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A Mystic Hollow Bookshop Mystery #1
Spellbound by Murder
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in this spellbinding cozy mystery featuring a magical bookshop run by three generations of women.
When her grandmother suffers a nasty fall and asks for help managing the family business, coffee-addicted single mother Veronica Blackthorne moves her sixteen-year-old romcom-obsessed daughter to Mystic Hollow, Connecticut. Veronica is ecstatic to return to New England but when she arrives, she quickly finds out that Mystic Hollow Books, her grandmother’s pride and joy, needs more than a little TLC.
Hoping to save the bookstore from a big box rival, Veronica enlists her sometimes-mentor and sometimes-crush Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick off a literary festival that will hopefully bring in a new wave of customers. But when Adam turns up dead, all that romantic potential turns into a nightmare as Veronica becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
As the local sheriff investigates his murder, Veronica decides to take matters into her own hands to solve the case and clear her name. With the bookstore’s future on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Until her gran reveals the biggest secret of all–the bookstore is magical and it was a botched love spell that led to this entire mess.
Witty and heartfelt, this mystery explores the price of magic and how it might be more hefty than one can hope, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Nina Simon.
When her grandmother suffers a nasty fall and asks for help managing the family business, coffee-addicted single mother Veronica Blackthorne moves her sixteen-year-old romcom-obsessed daughter to Mystic Hollow, Connecticut. Veronica is ecstatic to return to New England but when she arrives, she quickly finds out that Mystic Hollow Books, her grandmother’s pride and joy, needs more than a little TLC.
Hoping to save the bookstore from a big box rival, Veronica enlists her sometimes-mentor and sometimes-crush Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick off a literary festival that will hopefully bring in a new wave of customers. But when Adam turns up dead, all that romantic potential turns into a nightmare as Veronica becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
As the local sheriff investigates his murder, Veronica decides to take matters into her own hands to solve the case and clear her name. With the bookstore’s future on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Until her gran reveals the biggest secret of all–the bookstore is magical and it was a botched love spell that led to this entire mess.
Witty and heartfelt, this mystery explores the price of magic and how it might be more hefty than one can hope, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Nina Simon.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 10, 2026
27 people are currently reading
6895 people want to read
About the author
Stacie Ramey
6 books215 followersStacie Ramey is the award-winning author of The Sister Pact, which was named a YALSA 2016 Popular Paperback and a 2015 PSLA Top 40. Her other novels earned Florida Book Awards as well as critical acclaim. Her short story “Without Being Asked” appears in the anthology Coming of Age: 13 B’nai Mitzvah Stories.Her newest project, Spellbound by Murder, a cozy mystery set in a magical New Englandbookstore and featuring a close-knit cast of intergenerational women, will be released in 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 224 reviews
October 18, 2025
the vibes were there. but that's about it.
this really felt like a carbon copy of gilmore girls (snarky mother with a snarkier teenage daughter, small town in new england, everything is a small business, it's always fall... you know the drill), and, while i love gilmore girls (i've never watched charmed), the similarities weren't enough to make me enjoy this book more than i did.
the characters felt pretty two-dimensional and you can draw an equivalent between almost all the characters in this book and gilmore girls, so that's as much characterization as they were getting. i didn't really care about what was going on because there was just SO MUCH of it, like the book didn't know what it wanted to focus on at any given moment. the h*rry p*tter references (this book is coming out in 2026!!! there's no excuse to include these!!!) really took me out and i was metaphorically dragging my feet to keep reading.
overall, it's an okay book vibes-wise, but everything else felt a bit lacking.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
this really felt like a carbon copy of gilmore girls (snarky mother with a snarkier teenage daughter, small town in new england, everything is a small business, it's always fall... you know the drill), and, while i love gilmore girls (i've never watched charmed), the similarities weren't enough to make me enjoy this book more than i did.
the characters felt pretty two-dimensional and you can draw an equivalent between almost all the characters in this book and gilmore girls, so that's as much characterization as they were getting. i didn't really care about what was going on because there was just SO MUCH of it, like the book didn't know what it wanted to focus on at any given moment. the h*rry p*tter references (this book is coming out in 2026!!! there's no excuse to include these!!!) really took me out and i was metaphorically dragging my feet to keep reading.
overall, it's an okay book vibes-wise, but everything else felt a bit lacking.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
January 13, 2026
This book wasn't for me. The mother is so much like Lorelei Gilmore it's uncanny. I honestly don't think that type of character works for a book. I couldn't get past the quippy ( cringe worthy) banter.
September 13, 2025
This was an easy, quick read. While the story was cute and mostly entertaining, it felt like the author stole an episode of Gilmore Girls. I’m a huge fan of the show, and can appreciate the similarities, but it was almost too much. Right down to the banter. Which I now know I’d rather watch than read. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, and maybe it didn’t work as well for me as I was hoping because I’m rewatching the show right now. But it could totally be a hit for someone else! It’s Gilmore Girls with magic and murder.
September 28, 2025
Is this the best book ever written? No.
Did it have a cozy, fall like vibe that we like to look for this time of year? Yes.
This read has a Gilmore Girl fanfiction with some added magic, a bookstore setting, and a murder mystery.
Veronica is written to be very much like Lorelai with her immature moments and quirkiness.
Phoebe is suppose to be like Rory, but lacked the ability to be liked as Rory was. She is a teenage know it all but without the endearment that Rory possesses.
The setting is cozy- small town bookstore and small town drama.
The magic was ok. It kind of just happened and we move on.
Overall, this was an ok read! It’s a quick, easy read with fall vibes.
Thank you NetGalley for the free eArc in exchange for an honest review!
Did it have a cozy, fall like vibe that we like to look for this time of year? Yes.
This read has a Gilmore Girl fanfiction with some added magic, a bookstore setting, and a murder mystery.
Veronica is written to be very much like Lorelai with her immature moments and quirkiness.
Phoebe is suppose to be like Rory, but lacked the ability to be liked as Rory was. She is a teenage know it all but without the endearment that Rory possesses.
The setting is cozy- small town bookstore and small town drama.
The magic was ok. It kind of just happened and we move on.
Overall, this was an ok read! It’s a quick, easy read with fall vibes.
Thank you NetGalley for the free eArc in exchange for an honest review!
September 19, 2025
Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone who loves supporting indie authors, I always aim to share thoughtful, fair feedback. While I have personal reading preferences like a love for fantasy, horses, or specific tropes, I never let that impact my rating unless it is relevant to the book’s intent or audience. I review with the genre and readership in mind. Thank you Netgalley for the copy!
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
Spice: -
Darkness/Bloodiness: -
I loved the cozy murder mystery promise of the book, so I dove in. I can absolutely see how it was inspired by Gilmore Girls and Charmed, the characters very much resemble Gilmore Girls, while the magic reminds me of Charmed.
I loved the characters, they seemed quite consistent and the grandma definitely stole herself into my heart. She is funny, she definitely manipulates softly her daughter but which mom doesn't?
The small town was sweet, I absolutely loved the police officer and that poor board with the streak, I was sad with him when he had to erase!
The plot is definitely matching for a cozy magical murder mystery, although I absolutely didn't understand at all why the bookstore owners would go after figuring out what happened. It is mentioned they love fantasy and romance, maybe if they were mystery addicts I would understand slightly more.
The writing in general was quite okay, understandable and an easy read, however some spots were confusing. Sometimes when the location changed it wasn't well put into words, there was no formal sign of a change and I felt confused how we just got to a new spot. At points I felt that "Oh it's a small town" was overly used to fix a tiny plot hole, I don't really appreciate that in a book.
This a silly little read to feel cozy, laugh and feel good easily, you definitely should expect a very serious read. If you are looking for all I just mentioned, you will very likely love the book for what it is!
If you don't enjoy books that feel similar to other stories, you likely won't like this book, I think it was quite clear with the simple promise.
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
Spice: -
Darkness/Bloodiness: -
I loved the cozy murder mystery promise of the book, so I dove in. I can absolutely see how it was inspired by Gilmore Girls and Charmed, the characters very much resemble Gilmore Girls, while the magic reminds me of Charmed.
I loved the characters, they seemed quite consistent and the grandma definitely stole herself into my heart. She is funny, she definitely manipulates softly her daughter but which mom doesn't?
The small town was sweet, I absolutely loved the police officer and that poor board with the streak, I was sad with him when he had to erase!
The plot is definitely matching for a cozy magical murder mystery, although I absolutely didn't understand at all why the bookstore owners would go after figuring out what happened. It is mentioned they love fantasy and romance, maybe if they were mystery addicts I would understand slightly more.
The writing in general was quite okay, understandable and an easy read, however some spots were confusing. Sometimes when the location changed it wasn't well put into words, there was no formal sign of a change and I felt confused how we just got to a new spot. At points I felt that "Oh it's a small town" was overly used to fix a tiny plot hole, I don't really appreciate that in a book.
This a silly little read to feel cozy, laugh and feel good easily, you definitely should expect a very serious read. If you are looking for all I just mentioned, you will very likely love the book for what it is!
If you don't enjoy books that feel similar to other stories, you likely won't like this book, I think it was quite clear with the simple promise.
November 8, 2025
This was such a cozy, heartwarming book, that kept me on the edge of my toes and didn't let me become too comfortable. It is very Gilmore Girls-esque and as that being one of my favourite series ever, I was ever excited about it. This book also centred around books which made it extra cozy and exciting for me, as at the core of the book, they are trying to save their bookshop.
One of the main characters, Veronica, had never felt truly belonging to anything or anyone before, and the found family growth that we see over the course of this book is wholesome and lovely to read about. She has people she can steady on, can lean on, towards the end of the book, which made my heart very happy.
However, despite knowing that there would be comparisons to Gilmore Girls, it felt almost too similar at times, especially with a Luke-like figure having a potential romantic relationship between him and Veronica. As well as this, character relationships or the layout of the town felt too much like Stars Hollow. There were also a few too many grammatical mistakes for me, but I also am aware I am overly critical of grammar generally (which annoys my friends greatly :-) ), but sometimes it was inconsistent with the spelling of a character's name, infrequent commas, or quotations marks when no-one was speaking. Despite this, I truly really enjoyed this book and all of the characters, and I was still giggling and kicking my feet though at any hinting at romance!
This book had many twists and turns that I did not expect, and all the strings came together at the end for the answer to the murderer who I would not have guessed, despite my many notes throughout the book trying to :-). I also felt very seen with the ADHD representation of two of the main characters; I have not seen this in many books, and I really loved seeing the whimsy of the characters along with the things I also experience!
3.75. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lane Crooked Books for giving me the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, I am immensely grateful and so happy I get to be able to do this! :-)
One of the main characters, Veronica, had never felt truly belonging to anything or anyone before, and the found family growth that we see over the course of this book is wholesome and lovely to read about. She has people she can steady on, can lean on, towards the end of the book, which made my heart very happy.
However, despite knowing that there would be comparisons to Gilmore Girls, it felt almost too similar at times, especially with a Luke-like figure having a potential romantic relationship between him and Veronica. As well as this, character relationships or the layout of the town felt too much like Stars Hollow. There were also a few too many grammatical mistakes for me, but I also am aware I am overly critical of grammar generally (which annoys my friends greatly :-) ), but sometimes it was inconsistent with the spelling of a character's name, infrequent commas, or quotations marks when no-one was speaking. Despite this, I truly really enjoyed this book and all of the characters, and I was still giggling and kicking my feet though at any hinting at romance!
This book had many twists and turns that I did not expect, and all the strings came together at the end for the answer to the murderer who I would not have guessed, despite my many notes throughout the book trying to :-). I also felt very seen with the ADHD representation of two of the main characters; I have not seen this in many books, and I really loved seeing the whimsy of the characters along with the things I also experience!
3.75. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Lane Crooked Books for giving me the opportunity to read an early copy of this book, I am immensely grateful and so happy I get to be able to do this! :-)
October 12, 2025
Small Town
Murder Mystery
Mother daughter besties
Book Club
3.75⭐️
Thankyou to Stacie Ramey, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for my eARC of Spellbound by Murder, which releases 10th March 2026.
This is giving Gilmore Girls x Charmed x Good Witch. Its a very cute, very fluffy small town setting that is easy to read. There is no spice but what it lacks in spice it makes up for it in plot.
FMC Veronica and her teenage daughter, Phobe move to Mystic Hollow to help her grandmother save her bookshop from business rivals.
Veronica enlists her long time friend Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick of a literary contest, in the hopes that it might also bring customers to the bookstore.
But when a meeting between Adam and her goes bad, Veronica finds herself as the prime suspect in Adam's murder.
The relationship between Veronica, Phoebe and her grandmother is very wholesome. Hence the Gilmore Girl reference.
I was living for the Harry Potter references. I highlighted every single one of them. The HP OG nerd in me was cackling.
The writing was easy to follow and consistent. The murder mystery was intriguing. Their were so many plot twists. The investigative atmosphere was very humorous, with alot of wholesome banter. It's not intended to be scary.
I enjoyed myself.I was in such a slump and this was refreshing. It's not your typical cut and paste small town romance, but a small town mirder mystery with a wholesome family and supportive community instead.
Murder Mystery
Mother daughter besties
Book Club
3.75⭐️
Thankyou to Stacie Ramey, Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for my eARC of Spellbound by Murder, which releases 10th March 2026.
This is giving Gilmore Girls x Charmed x Good Witch. Its a very cute, very fluffy small town setting that is easy to read. There is no spice but what it lacks in spice it makes up for it in plot.
FMC Veronica and her teenage daughter, Phobe move to Mystic Hollow to help her grandmother save her bookshop from business rivals.
Veronica enlists her long time friend Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick of a literary contest, in the hopes that it might also bring customers to the bookstore.
But when a meeting between Adam and her goes bad, Veronica finds herself as the prime suspect in Adam's murder.
The relationship between Veronica, Phoebe and her grandmother is very wholesome. Hence the Gilmore Girl reference.
I was living for the Harry Potter references. I highlighted every single one of them. The HP OG nerd in me was cackling.
The writing was easy to follow and consistent. The murder mystery was intriguing. Their were so many plot twists. The investigative atmosphere was very humorous, with alot of wholesome banter. It's not intended to be scary.
I enjoyed myself.I was in such a slump and this was refreshing. It's not your typical cut and paste small town romance, but a small town mirder mystery with a wholesome family and supportive community instead.
October 13, 2025
Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
So I know the blurb says Gilmore Girls meets Charmed, but I wasn’t expecting it to be Gilmore Girls and Charmed. Everything was so on the nose that it wasn’t even fun to read. It didn’t come off as something inspired by the two, but a knockoff of what each of those shows were.
The town is called Mystic Hollow? Like Stars Hollow from Gilmore girls?
The town has these weird shops that don’t make sense and these insufferable town hall meetings where the leader doesn’t listen to the MC’s complaints? Like Taylor and Lorelei from Gilmore Girls?
The daughter’s name is Phoebe? Like the sister in Charmed?
There’s a weird magical book that randomly appeared? That the author actually describes as looking like the book from Charmed? Seriously, the author name dropped the show. And that was the only description of the book we got. That’s not a reference. That’s just lazy writing.
And then Gran and Phoebe were all “if magic with the two of us is like this, imagine how it would be with the three of us!” You mean the power of 3, which is the entire purpose of Charmed?
It was just all too much.
So I know the blurb says Gilmore Girls meets Charmed, but I wasn’t expecting it to be Gilmore Girls and Charmed. Everything was so on the nose that it wasn’t even fun to read. It didn’t come off as something inspired by the two, but a knockoff of what each of those shows were.
The town is called Mystic Hollow? Like Stars Hollow from Gilmore girls?
The town has these weird shops that don’t make sense and these insufferable town hall meetings where the leader doesn’t listen to the MC’s complaints? Like Taylor and Lorelei from Gilmore Girls?
The daughter’s name is Phoebe? Like the sister in Charmed?
There’s a weird magical book that randomly appeared? That the author actually describes as looking like the book from Charmed? Seriously, the author name dropped the show. And that was the only description of the book we got. That’s not a reference. That’s just lazy writing.
And then Gran and Phoebe were all “if magic with the two of us is like this, imagine how it would be with the three of us!” You mean the power of 3, which is the entire purpose of Charmed?
It was just all too much.
January 30, 2026
What if Lorelai Gilmore had to solve a murder she was framed for? And what if there was a little magic thrown in?
I think the reviews for this are harsh and unwarranted to be honest. Essentially this is a cozy mystery inspired by Gilmore Girls and Charmed, with lots of banter, sarcastic wit, a little magic and some heart.
The novel is written as if it was a murder mystery episode of the show Gilmore Girls, something the synopsis makes pretty clear… so if you’re not a fan of the show you may not like this. However I like the show and I enjoyed the fun quips, small town shenanigans, and trying to solve the mystery along with Veronica.
I think the reviews for this are harsh and unwarranted to be honest. Essentially this is a cozy mystery inspired by Gilmore Girls and Charmed, with lots of banter, sarcastic wit, a little magic and some heart.
The novel is written as if it was a murder mystery episode of the show Gilmore Girls, something the synopsis makes pretty clear… so if you’re not a fan of the show you may not like this. However I like the show and I enjoyed the fun quips, small town shenanigans, and trying to solve the mystery along with Veronica.
October 2, 2025
Unfortunately I DNF this book about halfway through. The writing was too much for me. It relies very heavily on quippy back and forth dialogue that leaves the story feeling very “tell you what’s happening” vs “show you”. It is also an EXACT off brand copy of Gilmore Girls. Like EVERY single aspect of the town, the characters, etc was the same as Gilmore Girls with just one detail changed to make it different. Felt like when a musician takes another artists work and just speeds up a song slightly to avoid copyright issues… I couldn’t get past that! It is a cutesy, cozy, cookie cutter, fall read that goes super quick if you can handle the style of writing!
Disclaimer: I received this eARC on NetGalley. Thank you to the team behind this book for making it available! I was not paid for my review and all thoughts are my own of my own accord.
Disclaimer: I received this eARC on NetGalley. Thank you to the team behind this book for making it available! I was not paid for my review and all thoughts are my own of my own accord.
November 7, 2025
it was a quick, fun read
The Gilmore girls inspiration was a little too heavy for me and it felt like there were too many plot points going on at the same time, some that were introduced only to get to the next one and then got dropped and forgotten about.
I didn't connect with the magic, it was too much and too little at the same time.
I did enjoy the mystery aspect but what really got me were the peak autumn vibes. I'd recomend if you're looking for a cozy witchy read.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc!
The Gilmore girls inspiration was a little too heavy for me and it felt like there were too many plot points going on at the same time, some that were introduced only to get to the next one and then got dropped and forgotten about.
I didn't connect with the magic, it was too much and too little at the same time.
I did enjoy the mystery aspect but what really got me were the peak autumn vibes. I'd recomend if you're looking for a cozy witchy read.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for providing the arc!
October 6, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.
I am sad to say I did not enjoy this. It seems cute and had the autumn vibes that I was looking for but other than that it fell flat. The female main character was not great. She was kind of annoying. The amount of times her ADHD and cake was brought up in 30 something pages.
I felt like I was reading a bad fan fiction on wattpad. I’m so sorry. I tried.
I am sad to say I did not enjoy this. It seems cute and had the autumn vibes that I was looking for but other than that it fell flat. The female main character was not great. She was kind of annoying. The amount of times her ADHD and cake was brought up in 30 something pages.
I felt like I was reading a bad fan fiction on wattpad. I’m so sorry. I tried.
October 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I was a bit disappointed with this book that I hoped would be a cozy, magical autumnal read. I DNFed around 25%, as I found the story slow and lacking in plot movement and atmosphere. The narration style also clashed with the cozy mystery vibe. The main character also felt immature and hard to connect with, and her daughter’s portrayal was overly exaggerated. I felt like it was trying too hard to be Gilmore Girls. This book might still appeal to readers who prefer a more chronically online tone in their cozy mysteries.
December 28, 2025
3.25⭐️
I really wanted to love this one, which made my overall experience all the more disappointing. While it did have its moments and there were aspects I genuinely enjoyed, my enthusiasm never quite matched what I was hoping for. I liked it—but I didn’t love it.
The book’s description promises a mashup of Gilmore Girls meets Charmed with a mystery twist, and to be fair, it absolutely delivers on that premise—almost to a fault. Paying homage to beloved books or TV shows can be charming when done thoughtfully, but here it leans far too hard into imitation, particularly with Gilmore Girls. We’re given a fast-talking, coffee-loving single mother who fled her Connecticut home and landed in a quirky small town… and honestly, the similarities don’t stop there. Rather than listing them all, it’s enough to say that if you take Lorelai Gilmore, change her name, swap a few place names, and adjust minor details, you essentially have this character—right down to the town gazebo. At times, it borders uncomfortably close to imitation rather than inspiration.
Then comes the Charmed layer: take that Lorelai-like character and add latent magical powers she didn’t know she possessed. Essentially, it becomes a fusion of Lorelai Gilmore and Phoebe Halliwell. While familiar archetypes can be endearing, this particular combination quickly becomes predictable, and any sense of surprise evaporates early on.
When a murder is introduced during a book festival, the story attempts to pivot into mystery territory. Unfortunately, instead of elevating the narrative, it adds to the tonal confusion. The result is a mashup that has some undeniable cozy appeal but ultimately reads more like a fanfiction crossover than a fully realized, original novel.
I know this may sound harsh, but I wanted to be honest. For readers looking for a heavy dose of nostalgia, this may still be an enjoyable experience. You just need to go in prepared, because the line between homage and imitation is thin here—and this book repeatedly crosses into territory that feels uncomfortably close to IP infringement.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC and a physical ARC from Crooked Lane via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
I really wanted to love this one, which made my overall experience all the more disappointing. While it did have its moments and there were aspects I genuinely enjoyed, my enthusiasm never quite matched what I was hoping for. I liked it—but I didn’t love it.
The book’s description promises a mashup of Gilmore Girls meets Charmed with a mystery twist, and to be fair, it absolutely delivers on that premise—almost to a fault. Paying homage to beloved books or TV shows can be charming when done thoughtfully, but here it leans far too hard into imitation, particularly with Gilmore Girls. We’re given a fast-talking, coffee-loving single mother who fled her Connecticut home and landed in a quirky small town… and honestly, the similarities don’t stop there. Rather than listing them all, it’s enough to say that if you take Lorelai Gilmore, change her name, swap a few place names, and adjust minor details, you essentially have this character—right down to the town gazebo. At times, it borders uncomfortably close to imitation rather than inspiration.
Then comes the Charmed layer: take that Lorelai-like character and add latent magical powers she didn’t know she possessed. Essentially, it becomes a fusion of Lorelai Gilmore and Phoebe Halliwell. While familiar archetypes can be endearing, this particular combination quickly becomes predictable, and any sense of surprise evaporates early on.
When a murder is introduced during a book festival, the story attempts to pivot into mystery territory. Unfortunately, instead of elevating the narrative, it adds to the tonal confusion. The result is a mashup that has some undeniable cozy appeal but ultimately reads more like a fanfiction crossover than a fully realized, original novel.
I know this may sound harsh, but I wanted to be honest. For readers looking for a heavy dose of nostalgia, this may still be an enjoyable experience. You just need to go in prepared, because the line between homage and imitation is thin here—and this book repeatedly crosses into territory that feels uncomfortably close to IP infringement.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC and a physical ARC from Crooked Lane via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me as it has way too many issues; I never DNF ARCs but would have had it not been one.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
September 15, 2025
⭐️ 3/5
I got 25% of the way through and I think I am going to DNF. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read the ARC copy prior to release thanks to NetGalley. However, it just feels like it needs a little more editing before it’ll be ready to read. There were several confusing sentences and typos that could easily be fixed with an editor going through it.
The fall vibes of this book are impeccable. I love the environment and the narrator. It is really pulling from Gilmore Girls which gives a very fun atmosphere. However, it did feel as if it was possibly drawing a little too much from Gilmore Girls. Every character feels like a copy of a GG character with very little tweaks or changes. The banter and dialogue was really fun, and really reminded me of Lorelei and Rory’s quick wit. However, I found it difficult to follow at times. Sometimes there would be four people in a conversation but not enough narration to help me know who was talking. There were several scenes that I got lost in and couldn’t tell who was speaking and had to reread to make sure I knew what was happening.
I love the premise but the story just got hard to follow. It feels like everyone knows what is happening except the narrator who is constantly confused and asking questions. I know it’s a mystery novel but I just got a little frustrated feeling like I was trying to keep track of so many characters and plot points so quickly into the book.
All this being said, I had a lot of fun reading it, I just feel like it needs a little polishing before I’d pick it up again. If you like Gilmore Girls, magic, and murder mystery then this book is for you! When it’s published I will definitely look into it again :)
I got 25% of the way through and I think I am going to DNF. I’m grateful for the opportunity to read the ARC copy prior to release thanks to NetGalley. However, it just feels like it needs a little more editing before it’ll be ready to read. There were several confusing sentences and typos that could easily be fixed with an editor going through it.
The fall vibes of this book are impeccable. I love the environment and the narrator. It is really pulling from Gilmore Girls which gives a very fun atmosphere. However, it did feel as if it was possibly drawing a little too much from Gilmore Girls. Every character feels like a copy of a GG character with very little tweaks or changes. The banter and dialogue was really fun, and really reminded me of Lorelei and Rory’s quick wit. However, I found it difficult to follow at times. Sometimes there would be four people in a conversation but not enough narration to help me know who was talking. There were several scenes that I got lost in and couldn’t tell who was speaking and had to reread to make sure I knew what was happening.
I love the premise but the story just got hard to follow. It feels like everyone knows what is happening except the narrator who is constantly confused and asking questions. I know it’s a mystery novel but I just got a little frustrated feeling like I was trying to keep track of so many characters and plot points so quickly into the book.
All this being said, I had a lot of fun reading it, I just feel like it needs a little polishing before I’d pick it up again. If you like Gilmore Girls, magic, and murder mystery then this book is for you! When it’s published I will definitely look into it again :)
September 21, 2025
Review: Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey – ⭐⭐
When I first picked this book up, I was really excited about the premise. It sounded fresh, fun, and like the perfect setup for a cozy mystery with a magical twist. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.
The main character, Veronica, seemed designed to come across as a “cool mom,” but instead I found her to be immature in the way she handled situations and relationships. Because of that, I never really connected with her, which made it difficult to stay invested in the story. I wanted to root for her, but her personality and choices often pulled me out of the plot.
In addition to my struggles with the FMC, I felt like the book could use another round of edits. Some of the sentences were confusing, and a few passages left me unsure about what was actually happening. Rather than enhancing the reading experience, these moments distracted me and broke the flow of the story.
Overall, while I appreciated the creativity of the concept, the story didn’t quite land for me. With more polish and a stronger, more grounded main character, I think this could have been a really engaging mystery. As it stands, though, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
When I first picked this book up, I was really excited about the premise. It sounded fresh, fun, and like the perfect setup for a cozy mystery with a magical twist. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.
The main character, Veronica, seemed designed to come across as a “cool mom,” but instead I found her to be immature in the way she handled situations and relationships. Because of that, I never really connected with her, which made it difficult to stay invested in the story. I wanted to root for her, but her personality and choices often pulled me out of the plot.
In addition to my struggles with the FMC, I felt like the book could use another round of edits. Some of the sentences were confusing, and a few passages left me unsure about what was actually happening. Rather than enhancing the reading experience, these moments distracted me and broke the flow of the story.
Overall, while I appreciated the creativity of the concept, the story didn’t quite land for me. With more polish and a stronger, more grounded main character, I think this could have been a really engaging mystery. As it stands, though, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.
November 18, 2025
This tried to be a homage to Gilmore Girls (like literally!) and every other magical show/movie, but unfortunately, it didn't really hit the spot.
I was so excited to read this since it was based on my favorite TV show, and as soon as I started reading this, it felt like the author had just picked the Gilmore Girls characters and pasted them in "Mystic Hollows". From the town's name to the personality of the characters, there was literally no uniqueness in this book. There were scenes from the book that felt so similar to the TV show.
Coming to the writing style, it was an easy read but got monotonous very soon. At times, there were simple dialogues that were over-explained and stated the obvious.
The world-building was good, but it took a lot of time to actually develop. The same goes for the character development - it took so much time to build up that the readers eventually lost interest. The characters had 0 chemistry, and it tried too hard to become the iconic characters from Gilmore Girls. Additionally, the overuse of movie/TV show references was jarring.
The saving grace for this book was the few ending chapters where they finally started to solve the mystery - I was actually intrigued to know who it was. The author could've done so much with the plot. She could've made an interesting plotline using her knowledge of the publishing world.
Actual rating: 1.5/5 🌟
If Loreali Gilmore (Richard's mom), Loreali, Rory, and Emily had a civil and somewhat mentally stable relationship set in a 'mystical' town- this would have been their story...
Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc!
I was so excited to read this since it was based on my favorite TV show, and as soon as I started reading this, it felt like the author had just picked the Gilmore Girls characters and pasted them in "Mystic Hollows". From the town's name to the personality of the characters, there was literally no uniqueness in this book. There were scenes from the book that felt so similar to the TV show.
Coming to the writing style, it was an easy read but got monotonous very soon. At times, there were simple dialogues that were over-explained and stated the obvious.
The world-building was good, but it took a lot of time to actually develop. The same goes for the character development - it took so much time to build up that the readers eventually lost interest. The characters had 0 chemistry, and it tried too hard to become the iconic characters from Gilmore Girls. Additionally, the overuse of movie/TV show references was jarring.
The saving grace for this book was the few ending chapters where they finally started to solve the mystery - I was actually intrigued to know who it was. The author could've done so much with the plot. She could've made an interesting plotline using her knowledge of the publishing world.
Actual rating: 1.5/5 🌟
If Loreali Gilmore (Richard's mom), Loreali, Rory, and Emily had a civil and somewhat mentally stable relationship set in a 'mystical' town- this would have been their story...
Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc!
October 16, 2025
Title: Spellbound By Murder
Author: Stacie Ramey
Synopsis: Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in this spellbinding cozy mystery featuring a magical bookshop run by three generations of women.
When her grandmother suffers a nasty fall and asks for help managing the family business, coffee-addicted single mother Veronica Blackthorne moves her sixteen-year-old romcom-obsessed daughter to Mystic Hollow, Connecticut. Veronica is ecstatic to return to New England but when she arrives, she quickly finds out that Mystic Hollow Books, her grandmother’s pride and joy, needs more than a little TLC.
Hoping to save the bookstore from a big box rival, Veronica enlists her sometimes-mentor and sometimes-crush Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick off a literary festival that will hopefully bring in a new wave of customers. But when Adam turns up dead, all that romantic potential turns into a nightmare as Veronica becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
As the local sheriff investigates his murder, Veronica decides to take matters into her own hands to solve the case and clear her name. With the bookstore’s future on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Until her gran reveals the biggest secret of all–the bookstore is magical and it was a botched love spell that led to this entire mess.
Review: Is there anyone a fan of the Gilmore Girls series if so this book will be right up your alley! The relationships and the characters one liners reminded me so much of Gilmore Girls! This felt like an episode of Gilmore girls in a murder mystery setting! I loved the cozy small town setting and truly felt like fall! I’m glad I picked up this book for the month of October!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
Author: Stacie Ramey
Synopsis: Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in this spellbinding cozy mystery featuring a magical bookshop run by three generations of women.
When her grandmother suffers a nasty fall and asks for help managing the family business, coffee-addicted single mother Veronica Blackthorne moves her sixteen-year-old romcom-obsessed daughter to Mystic Hollow, Connecticut. Veronica is ecstatic to return to New England but when she arrives, she quickly finds out that Mystic Hollow Books, her grandmother’s pride and joy, needs more than a little TLC.
Hoping to save the bookstore from a big box rival, Veronica enlists her sometimes-mentor and sometimes-crush Adam Whitford, a controversial but popular author, as the keynote speaker to kick off a literary festival that will hopefully bring in a new wave of customers. But when Adam turns up dead, all that romantic potential turns into a nightmare as Veronica becomes the prime suspect in his murder.
As the local sheriff investigates his murder, Veronica decides to take matters into her own hands to solve the case and clear her name. With the bookstore’s future on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Until her gran reveals the biggest secret of all–the bookstore is magical and it was a botched love spell that led to this entire mess.
Review: Is there anyone a fan of the Gilmore Girls series if so this book will be right up your alley! The relationships and the characters one liners reminded me so much of Gilmore Girls! This felt like an episode of Gilmore girls in a murder mystery setting! I loved the cozy small town setting and truly felt like fall! I’m glad I picked up this book for the month of October!
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance!
November 4, 2025
2.5 Star rounded down
Arc from NetGalley, expected March 2026
To steal a quote from the book’s epilogue ‘you two can’t stay on topic to save your lives’ that is how I felt this entire book. It felt like I was on a never ending carousel going around and around all while not hitting any plot points.
As someone in love with Gilmore girls I was sourly disappointed in the resemblance as it felt like it was taken straight from the show and written into a poorly pieced together episode.
The relationship between the main characters was well thought out and heart warming as a fall read should be and the plot itself was quite well thought out (and would’ve been great with less fluff), the murder, the reveal, etc, however, that is realistically my only positive thoughts about this book.
Why the hell did it take 7 chapters to get to the murder and why did we not talk about said murder basically at all the chapter after that?
It felt like we got all of the side information and none of the real information.
I pride myself on not DNF’ing books and when my friend did at 25% I told her it would get better surely… spoiler… it didn’t
Arc from NetGalley, expected March 2026
To steal a quote from the book’s epilogue ‘you two can’t stay on topic to save your lives’ that is how I felt this entire book. It felt like I was on a never ending carousel going around and around all while not hitting any plot points.
As someone in love with Gilmore girls I was sourly disappointed in the resemblance as it felt like it was taken straight from the show and written into a poorly pieced together episode.
The relationship between the main characters was well thought out and heart warming as a fall read should be and the plot itself was quite well thought out (and would’ve been great with less fluff), the murder, the reveal, etc, however, that is realistically my only positive thoughts about this book.
Why the hell did it take 7 chapters to get to the murder and why did we not talk about said murder basically at all the chapter after that?
It felt like we got all of the side information and none of the real information.
I pride myself on not DNF’ing books and when my friend did at 25% I told her it would get better surely… spoiler… it didn’t
November 9, 2025
Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey is a charming blend of cozy mystery and light magic, perfect for readers who love small town settings with a supernatural twist. The story follows Veronica Blackthorne, a single mom who returns home to help her grandmother run their family’s mystical bookstore. Wouldn't you know it, she is just in time for a local festival and an unexpected murder. Ramey’s writing balances humor, heart, and just enough suspense to keep the pages turning. The magical elements add whimsy without overpowering the central mystery, and the bookstore setting feels both cozy and alive. While some characters and subplots could use a bit more depth, the novel’s warmth and wit make it a delightful escape. Fans of magical bookstores, family secrets, and clever amateur sleuths will find Spellbound by Murder a fun and satisfying read.
December 30, 2025
I was really looking forward to reading this book! It had such an adorable premise, and as a fan of cozy mysteries, I was excited to dive in. However, I found that it didn't quite resonate with me. The writing style felt a bit challenging to follow, and I struggled to connect with the characters, particularly the main character, who came off as a bit overwhelming for my taste. The plot also didn't capture my interest as much as I had hoped, and the "magic" system seemed a little confusing and didn't quite fit into the overall story. While this book wasn't for me, I can see that others might appreciate its charm!
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced readers' copy of this book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books, for the advanced readers' copy of this book.
October 31, 2025
I had a really fun time with this ARC! I absolutely love the show Gilmore Girls and this is basically a fanfic of the show. While I saw a lot of negative reviews that didn't enjoy that, I did! From the witty banter, to the coffee addiction, and SO many things that went straight from Stars Hollow into Mystic Hollow! This books also adds a little bit of Charmed, and Monk. Just imagine a murder happening in Stars Hollow and Lorelai, Rory, Lane, Gran, Luke, Babette, and Miss. Patty all try to work together to solve it. I had the best time and even laughed out loud several times. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
January 7, 2026
This book immediately draws you in!
Veronica is trying to help her grandmother with her bookshop but that doesn’t seem to be an easy task. There seems to be more going on…
When Veronica’s friend/lover comes to help her and gets killed in the bookshop, all traces lead to her.
What is going on and how will she prove her innocence? And when her grandmother reveals that the shop is under a (cursed) magical spell … slowly all the mystery unravels .., piece by piece.. layer by layer.
Fluently written, with a touch of magic and lightness. It’s a cozy mystery story and I found myself dragged in it from the start until the very last chapter!
Veronica is trying to help her grandmother with her bookshop but that doesn’t seem to be an easy task. There seems to be more going on…
When Veronica’s friend/lover comes to help her and gets killed in the bookshop, all traces lead to her.
What is going on and how will she prove her innocence? And when her grandmother reveals that the shop is under a (cursed) magical spell … slowly all the mystery unravels .., piece by piece.. layer by layer.
Fluently written, with a touch of magic and lightness. It’s a cozy mystery story and I found myself dragged in it from the start until the very last chapter!
November 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This needed at least one more very thorough pass through editing. The author's team is doing them a disservice by letting this go to market as is. There is an interesting story somewhere in there, but this book doesn't know what it is, and with all the different plot points/ pop culture influences, it is hard to nail down the story. Some of the writing is very disjointed and cringey. I wanted to like it, but this feels like something publishers are trying to rish out just to make sales rather than crafting a project with merit.
This needed at least one more very thorough pass through editing. The author's team is doing them a disservice by letting this go to market as is. There is an interesting story somewhere in there, but this book doesn't know what it is, and with all the different plot points/ pop culture influences, it is hard to nail down the story. Some of the writing is very disjointed and cringey. I wanted to like it, but this feels like something publishers are trying to rish out just to make sales rather than crafting a project with merit.
September 21, 2025
This is a small town cozy murder mystery. The writing was okay. I found it fairly straightforward for the most part. There were times I had to go back and re-read what was being said, even saying the lines aloud to ensure understanding. It did seem to rely on the small town aspect quite a bit.
Overall, it had fantastic elements. But the story just fell short of its target goal. Still a fun read if you take it at face value.
Overall, it had fantastic elements. But the story just fell short of its target goal. Still a fun read if you take it at face value.
dnf
November 6, 2025Unfortunately will be dnf’ing I have tried to become invested in the plot or any of the characters. The summary was really interesting but the characters fell flat. They almost felt forced like the characters were made to fit archetypes and that wasn’t who they were meant to be. I feel bad, I really wanted to enjoy this. I can see the effort put in, sadly not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Stacie Ramey for the arc. I’m grateful for the opportunity.
Thank you to NetGalley and Stacie Ramey for the arc. I’m grateful for the opportunity.
November 9, 2025
3.5⭐️ so have rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, I thought this was overall a cute book, it was slightly disjointed and I felt like there were 2 or 3 moments where I felt like I had missed something but I hadn’t the story just seemed to jump. The premise was cute and it does have potential for more books in the series I did like most of the characters and it was far from the worst thing I’ve read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, I thought this was overall a cute book, it was slightly disjointed and I felt like there were 2 or 3 moments where I felt like I had missed something but I hadn’t the story just seemed to jump. The premise was cute and it does have potential for more books in the series I did like most of the characters and it was far from the worst thing I’ve read.
December 30, 2025
When this was advertised as "like" Gilmore Girls, I was hoping that the vibe would be similar but this was like an imitation with added extras.
A mother daughter with witty banter with a taste for coffee and junk food. A town hall that hosts meetings. Shops with quirky owners or bizarre sale items. It is far too on the nose. If I wanted to actually experience the true Gilmore Girls, I'd have watched it.
A mother daughter with witty banter with a taste for coffee and junk food. A town hall that hosts meetings. Shops with quirky owners or bizarre sale items. It is far too on the nose. If I wanted to actually experience the true Gilmore Girls, I'd have watched it.
Read
January 14, 2026dnf at 30%
Very dialogue-dependent, and at times cringeworthy. The vibes were there, but that's about it. Also, I couldn't really care much for the plot nor the characters. I really wanted to enjoy this one, because I'm looking for something cozy with mystery elements, and I thought this would be a good fit, but I guess not.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Very dialogue-dependent, and at times cringeworthy. The vibes were there, but that's about it. Also, I couldn't really care much for the plot nor the characters. I really wanted to enjoy this one, because I'm looking for something cozy with mystery elements, and I thought this would be a good fit, but I guess not.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
October 12, 2025
This book was a great, cozy read that was perfect for this season. The book is set in the magical town of Mystic Hollow. There is a need for some great detective work when a serious crime occurs for the first time in a long time. I loved the journey to find out the answers!
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