A Girl's Guide to Love & Magic

by Debbie Rigaud

Perfect for fans of The Sun Is Also a Star and Blackout, this YA novel from Debbie Rigaud is a celebration of Haitian and Caribbean culture, and a story of first love, vodou, and finding yourself, all set against the backdrop of the West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn.

Cicely Destin, a Haitian American teen living in Brooklyn, loves the annual West Indian Day Parade that takes place in her neighborhood. The colors, clothes, tastes, sights, and sounds all celebrating Caribbean culture fill her with pride and joy. This year, the parade will be extra special: it falls on Cicely's birthday, AND Cicely will get to hang out with her awesome aunt, Mimose, a social media influencer known for dabbling in Haitian vodou. But when Mimose's dabbling becomes a little too real, and she seems to be possessed by a rogue spirit right before the parade, it's up to Cicely, plus her best friend, Renee, and her crush (!), Kwame, to try to set things right. Cicely and her friends set off on a winding, thrilling scavenger hunt through Brooklyn to find the items that will undo the possession. But can Cicely help her aunt if she doesn't fully realize her own powers just yet?



This nuanced, joyful, and loving exploration of Haitian American culture, based on Debbie Rigaud's own experiences growing up, is pure magic.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Audiobook

288 pages, Hardcover

First published July 26, 2022

About the author

Storyteller/Jersey Girl Debbie Rigaud is the author of YA coming-of-age romcoms TRULY MADLY ROYALLY (2019), SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES (2021) and A GIRL'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MAGIC (August 2022). Her illustrated chapter books offerings include Alyssa Milano's HOPE series (2019-2021), THE SOUND OF MAGIC (2022) and the forthcoming second book of the BEST WISHES series (2023). Look out for her debut picture book, SEBASTIAN THE LITTLEST FOOD CRITIC, coming in 2024.

Reviews

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Labor Day is also Cecily's birthday and she's so excited for the West Indian Day Parade. She's got the cutest outfit picked out to match her best friend. Best of all, her influencer auntie is interviewing one of her favorite artists, Papash. The day seems to good to be true and then her aunt ends up possessed by a spirit named Ezru. Cecily enlists the help of her friend Renee and her crush as they go on an adventure around Brooklyn gathering items needed to cast the spirit out of Tati Mimose in time for her big interview.

As a Haitian-American Cecily is navigating her connection to vodou. Her aunt is a priestess but her mother wants to keep her away from it. Her best friend who is Trinidadian also has some unsure feelings about it. This book does a great job exploring all the feelings towards what is a taboo subject in Caribbean culture. Some authors might've taken the vodou concept into an urban fantasy tale but Debbie Rigaud plays it straight. Which I appreciated because even though it seems a little magic it's not considered magic in the culture.

There's also feelings Caribbean American children have to unpack about their culture. Especially ones who've never visited the islands or have no visited in a long time. And this book also addresses that pride for the culture while also feeling a disconnect in some ways. And I love how the older people in the community were involved in this story. Every island has their own version of Carnival and while this book touched on a few of those it also showcased the unique way they come together in Brooklyn to keep traditions alive for the next generation. And though it looks much different from the carnivals of yester-year the heart is still there.

Overall this was a fast-paced read about family, friendship, and first crushes. There's a lot to love about this story especially for the Caribbean American girls who are sure to see pieces of themselves, friends, and family sprinkled throughout the story.

Originally posted at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do you do when your aunt gets possessed by a voodoo spirit, not only on your birthday but also right before a huge carnival where she's supposed to interview one of your favourite artists? You enlist your friends to help of course.

This was a light, fun read. The humour present was expected since Simone Beaks All the Rules was hilarious, and I'm happy to report A Girl's Guide to Love & Magic is just as funny.

I only wish it was a bit longer, since the resolutions felt too easy, but it's okay. I'd read this again.

3.5

[laur gluchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve received an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book through a giveaway hosted by the publisher. This has not affected my rating in any way.

In A Girl’s Guide To Love and Magic, we follow Cicely, her best friend Renee, her crush Kwame, and her possessed, Vodou-practicing aunt Mimose as they go on a scavenger hunt to exorcise the spirit Ezru from Mimose during an event called Carnival.

The story was very fast-paced once I got into it, and it flew by quickly. Some of the items they needed were found surprisingly easily and effortlessly, making what I thought was going to be a huge adventure a mediocre walk about town- It made this story feel rushed.

I loved all four of the main characters at first, but as the story went on I realized that all Renee cared about was not being seen by anyone she knows as he hung out with the group, which left a bad taste in my mouth. I had a bad feeling that Renee would abandon or betray the group throughout the story. Mostly, though, I loved the bond between Cicely and Mimose. I really enjoyed reading about how much the two care for each other, and the unconditional love between them definitely drove this story.

The amount of Marvel references- specifically Black Panther references, were really fun since I’m a Marvel fan. And I’m sure that the “Allons-y” at the beginning was not a Doctor Who reference, but I’ll take it.

The reveal that Ezru was Cicely’s Grandma Rose was so sweet. I didn’t even predict that this would be the outcome early on, so this was definitely a good twist. It made the ending much better than I thought it would be.

Overall, this was a very short and sweet story about family, faith, and Carnival celebrations. My only complaint is that I wish this had been slightly longer to have the story not feel rushed. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good, short read.

[♡︎Jada♡︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completing this book felt like a chore😭

[Teonna Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Cicely wakes up on the morning of her birthday, she is beyond excited. This year her birthday falls on Labor Day weekend which coincides with Brooklyn's Carnival celebration. As a proud Haitian American, her mission for the day is to experience the Carnival parade, spend time with her aunt, and to meet Papash-a famous rising singer. Cicely's birthday does not go as planned when her aunt becomes possessed by a spirit. This prompts Cicely, her best friend Renee, and Kwame (a cute boy from Cicely's class she secretly crushed on) on a scavenger hunt around Brooklyn to gather ceremonial items needed to relinquish the spirit that possesses her aunt. This mission becomes more complicated as Cicely is intent on keeping this a secret from her mom as she and her friends dodge a strange and persistent man and some ceremonial items are not easily found. The days events prompts Cicely and her friends to question and seek out the meaning of Vodou and other spiritual practices and rely on each other to learn and overcome shame of past mistakes.

This book is as vibrant and beautiful as the cover photo as it explores a wealth of themes. One of the themes explored in this novel includes the history of Caribbean people in America and their connections to their homelands. An additional theme includes exploring venerated versus vilified spiritual practices and rituals. As the search of the ceremonial items unfolds, Cicely and her friends learn the beliefs and practices of Vodou. In doing so, readers are given various perspectives on how some religious practices can have similar practices but some , such as Vodou, are deemed demonic and unacceptable while others, such as Catholicism, are more accepted. Furthermore, this novel explores first romantic relationships, sibling dynamics, forgiveness, shedding shame, and learning to harness the power within. I love and recommend this read for all.

[Ravynn Stringfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am actually obsessed with A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic. I love a book under 300 pages, that packs in a whole adventure in 24 hours, and is filled with bright colors and so much sound. Rigaud gives us a really nuanced look at Vodou from the perspectives of 15 year old Cicely, her mother and her aunt Tati Mimose. Those tensions give us a wonderful chance to explore their complicated relationships. Plus, I am a huge Hilliard Brothers fan! ❤️ I loved this book and hope you will too!

[amirahlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A possession? A Carnival? Vodou? Of course I needed to read this!!!

~I’ve always wanted to attend a Caribbean Carnival. Turns out, I could have just gone to Brooklyn during Labor Day weekend. This was such a fun book and though I’ve never gone to a parade, I was able to imagine it through Debbie Rigauds writing. She describes how the characters feel in the exact moment. How they’re feeling while dancing and how they feel surrounded by their people. How they feel when they see others waving around their countries flag. I’m not Haitian (Cicely) or Trinidadian (Renee), or Caribbean at all, but I know how it feels to be out of touch with your culture. And how it feels to what to learn more but being discouraged.

Cicely wants to learn more about Vodou from her aunt Tati, but her mother discourages her and prevents her from seeing Tati. Her birthday is the day of the West Indian Day Parade and her favorite musician Papash will be performing there. Papash is also being interviewed on a podcast and the interviewer is Tati, Cicely’s aunt. However, Tati gets possessed and Cicely, her best friend Renee and her crush Kwame go on an adventure throughout the Carnival trying to gather the materials to perform the exorcism. And I truly felt how chaotic is was.

I’ve been in the mood for books with witches and magic. Though being a witch and practicing Vodou are very different, they have similarities. Vodou is spiritual and a religion. It gave me the magical feeling that I wanted while being cultural and having the sense of adventure. 10/10!!

[Michaela William · Rating 4 out of 5]

a cute story.

[Faith Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I'll start and say this book is good for a casual reader who wants a fun YA story with a unique cultural aspect. I personally did not love the story as much as I wanted to. I think it had an interesting premise, and I especially love stories that celebrate different cultural heritages. But the execution of it was not for me. One of the big things is that this story felt like it was doing a lot more telling than showing, which I've noticed can sometimes end up happening in contemporary YA novels, and I can ignore sometimes but it was a little too much in this story for me. A lot of the interactions and dialogue felt unnatural and forced, where it felt less like a realistic dialogue I'd expect and more like dialogue was just included to make sure the author could get the information she wanted in the book. There was a clear theme and message, which I think is an overall good one, but again, the entire plot felt very forced in order to highlight the message, rather than something that seemed to naturally flow from an interesting plot. In particular, a lot of the interpersonal conflicts Cicely ended up having just felt forced. I also just didn't like Cicely as a character. I didn't connect much with any of the characters, but she turned a little more into dislike the futher I got, because she just seemed to be really judgmental throughout the story. And she is given space for growth, but it just turned me off her a bit. Despite the criticisms I have, I feel like this book definitely has a right audience for it and if for you, a fun adventure is enough to enjoy a story, you might like this. It just wasn't the best fit for me.

[Bella and the Bookstack · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this at my local library, I immediately had to grab it. A Girl’s Guide to Love and Magic is a fast-paced book. It follows Cicely, a girl trying to find herself amidst her torn apart family. Cicely doesn’t quite know what side of her culture she should embrace. While she loves all her family, she’s always looked up to her Aunt Mimose. Mimose is a famous social media star known for her big personality and her practice of Haitian vodou. However, Cicely’s mom wants her to stay far away from Mimose and her magic practices.

When Mimose gets possessed by a spirit during Carnival (and Cicely’s birthday,) Cicely recruits the help of her friends to free her aunt.

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This was such a beautiful book! I loved this story. It’s a wonderful YA book full of culture, young love, and family. The story had so much packed into there. Something was always happening! The author’s descriptions were so colorful and so well written.

I do wish it was a little bit longer so it didn’t feel quite as rushed at the end. However, I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Nadia L. Hohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a refreshing read. It was so culturally centred. The author read the book and I appreciated this so much. It felt genuine, as she embodied her character. I was also pleased with the way there were so many details about the Brooklyn West Indian Day parade, the diversity within the Caribbean community there, and voodoo. This book is as entertaining as it is educational. And there's a teen love story in it too. I felt like the entire book was like Carnival-- immersive, fast moving, filled with different characters, and amusement.

[Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 - 5 stars.

I want my own physical copy

[Vera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I would've read this book when I was a teenager. I would've loved it (and I still love it now, but I do think it's better for a younger audience. I'll give it to my kids if I ever have them)

[Diana-christie Biancardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was entertaining and I enjoyed learning more about Caribbean culture and Vodou but the book was so poorly written I struggled to get through it. The romance plot was cliche and bland and the writing seemed very juvenile. I’m not usually one to care about / critique writing quality but this was cringy.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that the book is set against the backdrop of the West Indian Day Parade as it comes up to that time of year right now. The book features a girl who is exploring her identity as it relates to her heritage, her religion and spirituality, her birthday, friends, possible romances, and life in general. Navigating the waters of all of it is a true coming of age story with some fun and humor but insight into identity.

No matter what though, celebrations are at the true center of the book in the way that From Little Tokyo, with Love was too. And as the author notes, discussing Vodun/voodoo is a sensitive topic to those that practice and those that don't, so having the understanding and courage to explore with her main character make it a strong book.

[Emeri A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I’m just not the targeted demographic, or if it’s the writing itself. It was really rough to get through.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Cecily Destin is so excited to be turning 15 during the Labor Day weekend that also includes the West Indian Day Parade that she can't really concentrate on school at Christian Prep. Her parents have a restaurant, Port au Princesse, and will have a booth at the parade. Most exciting of all, her social influencer aunt Mimose will be interviewing the music star Papash and has invited Cecily and her best friend Renee to come along! Her mother isn't too thrilled with Mimose's embracing of their Haitian Vodou culture, and since the death of their mother, Grandma Rose, Cecily hasn't spent as much time with her aunt. She's glad to go to a tarot card reading with her aunt before the interview on the day of the parade, but things go badly wrong. The client, Juste, wants Mimose to perform a ritual, but she declines. He insists, spitting rum on her and causing her to be possessed by the spirit called Erzu. Erzu is concerned with how she looks and is rather laid back, which is good, because Cecily and Renee have to find a way to have the spirit removed. Luckily, she happens upon classmate Kwame, and takes refuge with her aunt in his apartment. His younger brother, Kofi, has been interested in a variety of Black cultural magic since reading Ronald L. Smith's Hoodoo, and is able to give them a rough idea of what needs to be done to bring the aunt back. This sends the four off into the celebration to find items needed for the ritual, including a priestess! They run into all sorts of snags, meet a variety of people in the community, and manage to have a good time despite worrying about Mimose. The interview is thankfully put off, since Papash is busy with other things, which buys them some time. Cecily has always thought that Kwame was kind of cute, and he is sweet, helpful, and seems to have a bit of a crush on her. Will Cecily and her friends be able to navigate the celebration and manage to bring Mimose back to herself?
Strengths: If you haven't looked at this book because you think it is Young Adult, stop right there and go find a copy! Even though Cecily is in high school, this is 100% a fabulous city adventure book similar to Tarpley's The Harlem Charade or Farrar's Song for Bijou. Cecily is in high school, but dealing with many of the same things middle schoolers do; struggles with parents' expectations, missing a grandparent who has recently passed away, and having a very sweet crush on a classmate. Of course, since she's older, she is free to wander around New York City with her aunt even when she is possessed by a spirit. I loved learning about the West Indian Day Parade and all of the different cultural practices, food, and celebrations. She gets a lot of support from community members, Renee, and even her mother, in a surprising twist. Now I almost want to go to New York to experience this for myself!
Weaknesses: It took me several chapters to get my mind around the fact that this wasn't going to be typical navel gazing and whiny Young Adult fare. Not that Rigaud, who also did the fabulous Simone Breaks All the Rules would do that to me, but the Young Adult tone is just not my favorite a lot of the time.
What I really think: This is perfect for readers who want upper middle grade stories like Watson's Love is a Revolution, Richardson's The Meet-Cute Project, Bajpai's A Match Made in Mehendi or Kasie West's oevre. It was a fantastic summer read. My only regret is that I didn't save it for a Saturday when I could pick up Bibi's Haitian Patties to eat while reading it!

[Thebookedlibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cicely Destin hopes her birthday will be a blast this year, especially since it is the same day as The West Indian Labor Day Parade, Brooklyn's Caribbean Christmas. But after her grandma's death, there is a strain her Haitian family, no one to mediate the tension between her mom, a devout Christian and her favorite aunt and Vodou priestess Minrose. But when Tati Mimrose asks her if she wants to meet her favorite rap artist, Brooklyn's own Papash, when she interviews him for her popular podcast, Cicely knows she cannot miss this opportunity. After some scheming to get out of helping at her parents food stall, Cicely meets with her aunt, but learns Mimrose must make a stop for a tarot card reading, but things don't go exactly as expected when Tati Mimrose ends up possessed instead. Can Cicely figure out how to save her aunt, get to her podcast interview in time, drum up business for her family's food stall and still enjoy Caribbean Chirstmas? With the help of her bestie Renee and her secret crush Kwame perhaps she will.

A Girl's Guide To Love and Magic is a truly fantastic book filled with moments of fright but tons of fun. If you are a native New Yorker, particularly of Caribbean descent, as the reader, you will feel well represented and if you are not, after reading this book, you will definitely want to go and experience Caribbean Christmas for yourself. In this love letter to the Caribbean, especially Haitian, community of Brooklyn, Rigaud captured the essence and vibrancy of The West Indian Labor Day parade on the page in beautiful prose. In addition, Rigaud gave the reader well developed characters, complex family drama, an intricate plot (which includes a scavenger hunt through the streets of Brooklyn), and an adorable budding romance, factors which made A Girls Guide to Love and Magic a spectacular treat. But in my opinion, where Rigaud shined most was the exploration of Vodou in all if its historical context, misconceptions and taboos. I highly implore you to spend the day with Cicely, Renee, and Kwame to experience the uniqueness of Caribbean Christmas, I don't think readers will be disappointed.

[Sierra (shesgotstories) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's just something about a fantastic contemporary YA book that makes my soul happy and this book was excellent! Real rating of 4.5.

The colorful and vibrant descriptions in this book made me feel like I was right alongside the main characters as they hunted down the items needed to save Cicely's aunt from her possession. I loved the nod to Caribbean island cultures and the beautiful descriptions of the West Indian Day Parade. The nod to Haitian vodou was really cool and I learned a lot about the culture and the differences between some of the communities. The message of acceptance and reconciliation for family was lovely and I think it's a fantastic and inspiring story for YA readers of all ages. The story was well-balanced between both love and magic and was a quick read that fully immersed me! The characters are all so much fun with very unique and diverse personalities and the nod to Marvel (and the Black Panther movie specifically) was a fun detail.

My only complaint would be that it was too short (as in it felt a little rushed) and that the magical items needed to help Cicely's aunt seemed a little easy to come by for a group of teens with little knowledge of vodou. Some scenes had me thinking that there was no way they were going to do all that they did and still make it to certain places on time, but somehow they did every time. They got sidetracked a lot and still made it to their destinations, which felt a little unrealistic, but it's just a minor thing that threw me off a little.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will easily see myself recommending it as it's a fun read that all ages can enjoy with great writing and a unique story!

Thank you to my local indie bookstore, The Storybook Garden, for providing me with a physical ARC. This in no way influenced my honest opinion!

[Kita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love that the author is proud of their heritage and takes the opportunity to showcase it in the book. I love learning about about different cultures within the black community. I feel though, that too much time was given to explaining the Caribbean culture, in this book. There were times when the story should have been progressing but we kept getting stopped by long explanations of the cultures.

At times I was begging for the author to get on with the story already.

For example, we just finish reading an in-depth description about the beautiful Caribbean cultures in Flatbush and then just few pages later we’re reading another in-depth description of the carnival culture and then just a few pages later again, another in-depth explanation about the culture again.

The author sets us up to read about a fun shopping scene where the main character and bff go to look for an outfit to wear to meet their favorite rapper for the main characters bff/carnival parade but instead of getting to read about the fun shopping scene, we instead first have to read an encounter w/ a random old man who rants on about the carnival and culture. This encounter was about 4 1/2 pages long, while the shopping scene was reduced to 2/3 of a page. It’s not a long book.

In an informative book that’s great but not in a short story book like this.

I hope this doesn’t come off as offensive any way. I’m not critiquing the cultures just the way that this story was told.

[Karen Kline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine your auntie is an Instagram influencer who reads tarot cards and gets possessed by a strange and evil essence one day when you happen to be with her at a reading, and your mom and your auntie are not on very good terms. Plus you are expected back at your parents' food booth at the Brooklyn area West Indian Day parade, but you have to figure out how to collect a veritable scavenger hunt of items to reverse your auntie's demonic curse and bring her back. Meanwhile, there is this cute boy from school who just happens to live in the trajectory of the mayhem of the day, and you duck into his place with your possessed auntie to try to get away from her tarot client who seems to have something to do with her current state of being. Well, you'd likely be texting your bff to come quick and help, and then the group of you get sucked into the parade and you just happen to collide with your favorite rapper. Let's just say this "day-in-the-life" of a girl from a Haitian immigrant family is not short on plot! There is plenty of time for exploring emotions and family dynamics as the plot ensues and author Debbie Rigaud leaves readers with a tale that brings us into the world of Catholicism and Voudoo with a deft and carefully structured ending that is both parts inclusive and intersectional. I must admit, I was impressed!

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Girl's Guide To Love And Magic was another delightful YA romance from Debbie, focusing on the celebrations of the West Indian Day Parade! 🎊❤⋆*ੈ✩‧₊˚°｡⋆♡

― my rating: 4 stars ★★★★

I've always enjoyed how lighthearted debbie's books are and this one has been on my priority tbr for too long! A sweet YA contemporary about celebration of Caribbean culture, its got a unique premise I've never seen in a YA book before and it was such a fun read.

Fast-paced, focused on Brooklyn's Haitian and Afro-Caribbean diaspora the book is centered around
community which was one of the main highlights of the book. When it comes to the writing, it can come across as very "informational" breaking up the flow of the plot and though the story goes by at an intense speed in portions, I liked the focus on Cicely embracing & learning more about her Haitian culture.

full review to be written on my blog!

[Brittany]

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial

This was so precious!!!! It is the first book I’ve read by Rigaud and it will not be the last! I loved the way Rigaud weaved in so much about Caribbean culture in Brooklyn. You could really tell that this was a love letter to her culture. 🤎 This book is very short — you could read it in one sitting, and is packed full of cultural pride, fraught family dynamics, Vodou, friendship, food, and puppy love (they are 15, it’s so sweet🥹). This was such a feel-good book & I highly recommend it!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This is one of those stories that could have easily been read in one day (especially since it all takes place over the course of 1 day), but for me, it fell victim to the Beginning of the School Year Slump. Happens every year. I just get to busy and I'm so tired, and reading just gets pushed to the side for a bit. I finally sat down and powered through it during the long weekend though.

I think this book was fun. For me, it falls solidly into that not quite middle grade, but very PG young adult book. I think those are great to have! I enjoyed the look into Vodou and also Haitian American culture. It was informative without being too heavy handed.

I don't think this is one that's going to stick with me forever, but it really was super entertaining.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Cicely fifteenth birthday and the Brooklyn West Indian Days parade is like a huge celebration just for her. Though there’s tension between Cicely's mom and beloved Aunt Mimose over Mimose’s promotion of Vodou on her social media platform, Cicily is excited to spend some time with her aunt before the parade, but when Mimose’s client unexpectedly curses her, Cicely, BFF Renee, and crush Kwame go on a frantic hunt to locate all the items needed to reverse the curse. The vibrant parade is like another character as the gathered community members reveal surprises to Cicely as the final item leads to family harmony, Strong portrayal of West Indian culture. EARC from Edelweiss.

[Shu.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
Things I’ve liked:
- Vibes
- Colorful
- Carnival celebration
- A different way to look at Voudoo
- Didn’t feel like plain YA. Was more like a cultural storytelling
- It was a light funny story. Laughed quite a few times
- Sweet message at the end

Thing I wasn’t a fan of:
- Too much going on that the story felt rushed. Could have been a little longer
- I would have loved for the storytelling to be through the characters. And not just ‘telling’. Wanted to learn so much more about Voudoo and the spirits what they really entail
- Characters underdeveloped. They all sounded the same
- Romance was underveloped maybe even unnecessary. Didn’t really care for that part

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute read. The story unfolds over the course of a day and I thought the pacing was pretty spot-on. The dialogue was actually... normal. I just read another novel (Ms. V's something or other) with teens talking and it was so unrealistic and did not flow - although to be fair, they were not the main characters and it was not YA, so maybe that author just has no experience/did not care about the teen voice? Though the character development in Girl's Guide did border on lecture-y/preach-y/moral of the story-y at times, overall it didn't make me roll my eyes or cringe.

I could recommend this without qualms.

[Anyja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

the cover has to be one of the most beautiful book covers of 2022. seriously. LOOK AT THE BACK. anyway, this was a love letter to my city and my culture that i just can’t help but swoon over. i’ve literally never heard the labor day parade described this way, it’s amazing what debbie rigaud was to communicate about west indian culture and “caribbean christmas” to others who may or may not have experienced this magical event.

this book makes me want to go to the parkway new year! so much love for it ❤️❤️❤️

[Gemini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Okay

I really wanted to love this book, but it didn’t work out for me. Much of the story was a little too whimsical and fairytale like for my personal taste. I was looking forward to a sweet YA romance, but there wasn’t much attention given to their courtship. It was overshadowed by their mission to help Cicely’s aunt. What I really did enjoy was how much attention was given about the Haitian culture and beliefs. I found it to be very interesting and educational like the previous book that I read from this author.