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising-star-student Flora Jackson, Sylvie must find a way to get to The Golden Whisk All-Star competition and uncover the past before time runs out. Will she be able to redeem her family’s name and save her future, or will it all end in burned butter and broken dreams?
But the opportunity she’s been given may not be all that it’s cracked up to be. If Sylvie truly wants to make her own mark and earn a place at Brindille, she needs to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. But some will go to great lengths to ensure Sylvie fails, and she soon finds herself tangled in a web of deceit.
With the unlikely help of frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising-star-student Flora Jackson, Sylvie must find a way to get to The Golden Whisk All-Star competition and uncover the past before time runs out. Will she be able to redeem her family’s name and save her future, or will it all end in burned butter and broken dreams?
400 pages, Hardcover
Published December 9, 2025
13 people are currently reading
5949 people want to read
About the author
Marisa Churchill
2 books30 followersThe kitchen has always been a magical place for me. As a little girl I loved to watch my yiayia (Greek for grandmother) cure olives and make homemade bread. I still remember the first time she gave me my own little ball of dough and let me shape it into a loaf. It was so much better than Play-Doh! When the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen, I instantly fell in love.
In 1999 I decided to turn a life-long passion for cooking into a career. I moved to San Francisco, and graduated from the California Culinary Academy, later furthering my education in advanced pastry skills and savory cooking, at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Over the years I have worked at such notable restaurants as Rubicon, The Slanted Door, Ame, LuLu and Yoshi’s, where I was named “one of the cities top pastry chefs” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s head food critic Michael Bauer.
My culinary adventures have taken me to places I never imagined: competing on Top Chef, building cities out of Rice Krispies and chocolate on Food Network, and across the globe to Greece, where I had my own cooking show.
I've also written for a variety of publications including Eater, Huffington Post, and Chowhound.
When I’m not in the kitchen I can usually be found dreaming up big new story plots. After all, food only lasts a few days. A good book has no expiration date!
In 1999 I decided to turn a life-long passion for cooking into a career. I moved to San Francisco, and graduated from the California Culinary Academy, later furthering my education in advanced pastry skills and savory cooking, at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Over the years I have worked at such notable restaurants as Rubicon, The Slanted Door, Ame, LuLu and Yoshi’s, where I was named “one of the cities top pastry chefs” by the San Francisco Chronicle’s head food critic Michael Bauer.
My culinary adventures have taken me to places I never imagined: competing on Top Chef, building cities out of Rice Krispies and chocolate on Food Network, and across the globe to Greece, where I had my own cooking show.
I've also written for a variety of publications including Eater, Huffington Post, and Chowhound.
When I’m not in the kitchen I can usually be found dreaming up big new story plots. After all, food only lasts a few days. A good book has no expiration date!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 14, 2025
I haven't read a lot of "magical academy" books, because they all tend to be the same: Harry Potter redone ineptly, with the serial numbers lightly filed off (but often hitting the exact same plot points with suspiciously similar characters). Frequently with extra cruelty, because what would YA be without some cruelty?
Well, in contrast to that, this one, while clearly heavily influenced by HP, isn't just a bad fanfic or a rewrite. It's a book by someone who has read HP and thought, "Well, sure, but what if it was a magical cooking school? Also, female main character, ditch the Dark Lord, and amp up the whimsy." It's cozy in tone, though there is a bit of a dystopian situation going on.
It has, in other words, a little more originality than some, and since the author is a chef, the cooking aspect is done thoroughly and plays a key role.
The magic world is all related to cooking, and the worldbuilding is largely edible. Magical people ("Sages") go through a ritual when they're young that gives them a Blade, a chef knife which acts like a wand; for unknown reasons, you can only do this once, so if your Blade is destroyed or lost, you can't get another one. Spells are part recipe, and a lot of magic is infused into food and drink. It's reasonably well thought through, and well sustained throughout.
The main character is Sylvie Jones, whose mother was accused of cheating at the big magical cooking contest, the Golden Whisk, some years previously. There wasn't sufficient proof (partly because she didn't actually do it), and now she has been allowed to come back for Golden Whisk All-Stars, while Sylvie is being allowed to take the six-week course that can grant her entry to magical cooking school if she finishes successfully and manifests her Blade at the end. However, a dystopian Minister of Magic - uh, I mean, President of the CCS, the international authority over all magical cooking people - I forget what the abbreviation stands for - is setting them both up to fail. (Unfortunately, this is partly explained in a document which, because of a formatting issue with my review copy, I was unable to read, along with a couple of other documents that were important to the plot.) He's also introduced a hierarchical ranking system for Sages, is prejudiced against people who are from a Scullery (Muggle) background, and his daughter, who's at the school, is a cheat and a bully.
Sylvie's roommate is the daughter of Scullery parents who are not only not magical, but can't cook. They're from Louisiana, but not at all participants in the rich Cajun or Southern cooking traditions. The two girls get off on the wrong foot at first, but then manage to get over it and form a key alliance.
Sylvie has a lot of trouble, in fact, deciding who can be trusted and who can't; most of the people she meets come under suspicion at some point, and the final culprit is someone she hadn't suspected, because their motive was, frankly, insane. This makes for plenty of suspense and some surprise reversals.
We're not spared from a few tropes at which I rolled my eyes. Sylvie's name appears on a magical apple that indicates that she is prophesied to do great deeds, so she's sort of a Chosen One, although as it turns out, not a full-on Chosen One, and, thankfully, not one of those spoiled characters who refuses to do any work and then gets their powers at the last moment by sheer plot convenience. She's smart (for a 14-year-old), she's a great cook, and she's creative in her solutions, though sometimes that creativity takes a somewhat destructive turn and causes chaos.
There's also a Convenient Eavesdrop, my absolute least favourite plot device, but it's brief and not pivotal.
What ought to be pivotal to the plot, given how much time and how much risk by Sylvie gets invested in it, is the subplot where she has to deliver a written message from the Resistance to the school's principal at a particular time (the day of the Golden Whisk competition). Because of the formatting issues, I didn't see exactly what was in the message, and unless I missed something the delivery was never shown to have happened, although there's a scene in which it's assumed that it was delivered. It also wasn't ever clear to me why it made more sense for Sylvie (a relatively low-powered kid with a big target on her back) to hang on to the message for several days, rather than giving it to the powerful and canny principal straight away and having her protect it from the suspected mole in the school in any number of ways, including just keeping it to herself and not telling anyone.
The book has a number of small flaws like that; things that don't quite make sense, like the school at night being protected by a number of magical traps but not locked, or two girls whose wrists are magically attached to each other somehow being able to cover their ears at a loud noise. There are also scattered examples of a lot of common editing errors, particularly apostrophe errors, lack of a comma before a term of address, missing question marks from questions, missing opening and closing quotation marks and missing past perfect tense. There's a scene early on in which Sylvie goes into her and Georgia's shared room and there are "two boys and a girl" in there with Georgia, but only one of the boys ever gets mentioned or described, suggesting one had been revised out and then the earlier mention had been overlooked. It's just a little scruffy, and needs another pass or two, in other words. Since I saw a pre-publication version from Netgalley, perhaps it will get them.
All these small issues add up, and along with the fact that it's so very based on HP (though with more originality than some I've seen) keep it down in the lowest tier of my annual recommendation list. Still, if you enjoy cozy, like cooking, are a fan of Harry Potter/magical school stories, and don't think too hard about the plot, you'll probably enjoy this considerably. Sylvie is brave and clever, her motivation is clear and compelling, and all her mistakes are honest ones.
Well, in contrast to that, this one, while clearly heavily influenced by HP, isn't just a bad fanfic or a rewrite. It's a book by someone who has read HP and thought, "Well, sure, but what if it was a magical cooking school? Also, female main character, ditch the Dark Lord, and amp up the whimsy." It's cozy in tone, though there is a bit of a dystopian situation going on.
It has, in other words, a little more originality than some, and since the author is a chef, the cooking aspect is done thoroughly and plays a key role.
The magic world is all related to cooking, and the worldbuilding is largely edible. Magical people ("Sages") go through a ritual when they're young that gives them a Blade, a chef knife which acts like a wand; for unknown reasons, you can only do this once, so if your Blade is destroyed or lost, you can't get another one. Spells are part recipe, and a lot of magic is infused into food and drink. It's reasonably well thought through, and well sustained throughout.
The main character is Sylvie Jones, whose mother was accused of cheating at the big magical cooking contest, the Golden Whisk, some years previously. There wasn't sufficient proof (partly because she didn't actually do it), and now she has been allowed to come back for Golden Whisk All-Stars, while Sylvie is being allowed to take the six-week course that can grant her entry to magical cooking school if she finishes successfully and manifests her Blade at the end. However, a dystopian Minister of Magic - uh, I mean, President of the CCS, the international authority over all magical cooking people - I forget what the abbreviation stands for - is setting them both up to fail. (Unfortunately, this is partly explained in a document which, because of a formatting issue with my review copy, I was unable to read, along with a couple of other documents that were important to the plot.) He's also introduced a hierarchical ranking system for Sages, is prejudiced against people who are from a Scullery (Muggle) background, and his daughter, who's at the school, is a cheat and a bully.
Sylvie's roommate is the daughter of Scullery parents who are not only not magical, but can't cook. They're from Louisiana, but not at all participants in the rich Cajun or Southern cooking traditions. The two girls get off on the wrong foot at first, but then manage to get over it and form a key alliance.
Sylvie has a lot of trouble, in fact, deciding who can be trusted and who can't; most of the people she meets come under suspicion at some point, and the final culprit is someone she hadn't suspected, because their motive was, frankly, insane. This makes for plenty of suspense and some surprise reversals.
We're not spared from a few tropes at which I rolled my eyes. Sylvie's name appears on a magical apple that indicates that she is prophesied to do great deeds, so she's sort of a Chosen One, although as it turns out, not a full-on Chosen One, and, thankfully, not one of those spoiled characters who refuses to do any work and then gets their powers at the last moment by sheer plot convenience. She's smart (for a 14-year-old), she's a great cook, and she's creative in her solutions, though sometimes that creativity takes a somewhat destructive turn and causes chaos.
There's also a Convenient Eavesdrop, my absolute least favourite plot device, but it's brief and not pivotal.
What ought to be pivotal to the plot, given how much time and how much risk by Sylvie gets invested in it, is the subplot where she has to deliver a written message from the Resistance to the school's principal at a particular time (the day of the Golden Whisk competition). Because of the formatting issues, I didn't see exactly what was in the message, and unless I missed something the delivery was never shown to have happened, although there's a scene in which it's assumed that it was delivered. It also wasn't ever clear to me why it made more sense for Sylvie (a relatively low-powered kid with a big target on her back) to hang on to the message for several days, rather than giving it to the powerful and canny principal straight away and having her protect it from the suspected mole in the school in any number of ways, including just keeping it to herself and not telling anyone.
The book has a number of small flaws like that; things that don't quite make sense, like the school at night being protected by a number of magical traps but not locked, or two girls whose wrists are magically attached to each other somehow being able to cover their ears at a loud noise. There are also scattered examples of a lot of common editing errors, particularly apostrophe errors, lack of a comma before a term of address, missing question marks from questions, missing opening and closing quotation marks and missing past perfect tense. There's a scene early on in which Sylvie goes into her and Georgia's shared room and there are "two boys and a girl" in there with Georgia, but only one of the boys ever gets mentioned or described, suggesting one had been revised out and then the earlier mention had been overlooked. It's just a little scruffy, and needs another pass or two, in other words. Since I saw a pre-publication version from Netgalley, perhaps it will get them.
All these small issues add up, and along with the fact that it's so very based on HP (though with more originality than some I've seen) keep it down in the lowest tier of my annual recommendation list. Still, if you enjoy cozy, like cooking, are a fan of Harry Potter/magical school stories, and don't think too hard about the plot, you'll probably enjoy this considerably. Sylvie is brave and clever, her motivation is clear and compelling, and all her mistakes are honest ones.
December 1, 2025
This was such a delightful read!
In this book we follow Sylvie Jones as she goes to magical culinary school to become a professional chef as well as help her mom redeem herself, after she got accused of cheating in the Golden Whisk competition. Alongside an unexpected friend, she will not only have to win a place in the school, but figure out the mysterious societies working behind the scenes.
I really enjoyed the concept behind the book and I love the magic system tied to recipes and food. The protagonist was fun to follow and I love the rest of the characters working together to bring the truth out!
Overall a very cute and cozy read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this book we follow Sylvie Jones as she goes to magical culinary school to become a professional chef as well as help her mom redeem herself, after she got accused of cheating in the Golden Whisk competition. Alongside an unexpected friend, she will not only have to win a place in the school, but figure out the mysterious societies working behind the scenes.
I really enjoyed the concept behind the book and I love the magic system tied to recipes and food. The protagonist was fun to follow and I love the rest of the characters working together to bring the truth out!
Overall a very cute and cozy read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 15, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill is a first person-POV YA cozy fantasy. Years ago, Sylvie’s mother was accused of cheating during a magical cooking competition and it has put a stain on her reputation. When Sylvia is given the chance to attend a course at a magical cooking academy, she takes it to clear her mother’s name and learn more about her own magic.
The magic system is food-based and is mostly shown with baking and sweets in particular. I can see this being a big hit with younger fans of the Great British Bake-off who want more tension or fans of Cut-throat Kitchen who want a cozy. Because of how everything is written, I would probably put this at the lower end of YA, but I would say it is fairly appropriate for a middle grade reader.
Sylvie forms a lot of bonds throughout the book, including a friendship with fellow competitor Georgia, though not all of those bonds are positive. The way the relationships are written adds to the cozy aspects along with the worldbuilding and voice. I appreciate the strong focus on Sylvie forming platonic relationships amid the rumors that her mother cheated as it shows how mistakes from the previous generation can isolate the next one and how important it is for chances to be given.
I would recommend this to young fans of cooking competitions and readers of cozy fantasy
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill is a first person-POV YA cozy fantasy. Years ago, Sylvie’s mother was accused of cheating during a magical cooking competition and it has put a stain on her reputation. When Sylvia is given the chance to attend a course at a magical cooking academy, she takes it to clear her mother’s name and learn more about her own magic.
The magic system is food-based and is mostly shown with baking and sweets in particular. I can see this being a big hit with younger fans of the Great British Bake-off who want more tension or fans of Cut-throat Kitchen who want a cozy. Because of how everything is written, I would probably put this at the lower end of YA, but I would say it is fairly appropriate for a middle grade reader.
Sylvie forms a lot of bonds throughout the book, including a friendship with fellow competitor Georgia, though not all of those bonds are positive. The way the relationships are written adds to the cozy aspects along with the worldbuilding and voice. I appreciate the strong focus on Sylvie forming platonic relationships amid the rumors that her mother cheated as it shows how mistakes from the previous generation can isolate the next one and how important it is for chances to be given.
I would recommend this to young fans of cooking competitions and readers of cozy fantasy
November 16, 2025
Charming!
November 4, 2025
This sweet little story was so, so much fun!! Falling in that often forgotten niche between middle grade and young adult, it tells the story of fourteen-year-old Sylvie and her mission to follow in her mother's magical cooking footsteps.
While some parts were a little fantastical for me, I know that I wasnt this books target audience, so I am dropping my advanced copy in my local Little Free Library so another reader can enjoy it!
While some parts were a little fantastical for me, I know that I wasnt this books target audience, so I am dropping my advanced copy in my local Little Free Library so another reader can enjoy it!
November 23, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I must say this book will leave you hungry for something sweet to eat. Sylvie is definitely my girl because she never gives up when a plan failed she always got back up and made sweet tea.
I must say this book will leave you hungry for something sweet to eat. Sylvie is definitely my girl because she never gives up when a plan failed she always got back up and made sweet tea.
December 26, 2025
“From dim sum to dosas, healing epazote to giggling gâteaus, the spells we cast and the foods we eat are influenced by different cultures. When we all have a seat at the table, the world of food becomes richer. Spells turn more powerful.”
Sylvie Jones' dream is to have her own enchanted knife and cook up spells alongside her mother, and once she's accepted into the Brindille School of Culinary Arts & Magic’s six-week preparatory program, she can finally start to achieve her goals. However, Sylvie’s excitement is quickly dimmed by a rumor that her mother cheated while competing for Team USA at the Golden Whisk, a major cooking competition. As a consequence, Sylvie is expected to prove herself by placing top of her class. But when important ingredients linked to banned recipes and influential people in the world of cooking begin to go missing, Sylvie must solve the mystery of what exactly happened at that fateful competition years ago. As secrets begin to reveal themselves, she must decide who she can trust and uncover the truth behind the Golden Whisk to clear the Jones name once and for all.
I was first drawn to Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate because of its vibrant cover. Brindille sounds like a foodie’s dream, with food trucks as classrooms and pumpkin books filled with pepita seeds. In the beginning, Sylvie wasn’t my favorite as she seemed a bit selfish and too focused on her own success. As the story continues, she starts to develop into someone who embraces the school’s motto: “We are stronger when we work together.” Although Sylvie had experienced a deep betrayal from someone she thought would never hurt her, she doesn’t falter and still trusts her friends to help save the competition. The side characters were memorable and engaging, and you can tell Churchill spent a thorough amount of time developing who they are. Georgia, Sylvie’s roommate, seems to have it all and dresses in designer clothes, but she is quietly fighting to prove her place at Brindille despite her scullery background. Flora, a mentor and student at Brindille, is working to win the competition to become the commis (junior chef) representing Brindille at the Golden Whisk, all while hiding secrets that make Sylvie suspicious of her. The mystery kept me guessing from start to finish, though the frequent plot twists felt a bit overwhelming at moments. Every time I thought I had the culprit figured out, the story would surprise me again. While I would have liked a bit more insight into what’s next for Sylvie, Georgia, and Flora, it would be nice to have a sequel continuing their story. If you’re looking for a cozy book with a touch of mystery, this book is an enjoyable treat!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Page Street YA for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Sylvie Jones' dream is to have her own enchanted knife and cook up spells alongside her mother, and once she's accepted into the Brindille School of Culinary Arts & Magic’s six-week preparatory program, she can finally start to achieve her goals. However, Sylvie’s excitement is quickly dimmed by a rumor that her mother cheated while competing for Team USA at the Golden Whisk, a major cooking competition. As a consequence, Sylvie is expected to prove herself by placing top of her class. But when important ingredients linked to banned recipes and influential people in the world of cooking begin to go missing, Sylvie must solve the mystery of what exactly happened at that fateful competition years ago. As secrets begin to reveal themselves, she must decide who she can trust and uncover the truth behind the Golden Whisk to clear the Jones name once and for all.
I was first drawn to Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate because of its vibrant cover. Brindille sounds like a foodie’s dream, with food trucks as classrooms and pumpkin books filled with pepita seeds. In the beginning, Sylvie wasn’t my favorite as she seemed a bit selfish and too focused on her own success. As the story continues, she starts to develop into someone who embraces the school’s motto: “We are stronger when we work together.” Although Sylvie had experienced a deep betrayal from someone she thought would never hurt her, she doesn’t falter and still trusts her friends to help save the competition. The side characters were memorable and engaging, and you can tell Churchill spent a thorough amount of time developing who they are. Georgia, Sylvie’s roommate, seems to have it all and dresses in designer clothes, but she is quietly fighting to prove her place at Brindille despite her scullery background. Flora, a mentor and student at Brindille, is working to win the competition to become the commis (junior chef) representing Brindille at the Golden Whisk, all while hiding secrets that make Sylvie suspicious of her. The mystery kept me guessing from start to finish, though the frequent plot twists felt a bit overwhelming at moments. Every time I thought I had the culprit figured out, the story would surprise me again. While I would have liked a bit more insight into what’s next for Sylvie, Georgia, and Flora, it would be nice to have a sequel continuing their story. If you’re looking for a cozy book with a touch of mystery, this book is an enjoyable treat!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Page Street YA for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
October 21, 2025
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is a charming and whimsical YA debut from Chef Marisa Churchill. This delicious cozy fantasy leaves the reader wanting to run to the kitchen to create their own culinary magic. This story is full of heart, humor, friendship, secrets, mystery, and magic. The delightful characters and fantastic world building pull you into the story until you wish you were at Brindille yourself baking up your own sweet magical creations!
I loved every moment of this delightfully creative story! Marisa Churchill drew me in from the first chapter, when our heroine, Sylvie Jones, first arrives at Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic via a secret door in an off-the-beaten-path diner. From the first chapter, Churchill builds mystery and intrigue that pulls the reader in and makes you want to keep reading more.
Marisa Churchill's world building is fantastic! Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic is a place straight out of a dream. Churchill's descriptions of the grounds of Brindille and all of it's magical elements, make the reader wish it was a real place they could travel to. In addition, the tantalizing descriptions of all the magical bakes and sweets will have your imagination running wild and your mouth watering.
The story follows 14 year old Sylvie, who has always dreamed of attending her mom's alma mater, Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic.
Unfortunately, Sylvie's name name has a horrible stain on it, due to those who believe her mom cheated in last year's prestigious magical cooking competition, The Golden Whisk. So when Sylvie is given a chance to attend a six-week program at Brindille and has the opportunity to prove herself and to clear her mom's name, she takes it. The problem is, someone is going to great lengths to make sure Sylvie doesn't succeed. Sylvie enlists the help of frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising star student Flora Jackson to untangle the web of lies being spun at Brindille and to clear her mom's name.
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is such a fun book! What makes it even more special is the fact that Churchill pulls from her own culinary experiences to really make Brindille come alive. She has even modeled some of the characters after other chef's who she knows. This is more than just a book about baking though, the magical fantasy elements of each recipe, spell, and competition make the book that much more special. From recipes that can determine if someone is lying, to gummy fish that swim in a tank before you eat them, to floating kitchens, this book is full of fun fantastical moments! But at it's heart, it's the story of a young girl going after her dream and doing all she can for the ones she loves. This is a heartwarming story that will put you under a spell!
I loved every moment of this delightfully creative story! Marisa Churchill drew me in from the first chapter, when our heroine, Sylvie Jones, first arrives at Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic via a secret door in an off-the-beaten-path diner. From the first chapter, Churchill builds mystery and intrigue that pulls the reader in and makes you want to keep reading more.
Marisa Churchill's world building is fantastic! Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic is a place straight out of a dream. Churchill's descriptions of the grounds of Brindille and all of it's magical elements, make the reader wish it was a real place they could travel to. In addition, the tantalizing descriptions of all the magical bakes and sweets will have your imagination running wild and your mouth watering.
The story follows 14 year old Sylvie, who has always dreamed of attending her mom's alma mater, Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic.
Unfortunately, Sylvie's name name has a horrible stain on it, due to those who believe her mom cheated in last year's prestigious magical cooking competition, The Golden Whisk. So when Sylvie is given a chance to attend a six-week program at Brindille and has the opportunity to prove herself and to clear her mom's name, she takes it. The problem is, someone is going to great lengths to make sure Sylvie doesn't succeed. Sylvie enlists the help of frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising star student Flora Jackson to untangle the web of lies being spun at Brindille and to clear her mom's name.
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is such a fun book! What makes it even more special is the fact that Churchill pulls from her own culinary experiences to really make Brindille come alive. She has even modeled some of the characters after other chef's who she knows. This is more than just a book about baking though, the magical fantasy elements of each recipe, spell, and competition make the book that much more special. From recipes that can determine if someone is lying, to gummy fish that swim in a tank before you eat them, to floating kitchens, this book is full of fun fantastical moments! But at it's heart, it's the story of a young girl going after her dream and doing all she can for the ones she loves. This is a heartwarming story that will put you under a spell!
January 19, 2026
Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: 3.29 stars
Spice: None
ARC publication date: December 9th 2025
Tropes: Magical school, tween fantasy, unique cooking magic system, new friends
Quote: “The very best chefs are sorcerers and magicians.” Ms. Honeycut stood rigid. “They can transform even the most mundane ingredients into something spectacular."
My synopsis: 14yo Sylvie Jones is so excited to be following in her talented mums footsteps at the Brindille School of Culinary Arts & Magic to earn her charned chefs knife. But hateful rumours threaten to overshadow this dream, with the Council of Culinary Sages accusing her mother of cheating in the revered Golden Whisk competition. Under the prejudiced orders of President Bass, Sylvie and her mum have one chance to prove their worth and keep their culinary magic - no pressure! But when a mysterious man shows Sylvie that the Apple Of Discord (a harbinger of danger) has appeared with her name carved into it, Sylvie realises it's not just her family's magic at stake...
My review: This was a nice little fantasy story great for young kids. I really liked the fantastical world with pumpkin snakes, grouchy stairs, moving food sculptures, and edible things everywhere. The story reflected real life themes in the USA, with a prejudiced president reminiscent of Trump who was trying to segregate and oppress the "lesser". The recipes at the end were a nice touch.
Unfortunately, the message inside the secret letter was missing in my ARC format and it felt like I missed out on a lot of important info because of that. There were many twists and stories to keep track of in the last quarter, and upper management events a student shouldn't have been involved in. I was also disappointed the Apple Of Discord was such a minor part of the story.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
Trigger warnings: Dictator, prejudice, bullying, hate crime, classism, injury detail, blood
CAWPILE rating: 3.29 stars
Spice: None
ARC publication date: December 9th 2025
Tropes: Magical school, tween fantasy, unique cooking magic system, new friends
Quote: “The very best chefs are sorcerers and magicians.” Ms. Honeycut stood rigid. “They can transform even the most mundane ingredients into something spectacular."
My synopsis: 14yo Sylvie Jones is so excited to be following in her talented mums footsteps at the Brindille School of Culinary Arts & Magic to earn her charned chefs knife. But hateful rumours threaten to overshadow this dream, with the Council of Culinary Sages accusing her mother of cheating in the revered Golden Whisk competition. Under the prejudiced orders of President Bass, Sylvie and her mum have one chance to prove their worth and keep their culinary magic - no pressure! But when a mysterious man shows Sylvie that the Apple Of Discord (a harbinger of danger) has appeared with her name carved into it, Sylvie realises it's not just her family's magic at stake...
My review: This was a nice little fantasy story great for young kids. I really liked the fantastical world with pumpkin snakes, grouchy stairs, moving food sculptures, and edible things everywhere. The story reflected real life themes in the USA, with a prejudiced president reminiscent of Trump who was trying to segregate and oppress the "lesser". The recipes at the end were a nice touch.
Unfortunately, the message inside the secret letter was missing in my ARC format and it felt like I missed out on a lot of important info because of that. There were many twists and stories to keep track of in the last quarter, and upper management events a student shouldn't have been involved in. I was also disappointed the Apple Of Discord was such a minor part of the story.
With thanks to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
Trigger warnings: Dictator, prejudice, bullying, hate crime, classism, injury detail, blood
December 9, 2025
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill is a delightful middle-grade fantasy that blends cooking, magic, mystery, and a dash of friendship drama into a wonderfully engaging story. With its enchanting worldbuilding and heartfelt themes, it’s a sweet—and sometimes bittersweet—tale about ambition, legacy, and finding your own path.
Sylvie Jones is an instantly lovable heroine: determined, talented, and carrying the burden of a family scandal she barely understands. Her dream of attending the prestigious Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic feels so real and relatable, especially with her mother’s tarnished reputation looming over every opportunity. The magical cooking system is whimsical and fun, mixing ingredients and spells in ways that feel fresh and imaginative.
When Sylvie gets the chance to prove herself, the pressure is on—and the story shines brightest as she navigates sabotage, secrets, and the fear that her mother may not have been the hero she believed. The mystery surrounding The Golden Whisk competition adds compelling tension, drawing readers deeper into the world’s culinary magic and its darker undercurrents.
The supporting cast—especially frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising star Flora Jackson—adds humor, heart, and just enough chaos. Their evolving dynamic underscores the book’s larger themes: trust, forgiveness, and the messy-but-beautiful nature of friendship.
Sylvie Jones is an instantly lovable heroine: determined, talented, and carrying the burden of a family scandal she barely understands. Her dream of attending the prestigious Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic feels so real and relatable, especially with her mother’s tarnished reputation looming over every opportunity. The magical cooking system is whimsical and fun, mixing ingredients and spells in ways that feel fresh and imaginative.
When Sylvie gets the chance to prove herself, the pressure is on—and the story shines brightest as she navigates sabotage, secrets, and the fear that her mother may not have been the hero she believed. The mystery surrounding The Golden Whisk competition adds compelling tension, drawing readers deeper into the world’s culinary magic and its darker undercurrents.
The supporting cast—especially frenemy Georgia Shaw and rising star Flora Jackson—adds humor, heart, and just enough chaos. Their evolving dynamic underscores the book’s larger themes: trust, forgiveness, and the messy-but-beautiful nature of friendship.
December 8, 2025
Okay, let me start by saying this book was so heartwarming and magical!
Following our protagonist Sylvie through this story is such a joy and also pretty exciting!
She’s starting out at a magical cooking school and how amazing is that?! A school where you learn that magic of recipes and food. I was certainly amazed by how this concept was brought to life!
And while Sylvie has been dealt a bad hand lately, she doesn’t back down and is determined to find the truth! All with the help of new found friends and skills.
I certainly really enjoyed this world, the magic and the characters! Everything was thought through so well and made reading such fun. Until the very end you never really know who the true culprit is and how it’s gonna play out. The plot was cohesive like that. Sylvie and her friends were well constructed characters that you couldn’t stop but smile at. I like lifelike relatable characters like that.
This book is perfect for magic lovers and readers who first fell in love with reading because of a certain well known magical school series. Felt right like coming home. I’d definitely recommend this!
[thanks to the author and the Page Street Team for the e-arc!
All views and opinions are my own]
Following our protagonist Sylvie through this story is such a joy and also pretty exciting!
She’s starting out at a magical cooking school and how amazing is that?! A school where you learn that magic of recipes and food. I was certainly amazed by how this concept was brought to life!
And while Sylvie has been dealt a bad hand lately, she doesn’t back down and is determined to find the truth! All with the help of new found friends and skills.
I certainly really enjoyed this world, the magic and the characters! Everything was thought through so well and made reading such fun. Until the very end you never really know who the true culprit is and how it’s gonna play out. The plot was cohesive like that. Sylvie and her friends were well constructed characters that you couldn’t stop but smile at. I like lifelike relatable characters like that.
This book is perfect for magic lovers and readers who first fell in love with reading because of a certain well known magical school series. Felt right like coming home. I’d definitely recommend this!
[thanks to the author and the Page Street Team for the e-arc!
All views and opinions are my own]
December 13, 2025
This was such a fun debut focusing on friendship, food, and facing adversity!
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is a cosy (on the younger side of) YA book set at a magical cooking academy where 14 year old Sylvie is permitted to enter to earn her Blade, despite the ongoing backlash of her mother's supposed cheating scandal several years earlier at the infamous Golden Whisk Competition (think The Great British Bake Off but with fantastical ingredients, dragons, and floating kitchens). Unfortunately disaster is looming with shady characters, missing ingredients, and plots to take out Sylvie's magical lineage...
I loved the whimsy in every food item, the charms of the school, and how the magic system was tied into baking and cooking. There were definitely some twists and turns that I didn't see coming; and while there was a satisfying conclusion, there's an opening for a sequel that I will certainly be picking up if it comes to fruition! Don't forget to check out the recipes included in the back!
Again a wonderful debut novel, I look forward to the author's future books~
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me access to an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All feelings and statements are my own.
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is a cosy (on the younger side of) YA book set at a magical cooking academy where 14 year old Sylvie is permitted to enter to earn her Blade, despite the ongoing backlash of her mother's supposed cheating scandal several years earlier at the infamous Golden Whisk Competition (think The Great British Bake Off but with fantastical ingredients, dragons, and floating kitchens). Unfortunately disaster is looming with shady characters, missing ingredients, and plots to take out Sylvie's magical lineage...
I loved the whimsy in every food item, the charms of the school, and how the magic system was tied into baking and cooking. There were definitely some twists and turns that I didn't see coming; and while there was a satisfying conclusion, there's an opening for a sequel that I will certainly be picking up if it comes to fruition! Don't forget to check out the recipes included in the back!
Again a wonderful debut novel, I look forward to the author's future books~
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me access to an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All feelings and statements are my own.
December 13, 2025
*thank you to Netgally for giving me access*
3.5 stars
I really like the concept of this book as I'm a fan of both cooking shows such as Great British Bake Off and magical schools. However, the magic system confused me a little as I'm not clear about the limits of the magic and while I, admittedly, am not a very experienced baker, I did not feel the cooking aspect this much. Same with the school setting sadly. I understand that there is a limited page count and that not a big part of the book can be devoted to the mundane school stuff, I would have liked to see more classes.
Towards the latter half of the book, the plot was going so fast that I almost couldn't keep up, with multiple plot twists and betrayals. If the book had been longer, there would have been more time to develop the plot twists better and space them out more and give the characters more time to work on their relationships with each oter, specifically Sylvie and Georgia.
The jump to a different location also felt both rushed and drawn out at the same time, and the ending disappointed me a little because they spend the whole book stressing about the test they have to take, but in the end it was over in a few pages. It does leave room for a sequel and if that were to come, I would be interested in reading it.
3.5 stars
I really like the concept of this book as I'm a fan of both cooking shows such as Great British Bake Off and magical schools. However, the magic system confused me a little as I'm not clear about the limits of the magic and while I, admittedly, am not a very experienced baker, I did not feel the cooking aspect this much. Same with the school setting sadly. I understand that there is a limited page count and that not a big part of the book can be devoted to the mundane school stuff, I would have liked to see more classes.
Towards the latter half of the book, the plot was going so fast that I almost couldn't keep up, with multiple plot twists and betrayals. If the book had been longer, there would have been more time to develop the plot twists better and space them out more and give the characters more time to work on their relationships with each oter, specifically Sylvie and Georgia.
The jump to a different location also felt both rushed and drawn out at the same time, and the ending disappointed me a little because they spend the whole book stressing about the test they have to take, but in the end it was over in a few pages. It does leave room for a sequel and if that were to come, I would be interested in reading it.
December 2, 2025
As a food writer who knows this world intimately, I went into this book expecting pure fantasy—but what surprised me most was how much truth lives inside its pages. The author captures the rhythms, obsessions, and small sensual joys of food culture with an accuracy that feels almost lived-in. Even when the plot veers into whimsy, the emotional texture remains authentic, grounded in the very real ways food shapes identity, ambition, and connection.
But what truly won me over was the sense of wonder woven throughout the narrative. Reading it brought me back to the feeling of being a child again, sneaking a flashlight under the covers and losing myself in a story that opened a door to another world. There’s a warmth and playfulness here that makes the book feel like an escape in the best sense—comforting, transporting, and full of imaginative delight.
It’s rare for a novel to balance fantasy, sensory richness, and emotional truth this well. This one does, and it leaves you both hungry and happy.
But what truly won me over was the sense of wonder woven throughout the narrative. Reading it brought me back to the feeling of being a child again, sneaking a flashlight under the covers and losing myself in a story that opened a door to another world. There’s a warmth and playfulness here that makes the book feel like an escape in the best sense—comforting, transporting, and full of imaginative delight.
It’s rare for a novel to balance fantasy, sensory richness, and emotional truth this well. This one does, and it leaves you both hungry and happy.
November 1, 2025
*Actual rating is 4.25 stars*
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is a sweet treat of a book. This magical realism story focuses on a magical cooking school and Sylvie, who is determined to save her family name and earn her magical blade. Turns out it’s easier said than done, as there’s a conspiracy bigger than just the school and she is the only one to stop it. Alongside her new friends, Sylvie must cook her way to success. As the main character is 14 years old, this is a YA on the lower end of the spectrum. So expect her to act like a young teen. But, with that said it was still a nice story to read as an adult and it reminded me of books I loved when I was younger. The mischief, the silly solutions and the focus on friendship was just fun to read about. Fair warning, you will get hungry while reading.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Toppling Stacks Tours for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is a sweet treat of a book. This magical realism story focuses on a magical cooking school and Sylvie, who is determined to save her family name and earn her magical blade. Turns out it’s easier said than done, as there’s a conspiracy bigger than just the school and she is the only one to stop it. Alongside her new friends, Sylvie must cook her way to success. As the main character is 14 years old, this is a YA on the lower end of the spectrum. So expect her to act like a young teen. But, with that said it was still a nice story to read as an adult and it reminded me of books I loved when I was younger. The mischief, the silly solutions and the focus on friendship was just fun to read about. Fair warning, you will get hungry while reading.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Toppling Stacks Tours for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2025
📖 Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill | 396 pages by Page Street YA | Paperback arc gifted from the author and publisher
⭐️ 4.5 stars, loved it!
Quick take:
Aw what a fun magical culinary delight! I loved taking this adventure at Brindille and being immersed in all the delicious fun and drama. Would love to see it be made into a middle grade / young adult movie.
The background /tropes / read if you enjoy:
😍 Sweet dedication page
🪄 Spells and magic
📜 Chapter titles
🐾 kitties! Secret and sauce, how cute
💕 Coming of age, magical culinary boarding school
🏆 Includes a competition
😋 tons of yummy food references. Magical food too! Motivation muffins. Concentration cream donuts. Lol at the fruity mentos and caching a frog. Transparent pie. Peanut butter and banana (cute reference for their pairing)
📚 Huge library filled with over 100k, many cookbooks
��� storage cellars full of magical ingredients!
⭐️ 4.5 stars, loved it!
Quick take:
Aw what a fun magical culinary delight! I loved taking this adventure at Brindille and being immersed in all the delicious fun and drama. Would love to see it be made into a middle grade / young adult movie.
The background /tropes / read if you enjoy:
😍 Sweet dedication page
🪄 Spells and magic
📜 Chapter titles
🐾 kitties! Secret and sauce, how cute
💕 Coming of age, magical culinary boarding school
🏆 Includes a competition
😋 tons of yummy food references. Magical food too! Motivation muffins. Concentration cream donuts. Lol at the fruity mentos and caching a frog. Transparent pie. Peanut butter and banana (cute reference for their pairing)
📚 Huge library filled with over 100k, many cookbooks
��� storage cellars full of magical ingredients!
October 15, 2025
"Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate" by Marisa Churchill is a unique middle grade/high school cozy fantasy mystery. Sylvie Jones is finally getting to start at her dream school. A magical culinary academy that teaches anyone with magical food abilities. These seem to be the only magical abilities in this world. Though, if there's magical baking/cooking shouldn't there be other magical handicrafts/skills?
Sylvie has the added challenge of being the child of a presumed Golden Whisk cheater. To clear their honor/name and keep their magical abilities, she has to ace her class and her mom has to win another round at the Golden Whisk. Someone seems set to make an example out of both of them via humiliation at their respective tasks. Sylvie doesn't make it easy for her self by sneaking around trying to solve the mystery of who is behind everything.
Sylvie has the added challenge of being the child of a presumed Golden Whisk cheater. To clear their honor/name and keep their magical abilities, she has to ace her class and her mom has to win another round at the Golden Whisk. Someone seems set to make an example out of both of them via humiliation at their respective tasks. Sylvie doesn't make it easy for her self by sneaking around trying to solve the mystery of who is behind everything.
October 29, 2025
Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate is one of the best young adult books I read this year. Like a great recipe it has the perfect blend of ingredients. Well written characters, mysterious happenings, a nefarious plot linked to the past, a magical culinary school, a fated heroine, and more.
The writing itself was magical and fully transports the reader into the world of Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic. The world building was well crafted, with enough details to give a true sense of place.
Sylvie, and sidekick Georgia, complimented each other well, despite their rough beginning. As I read, I became invested in Sylvie's story, the mysteries unfolding, and discovering who set-up her mom at the Golden Whisk competition years ago. Honestly, I couldn't put the book down. 400 pages flew by in a flash and I enjoyed them all.
Highly recommend this book!
The writing itself was magical and fully transports the reader into the world of Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic. The world building was well crafted, with enough details to give a true sense of place.
Sylvie, and sidekick Georgia, complimented each other well, despite their rough beginning. As I read, I became invested in Sylvie's story, the mysteries unfolding, and discovering who set-up her mom at the Golden Whisk competition years ago. Honestly, I couldn't put the book down. 400 pages flew by in a flash and I enjoyed them all.
Highly recommend this book!
January 4, 2026
A Whiskful of Magic and Mystery🍰🍫
This enchanting novel serves up the perfect blend of culinary artistry, spellbinding magic, and heartfelt drama. Sylvie Jones is a determined and relatable heroine, whose fight to clear her family’s name and claim her own future is utterly compelling. The magical cooking school setting is brilliantly realized, making you wish you could taste the enchanted creations.
The plot is a delicious mix of high-stakes competition, deepening friendships, and a simmering mystery that keeps the pages turning. With its vibrant characters and mouth-watering descriptions, this book is a triumphant and satisfying read that will leave you believing in the magic of following your passion. Truly a delightful feast for the imagination!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC！
This enchanting novel serves up the perfect blend of culinary artistry, spellbinding magic, and heartfelt drama. Sylvie Jones is a determined and relatable heroine, whose fight to clear her family’s name and claim her own future is utterly compelling. The magical cooking school setting is brilliantly realized, making you wish you could taste the enchanted creations.
The plot is a delicious mix of high-stakes competition, deepening friendships, and a simmering mystery that keeps the pages turning. With its vibrant characters and mouth-watering descriptions, this book is a triumphant and satisfying read that will leave you believing in the magic of following your passion. Truly a delightful feast for the imagination!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC！
November 13, 2025
Sylvie Jones' lifelong ambitions are quite straight forward, but a problematic family history is holding her back from following her dreams at the Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic, where her mother graduated from.
So, when an opportunity unexpectedly comes her way, Sylvie is determined to mask her identity and make the best of her one shot at success. Even if it means having to work alongside the most unexpected of collaborators...
A delicious and entertaining piece of (comfort food) storytelling, this one is worth your time, earning 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So, when an opportunity unexpectedly comes her way, Sylvie is determined to mask her identity and make the best of her one shot at success. Even if it means having to work alongside the most unexpected of collaborators...
A delicious and entertaining piece of (comfort food) storytelling, this one is worth your time, earning 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 11, 2025
Book Review 5⭐️
Marisa Churchill has done a magnificent job creating a safe space for middle grade fantasy.
Sylvie is so loveable, you can't help but love her attitude and worry when she jumps conclusions. You fear for her when she appears to be bullied snd root for her finding friendships that appear true.
Her determination is believable, because was pre-teen wouldn't give up their world to live out a dream they've had their entire life. And what kid wouldn't go to the ends of the world to protect their mom!
I hope we get more from this author, because I adore easy, cozy, fresh stories, and this one definitely hit all the right spots.
Marisa Churchill has done a magnificent job creating a safe space for middle grade fantasy.
Sylvie is so loveable, you can't help but love her attitude and worry when she jumps conclusions. You fear for her when she appears to be bullied snd root for her finding friendships that appear true.
Her determination is believable, because was pre-teen wouldn't give up their world to live out a dream they've had their entire life. And what kid wouldn't go to the ends of the world to protect their mom!
I hope we get more from this author, because I adore easy, cozy, fresh stories, and this one definitely hit all the right spots.
November 28, 2025
I loved the idea of a magical cooking school and thought the food based magic system was charming and unique. The cozy tone and Sylvie’s determination to clear her mother’s name gave the story a lot of heart, and the worldbuilding definitely made me hungry while reading. That said, some of the execution didn’t quite work for me but overall, it’s a sweet, imaginative book that younger YA or middle grade readers will probably enjoy.
Thank you to @topplingstackstours & @chef_marisachurchill for a copy of this book and having me on this tour. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you to @topplingstackstours & @chef_marisachurchill for a copy of this book and having me on this tour. All thoughts are my own.
December 15, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was such a cute read, i love the way the magic was incorporated along with the cooking. A cool concept with lots of creative ideas. This was a great palette cleanser book for me, that also made me very hungry.
Our main character Sylvie is lovely and i greatly liked her and her personality which i sometimes think is rare in these types of young adult books. I appreciated the writing in this book as well, it didn’t read as too young adult which I reckon is a good thing because I think this book can be appreciated by a variety of readers.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
This was such a cute read, i love the way the magic was incorporated along with the cooking. A cool concept with lots of creative ideas. This was a great palette cleanser book for me, that also made me very hungry.
Our main character Sylvie is lovely and i greatly liked her and her personality which i sometimes think is rare in these types of young adult books. I appreciated the writing in this book as well, it didn’t read as too young adult which I reckon is a good thing because I think this book can be appreciated by a variety of readers.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
October 19, 2025
As someone who grew up in the food world, my parents owned a restaurant, this story really hit home for me. I still have the knife my dad used in the kitchen, even my mother wasn’t allowed to touch it. We lived above the restaurant for a while. The sounds and smells always permeated into my room. Needless to say, I was excited to get an ARC of this book. If you’re into cooking or ever worked in hospitality, this story will resonate with you. It also kept me guessing until the end!
November 27, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for a free review.
This was a fun story. The world was really creative and I loved the blend of magic and cooking. If you're looking for a fantastical world, then you're going to love the magical plants and spells. I really liked the characters and watching them solve the mystery and save the day. The plot had a lot of twists and turns. I would have devoured this as a kid and really enjoyed this as an adult shaped person.
This was a fun story. The world was really creative and I loved the blend of magic and cooking. If you're looking for a fantastical world, then you're going to love the magical plants and spells. I really liked the characters and watching them solve the mystery and save the day. The plot had a lot of twists and turns. I would have devoured this as a kid and really enjoyed this as an adult shaped person.
December 2, 2025
I found the whole magic cooking school concept so fun, and the food based magic system was honestly one of my favorite things about the book! It felt cozy and light, and I really enjoyed the characters. It also gave me some Harry Potter vibes, which I loved!!
It is definitely a YA book, and I did feel at times like I was not fully the right audience, but I still had a good time with it. Overall it was a cute and enjoyable read!
It is definitely a YA book, and I did feel at times like I was not fully the right audience, but I still had a good time with it. Overall it was a cute and enjoyable read!
November 9, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. It sometimes reminded me of Harry Potter. I think it had its own flare and magic system, which was fascinating. The characters were so well written and loveable. I really enjoyed this book.
I received this Advance Readers Copy, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily from NetGalley
I received this Advance Readers Copy, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily from NetGalley
December 8, 2025
This book is going to be the start of the next great series! Harry Potter meets culinary school. The magic infused into the culianry creations are brilliant, the characters are all lifelike, and you finish the book desperately wanting more story lines. I hope it gets made into a movie series, it would be an extraordinary opportunity.
abandoned
December 31, 2025DNF
Unfortunately, the writing in this gears too young for me to currently be able to get drawn into. As a library worker, I'm always happy to see books targeting the younger range of YA, but it's not generally for me as a reader. I'm sure this will be a hit with its audience, though, as it's got aj interesting competition-based plot, and some very wholesome vibes.
Unfortunately, the writing in this gears too young for me to currently be able to get drawn into. As a library worker, I'm always happy to see books targeting the younger range of YA, but it's not generally for me as a reader. I'm sure this will be a hit with its audience, though, as it's got aj interesting competition-based plot, and some very wholesome vibes.
January 1, 2026
Harry Potter meets the Great British Bake of. This is the perfect introduction to the realm of magic, for younger readers. It holds everything that we hold dear in the genre, but in an easy to follow way. It has your twists and turns, and the things that make everything great. I did find it a little slow moving at times, and overly fast at others. But it's a great little read.
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