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There's Magic Between Us
A diehard city girl, 16-year-old Lydia Barnes is reluctant to spend a week in her grandma’s small town. But hidden beneath Fairbrooke’s exterior of shoddy diners and empty farms, there’s a forest that calls to her. In it, she meets Eden: blunt, focused, and fascinating. She claims to be hunting fae treasure, and while Lydia laughs it off at first, it quickly becomes obvious that Eden’s not joking—magic is real.
Lydia joins the treasure hunt, thrilled by all the things it offers her. Things like endless places in the forest to explore and a friendship with Eden that threatens to blossom into something more. But even as she throws herself into her new adventure, some questions linger. Why did her mom keep magic a secret? Why do most of the townspeople act like the forest is evil? It seems that, as much as Lydia would like to pretend otherwise, not everything in Fairbrooke is as bright and easy as a new crush…
Lydia joins the treasure hunt, thrilled by all the things it offers her. Things like endless places in the forest to explore and a friendship with Eden that threatens to blossom into something more. But even as she throws herself into her new adventure, some questions linger. Why did her mom keep magic a secret? Why do most of the townspeople act like the forest is evil? It seems that, as much as Lydia would like to pretend otherwise, not everything in Fairbrooke is as bright and easy as a new crush…
324 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2021
10 people are currently reading
2229 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Maria
6 books54 followersJillian Maria enjoys tea, pretty dresses, and ripping out pieces of herself to put in her novels. She writes the books she wants to read, prominently featuring women who are like her in some way or another. A great lover of horror, thriller and mystery novels, most of her stories have some of her own fears lurking in the margins. When she isn’t willing imaginary people into existence, she’s pursuing a career in public relations and content marketing. A Michigan native, Jillian spends what little free time she has hanging out with her friends, reading too much, singing along to musical numbers, and doting on her cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
June 27, 2021
4.5⭐️ – When she told her grandma she hoped to visit soon, sixteen-year-old Lydia meant it in a polite way, not in an I’ll-be-there-next-week way. Her grandmother was so happy though that when her mother drives her from Chicago to the tiny town of Fairbrooke, Wisconsin, Lydia vows to make the most of the week. Even without other people her age, even without wifi and with crappy cell service. Despite everything her mother – who couldn’t leave town fast enough – told her about the forest next to her grandmother’s property, Lydia can’t help being curious. The woods don’t look as dangerous as her mom insisted and she feels strangely safe there. When she meets Eden, a mysterious girl her age, who invites Lydia to join her on a treasure hunt in the forest, the week suddenly looks a lot more exciting.
I don’t know what I expected when I opened this book but it kept surprising me. It’s told in first person from Lydia’s point of view and I simply loved her. She’s both your typical teenager and not. She’s a rebel and she’s kind, she’s fierce and impulsive, she’s sassy, she’s flawed, she’s adorable. She’s out and proud and definitely not afraid of being loud about it… until a pretty girl catches her attention. She then has unexpectedly shy moments and she’s terribly cute. She’s the kind of well-adjusted girl (despite what others might think) who says stuff like “And okay, she’s super cute and I’m a useless pansexual who sort of likes the idea of helping a damsel in distress” and how could you not love her? The chapter titles sum up her thoughts in the most perfect way. They’re funny and loud.
There’s Magic Between Us begins as a light YA story, funny in a sarcastic kind of way, full of energy and enthusiasm. Pretty soon, Lydia – and the reader with her – realises that things aren’t what they seem at all. Keeping an open mind when you’re a blasé teenager is easier said than done, but Lydia soon learns that magic is real and that Eden’s treasure hunt is a lot more serious and a lot more dangerous than she expected.
The story gets darker and darker, progressively. Fear not, there’s a happy ending. To get there though, Lydia and Eden will have to be strong, smart and brave.
I don’t want to say too much about Eden, it would be easy to spoil, and I loved being surprised. Suffice it to say I liked her character a lot. The single POV makes sense for this story but I would love to know more about how she feels about everything. If the author ever decides to write a sequel to this book, maybe it could be told from her side. Lydia and Eden also have this way of talking about things that feels so normal and yet mature but not unbelievably so.
Among the secondary characters, my favourites are Lydia’s grandmother, her mother (I would have loved a bit more of her too) and the genderfluid fae I won’t discuss further because, again, spoilers.
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. I liked the style, the tone, the pace and, most of all, the characters. When I finished reading, I was going to give this book 4⭐️ because it’s really good. But now, two days later, as I reread this review, I realise how much I love Lydia, even more than I thought while reading. I’d love to read more in her voice. So I guess that’s more than just really good. Maybe I’m overrating it a little, maybe I’m not. Read the book, decide for yourself.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I don’t know what I expected when I opened this book but it kept surprising me. It’s told in first person from Lydia’s point of view and I simply loved her. She’s both your typical teenager and not. She’s a rebel and she’s kind, she’s fierce and impulsive, she’s sassy, she’s flawed, she’s adorable. She’s out and proud and definitely not afraid of being loud about it… until a pretty girl catches her attention. She then has unexpectedly shy moments and she’s terribly cute. She’s the kind of well-adjusted girl (despite what others might think) who says stuff like “And okay, she’s super cute and I’m a useless pansexual who sort of likes the idea of helping a damsel in distress” and how could you not love her? The chapter titles sum up her thoughts in the most perfect way. They’re funny and loud.
There’s Magic Between Us begins as a light YA story, funny in a sarcastic kind of way, full of energy and enthusiasm. Pretty soon, Lydia – and the reader with her – realises that things aren’t what they seem at all. Keeping an open mind when you’re a blasé teenager is easier said than done, but Lydia soon learns that magic is real and that Eden’s treasure hunt is a lot more serious and a lot more dangerous than she expected.
The story gets darker and darker, progressively. Fear not, there’s a happy ending. To get there though, Lydia and Eden will have to be strong, smart and brave.
I don’t want to say too much about Eden, it would be easy to spoil, and I loved being surprised. Suffice it to say I liked her character a lot. The single POV makes sense for this story but I would love to know more about how she feels about everything. If the author ever decides to write a sequel to this book, maybe it could be told from her side. Lydia and Eden also have this way of talking about things that feels so normal and yet mature but not unbelievably so.
Among the secondary characters, my favourites are Lydia’s grandmother, her mother (I would have loved a bit more of her too) and the genderfluid fae I won’t discuss further because, again, spoilers.
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. I liked the style, the tone, the pace and, most of all, the characters. When I finished reading, I was going to give this book 4⭐️ because it’s really good. But now, two days later, as I reread this review, I realise how much I love Lydia, even more than I thought while reading. I’d love to read more in her voice. So I guess that’s more than just really good. Maybe I’m overrating it a little, maybe I’m not. Read the book, decide for yourself.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2021
There’s Magic Between Us is a fun summery novel full of nostalgia, secrets and magic. Following two girls searching for faerie treasure only to discover so much more, this book deals with family relationships, hidden pasts and the power of love, as well as a sweet sapphic romance.
I adore books that feature just a hint of magic in a world just like our own and the setting of There’s Magic Between Us did not disappoint. The atmosphere of the woods and its little oddities was a joy to read and I loved seeing our main characters explore all of its hidden corners. There was a nostalgic, whimsical quality to the magic which I just adored. I also really enjoyed reading about the faeries – feral, curel faeries always make for an interesting adversary.
I had worried that with Lydia only being in town for a week there wouldn’t be enough time to properly develop the relationship with Eden, our love interest, and that it would feel a bit like insta love. However, this didn’t prove to be a problem and I really enjoyed reading about the development of their relationship. Their wee dates exploring different bits of the forest were really sweet and whimsical. They also faced some pretty unique complications and hurdles but I felt that they only made them stronger in the end.
There’s nothing I can really pinpoint as disliking about this book to make me give it three stars, the truth is that I just didn’t fully connect to it and found myself bored at times. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t very memorable. Additionally, although I enjoyed reading about our feisty, spunky main character, she was sometimes a bit over the top and ridiculous which made her difficult to connect with.
There’s Magic Between Us is a whimsical tale of first love and hidden pasts, of secrets and magic. With a fiery pansexual main character and sweet sapphic love interest, this book is perfect for fans of subtle magics, cruel faeries and summery romances.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*Thank you Jillian Maria for a review copy. This has not affected my review.*
I adore books that feature just a hint of magic in a world just like our own and the setting of There’s Magic Between Us did not disappoint. The atmosphere of the woods and its little oddities was a joy to read and I loved seeing our main characters explore all of its hidden corners. There was a nostalgic, whimsical quality to the magic which I just adored. I also really enjoyed reading about the faeries – feral, curel faeries always make for an interesting adversary.
I had worried that with Lydia only being in town for a week there wouldn’t be enough time to properly develop the relationship with Eden, our love interest, and that it would feel a bit like insta love. However, this didn’t prove to be a problem and I really enjoyed reading about the development of their relationship. Their wee dates exploring different bits of the forest were really sweet and whimsical. They also faced some pretty unique complications and hurdles but I felt that they only made them stronger in the end.
There’s nothing I can really pinpoint as disliking about this book to make me give it three stars, the truth is that I just didn’t fully connect to it and found myself bored at times. Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t very memorable. Additionally, although I enjoyed reading about our feisty, spunky main character, she was sometimes a bit over the top and ridiculous which made her difficult to connect with.
There’s Magic Between Us is a whimsical tale of first love and hidden pasts, of secrets and magic. With a fiery pansexual main character and sweet sapphic love interest, this book is perfect for fans of subtle magics, cruel faeries and summery romances.
I also talk about books here: youtube | instagram | twitter
*Thank you Jillian Maria for a review copy. This has not affected my review.*
July 6, 2021
3.5/5 Stars
I absolutely adore queer books about fae, so when I was given the opportunity for an ARC of There's Magic Between Us, of course I jumped! This is a sweet, nostalgic tale following Lydia who, while visiting her grandmother whom she hasn't seen for years, finds herself drawn into the forest that her mother has always told her is dark and dangerous. But when Lydia steps foot in the forest, she finds it to be anything but. However, when she stumbles and almost plummets several metres into a river, a hand helps her back up - a hand belonging to Eden, a girl who is hunting a mysterious fae treasure in the woods.
The premise of this was a lot of fun. There was a clear plot regarding the treasure hunt and I loved the sweet romance woven throughout. Though the book takes place over a week, I didn't feel like Lydia was rushing into anything - it reminded me of making friends at campsites on family holidays and the sweet yet inevitably short excitement of finding a new crush there. I also really enjoyed how Jillian Maria wrote the fae in her book - I love when fae are nasty, cruel and are determined to trick humans, and I think combined with their general grotesqueness, it all worked so well! And of course, the setting of the forest was so lush and detailed, I felt like I was hunting for the treasure alongside them!
The one thing I didn't love about the book was the main character Lydia. Most of the time I did really enjoy her feistiness and how her and Eden complimented each other personality-wise, but there were quite a few occasions in which I found it to be almost ridiculously over the top. From verbally harassing elderly strangers(okay, it was kinda warranted but still...) to the real brashness of her personality, it just threw me right out of the story because it felt just a bit silly!
But overall, I really loved the vibes of this book and the storytelling reminded me of the YA fantasy I grew up with in the best sense! And of course, the sapphic romance was just so sweet! I can't wait to read more by Jillian Maria in the future!!
Thanks to the author for an eARC in return for an honest review!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
I absolutely adore queer books about fae, so when I was given the opportunity for an ARC of There's Magic Between Us, of course I jumped! This is a sweet, nostalgic tale following Lydia who, while visiting her grandmother whom she hasn't seen for years, finds herself drawn into the forest that her mother has always told her is dark and dangerous. But when Lydia steps foot in the forest, she finds it to be anything but. However, when she stumbles and almost plummets several metres into a river, a hand helps her back up - a hand belonging to Eden, a girl who is hunting a mysterious fae treasure in the woods.
The premise of this was a lot of fun. There was a clear plot regarding the treasure hunt and I loved the sweet romance woven throughout. Though the book takes place over a week, I didn't feel like Lydia was rushing into anything - it reminded me of making friends at campsites on family holidays and the sweet yet inevitably short excitement of finding a new crush there. I also really enjoyed how Jillian Maria wrote the fae in her book - I love when fae are nasty, cruel and are determined to trick humans, and I think combined with their general grotesqueness, it all worked so well! And of course, the setting of the forest was so lush and detailed, I felt like I was hunting for the treasure alongside them!
The one thing I didn't love about the book was the main character Lydia. Most of the time I did really enjoy her feistiness and how her and Eden complimented each other personality-wise, but there were quite a few occasions in which I found it to be almost ridiculously over the top. From verbally harassing elderly strangers(okay, it was kinda warranted but still...) to the real brashness of her personality, it just threw me right out of the story because it felt just a bit silly!
But overall, I really loved the vibes of this book and the storytelling reminded me of the YA fantasy I grew up with in the best sense! And of course, the sapphic romance was just so sweet! I can't wait to read more by Jillian Maria in the future!!
Thanks to the author for an eARC in return for an honest review!
Want more sapphic books? You can find me here: Book Blog | Twitter | Instagram
July 6, 2021
God forbid anyone assumes I’m heterosexual.
Fiery pansexual disaster with too much energy! Magical woods! Faeries!
Lydia Barnes (16, pansexual) spends a week with her grandmother at Fairbrooke. Her mother hates the town and the townspeople hate her. But Lydia’s grandmother is nice and there is a forest nearby that everyone tells her to avoid. So what will Lydia find if she set foot in the woods when her grandmother naps? Eden Yu (16, Chinese American) and lots of secrets.
It’s been a while since I had so much fun with a new read, but I did up my rating a bit just because I would have loved it even more had I been ten years younger, which is in the range of the targeted audience. I love Lydia, this prickly teen who would probably bite all her enemies. She has unbounded energy and will be quick to scale a wall when she can. The love interest Eden is more of a mysterious character. Who is this girl in the woods? Why is she trying to find those wood pieces?
You know how when you mix too many colors together, it turns into a mushy brown? That’s what my emotions are doing.
In some ways, this book reminds me of One Last Stop sans the queer found family (but there are other queer characters including a genderfluid side character): disaster m-spec main character, mysterious Chinese American love interest, and the mother-daughter bond. Yes, we need more books with chaotic queer people and magic and cuteness!
There are some heavier elements here and there, such as trapped humans, and facing ones desire and fear honestly. Overall, though, Lydia’s week-long adventure was both sweet and exciting. Oh, and Lydia lives in Chicago, one of my favorite cities, so I am definitely biased.
Read this if you want a cute, chaotic queer YA fantasy with faeries. Note that there are no intimate scenes beyond kissing.
content warnings: teen pregnancy of side character (pedophilia???), bullying, kidnapping, arson
I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2021
I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a review, so here it is!
First, I literally devoured the whole book in one reading. The voice of this book? Unmatched. Unparalleled. I kept on sending quotes to my friends because I found them so fucking funny. To start with the title of Chapter 14, "Good to know a lack of heterosexuality runs in the family." BRILLIANT. Lydia is an amazingly voicy and FUN narrator and I'd read a whole series with her at the MC in a heartbeat.
She's also a really compelling and fun main character, who takes rash decisions and dives into things head first and takes everything in stride. It's never STATED that she has ADHD but she.... 100% has ADHD. I love it. From her spur on the moment decisions to her moods and the way she deals with everything, she's extremely fun and interesting and endearing. She's messy and flawed and so very human it's an absolute pleasure to see her grow into a better, more mature person through the various events of the book. She's impulsive and sassy and I love her for it. She strikes a good balance between spunky and endearing: I was never annoyed at her flaws or her antics, because she just felt like... a normal ADHD teen with problems and emotions and stuff, and also because her voice is just so fun and original.
Her romance with Eden??? 10/10. Eden is such a good balance for Lydia: calm and composed, more withdrawn and a little socially awkward and it's such a delight to see them interact and banter and grow to like each other. I loved seeing Eden's first reaction to Lydia (pure confusion) gradually turn into real fondness, to see Eden opening to Lydia little by little as they meet up and go on adventures together. They really are ADORABLE together and I truly love that they don't shove the issues that come up under the rug. They DEAL with the stuff, eventually. It's part of the plot itself. The romance truly weaves itself into the adventure plot, because it's Lydia's interest in Eden or feelings about Eden, good or bad, that spurs her to do things or move the plot into a certain way. TMBU has an amazing balance/combo of adventure and romance which means I wanted the characters to get to the end of the plot AND to get together at the same time. They also have plenty of little moments together that further their relationship and might not further the plot itself, but allow for exposition or character development (and definitely serve the romance development).
The pacing itself might seem like it starts slow because of that, but the beginning is still filled with adventures - not necessarily action, but adventures and shenanigans that also teach you more about the characters, their lives, and the city and history of Fairbrooke and its magic. I honestly thought it was really well-done and kept on reading and reading just because... I wanted to see more of the characters together and see where everything was going to go. I read the whole book in one sitting even though I wanted to go to sleep after the midpoint so.... yeah, the pacing's definitely good in my opinion. TMBU is the opposite of boring. I let my eyes get dry for that book and I'd do it again *blinks furiously*.
I also loved the focus on family there is in TMBU, like Lydia's fierce protectiveness for her mom, or just... the relationship between Lydia and her grandma? I loved Dorothy as a grandmother, she's kind and determined and FUN and her relationship with Lydia is true friendship. There's no distance due to age or a generational gap, they're both close and complicit and I'm kinda happy to see that kind of relationship in books (especially as someone who is NOT close to her grandparents at all). It's just so interesting and sweet and leaves you with plenty of fuzzy family feeling. It's so nice to see this kind of same "found family" closeness with actual family? And there is family conflict but it's not about the relationship between its different members but what happened to them, the secrets they have, etc. They're all supportive of one another and pushing one another forward. Overall I loved the positive family relationship and the importance it has in the book.
TMBU is such a fun, endearing and compelling book I can only recommend it. It has sweet, tropey, piney (and interracial because Eden is Asian!) sapphic romance, the most amazing voice ever, plenty of adventures and events to keep you hooked, interesting characters and great character dynamics. It's also great ADHD rep and has lot of queer stuff... and lots of queer jokes. The amount of queer jokes IS a selling point. Like find yourself another book that includes the quotes:
"I do my best not to put the pan in panic"
"Does she mean that in a gay way?"
"I'm a useless pansexual who sort of likes the idea of helping a damsel in distress. Sue me."
"It's enough to turn me into a queer conspiracy theorist."
So please treat yourself and give TMBU a read: I promise you won't regret it.
First, I literally devoured the whole book in one reading. The voice of this book? Unmatched. Unparalleled. I kept on sending quotes to my friends because I found them so fucking funny. To start with the title of Chapter 14, "Good to know a lack of heterosexuality runs in the family." BRILLIANT. Lydia is an amazingly voicy and FUN narrator and I'd read a whole series with her at the MC in a heartbeat.
She's also a really compelling and fun main character, who takes rash decisions and dives into things head first and takes everything in stride. It's never STATED that she has ADHD but she.... 100% has ADHD. I love it. From her spur on the moment decisions to her moods and the way she deals with everything, she's extremely fun and interesting and endearing. She's messy and flawed and so very human it's an absolute pleasure to see her grow into a better, more mature person through the various events of the book. She's impulsive and sassy and I love her for it. She strikes a good balance between spunky and endearing: I was never annoyed at her flaws or her antics, because she just felt like... a normal ADHD teen with problems and emotions and stuff, and also because her voice is just so fun and original.
Her romance with Eden??? 10/10. Eden is such a good balance for Lydia: calm and composed, more withdrawn and a little socially awkward and it's such a delight to see them interact and banter and grow to like each other. I loved seeing Eden's first reaction to Lydia (pure confusion) gradually turn into real fondness, to see Eden opening to Lydia little by little as they meet up and go on adventures together. They really are ADORABLE together and I truly love that they don't shove the issues that come up under the rug. They DEAL with the stuff, eventually. It's part of the plot itself. The romance truly weaves itself into the adventure plot, because it's Lydia's interest in Eden or feelings about Eden, good or bad, that spurs her to do things or move the plot into a certain way. TMBU has an amazing balance/combo of adventure and romance which means I wanted the characters to get to the end of the plot AND to get together at the same time. They also have plenty of little moments together that further their relationship and might not further the plot itself, but allow for exposition or character development (and definitely serve the romance development).
The pacing itself might seem like it starts slow because of that, but the beginning is still filled with adventures - not necessarily action, but adventures and shenanigans that also teach you more about the characters, their lives, and the city and history of Fairbrooke and its magic. I honestly thought it was really well-done and kept on reading and reading just because... I wanted to see more of the characters together and see where everything was going to go. I read the whole book in one sitting even though I wanted to go to sleep after the midpoint so.... yeah, the pacing's definitely good in my opinion. TMBU is the opposite of boring. I let my eyes get dry for that book and I'd do it again *blinks furiously*.
I also loved the focus on family there is in TMBU, like Lydia's fierce protectiveness for her mom, or just... the relationship between Lydia and her grandma? I loved Dorothy as a grandmother, she's kind and determined and FUN and her relationship with Lydia is true friendship. There's no distance due to age or a generational gap, they're both close and complicit and I'm kinda happy to see that kind of relationship in books (especially as someone who is NOT close to her grandparents at all). It's just so interesting and sweet and leaves you with plenty of fuzzy family feeling. It's so nice to see this kind of same "found family" closeness with actual family? And there is family conflict but it's not about the relationship between its different members but what happened to them, the secrets they have, etc. They're all supportive of one another and pushing one another forward. Overall I loved the positive family relationship and the importance it has in the book.
TMBU is such a fun, endearing and compelling book I can only recommend it. It has sweet, tropey, piney (and interracial because Eden is Asian!) sapphic romance, the most amazing voice ever, plenty of adventures and events to keep you hooked, interesting characters and great character dynamics. It's also great ADHD rep and has lot of queer stuff... and lots of queer jokes. The amount of queer jokes IS a selling point. Like find yourself another book that includes the quotes:
"I do my best not to put the pan in panic"
"Does she mean that in a gay way?"
"I'm a useless pansexual who sort of likes the idea of helping a damsel in distress. Sue me."
"It's enough to turn me into a queer conspiracy theorist."
So please treat yourself and give TMBU a read: I promise you won't regret it.
June 8, 2022
4 stars. I couldn’t stand the main character, Lydia and she never did grow on me by the end. She was too much ‘edgy, angry teen’ for me and I couldn’t deal with it. She was annoying as hell.
However, it was everything else about this book that made this a four star read for me. The plot in this was so much fun and I really loved the side characters. Particularly, Lydia’s mom, grandmother, and Eden who is the love interest. They were all great. Eden was so likable and I think she really balanced out Lydia’s brash and abrasive attitude. Their romance was really cute and had such a sweet innocence to it. They were adorable together.
The plot kept me intrigued from the moment Lydia first encounters the magical forest and it just got better from there. The writing in this was really good and it’s paced really well. There was never a dull moment for me. There were some great action scenes, I loved the mystery and myths surrounding the forest, and the family aspect in this was so well done. Everything wrapped up well and I genuinely had such a good time reading this book. It was a very fun read and I’m interested in reading more by this author.
However, it was everything else about this book that made this a four star read for me. The plot in this was so much fun and I really loved the side characters. Particularly, Lydia’s mom, grandmother, and Eden who is the love interest. They were all great. Eden was so likable and I think she really balanced out Lydia’s brash and abrasive attitude. Their romance was really cute and had such a sweet innocence to it. They were adorable together.
The plot kept me intrigued from the moment Lydia first encounters the magical forest and it just got better from there. The writing in this was really good and it’s paced really well. There was never a dull moment for me. There were some great action scenes, I loved the mystery and myths surrounding the forest, and the family aspect in this was so well done. Everything wrapped up well and I genuinely had such a good time reading this book. It was a very fun read and I’m interested in reading more by this author.
June 30, 2021
There's Magic Between Us is such an adorable, fun read that's great to pick up when you need a break from heavier books. Everything in this was so cute, from the developing sapphic relationship to the family dynamic, I loved it all. This book was filled with so much magic. I'll be doing a longer review over on my blog soon, so keep an eye out!
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Follow me on my Blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Follow me on my Blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
October 2, 2022
3.5/5⭐️
I think I am too old for this one and it has fairies... I still don't like fae stories and surprise fae are :( for me.
But the characters are quite cute and yeay for sweet girlfriends.
I think I am too old for this one and it has fairies... I still don't like fae stories and surprise fae are :( for me.
But the characters are quite cute and yeay for sweet girlfriends.
July 4, 2021
This is a very sweet story surrounding a tough city girl visiting her grandmother for a week just to find out that magic is real and there's a really cute girl going on adventures in the woods near grandma's house. I loved the journeys, the slow reveals, and how the magic unfolded. I definitely recommend this for those looking for "is she sapphic, too?" panic, adventures, and a little magic in between.
I discuss my thoughts on this book in this BookTube wrap up.
I discuss my thoughts on this book in this BookTube wrap up.
July 31, 2021
Actual rating 3/5, adjusted for the sake of not bringing down the overall rating of the book, since it's an indie.
I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for a review. And here it is! Nearly a month late because I’m bad at time :)
This review contains no spoilers aside from stuff that you can probably assume from the blurb, such as the existence of the fae and magic. Duh. Anyway, onward!
So, I’m gonna be straight with you fam, not that I can be anything else, but to spare any potential author their feelings and maybe prevent them from reading the review, not that that would happen, I hope:
This book was not for me.
Now, that doesn’t mean it was bad. Far from it, I think it’s pretty much exactly what it’s advertised as and anyone who thinks they might enjoy it will defo enjoy it. It’s a polished work of art that’s professionally written and presented, on par with and often above a lot of traditionally published stuff, and if you want a fluffy magical sapphic YA romance, this is for you.
But it wasn’t for me. Or, at least, I don’t think I’m the target audience. I enjoyed reading it, don’t get me wrong, but my enjoyment was always lukewarm, like I wasn’t quite getting the full experience. And that’s more on me than the book.
I won’t structure this review the way I usually do, mainly because I feel like my problems with the book are all intertwined and stem from the same source, which is ... I’m not sure? Genre? Target audience? Intent? All of the above?
The writing still carries the same sort of easy-to-read style that was present in The Songbird’s Refrain, though the main characters’ voices are obviously vastly different.
Overall, I liked the writing on a technical level, and I’m once again impressed with the author’s ability to avoid swear words, though Lydia is a bit more of a potty-mouth than Elizabeth was.
Lydia has a clear personality and voice, and one of my problems is that maybe it was a little too clear at times.
I know how that sounds, but it could be a side effect of the book’s target audience being teens. Both Lydia and Eden have extremely defined and spelled-out character arcs. Lydia is too reckless and spontaneous and needs to chill, Eden is too chill and calculating and needs to let loose. A fine concept in theory, a good mirroring for a romance, but here, its execution feels a bit like a checklist? It’s basically spelled out for us how one influences the other, the character acknowledge their own flaws and at the end note how the other has changed them for the better, rounded them out. It didn’t feel very natural, and I thought it would’ve been better to leave that stuff implied since it was already pretty obvious.
It doesn’t help that both Lydia and Eden are far, far too mature for any sixteen-year-old I’ve ever met. They both recognize and acknowledge their feelings as irrational and apologize exactly for what they’ve done wrong, which sure, maybe is feel-good and a positive influence upon a teen reading this, but for me just felt a bit unrealistic. My favorite part of the book was when Lydia and Eden had a fight and Lydia stomped off all pissy and Eden refused to apologize later. It showed them being teens, individuals, idiots, flawed people who are growing up and learning to deal with their emotions. And then it’s somewhat undercut by them both having perfect apologies afterward where they know exactly what they did wrong just based on intuition? Like, complete with “here’s what I did wrong and why that was bad of me.” Idk, maybe JM was a better person as a teen than I was.
I really can’t say a lot about the other characters. The heroes of the story were all defined and had motivations and flaws of their own, while the antagonists were either a faceless mob, a faeceless mob (get it?), or just a dude who shows up in the last chapters and then is immediately dealt with. Compared to the antagonists in TSR, these guys felt a little underwhelming, so I know the author can do better but chose not to. They were set up from earlier in the story, of course, but their inclusion still felt a bit last-minute instead of a natural progression and integration into the fabric of the story.
And, again, I get it. This isn’t about the villains or that conflict. This is about the love story and the familial bonds and everything else comes after. Which is fine, but not something I personally found very compelling.
I think my favorite character was Eden, because she was cranky and awkward and flawed to a degree that felt right. She made mistakes but had her reasons, she was unlikable at times, and she felt grief and remorse.
I also liked Lydia’s mother, who, despite being in fear or pain for a lot of her on-page presence, still loved her daughter fiercely. She felt a lot like a real parent, even if her and Lydia’s relationship was a bit too saccharine for me to fully get behind.
Now let’s talk about the plot, or rather, the pacing, which was my other big problem with the book. The first third is very slow, my dudes. It may have contributed to why it took me so long to finish the book, a lot of it is just Lydia faffing about. The book is very light on magic stuff in the beginning, and it would’ve been fine if it didn’t do a whole 180 at the end and turned into a low-fantasy menacing mystery, complete with the vague threat of a human-fae war. I would’ve liked to have seen less Lydia and Eden faffing about and more of that magic plot, and while I understand that the focus of the first third was character-building, it still could’ve been done with a more balanced spread of plot vs character interaction.
But here’s where my personal tastes cloud my judgment. I’m not a young teen, so maybe I don’t see the value in more compassionate and understanding teen characters who could serve as role models. I’m not a WLW, so maybe I don’t see the value in two girls faffing about looking for a magic stick in the forest. I’m not a fluff-enjoyer (whatever the proper word for that is), so maybe the universally loving and positive characters just don’t land as well for me.
I can’t say that I hated this book, because I didn’t. In fact, I really enjoyed the latter half of it. I thought the fae were cool and interesting and felt disappointed there weren’t more of them in the story. Despite my grumbling, I do still appreciate what the book tried to do with the comfortable and loving family relationships between the characters and their relatives. I can see how this could help other readers and make them feel seen or perhaps soothe them when they don’t have the same thing in their lives.
I can see what this book was going for. I respect it, and I respect the work and effort and love put into it. It oozes from every word like a warm, sweet sludge.
But I’m covered in goop now. And my hands are all sticky.
This wasn’t for me. But maybe it can be for you. If you want to read a sweet, magical and well-written gay YA romance, this is for you. It was specifically made for you, made for someone who craves this but doesn’t see enough of it. This book is important for what it represents and for what it is. And I hope with all my heart you love it as much as it deserves to be loved, as much as it loves you for reading it.
I received a digital copy of the book in exchange for a review. And here it is! Nearly a month late because I’m bad at time :)
This review contains no spoilers aside from stuff that you can probably assume from the blurb, such as the existence of the fae and magic. Duh. Anyway, onward!
So, I’m gonna be straight with you fam, not that I can be anything else, but to spare any potential author their feelings and maybe prevent them from reading the review, not that that would happen, I hope:
This book was not for me.
Now, that doesn’t mean it was bad. Far from it, I think it’s pretty much exactly what it’s advertised as and anyone who thinks they might enjoy it will defo enjoy it. It’s a polished work of art that’s professionally written and presented, on par with and often above a lot of traditionally published stuff, and if you want a fluffy magical sapphic YA romance, this is for you.
But it wasn’t for me. Or, at least, I don’t think I’m the target audience. I enjoyed reading it, don’t get me wrong, but my enjoyment was always lukewarm, like I wasn’t quite getting the full experience. And that’s more on me than the book.
I won’t structure this review the way I usually do, mainly because I feel like my problems with the book are all intertwined and stem from the same source, which is ... I’m not sure? Genre? Target audience? Intent? All of the above?
The writing still carries the same sort of easy-to-read style that was present in The Songbird’s Refrain, though the main characters’ voices are obviously vastly different.
Overall, I liked the writing on a technical level, and I’m once again impressed with the author’s ability to avoid swear words, though Lydia is a bit more of a potty-mouth than Elizabeth was.
Lydia has a clear personality and voice, and one of my problems is that maybe it was a little too clear at times.
I know how that sounds, but it could be a side effect of the book’s target audience being teens. Both Lydia and Eden have extremely defined and spelled-out character arcs. Lydia is too reckless and spontaneous and needs to chill, Eden is too chill and calculating and needs to let loose. A fine concept in theory, a good mirroring for a romance, but here, its execution feels a bit like a checklist? It’s basically spelled out for us how one influences the other, the character acknowledge their own flaws and at the end note how the other has changed them for the better, rounded them out. It didn’t feel very natural, and I thought it would’ve been better to leave that stuff implied since it was already pretty obvious.
It doesn’t help that both Lydia and Eden are far, far too mature for any sixteen-year-old I’ve ever met. They both recognize and acknowledge their feelings as irrational and apologize exactly for what they’ve done wrong, which sure, maybe is feel-good and a positive influence upon a teen reading this, but for me just felt a bit unrealistic. My favorite part of the book was when Lydia and Eden had a fight and Lydia stomped off all pissy and Eden refused to apologize later. It showed them being teens, individuals, idiots, flawed people who are growing up and learning to deal with their emotions. And then it’s somewhat undercut by them both having perfect apologies afterward where they know exactly what they did wrong just based on intuition? Like, complete with “here’s what I did wrong and why that was bad of me.” Idk, maybe JM was a better person as a teen than I was.
I really can’t say a lot about the other characters. The heroes of the story were all defined and had motivations and flaws of their own, while the antagonists were either a faceless mob, a faeceless mob (get it?), or just a dude who shows up in the last chapters and then is immediately dealt with. Compared to the antagonists in TSR, these guys felt a little underwhelming, so I know the author can do better but chose not to. They were set up from earlier in the story, of course, but their inclusion still felt a bit last-minute instead of a natural progression and integration into the fabric of the story.
And, again, I get it. This isn’t about the villains or that conflict. This is about the love story and the familial bonds and everything else comes after. Which is fine, but not something I personally found very compelling.
I think my favorite character was Eden, because she was cranky and awkward and flawed to a degree that felt right. She made mistakes but had her reasons, she was unlikable at times, and she felt grief and remorse.
I also liked Lydia’s mother, who, despite being in fear or pain for a lot of her on-page presence, still loved her daughter fiercely. She felt a lot like a real parent, even if her and Lydia’s relationship was a bit too saccharine for me to fully get behind.
Now let’s talk about the plot, or rather, the pacing, which was my other big problem with the book. The first third is very slow, my dudes. It may have contributed to why it took me so long to finish the book, a lot of it is just Lydia faffing about. The book is very light on magic stuff in the beginning, and it would’ve been fine if it didn’t do a whole 180 at the end and turned into a low-fantasy menacing mystery, complete with the vague threat of a human-fae war. I would’ve liked to have seen less Lydia and Eden faffing about and more of that magic plot, and while I understand that the focus of the first third was character-building, it still could’ve been done with a more balanced spread of plot vs character interaction.
But here’s where my personal tastes cloud my judgment. I’m not a young teen, so maybe I don’t see the value in more compassionate and understanding teen characters who could serve as role models. I’m not a WLW, so maybe I don’t see the value in two girls faffing about looking for a magic stick in the forest. I’m not a fluff-enjoyer (whatever the proper word for that is), so maybe the universally loving and positive characters just don’t land as well for me.
I can’t say that I hated this book, because I didn’t. In fact, I really enjoyed the latter half of it. I thought the fae were cool and interesting and felt disappointed there weren’t more of them in the story. Despite my grumbling, I do still appreciate what the book tried to do with the comfortable and loving family relationships between the characters and their relatives. I can see how this could help other readers and make them feel seen or perhaps soothe them when they don’t have the same thing in their lives.
I can see what this book was going for. I respect it, and I respect the work and effort and love put into it. It oozes from every word like a warm, sweet sludge.
But I’m covered in goop now. And my hands are all sticky.
This wasn’t for me. But maybe it can be for you. If you want to read a sweet, magical and well-written gay YA romance, this is for you. It was specifically made for you, made for someone who craves this but doesn’t see enough of it. This book is important for what it represents and for what it is. And I hope with all my heart you love it as much as it deserves to be loved, as much as it loves you for reading it.
July 5, 2021
Okay, time to actually review this!
I genuinely enjoyed this book. It's the second one I've read by this author, and both are definitely worth the read. Lydia is a great protagonist that I actually connected with; she didn't feel like the vehicle for the reader, which is what I often feel with first-person povs. Instead, she actually felt like her own person.
I wish the first segment of the book had moved along a bit more quickly, and that we had gotten to see more of Lydia's grandmother and Florian, because those two reeled me in from the first moment I met them on the page. Some aspects of the ending I thought were a touch rushed or lackluster, but not so much that I put it down when I reached the climax and denouement.
Lydia and Eden's relationship is ADORABLE, both in the way it begins, and the way it progresses at the end of the book. Lydia's feelings towards Eden are treated very naturally and comfortably. None of it feels shoehorned in at all.
Go read it :K
I genuinely enjoyed this book. It's the second one I've read by this author, and both are definitely worth the read. Lydia is a great protagonist that I actually connected with; she didn't feel like the vehicle for the reader, which is what I often feel with first-person povs. Instead, she actually felt like her own person.
I wish the first segment of the book had moved along a bit more quickly, and that we had gotten to see more of Lydia's grandmother and Florian, because those two reeled me in from the first moment I met them on the page. Some aspects of the ending I thought were a touch rushed or lackluster, but not so much that I put it down when I reached the climax and denouement.
Lydia and Eden's relationship is ADORABLE, both in the way it begins, and the way it progresses at the end of the book. Lydia's feelings towards Eden are treated very naturally and comfortably. None of it feels shoehorned in at all.
Go read it :K
October 16, 2021
THERE'S MAGIC BETWEEN US is a fun urban fantasy romance that perfectly fits the bill if you're looking for a short and sweet read. Lydia was a fantastic protagonist to follow through this story, and I enjoyed watching her relationship with Eden develop. I truly can't get enough of that "beacon of chaos x voice of rationality" trope. I also loved the fantasy aspects! Mysterious forest, secretive townspeople, tricky Fae - this book took some twists that I was not expecting, and they made for an engaging and page-turning read.
Jillian Maria's writing is vivid and atmospheric, so much so that I could easily picture this as a graphic novel and now I super want that to be a thing!! I loved the mix of genres in this book, and I look forward to reading more of Jillian's work.
Jillian Maria's writing is vivid and atmospheric, so much so that I could easily picture this as a graphic novel and now I super want that to be a thing!! I loved the mix of genres in this book, and I look forward to reading more of Jillian's work.
Read
June 28, 2021Lydia is off to visit her grandma for a week in summer. She's unfamiliar with the small town (outside of knowing it shut its gates on her own mother as a teen mom) but quickly is drawn to the otherworldly forest on the outskirts, and the cute girl, Eden, she meets there. What unfolds is a sweet and charming story of one sarcastic, pansexual city girl helping the mysterious townie find magical items in the woods.
Through the quests, more secrets come to light, but Lydia's curiosity only extends so far. She's inherited quite a bit of resentment and staunchly refuses to build lasting relationships in order to protect herself. Mostly she wants to have fun, and if she stumbles on magic and summer romance in the meantime, all the better!
I found her outlook refreshing for this brand of YA fantasy. She walks the line between too cynical and too naive well. The plot reveals aren't wholly surprising, but they worked for this story. There's a lot of cute moments between Lydia and her mom, Lydia and her grandma she's only starting to get to know, and obviously Lydia and her love interest. It was a fun time with lots of casual queerness -- there's also a genderfluid side character that shows up now and then, and grandma hasn't thought much about labeling sexuality but is also not straight. Recommended if you want a contemporary YA fantasy with a slight mystery bend.
Through the quests, more secrets come to light, but Lydia's curiosity only extends so far. She's inherited quite a bit of resentment and staunchly refuses to build lasting relationships in order to protect herself. Mostly she wants to have fun, and if she stumbles on magic and summer romance in the meantime, all the better!
I found her outlook refreshing for this brand of YA fantasy. She walks the line between too cynical and too naive well. The plot reveals aren't wholly surprising, but they worked for this story. There's a lot of cute moments between Lydia and her mom, Lydia and her grandma she's only starting to get to know, and obviously Lydia and her love interest. It was a fun time with lots of casual queerness -- there's also a genderfluid side character that shows up now and then, and grandma hasn't thought much about labeling sexuality but is also not straight. Recommended if you want a contemporary YA fantasy with a slight mystery bend.
April 25, 2021
Full disclosure: I received an ARC copy in return for an honest review. I'll try to keep this one spoiler free.
I guess I'll start by repeating something I wrote in my review of the author's previous book: book=good. I really, really liked this one.
This is another book that shows a really cute queer romance between its main characters, set in a world that's dripping with magic (and not just the literal kind). The writing is funny (even the chapter titles!), the characters are interesting and real in a way, and the twists are properly foreshadowed.
Lydia is in some ways a typical city slacker in a very-much-not-a-city small town environment, but she's also genuinely interested in trying out new things. She also cares about her mother and grandmother (good characters in their own right) and isn't afraid to be loud and show it. She isn't afraid to be loud in general, and it's a joy to read. Unashamedly herself. Also (chapter 1): "God forbid anyone assumes I’m heterosexual."
Her romance with Eden feels well developed. Eden is a full character in her own right, and I really felt like her early friendship with Lydia helped her get to know herself. She's on the quieter side, but she's passionate too. Lydia gets drawn into most of the Big Stuff that happens because she's trying to help Eden, and it's believable (if a bit... teenage-y XD) that she would. They're a very cute couple!
While this book lacks some of the horror vibes I really enjoyed in Songbird, it more than makes up for it with some really creative uses of its setting. As I said, I won't spoil, but I can very vividly imagine what the author describes, and I like what my inner eye saw.
Definitely a recommendation from me.
I guess I'll start by repeating something I wrote in my review of the author's previous book: book=good. I really, really liked this one.
This is another book that shows a really cute queer romance between its main characters, set in a world that's dripping with magic (and not just the literal kind). The writing is funny (even the chapter titles!), the characters are interesting and real in a way, and the twists are properly foreshadowed.
Lydia is in some ways a typical city slacker in a very-much-not-a-city small town environment, but she's also genuinely interested in trying out new things. She also cares about her mother and grandmother (good characters in their own right) and isn't afraid to be loud and show it. She isn't afraid to be loud in general, and it's a joy to read. Unashamedly herself. Also (chapter 1): "God forbid anyone assumes I’m heterosexual."
Her romance with Eden feels well developed. Eden is a full character in her own right, and I really felt like her early friendship with Lydia helped her get to know herself. She's on the quieter side, but she's passionate too. Lydia gets drawn into most of the Big Stuff that happens because she's trying to help Eden, and it's believable (if a bit... teenage-y XD) that she would. They're a very cute couple!
While this book lacks some of the horror vibes I really enjoyed in Songbird, it more than makes up for it with some really creative uses of its setting. As I said, I won't spoil, but I can very vividly imagine what the author describes, and I like what my inner eye saw.
Definitely a recommendation from me.
August 29, 2021
This charming book had me laughing out loud and grinning at the pages multiple times. Lydia is a wonderful protagonist, and her character arc was very well done. Watching her and Eden's relationship develop was delightful and had me 😍. While a wrench does inevitably get thrown in, their open and honest communication later on was so great to see, and the RDT scene was just adorable. More of this in romance books, please!
The setting was indeed magical and there were times I wanted more description in order to more fully get a sense of the forest and the places Lydia and Eden visit there.
One thing I found a bit jarring was that the book ended up taking a darker turn than I was expecting. Details in the CWs below, but basically, I went in expecting a fairly fluffy/light story, and while a lot of it was that, the stakes ended up quite high and there were some disturbing elements that I wasn't fully prepared for. I also felt that
CWs:
The setting was indeed magical and there were times I wanted more description in order to more fully get a sense of the forest and the places Lydia and Eden visit there.
One thing I found a bit jarring was that the book ended up taking a darker turn than I was expecting. Details in the CWs below, but basically, I went in expecting a fairly fluffy/light story, and while a lot of it was that, the stakes ended up quite high and there were some disturbing elements that I wasn't fully prepared for. I also felt that
CWs:
May 30, 2021
I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a review. And boy, am I happy to give this book a review.
I think I fell in love with this book the second I finished reading the very first page. Maybe even earlier, but let's not exaggerate.
The reason for that is - clearly - the MC Lydia. I loved her sassy attitude, the way she talked, the way she acted. I love these kind of people in real life and I like them even more in fiction. I was really glad she got to keep that till the end of the book. She was such a great character and just so fun to follow.
Just like Eden, who was more then just a love-interest. I have to admit, I didn't like her as much as Lydia - watch this, my favourit character was ACTUALLY the MC. Shows how amazing Lydia was - but she was still a great character on her own. She had the most character development out of all the characters and I enjoyed seeing her opening up and growing more confident, while to book also showcases that you can be confident and still have doubt.
Their dyniamc was really cute as well. I shipped them real hard.
I loved that misunderstandings where never a big driving point for the plot, but just something that made them human. I loved that we actually talked about the stuff we were feeling, so that the few misunderstanding they had, were dealt with in a healthy way.
I loved the Grandma. And I loved Florian.
I loved the platonic and romantic bonds that this book was focusing on.
I loved the worldbuilding in regards to the forest and all the secrets that come with it. If there was one thing, I would have liked to know more about, it's the stuff about human magic. I understand that with that absolutly LOVELY town and its oh so friendly open-minded people, talking about human magic, might have gotten difficult though. It didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. I just think it would have been interesting to learn more.
The rep was great, and I'm happy we used words like 'pansexual' and 'genderfluid' on page. I don't like when this stuff is only hinted at. Florians reaction was so sweet. Reminded me of when I found out that asexuals exist and I'm not just weird. I was happy for him.
(I adore the title by the way. Not saying why. Read the book and you'll understand.)
So in total, I enjoyed myself a lot and I really hope that this book is going to get the attention and love it deserves. Book Community, don't sleep on this one.
I think I fell in love with this book the second I finished reading the very first page. Maybe even earlier, but let's not exaggerate.
The reason for that is - clearly - the MC Lydia. I loved her sassy attitude, the way she talked, the way she acted. I love these kind of people in real life and I like them even more in fiction. I was really glad she got to keep that till the end of the book. She was such a great character and just so fun to follow.
Just like Eden, who was more then just a love-interest. I have to admit, I didn't like her as much as Lydia - watch this, my favourit character was ACTUALLY the MC. Shows how amazing Lydia was - but she was still a great character on her own. She had the most character development out of all the characters and I enjoyed seeing her opening up and growing more confident, while to book also showcases that you can be confident and still have doubt.
Their dyniamc was really cute as well. I shipped them real hard.
I loved that misunderstandings where never a big driving point for the plot, but just something that made them human. I loved that we actually talked about the stuff we were feeling, so that the few misunderstanding they had, were dealt with in a healthy way.
I loved the Grandma. And I loved Florian.
I loved the platonic and romantic bonds that this book was focusing on.
I loved the worldbuilding in regards to the forest and all the secrets that come with it. If there was one thing, I would have liked to know more about, it's the stuff about human magic. I understand that with that absolutly LOVELY town and its oh so friendly open-minded people, talking about human magic, might have gotten difficult though. It didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book. I just think it would have been interesting to learn more.
The rep was great, and I'm happy we used words like 'pansexual' and 'genderfluid' on page. I don't like when this stuff is only hinted at. Florians reaction was so sweet. Reminded me of when I found out that asexuals exist and I'm not just weird. I was happy for him.
(I adore the title by the way. Not saying why. Read the book and you'll understand.)
So in total, I enjoyed myself a lot and I really hope that this book is going to get the attention and love it deserves. Book Community, don't sleep on this one.
June 23, 2021
MY HEART IS FULL.
This is a such a soft, fun story with so much queer happiness and growth and magic.
Lydia's voice is fantastic, and leaves me grinning constantly. The plot is simplistic, but that simpleness lets the quirky teenage romance really shine. I particularly loved the stages from Lydia realizing she has a crush to finally understanding that Eden likes her back, and all the realistic fumbling and emotional development Lydia goes through to reach that place. They are very cute and well-balanced as a couple, and both of them feel like accurate teenagers from their unique backgrounds. (If there's one thing that didn't work for me personally, it was that there was only relationship growth and no plot movement for a large chunk of the first half of the book, but since the relationship is the focus for this story, I'm not taking off any stars for that.)
The world building is interesting and it's nice to see it explored more on and off as the story goes; it's like meandering through the forest's mythology a little bit at a time, perfect for readers who want a detailed fantasy setting without the overwhelming feeling of being plunged headfirst into the new world. (And boy do I love me some good and creepy evil faeries.) While not being super surprising, the plot twists make for fun new interpretations of tried and true YA fantasy tropes.
Overall, this is a lovely, easy read that slots nicely into a slightly lower YA contemporary fantasy category (more along the lines of Cemetery Boys then, say Six of Crows), especially great for younger teenagers and queer adults who never got the chance to read about themselves on magical forest adventures when they were that age.
This is a such a soft, fun story with so much queer happiness and growth and magic.
Lydia's voice is fantastic, and leaves me grinning constantly. The plot is simplistic, but that simpleness lets the quirky teenage romance really shine. I particularly loved the stages from Lydia realizing she has a crush to finally understanding that Eden likes her back, and all the realistic fumbling and emotional development Lydia goes through to reach that place. They are very cute and well-balanced as a couple, and both of them feel like accurate teenagers from their unique backgrounds. (If there's one thing that didn't work for me personally, it was that there was only relationship growth and no plot movement for a large chunk of the first half of the book, but since the relationship is the focus for this story, I'm not taking off any stars for that.)
The world building is interesting and it's nice to see it explored more on and off as the story goes; it's like meandering through the forest's mythology a little bit at a time, perfect for readers who want a detailed fantasy setting without the overwhelming feeling of being plunged headfirst into the new world. (And boy do I love me some good and creepy evil faeries.) While not being super surprising, the plot twists make for fun new interpretations of tried and true YA fantasy tropes.
Overall, this is a lovely, easy read that slots nicely into a slightly lower YA contemporary fantasy category (more along the lines of Cemetery Boys then, say Six of Crows), especially great for younger teenagers and queer adults who never got the chance to read about themselves on magical forest adventures when they were that age.
June 11, 2021
All the stars for this one, it has a magical forest, a queer grandma, a gender fluid fae, and some beautiful sapphic teen romance???? I loved every minute of this story.
Want to read
April 3, 2021sapphics going on adventures in a magical forest, sounds beautiful to me
May 8, 2021
I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for a review. This book will release on July 6, 2021.
There's Magic Between Us is the kind of contemporary fantasy book I love, and the kind I've always loved writing, too. I won't talk about it for more than a paragraph—after all, you're here to read a review of this book, not about my long-languishing manuscript—but with TMBU, the author managed to revive my soft spot for my own book about a curly-haired blonde girl and a magical forest adjacent to a (not quiet as angry) small town. She also effortlessly captured the feeling of enchantment and wonder of the setting and atmosphere, creating a forest I would love to... well, maybe not love to get lost in. But wander for a bit, provided I had Eden to guide me back out.
Lydia is a great main character. I love her attitude, her growth, her jokes, her relationship with her mom—everything. I especially love that the only reason that she's in Fairbrooke is that she accidentally invited herself to visit her grandma and felt bad backing out; I feel like that in itself tells you a lot about who Lydia is. Sometimes her unthinking-ness can be a problem. Sometimes it leads to great results. Also, the chapter titles (which are definitely written in her voice) are so reminiscent of Percy Jackson chapter titles in terms of sass and humor, and I loved them.
Eden, on the other hand, came off a bit prickly to me, and there were times when I didn't really care for her. However, the moments when she comes off as abrasive are somewhat justifiable, as you will realize by the time you finish this book. One of the great things about the romantic arc is that it's very slow, and there's a lot of communication that works to dismantle the moments where the two don't come off so great in conversation, and despite what I just said about Eden in my very first sentence about her, she and Lydia are a cute couple, and there were plenty of things I like about Eden, too, her determination in particular.
(My favorite relationship, though, by the way, is... a very unexpected one. And very minor. But it's very sweet.)
But enough about relationships! Let's talk about magic! This book is chock full of it. The main focus, as you might have guessed from the book's summary, is the search for a faerie treasure with a pretty significant power as well as personal meaning. There are the faeries themselves, the forest, and one thing that came out of left field that both threw me and delighted me. And there's more too, particularly in the latter half, considering certain... plot revelations... I don't want to say more than that!
Obviously, though, in a world with more traditional faeries, not everything magic is sweet. Some awful, pretty horrific things have happened to Lydia's mom in the past—hence why she left Fairbrooke. Like I said, these are traditional faeries, which means they're the kind that like to play with humans and discard them. So be warned about that going in, if that will be an issue for you; the author does have trigger warnings listed on her website.
I wish I had more detailed notes about the climax and ending to give you. Things really ramp up after the halfway point, and I just got too engrossed to take down specifics. Besides, you don't want me to give everything away, do you? Take it from my minimal bullet points: "oh that's a really good climax actually" and "this is the cutest ending." This book is ultimately really sweet, and reading it feels like happiness.
I will definitely read this again, and probably buy myself a physical copy just so I can admire that cover!
And because I want to do off-beat pairing notes in my reviews now:
Pairs best with sitting on your front porch at dusk with the scent of incoming rain in the air and a warm breeze.
There's Magic Between Us is the kind of contemporary fantasy book I love, and the kind I've always loved writing, too. I won't talk about it for more than a paragraph—after all, you're here to read a review of this book, not about my long-languishing manuscript—but with TMBU, the author managed to revive my soft spot for my own book about a curly-haired blonde girl and a magical forest adjacent to a (not quiet as angry) small town. She also effortlessly captured the feeling of enchantment and wonder of the setting and atmosphere, creating a forest I would love to... well, maybe not love to get lost in. But wander for a bit, provided I had Eden to guide me back out.
Lydia is a great main character. I love her attitude, her growth, her jokes, her relationship with her mom—everything. I especially love that the only reason that she's in Fairbrooke is that she accidentally invited herself to visit her grandma and felt bad backing out; I feel like that in itself tells you a lot about who Lydia is. Sometimes her unthinking-ness can be a problem. Sometimes it leads to great results. Also, the chapter titles (which are definitely written in her voice) are so reminiscent of Percy Jackson chapter titles in terms of sass and humor, and I loved them.
Eden, on the other hand, came off a bit prickly to me, and there were times when I didn't really care for her. However, the moments when she comes off as abrasive are somewhat justifiable, as you will realize by the time you finish this book. One of the great things about the romantic arc is that it's very slow, and there's a lot of communication that works to dismantle the moments where the two don't come off so great in conversation, and despite what I just said about Eden in my very first sentence about her, she and Lydia are a cute couple, and there were plenty of things I like about Eden, too, her determination in particular.
(My favorite relationship, though, by the way, is... a very unexpected one. And very minor. But it's very sweet.)
But enough about relationships! Let's talk about magic! This book is chock full of it. The main focus, as you might have guessed from the book's summary, is the search for a faerie treasure with a pretty significant power as well as personal meaning. There are the faeries themselves, the forest, and one thing that came out of left field that both threw me and delighted me. And there's more too, particularly in the latter half, considering certain... plot revelations... I don't want to say more than that!
Obviously, though, in a world with more traditional faeries, not everything magic is sweet. Some awful, pretty horrific things have happened to Lydia's mom in the past—hence why she left Fairbrooke. Like I said, these are traditional faeries, which means they're the kind that like to play with humans and discard them. So be warned about that going in, if that will be an issue for you; the author does have trigger warnings listed on her website.
I wish I had more detailed notes about the climax and ending to give you. Things really ramp up after the halfway point, and I just got too engrossed to take down specifics. Besides, you don't want me to give everything away, do you? Take it from my minimal bullet points: "oh that's a really good climax actually" and "this is the cutest ending." This book is ultimately really sweet, and reading it feels like happiness.
I will definitely read this again, and probably buy myself a physical copy just so I can admire that cover!
And because I want to do off-beat pairing notes in my reviews now:
Pairs best with sitting on your front porch at dusk with the scent of incoming rain in the air and a warm breeze.
May 26, 2021
My overall praise is for the brilliant balance between the sapphic romance scenes and the world-building. Lydia truly steps into an interesting and well-described world. Whether you’re here for the romance or the fantasy world-building, you’ll be satisfied with what Maria offers here.
I also enjoyed Lydia’s character overall. Yes, she’s a bit rough around the edges but you can’t help but root for her. When she tells off someone for being rude to her mom, she says exactly what you wish you could say to your high school bully. I love a character that already starts off confident in their upbringing and sexuality to the point where they don’t need a book to reach some semblance of confidence. Lydia comes out the gate as a vibrant and (healthily) proud person. She still has a character arc here but it doesn’t fall in the “meek to mighty” trope. Personally, I love a character who’s already figured that stuff out and they’re ready for the next challenge.
If I had to summarize my review in a few words, it’d be “magically cute.” I’d highly recommend this book to anyone but especially teens who are looking for LGBTQTIA+ rep beyond a coming-out story. The author posts some trigger warnings on their website, so be sure to check that out. I would say the stuff they point out (avoiding spoilers here) was well handled and used responsibly.
I also enjoyed Lydia’s character overall. Yes, she’s a bit rough around the edges but you can’t help but root for her. When she tells off someone for being rude to her mom, she says exactly what you wish you could say to your high school bully. I love a character that already starts off confident in their upbringing and sexuality to the point where they don’t need a book to reach some semblance of confidence. Lydia comes out the gate as a vibrant and (healthily) proud person. She still has a character arc here but it doesn’t fall in the “meek to mighty” trope. Personally, I love a character who’s already figured that stuff out and they’re ready for the next challenge.
If I had to summarize my review in a few words, it’d be “magically cute.” I’d highly recommend this book to anyone but especially teens who are looking for LGBTQTIA+ rep beyond a coming-out story. The author posts some trigger warnings on their website, so be sure to check that out. I would say the stuff they point out (avoiding spoilers here) was well handled and used responsibly.
November 22, 2021
Absolutely delightful sapphic fantasy novel!
I had been dying to read this for months when I stumbled on a link to it via a writer’s discord by chance, and I was not disappointed. Lydia is a fun narrator—so very teenager in all the best ways—and Eden is her perfect balance. I was so fond of every character and the progression of the plot. The world-building felt like just enough and was never overkill. Jillian Maria is a must-read author!
I had been dying to read this for months when I stumbled on a link to it via a writer’s discord by chance, and I was not disappointed. Lydia is a fun narrator—so very teenager in all the best ways—and Eden is her perfect balance. I was so fond of every character and the progression of the plot. The world-building felt like just enough and was never overkill. Jillian Maria is a must-read author!
May 10, 2021
I loved the last Jillian Maria book I read, so when she offered me a review copy of this one, I was happy to accept!
Overall, this is a fairly typical YA fantasy. Girl from the big city goes to visit a relative in a small town, and suddenly some magic stuff starts popping up. But in this case, the adorable romantic interest she meets in the woods is a girl she's immediately attracted to. This book does not beat around the bush when it comes to its wlw content. It is RIGHT THERE...and the plot is better for it.
The protagonist's personality is a great display of alternative without the "I'm not like other girls" aspect. Lydia is balls-to-the-wall reckless and a bit angry, but without the over the top angst. It makes her a refreshing protagonist. Eden is also a much more nuanced take on the careful planner A-type personality. They have clear personality differences without being cartoonish.
The worldbuilding was fairly small and utilitarian. The story showed what it needed to for the sake of the plot, with little built beyond. It's up to taste whether or not you like that kind of thing. If you're a deep lore fantasy series type, you'll likely feel it's too thin. But if you're looking for a simpler, easy writing style, this will probably be right up your alley.
The one reason I had to take away a star was the plot. Beyond one or two little surprises, it was a fairly predictable YA. Of course there's the argument to be made that diverse characters deserve their go at the standard tropes. But it removed a lot of the mystery when I knew right away who that hooded figure would turn out to be.
In general, it's feels like an updated version of a YA fantasy standard. A great pick for fans of the genre.
Overall, this is a fairly typical YA fantasy. Girl from the big city goes to visit a relative in a small town, and suddenly some magic stuff starts popping up. But in this case, the adorable romantic interest she meets in the woods is a girl she's immediately attracted to. This book does not beat around the bush when it comes to its wlw content. It is RIGHT THERE...and the plot is better for it.
The protagonist's personality is a great display of alternative without the "I'm not like other girls" aspect. Lydia is balls-to-the-wall reckless and a bit angry, but without the over the top angst. It makes her a refreshing protagonist. Eden is also a much more nuanced take on the careful planner A-type personality. They have clear personality differences without being cartoonish.
The worldbuilding was fairly small and utilitarian. The story showed what it needed to for the sake of the plot, with little built beyond. It's up to taste whether or not you like that kind of thing. If you're a deep lore fantasy series type, you'll likely feel it's too thin. But if you're looking for a simpler, easy writing style, this will probably be right up your alley.
The one reason I had to take away a star was the plot. Beyond one or two little surprises, it was a fairly predictable YA. Of course there's the argument to be made that diverse characters deserve their go at the standard tropes. But it removed a lot of the mystery when I knew right away who that hooded figure would turn out to be.
In general, it's feels like an updated version of a YA fantasy standard. A great pick for fans of the genre.
July 7, 2021
This funny, sweet, charming, thrilling, and all around extraordinary story is absolute perfection. I loved the superb characters, the incredible setting, the writing, the humor, the dialogue, the magic, the unique premise, heck I even loved the chapter titles. This YA story is a work of art.
Maria’s writing is so funny and clever. The voice of the story is so strong and entertaining. You instantly get a feel for Lydia’s personality and I could not get enough of the story from her perspective. The flawless dialogue is hilarious and witty.
The characters are stunning. Lydia and Eden are both such rich and deep characters. They have such fantastic arcs and growth throughout. Lydia’s mother and grandmother both have very distinct personalities that add so many layer to the story. Florian is amazing and lovable. This cast is so well rounded and developed. Getting to know these characters was a gift.
The setting is like a character of its own. The magical woods behind Lydia’s grandmother’s house is captivating. The rich descriptions brought the forest to life. I loved all of the adventures Lydia and Eden had in the forest, and Maria did a fabulous job of using the atmosphere of the woods to drive different scenes. The forest could feel magical and innocent one moment and ominous and foreboding the next.
The romance is adorably sweet and tender. Lydia and Eden have great chemistry and a good portion of the story feels like the magical innocence of first love. They are polar opposites in so many way but fit together quite perfectly. The progression of their romance throughout the story is very organic and adds such a great dynamic to the rest of the story.
The story has great balance, going from lighthearted and funny to heavy and thrilling, sometimes at the drop of a hat. I loved how well Maria was able to bounce between and interweave all of the different tones of the story.
The mystery was fantastic, so many good twists and turns that constantly kept me enthralled. I really enjoyed how the story played out. Some twists I saw coming others I did not , but I loved every single one.
This story is fun, sweet, entertaining, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and just all around amazing. I cannot gush enough about There’s Magic Between Us, This is an absolute must read for all ages.
Maria’s writing is so funny and clever. The voice of the story is so strong and entertaining. You instantly get a feel for Lydia’s personality and I could not get enough of the story from her perspective. The flawless dialogue is hilarious and witty.
The characters are stunning. Lydia and Eden are both such rich and deep characters. They have such fantastic arcs and growth throughout. Lydia’s mother and grandmother both have very distinct personalities that add so many layer to the story. Florian is amazing and lovable. This cast is so well rounded and developed. Getting to know these characters was a gift.
The setting is like a character of its own. The magical woods behind Lydia’s grandmother’s house is captivating. The rich descriptions brought the forest to life. I loved all of the adventures Lydia and Eden had in the forest, and Maria did a fabulous job of using the atmosphere of the woods to drive different scenes. The forest could feel magical and innocent one moment and ominous and foreboding the next.
The romance is adorably sweet and tender. Lydia and Eden have great chemistry and a good portion of the story feels like the magical innocence of first love. They are polar opposites in so many way but fit together quite perfectly. The progression of their romance throughout the story is very organic and adds such a great dynamic to the rest of the story.
The story has great balance, going from lighthearted and funny to heavy and thrilling, sometimes at the drop of a hat. I loved how well Maria was able to bounce between and interweave all of the different tones of the story.
The mystery was fantastic, so many good twists and turns that constantly kept me enthralled. I really enjoyed how the story played out. Some twists I saw coming others I did not , but I loved every single one.
This story is fun, sweet, entertaining, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and just all around amazing. I cannot gush enough about There’s Magic Between Us, This is an absolute must read for all ages.
August 18, 2021
There's Magic Between Us is a whimsical and cozy story of friendship, family, and romance. Lydia, when visiting her Grandmother residing in Fairbrooke, learns about the magic that exists within the town. There, she meets a mysterious girl in the town's forest named Eden, and they forge a friendship under unlikely circumstances, engaging in a treasure-hunt that is supposedly all for fun.
Though I wasn't a big fan of the main character herself, the main thing I liked about this were the inner monologues she had when she tried to make sense of her feelings towards Eden. I felt that it depicted quite well the uncertainties and doubts that one would go through at a time when feelings start to develop. I also did like the character development that Lydia went through in the book. Also, the setting of the forest, the streams, and nature plus the depictions of the quiet town of Fairbrooke gave the story an intimate and private feel to it. With those descriptions, the story felt magical already.
However, I felt that the history on the magic system and fae in this book were lacking; it didn't feel grounded enough to be 100% believable. I also felt that some of the challenges that the characters went through seemed very easy and convenient. While there were a few bits where I felt a quite bored, overall, this was a nice book for anyone who just wants a simple tale on magic, romance, and family.
Full review to come on the blog.
Though I wasn't a big fan of the main character herself, the main thing I liked about this were the inner monologues she had when she tried to make sense of her feelings towards Eden. I felt that it depicted quite well the uncertainties and doubts that one would go through at a time when feelings start to develop. I also did like the character development that Lydia went through in the book. Also, the setting of the forest, the streams, and nature plus the depictions of the quiet town of Fairbrooke gave the story an intimate and private feel to it. With those descriptions, the story felt magical already.
However, I felt that the history on the magic system and fae in this book were lacking; it didn't feel grounded enough to be 100% believable. I also felt that some of the challenges that the characters went through seemed very easy and convenient. While there were a few bits where I felt a quite bored, overall, this was a nice book for anyone who just wants a simple tale on magic, romance, and family.
Full review to come on the blog.
January 24, 2023
Realy Interesting premise done well paired with sweet romance fun read overall .
Favorite quote:
"Good to know a lack of heterosexuality runs in the family.".
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Favorite quote:
"Good to know a lack of heterosexuality runs in the family.".
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 27, 2022
This is one of the most beautiful sapphic books I’ve read recently. Having grown up in small town Wisconsin and having always been a fan of fantasy, this story really spoke to me.
August 17, 2023
3.8 it was a good YA book but the plot was too fast imo; like i know this happens over the course of a week but still 😭
January 3, 2024
This was a sweet, quick fantasy read. I recommend it as a cosy read with a cup of tea.
June 23, 2021
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
And honestly? This book is FANTASTIC. It may just be the perfect summer read, capturing the vibe of spending a week in a small town and searching for fun... and then getting caught in in a magical quest.
I'm still finding the words to express how much I enjoyed reading this book, but the best I can do is: There's Magic Between Us is the queer summer romance I always wanted to read growing up and I'm so glad that it exists. Jillian Maria's work always captures my attention with engaging prose that makes me feel more like I'm talking to a friend than reading a book--her characters are just so easy to relate to!
Speaking of relatable characters, I would die for Lydia. I was ready to die for her from the first page, but her reaction to finding out that magic exists sold her as one of my favorite protagonists in modern literature. Absolutely wonderful. Do yourself a favor and get it NOW!
Actual rating is 4.5 for a little bit of pacing wonk leading up to the third act, but I'm more than happy to bump it up to 5 stars here--it's probably more like 4.75, anyway!
And honestly? This book is FANTASTIC. It may just be the perfect summer read, capturing the vibe of spending a week in a small town and searching for fun... and then getting caught in in a magical quest.
I'm still finding the words to express how much I enjoyed reading this book, but the best I can do is: There's Magic Between Us is the queer summer romance I always wanted to read growing up and I'm so glad that it exists. Jillian Maria's work always captures my attention with engaging prose that makes me feel more like I'm talking to a friend than reading a book--her characters are just so easy to relate to!
Speaking of relatable characters, I would die for Lydia. I was ready to die for her from the first page, but her reaction to finding out that magic exists sold her as one of my favorite protagonists in modern literature. Absolutely wonderful. Do yourself a favor and get it NOW!
Actual rating is 4.5 for a little bit of pacing wonk leading up to the third act, but I'm more than happy to bump it up to 5 stars here--it's probably more like 4.75, anyway!
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