What do you think?
Rate this book
Suddenly Witchy
Suddenly Witchy (New Orleans Coven Book 1)A cozy witchy coming-of-age mystery that sets off a fun rom-com series full of spells gone sideways, magical misfires, and one heroine who is absolutely not prepared to save the world.
Sadie Robert thought her biggest problem was impressing her boss and avoiding embarrassing run-ins with her crush—until her mother’s Book of Shadows appeared out of nowhere.
One accidental spell later, Sadie discovers she’s heir to a powerful magical bloodline, awakens a brooding witch enforcer who insists she’s his assignment, and catches the attention of a secret coven war brewing beneath New Orleans’ glittering charm.
Between a flirtation that crackles like lightning, a best friend who may not be what she seems, and a city full of ghosts, ghouls, and glamour, Sadie’s life is about to get a whole lot more complicated—and a lot more magical.
Perfect for fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, The Ex Hex, and The Originals, Suddenly Witchy blends Southern gothic atmosphere, slow-burn romance, and chaotic found family feels into one spellbinding start to the New Orleans Coven series.
The magic begins in Suddenly Witchy — the sparks ignite in Book 2; coming soon)!
Sadie Robert thought her biggest problem was impressing her boss and avoiding embarrassing run-ins with her crush—until her mother’s Book of Shadows appeared out of nowhere.
One accidental spell later, Sadie discovers she’s heir to a powerful magical bloodline, awakens a brooding witch enforcer who insists she’s his assignment, and catches the attention of a secret coven war brewing beneath New Orleans’ glittering charm.
Between a flirtation that crackles like lightning, a best friend who may not be what she seems, and a city full of ghosts, ghouls, and glamour, Sadie’s life is about to get a whole lot more complicated—and a lot more magical.
Perfect for fans of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, The Ex Hex, and The Originals, Suddenly Witchy blends Southern gothic atmosphere, slow-burn romance, and chaotic found family feels into one spellbinding start to the New Orleans Coven series.
The magic begins in Suddenly Witchy — the sparks ignite in Book 2; coming soon)!
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 13, 2025
3 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Maxwell
2 books1 followerHi, I’m Jenn Maxwell—rom-com writer, witchy playlist hoarder, and proud creator of Sadie Robert and her chaotic magical life.
I write stories about spells, snark, and slow kisses under moonlight. When I’m not writing, I’m probably rereading Practical Magic, watching The Originals, or collecting crystals I absolutely do not know how to use.
I write stories about spells, snark, and slow kisses under moonlight. When I’m not writing, I’m probably rereading Practical Magic, watching The Originals, or collecting crystals I absolutely do not know how to use.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 23, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We meet Sadie and her BFFs Bennett and Liv. They all work at the Audubon Zoo together. Sadie grew up in NOLA with her mom, dad and uncle Jasper. Her mom passed away when she was younger and she has fond memories of her. One evening she sees her mother book that she always wrote in in her room and when she touched it she felt a spark...weird. things get a bit weird for Sadie, the new guy at work watches her and her uncle drops the bomb that shes a Witch like her mother...um..ok. the dude from work Porter is there to teach her how to use magic safely and to protect her as there are other witches who want to steal her power. Sadie has no clue what shes doing but its worth it in the end. Now all she has to do is stay alive and figure out who is out to get her...easy right? A good story with drama magic and pixies.
We meet Sadie and her BFFs Bennett and Liv. They all work at the Audubon Zoo together. Sadie grew up in NOLA with her mom, dad and uncle Jasper. Her mom passed away when she was younger and she has fond memories of her. One evening she sees her mother book that she always wrote in in her room and when she touched it she felt a spark...weird. things get a bit weird for Sadie, the new guy at work watches her and her uncle drops the bomb that shes a Witch like her mother...um..ok. the dude from work Porter is there to teach her how to use magic safely and to protect her as there are other witches who want to steal her power. Sadie has no clue what shes doing but its worth it in the end. Now all she has to do is stay alive and figure out who is out to get her...easy right? A good story with drama magic and pixies.
November 8, 2025
**ARC review**
Suddenly Witchy is a cute and charming rom-com set in New Orleans, and what really stood out to me in this story was Sadie’s growth. She doesn’t transform into some impossibly perfect hero; instead, she learns to navigate the chaos and trust her own instincts. Watching her go from overwhelmed to quietly powerful felt earned and genuinely moving. The friendships are layered and meaningful, the mystery keeps you guessing, and the twists shift your understanding of who she can depend on right up until the very end. It’s thoughtful, engaging, and so satisfying.
Suddenly Witchy is a cute and charming rom-com set in New Orleans, and what really stood out to me in this story was Sadie’s growth. She doesn’t transform into some impossibly perfect hero; instead, she learns to navigate the chaos and trust her own instincts. Watching her go from overwhelmed to quietly powerful felt earned and genuinely moving. The friendships are layered and meaningful, the mystery keeps you guessing, and the twists shift your understanding of who she can depend on right up until the very end. It’s thoughtful, engaging, and so satisfying.
November 9, 2025
Rounded up to 2,5⭐️
I started this book hoping it would be cute and funny, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it. At least it was a short read, so this is why I am giving it a rounded up 3 ⭐️.
There were a lot of things bothering me in this book:
-The story is not consistent. The FMC Sadie is always late, and at the beginning of the book she makes a fuss of trying to come in on time. Than one day she just decides to not go to work and do some garage cleaning? And all 3 male characters who live with her just happen to be around to help her? This just doesn’t make any sense.
-We get a lot of everyday scenes, but what would really be interesting is her time with Porter, to learn what she is learning. But this happens off the page, and we are stuck with her chatting to her friends about learning stuff, but we weren’t included in the process.
-The writing style is often repetitive and „tell not show“.
-Side characters are flat. Their only purpose is to be a side kick best friend or to be a villain, or to be a teacher and so on. They don’t have any real character traits. It also felt as forced diversity: black gay best friend, hot asian best friend etc. I don’t know why this was mentioned so often, but repeating that Bennet is gay was not necessary. His only character trait was having a good taste in fashion (really??) and having an „artistic job“ so he can be conveniently available for the FMC, and is able to jump in and be the support she needs. Even at 89% all side characters are just reflecting that they have no real meaning in the book: „Lindsey: „I thought the only way I‘d be worth anything at work was by being hot enough to distract our boss.“ Furthermore, the structure of side characters stays the same at the end with this formula: just replace the female supportive character directly with the only other female character, even their names sound similar : Liv and Lindsay.
-The FMC felt younger than 24, at times I thought I read about a 16 years old. Drinking on a week day after work with a full time job, eating junk food and staying in bed for no reason. It felt a bit juvenile.
-The book description says it is „a rom-com“, but there is no romance happening in this book. She goes on a couple of dates, but the dates serve the mystery plot more, not the romance plot. Since we don’t see any development of feelings on her side, I would call this book a cozy fantasy mystery.
-It is not clear at the end what exactly was the subplot with Caleb. Was he enchanted, is he evil? We don’t get this information.
Finally, I liked the book idea, but it read as a first draft written in one night before a due.
*** I received this book as an ARC for free on BookSirens, and this is my honest review. ***
I started this book hoping it would be cute and funny, but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it. At least it was a short read, so this is why I am giving it a rounded up 3 ⭐️.
There were a lot of things bothering me in this book:
-The story is not consistent. The FMC Sadie is always late, and at the beginning of the book she makes a fuss of trying to come in on time. Than one day she just decides to not go to work and do some garage cleaning? And all 3 male characters who live with her just happen to be around to help her? This just doesn’t make any sense.
-We get a lot of everyday scenes, but what would really be interesting is her time with Porter, to learn what she is learning. But this happens off the page, and we are stuck with her chatting to her friends about learning stuff, but we weren’t included in the process.
-The writing style is often repetitive and „tell not show“.
-Side characters are flat. Their only purpose is to be a side kick best friend or to be a villain, or to be a teacher and so on. They don’t have any real character traits. It also felt as forced diversity: black gay best friend, hot asian best friend etc. I don’t know why this was mentioned so often, but repeating that Bennet is gay was not necessary. His only character trait was having a good taste in fashion (really??) and having an „artistic job“ so he can be conveniently available for the FMC, and is able to jump in and be the support she needs. Even at 89% all side characters are just reflecting that they have no real meaning in the book: „Lindsey: „I thought the only way I‘d be worth anything at work was by being hot enough to distract our boss.“ Furthermore, the structure of side characters stays the same at the end with this formula: just replace the female supportive character directly with the only other female character, even their names sound similar : Liv and Lindsay.
-The FMC felt younger than 24, at times I thought I read about a 16 years old. Drinking on a week day after work with a full time job, eating junk food and staying in bed for no reason. It felt a bit juvenile.
-The book description says it is „a rom-com“, but there is no romance happening in this book. She goes on a couple of dates, but the dates serve the mystery plot more, not the romance plot. Since we don’t see any development of feelings on her side, I would call this book a cozy fantasy mystery.
-It is not clear at the end what exactly was the subplot with Caleb. Was he enchanted, is he evil? We don’t get this information.
Finally, I liked the book idea, but it read as a first draft written in one night before a due.
*** I received this book as an ARC for free on BookSirens, and this is my honest review. ***
January 24, 2026
What I appreciated most about Suddenly Witchy is that it never treats magic as an escape. It treats it as inheritance.
Sadie’s discovery of her powers is messy, inconvenient, and deeply human. Magic here isn’t glamorous. It interrupts workdays. It complicates relationships. It surfaces grief that was never properly processed. In that way, the novel shares unexpected emotional DNA with Tattered Hearts and Hopeful Souls: both books understand that transformation is rarely neat, and never purely empowering.
New Orleans is not just a setting but a nervous system. The French Quarter pulses softly in the background, grounding the supernatural in something tactile and lived-in. The shop, the back room, the scents of herbs and dust and memory — these details matter because they make the magic feel earned rather than imposed.
The emotional center of the story isn’t the spells, though those are written with humor and clarity. It’s the inheritance of identity. Sadie’s mother, her absence, and the slow realization that grief and power are not separate experiences but intertwined ones. This mirrors the quiet emotional labor in Tattered Hearts, where healing happens in the margins rather than the spotlight.
Porter, as a guide rather than a savior, is an important choice. He doesn’t rescue Sadie from confusion. He sits inside it with her. Their dynamic avoids urgency, which gives the story room to breathe. There is trust here in the reader’s patience.
Sadie’s discovery of her powers is messy, inconvenient, and deeply human. Magic here isn’t glamorous. It interrupts workdays. It complicates relationships. It surfaces grief that was never properly processed. In that way, the novel shares unexpected emotional DNA with Tattered Hearts and Hopeful Souls: both books understand that transformation is rarely neat, and never purely empowering.
New Orleans is not just a setting but a nervous system. The French Quarter pulses softly in the background, grounding the supernatural in something tactile and lived-in. The shop, the back room, the scents of herbs and dust and memory — these details matter because they make the magic feel earned rather than imposed.
The emotional center of the story isn’t the spells, though those are written with humor and clarity. It’s the inheritance of identity. Sadie’s mother, her absence, and the slow realization that grief and power are not separate experiences but intertwined ones. This mirrors the quiet emotional labor in Tattered Hearts, where healing happens in the margins rather than the spotlight.
Porter, as a guide rather than a savior, is an important choice. He doesn’t rescue Sadie from confusion. He sits inside it with her. Their dynamic avoids urgency, which gives the story room to breathe. There is trust here in the reader’s patience.
November 15, 2025
ARC book received for my honest review.
A witchy book about Sadie and her magical powers being unbound and the start of her journey to learning her powers and the journey to trust herself and find her way. Along with her best friends, Bennett and Liv, she attempts to find the person who is coming after her now that her powers are free.
The magical aspect of the book is not fully fleshed out to really feel like she is learning anything. I assumed there would have been a lot more focus on the magical side verses the day-to-day life of Sadie and the drama in her friendships. The ending didn't have the normal punch of paranormal fighting that I am accustomed to finding in witchy books.
The book is also marketed as a rom com, which is my favorite trope of romance. There is a little bit of romance, but all surface level and closed door. I also did not find much humor in the book. Maybe that was just not my version of rom com.
The book also had a few inconsistencies, while not massive in distracting from the story, there are 2 that I picked up on immediately.
The ending feels "wrapped up" and not a cliffhanger, but we are left with questions about Caleb. However, Sadie's journey continues in book 2 so potentially things will be answered.
A witchy book about Sadie and her magical powers being unbound and the start of her journey to learning her powers and the journey to trust herself and find her way. Along with her best friends, Bennett and Liv, she attempts to find the person who is coming after her now that her powers are free.
The magical aspect of the book is not fully fleshed out to really feel like she is learning anything. I assumed there would have been a lot more focus on the magical side verses the day-to-day life of Sadie and the drama in her friendships. The ending didn't have the normal punch of paranormal fighting that I am accustomed to finding in witchy books.
The book is also marketed as a rom com, which is my favorite trope of romance. There is a little bit of romance, but all surface level and closed door. I also did not find much humor in the book. Maybe that was just not my version of rom com.
The book also had a few inconsistencies, while not massive in distracting from the story, there are 2 that I picked up on immediately.
The ending feels "wrapped up" and not a cliffhanger, but we are left with questions about Caleb. However, Sadie's journey continues in book 2 so potentially things will be answered.
December 14, 2025
"A Wonderful Quirky Paranormal Romance"
This is a fun,quirky, funny,exciting, and steamy hot story. The characters are awesome.
Sadie's mother passed away before she could reveal a huge secret to Sadie. Her Uncle owns a magical store in New Orleans. Where Sadie lives with her best friend Bennett. Their Apartment burnt down. So Sadie and Bennett moved in with Sadie's Dad. One day Sadie woke up to discover her Moms Journal on her dresser. After she touches it something strange happens. Also during the days after many strange things happen around Sadie! As it turns out her mother was a witch, and now Sadie has come into her own powers!
At work they hire a new project manager named Porter. It seems he was sent to help Sadie control her powers. Could fate also have a hand in Sadie,and Porter meeting?
This is a fun,quirky, funny,exciting, and steamy hot story. The characters are awesome.
Sadie's mother passed away before she could reveal a huge secret to Sadie. Her Uncle owns a magical store in New Orleans. Where Sadie lives with her best friend Bennett. Their Apartment burnt down. So Sadie and Bennett moved in with Sadie's Dad. One day Sadie woke up to discover her Moms Journal on her dresser. After she touches it something strange happens. Also during the days after many strange things happen around Sadie! As it turns out her mother was a witch, and now Sadie has come into her own powers!
At work they hire a new project manager named Porter. It seems he was sent to help Sadie control her powers. Could fate also have a hand in Sadie,and Porter meeting?
December 23, 2025
I really really wanted to like this book! What's not to like about a girl finding it she's a witch in New Orleans? Unfortunately I really struggled with the pacing of the book, with the momentum not really picking up until almost 75% of the book was finished. Without spoilers, the relationships in the book seem to progress in jumps and starts without smooth transitions. And unfortunately the magic system died seen to heavily rely on European folk lore, not tapping into the wonderful and unique craft native to New Orleans.
To get 5 stars I think the character arcs and relationships need to include more defined transitions.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
To get 5 stars I think the character arcs and relationships need to include more defined transitions.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
January 5, 2026
An easy book to read and a good back story, there where a couple of times it felt like I had missed part of the story and the 'enemy' was pretty easy to spot, the end felt a little rushed and the fight for safety not very exciting and over as soon as it started.
This is the first book so I'm looking forward to what is next for Sadie & Porter and am interested to see what happens if anything with Caleb as that story was not really wrapped up and also a bit rushed.
Overall a good book but a little rushed.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the first book so I'm looking forward to what is next for Sadie & Porter and am interested to see what happens if anything with Caleb as that story was not really wrapped up and also a bit rushed.
Overall a good book but a little rushed.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2025
Suddenly Witchy is a charming, funny, and delightfully magical romp through the heart of New Orleans. Jenn Maxwell masterfully blends chaos, charm, and slow-burn romance into a story brimming with personality and atmosphere. Sadie’s transformation from ordinary to extraordinary is filled with humor, heart, and unexpected twists that keep readers under a spell from start to finish.
With its irresistible mix of supernatural energy, romance, and Southern gothic flair, this book promises to be a must-read for fans of witchy rom-coms and enchanting found-family tales.
With its irresistible mix of supernatural energy, romance, and Southern gothic flair, this book promises to be a must-read for fans of witchy rom-coms and enchanting found-family tales.
December 2, 2025
Suddenly Witchy is a charming, chaos sprinkled plunge into accidental magic, unexpected destiny, and New Orleans enchantment. Sadie’s transformation from overwhelmed office worker to reluctant witch is funny, heartfelt, and full of warm, rom com energy. The mix of Southern gothic atmosphere, flirty tension with the brooding enforcer, and a city buzzing with supernatural secrets keeps the story lively and immersive. With misfired spells, found family vibes, and a heroine learning to trust her own power, this is a delightful start to a magical series with plenty more sparks to come.
November 18, 2025
I enjoyed learning alongside Sadie! I also really liked how we got to experience bits of New Orleans while following Sadie and her friends around the city. I liked the pacing of the story, even if some of the time jumps were a little jarring. But overall I loved watching Sadie come into her own power as a witch and as a friend!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 19, 2025
Chaotic story of a new witch coming into her powers and finding herself and truth in friendship and betrayal. This was such a quick read and I found myself giggling at the FMC smart mouth when interacting with her magic teacher and protector. A slow burn for these characters to come together with no smut which left me with feelings of innocence that would be acceptable for young adult readers. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2025
These characters were quirky and fun! I loved the New Orleans setting and supernatural vibes. The magic was engaging, and I was obsessed with the tension between Sadie and Porter!
As for the writing, often it felt like we were just jumping from one scene to the other without a smooth transition. There were also several scenes where the same word was used multiple times unnecessarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As for the writing, often it felt like we were just jumping from one scene to the other without a smooth transition. There were also several scenes where the same word was used multiple times unnecessarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 24, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book starts incredibly slow. And then suddenly all the things happen a bit too fast.
I also would have liked to have more build up for the romance and for the big reveal. It was so obvious who the traitor was and it was a bit painful that Sadie did not see it for so long. The denial was strong.
This book starts incredibly slow. And then suddenly all the things happen a bit too fast.
I also would have liked to have more build up for the romance and for the big reveal. It was so obvious who the traitor was and it was a bit painful that Sadie did not see it for so long. The denial was strong.
November 9, 2025
this was a DNF for me.
November 13, 2025
I loved this betwitching new book. It was cute and cozy and mixed with romance I loved it .
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews