Uncharmed

Rewitched #2

by Lucy Jane Wood, Evie Hargreaves (Narrator)

A “perfect” witch must learn to embrace imperfection and live for herself in this spellbinding cozy fantasy sprinkled with love, laughter, and magic, from the author of Rewitched .

Andromeda "Annie" Wildwood is the perfect witch. She is sugar, spice, and everything nice, each element of her life finely curated and polished to irresistibility by her nightly hex-laced potion routine. She loves to please and nothing makes her happier than when everyone else around her is completely happy.

When Annie’s coven tasks her with guiding an orphan teenage witch through the process of getting her blossoming magical powers under control, Annie is excited for the chance to please and to prove herself. But the ramshackle cabin they’ll be housed in isn’t quite the staycation of Annie’s dreams—and she and Maeve, the headstrong teen, couldn’t be more different.

Just when they’re starting to understand each other, the owner of the cabin unexpectedly returns—and this quietly gruff and handsome warlock is not pleased to find that the coven volunteered his house to a high-maintenance witch and her angsty teen companion.

As this seemingly unlikely trio develop a loyalty and fondness for one another, Annie slowly learns that her people-pleasing may have led her down an impossible, lonely path. If everything about her is so right—why does it all feel so wrong?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Witches, Fiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published September 18, 2025

About the author

I found myself falling into the world of writing almost by accident. My blogging friends at university were applying for swanky magazine internships, and I decided I should probably do something useful like that for myself. It was an obvious decision that almost made itself on my behalf, because writing is just who I am, and reading has always just been what I do.

Since happily stumbling my way into my first paid writing position for teen website Sugarscape back in 2013, I've been lucky and thrilled to find myself working freelance for giant titles like Marie Claire US, Cosmopolitan UK, MTV and Metro amongst others.

I am currently attempting to write my first fiction book. Wish me luck! I'm going slowly insane with it, and I am reassuringly told that's a good sign.

Reviews

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Jane Wood has cooked up a cosy fantasy just as cute as its cover! With a mixture of witches, magic, and romance, a dash of tropes like grumpy meets sunshine and found family, and a plot that’s whisked up with delightful surprises, this story will utterly charm you. The most perfect read for the fall! 🩷🎀🐈🐾

And as laughter here always seemed to be, it was catching. The sight of Annie’s charred black marshmallow smoking pathetically on the ground had Maeve snorting, then cackling so loudly and freely that it enveloped the whole of Arden Place in an echo. A moment later, Hal was bent double, too, a deep and hearty sound that made his eyes crinkle with fine lines. Soon, Annie was laughing so hard that tears began to pool. Happy ones. Real, happy ones. It was a moment that seemed to wrap warm arms around her. A twinkle, a glimmer, a memory that she would miss before it had even come to an end.

[ Contains some spoilers ]

PLOT SUMMARY
32-year-old Andromeda “Annie” Wildwood is essentially your Mary Poppins of the wicche realm (witching world). She has run her London bakery Celestial Bakehouse for 5 years, keeps a white cat called Karma as her familiar (an animal who shares a powerful bond with a magic user), and has an obsession with the colour pink. Above all, she is a perfectionist who each night uses a necromancing spell called Splendidus Infernum. This gives her not only a flawless look and charming appeal whilst knowing all the right things to do and say but also the ability to sense issues and find solutions.

She keeps her magic a secret at the bakery, but it is welcome in the Selcouth coven and its more secret exclusive Sorciety club with members of the elite. This includes Annie’s best friend Romily Whitlock, whose mother Glory is the leader of the Sorciety and not to be crossed. Annie’s family the Wildwood had a scandal years ago, and she is eager to earn her position in society and the Crescent status that protects her. Everyone relies on Annie and she is all too eager to help. Until now, Annie has been a “super sleuth sorceress”, reporting activities of new members to the Sorciety.

Annie is therefore tasked with mentoring an orphan teenage witch, Maeve Cadmus who has problematic magic, and reporting to the coven if she shows any anomalies. If she succeeds, she may get her Crescent at the Samhain Ball on Halloween. Annie and her new protégée are teleported to a cottage in the middle of the woods, Arden Place, owned by grumpy warlock and explorer Hal Bancroft. Over time, despite the chaos and differing personalities, the three of them become very close.

But Maeve can sense the Splendidus Infernum, and the coven believes Maeve to have more to her than meets the eye. Yet not all is as it seems in the Sorciety, as dark secrets are revealed. Will Annie give up the spell and everything perfect to both reveal and navigate her true self? And will she give up her people-pleasing ways when she must pick sides?

One corner of the triangle was sugary sweet, the second all eye-rolls and curtains of dark hair, the third a perpetually dishevelled grumbler. But each of them had to admit to finding that their triple combination of Annie’s optimism and positivity, Maeve’s straight-talking determination and Hal’s calming presence seemed to balance their counterparts surprisingly well. Like all marvellous potions, each ingredient was understated alone, but made something unexpectedly magical when combined.

This is told from the third-person past-tense POV of Annie.

OVERALL OPINIONS
ㅤ🏡🧁🧹 a well-timed treat 🧹🧁🏡
With September rolling in, I was drawn to this story for its cosy vibes and promise of magic. Its beautiful cover was what first caught my eye, and I hoped it would be as charming as the story within, and equally full of humour and heart. This did not disappoint – and the story starts in September, too. Take a look at the stunning descriptions she uses to describe it:

September’s young autumn had delivered a crackle of orange-peel leaves across the pavement outside and, as the door swung open and stirred them in a gust, they rustled in the background against the chatter of the packed cafe.

While I have yet to read the first book in this Rewitched series, I have been completely captivated and will be sure to check it out! It would seem I picked well, as I have seen a lot of people complimenting and preferring this story to its predecessor. From my understanding, this is meant to be on a tandem timeline (an interesting idea I don’t think I’ve seen for a while), set a few years before the events in Rewitched, with some familiar people like Morena and Bronwyn making an appearance.

ㅤ🏡🧁🧹 perfection on the page 🧹🧁🏡
I knew this would be a touching read when I read its dedication:

To the daughters who fix it all for everyone. You deserve the same magic that you give to others.

As the daughter who is the Annie of my family, this touched me. And if that doesn’t do it for you, the entire introductory paragraph starting “The promise and power of a little treat is perhaps the most magical concept that a mind can manifest” will captivate you as Wood takes us on spellbinding descriptions that I could not help highlighting – though the descriptions of food sure made me hungry haha.

Indeed, this story is really something, arguably more than a cosy story. It has a strikingly unique balance of plot and worldbuilding of the wicche realm, as well as characterisation and romance. Achieving this, along with keeping the tone light and cheerful and only dark where necessary, is certainly not the easiest of things to do.

ㅤ🏡🧁🧹 magical setting 🧹🧁🏡
The worldbuilding is excellent and clearly well considered, down to the last detail. From the name of the shop Celeste meaning “heavenly” to the pun in Sorciety, I was hanging onto every piece of information given about this environment! I love the description of Hecate House’s atrium with twelve doors, each of which has giant bronze zodiac figures above it. It is really cool that the correspondence letters glow whenever read by whicchefolk.

I like several aspects of the spells as well, the main one of which is their being in Latin, but I’ll give a few other examples. These spells include:
• connecting the dots of stars in the sky to create something
• capturing colours from the world to use for paints
• adding finishing personalised touches to the order
• ensuring that the bakery will always have the last of a customer’s favourites at the right time
• a sprinkle on cakes where each bite will bring up or keep a memory
• removing makeup instantly (now wouldn’t that be a handy one IRL?)
I loved the concept that Annie uses magic to make herself bright and breezy to hide away all her insecurities, something that I’m sure a lot of us wish we could do (if we can’t do it already).

ㅤ🏡🧁🧹 characterisation: the icing on the cake 🧹🧁🏡
But the characterisation is really what makes this story. Annie’s struggle with going from a perfectionist to finding and embracing her true self is an incredible story arc. I think this quote here cleverly sums up how she doesn’t merely see the world as perfect but uses magic to make it seem perfect:

Rose-coloured glasses were all very well and good, but Annie’s rose-coloured magic was even more effective.

Her motivation for this stems from her care for two people: Hal and Maeve. She stops using her perfection spell because it affects Maeve negatively, and despite her hilarious slipups, Hal prefers the person she is without her magic. When Hal reprimands her for being so helpful to those undeserving of it, I felt that

A lot of people are relying on me and I can’t just abandon them. I can’t let them down.’
‘Right, of course,’ he nodded calmly. ‘And what kind of happiness are you getting in return for that?’

It is so beautiful to see her standing up for herself against her so-called friends too (and it was such poetic justice having her say ‘Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic, darling?’ back at them). Heartbreaking that she is forced to see how different her childhood friend Romily has become.

Maeve’s journey from being an outsider with uncontrollable magic to harnessing her powers provides a striking contrast with Annie: she is the order to Maeve’s chaos and Maeve is the reminder that it is okay not to be perfect, that being messy can be liberating. Not only that, this serves as an excellent source of conflict as the Sorciety want her powers for themselves. I love the inner healing Annie gets from being the one who protects Maeve:

In Annie’s world, no one had protected her younger self. No one had ever cared enough to step in and sweep her up, to promise her that everything would be okay or that she could leave it to them to safely solve. But she would step up to protect Maeve. She would be the witch that her younger self had needed so desperately.

Realistic touches, such as people-pleasing issues and animals comforting humans when they spiral, made this book more than just a comfort read. Even side characters had purpose, like Ruby who is a true friend who understood Annie’s family situation, and Hal serves as the perfect love interest. The moment he stepped on the scene, saying ‘What in the hell and high waters have you done to my living room? Everything’s bloody pink’, I knew he would be a favourite haha.

ㅤ🏡🧁🧹 to conclude 🧹🧁🏡
Overall, I absolutely adored this and will not stop talking about it now. I would have loved more Annie and Hal, and a Latin typo got to me but I am happy with the book for what it is. If you are still here, go and give it a read!

<< Positives >>
🠚 Charming story meets cute cover.
🠚 Standalone story that can be read outwith series sequence.
🠚 Unique mix of genres and tones.
🠚 Excellent world-building and magic system.
🠚 Relatable characters and emotional depth.
🠚 Strong themes of self-love and found family.
🠚 Adorable leaf chapter header image.
🠚 The coven cloak’s description makes me want one now. Merch drop when, Lucy?
🠚 Snow White-esque vibes of the cottage in the middle of the woods and the animals adds to the cosiness.
🠚 Great plot twists about 80% of the way in. Especially when Vivienne mentions Maeve and Annie says ‘I don’t think I mentioned her name.’ – I adore books that do this, I always go “ohhh”!
🠚 The puns.

<< Negatives >>
🠚 Tandem timeline could be considered confusing, as most readers would expect a linear/chronological timeline.
🠚 Romance felt more of a secondary element and I personally would have loved more moments and development between Annie and Hal. Considering the limitations via the length of the book and its different elements, I can understand why this wasn’t fleshed out as much as it could have been.
🠚 Incorrect Latin for Hecate House: there is “Tonitru, Fulgar, Pluvia” (Thunder, Lightning, Rain) – Tonitru should be Tonitus. This is because it is the name for thunder, whereas Tonitru describes something happening by or with thunder.
🠚 The concept of time manipulation (albeit a forbidden coven rule) came up quite early on and I had hoped it would come into play.
🠚 It is too obvious that Annie’s friends were not real friends who would be there for her. I would have preferred something more subtle.
🠚 We don’t ever get the mystery solved about where Annie’s parents are “The place where everything is perfect”. I thought this would have been covered.
🠚 I wish Annie had a moment where she tells herself her feelings are valid, as a direct mirror to the times she tells herself she is overreacting.
🠚 I would have included a description of Hal’s reaction to seeing Annie back at the house, since all we get is the door flying open.
🠚 I’d love to learn more about Hal and his adventures and his crossings of realms, as I feel it is not covered enough. Novella?
🠚 A glossary with a list of spells and their translations would be really cool. For example, “Iter Rectio” means “Journey Guidance” and its function is literally to show the way.
🠚 How *did* Vivienne know Maeve’s name?
🠚 Minor but “hey?” is said quite a lot and I think “eh?” would sound better.

CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Annie꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ She loves things being organised, so do I. She loves to help people, so do I. She doesn’t like sharing things that feel burdensome, so do I sometimes. She takes the time to remember details about people and picks up on behaviour. I can relate to needing a routine to feel tethered.

-ˋˏ ꒰ Hal꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ The “resident lumberjack pirate cowboy” aka Mr-Perfection-without-needing-magic-to-be-perfect. Okay but this man is the sweetest most considerate grump I’ve ever met! He really sees Annie for who she is. May we all find a man like this (even if he doesn’t own a Stetson hat or have a stallion). Him showing up with an army of coven and animals. And let’s not forget his “don’t touch her” moment where he says ‘I would think very, very carefully about your next move.’ with “a fire behind his eyes that felt foreign to his usual unshakeable calm”.

-ˋˏ ꒰ Maeve꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ The description of Maeve, upon watching Annie and Hal together, rolling her eyes “so hard that she almost toppled backwards off her hay bale” made me cackle like a true witch. It is adorable how much she understands the two of them and their unspoken love. I love her love of books, fierce determination and her embrace of messiness.

FAV QUOTES
• Word had spread in a matter of days, that Celeste and its charming proprietor were something special. Bewitching, even. The small fact that Annie was indeed a witch was almost by the by.
• Her voice dripped with so much white-hot pity that it felt like spots of acid rain that Annie should have thrown up an umbrella to.
• ‘Blood is thicker than water,’ Vivienne said smugly. ‘And magic is thicker again.’ | ‘Always hated that phrase – usually tossed around by people who’ve never been let down by someone who’s supposed to put them above all else,’
• Even as someone with a terrible habit of landing herself in unwanted situations to keep others happy, this one had to take the biscuit. And the cake. And the cinnamon bun, too. What had she gotten herself into?
• Just as the door was about to close, Annie couldn’t help but blurt out a final thought. ‘Maeve?’ She cringed, adjusted her volume a little. ‘You are never, ever a burden, okay? Not with anybody, but especially not with me. I’m so pleased to be here with you.’ At that, Maeve peered back around the door and frowned for a moment, as though confused by how to respond. She only gave a tiny nod, then shut the door behind her with a click.
• Being here with Maeve meant that Annie’s real self was going to be more on display than she had allowed in forever. She wasn’t even sure she knew what – or who – that was any more.
• Their gentle bickering and laughter caught and carried along on the wind. The sound, a soft and distinctly precious one, something new and special to Arden Place, whipped into a swirl of crackling leaves like caramel through cake and folded itself around the witches’ ring to mingle with the rest of the whispers that wound through the woods.
• She may not have been perfect any more, but it would still always, always be pink.
• Annie breathed an empty laugh. ‘You already think I’m the worst.’ | ‘Sometimes,’ Hal nodded, leaning back and rubbing a hand roughly through his beard. ‘Other times . . .’ He paused, catching her eyes under lock and key. ‘Other times, I think you might just be perfect.’
• His voice was a thick, hoarse whisper. ‘I know it’s crazy for me to ask you to stay. I know you’re too good and bright and brilliant for a small kind of life like mine. But I have to be selfish and unreasonable and ask it anyway. Stay, just for now, and we can figure it out a day at a time.’ Their eyes felt magnetized as he leaned over her, his arm above her pressed against the wall. Annie knew she should look away and break it, but there was a sincerity in his face. There was no sarcasm, no gruffness, nothing but a confident honesty and an inch of vulnerability that felt like a mile coming from him.
• Hooves galloped by, thudding at speed into the soft meadow before pulling up at the cottage porch. The horse rallied onto his hind legs as two boots landed on the ground in a desperate hurry. The front door swung open, honest words ready to be spilled and insisted, but they tumbled out into an empty home. There was nobody to hear them, only the lingering scent of vanilla sugar that settled to the floor in a scattering of rosypink snowlike sparks.
• In the flurry of thoughts of Hal and home and heart, Annie wondered how she’d ever move on from that feeling. Maybe she never would. It would hold her for ever. Intoxicating in its equal parts of comfort and passion combined. How lucky they were to have found one another, to care so deeply and safely and to feel it returned in a way that set magic alight.
• All Annie could register was the desperate need to get to her own girl, to Maeve – an overwhelming feeling that she would give anything for it. Her own life, if needed. She supposed that was what a pure soul connection with someone other than her familiar was meant to feel like – true friendship or true love or the true feeling of family – and it had risen up so unexpectedly in her life, like a forgotten spring bud desperately determined to survive through any winter frost, through anything, all-consuming in its aim to carry on. A kind of love that was incomparable. Annie had no intention of letting that love leave this realm or any other.
• She had so much to say to them, to paint the picture of why this moment meant so much to her. But it wasn’t the time to tell them how it felt. It was the time to let this moment be, to feel it trickle by like the stream that surrounded them and adjust to this beautiful, calm quiet being her real, authentic life – at least for now. How lucky she was to have found such sweetness.

══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════

I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Lucy Jane Wood, Pan Macmillan, and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.

[Brooke &#x1d717;&#x1d71a; · Rating 4 out of 5]

—— 4.25 ✰ stars. 🎀

❝ᥲᥒᥒiᥱ hᥱᥣd ᥲᥒ iᥒtimᥲtᥱ υᥒdᥱrstᥲᥒdiᥒg of thᥱ imρortᥲᥒᥴᥱ of ᥲ swᥱᥱt trᥱᥲt; thᥱ wᥲყ it ᥴoυᥣd ᥲᥣtᥱr thᥱ worst of moods, brightᥱᥒ thᥱ dᥲrkᥱst of dᥲყs, briᥒg ᥲ ᥣittᥣᥱ bit of hoρᥱ to ᥲ hᥱᥲvყ hᥱᥲrt.❞

📚⁞ 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝
📱⁞ 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕖
🏷️⁞ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: ℂ𝕠𝕫𝕪 𝔽𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕤𝕪, ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖
📆⁞ 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 𝟙𝟘/𝟝/𝟚𝟝 - 𝟙𝟘/𝟙𝟘/𝟚𝟝
📃⁞ 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
「 “Annie Wildwood is practically perfect in every witch way. Her life is a haze of pink, magic and impossibly high standards. But when she is tasked with mentoring a troubled teenage witch with extraordinary powers, Annie's charmed existence is quickly thrown into utter chaos.” 」

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

❝“i fᥱᥱᥣ thiᥒgs so hᥲrd ᥲᥒd so mυᥴh, thᥲt somᥱtimᥱs it's ᥣikᥱ thᥱყ'rᥱ goιᥒg to stoρ mᥱ from brᥱᥲthiᥒg. i fᥱᥱᥣ it ᥲᥣᥣ oᥒ ᥱvᥱrყoᥒᥱ ᥱᥣsᥱ's bᥱhᥲᥣf withoυt thᥱm ᥱvᥱᥒ ᥲskiᥒg mᥱ to, thᥱყ ᥲᥣᥣ tᥲkᥱ υρ so mυᥴh sρᥲᥴᥱ thᥲt thᥱrᥱ's bᥲrᥱᥣყ ᥲᥒყ room for mᥱ to figυrᥱ oυt mყ owᥒ thoυghts.”❞

ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★.25
ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅꜱ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 𝟺.𝟶𝟹 ☆ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🚪
ꜱᴇᴀꜱᴏɴ: 🎃🍂🍁
ᴘᴀɪʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ: ᴀ ᴛᴏᴡᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴏᴄᴏʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴄᴀᴋᴇ🍴
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ?: ✅
ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴀᴛɪꜱꜰɪᴇᴅ? — ᴍᴀʀɪɴᴀ & ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪᴀᴍᴏɴᴅꜱ
0:35 ———♡——— 3:19

⇄ ◃◃ ⅠⅠ ▹▹ ↻

╭───
┆
╰⪼ ❛my problem, it's my problem that I never am happy. it's my problem, it's my problem on how fast I will succeed. are you satisfied with an average life? do I need to lie to make my way in life? high achiever, don't you see? baby, nothing comes for free. they say I'm a control freak driven by a greed to succeed. nobody can stop me.❜

⊱ ────── {⋆ ‧₊˚♪𝄞 ⋆} ────── ⊰

ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
🎀 ʙᴀᴋᴇᴅ ɢᴏᴏᴅꜱ
🧁 90’ꜱ ꜱᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ
✨ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ
🎀 ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ ᴘɪɴᴋ
🧁 ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ᴇᴍᴘᴀᴛʜ
✨ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ꜱᴜʙᴘʟᴏᴛ
🎀 ᴄᴏᴢʏ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜʏ ᴠɪʙᴇꜱ
🧁 ɢʀᴜᴍᴘʏ x ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ
✨ ʙᴀʀʙɪᴇ, ɢʟɪɴᴅᴀ, ᴇʟʟᴇ ᴡᴏᴏᴅꜱ

❝ᥣifᥱ wᥲs so bᥱᥲυtifυᥣ whᥱᥒ shᥱ ᥣᥱt ᥴhᥲos tᥲkᥱ hoᥣd, ᥱvᥱᥒ jυst for ᥲ fᥣᥱᥱtiᥒg momᥱᥒt.❞

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

💬 ⁞ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
⟢ Last year around this time, I was falling in love with the first book in this series, Rewitched. In my review, I even said I could see this becoming a series. Maybe I’m a witch too? 😉

⟢ After all the horror books I’ve been consuming lately, Uncharmed was the kind of warm hug I needed to chase the ghouls away. And that’s exactly what this book feels like: one of those GOOD hugs. I can’t express enough how magical the author truly makes these books feel. I swear she must put some kind of spell in them. She truly transports you to a magical world with her descriptive writing.

♡ What I Loved:
• The characters. They all truly shine in her books. I especially have a soft spot for my girl Annie.
• A Rune guest appearance! 😍
• How much I could relate to Annie. Not her need for perfectionism, but her empathy/how she feels too much all the time. It’s exhausting being an empath.
• THE VIBES. 🤌🏼 Uncharmed made me want to find a cabin in the woods during peak fall season when the trees are at their prime, sit on a porch swing with a cup of coffee & a pastry, & befriend all the woodland creatures.
• I thought it was really cute how Annie’s magic was pink. As a fellow pink girly, I am envious and would also like some pink magic powers now.

Most things in her life were a shade of pink and she rarely strayed from it.

💖 same, girl, same.
• I pictured Margot Robbie as Barbie for Annie’s character. The resemblances are uncanny!

✘ What I Didn’t Love:
- Too much going on at times. Between Maeve, Annie running the bakery, the Sorciety, the Coven, Hal, the mentorship. While I enjoyed when it all eventually came together, the book could’ve done without some of it.
- We didn’t get to learn enough about Maeve’s unique powers & what made her such a powerful witch.
- I wanted to know Hal’s lore.
- We never find out if Annie came clean about the spell she did every night & that bothered me.

⟢ I really hope the author decides to continue with this series because I need more of this world, of these characters, of the feelings these books make me feel. I truly believe other than love, reading is the closest thing we have to magic. ✨

⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆ ⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆ ⋆⁺｡˚⋆˙‧₊☽ ◯ ☾₊‧˙⋆˚｡⁺⋆

❝“bυt i’m ᥒot sυrᥱ of ᥲᥒყthiᥒg ρrᥲᥴtiᥴᥲᥣ or sᥱᥒsibᥣᥱ or ᥱxρᥱᥴtᥱd ᥲᥒყ morᥱ . . . ᥲᥒd i thiᥒk i’m stᥲrtiᥒg to ᥣᥱᥲrᥒ thᥲt thᥲt’s whᥱrᥱ thᥱ mᥲgiᥴ ᥣiᥱs, whᥱᥒ thᥱrᥱ’s ᥲ ᥣittᥣᥱ bit of room for sρoᥒtᥲᥒᥱitყ ᥲᥒd thᥱ ᥴhᥲᥒᥴᥱ to stυmbᥣᥱ ᥲᥴross hᥲρρყ mistᥲkᥱs.”❞

𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬
🔮 𝚁𝚎𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 (#𝟷) 𝟻★
🎀 𝚄𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚍 (#𝟸) 𝟺.𝟸𝟻★

[Maeghan &#x1f98b; HIATUS on & off · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨
« I feel things so hard and so much, that sometimes it’s like they’re going to stop me from breathing. I feel it all on everyone else’s behalf without them even asking me to, they all take up so much space that there’s barely any room for me to figure out my own thoughts. »

I sincerely didn’t expect this book to hit me square in the chest. I had fallen back into people pleasing tendencies lately because my grandma is dying and I fall back when I have a lot of stuff going on… and I really needed to hear this. (Even my grandma was telling me her wish for the rest of my life is that I learn to be selfish lol).

« But why do you feel like you owe some kind of version of yourself to anybody? »

Healing isn’t linear… and it also isn’t easy. This book felt like a warm hug and I didn’t expect it to be enlightening. I’m extremely happy I picked this up.

« I do sometimes wonder what life would look like if I didn’t pay so much mind to what anybody else was thinking or feeling.
- Maybe it would look like it was your own. »

—-•pre read
« To the daughters who fix it all for everyone.
You deserve the same magic that you give to others. » oh ❤️‍🩹 I really needed this

[aeryn rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Oh this was such a beautiful book! I wasn't expecting this book to be as deep and thorough as it was, but I am pleasantly surprised at the outcome. This book carried such beautiful tones of love and loss, along with grief and companionship.

I really, really enjoyed the characters in this book. When this book first starts, Annie s very much a pushover and would be labeled as a walking doormat. She surrounds herself with crappy people who only use her and her kindness against her. With that being said, Annie's journey to self-discovery and acceptance of who she is was beautiful to read truly. Then we are introduced to Maeve. She really brought this book to life in her gloomy yet powerful personality and was the leading hand in Annie really discovering herself.

Then at the halfway mark, we meet Hal. Now, I didn't really care much for him. I thought his personality was very shallow compared to Annie and Maeve and he really didn't add much to the story until literally the very end. His chemistry lacked in his relationship with Annie and it definitely came off as an afterthought rather than a solid addition to the progression of the story.

I found the writing in this book to be super quick to get through and everything was explained well! This had a unique magic system and the author did a good job of simplifying it enough to make sense, but still add that oomph to the plot. This was super easy to binge, as it was entertaining and engaging and was written so that it was easy to consume.

Towards the end of the book, we were introduced to twists and turns that I really wasn't expecting and I enjoyed the way it ended! This was cozy and it was sweet. I also wanna point out that the author did an amazing job on the immersive world building and setting of this story. It felt like a warm hug in autumn and the desserts genuinely made me so hungry at times THEY SOUNDED DELICIOUS!

Overall, I' really glad I read this before October is over because this was a perfect cozy and witchy book that I ended up really enjoying. It's a very easy book, but I did really love the undertones and the messages throughout this book on self-love and not needing to be perfect to be who you are. If you're looking for a sweet and gentle but heartwarming story, I would highly recommend this!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🧡🪄

Getting in as many cozy witchy reads before October is over and this one just looks and sounds so cute 😻

[BookishByTammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are just the sweetest cosy witchy fantasy stories!

I loved the addition of Maeve in this story, Annie mentoring a teenage witch while inadvertently learning from her how to not be a people pleaser and to live her life authentically.

The romance was understated and not really prevalent but it was still cute nonetheless
Perfect read for this season

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy, witchy read perfect for autumn.
Unpopular opinion maybe: I preferred this over Rewitched!

Annie is a perfectionist, an organiser, a problem-solver. She runs Celestial Bakehouse and is well-known for her magical pastries. It helps she is actually a witch too.

When the Coven asks her to care for a troubled teen with uncontrollable magic, her people-pleasing, longing to belong self accepts.

A delightful cast of characters!
Annie: a 32 year old who take the weight of everyone else on her shoulders.
Karma, her white fluffy cat familiar.
Maeve: a goth teenaged girl who is more bark than bite.

This was so sweet to read with delicious descriptions and perfectly atmospheric writing set in London.

The promise and power of a little treat is perhaps the most magical concept that a mind can manifest. It is a mug of warm, silken coffee clutched between chilled hands, in exchange for waking up before the morning sun.

I would hesitate to call this a romantasy. In fact, I initially thought this entire book would be a stand against finding a partner and finding peace in yourself.

Alas, we do get a love interest predictably.

There is happiness, laughter, anger, high-strung emotions throughout.
As someone who needs order and plans and control like Annie, I felt her inner struggle acutely.

I liked the message of this story, even if I did hold out hope that the happy ever after doesn’t always need to find a romantic other to complete you.

4 stars for vibes. ⭐️
It would probably have been 3 stars if I wasn’t in need of magical pastries charm.

Physical arc gifted by Tor.

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[Jessica]

DNF at 92%

I wanted to love this one so badly, but the plot was just too slow and the pacing off. The first 20% is filler intro until the heroine finally meets the young witch she's supposed to help with her magic. Then we don't even meet the hero until almost 50% into the story. A lot of times I was just listening along and asking what was really even happening beyond them hanging out together and talking a lot. I do love the found family and the cozy vibes, I just needed more plot to keep my attention.

[Quirine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute but didn’t love it as much as Rewitched! I loved the idea of this perfectionistic Glinda the good witch character but I wish it had been laid on a little more thickly. There was hardly any tension between Annie, Maeve and Hal, as the blurb had promised. They all kind of instantly liked each other and Maeve was hardly troubled. So in the end it all felt a little too cheesy for me, especially how Annie kept calling Maeve ‘her girl’ and she and Hal took this proud parent thing a way too seriously. I fear I had to roll my eyes a few times there. But all in all this felt magical and cozy (and all the pastry descriptions made me SO hungry)

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the audiobook for “Uncharmed” by Lucy Jane Wood! 😍✨️ If you're looking for a seasonal read that is the epitome of magic, escapism, and coziness, this is the one. The narrator, Evie Hargreaves, was literally incredible, I think she could describe paint drying or the most boring subject on the planet, and I would find it totally fascinating. She really brought this book to life, and I could picture the characters and scenes in my mind like a movie! I loved the way she narrated the voices for all the characters.

This is such a sweet seasonal read, perfect for anyone who loves whimsical charm, Mary Poppins, the coziness of fall, self-discovery, found family and magic! I loved it! I loved the way she describes the environment, the magic, the change of the characters, and of course, the adorable cat named Karma.

Overall, the story is designed for those who like to get swept away into a cozy fantasy read. The romance aspect is quite the opposite of insta-lust - this is a slower paced read that really let's you marinate and settle into the story.

I was totally bewitched by the narrator, I didn't want this story to end. I can't wait to read her other book, Rewitched!

Perfect if you love:
🍂 Seasonal fall reads
✨️ Cozy fantasy
🥰 Found family
💕 Mary Poppins
🔥 Slow burn
💖 Magic and spells
🐾 A ridiculously cute cat named Karma!
✨️ Self-discovery, letting go of perfectionism
❤️ Heartwarming stories about unconditional love

[alyssa✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75*

the cutest trio ever. love my angsty teen, grumpy warlock, and “perfect” witch <33333

[Sam (FallingBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to quiet the swirling thoughts and anxieties in your brain. The cosy cottage vibe of this was exactly what I needed.

It has a slow start for setting up the story and I would of liked a bit more development in the romance, but would defo recommend if you like Sangu Mandana, The Spellshop, Legends and Lattes!

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

More witchy goodness from the witchy author herself, Lucy Jane Wood, means fall is officially here. Taking readers back to an alternate London where magic thrives in spades and witches abound, Lucy Jane Wood’s, Uncharmed sees Andromeda "Annie" Wildwood, witch, bakery proprietor, best friend, and confidant’s perfectly curated life completely fall apart when her coven tasks her with training an unruly teen witch at a cabin in the middle of nowhere. Away from her routine Annie casts off the trappings of her old life—one spell in particular, to determine what is serving her, and what is ultimately serving others.

Uncharmed certainly re-enlivens the magic Lucy Jane Wood first captured with her stellar debut, Rewitched, but with an entirely new, potent flavor. Its magic diluted in its strongest form upon the page and it is easy to get swept up in the spells, secret societies, and the utterly delicious confections and baked goods. While complete with a romance subplot to die for, Uncharmed focuses most of its attention on the character of Annie and her relentless people pleasing tendencies and overall perfectionism. Annie’s strive for perfection comes at the expense of her autonomy—literally, as she douses herself daily with a spell to help her meet the impossible expectations she, and others, have set for her. The spell keeps her placid, able to be what others need without her emotions and beliefs interfering. Yet, stuck in the woods with an orphaned witch is all it takes for that to come crashing down, for good this time. Lucy Jane Wood’s witchy novels find harmony with intimate character studies, cozy atmosphere, and romance perfectly mixed and baked to perfection. Uncharmed is proof that Wood is only getting better and better and this found family story with magical creatures and a cottage in the woods is heartwarming as it is magical!

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[Abbie Toria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and magical cosy read. You'll want baked goods on hand to munch whilst reading this!

[Juliette Locktree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this was just as much a Rewitched. Very cozy and I loved that magic was more prominent in this one.

The love story might have taken a little too much of a backseat, but the found family aspect made this all worthwhile.

Check out my full review in my October Wrap-up 2025. I hope to see you there and let me know if you do❤️
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXOxn...

[dais grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[&#x118f2; ezra ೀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first, I thought I wasn't enjoying this story because I was reading it after two amazing books by Robert Jackson Bennett. But after a while, I started realising that the issue was indeed with the story.

It was very slow for me (it took me almost a week to read it?!) and not even the description of the goods in Annie's bakery could counteract it.

I couldn't relate with any of the characters and Annie soon became too annoying. She was a doormat of gigantic proportions. And her relationship with Hal? Too insta.

I was honestly expecting to like this book a lot more than 'Rewitched' but it is possible that I even liked it less.

It became a chore with characters I couldn't care less about. Therefore, I won't be reading another book by this author.

[Cups and Thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

a big sweet cozy hug in book form 🥹 oh my goodness this was just the perfect most charming and delectable witchy read ever! it has everything you want — delicious sweet treat descriptions, magical pinky girly goodness, the most wholesome friendship, and the sweetest romance 🤍🤍 i may like this one more than rewitched, and i LOVED rewitched!!! i need 20 more of these cozy witchy books pls lucy jane wood!!! i cannot get enough of them 😭✨✨✨✨

[Steph ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy does it again. Another 5 star read filled with found family, a sprinkle of romance, lots of magic, and a woman just trying to find her way and herself in a world constantly telling her to be perfect all the time. I adored this. Lucy speaks to my soul with her books. Annie was such an incredible character and my heart constantly broke for her. This persona she'd perfected over the years with her magic. It was incredible to see her turn into the powerhouse that she is when it all fell away. I adored Maeve as well. And Hal with his brooding but caring nature. What big hearts these characters had. And the cheeky cameo from Rune as well! Loved that. I'd love more from Ruby in the future as well. Sugar, spice and everything nice, this was perfect in every witch way. Exactly as the cover describes!

[⋆✴︎˚hannah ౨ৎ˚⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

FMC Annie pissed me off to no end. Pathological people pleasing/vain up until the last possible second and then even after that. And there was also NO satisfying conclusion where she FINALLY stood up and did the right thing, which was even more disappointing.

Yet, this still managed to be a 3.5 star (rounded up) for me because I loved the VIBES, loved the pink, and loved the found family even if they are probably too good for Annie! i just love witches!! Im sorry! what can i say?!?

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it’s really clever how Lucy has depicted what it feels like to be empathetic and a people pleaser to a fault but in a cosy witchy fantasy. The splendidus infernum spell was a very good parallel to masking as a neurodivergent woman.

Reading this was like reading what I’ve been trying to put into words for my entire life but never being able to express it properly. I tabbed an awful lot in this book but some of my favourite quotes are:

“Now that she was sitting still, words from her day at the bakery came back to cloud her mind. As soon as she started to worry about others, it was though Annie had knocked over a bottle of ink across a handwritten page. The plume of storm cloud spread itself over everything and there was nothing she could do to stop it or make it feel less imperious. It was all she could see.”

“‘Let us help you. It’s literally what we’re here for.’
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to. She was desperate to and she knew that their talents would thrive with fuller roles at Celeste. But, through her whole life, Annie had felt unable to share anything that felt tricky. Or burdensome. As though she wasn’t allowed to take her foot off the pedal. Only she could solve her problems in just the right way and asking for help or delegating meant admitting defeat.”

“It was her own fault - just the way she was in social situations. Tightly wound and second-guessing her responses, reflecting on all the ways that she’d embarrassed herself as soon as she got home.”

“‘Blood is thicker than water,’…’always hated that phrase - usually tossed around by people who’ve never been let down by someone who’s supposed to put them above all else’”

“An unexplained summons from anyone always set fire to the embers of her anxieties, reinforcing that constant, smarting feeling that she was in trouble for something”

“perhaps she spent her whole life feeling as though everything was a test, one that had to be passed to prove something. But somehow, it was always a test that she hadn’t prepared hard enough for. She existed with a feeling that she was constantly in trouble - except she didn’t know with whom or why - and she was always trying to earn her way back into their good books.”

“‘ I feel it all on everyone else’s behalf without them even asking me to, they all take up so much space that there’s barely any room for me to figure out my own thoughts.’”

“It wasn’t that she cared any less for those familiar faces. Of course not; Annie would always care deeply. It was simply as if she had less of herself to give in return. As though her heart had been left behind. She could no longer exist as an infinite well.”

“none of these people truly cared for her. That none of them ever considered her further than what she might be able to prove in a one-sided exchange. She did her best not to be selfish, to never say no - even when she really, really wanted to. And all it had resulted in was being liked as far as she could be used. She was only ever what she could provide to them.”

The writing in this book was beautiful. It was funny, emotional, and magical all at the same time. I didn’t rate Rewitched too highly but I think I’m going to have to reread it with an open mind.

I definitely recommend this book if you are a perfectionist in need of some very gentle reflection and healing.

[Maaike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just like being wrapped up in the cosiest blanket (pink of course), sipping on your hot chocolate and eating your fav chocolate chip cookies with a cuddly cat in your lap. This was the sweetest and cosiest read ever.

The first sentence already had me in love with this book: “The promise and power of a little treat is perhaps the most magical concept that a mind can manifest.”

While the book talks a lot about sweet treats. It also has some wonderful lessons on self love, surrounding yourself with people that lift you up but also let you be yourself and not letting others define your worth. And what better way to do that than with a selfproclaimed perfect, pink people pleaser, a moody, eye rolling teenager and the cutest fluffy white cat??

I had such a wonderful time reading this book. It was funny, heartwarming, uplifting, emotional and just the cosiest time. I loved Rewitched, but in my opinion this one really takes the cake (pun intended, thank you)

Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with this digital arc! 🩷

[TeagzReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! Perfect for a cozy day of fall reading! Annie was such an interesting character to follow; she has a warped perception of her worth, and her desire to be perfect so she fits the mold in their society goes to the extremes. I really enjoyed her journey and how much growth she showed.

Come for the romance, stay for the relationship that developes between Annie and the young girl she’s tasked with guardianship of, Maude. Wood was tugging on my heartstrings with this one and I just needed to see both characters get their happy ending!

Heartwarming and emotional with all the witchy fall charm of an October must read! I guess I need to add Rewitched to my tbr!

**Thank you to ACE books and Berkley Romance for providing me a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.**

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, this was so lovely! Where I didn't feel like Rewitched quite lived up to its potential, I enjoyed Uncharmed so much more. Admittedly, Annie has to grow on me a little, because she's an INTENSE people pleaser, but this was all part of the plot and I thought it was done really well. The found family element was truly wonderful, and made this into such a comforting read.

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was undoubtedly cute, cosy and fun, I didn’t love it as much as I’d hoped. I think I had similar issues with this as I did the first one, in that there was too much happening and yet I wanted more. I wanted more depth from the plot, as well as characters and their relationships. The romance was incredibly quick, without too much connection and while I really liked the idea of Maeve and Annie’s relationship, it still felt rather surface level. Overall, this was an enjoyable enough read and while the idea was good, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo cuteeee🍂🌸Ό,τι πρέπει για φθινόπωρο🫶🏼

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t a groundbreaking read, but it had just enough warmth and charm to make it a pleasant experience. The protagonist, Andromeda "Annie" Wildwood, is a witch who runs a bakery and has a soft spot for the color pink. Everything in her life is perfect on the surface, but beneath that, she’s a classic people-pleaser who struggles to rise above the high expectations she sets for herself. What’s worse, she’s surrounded by a toxic circle that, under the guise of friendship, keeps her feeling small.

Things begin to shift when Annie is unexpectedly tasked with mentoring Maeve, a teenage girl who has just discovered her magical powers and needs guidance. Along the way, Annie also meets Hal – a brooding yet undeniably charming wizard –whose house she and Maeve end up occupying. Both Maeve and Hal help Annie realize that she doesn’t need to live up to anyone’s expectations but her own.

This book, while fitting neatly into the cozy fantasy genre, tries to explore also more serious and relatable themes. The central thread is Annie’s journey toward self-acceptance and breaking free from societal and self-imposed pressures – something many readers, especially young women, may connect with. That said, I think the story will resonate most with readers who personally identify with Annie’s internal struggles. For me, it didn’t quite land on a deeper emotional level, but I can absolutely see how it might for others.

Like most cozy fantasy, the stakes here are pretty low, so it’s more of a comforting, feel-good read than something that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The villains were kind of over the top and felt more cartoonish than threatening, but that wasn’t a huge issue. What l worked for me was the found family element – it came across as genuine and heartwarming.

I really liked Hal, even though he isn't as fully fleshed out as I wish he could have been. While I usually don’t mind romance taking a backseat, I did find myself wishing that part of the story had been developed just a bit more.

My main gripe was the pacing. The first 30% of the book is mostly setup, and not much actually happens during that time. It took a while for the plot to find its rhythm, which made it harder for me to stay engaged early on. That said, once it picked up, it turned out to be a fairly quick and easy read.

Overall, this is a gentle, comforting read that may not have left a lasting impact on me personally, but will likely be a meaningful and cozy escape for the right reader. If you enjoy low-stakes fantasy with themes of self-discovery and a sprinkle of magic, this might be exactly what you're looking for.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Maria Papageorgiou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Με επιείκεια, όπως είπε και η φίλη Κατερίνα

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

She outdid rewitched somehow 😭 Annie hal and maeve you have my heart

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and cosy autumnal read.

I didn’t expect themes of perfection to hit so hard and that dedication at the start? 🥹

“To all the daughters who fix it all for everyone. You deserve the same magic that you give to others.”