Maggie and Arthur's Magic Moment

by Leslie René

A dangerous spell gone wrong forces the passionate professor of incantations to share tight quarters with her magical college’s leading—and most brooding—alchemist.

Despite the college’s budget cuts that slashed her syllabus, Linguistics and Incantation Translation professor Maggie Linden has almost made it to the end of the spring semester. To celebrate, Maggie attends a magical masquerade on Beltane. Maybe the end-of-year frenzy explains why she kissed a masked stranger at the festival, though her celebration may have come too soon….

An accident in the lab of famous (and famously broody) alchemist Arthur Taliesin sets loose a dangerous, haunting magic called a pall that renders the nicer parts of their academic building uninhabitable. Maggie is assigned to share her tiny basement office with none other than Taliesin himself. With his insufferable attitude and unfortunate good looks, Arthur makes it impossible for Maggie to concentrate on anything—her research, her students’ final exams, or tracking down her mysterious Beltane suitor.

She’ll do anything to get Arthur out of her office, including offering to help him reverse the magic that threatens the school. But Maggie is starting to realize her officemate may not be the conceited grump he pretends to be. In fact, much of what she thinks is true about Arthur is merely a mask….

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Romantasy, Paranormal, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary

422 pages, Hardcover

First published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨🔮 Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment 🔮✨

🎉🙌🏾 Happy Release Day 🙌🏾🎉

Everything about this book was ✨magical✨

The magic and worldbuilding were so well done, and I loved all of it, even the academic politics.

Maggie and Arthur together were so good. I loved them even when they were arguing 🤣 Arthur really played the long game and I was fully here for it.

☺️ The ending was perfect and so satisfying.

🪄 What to Expect
• Magical academia
• Broody alchemist MMC
• Professor FMC
• Forced proximity
• Shared office
• Masquerade kiss
• Hidden identity
_ _ _ _

⭐️ Final Rating: 4.75 Stars
📅 Pub Date: July 28, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun cozy read!

Two hot professors only one office. Masked kisses with a stranger... or was it?! Mysterious magical forces. Cozy AF. Swoony. A perfect escape.

4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you to Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and Arthur's Magic Moment is an enchanting and lush romance following two professors who must learn to share an office and restore their campus to what it was before a spell gone wrong. I absolutely loved this magical story and the way Maggie and Arthur came together. The two had so much chemistry and connection; it was so lovely the way they fell into each other with such longing and desperation. Not to mention all the banter and found family, it made for such a charming time. I also appreciated how all the magical happenings pushed them together and made for such an engaging story. The light academia plot and coziness of all the magic made for a perfectly fun and bewitching read from start to finish.

What to expect:
☂️Grumpy x Grumpy☂️
🪻Rival Professors🪻
☂️Slow Burn☂️
🪻Forced Proximity🪻
☂️Light Academia☂️

~Many thanks to Berkley Romance for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Sophie]

This is the kind of book I’ll just forget about the moment I put it down.

The premise was interesting and had potential, but the romance is so uneventful. 30% in and it’s already obvious they’re super attracted to each other and all they really have to do is confess. That’s just so boring to me.

My biggest issue, though, is that the characters feel soulless. You have the standard sunshine fmc, the grumpy guy, and the supportive friend and brother who only seem to exist to drive the romance forward.

I was kind of done with it by 50%, then skimmed until 70% and just couldn’t force myself to continue.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

[Kelsey reviews•books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cozy romance with a touch of romantasy (in the form of magic amongst humans mixed with spirits).

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.25 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
I am providing this honest review in exchange for an advanced e-copy from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group. This book is out now.
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– FMC: Dr. Magnolia “Maggie” Linden (aka “Linda:). 33-year-old Linguistics and Incantation Translation professor
– MMC: Dr. Arthur Taliesin (aka “Artie” or “TK”). 35-year-old Alchemical professor
– Location: Fictional town “Galloway”
– POV: Dual third-person
– Spice: 3-4 open-door spicy scenes
– Tropes: secret identity, workplace romance, rivals to lovers, forced proximity, slow burn, only one office, magical academia, both MCs are a little grumpy/reserved

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

The romance between Maggie and Arthur was sweet. I appreciated their chemistry from the first chapter, especially Arthur's charm. I also appreciated that this is a true slow-burn romance, allowing their feelings to develop over time. That said, I sometimes felt like the "rivals" aspect of their relationship lingered a little too long, making it harder for me to fully connect with the romance as it unfolded.

The writing has a cozy feel and it's clear that a lot of care went into building the magical world. This is completely a matter of personal preference, but I found the world-building a bit overwhelming at times. The academic lore, magical terminology, and intricate systems occasionally left me feeling lost, which pulled me out of the story while I tried to piece everything together. HOWEVER I am fully admitting that I’m so out of my romantasy stage at the moment that ANY world building feels overwhelming and can confirm that Lina feels like this has lighter world building compared to most fantasy. So please check out her review for a different take.

Would I Recommend?: I think this book will absolutely find its audience. I'm just not in my cozy fantasy era right now, so some of the elements that didn't work for me may be exactly what another reader is looking for.

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn————————✧———Slow Burn
Sweet—————✧——————Spicy
Light/Fluffy—————✧——————Heavy/Emotional



•♥Consider following me on Instagram @kelseyreviewsbooks for more visual content and bookish discussions.♥•

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 for the vibes 😉
2/5 🌶️

An academic romance with broody alchemists and masked festivals was just the pick me up I needed to get through the last of February.

The dynamic between the main characters, Arthur and Maggie, was so fun to read. Maggie and Arthur's Magic Moment is an enemies (but not really) to lovers romance with roots to a university with magic woven throughout. A mystery kiss on the beach, tension, close quarters in a shared office, tension, tent camping with one sleeping bag (😋), more tension... did I mention that there's enough tension to have you kicking your feet the entire way through?! If you're looking for a fun and swoony read, look no further. Definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to the author, Berkley publishing, and NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy.

[Books &Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment was such a fun and cozy read!

The world-building was whimsical, light, and easy to follow. I loved the way the author blended a magical world with modern-day life. Even though the story is full of magic, it still felt incredibly relatable. It was so refreshing to read about main characters in their thirties who are navigating careers, relationships, and real-life struggles.

I also really loved the plus-size representation with the FMC, Maggie. Her body was never treated as something that needed to be “fixed”. It was simply a part of who she was. Arthur adored her exactly as she was, and the way he spoke about her with such genuine awe and admiration was heartwarming.

The romance was the perfect slow burn. Watching Maggie and Arthur gradually let their walls down and open up to each other made their relationship feel so authentic. Arthur is initially introduced as an arrogant, full-of-himself professor, but as his layers are peeled back, we discover the man underneath. He quickly becomes the kind of MMC you can’t help but fall in love with—even if he does make a few very typical guy mistakes along the way.

If you’re looking for a fun, whimsical romance with lovable characters, magical charm, and a satisfying slow burn, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Tropes ✨:
Rival Professors
Grumpy x Grumpy
MCs in their 30s
Plus Size FMC
Magical Masquerade Kiss
Hidden Identity
Forced Proximity
One Sleeping bag
He Falls First

🖤: “Her anger made the space between them feel charged. He wanted to risk electrocution and close the space between them so he could press his lips against hers until she forgot about the mess he’d made.”

Thank you to Berkley Publishing, Ace and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Plot:
Following a hazardous magical accident, linguistics professor Maggie Linden is forced to share her tiny basement office with rival alchemy professor Arthur Taliesen. Taliesen is famous due to both his lineage and his gruff manner. Sharing the space goes about as well as you’d expect for the two very different professors. But, Maggie has a secret side quest to keep her busy: she’s trying to track down the mystery man she kissed at the Beltane festival weeks ago. Maggie can’t wait for her grumpy colleague to vacate her office, agreeing to do anything she can to expedite the process. When Maggie agrees to partner on Arthur’s dangerous project to remove the magical accident fallout, she has no idea what’s in store for them…

My review:
This is a cozy, low-angst academic romance that leans heavily into a fluffy vibe. The central dynamic is fun because Maggie is convinced they are rivals and he doesn’t respect her, while Arthur is secretly yearning from her from afar. There were some deeper moments of growth amidst the fluff, including Arthur’s growing role as devoted brother and uncle, and Maggie facing her past fears around betrayal. The friendship between Dahlia and Maggie was also great - I wish Maggie had listened to Dahlia more! The magic system behind the book also seemed pretty interesting, though we only got some glimpses into how it works.

As for critiques: the pacing was uneven and the middle of the book dragged at bit, and though the story was enjoyable, it was a bit too light for me to think about again after reading. For a debut, though, this was an encouraging start and I look forward to future works by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, Ace for this ARC!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A luminous and delightful debut, Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment is the perfect read for someone wanting a whimsical, slow burn romance set amongst a university. Leslie René builds cozy romantasy plot with high stakes!

The way this book is written scratched an itch in my brain. Each word is intentional and all the details are incredibly visual. It felt like a blend of both light and dark academia. I love a magical realism setting in the “modern world.” All the fantastical elements were thoughtfully and tastefully done, without necessitating keeping track of complex mystical details. The world buildling was just enough that the fictional world could almost be set in the past few decades. Computers and phones are the only technology mentioned. I myself imagined the story in the early 2000s, for whatever reason.

Maggie is a 33 year old woman who is plus sized and not actively trying to lose weight - something we do not always see with plus representation. It’s described for the purpose of how she looks, not as an issue to be resolved, which is refreshing. Arthur, 35, is a fellow university professor, and he is the perfect amount of academic grump. As we slowly get to see his layers peeled back, he is easy to warm up to and appreciate his endearing demeanor that is hidden under the grumpiness. Perhaps the arrogant professor is not actually as arrogant as he seems! The side characters truly sparkle too, specifically Dahlia, Rory, and Simon.

I really enjoyed watching the connection between Maggie & Arthur become not just single sided yearning on both their parts, but a truly powerful relationship and story! Their relationship was built on conversation and the warming of dislike to lovers. The spice was so well done.

Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Megan Bannen! Really looking forward to reading what René writes next!

Thank you to the author, Berkley & NetGalley for an ARC!

[Suzanne (The Bookish Libra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks for the free arc @acebookspub and @berkleyromance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley

🔮 Review - MAGGIE AND ARTHUR’S MAGIC MOMENT 🔮

Author - Leslie Rene

Pub Date - 7/28/26

What adelightful debut romantasy! If you’re like me and you enjoy books with an academic setting, and you also enjoy a magical setting, you’re definitely going to want to check out this book.

Maggie and Arthur are both professors at the same magical university. Arthur is a broody alchemist with celebrity status, while Maggie is the passionate professor of Linguistics and Incantation Translation. Maggie, whose budget was slashed to accomodate Arthur, is not a fan of his.

When an experiment gone wrong releases a ghostly pall and forces the closure of one of the campus buildings, Maggie is forced to share her tiny office with Arthur. Arthur is tasked with devising a spell to get rid of the pall and Maggie offers to help (to get him out of her space) & soon everything changes between them.

I was hooked on Maggie and Arthur from the very first scene in the book. They are both attending a magical masquerade ball at the end of the semester and not realizing who they were flirting with, they end up sharing an unforgettable kiss. As much as Maggie seems to actually loathe Arthur, I couldn’t wait for them to realize they had actually kissed each other and had incredible chemistry at the ball.

I really enjoy the rivals to lovers and forced proximity tropes and thought both were written so well here. What was also fun is that instead of being a grumpy-sunshine romance, both Arthur and Maggie are grumpy, which made me chuckle.

The tension, the banter, and the slow burn of the romance itself was fabulous, but I also just really loved them working together to eliminate the pall.

The writing is cozy but also atmospheric & suspenseful, and it was so easy to visualize the runes, the pall itself, the ghouls & banshees roaming around, and the actual haunted forest that is located near the school. Excellent worldbuilding & a truly magical read in every way!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I went into Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment with my expectations a little too high. It wasn’t bad by any means, it was cute, cozy, and an easy read, but it just didn’t give me everything I was hoping for. The story had so much potential with its magical academia setting, but I really wish there had been more world building and explanation of both the academic and magical aspects. In the middle the story started to feel repetitive and stalled a bit, while the ending felt rushed in comparison. Overall, I enjoyed Maggie and Arthur and but I think it could’ve been better if it was a little longer and more fleshed out.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely adorable and fun read! There was lots of banter between Maggie and Arthur and all the tension and build up from a forced proximity situation. It was such an enjoyable cozy contemporary romance while also having magic as a normal part of life.

Thank you to Berkley for the advanced copy through NetGalley.

[Sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Pub and Ace Books for the physical ARC of Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment!

This book had a very clear plot, “rival” coworkers who are forced to share an office and have to solve a magical problem together. He’s grumpy, she’s also a little grumpy?? But they’re definitely into each other by like 30% in. But also despite having a clear plot, this felt so directionless. It was cutesy and gave me The Love Hypothesis vibes, but I also just kind of felt like meh?

I think both Maggie and Arthur didn’t feel actualized at any point in the book and that very clearly hurt my enjoyment. I’ve read some REALLY good books this month which doesn’t help that this was just okay!

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute book! Thank you for the ARC! I really struggled at times to get into it but I enjoyed the world building immensely and the banter. I think on paper Arthur and Maggie should be perfect, but I did think something was missing from their relationship that made me feel a bit indifferent to it!

This book follows a kind of academics rival to lovers, there’s secret identities, a spell gone wrong, taking care of someone when sick, he clearly falls first. ITS ALL THERE.
Overall this was fun, I just wanted quite a bit more from it!

[Jessica Bookbestiejessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a “pulls you in” type of read for me. I loved the beginning scene with the masquerade party. I love a powerful and self assured FMC and Maggie is 100% that girl, she is brilliant and brave. I am such a sucker for forced prox and this book had plenty of scenes with that 😈 in many different ways. I also liked the magic terms were easy to understand as someone who doesn’t know a lot of lingo and terminology. Also LOVE PLUS SIZE REPRESENTATION! 🫶🏻

[Maria P · Rating 4 out of 5]

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
A dreamy light-academia fantasy perfect for readers looking for escalating romantic chemistry, an intriguing mystery that adds to the tension, and developing main characters who are incapable of controlling their yearning.

° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
4.25 ⭐
2 🌶️

° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"Look out for yourself, but, more importantly, hold out a hand for the people coming up behind you."

"Please," he said, unafraid of the desperation in his voice. "Let me see all of you."

Like every other moment since he'd waltzed into her life, Arthur Taliesin was currently making Maggie's life difficult.

Maggie was choosing Arthur, and Arthur had long ago chosen her.

° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
When the college that incantations professor Maggie teaches at has budget cuts, she’s forced to share her office with brooding Alchemist Taliesin. An experiment gone wrong means they must work together to save their school.

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
💘 Reluctant Allies to Lovers
📚 Light Academia
😠 Grumpy x Grumpy
🔗 Forced Proximity
🏢 Workplace Romance
🪪 Hidden Identity (ish - masquerade)
⛺ Camping Together
➕ Plus Size Rep

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
🪦 Grief of Loved Ones
💼 Relationship Baggage

° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Exciting Opening
+ Tension-Fueled Story
+ Dreamy MMC
+ Romantic Escalation
+ Lots of Chemisry + Spice
+ Engaging Mystery

° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- FMC added her own conflict
- MMC passive at times
- Slight Miscommunication

° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
I was so excited to jump into a light academia read! Previously, I've read darker and it's never quite hit but turns out I was just missing the cosy vibe! Don't get me wrong, there are scary and dark moments, but the lightheartedness of the entire book really satisfied me.

The first scene in the book at the beltane festival absolutely had me HOOKED! It immediately gave me the magical mysterious setting and introduced me to Maggie, her best friend, and (unbeknownst to her) Arthur, her colleague. Arthur was so incredibly dreamy and the night in general was perfect! The pair just felt like the best fit.

I ended up devouring this read because there was so much filling the pages! After the ball, there's an alchemy emergency on the campus she teaches at and the drama doesn't really slow down from there. I loved how the tension kept escalating throughout (both romantically and otherwise), and didn't want to put the book down!

When we finally get to the spice, it's so yummy! They just have the perfect chemistry and watching their moments come alive on the page was intense! Though there was a part of me that was a little frustrated with how Maggie dealt with these changes. Of course she has baggage from a terrible ex, but one of the main conflicts in the last third was a self-imposed deadline that just seemed a bit flimsy.

I would've loved Arthur to be a bit more forthright with what he wanted rather than just going along with Maggie in those moments, but he more than made up for it at the end. Also, the fact that both characters had found out the identity about their partner at the festival and refused to mention it for a significant amount of time was slightly frustrating for the reader.

However, I didn't mind so much because I simply loved Maggie and Arthur's dynamic! Their relationship was wonderful to watch develop and by the end I genuinely didn't know how it would resolve!

Thank you to Leslie René and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Blair Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a forced proximity coworker romance. We have Maggie and Arthur who are both professors and when Arthur lets loose a dangerous haunting magic and basically condemns the building he was working out of they end up sharing an office while he tries to figure out how to take care of it. Also, a little loop thrown into it. at the beginning of the book there is Beltane and during this Maggie ends up kissing a masked strangers...guess who! In the end Maggie, a linguist, and Arthur, an alchemist end up working together to fix everything and make it right as rain.
I loved it it was a fun read. The chemistry between the is great and it is definitely a "he falls first" romance. Maggie is so against them sharing an office...specifically with him. She wouldn't have cared if it was someone else. But she refuses to give up anything to him and that made me laugh. She totally has a chip on her shoulder because she believes he is behind her losing funds to her program. I also love when they text her full name including PhD is on there. She is basically sunshine with everyone else and he is defiantly a grump character. It is more of a cozy type romance. It is slow burn and when we get to the burn part. OH the side is very nice. For a debut I think it is very solid and I really enjoyed my time with it. Will definitely read another book by Leslie Renè.
Thank you to Berkley for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[gasbolina · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a scene in David Lynch's Lost Highway where This Magic Moment by Lou Reed plays, that does an incredible job at capturing the spark of that, well, magic moment of instant attraction. This book has nothing do to with Lost Highway, or David Lynch, but I had that song stuck in my head from the first chapter all the way to the end.

What if you were instantly drawn to someone you didn't know? What if there was a spell that prevented you from remembering who they were? What if, despite all of that, you found them, not by chance, but because you were already orbiting each other's lives? Even better, what if this was someone you absolutely despised?

One-sided grudge to lovers is buzzy as hell, I don't know what else to tell you! Twice Shy Maggie's careful reluctance vs Pro Yearner Arthur's unending desire is a classic case of an immovable object meeting an unstoppable force, and I ate it up. I wanted to bite and shake this book several times, but it sure was sweeter than wine, softer than a summer's night.


Thank you to Michael Joseph at Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the arc, and to Leslie René for the whimsy!

[Yoldine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to read an early version of this and it absolutely delivered on everything promised. Set on a magical University campus with a surrounding area that reminds me of the Maryland/Virginia coast the atmosphere is perfect for coziness and spooky vibes. Arthur is a grump of a man with a brain too big for his humble spirit haplessly trying to wade through the politics of academia. And Maggie has every reason to be wary of men in the field (men in general let’s be honest because when aren’t they fucking up?!). When Leslie brings them together is everything you’d want in a fantasy-set romance where the magic is more than just the goblins and ghouls that could be in your local pub’s basement.

[readcomolaflor · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Never has a book edged me on so hard and for so long... okay that's dramatic but truly the tension in this book was so delicious I couldn't help but sit through almost 70% of this story with pent up frustration and the urge to yell at the main characters to JUST KISS ALREADY.

Maggie and Arthur are two idiots who fall in love although ironically they are actually very smart (and hot) professors in a science-like magical college where they must share one office *wink* and say things like "I've read all your research" as a form of flirting.

This genre bending story has a bit of romance, fantasy, and academia elements that make for a cozy read with a banter-filled romance (including a male lead who loves it when the fmc is a little mean to him) and a significant focus on academia politics and women in STEM.

Although I saw the third act conflict coming from miles away, it didn't deter me from thoroughly enjoying Maggie and Arthur's Magical Moment. It also wasn't the book I thought I would read during the summer but it really got me into the hoa hoa hoa autumnal vibe, and now I need 100+ degree Texas weather to end expeditiously.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced reader copy!

This was a cute, cozy fantasy romance with an interesting magic system, a likable cast, and a university setting that was easy to settle into. Maggie was an easy heroine to root for, and I enjoyed watching her and Arthur navigate both the mystery surrounding the pall and the growing tension between them. Their forced proximity and slow-building relationship definitely kept me invested.

The magic itself was one of my favorite parts of the story. I liked learning how it all worked, and the looming threat over the university gave the plot enough mystery to keep me turning the pages early on.

Where this one lost me was the pacing. It felt much longer than it needed to be, and once the initial excitement wore off, the middle started to drag. The story became a little repetitive, with similar conversations and misunderstandings that made it feel like we were circling the same points instead of moving forward. I found myself wishing the plot had been tightened up because I think it would have made the stronger moments shine even more.

Overall, I enjoyed the concept more than the execution, but there’s still a lot to like here. If you enjoy cozy fantasy romances with magical academia, slow-burn romance, and an approachable magic system, I think this one will find its audience. It just wasn’t quite as magical for me as I had hoped.

[Eri · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ | A perfect blend of magic, adventure, academia, and romance

When a dangerous spell goes awry and wreaks havoc on campus, Linguistics and Incantation Translation professor Maggie Linden is forced to share her tiny office with alchemy professor Arthur Taliesin. Known for his arrogance and famous family name, he’s the last person she wants to share space with. As they work together to rid the campus of dangerous magic, however, she finds that there may be more to Arthur than his reputation suggests.

I loved this book, which was the perfect blend of magic, adventure, academia, and romance. As a linguist myself, I loved having a linguistics professor FMC, and the idea of a magic system rooted in language and academic study was so cool. René does an excellent job of developing the world, and this was a world I would not mind spending some time in, from the wonderful characters, fascinating fields of study, charming town, to delicious-sounding food.

This is a delightful debut, and I am so excited for this book to be out in the world for more readers to enjoy. I will definitely be reading whatever Leslie René writes next!

Huge thank you to Berkley Romance and Leslie René for the advanced copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Christie-Anne Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! A fun read!

[Megan Bresson · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY CHEMISTRY, BATMAN! Let me just say, I would read 10 more books about Maggie and Arthur. I love them. I love them individually. I love them together. They are precious and I will protect (and promote) them with my full heart.

I love that from the moment the book starts there is absolutely NO QUESTION who the mystery Beltane man is. Leslie wastes no time even TEASING some potential third party, which was a genius and appreciated decision because that allows the storytelling to focus on Maggie and Arthur. The development of their relationship, the growth through the chapters, was outstanding. Miscommunication can be a hit or miss trope for me, but I love was Leslie has done here. Our characters are both so in their heads. They ARE communicating, they just aren't saying the right things or being forthright enough. It is delicious.

The yearning here, from BOTH parties, is incredible. Arthur especially, because he falls so hard SO FAST. He knows he is so down bad, but he is still so respectful of her and what he believes her feelings are. He thinks she HATES him and he still brought her little gifts just to make her happy.

On top of Maggie and Arthur's relationship, we also have outstanding examples of adult friendship, a sibling relationship, and parental relationships. Rory is precious, Simon even more so. If I can't have more of Arthur and Maggie I would 1000% read a book about Rory and Dahlia...

And HELLO, PLOT. MAGIC COLLEGE. And there's no silly wand waving. We're talking alchemy, runes, and botany. Nature and language. My favorite kind of magic to read about. I love the peek into academia we get in MAAMM. It felt like a genuine and realistic look into how women are treated in academia. The magical incident that Maggie and Arthur spend the summer working on was cleverly crafted and delightfully written. The pall is no sub-plot and isn't just there as an afterthought. I was just as invested in their research as their relationship, and I was VERY satisfied with the ending for both.

I am so so so excited to see what Leslie Rene writes next. Maggie and Arthur's Magic Moment is an absolute must read for anyone who likes a little magic with their romance, and especially anyone who wants more romance with MCs in their mid-30s!

Thank you to Berkley's Influencer Hub for Underrepresented Voices for this e-ARC. I am incredibly grateful to read stories like this.

[Andrea G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I don’t think this book knew exactly what it wanted to be. The cheesy title and cover art made me go in with “witchy romcom” expectations and although there were certainly moments those were met— with swoony masked meetings on a moonlit Beltane beach, for instance— but then suddenly, there would be a heavy emphasis on world-building the runic and linguistic lore leaning into light academia— and now, we’re fighting ghouls in a college town bar like an urban paranormal— I’m not trying to say that authors can’t deliberately write genre blends, but I don’t necessarily want to feel like I can see the seams of where they’ve been stitched together, as was the case here.

In reading the acknowledgements (yes, I’m that person) I wonder how much of that came down to editorial influence: “To my editor … for asking that very important question on day one: ‘What if we added more magic?’” Perhaps that first draft had more of a cozy contemporary romance vibe and then *MORE* was added. Perhaps that’s why this book also felt about 100 pages too long…

To clarify, I did not hate read this book. There were moments I really enjoyed myself where the humor landed and the characters charmed me (“I went to the library and read some of your research.” “Stop, this might be the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me.”) and honestly, the spicy scenes were pretty hot, but there were just so many times the pacing of this story felt uneven, both plot-wise and romance-wise.

This is a debut, so I would read from this author again, but I hope she finds her footing in future books, and chooses to embrace one particular genre rather than attempting to juggle so many.

[Kara Wiltrout · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

If "Love, Theoretically" was put into a blender with "The Kiss Curse", you might end up with something like this.

-Two professors
-She kinda hates him & thinks he doesn't respect her work
-Small college town with spooky vibes
-Magically influenced attraction?

Maggie & Arthur must come together to save the town from a magical danger he created. In doing so, they are forced to evaluate their growing feelings.

This book goes deep into the magical lore, complete with a glossary. I appreciate the magical aspects being as fleshed out as they were. I'm always interested in witches and academia. I would have liked to see a bit more danger from the pall, like a banshee on campus or something. We are told it's hugely dangerous, but there's minimal impact letting it sit for weeks and weeks.

I liked all the characters but Maggie & Arthur as a couple didn't always grip me, though they are both good people. Lack of communication is major in the story, and they can both be a tad dramatic at times. The resolution around their careers was unexpected but at the same time made perfect sense.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley/Ace for the early access!

[dessie*₊⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the magical academic setting and the day to day professor life. That and Arthur. Sorry but I love when a story gives you this accomplished intimating man and just .. makes him kinda pathetic. I enjoyed that he was called out pretty much at every opportunity and always took it in stride. Cheesy to say but I liked him more for his imperfections. There was a subtle calmness to his characterization that worked well for me.
It doesn’t please me to praise a male character and not the female main character, so let it be known I did like Maggie too. On the flip side I love that she stood up for herself at every opportunity, even though towards the end some of her inner conflict got old.
A little too long for me, but that’s a common and probably more ‘me’ issue. I just think contemporary romances ( ? albeit magical in this case, still feels contemporary) sometimes get to a point where I’ve gotten all I can out of them but there’s still like an hour left in the story.
Give me some more hawthorn professor romances and I’ll eat ‘em up, though.

[Jennifer (novels_and_daydreams) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚗️Professors at a magical university, Arthur and Maggie are colleagues who must work together to repair a fissure to the underworld that Arthur inadvertently created with a spell gone horribly wrong. As their work progresses they realize they’ve shared a passionate moment together before and a romantic entanglement ensues.

I was absolutely mesmerized by this stellar debut. The world building, the banter, the magic, the angst—all absolutely captivating. Written in third person, dual POV, René did a superb job of creating an alternate magical world centered on alchemy, potions, and rune magic that also seems modern and realistic, with cozy vibes and a Scottish setting. The fissure they are struggling to repair and its subsequent pall added an otherworldly element and a gratifying sense of apprehension to the work as a whole.

The emotional connection between Arthur and Maggie was almost palpable with a slow burn tension that built as they found their way into each other’s arms. Their snark, sharp wit, and intelligence mixed with a gentle playfulness, open vulnerability, and exceptional spice had me absolutely melting into a puddle of pall slime. More than just romantic archetypes, they complete each other with a rare and magical devotion. Theirs was the kind of earth shattering love that only soulmates can share and I loved every moment of their journey there.

✅ Check this one out if you love a spicy, super slow burn, enemies to lovers paranormal romance with a nerdy professor MMC and a goal oriented FMC with emotional baggage. Pairs well with a coffee and pastry after work.

[Martina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted ARC!

This one was a bit of a mixed read for me. I really liked the idea and there were parts I enjoyed a lot, but overall it felt a little slower and I did start to lose interest a bit in the middle.

I liked Maggie as a main character. She’s determined, a little chaotic, and easy to root for, especially paired with Arthur. Their forced proximity setup after the magical accident was one of the stronger parts for me, especially early on when everything still felt fresh and tense between them.

I also liked the magic system and the university setting, and the idea behind the “pall” affecting the school was interesting. I just think the pacing in the middle started to feel a bit repetitive, which made it harder for me to stay fully engaged.

That said, I did still enjoy watching Maggie and Arthur figure each other out. Even when it felt like things were a little circular, their dynamic kept me going.

Overall, I liked the concept more than the execution, but it was still an interesting read with a solid setup.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 Stars

Thank you to Berkley/Ace for providing me with an arc and a finished copy.

Maggie and Arthur’s Magic Moment is a cozy slow burn romance in an academia setting with an interesting world and magic system. Overall the romance was cute and I really did enjoy the world and magic systems.

Maggie goes to a Beltane celebration to burn off some steam and kisses a stranger she can’t get out of her head but also can’t remember due to a spell. When Arthur has a spell go wrong rendering part of their academic building uninhabitable, he has to move into Maggie’s office for the remainder of the year. Willing to do anything to get Arthur out of her office Maggie offers her assistance in reversing the damage of the spell. But as time goes on Arthur and Maggie realize maybe what they thought they knew about each other isn’t entirely true.

I do recommend this one if you are looking for a cozy slow burn romance set at a magic college with an interesting magic system and world.