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A Pinch of Magic
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26This charming and cozy paranormal novel full of small-town charm and a delightful cast of characters is perfect for fans of B.K. Borison and Lyla Sage.
- GenresRomance
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of A Pinch of Magic by Emily Heil.
I requested this book the same week I finished watching The Bear, so I was hungry for the culinary vibes, and I was really intrigued that Heil is a Washington Post Food Reporter writing her first novel about a cookbook ghostwriter which is such a cool background layer.
Overall, I really liked this book and think it is a strong debut. I think NetGalley/the publisher is potentially off on the genres -- it is definitely not a forward-facing romance like B.K. Borison or Lyla Sage, and the romance is very background to the front-and-center story. It is paranormal in that there is a ghost, but that is also not the main plotting of the book either. I would honestly classify this as contemporary fiction, women's literature if you feel a strong need to note that it is mostly geared toward women, definitely cozy and lower stakes with a bit of a paranormal historical fiction mystery, a bit of a romance -- but mostly this book is about Cam finding herself and finding her place in the world. I think this might be an aspect of something just quite off on the novel -- it is many things at once, and the fiction part speaks the loudest, probably due to Heil's background as a reporter, but the other aspects are there too and are well done, they're just not the focus. I think leading that this is like Borison or Sage is not the best move -- Sage is much more surface level on plot, and Heil has depth here in both plot and characterization. Borison's later series do plots better, and Heil can match her in terms of the deeper familial ties/place in the world strings Borison plays, but this is not solely a romance, so while the emotional character aspects and plotting may be on par, the romance is not the focus or a solution for our main character, Cam, and in the small scenes where the romance develops it is closed-door or internal musings instead of full-scene showstoppers. It's more sweet window dressing to the overall story. Seeing the book right now on Goodreads as a romance I think will end up harming it with readers expecting something else, and Heil deserves for the larger story aspects to be recognized. I keep trying to think of where I would place Heil among other authors and it's eluding me, maybe a much cozier version of Allison Espach? Heil can write - she has obvious talent and her scenes on cooking and food glow on the page, as does her ability to balance multiple plot lines and wrap them up fully by the story end while working to develop Cam more so than I would normally see in a cozy paranormal mystery romance. You can tell you're reading a book by someone who wanted layers and knew how to place them to get the most out of every scene and angle.
Past that digression, the plot description is fairly accurate to the book, and usually that means I won't try and recap it. I will just note that Cam is 34 and her love interest, Ian, is in his late 30s, so fans looking for characters with a bit more life experience may enjoy that aspect (as someone in their 30s, I did). I also was surprised at the early build-up of the novel to get Cam to her grandmother's house -- at first I thought I was just reading a fiction novel, and it was very engaging, and then the romance has a few moments, and then the ghost makes its presence known, and then Cam is working on the cookbook with celebrity guru Izzy while planning the menu for the town fete and making new friends --- Heil packs a TON into this novel and considering the genre(s) it works because it feels like so much depth has been added to Cam's life and this is a story about Cam.
My only minor issues with the novel, past the issue around genre, which at the end works beautifully but while reading I was trying too hard to force into a box, is that some of the dialogue does feel a bit off -- I think it's mainly apparent in scenes with or about Ian (the conversation Cam has with her cousin saying "sexxxy" and "hawt" in a 2025 book setting was an especially off moment) and because of that the romance is actually one of the most surface-level aspects of the novel and I didn't fully buy into Cam and Ian being attracted to each other and wanting to be together. It also gets better by the end, but I think some of that may have been the coziness that Heil was aiming for in the tying up of all lose ends as opposed to the journey of their relationship paying off.
All in all it is a debut worth checking out.
I requested this book the same week I finished watching The Bear, so I was hungry for the culinary vibes, and I was really intrigued that Heil is a Washington Post Food Reporter writing her first novel about a cookbook ghostwriter which is such a cool background layer.
Overall, I really liked this book and think it is a strong debut. I think NetGalley/the publisher is potentially off on the genres -- it is definitely not a forward-facing romance like B.K. Borison or Lyla Sage, and the romance is very background to the front-and-center story. It is paranormal in that there is a ghost, but that is also not the main plotting of the book either. I would honestly classify this as contemporary fiction, women's literature if you feel a strong need to note that it is mostly geared toward women, definitely cozy and lower stakes with a bit of a paranormal historical fiction mystery, a bit of a romance -- but mostly this book is about Cam finding herself and finding her place in the world. I think this might be an aspect of something just quite off on the novel -- it is many things at once, and the fiction part speaks the loudest, probably due to Heil's background as a reporter, but the other aspects are there too and are well done, they're just not the focus. I think leading that this is like Borison or Sage is not the best move -- Sage is much more surface level on plot, and Heil has depth here in both plot and characterization. Borison's later series do plots better, and Heil can match her in terms of the deeper familial ties/place in the world strings Borison plays, but this is not solely a romance, so while the emotional character aspects and plotting may be on par, the romance is not the focus or a solution for our main character, Cam, and in the small scenes where the romance develops it is closed-door or internal musings instead of full-scene showstoppers. It's more sweet window dressing to the overall story. Seeing the book right now on Goodreads as a romance I think will end up harming it with readers expecting something else, and Heil deserves for the larger story aspects to be recognized. I keep trying to think of where I would place Heil among other authors and it's eluding me, maybe a much cozier version of Allison Espach? Heil can write - she has obvious talent and her scenes on cooking and food glow on the page, as does her ability to balance multiple plot lines and wrap them up fully by the story end while working to develop Cam more so than I would normally see in a cozy paranormal mystery romance. You can tell you're reading a book by someone who wanted layers and knew how to place them to get the most out of every scene and angle.
Past that digression, the plot description is fairly accurate to the book, and usually that means I won't try and recap it. I will just note that Cam is 34 and her love interest, Ian, is in his late 30s, so fans looking for characters with a bit more life experience may enjoy that aspect (as someone in their 30s, I did). I also was surprised at the early build-up of the novel to get Cam to her grandmother's house -- at first I thought I was just reading a fiction novel, and it was very engaging, and then the romance has a few moments, and then the ghost makes its presence known, and then Cam is working on the cookbook with celebrity guru Izzy while planning the menu for the town fete and making new friends --- Heil packs a TON into this novel and considering the genre(s) it works because it feels like so much depth has been added to Cam's life and this is a story about Cam.
My only minor issues with the novel, past the issue around genre, which at the end works beautifully but while reading I was trying too hard to force into a box, is that some of the dialogue does feel a bit off -- I think it's mainly apparent in scenes with or about Ian (the conversation Cam has with her cousin saying "sexxxy" and "hawt" in a 2025 book setting was an especially off moment) and because of that the romance is actually one of the most surface-level aspects of the novel and I didn't fully buy into Cam and Ian being attracted to each other and wanting to be together. It also gets better by the end, but I think some of that may have been the coziness that Heil was aiming for in the tying up of all lose ends as opposed to the journey of their relationship paying off.
All in all it is a debut worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cam Parker is a cookbook ghostwriter who prefers a quiet life and prefers her anonymity, would rather other people get the credit for her 5-star recipes than be seen.
Ada is a ghost, dying to be seen.
When a tree crashes into her grandma’s house, it not only destroys part of the house but uproots Cam’s whole life. Desperate to pay for the repairs, she takes on a nightmare client, returns to her small hometown and gets wrangled into catering the town’s yearly holiday feast. But that’s just the beginning.
This was a light, quick read that I overall enjoyed. Definite Practical Magic vibes, without the crazy ex-boyfriend.
I loved Ada immediately and as the story went on, I loved the way she pushed Cam, even when Cam didn’t know it. I honestly wanted more of her!
Actually, I wish there was more of everybody. There was a lot of chaos, that’s the point of the book, but I wish there was more depth to it all. I think the story could use easily another 100 pages. I’d love more interactions with Cam and Ian, see their feelings develop. I’d even love more of that nightmare client.
I enjoyed the pacing and it’s a really great concept. The food all sounded amazing and I thought the recipes in the back were a great touch!
Ada is a ghost, dying to be seen.
When a tree crashes into her grandma’s house, it not only destroys part of the house but uproots Cam’s whole life. Desperate to pay for the repairs, she takes on a nightmare client, returns to her small hometown and gets wrangled into catering the town’s yearly holiday feast. But that’s just the beginning.
This was a light, quick read that I overall enjoyed. Definite Practical Magic vibes, without the crazy ex-boyfriend.
I loved Ada immediately and as the story went on, I loved the way she pushed Cam, even when Cam didn’t know it. I honestly wanted more of her!
Actually, I wish there was more of everybody. There was a lot of chaos, that’s the point of the book, but I wish there was more depth to it all. I think the story could use easily another 100 pages. I’d love more interactions with Cam and Ian, see their feelings develop. I’d even love more of that nightmare client.
I enjoyed the pacing and it’s a really great concept. The food all sounded amazing and I thought the recipes in the back were a great touch!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a charming paranormal mystery with a touch of romance, memorable characters, and plenty of delicious food throughout. I especially enjoyed the cooking elements, and the recipes included at the end were a lovely bonus.
The writing was strong, and I grew to really like the cast. While the story introduces several different plotlines, they all come together in a satisfying way by the end, with each one serving a purpose.
My biggest criticism is that this felt much more like a paranormal mystery with a romantic subplot than a romance. If you’re picking this up expecting the relationship to be the main focus, you may be disappointed. The romance is sweet, but it takes a back seat to the mystery and the supernatural elements.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with engaging characters, a satisfying conclusion, and a story that came together nicely. If you’re looking for a light paranormal mystery with a hint of romance and plenty of cooking, this is worth picking up.
This was a charming paranormal mystery with a touch of romance, memorable characters, and plenty of delicious food throughout. I especially enjoyed the cooking elements, and the recipes included at the end were a lovely bonus.
The writing was strong, and I grew to really like the cast. While the story introduces several different plotlines, they all come together in a satisfying way by the end, with each one serving a purpose.
My biggest criticism is that this felt much more like a paranormal mystery with a romantic subplot than a romance. If you’re picking this up expecting the relationship to be the main focus, you may be disappointed. The romance is sweet, but it takes a back seat to the mystery and the supernatural elements.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read with engaging characters, a satisfying conclusion, and a story that came together nicely. If you’re looking for a light paranormal mystery with a hint of romance and plenty of cooking, this is worth picking up.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews