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Everything She Does Is Magic
In the charming town of Fableview, every day is Halloween. Get ready to fall under the spell of this bewitching sapphic romance, perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls and Wicked!
Darcy Keller, resident ray of sunshine and town spirit princess, loves every moment of Fableview’s fall festivities. But she’s also really ready to leave for college next year, even though her parents expect her to stay and take over their Halloween empire.
Enter brooding new girl Anya Doyle, a real-life witch and almost a full member of her coven. In order to be initiated, she has to choose a mortal ally to act as her “protector.” But having moved around so much, Anya is completely friendless. So she does what any self-respecting teenage almost-witch would—she lies and tells her coven her secret crush, Darcy, is willing to do the job.
Desperate to solve their personal problems, they agree to help each other out, attending everything from a costume parade to a pumpkin patch party to an apple bobbing contest together. But with Anya’s magical powers and Darcy’s future independence on the line, the last thing they need is the added complication of pesky feelings . . .
Darcy Keller, resident ray of sunshine and town spirit princess, loves every moment of Fableview’s fall festivities. But she’s also really ready to leave for college next year, even though her parents expect her to stay and take over their Halloween empire.
Enter brooding new girl Anya Doyle, a real-life witch and almost a full member of her coven. In order to be initiated, she has to choose a mortal ally to act as her “protector.” But having moved around so much, Anya is completely friendless. So she does what any self-respecting teenage almost-witch would—she lies and tells her coven her secret crush, Darcy, is willing to do the job.
Desperate to solve their personal problems, they agree to help each other out, attending everything from a costume parade to a pumpkin patch party to an apple bobbing contest together. But with Anya’s magical powers and Darcy’s future independence on the line, the last thing they need is the added complication of pesky feelings . . .
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 9, 2025
90 people are currently reading
8356 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 562 reviews
September 6, 2025
This undoubtedly delivered the sapphic-witchy-fall vibes that the cute cover promised and it was a nice and quick read for me, but at the same time I'm also just not super enthusiastic about this book. I was very much in love with the small town of Fableview where fall is celebrated religiously and spooky-witchy vibes are embraced all season long. The locals wear costumes, tell scary stories and prepare various fall activities, and many tourists love the charming town because of that. Darcy is the daughter of the Halloween majors of the town and so she's very involved in all the fall business. She loves it and is a very sunshiny person in general, but her parents can also be a lot, especially when they demand to keep everything exactly as it always was. Anya on the other hand is a bit of a loner, quiet and goth, and an actual witch in the fake witchy town. So far the two of them have never really spoken to each other, but that changes this fall out of necessity. You see, Anya might have told her parents that Darcy is her best friend and that she will totally help with the mortal part of her coven initiation. So Anya takes all her courage and finally speaks to Darcy and the two connect over the feeling of being pressured into something that they don't really want for themselves. They have a cute little romance, but be aware that Anya has a big crush on Darcy from the very start, so the feelings don't develop slowly. The book isn't as romance-heavy as I expected and a big part of the story is about what these girls really want from life and if they will find that in their small town. They both were confronted with one big problem and they naturally always talked about that one thing, but it also made the story a bit repetitive. The characters didn't feel as layered because of that and I think that they could have been explored way more. Surprisingly, I also didn't care much about the actual witchy part of the story. The magic felt very underdeveloped and I would have preferred if this book wasn't supernatural at all and just really leaned into the fake-witchy side of things. That would have been more fun in my opinion. It's overall an enjoyable, easy read, but also nothing too special or too memorable for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books / Delacorte Romance for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books / Delacorte Romance for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2025
i went into this excited for sapphic halloweentown vibes but it was just ok for me :/
in a town that celebrates halloween year round, golden girl darcy knows there’s no such things as witches. or is there? the new girl to town anya has been too shy to find herself a protector, a mortal ally who vouches for a witch. with her family coming to visit, she scrambles to get darcy to act as her best friend and protector - but will feelings complicate things?
going into this, i was expecting something with practical magic x halloweentown vibes, but this was closer to a stars hollow x wicked w some minor fantasy/magic elements. a little disappointing as i wanted this to kick off my halloween reads, but i prob wouldn’t have minded if i knew going in.
there were some fun moments and i generally liked the characters, but it was a tad younger than i expected. there is a journey of self growth for both, but i do wish it had leaned in more into the fantasy / magic aspect as that was a very small part. bonus for a bi fmc tho 💖💜💙
there were some choices i found odd, but heads up varying spoilers for them:
i just didn’t really vibe w the writing which was a bummer. if you’re looking for a sapphic YA romance that’s very low fantasy, i think you would enjoy this!
an honest arc review 💖
in a town that celebrates halloween year round, golden girl darcy knows there’s no such things as witches. or is there? the new girl to town anya has been too shy to find herself a protector, a mortal ally who vouches for a witch. with her family coming to visit, she scrambles to get darcy to act as her best friend and protector - but will feelings complicate things?
going into this, i was expecting something with practical magic x halloweentown vibes, but this was closer to a stars hollow x wicked w some minor fantasy/magic elements. a little disappointing as i wanted this to kick off my halloween reads, but i prob wouldn’t have minded if i knew going in.
there were some fun moments and i generally liked the characters, but it was a tad younger than i expected. there is a journey of self growth for both, but i do wish it had leaned in more into the fantasy / magic aspect as that was a very small part. bonus for a bi fmc tho 💖💜💙
there were some choices i found odd, but heads up varying spoilers for them:
i just didn’t really vibe w the writing which was a bummer. if you’re looking for a sapphic YA romance that’s very low fantasy, i think you would enjoy this!
an honest arc review 💖
Read
January 26, 2025bridget morrissey is right. lesbians are magic.
September 25, 2025
☆☆☆☆
Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey was such a cozy, wholesome read. I absolutely loved the vibe of this book. It's the perfect mix of self-discovery and personal growth, all set against a charming little town I couldn't help but fall in love with. Fableview feels like the kind of place I would love to live in, the community, the sense of belonging, and the cozy atmosphere are all top-tier.
Speaking of vibes, I have to say, the cover is one of my absolute favorites of the year. It’s not only visually stunning but perfectly captures the magic and warmth of the story inside. It’s just so cute!
The journey of self-discovery is beautifully portrayed here, and it really resonated with me. However, I do feel like the main characters were a bit more mature than I’d expect for 17-year-olds. While it didn’t detract from the story, it did make me pause once or twice, wondering if they were acting more like young adults rather than teens.
For a five-star read, I would have loved a little more of the fall and Halloween atmosphere. The setting and the timing had so much potential for spooky vibes, and I felt like the book could have really leaned into that more. But even without that, it was still such a heartwarming and fulfilling read!
If you're into stories about personal growth, love, and cozy settings, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey was such a cozy, wholesome read. I absolutely loved the vibe of this book. It's the perfect mix of self-discovery and personal growth, all set against a charming little town I couldn't help but fall in love with. Fableview feels like the kind of place I would love to live in, the community, the sense of belonging, and the cozy atmosphere are all top-tier.
Speaking of vibes, I have to say, the cover is one of my absolute favorites of the year. It’s not only visually stunning but perfectly captures the magic and warmth of the story inside. It’s just so cute!
The journey of self-discovery is beautifully portrayed here, and it really resonated with me. However, I do feel like the main characters were a bit more mature than I’d expect for 17-year-olds. While it didn’t detract from the story, it did make me pause once or twice, wondering if they were acting more like young adults rather than teens.
For a five-star read, I would have loved a little more of the fall and Halloween atmosphere. The setting and the timing had so much potential for spooky vibes, and I felt like the book could have really leaned into that more. But even without that, it was still such a heartwarming and fulfilling read!
If you're into stories about personal growth, love, and cozy settings, this one is definitely worth picking up.
October 21, 2025
3.5
cute and I won't think about it again
cute and I won't think about it again
November 2, 2025
This was so cute, but I had trouble telling the MCs apart even with two narrators because they didn't feel all that distinct as characters, so I had to pay extra attention to whose PoV it was the entire time. And there wasn't enough magic for my taste, but I loved everything else.
Realising this was YA was a nice surprise too, the Halloween vibes were so cozy that they inspired me to make a cinnamon apple salad (it's chilling in the fridge as we speak).
The romance was sweet, though I would've liked to have seen more of it. And I'd really like a spinoff/sequel, because I know I'd enjoy it just as much.
Realising this was YA was a nice surprise too, the Halloween vibes were so cozy that they inspired me to make a cinnamon apple salad (it's chilling in the fridge as we speak).
The romance was sweet, though I would've liked to have seen more of it. And I'd really like a spinoff/sequel, because I know I'd enjoy it just as much.
Read
June 26, 2025I always write a note on Goodreads ahead of each book release, and I am coming to this one much later than I usually would. My sincerest apologies! It is not a reflection of how much I love this book (which is a LOT) or any lack of excitement for talking about it. Quite the opposite! I cannot wait to talk about this book as much as possible! It is the cozy witchy sapphic YA of my dreams. It's a very loving ode to all my favorite whimsical, charming Halloween movies and supernatural properties in general. It is also my real life dream. (I live in a Halloween-obsessed town where everyone wears fun costumes all month long and/or I am a real witch with cool powers. Preferably both, to be honest.)
While this book has a lot of fun Halloween events I would personally love to attend and a very cute grumpy/sunshine sapphic romance at its core, it's also about feeling like everyone else has written your story for you and wanting to take ownership of your narrative. It's about embracing change and understanding that just because things have worked a certain way for a long time doesn't mean they have to stay that way forever. It's about how good, true friendships can bring you to the fullest version of yourself.
I cannot wait to welcome you all to Fableview for their annual spooky season festivities. And don't you worry, it's not the last you'll see if this quaint little holiday-loving town full of witches!
While this book has a lot of fun Halloween events I would personally love to attend and a very cute grumpy/sunshine sapphic romance at its core, it's also about feeling like everyone else has written your story for you and wanting to take ownership of your narrative. It's about embracing change and understanding that just because things have worked a certain way for a long time doesn't mean they have to stay that way forever. It's about how good, true friendships can bring you to the fullest version of yourself.
I cannot wait to welcome you all to Fableview for their annual spooky season festivities. And don't you worry, it's not the last you'll see if this quaint little holiday-loving town full of witches!
September 13, 2025
(this beauty has finally been published by the way. PLEASEEEEEE go give it a chance!)
"i've never had anything that belongs only to me. except for this, with us. it's mine. ours, really."
— five stars
would i recommend this book? what's the easiest way to say a thousand percent?
trigger warnings: n/a
first off, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc! what follows will be a reflection of my honest thoughts about the book!
before anything else, can we please take a moment for the stunning cover? i swear i can't stop staring at it.
anyway, i cannot act like this wasn't undeniably one of the cutest, sugary sweet books i've ever read. morrissey masterfully balances serious conversations, like topics of responsibility or just how much you can really put onto your friends, with light-hearted banter and an absolutely stunning atmosphere and setting that it's so difficult to put this book down once you've started it.
to just dive right into it, our cast of characters is nearly perfect. there's darcy, our sugary, responsibility carrying golden retriever main character, who i adored every single time she was on page. darcy's dreams match my own in many ways (feeling a sense of loyalty to your parents and hometown even when you desperately want out is a nightmare.) and it made it so much easier to connect with her. anya, our reserved, anxious black cat second main character, was equally as lovable. no matter how much she hid from everyone around her, she was truly just operating in everyone's best interest. she was the absolute sweetest, and i could not get enough of her character (even her being more of a stereotypical "witchy" teen worked in her favor both in the terms of her own personal characterization and the books setting overall.)
even side characters, such as grace or kyle or cal, the parents, and everyone in between, became so important to the plot in ways that, whilst it didn't take away from the main story, it made you love all of them so much more. (because lets be honest, who could you really hate in the world of fableview?)
on that topic, the setting is far and wide the strongest point of this book. fableview is such a textbook storybook town, and i wished so badly on every page that i could just snap my fingers and teleport into the city that morrissey created. the imagery was so vivid, and created the coziest atmosphere for this sweet, sweet story.
the romance between anya and darcy was simply the cherry on top of an already incredible story. their banter was perfect, and i didn't feel that anything was too rushed or too slow in building to it (given the books already shorter length.) I thought they fit together well, and when i saw that the book was marketed as wicked if glinda had kissed elphaba... well, safe to say i see the vision, and i love my silly little gelphie inspired children.
the story itself unfolded in a way that i didn't see it going. i didn't know that a certain character would prove to be so important in the end, but i am really glad that it was the choice that morrissey decided to go with, as opposed to how i thought the story would go. it made for both a good plot twist and cementing this character as a cornerstone of the book, which i sincerely appreciated. i feel like it's rare, at least in romance novels, for side characters to ever hold much weight aside from being plot devices, so i enjoyed the spin that this book took in making one of its side characters such a pivotal part in the ending of the story. definitely a plus from me.
in all, this was truly one of the cutest novels i have ever read. it was packed full of love, joy, and community, and it was so delightful to read. i cannot recommend it enough. definitely hope to pick up a physical copy on release day so i can scream in the margins about everything that made me swoon.
"i've never had anything that belongs only to me. except for this, with us. it's mine. ours, really."
— five stars
would i recommend this book? what's the easiest way to say a thousand percent?
trigger warnings: n/a
first off, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc! what follows will be a reflection of my honest thoughts about the book!
before anything else, can we please take a moment for the stunning cover? i swear i can't stop staring at it.
anyway, i cannot act like this wasn't undeniably one of the cutest, sugary sweet books i've ever read. morrissey masterfully balances serious conversations, like topics of responsibility or just how much you can really put onto your friends, with light-hearted banter and an absolutely stunning atmosphere and setting that it's so difficult to put this book down once you've started it.
to just dive right into it, our cast of characters is nearly perfect. there's darcy, our sugary, responsibility carrying golden retriever main character, who i adored every single time she was on page. darcy's dreams match my own in many ways (feeling a sense of loyalty to your parents and hometown even when you desperately want out is a nightmare.) and it made it so much easier to connect with her. anya, our reserved, anxious black cat second main character, was equally as lovable. no matter how much she hid from everyone around her, she was truly just operating in everyone's best interest. she was the absolute sweetest, and i could not get enough of her character (even her being more of a stereotypical "witchy" teen worked in her favor both in the terms of her own personal characterization and the books setting overall.)
even side characters, such as grace or kyle or cal, the parents, and everyone in between, became so important to the plot in ways that, whilst it didn't take away from the main story, it made you love all of them so much more. (because lets be honest, who could you really hate in the world of fableview?)
on that topic, the setting is far and wide the strongest point of this book. fableview is such a textbook storybook town, and i wished so badly on every page that i could just snap my fingers and teleport into the city that morrissey created. the imagery was so vivid, and created the coziest atmosphere for this sweet, sweet story.
the romance between anya and darcy was simply the cherry on top of an already incredible story. their banter was perfect, and i didn't feel that anything was too rushed or too slow in building to it (given the books already shorter length.) I thought they fit together well, and when i saw that the book was marketed as wicked if glinda had kissed elphaba... well, safe to say i see the vision, and i love my silly little gelphie inspired children.
the story itself unfolded in a way that i didn't see it going. i didn't know that a certain character would prove to be so important in the end, but i am really glad that it was the choice that morrissey decided to go with, as opposed to how i thought the story would go. it made for both a good plot twist and cementing this character as a cornerstone of the book, which i sincerely appreciated. i feel like it's rare, at least in romance novels, for side characters to ever hold much weight aside from being plot devices, so i enjoyed the spin that this book took in making one of its side characters such a pivotal part in the ending of the story. definitely a plus from me.
in all, this was truly one of the cutest novels i have ever read. it was packed full of love, joy, and community, and it was so delightful to read. i cannot recommend it enough. definitely hope to pick up a physical copy on release day so i can scream in the margins about everything that made me swoon.
September 22, 2025
Darcy's life revolves around Halloween: in the small town of Fableview, Halloween keeps the town running, and her parents are effectively the masterminds behind it. She's about to graduate from high school, and the job of keeping things running exactly as they always have, with no changes whatsoever, is hers to take over...whether she wants it or not. Meanwhile, Anya is in a bind—she needs a human to act as her protector so that she can join her family's coven when she turns eighteen, but finding someone she can trust is harder than it seems. And to get the pressure off, she's told her parents that Darcy is up for the job...
This was a cute, fast read. The way the town approaches Halloween is intentionally over-the-top cheesy—they know they're a tourist destination, and they long ago decided to lean into it. For Darcy's parents, Halloween is about candy-corn-printed cotton fabrics and cutesy fairies and bobbing for apples, not blood or zombies or the Salem Witch Trials. (Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch, not Scream.) For Darcy, it's gotten stale, but she's not looking for Scream either, just...I've run out of analogies. Darcy's just looking for a bit of change, and for the chance to find out what she does when her parents aren't running the show.
So I enjoyed the playfulness here—this fully leans into cozy vibes. A bit of a Sarah Dessen feel, actually, at least in the way the quirky best friend plotline plays out I'm not sure if a sequel is planned, but there is space for that quirky best friend to get her own story... I could have used a bit more exploration of Anya's powers, though; for me, witchy characters are basically wish fulfillment, because who doesn't want to be able to send some tingly power through their fingertips and effect instant change? Anya barely seems to use her powers, and I'm not sure if that's because she's not very powerful (though we're told that she is), or if there are serious limits to how much power a witch can use (does she need to recharge?), or if there's something to do with her being under eighteen, or something else. Anya's magic is in fixing things, of course, not creating rainbow glitter or whatever, but...I guess I wouldn't have minded a bit more of her family coming in and making things more magically chaotic. (Surely one of them can create rainbow glitter at will?)
A good one for those looking for a super cozy, low-heat, queer autumn YA read.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
This was a cute, fast read. The way the town approaches Halloween is intentionally over-the-top cheesy—they know they're a tourist destination, and they long ago decided to lean into it. For Darcy's parents, Halloween is about candy-corn-printed cotton fabrics and cutesy fairies and bobbing for apples, not blood or zombies or the Salem Witch Trials. (Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch, not Scream.) For Darcy, it's gotten stale, but she's not looking for Scream either, just...I've run out of analogies. Darcy's just looking for a bit of change, and for the chance to find out what she does when her parents aren't running the show.
So I enjoyed the playfulness here—this fully leans into cozy vibes. A bit of a Sarah Dessen feel, actually, at least in the way the quirky best friend plotline plays out I'm not sure if a sequel is planned, but there is space for that quirky best friend to get her own story... I could have used a bit more exploration of Anya's powers, though; for me, witchy characters are basically wish fulfillment, because who doesn't want to be able to send some tingly power through their fingertips and effect instant change? Anya barely seems to use her powers, and I'm not sure if that's because she's not very powerful (though we're told that she is), or if there are serious limits to how much power a witch can use (does she need to recharge?), or if there's something to do with her being under eighteen, or something else. Anya's magic is in fixing things, of course, not creating rainbow glitter or whatever, but...I guess I wouldn't have minded a bit more of her family coming in and making things more magically chaotic. (Surely one of them can create rainbow glitter at will?)
A good one for those looking for a super cozy, low-heat, queer autumn YA read.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Read
September 10, 2025soft(?) dnf around 30%
i’m sure this is cute and i wanted to like it so bad but the YA is super duper young (obvi), im not digging the shenanigans, and i want great books from sapphic september 🩰
i’m sure this is cute and i wanted to like it so bad but the YA is super duper young (obvi), im not digging the shenanigans, and i want great books from sapphic september 🩰
July 9, 2025
Very cute, Halloween sapphic romance!
I am obsessed with the setting of this book! It gave off Gilmore Girls meets Salem meets Halloweentown, I was in love. The characters for the most part were all great! I loved Darcy and Anya, but my favorite was Grace. I'll admit the parents in here are not the best and it was a little distracting.
I loved watching both our MC's self growth through this book! I'd love to read more about this little town, I really hope this turns into a series where we follow different characters *fingers crossed*.
If you're looking for a cozy YA for Halloween this year I would absolutely recommend this one!
Thank you Delacorte & Netflix for the ARC!! *All opinions are my own!*
I am obsessed with the setting of this book! It gave off Gilmore Girls meets Salem meets Halloweentown, I was in love. The characters for the most part were all great! I loved Darcy and Anya, but my favorite was Grace. I'll admit the parents in here are not the best and it was a little distracting.
I loved watching both our MC's self growth through this book! I'd love to read more about this little town, I really hope this turns into a series where we follow different characters *fingers crossed*.
If you're looking for a cozy YA for Halloween this year I would absolutely recommend this one!
Thank you Delacorte & Netflix for the ARC!! *All opinions are my own!*
November 1, 2025
⋆.˚✮ 3.25 stars ✮˚.⋆
September 7, 2025
I’m such a sucker for picking up books just based on cover vibes, and the second I saw this gorgeous one I knew it was going straight onto my TBR.
This book hooked me immediately with the cutest chapter headings. They’re a literal countdown to Halloween. If you love cozy, low stakes sapphic witchy romance comedies that feel like a mix of a coming of age story and being true to yourself, all set in the cutest Halloween small town, then this book is absolutely for you.
Fableview, the town where this story takes place, felt like a mix of Gilmore Girls and Halloweentown. I was obsessed with all the adorable fall activities woven into the story. I also loved how as Darcy and Anya’s relationship developed, Anya got more and more involved in the Halloween festivities. Her character growth was so good, and I laughed so much at the banter between her and Grace (Darcy’s bestie).
The protector plot was a little predictable, but since this was such a quick, fun, low stakes read, I didn’t mind it at all. I just kept thinking how much I wish I had books like this when I was younger. Truly all the stars.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Book and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book hooked me immediately with the cutest chapter headings. They’re a literal countdown to Halloween. If you love cozy, low stakes sapphic witchy romance comedies that feel like a mix of a coming of age story and being true to yourself, all set in the cutest Halloween small town, then this book is absolutely for you.
Fableview, the town where this story takes place, felt like a mix of Gilmore Girls and Halloweentown. I was obsessed with all the adorable fall activities woven into the story. I also loved how as Darcy and Anya’s relationship developed, Anya got more and more involved in the Halloween festivities. Her character growth was so good, and I laughed so much at the banter between her and Grace (Darcy’s bestie).
The protector plot was a little predictable, but since this was such a quick, fun, low stakes read, I didn’t mind it at all. I just kept thinking how much I wish I had books like this when I was younger. Truly all the stars.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Book and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 9, 2025
Oh she's giving sapphic Halloweentown DOWN and I ate her up just as much as Marnie ate up Luke with that big cheese comment (iykyk).
Anywhoooooo, this was fantabulous! For starters, it's a town (Fableview, immediate yes to that name) that is obsessed with Halloween, well, Fall, and goes BIG every time the season comes around. And as the Fall is my absolute fave as well, these vibes hit every vibe-box. Especially since it's also a small-town and Fall vibes in a small-town is just sooooooo cozy! Pumpkins, carnivals, Fall Balls, haunted houses, costumes, ALL OF IT. The world was worlding and I felt so warm and fuzzy inside :)
Now y'all know I love a good side cast and the bff of one of the FMCs is just ICONIC. Grace is one of my fave characters ever and I started kicking my feet every time she entered a scene. The FMCs are freakin fantastic, so to have a side character step up and give main character energy alongside them felt correct! Kyle as well. Like, the banter created by gathering these four together was unmatched. A GREAT time. Do you love banter? I love banter. And this bantered.
There was also this dynamic of our FMCs figuring out what they wanna do in life. Do I wanna run my family's business, do I wanna stay in Fableview, do I wanna join my family's coven, DO I LIKE WOMEN?? Hellurrrrrr the character growth was addictivvvvvvvvvve. That played so well into the plot as well! I was sitting there reading this, fully seated, sipping on my tea while the book tea was piping hot, watching these two figure out wtf they wanna do. I was thoroughly entertained :)
Want those sapphic, witchy, Halloweentown vibes? Here you go friends :)
Thanks so much to the publisher for the early ARC!
Anywhoooooo, this was fantabulous! For starters, it's a town (Fableview, immediate yes to that name) that is obsessed with Halloween, well, Fall, and goes BIG every time the season comes around. And as the Fall is my absolute fave as well, these vibes hit every vibe-box. Especially since it's also a small-town and Fall vibes in a small-town is just sooooooo cozy! Pumpkins, carnivals, Fall Balls, haunted houses, costumes, ALL OF IT. The world was worlding and I felt so warm and fuzzy inside :)
Now y'all know I love a good side cast and the bff of one of the FMCs is just ICONIC. Grace is one of my fave characters ever and I started kicking my feet every time she entered a scene. The FMCs are freakin fantastic, so to have a side character step up and give main character energy alongside them felt correct! Kyle as well. Like, the banter created by gathering these four together was unmatched. A GREAT time. Do you love banter? I love banter. And this bantered.
There was also this dynamic of our FMCs figuring out what they wanna do in life. Do I wanna run my family's business, do I wanna stay in Fableview, do I wanna join my family's coven, DO I LIKE WOMEN?? Hellurrrrrr the character growth was addictivvvvvvvvvve. That played so well into the plot as well! I was sitting there reading this, fully seated, sipping on my tea while the book tea was piping hot, watching these two figure out wtf they wanna do. I was thoroughly entertained :)
Want those sapphic, witchy, Halloweentown vibes? Here you go friends :)
Thanks so much to the publisher for the early ARC!
October 9, 2025
oh my god i loveeee witchy sapphics they're so adorable and sweet and this book was like sipping a warm cup of chocolate
July 11, 2025
"Perfect for the fans of Gilmore Girls and Wicked" HI THAT'S ME!!!!
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I AM HOLDING THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS
I AM HOLDING THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS
—
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Penguin Teen Canada and Delacorte.
Bridget Morrissey has BEWITCHED me with Everything She Does Is Magic – a cozy, sapphic romance, set in the charming town of Fableview, where every day is Halloween. You can give me a story with golden retriever and black cat energy any time and I will eat it up like chocolate (anyone who knows my Supercorp obsession can attest to this).
Darcy Keller, resident ray of sunshine and town spirit princess, loves her home, but also feels trapped. She has dreams of going to college, despite the very clear assumption that Darcy is expected to stay in town and take over her parent's art shop. Then there's the brooding new girl Anya Doyle, a real-life witch who keeps to herself and doesn't have any friends. To be initiated into her coven as a full member, she's expected to choose a mortal to be her protector. When pressed by her parents to tell them who she has selected, she lies, blurting out the name of her secret crush–Darcy. But, Anya and Darcy have hardly exchanged more than a few words to one another.
Fableview has the delightfulness of Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow, and all of their kooky festivals. Fake or not, tourists travel from everywhere to experience the magic found throughout the town during the fall season, with many believing witches exist in hiding. And because Halloween is my favourite holiday, I would LOVE to live here.
Everything She Does Is Magic is a lighthearted, sweet read with loveable characters. Anya is my baby girl and I would've volunteered to be her protector There is something so comforting about watching the main characters really discover what they want out of their lives while learning more about themselves in the process.
Grace, Maddie and Kyle are great supporting characters who feel fleshed out, adding to the storyline without completely taking over. They have genuine purpose(s) which I find rare in YA books.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for overall rating).
If you loved Everything She Does Is Magic, I'd definitely recommend reading These Witches Don't Burn, another favourite sapphic witchy read of mine.
—
I AM HOLDING THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS
I AM HOLDING THIS BOOK IN MY HANDS
—
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Penguin Teen Canada and Delacorte.
Bridget Morrissey has BEWITCHED me with Everything She Does Is Magic – a cozy, sapphic romance, set in the charming town of Fableview, where every day is Halloween. You can give me a story with golden retriever and black cat energy any time and I will eat it up like chocolate (anyone who knows my Supercorp obsession can attest to this).
Darcy Keller, resident ray of sunshine and town spirit princess, loves her home, but also feels trapped. She has dreams of going to college, despite the very clear assumption that Darcy is expected to stay in town and take over her parent's art shop. Then there's the brooding new girl Anya Doyle, a real-life witch who keeps to herself and doesn't have any friends. To be initiated into her coven as a full member, she's expected to choose a mortal to be her protector. When pressed by her parents to tell them who she has selected, she lies, blurting out the name of her secret crush–Darcy. But, Anya and Darcy have hardly exchanged more than a few words to one another.
Fableview has the delightfulness of Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow, and all of their kooky festivals. Fake or not, tourists travel from everywhere to experience the magic found throughout the town during the fall season, with many believing witches exist in hiding. And because Halloween is my favourite holiday, I would LOVE to live here.
Everything She Does Is Magic is a lighthearted, sweet read with loveable characters. Anya is my baby girl and I would've volunteered to be her protector There is something so comforting about watching the main characters really discover what they want out of their lives while learning more about themselves in the process.
Grace, Maddie and Kyle are great supporting characters who feel fleshed out, adding to the storyline without completely taking over. They have genuine purpose(s) which I find rare in YA books.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for overall rating).
If you loved Everything She Does Is Magic, I'd definitely recommend reading These Witches Don't Burn, another favourite sapphic witchy read of mine.
October 19, 2025
(rounded up from 4.5)
This was cute, cozy, witchy, and full of great side characters so a win again for me from Bridget Morrissey!
Welcome to a cute little town where Halloween and witchy vibes are the big tourist attraction. Quietly living amongst the normies are actual witches, including 17-year-old Anya, who is a bit too goth and anti-social for anyone to get to know, except for the local super ambitious, sunshine-personified, heir to the Halloween festivities committee, Darcy.
Darcy and Anya have a really sweet relationship where they get to know each other and fall in love. Meanwhile, both are struggling with milestones in their lives: Anya needs to find a mortal protector before her 18th birthday or lose out on her witchy community and Darcy wants to see what exists for her outside of the small town without breaking her parents' hearts.
I loved the side characters, too. Special nod to Grace for being a fun and dramatic best friend but also having her own character arc and drama going on, which is sidelined for no one! (I assume the next installment in this series will be her and Parker's story)
Super cute, cozy and great for fall vibes!
This was cute, cozy, witchy, and full of great side characters so a win again for me from Bridget Morrissey!
Welcome to a cute little town where Halloween and witchy vibes are the big tourist attraction. Quietly living amongst the normies are actual witches, including 17-year-old Anya, who is a bit too goth and anti-social for anyone to get to know, except for the local super ambitious, sunshine-personified, heir to the Halloween festivities committee, Darcy.
Darcy and Anya have a really sweet relationship where they get to know each other and fall in love. Meanwhile, both are struggling with milestones in their lives: Anya needs to find a mortal protector before her 18th birthday or lose out on her witchy community and Darcy wants to see what exists for her outside of the small town without breaking her parents' hearts.
I loved the side characters, too. Special nod to Grace for being a fun and dramatic best friend but also having her own character arc and drama going on, which is sidelined for no one! (I assume the next installment in this series will be her and Parker's story)
Super cute, cozy and great for fall vibes!
Read
September 1, 2025Thank you PRH Audio, NetGalley, and Delacorte Romance for a copy of the ALC and eARC respectively.
This is such a cute paranormal YA romance. I love a small town that embraces Halloween, going all out and making you feel like there’s magic in the air. I really liked Anya and her plot revolving around finding a human protector. I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators perfectly encapsulated the characters black cat x golden retriever energies.
If you’re looking for a cozy paranormal YA romance, check this one out!
This is such a cute paranormal YA romance. I love a small town that embraces Halloween, going all out and making you feel like there’s magic in the air. I really liked Anya and her plot revolving around finding a human protector. I listened to the audiobook and thought both narrators perfectly encapsulated the characters black cat x golden retriever energies.
If you’re looking for a cozy paranormal YA romance, check this one out!
October 14, 2025
MY CUTIE PIES!!! i enjoyed this audiobook so much (thank you prh audio!)🎧 just a very sweet coming of age x sapphic witchy romance, with such a lovable supporting cast of characters! perfect for the fall time!
July 20, 2025
Very cute sapphic Halloween story! The setting was incredible and made me nostalgic for 90s and early 2000s Halloween movies! I really appreciated that it was a queer love story that didn’t have a traumatic coming out story. I loved that everyone was accepting of Darcy and Anya and no one tried to weaponize their queer love. Thanks NetGalley for the arc!
September 21, 2025
⋆｡°✩ 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ⋆｡°✩
3.5 stars | a witchy sapphic rom-com | 1/3 spice, 1/3 violence, no trigger warnings I could think of
✎₊˚⊹ 𝕤𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤 ✎₊˚⊹
Darcy lives in the Halloween obsessed town of Fableview, where Halloween is a month long celebration and no one’s sure just how real the magic is. She longs to escape, to see the world outside the small town she’s lived in her entire life, yet her parents expect her to take over the family business next year.
Anya, a witch living in Fableview, needs to find a mortal protector before her eighteenth birthday, lest she be exiled and stripped of her powers. In a desperate attempt to get her parents off her back, Anya lies and say that her long time secret crush, Darcy, will be her protector.
Neither girl has spoken more than a few words to the other, yet their secret affections and shared need for familial help have them working together. Both girls have secrets; but will they get in the way of the love that seems to be blossoming between them?
*:･ﾟ✧♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 *:･ﾟ✧♡
Okay I really liked the characters in this; I see a bit of myself in Darcy and Anya, so like mix them together and you sort of get me, and I appreciate the relatablility (yeah thats not a word I know). I also really liked Grace; she had a lot of depth, especially for a side best friend type character, and I loved her for that. Kyle, too, was really cool and fleshed out.
I also really liked the setting; Fableview was very magical, as was the point, and it was such a cute little small town. I sort wish I lived there.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
I think the romance progressed too quickly, and wasn’t the best written. Everything leading up to it was good, but like from the first time they kissed it sort of went downhill. I just didn’t like the way the romance was described; the prose felt almost different from the rest of the story, and not in a good way you know? But other than that, the book was really cute and fun.
* ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡-𝕦𝕡 * ੈ✩‧₊˚
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I’d recommend to anyone looking for a cute fall book.
⋆˚⚡︎˖° 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 ⋆˚⚡︎˖°
Everything She Does Is Magic releases September 9, 2025!!!
˙⋆.˚𐙚 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ˙⋆.˚𐙚
Thank you so much to the publisher, Delacorte Romance, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own :D
3.5 stars | a witchy sapphic rom-com | 1/3 spice, 1/3 violence, no trigger warnings I could think of
✎₊˚⊹ 𝕤𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤 ✎₊˚⊹
Darcy lives in the Halloween obsessed town of Fableview, where Halloween is a month long celebration and no one’s sure just how real the magic is. She longs to escape, to see the world outside the small town she’s lived in her entire life, yet her parents expect her to take over the family business next year.
Anya, a witch living in Fableview, needs to find a mortal protector before her eighteenth birthday, lest she be exiled and stripped of her powers. In a desperate attempt to get her parents off her back, Anya lies and say that her long time secret crush, Darcy, will be her protector.
Neither girl has spoken more than a few words to the other, yet their secret affections and shared need for familial help have them working together. Both girls have secrets; but will they get in the way of the love that seems to be blossoming between them?
*:･ﾟ✧♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 *:･ﾟ✧♡
Okay I really liked the characters in this; I see a bit of myself in Darcy and Anya, so like mix them together and you sort of get me, and I appreciate the relatablility (yeah thats not a word I know). I also really liked Grace; she had a lot of depth, especially for a side best friend type character, and I loved her for that. Kyle, too, was really cool and fleshed out.
I also really liked the setting; Fableview was very magical, as was the point, and it was such a cute little small town. I sort wish I lived there.
‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.
I think the romance progressed too quickly, and wasn’t the best written. Everything leading up to it was good, but like from the first time they kissed it sort of went downhill. I just didn’t like the way the romance was described; the prose felt almost different from the rest of the story, and not in a good way you know? But other than that, the book was really cute and fun.
* ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡-𝕦𝕡 * ੈ✩‧₊˚
Overall, this was a pretty good read. I’d recommend to anyone looking for a cute fall book.
⋆˚⚡︎˖° 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 ⋆˚⚡︎˖°
Everything She Does Is Magic releases September 9, 2025!!!
˙⋆.˚𐙚 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ˙⋆.˚𐙚
Thank you so much to the publisher, Delacorte Romance, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own :D
September 15, 2025
its not bad its just i didnt really like the high school sort of gimmick and the very lackluster relationship buildup
September 25, 2025
It was cute, but it also was just okay. Nothing ground breaking. I found myself getting bored and having to stop to re-read bits :(
October 26, 2025
cute halloween read
September 10, 2025
I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley! Sorry for the late review!!
I really enjoyed this book! It was a short, refreshing cute romance that really brought my mood up. The Halloween and witchy vibes were super fun and I was surprised how much I loved the side characters!! Kyle and Grace were so freaking funny and I loved every moment they were around.
Thank you so much author for writing this beautiful sapphic romance, it really made my day :)
I really enjoyed this book! It was a short, refreshing cute romance that really brought my mood up. The Halloween and witchy vibes were super fun and I was surprised how much I loved the side characters!! Kyle and Grace were so freaking funny and I loved every moment they were around.
Thank you so much author for writing this beautiful sapphic romance, it really made my day :)
August 17, 2025
This book was adorable and pure magic from start to finish. I loved our main characters, Anya and Darcy, and the way their black cat and golden retriever energies complimented each other. While I loved them both, I found Anya so endearing. Her awkwardness was relatable and I loved watching her blossom throughout the story and open herself up to friendship and belonging.
This small town setting that is bursting at the seems with witchy vibes and Halloween decor was so cozy and makes this the perfect fall read. All of the characters were so witty and I found their problems and journeys of self-discovery to be really realistic as well.
Overall, it was the perfect sapphic, autumnal, witchy read that I think everyone would enjoy!
Thank you so much Random House Children’s Books for my early eARC!
This small town setting that is bursting at the seems with witchy vibes and Halloween decor was so cozy and makes this the perfect fall read. All of the characters were so witty and I found their problems and journeys of self-discovery to be really realistic as well.
Overall, it was the perfect sapphic, autumnal, witchy read that I think everyone would enjoy!
Thank you so much Random House Children’s Books for my early eARC!
August 25, 2025
Oh my ghoul, this halloween sapphic romance was equal parts enchanting and heartwarming! No tricks here, Morrissey delivers a treasure trove of treats for the fall and halloween girlies (gender neutral) in Everything She Does Is Magic. For starters, this cover is one of the most gorgeous covers in existence - the colors, the magic, and Darcy and Anya's costumes - and the details are *chef's kiss* perfection!
This romance was super sweet, but the story really revolves around friendship, finding your community, and navigating adulthood with parental expectations. Both Darcy and Anya felt enormous pressure from their parents to uphold traditions and while both young women loved their parents, they often didn't know how to communicate their fears or desires about these expectations, and in Darcy's case, how to tell your parents you don't want to follow in their footsteps. This was a true YA (yay!) and while the characters were incredibly mature and self aware, I was thrilled to see Darcy, Anya, and Grace given the space to act as typical seventeen year olds.
I really love how Morrissey celebrates friendship throughout this book and how the side characters are just as important and delightfully endearing as the main characters - Grace and Kyle stole my heart!
If you love halloween and all things cozy and fall, this cutie romance is a must read!
This romance was super sweet, but the story really revolves around friendship, finding your community, and navigating adulthood with parental expectations. Both Darcy and Anya felt enormous pressure from their parents to uphold traditions and while both young women loved their parents, they often didn't know how to communicate their fears or desires about these expectations, and in Darcy's case, how to tell your parents you don't want to follow in their footsteps. This was a true YA (yay!) and while the characters were incredibly mature and self aware, I was thrilled to see Darcy, Anya, and Grace given the space to act as typical seventeen year olds.
I really love how Morrissey celebrates friendship throughout this book and how the side characters are just as important and delightfully endearing as the main characters - Grace and Kyle stole my heart!
If you love halloween and all things cozy and fall, this cutie romance is a must read!
September 28, 2025
4.5
I absolutely loved this!
The Halloween setting was perfect, and I really enjoyed following both Anya and Darcy as they each struggled with their respective situations. They're like two sides of the same coin in terms of both character and situation.
Both are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be as individuals - not in terms of who their families (or, in Anya's case, her family/coven) want them to be. As much as Darcy loves her small hometown and Fableview's ardent commitment to Halloween, she wants to see the world beyond it and figure out who she is and what she wants. Her parents, though, along with the rest of the town, assume her to be the heir to the family's Halloween empire/reign of the town. Anya is struggling with accepting her abilities as a witch - the coven's rules and expectations of her, their strictness over how she is allowed to use her magic, makes her power more of a curse than a gift. Without a mortal protector to secure her initiation, which she isn't even sure she wants to do, she's left with the prospect of being banished by the only family she's known.
While the romance between Anya and Darcy is incredibly sweet and fun to follow, their respective character arcs in terms of overcoming their own struggles was great to follow. There was a lot of depth to their situations, feelings, relationships, and attempts to 'fight back.' Again, I loved their romance! I thought they complemented each other really well with a 'grumpy x sunshine' sort of vibe (though we quickly learn that Anya is only perceived by others as brooding when she's truly just reserved). While framed through the romance, my favorite part of their relationship was more so how they brought out the best in each other and pushed one another. They help each other 'fight' against expectations, be bold, and learn and accept who they are. There is so much emotional depth packed into both of their narrations/perspectives (it's told in dual POV) that I really appreciated.
Another aspect I appreciated was that both FMCs, while struggling to fight against the expectations placed on them, weren't passive. Even though they were worried and scared of the outcomes/consequences, they were still bold, took risks, and had agency. They didn't rely totally on others to bring about change for them, though they did still accept help.
The side characters - I LOVED Grace! She was super spunky and bold, yet again had good depth that we gradually learn throughout the story. I enjoyed how the relationship between her and Anya developed as Grace had to get past her own prejudices. I had a lot of care for the other characters too, like Aunt Cal and both Anya's and Darcy's parents. In general, the story just has a great cast of characters that are quirky, funny, complex, and endearing.
As an additional note, I appreciated the queer rep! Obviously the main romance is sapphic, but there is also queer rep found in the side characters!
There are only two things that didn't totally work for me in the story.
1. Some of the dialogue seemed unrealistic, even for teenagers.
2. The magic itself didn't play a major role in the story. It was more so the lore of being a witch, and even that was overshadowed more so by Fableview's enjoyment of all things Halloween in general. I would've loved to see magic come into play more.
*I listened to this on audio, but honestly I would recommend reading it versus listening. I found that the narrators' voices for other characters was a bit grating.
I absolutely loved this!
The Halloween setting was perfect, and I really enjoyed following both Anya and Darcy as they each struggled with their respective situations. They're like two sides of the same coin in terms of both character and situation.
Both are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be as individuals - not in terms of who their families (or, in Anya's case, her family/coven) want them to be. As much as Darcy loves her small hometown and Fableview's ardent commitment to Halloween, she wants to see the world beyond it and figure out who she is and what she wants. Her parents, though, along with the rest of the town, assume her to be the heir to the family's Halloween empire/reign of the town. Anya is struggling with accepting her abilities as a witch - the coven's rules and expectations of her, their strictness over how she is allowed to use her magic, makes her power more of a curse than a gift. Without a mortal protector to secure her initiation, which she isn't even sure she wants to do, she's left with the prospect of being banished by the only family she's known.
While the romance between Anya and Darcy is incredibly sweet and fun to follow, their respective character arcs in terms of overcoming their own struggles was great to follow. There was a lot of depth to their situations, feelings, relationships, and attempts to 'fight back.' Again, I loved their romance! I thought they complemented each other really well with a 'grumpy x sunshine' sort of vibe (though we quickly learn that Anya is only perceived by others as brooding when she's truly just reserved). While framed through the romance, my favorite part of their relationship was more so how they brought out the best in each other and pushed one another. They help each other 'fight' against expectations, be bold, and learn and accept who they are. There is so much emotional depth packed into both of their narrations/perspectives (it's told in dual POV) that I really appreciated.
Another aspect I appreciated was that both FMCs, while struggling to fight against the expectations placed on them, weren't passive. Even though they were worried and scared of the outcomes/consequences, they were still bold, took risks, and had agency. They didn't rely totally on others to bring about change for them, though they did still accept help.
The side characters - I LOVED Grace! She was super spunky and bold, yet again had good depth that we gradually learn throughout the story. I enjoyed how the relationship between her and Anya developed as Grace had to get past her own prejudices. I had a lot of care for the other characters too, like Aunt Cal and both Anya's and Darcy's parents. In general, the story just has a great cast of characters that are quirky, funny, complex, and endearing.
As an additional note, I appreciated the queer rep! Obviously the main romance is sapphic, but there is also queer rep found in the side characters!
There are only two things that didn't totally work for me in the story.
1. Some of the dialogue seemed unrealistic, even for teenagers.
2. The magic itself didn't play a major role in the story. It was more so the lore of being a witch, and even that was overshadowed more so by Fableview's enjoyment of all things Halloween in general. I would've loved to see magic come into play more.
*I listened to this on audio, but honestly I would recommend reading it versus listening. I found that the narrators' voices for other characters was a bit grating.
September 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Romance for providing me with a copy of
Everything She Does is Magic!
As always, all opinions are my own and this review is being left voluntarily.
4.5 stars rounded up
✨ Sapphic YA Romantic Fantasy
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 0.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Fableview Book 1
✨ Rep: Sapphic MCs, Filipino SC
I recommend if you enjoy…
- Cozy Fantasy
- Sweet Romance
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Halloween & Fall Vibes
- Witches
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
I have read both of Bridget Morrissey’s previous (adult) sapphic romances, and I’ve enjoyed each one better than the last. I was excited to see her coming out with a young adult book. The cover is absolutely adorable, and I thought the concept was really promising for a fall read.
Plot & World
The vibe of the town totally was giving me Halloweentown in some ways (I was so obsessed with that movie), and I loved it. It felt so magical and quirky and so small town all at the same time. The fantasy aspects are focused more on Anya and her family and how they do things, but there is a lot of space left open for interconnected books in the future with other characters from the town (which I suspect will expand a bit on the magical lore). The fantasy being a bit lighter added to the overall cozy and more relaxed feel to the book. The plot was broken down into “[X amount] of Days Until Halloween” which helped me keep track of the timeline, but it also helped build anticipation for some of the final chapters. I thought it worked really well for this book.
Characters
I loved just about every character in this book. Even the ones that I was iffy on toward the beginning, I came around to as I learned more about them. Even the side characters had complexities that made them feel so much more real. I love it when the characters in a book have enough depth that my initial impressions aren’t necessarily the same as my final impressions. (But not you, Julia… you’re still the worst.) I found this to be really well done and might be one of my favorite aspects of this book. On top of that, I found myself relating to Darcy and the pressures her parents put on her… a lot. And then Anya, I just adored her character. She deserves the world, fr.
Romance
This romance was SO sweet. Darcy and Anya are adorable together. There connection is so genuine and caring. It’s an opposite’s attract, grumpy x sunshine, black cat x golden retriever type situation. It really felt like they brought out the best in each other. It is such a heartfelt slowburn that’s just as magical as the setting.
Final Thoughts
Bridget hit this book out of the park. It is the witchy, cozy fall YA romance that I never even knew I needed. This is the perfect book to curl up with in whatever fall fashion you enjoy. Perhaps a comfy sweater or blanket in front of a fire or out in the crisp air with some apple cider? There are some great side characters to continue the series with… and hopefully maybe get to see some more of Anya and Darcy in the process…? I definitely recommend and will be keeping an eye out for future books!
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
swearing
4.5 stars rounded up
✨ Sapphic YA Romantic Fantasy
✨ First Person, Dual POV
✨ 0.5/5 Spice Level
✨ Fableview Book 1
✨ Rep: Sapphic MCs, Filipino SC
I recommend if you enjoy…
- Cozy Fantasy
- Sweet Romance
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Halloween & Fall Vibes
- Witches
Content warnings after review.
Initial Thoughts
I have read both of Bridget Morrissey’s previous (adult) sapphic romances, and I’ve enjoyed each one better than the last. I was excited to see her coming out with a young adult book. The cover is absolutely adorable, and I thought the concept was really promising for a fall read.
Plot & World
The vibe of the town totally was giving me Halloweentown in some ways (I was so obsessed with that movie), and I loved it. It felt so magical and quirky and so small town all at the same time. The fantasy aspects are focused more on Anya and her family and how they do things, but there is a lot of space left open for interconnected books in the future with other characters from the town (which I suspect will expand a bit on the magical lore). The fantasy being a bit lighter added to the overall cozy and more relaxed feel to the book. The plot was broken down into “[X amount] of Days Until Halloween” which helped me keep track of the timeline, but it also helped build anticipation for some of the final chapters. I thought it worked really well for this book.
Characters
I loved just about every character in this book. Even the ones that I was iffy on toward the beginning, I came around to as I learned more about them. Even the side characters had complexities that made them feel so much more real. I love it when the characters in a book have enough depth that my initial impressions aren’t necessarily the same as my final impressions. (But not you, Julia… you’re still the worst.) I found this to be really well done and might be one of my favorite aspects of this book. On top of that, I found myself relating to Darcy and the pressures her parents put on her… a lot. And then Anya, I just adored her character. She deserves the world, fr.
Romance
This romance was SO sweet. Darcy and Anya are adorable together. There connection is so genuine and caring. It’s an opposite’s attract, grumpy x sunshine, black cat x golden retriever type situation. It really felt like they brought out the best in each other. It is such a heartfelt slowburn that’s just as magical as the setting.
Final Thoughts
Bridget hit this book out of the park. It is the witchy, cozy fall YA romance that I never even knew I needed. This is the perfect book to curl up with in whatever fall fashion you enjoy. Perhaps a comfy sweater or blanket in front of a fire or out in the crisp air with some apple cider? There are some great side characters to continue the series with… and hopefully maybe get to see some more of Anya and Darcy in the process…? I definitely recommend and will be keeping an eye out for future books!
(beware potential spoilers below)
Content Warnings
(may not be all inclusive)
swearing
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