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Charmed and Dangerous
“An absolutely delightful romp that you need in your life.” —C. B. Lee, New York Times bestselling author of Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe
A teen mystic will do anything to solve a series of love-related magical mishaps plaguing her high school, including fake dating her boss's daughter, in this charming sapphic romance.
Magic lingers in the cozy town of Fair Glen, Illinois, and it’s up to the agents at the Bureau of Mystical Affairs to keep it in check. Monroe Bennett, a junior recruit at the Bureau, is ready to ace her first tracking down the source of a rogue love charm.
Protecting her charmed classmates, including the Bureau Director’s daughter Iris James, is top priority. But when Iris asks Monroe to fake date her to make her ex jealous, things get complicated.
Monroe believes in duty, not romance. Yet the more time she spends with Iris, the harder it is to ignore the very real sparks flying between them. Can Monroe protect herself from love long enough to solve this case, or will her growing feelings get in the way?
A teen mystic will do anything to solve a series of love-related magical mishaps plaguing her high school, including fake dating her boss's daughter, in this charming sapphic romance.
Magic lingers in the cozy town of Fair Glen, Illinois, and it’s up to the agents at the Bureau of Mystical Affairs to keep it in check. Monroe Bennett, a junior recruit at the Bureau, is ready to ace her first tracking down the source of a rogue love charm.
Protecting her charmed classmates, including the Bureau Director’s daughter Iris James, is top priority. But when Iris asks Monroe to fake date her to make her ex jealous, things get complicated.
Monroe believes in duty, not romance. Yet the more time she spends with Iris, the harder it is to ignore the very real sparks flying between them. Can Monroe protect herself from love long enough to solve this case, or will her growing feelings get in the way?
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2026
19 people are currently reading
3544 people want to read
About the author
Shelly Page
5 books168 followersShelly Page is a young adult contemporary fantasy romance and horror writer. By day, she’s a practicing attorney representing homeless LGBTQ+ youth. By night, she’s writing stories about love, magic, and mystery—all with the hope of providing genuine representation for queer readers of color. Shelly lives in Los Angeles with her dog, Toby, and a collection of half-dead plants. Brewed with Love is her first solo novel to be published by Joy Revolution in Spring 2025. She can be found online at shellypage.com or @shelly_p_writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 9, 2026
Content warnings: absent parent/s, mentions of parent divorce, magical accidents - including a small hospital visit.
Rep: Monroe (MC) is cis, Black, and lesbian. Iris (LI) is cis, Black, and lesbian. Side queer characters, side BIPOC characters.
I absolutely loved every single second of this!
This was a fun, fast paced adventure, and had me absolutely riveted from start to finish.
I loved Monroe's everything. I loved how focused she was on her job, and how utterly clueless she was when it came to Iris.
I also loved the mystery in this - it all made for SUCH a fun read.
Rep: Monroe (MC) is cis, Black, and lesbian. Iris (LI) is cis, Black, and lesbian. Side queer characters, side BIPOC characters.
I absolutely loved every single second of this!
This was a fun, fast paced adventure, and had me absolutely riveted from start to finish.
I loved Monroe's everything. I loved how focused she was on her job, and how utterly clueless she was when it came to Iris.
I also loved the mystery in this - it all made for SUCH a fun read.
October 3, 2025
Cute, cozy mystery with a fun magical element!
I found out about this book a few months ago, and was ECSTATIC when I finally able to request it.
I read and adored “Brewed with Love” by this author. So, my expectations for this were basically in the sky.
At the end, It didn’t necessarily reach the last book for me, but that would be a pretty hard one to beat.
Though, I still did really enjoy this!
The premise here is that there are “charms” (like love charms) that are being illegally spread around a highschool.
It is up to Monroe, a junior recruit for what is basically the magic FBI- to find out who is distributing the charms.
In the process, she gets caught in a fake dating situationship with Iris, her directors daughter.
I would call this a cozy mystery.
I am not sure everyone would, because there’s a lot of opinions on what constitutes that. But, it’s magical, fairly low-stakes, and pretty cutesy. So that is what I will go with.
The mystery element is pretty big here, and most of the story focuses on that.
I would say the romance is more of a subplot. Which was fine! Maybe just don’t go into it expecting super serious romantic elements.
I think this story needed just a bit of tension.
For having a fake dating trope- it kind of lacks those tense moments you we see the two getting a little too close to each other, and you can tell things are starting to become real.
They sort of seemed more like friends to me.
The YA vibes in this are so cute.
It is very highschool, where the most important thing in the world is prom, and people love roller skating and drinking blue slushies.
This was pretty much my teenage experience, so I do appreciate getting to reminisce on that.
Bonus points for Monroe calling formal dress shopping a traumatic experience.
It is.
I also have to note that It actually made me sad that the definition Iris has of a “good girlfriend” is just a girl who doesn’t make fun of her interests.
Literally the bare minimum. (Which is pointed out. And I appreciate that!)
This is one of those things that is painfully realistic.
Not even just for teenagers.
Pretty enjoyable story overall! I liked it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children’s Books | Joy Revolution and author Shelly Page for providing me with the eARC of “Charmed and Dangerous”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 25, 2026
I found out about this book a few months ago, and was ECSTATIC when I finally able to request it.
I read and adored “Brewed with Love” by this author. So, my expectations for this were basically in the sky.
At the end, It didn’t necessarily reach the last book for me, but that would be a pretty hard one to beat.
Though, I still did really enjoy this!
The premise here is that there are “charms” (like love charms) that are being illegally spread around a highschool.
It is up to Monroe, a junior recruit for what is basically the magic FBI- to find out who is distributing the charms.
In the process, she gets caught in a fake dating situationship with Iris, her directors daughter.
I would call this a cozy mystery.
I am not sure everyone would, because there’s a lot of opinions on what constitutes that. But, it’s magical, fairly low-stakes, and pretty cutesy. So that is what I will go with.
The mystery element is pretty big here, and most of the story focuses on that.
I would say the romance is more of a subplot. Which was fine! Maybe just don’t go into it expecting super serious romantic elements.
I think this story needed just a bit of tension.
For having a fake dating trope- it kind of lacks those tense moments you we see the two getting a little too close to each other, and you can tell things are starting to become real.
They sort of seemed more like friends to me.
The YA vibes in this are so cute.
It is very highschool, where the most important thing in the world is prom, and people love roller skating and drinking blue slushies.
This was pretty much my teenage experience, so I do appreciate getting to reminisce on that.
Bonus points for Monroe calling formal dress shopping a traumatic experience.
It is.
I also have to note that It actually made me sad that the definition Iris has of a “good girlfriend” is just a girl who doesn’t make fun of her interests.
Literally the bare minimum. (Which is pointed out. And I appreciate that!)
This is one of those things that is painfully realistic.
Not even just for teenagers.
Pretty enjoyable story overall! I liked it.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children’s Books | Joy Revolution and author Shelly Page for providing me with the eARC of “Charmed and Dangerous”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 25, 2026
Want to Read
July 17, 2025the cover on this ♡_♡
March 28, 2026
3.25 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was one of my most anticipated reads this year and when I got accepted for the arc , I immediately started to read it, slump be damned!!!
The entire book was absolutely adorable. I loved Monroe and Iris, I loved that the small town they were in was populated by black people and other people of colour and that it gave us this sense of freedom in witnessing their relationship and interactions with the people around them.
I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect. Maybe I was just too into the ride but I didn't start putting clues together until about 70% into reading the book.
My only gripe though was the world building. While it was still miles better than brewed with love, which I also enjoyed by the way, it still heavily relied on repetition of basic elements of the magic system and it could come across as hammering the point at certain points.
Overall an incredibly sweet read. Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The entire book was absolutely adorable. I loved Monroe and Iris, I loved that the small town they were in was populated by black people and other people of colour and that it gave us this sense of freedom in witnessing their relationship and interactions with the people around them.
I also really enjoyed the mystery aspect. Maybe I was just too into the ride but I didn't start putting clues together until about 70% into reading the book.
My only gripe though was the world building. While it was still miles better than brewed with love, which I also enjoyed by the way, it still heavily relied on repetition of basic elements of the magic system and it could come across as hammering the point at certain points.
Overall an incredibly sweet read. Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2026
Oh my stars this was absolutely adorable! From the rogue gnomes to the magical investigations, Charmed and Dangerous had me hooked from the first page! The romance is sweet, the fantasy is cozy and the sleuthing is top tier!
✨ Magical Mayhem
💖 Young Love
🧪 Potion Commotion
💞 Fake Dating
🔍 Mystery
🫖 Cozy
Charmed and Dangerous was my first book by Shelly Page but it for sure won’t be my last! Running to pick up her backlist ASAP!
Thank you so much Colored Pages Tours for sending a copy my way!
✨ Magical Mayhem
💖 Young Love
🧪 Potion Commotion
💞 Fake Dating
🔍 Mystery
🫖 Cozy
Charmed and Dangerous was my first book by Shelly Page but it for sure won’t be my last! Running to pick up her backlist ASAP!
Thank you so much Colored Pages Tours for sending a copy my way!
March 20, 2026
What a cozy, magical, feel-good story! I absolutely loved the classic 90s Rom-Com aspects. A Drive Me Crazy meets She's All That plopped into a modern, magical high school. It has the same charms (pun intended!) — awkward crushes, best friend loyalties, big feelings, and all the little moments in between.
I really enjoyed how it explored both reciprocated and unrequited crushes, and really captured that mix of terror, excitement, and vulnerability that comes with being a teenager figuring out your feelings. Watching both characters navigate their complicated views on love and slowly open up to each other added a lot of heart and depth beyond just a fun fake-dating plot.
Overall, this was sweet, funny, a little chaotic, and full of charm. If you love fake dating, soft slow burns, 90s Rom-Coms, and sapphic coming-of-age stories, you’re going to eat this up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Favorite Quotes:
“Romantic love only reminds me of hard times and broken promises. I'm good without it, and nothing's changing my mind.”
“Love can't be this great, life-altering thing everyone thinks it is. It's got to be a sham. I'm better off staying far away from it as possible.”
“I hate that I find everything she does charming. Crushes are an inconvenient hazard.”
“Even the sun seems to shine a little brighter when she smiles at me.”
“Love is about taking risks even if there’s no guarantee the gamble will work out. It’s about taking a leap of faith despite the chance of a mishap.”
I really enjoyed how it explored both reciprocated and unrequited crushes, and really captured that mix of terror, excitement, and vulnerability that comes with being a teenager figuring out your feelings. Watching both characters navigate their complicated views on love and slowly open up to each other added a lot of heart and depth beyond just a fun fake-dating plot.
Overall, this was sweet, funny, a little chaotic, and full of charm. If you love fake dating, soft slow burns, 90s Rom-Coms, and sapphic coming-of-age stories, you’re going to eat this up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Favorite Quotes:
“Romantic love only reminds me of hard times and broken promises. I'm good without it, and nothing's changing my mind.”
“Love can't be this great, life-altering thing everyone thinks it is. It's got to be a sham. I'm better off staying far away from it as possible.”
“I hate that I find everything she does charming. Crushes are an inconvenient hazard.”
“Even the sun seems to shine a little brighter when she smiles at me.”
“Love is about taking risks even if there’s no guarantee the gamble will work out. It’s about taking a leap of faith despite the chance of a mishap.”
Want to Read
August 8, 2025This cover is so cute🥺💓
April 8, 2026
A fun magical detective story with a delightful fake-dating twist, following Monroe, an eager junior recruit determined to crack a case at her high school involving an illegal love charm. As she digs deeper into the mystery, her fake girlfriend Iris unexpectedly sweeps her off her feet, adding heart to the investigation. The story moves at a lively pace, blending magic, mystery, and just the right amount of romance. It's an engaging, light read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
May 7, 2026
This worked much better for me than the last book I read by this author. It's super cute and queer while also having a magic system that is moderately explained.
Basically we have Monroe who is a junior recruit for this magic justice group thing and she is determined to prove herself by solving the first big case where people are being charmed with a love potion that causes accidents, sometimes dangerous, when they interact with someone who isn't a love match.
The director's daughter gets charmed and Monroe is tasked with protecting her, but on the down low so she starts fake dating her. Little was she prepared to develop real feelings.
This book balances the romance and the magic really well. It's super cute and I enjoyed it a lot.
Basically we have Monroe who is a junior recruit for this magic justice group thing and she is determined to prove herself by solving the first big case where people are being charmed with a love potion that causes accidents, sometimes dangerous, when they interact with someone who isn't a love match.
The director's daughter gets charmed and Monroe is tasked with protecting her, but on the down low so she starts fake dating her. Little was she prepared to develop real feelings.
This book balances the romance and the magic really well. It's super cute and I enjoyed it a lot.
April 21, 2026
Thank you so much to Shelly Page for a Goodreads Giveaways copy of her wonderful new novel!
I am a big fan of queer storytelling and this light fantasy, YA romance with so many queer characters of diverse backgrounds at its forefront truly felt like a warm hug. Characters were complex and likeable without being too formulaic or saccharine, and the story itself, while somewhat predictable in the grand scheme of things, was engaging, clever in its formatting and plotting, and an excellent and heartfelt homage to the 90s rom com. I am not a big fantasy reader, but the unique magic system was fleshed out so well without being too complex and made for a perfect sprinkle of fantasy into an otherwise realistic world that created a great setting for our story. Overall, a story centered around queer black joy deserves to be celebrated, and I hope everyone who can see themselves reflected in any way by the beautiful characters in this book will be able to pick up a copy and get immersed into this world.
I am a big fan of queer storytelling and this light fantasy, YA romance with so many queer characters of diverse backgrounds at its forefront truly felt like a warm hug. Characters were complex and likeable without being too formulaic or saccharine, and the story itself, while somewhat predictable in the grand scheme of things, was engaging, clever in its formatting and plotting, and an excellent and heartfelt homage to the 90s rom com. I am not a big fantasy reader, but the unique magic system was fleshed out so well without being too complex and made for a perfect sprinkle of fantasy into an otherwise realistic world that created a great setting for our story. Overall, a story centered around queer black joy deserves to be celebrated, and I hope everyone who can see themselves reflected in any way by the beautiful characters in this book will be able to pick up a copy and get immersed into this world.
April 17, 2026
this book is So Cute. genuinely i couldn't put it down and when i did, it wasn't for long! Both Monroe and Iris are such lovable characters, and I really enjoyed the magic system, too!!
March 24, 2026
This book was so cute, cozy, chaotic, and magical in the best YA way.
Charmed and Dangerous gives fake dating, love charm disasters, high school drama, and sapphic slow burn...basically a whole vibe.
From the start I was really into the concept of a magical bureau sending teen recruits to solve mystical problems because honestly… where was this internship option when I was in high school??
Monroe is very much a “feelings are inefficient” type of girl and watching her get thrown into fake dating her boss’s daughter while trying to solve magical mishaps across school was genuinely entertaining.
The love charm causing increasingly ridiculous and dangerous situations anytime someone had an unreciprocated crush was SUCH a fun twist.
Prom season + magical chaos = peak teenage disaster energy.
The mystery definitely takes center stage here, so if you’re going in expecting heavy romance, just know this leans more cozy magical mystery with romantic tension sprinkled in. That said, Monroe and Iris were adorable. Their dynamic had this soft, awkward, rom com sweetness that felt very true to being a teenager figuring out feelings for the first time. I just wish we got a little more tension or deeper emotional moments between them to really sell the shift from fake to real.
There is a bit of heavier world building early on that can feel slightly clunky, but once the story finds its rhythm it becomes a really fun and easy read.
The vibes are very nostalgic too...roller skating, prom drama, slushies, friend chaos all wrapped in magical hijinks and sapphic yearning.
Overall, this was a charming YA story about love, vulnerability, and taking emotional risks… even when you’re convinced romance is not for you.
If you like fake dating, cozy mysteries, magical high school settings, and soft slow burns, this is definitely worth picking up.
Charmed and Dangerous gives fake dating, love charm disasters, high school drama, and sapphic slow burn...basically a whole vibe.
From the start I was really into the concept of a magical bureau sending teen recruits to solve mystical problems because honestly… where was this internship option when I was in high school??
Monroe is very much a “feelings are inefficient” type of girl and watching her get thrown into fake dating her boss’s daughter while trying to solve magical mishaps across school was genuinely entertaining.
The love charm causing increasingly ridiculous and dangerous situations anytime someone had an unreciprocated crush was SUCH a fun twist.
Prom season + magical chaos = peak teenage disaster energy.
The mystery definitely takes center stage here, so if you’re going in expecting heavy romance, just know this leans more cozy magical mystery with romantic tension sprinkled in. That said, Monroe and Iris were adorable. Their dynamic had this soft, awkward, rom com sweetness that felt very true to being a teenager figuring out feelings for the first time. I just wish we got a little more tension or deeper emotional moments between them to really sell the shift from fake to real.
There is a bit of heavier world building early on that can feel slightly clunky, but once the story finds its rhythm it becomes a really fun and easy read.
The vibes are very nostalgic too...roller skating, prom drama, slushies, friend chaos all wrapped in magical hijinks and sapphic yearning.
Overall, this was a charming YA story about love, vulnerability, and taking emotional risks… even when you’re convinced romance is not for you.
If you like fake dating, cozy mysteries, magical high school settings, and soft slow burns, this is definitely worth picking up.
April 2, 2026
This. Was. Sensational.
Shelly has made a fan out of me! I finished this book in less than 24 hours. I laughed, clutched my pearls, swooned, kicked my feet AND stayed up waaaayyyyy past my bedtime. I listened to the audiobook and ABSOLUTELY YES. The narrator diamonds to a 24k gold platter.
Absolutely no notes!
× Pacing was fantastic
x Character development was crisp
x The cast was deliciously diverse
x Magic system wasn't too confusing to follow
x The mystery was just as enticing as the love story
x TRUE YEARNING
x FAKE DATING DONE RIGHT
I adored this book so much and will not be able to stop yapping about it anytime soon, for the foreseeable future.
Now I have to go to bed and despise myself in the morning.....
Shelly has made a fan out of me! I finished this book in less than 24 hours. I laughed, clutched my pearls, swooned, kicked my feet AND stayed up waaaayyyyy past my bedtime. I listened to the audiobook and ABSOLUTELY YES. The narrator diamonds to a 24k gold platter.
Absolutely no notes!
× Pacing was fantastic
x Character development was crisp
x The cast was deliciously diverse
x Magic system wasn't too confusing to follow
x The mystery was just as enticing as the love story
x TRUE YEARNING
x FAKE DATING DONE RIGHT
I adored this book so much and will not be able to stop yapping about it anytime soon, for the foreseeable future.
Now I have to go to bed and despise myself in the morning.....
March 24, 2026
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
This book tries and almost manages to put two things together: A skillful, tense, well-plotted and well paced mystery (which felt almost a bit noir, with the red herrings, complex web of relationships, betrayals, scapegoats, and shenanigans), and a fake-dating romcom romance. The problem is, the mystery is the better story, and because it’s so complex and complicated, the romance is left as the B-plot and isn’t given the time I think it needs to get established. It does, however, set up the friendship and the very slow beginnings of the romance very well!
For me, it’s the plot. The intricate web of who sold/gave/traded/stole/cursed/lied/cheated/betrayed/loved/hated whom … is a delicious tangle. I thought I knew who the villain was, but then got sucked in by the potential of someone else. The plot plays fair with the mystery; if you pay attention to the clues, you’ll figure it out, so long as you don’t get distracted by the next shiny suspect.
I really liked this book, but for me, the romance was a little too quiet to be heard over the many voices of the mystery plot.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
This book tries and almost manages to put two things together: A skillful, tense, well-plotted and well paced mystery (which felt almost a bit noir, with the red herrings, complex web of relationships, betrayals, scapegoats, and shenanigans), and a fake-dating romcom romance. The problem is, the mystery is the better story, and because it’s so complex and complicated, the romance is left as the B-plot and isn’t given the time I think it needs to get established. It does, however, set up the friendship and the very slow beginnings of the romance very well!
For me, it’s the plot. The intricate web of who sold/gave/traded/stole/cursed/lied/cheated/betrayed/loved/hated whom … is a delicious tangle. I thought I knew who the villain was, but then got sucked in by the potential of someone else. The plot plays fair with the mystery; if you pay attention to the clues, you’ll figure it out, so long as you don’t get distracted by the next shiny suspect.
I really liked this book, but for me, the romance was a little too quiet to be heard over the many voices of the mystery plot.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
March 31, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this ARC.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a sweet YA romance with the perfect amount of cheesiness. This book was also super gay and I loved it! I appreciate when a book has queer identity front and center and it isn’t because of homophobia or suffering. This was pure queer joy and I adored it.
I feel like sometimes the conflict that arises in romances can be rather childish because they usually always come down to “just talk and you would not have an issue” but the author made the conflict here a bit more convoluted which kept it interesting and believable enough that I wasn’t rolling my eyes.
I also just genuinely enjoyed the story and thought it was a fresh take on a magical romance. Highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this book! It was a sweet YA romance with the perfect amount of cheesiness. This book was also super gay and I loved it! I appreciate when a book has queer identity front and center and it isn’t because of homophobia or suffering. This was pure queer joy and I adored it.
I feel like sometimes the conflict that arises in romances can be rather childish because they usually always come down to “just talk and you would not have an issue” but the author made the conflict here a bit more convoluted which kept it interesting and believable enough that I wasn’t rolling my eyes.
I also just genuinely enjoyed the story and thought it was a fresh take on a magical romance. Highly recommend!
March 27, 2026
A witty and charming sapphic romance that would make any 90’s rom-com proud.
Teen mystic & Junior recruit, Ro, is on the case when love mishaps start plaguing her school. Throw in a mission to secretly protect the boss’ daughter and a fake dating ploy and you have all the best parts of a good romantic comedy.
This was a blast from beginning to end. A charming and relatable main character grounds the story while the amazing world building and extraordinary plot keeps you invested. This was a fresh take on magical realism woven seamlessly with a who-done-it mystery as well as a sweet and satisfying romance.
In the end you have something equally refreshing as it was nostalgic. Which if you ask me- is magic.
What you’ll get:
•YA Sapphic Rom-Com
•Magic & Mystics
•Love Charm Mystery
•Bureau of Mystical Affairs
•Fake Dating
•Boss’ Daughter
•Secretly hired to protect her
•90’s Rom-Com Love
•Witty Banter
Teen mystic & Junior recruit, Ro, is on the case when love mishaps start plaguing her school. Throw in a mission to secretly protect the boss’ daughter and a fake dating ploy and you have all the best parts of a good romantic comedy.
This was a blast from beginning to end. A charming and relatable main character grounds the story while the amazing world building and extraordinary plot keeps you invested. This was a fresh take on magical realism woven seamlessly with a who-done-it mystery as well as a sweet and satisfying romance.
In the end you have something equally refreshing as it was nostalgic. Which if you ask me- is magic.
What you’ll get:
•YA Sapphic Rom-Com
•Magic & Mystics
•Love Charm Mystery
•Bureau of Mystical Affairs
•Fake Dating
•Boss’ Daughter
•Secretly hired to protect her
•90’s Rom-Com Love
•Witty Banter
March 29, 2026
This was so sweet and intriguing to read, the mystery solving was interesting and brilliant, and the slow-burn sapphic romance had me swooning so much <3 it's a fake dating, one of them doesn't believe in love x the other lives and breathes romance movies, and the grumpy/sunshine was so >>>>>
-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbt for a gifted copy!
-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbt for a gifted copy!
March 26, 2026
This was really adorable!!! I love worlds where magic is just like a thing but we’re still living in modern times there’s so much fun stuff you can play with. Also you can never go wrong with fake dating it’s truly the perfect set up!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shelly Page is back with another wonderful sapphic YA magical romance who-done-it. If you loved her first one Brewed With Love, then you'll have a blast with this one too!
I'm grateful for receiving the eARC of Charmed and Dangerous, this is my honest review.
The magic was fun and creative. I adored the chaos of the mystery, as well as the modern way 90s/2000s nostalgia was included throughout the story. It definitely had Mean Girls vibes, just added some diversity, romance, and a mystery to solve!
It was cute and fun. Definitely one I'd recommend for everyone.
I'm grateful for receiving the eARC of Charmed and Dangerous, this is my honest review.
The magic was fun and creative. I adored the chaos of the mystery, as well as the modern way 90s/2000s nostalgia was included throughout the story. It definitely had Mean Girls vibes, just added some diversity, romance, and a mystery to solve!
It was cute and fun. Definitely one I'd recommend for everyone.
March 27, 2026
“Love is rediscovering and coming together stronger. Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. It might not last forever, but love is worth experiencing.”
In the cozy town of Fair Glen, Illinois, a dangerous magical presence lingers, and it’s up to the agents at the Bureau of Mystical Affairs to contain the problem. For Monroe Bennett, a talented mystic and junior recruit, the unconfined love charm is the perfect way to prove herself worthy of promotion. Her first mission includes protecting her charmed classmates, including the bureau director’s daughter, Iris James. When Iris asks Monroe to fake date her to make her ex jealous, Monroe sees this as the perfect opportunity to remain close with Iris and keep her safe. As someone who doesn’t believe in love, she’s confident their scheme won’t follow the typical rom-com love story. But as Monroe spends more time with Iris, it’s difficult to ignore the chemistry sparking between them, and she begins to question if she can protect her heart long enough to solve the case, or if love will get in the way.
As a queer romance enthusiast, I was really looking forward to reading this cozy and mystical love story, and it did not disappoint. Monroe’s character felt very relatable, with her familial conflicts and personal feelings towards love, and seeing Iris help her slowly open up was beautiful. I did think that Monroe’s dislike of her mother was unreasonable at first, but then remembered she is a teenager and felt it was fitting for the young adult aspect of the story. I also enjoyed Iris as a character who’s an unapologetic hopeless romantic. The love charm trope was done in a more unique style than I expected, which I found very interesting. Following Monroe’s journey as a detective solving the love charm case was satisfying, though I was able to guess the culprit behind the scheme immediately. That’s not to say the culprit was an obvious choice, but rather a cleverly hidden one that exposes ideas of heteronormativity in audiences, which I found appealing since it goes beyond harsh stereotypes within the queer community. I absolutely loved the supporting characters, specifically Andie, Daisy, and Anita. The book’s characters were very diverse, and it was refreshing to read something that did not handle homophobia or racism. I do wish the book was a bit longer since I felt the romance developed quickly, however I believe it was because the mystery was the main plot. Still, there were many rom-com tropes included with the fake dating. If you are a fan of Better Than The Movies, 2000’s rom-coms, and lesbian representation, you will love this book!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Joy Revolution for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
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In the cozy town of Fair Glen, Illinois, a dangerous magical presence lingers, and it’s up to the agents at the Bureau of Mystical Affairs to contain the problem. For Monroe Bennett, a talented mystic and junior recruit, the unconfined love charm is the perfect way to prove herself worthy of promotion. Her first mission includes protecting her charmed classmates, including the bureau director’s daughter, Iris James. When Iris asks Monroe to fake date her to make her ex jealous, Monroe sees this as the perfect opportunity to remain close with Iris and keep her safe. As someone who doesn’t believe in love, she’s confident their scheme won’t follow the typical rom-com love story. But as Monroe spends more time with Iris, it’s difficult to ignore the chemistry sparking between them, and she begins to question if she can protect her heart long enough to solve the case, or if love will get in the way.
As a queer romance enthusiast, I was really looking forward to reading this cozy and mystical love story, and it did not disappoint. Monroe’s character felt very relatable, with her familial conflicts and personal feelings towards love, and seeing Iris help her slowly open up was beautiful. I did think that Monroe’s dislike of her mother was unreasonable at first, but then remembered she is a teenager and felt it was fitting for the young adult aspect of the story. I also enjoyed Iris as a character who’s an unapologetic hopeless romantic. The love charm trope was done in a more unique style than I expected, which I found very interesting. Following Monroe’s journey as a detective solving the love charm case was satisfying, though I was able to guess the culprit behind the scheme immediately. That’s not to say the culprit was an obvious choice, but rather a cleverly hidden one that exposes ideas of heteronormativity in audiences, which I found appealing since it goes beyond harsh stereotypes within the queer community. I absolutely loved the supporting characters, specifically Andie, Daisy, and Anita. The book’s characters were very diverse, and it was refreshing to read something that did not handle homophobia or racism. I do wish the book was a bit longer since I felt the romance developed quickly, however I believe it was because the mystery was the main plot. Still, there were many rom-com tropes included with the fake dating. If you are a fan of Better Than The Movies, 2000’s rom-coms, and lesbian representation, you will love this book!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Joy Revolution for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
May 6, 2026
*3.75*
eek this was so cute and exactly what I needed. I wanted something fun and lighthearted filled with lesbians and that’s exactly what I got!!
I adore the classic takes of 90s rom-coms with the alteration of being unapologetically queer (queer normative world with a range of identities mentioned throughout.) I’m also a sucker for the dynamic of sunshine x grumpy, or in this case hopeless romantic x love repelled- I think it made it so cute and so fun. this paired with the magical mishaps made for such an entertaining world- it was funny to hear about the different magical items and the crimes that are committed- just so weird and wonderful.
I think the reason why this isnt getting four is because I actually wish it was longer. I wanted to spend more time with the couple and how they developed feelings vs the tension and angst of coming to terms with that. I still think this was super adorable though!!
eek this was so cute and exactly what I needed. I wanted something fun and lighthearted filled with lesbians and that’s exactly what I got!!
I adore the classic takes of 90s rom-coms with the alteration of being unapologetically queer (queer normative world with a range of identities mentioned throughout.) I’m also a sucker for the dynamic of sunshine x grumpy, or in this case hopeless romantic x love repelled- I think it made it so cute and so fun. this paired with the magical mishaps made for such an entertaining world- it was funny to hear about the different magical items and the crimes that are committed- just so weird and wonderful.
I think the reason why this isnt getting four is because I actually wish it was longer. I wanted to spend more time with the couple and how they developed feelings vs the tension and angst of coming to terms with that. I still think this was super adorable though!!
April 5, 2026
Fair Glen, Illinois is a formerly magical place and the Bureau of Mystical Affairs helps regulate the use of the magical charm dust that is leftover (think of OHSA meets the FBI). Monroe is a Black high school senior, who is interning for the Bureau. She is tasked with hunting down a love charm that has gone rogue in her high school. As a part of her investigation, she gets involved in a fake dating scheme with the Bureau Director‘s daughter Iris. But as they get to know one another more, Monroe has to figure out what is more important to her, her future with the Bureau, or her burgeoning romance with Iris?
This was a very sweet sapphic YA romance and I had such a fun time reading it. I felt like it was a cozy alternative to most urban fantasy (which seems like film noir, dark and gritty, but with magic), whereas this was light, fluffy, and fun, but with magic. I thought the worldbuilding was solid, the magic system was easy to understand, and the who-dun-it mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I would easily recommend this for any high school library.
This was a very sweet sapphic YA romance and I had such a fun time reading it. I felt like it was a cozy alternative to most urban fantasy (which seems like film noir, dark and gritty, but with magic), whereas this was light, fluffy, and fun, but with magic. I thought the worldbuilding was solid, the magic system was easy to understand, and the who-dun-it mystery kept me guessing until the very end. I would easily recommend this for any high school library.
May 7, 2026
cute and cozy ✨️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cute, Magical, and Easy to Enjoy
This was a really fun, quick read that didn’t try to be more than it needed to be. The mystery moves at a nice pace, and the stakes are just high enough to keep things interesting without getting heavy or stressful.
I liked the balance between magic, mystery, and romance. The fake dating setup added a playful layer, and the chemistry between Monroe and Iris felt sweet and natural. It kept things light while still giving the story momentum.
Overall, this was charming, fast-paced, and enjoyable from start to finish. A solid 3.5 stars for me and a great pick if you’re in the mood for something cozy with a little magic and sapphic romance mixed in.
This was a really fun, quick read that didn’t try to be more than it needed to be. The mystery moves at a nice pace, and the stakes are just high enough to keep things interesting without getting heavy or stressful.
I liked the balance between magic, mystery, and romance. The fake dating setup added a playful layer, and the chemistry between Monroe and Iris felt sweet and natural. It kept things light while still giving the story momentum.
Overall, this was charming, fast-paced, and enjoyable from start to finish. A solid 3.5 stars for me and a great pick if you’re in the mood for something cozy with a little magic and sapphic romance mixed in.
March 27, 2026
3.75 - This was a cute read. If you’re into young adult reads that are sapphic, cozy, magic, mystery and fake dating then this might be your next book.
Monroe and Iris balanced each other rather well along with the flow of the story. They had good banter. The topic around romance and the views each character had on it gave food for thought. Iris wanted to prove what she thought went together. Monroe’s view on love hit harder learning about her parents. The tension between them was there. Yes i know this is ya and i enjoy this genre. However, i do wish the fake dating and tension hit a little harder. Because the drama in the book was nice. Monroe and her relationships with her parents was refreshing.
Best part to me was the mystery around this new potion and glowing dust. Trying to figure out who is the culprit and keeping students safe from harm.
Monroe and Iris balanced each other rather well along with the flow of the story. They had good banter. The topic around romance and the views each character had on it gave food for thought. Iris wanted to prove what she thought went together. Monroe’s view on love hit harder learning about her parents. The tension between them was there. Yes i know this is ya and i enjoy this genre. However, i do wish the fake dating and tension hit a little harder. Because the drama in the book was nice. Monroe and her relationships with her parents was refreshing.
Best part to me was the mystery around this new potion and glowing dust. Trying to figure out who is the culprit and keeping students safe from harm.
March 20, 2026
I am 100%, unabashedly a “judge a (literal) book by its cover” kind of girl, and this cover is so cute! That alone was enough for me to request the ARC. Add in that it’s sapphic and magical, and this should’ve been a hit for me! It was pretty darn cute; but not quite all I expected or hoped it would be.
Charmed and Dangerous is 90% mystery, 10% romance. While I did find the mystery intriguing and I didn’t have the culprit pegged by the time they were revealed, I felt like the romance aspect – which was really more of a subplot than the cover or blurb suggests – was lacking, in my opinion. I know it’s a fake dating trope, but Monroe and Iris seemed a lot more like friends to me, even when it was supposed to be clear that they were starting to fall for eachother. I loved all of the references to the classic romcoms, though!
Ultimately, I dont think this one was for me; however, it’s very cute, the magical aspect is interesting, and the mystery is intriging! I think if I had read it as a teenager, I would’ve been absolutely obsessed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
Charmed and Dangerous is 90% mystery, 10% romance. While I did find the mystery intriguing and I didn’t have the culprit pegged by the time they were revealed, I felt like the romance aspect – which was really more of a subplot than the cover or blurb suggests – was lacking, in my opinion. I know it’s a fake dating trope, but Monroe and Iris seemed a lot more like friends to me, even when it was supposed to be clear that they were starting to fall for eachother. I loved all of the references to the classic romcoms, though!
Ultimately, I dont think this one was for me; however, it’s very cute, the magical aspect is interesting, and the mystery is intriging! I think if I had read it as a teenager, I would’ve been absolutely obsessed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!
March 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Charmed and Dangerous is a cozy, enchanting YA fantasy.
This one was absolutely adorable! Brimming with Black pride and queer joy, reading it felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. The characters were vibrant and entertaining, and the character development was wonderful. The romance was charming, filled with banter and fake dating. The plot was engaging and twisty, and I especially loved the cozy mystery. The pacing fit the story nicely (although I longed for more time with the characters), and the world-building was delightful, melding magic and the modern world. Shelly Page’s prose was bright, welcoming, and sweeping. I highly recommend this wonderful read!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!
Charmed and Dangerous is a cozy, enchanting YA fantasy.
This one was absolutely adorable! Brimming with Black pride and queer joy, reading it felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. The characters were vibrant and entertaining, and the character development was wonderful. The romance was charming, filled with banter and fake dating. The plot was engaging and twisty, and I especially loved the cozy mystery. The pacing fit the story nicely (although I longed for more time with the characters), and the world-building was delightful, melding magic and the modern world. Shelly Page’s prose was bright, welcoming, and sweeping. I highly recommend this wonderful read!
Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5, rounding up!
Two things about Monroe knows to be true: One, she’s going to crush her internship at the Bureau of Mystical Affairs so she can continue her father’s legacy. Two, love is a lie.
Unfortunately, the charm wreaking havoc in her high school is annoyingly love-linked; students affected are whenever someone tries to so much as flirt with someone who doesn’t reciprocate their feelings and the disasters it leads to are getting more and more dangerous.
When her boss’s daughter, Iris, is affected by the charm, Monroe rushes to the rescue. Not because Iris is cute or anything- Monroe is just doing her duty, of course- but suddenly half the school is shipping the two girls. Iris wants to take advantage of the moment to make her ex-jealous and Monroe’s boss wants her to keep a close eye on Iris to prevent future mishaps, so there’s only one path forward- fake dating of course! Iris has watched all the rom-coms, so she knows just how to fake the perfect, most cutesy relationship. Monroe may not believe in love, but she’s not about to deliver subpar work. Together, she and Iris are going to track down the source of this dangerous charm all while convincing the school that they are deeply in love.
Best of all, there’s no danger! Iris loves her ex, Monroe is disillusioned with love altogether. There’s no chance they’d actually fall, right?
Right?
This book is so fun! I was worried when I started reading because the first few chapters are clunky. Page is more ambitious with her world building in this book than her first- which is commendable!- but she doesn’t seem confident in setting up the rules of the story. There’s a lot of repetition as Monroe explains the Bureau, how charms function, and the junior recruit program but I still found myself needing to re-read some paragraphs a few times to make sense of the details. I was really concerned that I was going to end up giving this book a negative review during these first few chapters, which made me sad because I’d enjoyed Brewed with Love so much. However, once we got over the hurdle of setting up a world with more complex rules, the story shifts to what Page’s wheelhouse- sweet and charmingly flawed young queer women solving magical mysteries while falling in love.
I’m really glad Page tried something more ambitious, I just wish an editor had pushed for a few more passes over the first maybe five chapters. The book is so fun once it hits its stride, but I worry about readers making it past the repetitive and clunky early world building. Monroe and Iris are adorable, there’s such a sweetness to how Monroe grows in her understanding of her parent’s recently ended marriage, and the rom-com references throughout are cheesy in the best way.
So- I’d recommend pushing through the beginning for an adorable YA rom-com with fun magic shenanigans and a lot of heart. It had me kicking my feet and sending my girlfriend sappy texts.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Two things about Monroe knows to be true: One, she’s going to crush her internship at the Bureau of Mystical Affairs so she can continue her father’s legacy. Two, love is a lie.
Unfortunately, the charm wreaking havoc in her high school is annoyingly love-linked; students affected are whenever someone tries to so much as flirt with someone who doesn’t reciprocate their feelings and the disasters it leads to are getting more and more dangerous.
When her boss’s daughter, Iris, is affected by the charm, Monroe rushes to the rescue. Not because Iris is cute or anything- Monroe is just doing her duty, of course- but suddenly half the school is shipping the two girls. Iris wants to take advantage of the moment to make her ex-jealous and Monroe’s boss wants her to keep a close eye on Iris to prevent future mishaps, so there’s only one path forward- fake dating of course! Iris has watched all the rom-coms, so she knows just how to fake the perfect, most cutesy relationship. Monroe may not believe in love, but she’s not about to deliver subpar work. Together, she and Iris are going to track down the source of this dangerous charm all while convincing the school that they are deeply in love.
Best of all, there’s no danger! Iris loves her ex, Monroe is disillusioned with love altogether. There’s no chance they’d actually fall, right?
Right?
This book is so fun! I was worried when I started reading because the first few chapters are clunky. Page is more ambitious with her world building in this book than her first- which is commendable!- but she doesn’t seem confident in setting up the rules of the story. There’s a lot of repetition as Monroe explains the Bureau, how charms function, and the junior recruit program but I still found myself needing to re-read some paragraphs a few times to make sense of the details. I was really concerned that I was going to end up giving this book a negative review during these first few chapters, which made me sad because I’d enjoyed Brewed with Love so much. However, once we got over the hurdle of setting up a world with more complex rules, the story shifts to what Page’s wheelhouse- sweet and charmingly flawed young queer women solving magical mysteries while falling in love.
I’m really glad Page tried something more ambitious, I just wish an editor had pushed for a few more passes over the first maybe five chapters. The book is so fun once it hits its stride, but I worry about readers making it past the repetitive and clunky early world building. Monroe and Iris are adorable, there’s such a sweetness to how Monroe grows in her understanding of her parent’s recently ended marriage, and the rom-com references throughout are cheesy in the best way.
So- I’d recommend pushing through the beginning for an adorable YA rom-com with fun magic shenanigans and a lot of heart. It had me kicking my feet and sending my girlfriend sappy texts.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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