What do you think?
Rate this book
Longview Romance #1
Just Like Magic
The witches are rioting again.
Figures. They overreact to everything.
Anwer Alexander, son of the notoriously anti-magic governor, has everything he wants in life: a good job, amazing parents, and an annoying brat of a younger sister. But when his sister Shay manifests the same kind of magic powers that get countless teenagers kicked out of their houses, Anwer has to scramble to find her a witch who can show her how to control them—and make sure their parents don’t find out.
Christian Lewis, the most powerful magic user in the tristate area, doesn’t know what to do with himself when the Alexander siblings ask him to teach Shay in exchange for Anwer helping Chris with a life-changing ritual. But no matter how much he hates their parents, Chris has never been able to say no to mentoring a newbie magic user from a toxic household—even though her scowling older brother infuriates him.
As the long summer days grow warmer, Anwer and Chris find themselves slowly drawing closer to each other over Shay’s training. Sparks fly when Shay decides that she wants to compete in the Santiago, the largest magic tournament of the year, but will the five-day competition be the beginning of something more or the end of everything Anwer and Chris hoped for?
This 100k-word enemies-to-lovers romance features a world just slightly to the left of our own, multicolored constellations, a surprising amount of time in a holding cell, tragic backstories, a complex magic tournament system, meddling best friends, some mild-to-moderate steaminess, major angst, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
*Content warnings available on website.
Figures. They overreact to everything.
Anwer Alexander, son of the notoriously anti-magic governor, has everything he wants in life: a good job, amazing parents, and an annoying brat of a younger sister. But when his sister Shay manifests the same kind of magic powers that get countless teenagers kicked out of their houses, Anwer has to scramble to find her a witch who can show her how to control them—and make sure their parents don’t find out.
Christian Lewis, the most powerful magic user in the tristate area, doesn’t know what to do with himself when the Alexander siblings ask him to teach Shay in exchange for Anwer helping Chris with a life-changing ritual. But no matter how much he hates their parents, Chris has never been able to say no to mentoring a newbie magic user from a toxic household—even though her scowling older brother infuriates him.
As the long summer days grow warmer, Anwer and Chris find themselves slowly drawing closer to each other over Shay’s training. Sparks fly when Shay decides that she wants to compete in the Santiago, the largest magic tournament of the year, but will the five-day competition be the beginning of something more or the end of everything Anwer and Chris hoped for?
This 100k-word enemies-to-lovers romance features a world just slightly to the left of our own, multicolored constellations, a surprising amount of time in a holding cell, tragic backstories, a complex magic tournament system, meddling best friends, some mild-to-moderate steaminess, major angst, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
*Content warnings available on website.
390 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2022
10 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Roth
11 books22 followersEllie Roth is a contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy author who writes about love interests earning their happy endings and found families building a more hopeful world for themselves. She can mostly be found in a New York town that no one can pronounce unless they grew up nearby, slouching over her laptop and probably giving herself back problems. Her hobbies include writing, working out, and scrolling through Tumblr to indulge her latest fandom obsessions.
Sign up for her newsletter: www.ellierothbooks.com/subscribe
Follow her on Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/ellieroth
Follow her on BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-roth
Sign up for her newsletter: www.ellierothbooks.com/subscribe
Follow her on Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/ellieroth
Follow her on BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/ellie-roth
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 21, 2024
i swear every book promising to be slow burn seems to disappoint me these days smh. it started out great- i was like: omg credible relationship development (i was wrong)
but honestly the first 20% was credible relationship development. strong dislike from both of them, and they were ever-so-slowly warming up to each other-
and then anwer changed his attitude from extreme fear & hatred to acceptance & approval for magic in barely 10% of the book solely because chris showed him pretty magical constellations 🤯🤯fr bro changes his mind quick as a whip. then they call each other "love" at 6x% of the book 🤠🤠
aside from this though, i liked the book. the characters were strong and distinct. anwer, who has an actual reason to despise magic users, who loves his sister immensely; chris, who is bold and self-sacrificial and unafraid to stand up for himself; shay, the adorably enthusiastic sister who also has a fierce and determined side.
the brother/sister relationship was pretty accurate (i've learned new adjectives to call my brother :P) and the sibling squabbling was amusing to read. and honestly i was kinda surprised about the parents- no spoilers but their reaction was wayyy less intense than i thought it would be.
the plot was okay (lowkey predictable 💀) la. the magic competition took up more of the book than i liked and i would preferred more competition-aftermath. and ultimately, while the book focused a lot on magical discrimination, after anwer's parents stepped down nothing was done to address the discrimination? like anwer's father had so much support and even if he is gone, there'd still be this issue. hoping the second and third books will address this tho.
3.5 stars
but honestly the first 20% was credible relationship development. strong dislike from both of them, and they were ever-so-slowly warming up to each other-
and then anwer changed his attitude from extreme fear & hatred to acceptance & approval for magic in barely 10% of the book solely because chris showed him pretty magical constellations 🤯🤯fr bro changes his mind quick as a whip. then they call each other "love" at 6x% of the book 🤠🤠
aside from this though, i liked the book. the characters were strong and distinct. anwer, who has an actual reason to despise magic users, who loves his sister immensely; chris, who is bold and self-sacrificial and unafraid to stand up for himself; shay, the adorably enthusiastic sister who also has a fierce and determined side.
the brother/sister relationship was pretty accurate (i've learned new adjectives to call my brother :P) and the sibling squabbling was amusing to read. and honestly i was kinda surprised about the parents- no spoilers but their reaction was wayyy less intense than i thought it would be.
the plot was okay (lowkey predictable 💀) la. the magic competition took up more of the book than i liked and i would preferred more competition-aftermath. and ultimately, while the book focused a lot on magical discrimination, after anwer's parents stepped down nothing was done to address the discrimination? like anwer's father had so much support and even if he is gone, there'd still be this issue. hoping the second and third books will address this tho.
3.5 stars
July 23, 2025
Ellie Roth is awesome at the enemies to lovers dynamic, and I happen to be a sucker for it. Mix it with speculative fiction and that will always hook me.
Chris and Anwer are on two sides of a conflict. Chris is a magic user, and Anwer's parents are trying to legislate away his and his entire community's existence one law at a time. I'm not *saying* it's an LGBTQ allegory, but I wouldn't be surprised if anyone took it that way. Watching these guys' relationship shift as they have no choice but to get to know each other is sweet, though (as these things usually go) they're not the best at communicating.
One of my favorite things is that most of Roth's books have a few deleted scenes that you can get from her website. They're perfect treats for that post-book hangover that you'll unfailingly get from these characters.
This is an early series for Roth but she finds her footing early on and delivers an unfailingly satisfying romance. And there's magic. What more do we need?
(More of this series, that's what. 😂)
Thank you to the author for the free review copy. These are my honest thoughts.
Chris and Anwer are on two sides of a conflict. Chris is a magic user, and Anwer's parents are trying to legislate away his and his entire community's existence one law at a time. I'm not *saying* it's an LGBTQ allegory, but I wouldn't be surprised if anyone took it that way. Watching these guys' relationship shift as they have no choice but to get to know each other is sweet, though (as these things usually go) they're not the best at communicating.
One of my favorite things is that most of Roth's books have a few deleted scenes that you can get from her website. They're perfect treats for that post-book hangover that you'll unfailingly get from these characters.
This is an early series for Roth but she finds her footing early on and delivers an unfailingly satisfying romance. And there's magic. What more do we need?
(More of this series, that's what. 😂)
Thank you to the author for the free review copy. These are my honest thoughts.
February 20, 2024
4,5 stars for my first book by this author.
This was a very slow-burn enemies to Lovers story with a great world building and interesting characters.
The relationship development was great and really well thought out. I liked that the author took their time with that.
All in all a lovely story, which I couldn't put down and brought tears to my eyes.
The next part has spoilers in it. So please, stop reading if you don't want to read more details on the ending
I really loved the way it portrayed people's feelings and opinions as long as it doesn't concern themselves or the people they love.
Maybe Anwers parents should have been a bit better portrayed in that regard. Nevertheless, I liked that their love for their children was more important - as it should be. I am a mother, and nothing they do could take away my love for them.
Why only 4,5 stars: because I really would have wanted another ending in one aspect. But I do kond of understand why the author went that route, even though it hurt
This was a very slow-burn enemies to Lovers story with a great world building and interesting characters.
The relationship development was great and really well thought out. I liked that the author took their time with that.
All in all a lovely story, which I couldn't put down and brought tears to my eyes.
The next part has spoilers in it. So please, stop reading if you don't want to read more details on the ending
I really loved the way it portrayed people's feelings and opinions as long as it doesn't concern themselves or the people they love.
Maybe Anwers parents should have been a bit better portrayed in that regard. Nevertheless, I liked that their love for their children was more important - as it should be. I am a mother, and nothing they do could take away my love for them.
Why only 4,5 stars: because I really would have wanted another ending in one aspect. But I do kond of understand why the author went that route, even though it hurt
March 3, 2024
Ellie Roth starts this book as a fairly conventional coming of age (with magic) story but she has an interesting take on magical people in the world. I’m an older woman now and I don’t often read novels about young people nowadays but this book was offered on GRR as an ARC so I tried it. I found it compelling reading. No massive angst and very slow burn but there is a really interesting plot with enough twists and backstory to keep my happy.
I got a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest review
I got a copy of this book from GRR and this is my honest review
July 3, 2024
DNF
I got to 60%, eventually, the last bit by skimming, but I really hate this magic system/world, so I'm out. There are stricter laws around magic users, but there are public tournaments that go unchallenged? Uh-huh. And then somehow it got dorkier. Nope.
I got to 60%, eventually, the last bit by skimming, but I really hate this magic system/world, so I'm out. There are stricter laws around magic users, but there are public tournaments that go unchallenged? Uh-huh. And then somehow it got dorkier. Nope.
February 20, 2024
I am in two minds about this story. Admittedly, it did say that it was slow burn so I wasn’t expecting insta-love or anything like that. However, as the first book in a series, there was a lot of world-building and plot that had to be fitted in and as such, for me personally, the romance part of things did suffer.
The characters were nicely written – Chris and Anwer both had good reasons for the way they felt, it wasn’t manufactured, ignored or blown out of proportion. The plot was extremely interesting and the metaphor of children with magic being thrown out of their homes hit home without feeling like you were being bashed over the head.
I enjoyed the magic tournament and the things that happened there – it was brilliant to see Chris in his element and demonstrating his power, rather than us just being told that he was an incredibly powerful magic user. The additional characters were also well-rounded and not just there to pad out the background.
I found Anwer’s parents to be a little of a caricature but then it would be difficult to give them more depth when they weren’t the main thrust of the story. I was very interested in the persecution of the magic users and how it was described and I will be looking out for further stories in the series in the hope that it is examined in more depth.
The romance between Chris and Anwer was sweet – when we did spend time with them, it was possible to see them falling in love with each other and the reason why. I especially enjoyed when Chris was training Shay and Anwer was struggling to fight his fear/hatred of magic whilst falling under Chris’s spell. There were certain aspects of things that I wasn’t very happy with – especially with regard to how much it was made into a thing that being magic was an integral part of who people were – but that definitely falls under the category of YMMV. Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
I received an ARC from GRR.
The characters were nicely written – Chris and Anwer both had good reasons for the way they felt, it wasn’t manufactured, ignored or blown out of proportion. The plot was extremely interesting and the metaphor of children with magic being thrown out of their homes hit home without feeling like you were being bashed over the head.
I enjoyed the magic tournament and the things that happened there – it was brilliant to see Chris in his element and demonstrating his power, rather than us just being told that he was an incredibly powerful magic user. The additional characters were also well-rounded and not just there to pad out the background.
I found Anwer’s parents to be a little of a caricature but then it would be difficult to give them more depth when they weren’t the main thrust of the story. I was very interested in the persecution of the magic users and how it was described and I will be looking out for further stories in the series in the hope that it is examined in more depth.
The romance between Chris and Anwer was sweet – when we did spend time with them, it was possible to see them falling in love with each other and the reason why. I especially enjoyed when Chris was training Shay and Anwer was struggling to fight his fear/hatred of magic whilst falling under Chris’s spell. There were certain aspects of things that I wasn’t very happy with – especially with regard to how much it was made into a thing that being magic was an integral part of who people were – but that definitely falls under the category of YMMV. Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable read and I am looking forward to reading more in the series.
I received an ARC from GRR.
July 15, 2025
Thanks to BookSirens and Ellie Roth for providing me with a free advance review e-copy of this book, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When your father is an anti-magic State Governor and your stepmother is a prosecutor known for targeting magic users, it’s a shock when your 15-year-old kid sister suddenly develops magical powers. Anwer Alexander must find a witch, quickly, to help his sister control her abilities before their parents find out and potentially throw her out of the house. Enter Christian Lewis, the current Tri-State magic user champion, who just happens to need bailing out of jail.
What I liked: This was Ellie Roth’s debut novel, which she is currently re-releasing. As a fan of her recent releases, I naturally jumped at the chance to review it. This was super cute and I can see a recurring theme in Roth’s urban fantasy series, utilising a younger vulnerable character as a catalyst to bring together unlikely allies. Yet, each series remains unique.
This story uses allegory well, shining a light on political tyranny. Anwer and Chris’s world is much like our own, except magic is real, and some politicians exploit fear of it to win votes, much like how real-world politicians often scapegoat minority groups. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. Serious points to Ellie for making me cry (twice), along with the usual chuckles from the banter.
What didn’t work for me: I didn’t get a strong sense of time passing in the text, so I didn't feel the attraction build between Chris and Anwer resulting in a sort of insta-love scenario for our two MC’s. A few extra scenes during the summer may have helped flesh out their connection.
Final thoughts: A sweet romance story set in a well-developed magical world, with a nice balance of humour and emotional depth.
Who would enjoy this: Fans of enemy-to-lovers trope, found family, and magical realism.
When your father is an anti-magic State Governor and your stepmother is a prosecutor known for targeting magic users, it’s a shock when your 15-year-old kid sister suddenly develops magical powers. Anwer Alexander must find a witch, quickly, to help his sister control her abilities before their parents find out and potentially throw her out of the house. Enter Christian Lewis, the current Tri-State magic user champion, who just happens to need bailing out of jail.
What I liked: This was Ellie Roth’s debut novel, which she is currently re-releasing. As a fan of her recent releases, I naturally jumped at the chance to review it. This was super cute and I can see a recurring theme in Roth’s urban fantasy series, utilising a younger vulnerable character as a catalyst to bring together unlikely allies. Yet, each series remains unique.
This story uses allegory well, shining a light on political tyranny. Anwer and Chris’s world is much like our own, except magic is real, and some politicians exploit fear of it to win votes, much like how real-world politicians often scapegoat minority groups. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. Serious points to Ellie for making me cry (twice), along with the usual chuckles from the banter.
What didn’t work for me: I didn’t get a strong sense of time passing in the text, so I didn't feel the attraction build between Chris and Anwer resulting in a sort of insta-love scenario for our two MC’s. A few extra scenes during the summer may have helped flesh out their connection.
Final thoughts: A sweet romance story set in a well-developed magical world, with a nice balance of humour and emotional depth.
Who would enjoy this: Fans of enemy-to-lovers trope, found family, and magical realism.
July 20, 2025
I have read and adored the Base City Romance series from Ellie Roth and am enjoying the unfolding Redwater Demons series, so it should come as not surprise that I was excited to dive into the Longview Romance series. In fact, I went in with high hopes and limbs crossed for another series from the author I would devour.
Fortunately, I was not disappointed by Just Like Magic. In fact, Just Like Magic was another four-point-five-star read from the author. I am positive Ellie Roth is going to pull a five-star rating from me (I am aware that I am extremely harsh when it comes to withholding them), and I cannot wait for that to happen. In truth, there were times when I thought Just Like Magic would manage to get such a rating from me. It was a story that hooked me with ease, pulling me in deep and ensuring I could not put it down. There was so much to experience throughout, and I was rapidly turning the pages to see how everything would come together. However, there were two things that stopped me from giving this a five-star rating, and one links to the plot. Unfortunately, I did find things to be a bit too predictable toward the end. From early on, it was obvious how things were going to explode, which made me a bit disappointed by how it played out. It felt a bit too much, but mostly because I was expecting it and had been hoping it would not fall into the cliché. It was not enough to make me dislike the story, but it did mean it pulled it away from the five-star rating. The second aspect is that I wanted to explore the magic system in a lot more depth. There were so many interesting elements, yet I wanted to understand how everything tied together considering all that was going on in the bigger picture. My fingers are crossed that these details play out in the next book.
All in all, Just Like Magic was another fabulous read from Ellie Roth. I cannot wait to dive into the second book.
Fortunately, I was not disappointed by Just Like Magic. In fact, Just Like Magic was another four-point-five-star read from the author. I am positive Ellie Roth is going to pull a five-star rating from me (I am aware that I am extremely harsh when it comes to withholding them), and I cannot wait for that to happen. In truth, there were times when I thought Just Like Magic would manage to get such a rating from me. It was a story that hooked me with ease, pulling me in deep and ensuring I could not put it down. There was so much to experience throughout, and I was rapidly turning the pages to see how everything would come together. However, there were two things that stopped me from giving this a five-star rating, and one links to the plot. Unfortunately, I did find things to be a bit too predictable toward the end. From early on, it was obvious how things were going to explode, which made me a bit disappointed by how it played out. It felt a bit too much, but mostly because I was expecting it and had been hoping it would not fall into the cliché. It was not enough to make me dislike the story, but it did mean it pulled it away from the five-star rating. The second aspect is that I wanted to explore the magic system in a lot more depth. There were so many interesting elements, yet I wanted to understand how everything tied together considering all that was going on in the bigger picture. My fingers are crossed that these details play out in the next book.
All in all, Just Like Magic was another fabulous read from Ellie Roth. I cannot wait to dive into the second book.
July 15, 2025
An enjoyable, fast-paced romance with magic, tension, politics, drama, angst and healing. There are incredible friendship bonds and an adorable, wholesome sibling relationship. In a world where magic is a common, well known minority, but feared and persecuted by the non-magical majority who hold all the power. The son of the lead anti-magic politician, Anwer, and the head of the magic resistance, Chris, are brought together when Anwer's little sister discovers that she is magic and is in need of a mentor. Anwer has unresolved past trauma surrounding magic and has blindly accepted his father and step-mother's hatred for years. This change forces him to confront his prejudice and fears, to grow and learn and think for himself. Chris also has issues, with looking beyond first impressions, with trust, with his magic. Their journey together is beautiful and so well, engagingly written!
I loved the magical element. Shay's lessons, little rebellions and magical competition. It's fun, engaging and adds another element of tension that isn't purely political or relationship based! The outcomes are realistic, consistent with the characters, not everyone wins just because we know them, and only one opponent is villainised. There is a really good balance of fun, friendship, banter and love with angst, tension, hardship and politics. The relationship was slow building and realistic, sweet and spicy. The angst was devastating, and their reunion was beautiful and a touch bittersweet. They heal but there is loss and grief. Not only their romantic relationship, but familial connections and friendships began to heal in a plausible, hopeful ending.
A really great book! Cute, balanced, magical!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved the magical element. Shay's lessons, little rebellions and magical competition. It's fun, engaging and adds another element of tension that isn't purely political or relationship based! The outcomes are realistic, consistent with the characters, not everyone wins just because we know them, and only one opponent is villainised. There is a really good balance of fun, friendship, banter and love with angst, tension, hardship and politics. The relationship was slow building and realistic, sweet and spicy. The angst was devastating, and their reunion was beautiful and a touch bittersweet. They heal but there is loss and grief. Not only their romantic relationship, but familial connections and friendships began to heal in a plausible, hopeful ending.
A really great book! Cute, balanced, magical!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 22, 2025
Just Like Magic (Longview Romance One) is set in a world where there are magic wielders or witches and non-magic wielders or normies. Most of the action takes place in Longview where a high proportion of the population are anti-magic and as a consequence kick out their offspring if they develop magical abilities in their teens or younger. In addition to that, laws and policies are being drawn up that target the magic population. Anwer Alexander is son of anti-magic Governor Alexander and his wife Prosecutor Carina McCarthy. Up to now Anwer has basically ignored what is happening to the witches other than to complain about how inconvenient their protests are. When his sister Shaima reveals she now has magic he has to revise his world picture and do all he can to protect and ensure she does not become homeless.
Enter into the scene, Christian (Chris) Lewis, champion witch in more ways than one, who is tasked with training Shaima so she is in control of her magic and can hide it from her parents. This is very much out of both main characters' comfort zone, particularly as Chris is a thorn in the governor’s side, but they work at and slowly learn to trust and respect each other. The story follows them through the ups and downs of their developing relationship. This is complicated by Shaima’s desire to participate in the upcoming magic contest.
There is a lot going on and it all goes to make a very satisfying long read with great characters and a notable villain or two for balance. The story depends on an excellent plot and discrete bedroom action where a lot is left to the imagination of the reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Enter into the scene, Christian (Chris) Lewis, champion witch in more ways than one, who is tasked with training Shaima so she is in control of her magic and can hide it from her parents. This is very much out of both main characters' comfort zone, particularly as Chris is a thorn in the governor’s side, but they work at and slowly learn to trust and respect each other. The story follows them through the ups and downs of their developing relationship. This is complicated by Shaima’s desire to participate in the upcoming magic contest.
There is a lot going on and it all goes to make a very satisfying long read with great characters and a notable villain or two for balance. The story depends on an excellent plot and discrete bedroom action where a lot is left to the imagination of the reader.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 23, 2024
This was a lovely story - my first from this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more of their work. The writing is great, very descriptive and compelling, the world building is excellent and a twist on hidden magic in society that I haven't read before (and while a bit heavy-handed, the parallel between what magic users face in an anti-magic society and current oppressive politics in the US is very relevant). Both MCs have struggled a lot and given up pieces of themselves for others, so seeing them come together was very sweet. The enemies section of enemies-to-lovers wrapped up pretty quickly, and one MC's 180 feelings about the other once hearing his tragic backstory was pretty fast, but I was ok with it. I'm not a huge fan of "the big miscommunication" plot device, and there was not 1 but 2 big instances of this, so I didn't love that. And the ending was bittersweet and definitely left me wanting to know the next chapter of Chris and Anwer's story, which will hopefully become clear in the next 2 books which I have at the top of my TBR. The supporting cast was honestly fabulous, and the author put so much effort into making them 3-dimensional, which I absolutely loved - yet more reason to start in on book #2! If you love stories with magic and a vivid cast of characters with compelling MCs, Just Like Magic is a great book for you. It's not perfect, but pretty great - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
February 24, 2024
This is a fabulous beginning to a new series.
I know it is supposed to be a HEA but not everyone is perfectly happy at the end...since one of them made a significant sacrifice for a love interest.
Anwer is the son of an anti-magic governor and his mom is a prosecutor of magic users. He has a good job and feels his parents are amazing and he is very close to his younger sister, Shay, who he practically raised since his parents worked such long hours.
All is fine until his sister exhibits magic powers. In order to help her control them, he contacts Christian, a powerful magic user, to teach her. Christian is dedicated to helping young magic users, while concealing a horrible secret of his own.
While preparing for a tournament for magic users, Shay and Anwer develop strong bonds with Christian and his friends, and fellow magic users, Elena and Mehmet.
While Anwer and Shay's parents work to pass tougher anti-magic laws, Anwer and Shay have to hide Shay's powers and the fact that she's training for a tournament.
This is an emotionally trying time for everyone. There are romantic feelings which develop between Christian and Anwer. At the tournament Christian clashes with Michael Vernon, an unscrupulous magic user, and secrets become fodder for the media.
I received an ARC from GRR. I am so invested in this series now! Ellie Roth did a great job !
I know it is supposed to be a HEA but not everyone is perfectly happy at the end...since one of them made a significant sacrifice for a love interest.
Anwer is the son of an anti-magic governor and his mom is a prosecutor of magic users. He has a good job and feels his parents are amazing and he is very close to his younger sister, Shay, who he practically raised since his parents worked such long hours.
All is fine until his sister exhibits magic powers. In order to help her control them, he contacts Christian, a powerful magic user, to teach her. Christian is dedicated to helping young magic users, while concealing a horrible secret of his own.
While preparing for a tournament for magic users, Shay and Anwer develop strong bonds with Christian and his friends, and fellow magic users, Elena and Mehmet.
While Anwer and Shay's parents work to pass tougher anti-magic laws, Anwer and Shay have to hide Shay's powers and the fact that she's training for a tournament.
This is an emotionally trying time for everyone. There are romantic feelings which develop between Christian and Anwer. At the tournament Christian clashes with Michael Vernon, an unscrupulous magic user, and secrets become fodder for the media.
I received an ARC from GRR. I am so invested in this series now! Ellie Roth did a great job !
June 4, 2024
I normally don’t read books on the Kindle app because I prefer physical books, but the author is an acquaintance and it’s a queer romance. I absolutely love this book! The plot is so satisfying from a writer’s perspective. There’s a lot going on but it’s all tied in together instead of being a confusing mess. The enemies-to-lovers romance between Anwer, whose name I also love, and Chris is very cute! AND THE DRAMA!
I appreciated the magic politics being more in the background as well because I’m not a politics person. But when it did take the spotlight, it wasn’t confusing and it was actually interesting. The dad and stepmom’s relationship with Anwer and Shay was a nice little roller coaster. LET ME TELL YOU THAT I’M OBSESSED WITH THE BROTHER-SISTER RELATIONSHIP ALONE! I’m a sucker for protective big brother and innocent little sister relationships and this book had me in a chokehold. We need more relationships like Anwer and Shay’s!
I liked the idea of the ritual - and the confusion around it lol - along with the satisfying ending. Verbon was despicable and I enjoyed hating him. Magic tournaments was a nice touch too.
…So basically I just loved the book. I will be buying a physical copy AND reading the next book in the series soon!
I appreciated the magic politics being more in the background as well because I’m not a politics person. But when it did take the spotlight, it wasn’t confusing and it was actually interesting. The dad and stepmom’s relationship with Anwer and Shay was a nice little roller coaster. LET ME TELL YOU THAT I’M OBSESSED WITH THE BROTHER-SISTER RELATIONSHIP ALONE! I’m a sucker for protective big brother and innocent little sister relationships and this book had me in a chokehold. We need more relationships like Anwer and Shay’s!
I liked the idea of the ritual - and the confusion around it lol - along with the satisfying ending. Verbon was despicable and I enjoyed hating him. Magic tournaments was a nice touch too.
…So basically I just loved the book. I will be buying a physical copy AND reading the next book in the series soon!
March 2, 2024
Fantasy Romance reads are some of my favorite reads. When I read the blurb for this book, I was immediately intrigued. The idea of magical society that has to be on guard because the non-magical community holds prejudices against them--well, there are a lot of parallels one can draw from that in reality. So, that connection was there. . . for the first few chapters at least.
I understand the need to world build and set up the background and individual plots of the main and secondary characters, but this did not focus on the romance aspect. There was more so an emphasis on the plot of a non-magical being having to enter into the forbidden/taboo world of the magical beings to save/teach his sister to manage and control her new found powers. Of course, I saw the little moments that did center on the main characters, but I wanted more.
I just came off reading another book with a similar background that managed to effectively balance the romance and the fantasy elements (Spellbreaker and Spellmaker). Perhaps, I was unable to leave that world behind to fairly judge this one. . .
*ARC provided by GRR, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.*
I understand the need to world build and set up the background and individual plots of the main and secondary characters, but this did not focus on the romance aspect. There was more so an emphasis on the plot of a non-magical being having to enter into the forbidden/taboo world of the magical beings to save/teach his sister to manage and control her new found powers. Of course, I saw the little moments that did center on the main characters, but I wanted more.
I just came off reading another book with a similar background that managed to effectively balance the romance and the fantasy elements (Spellbreaker and Spellmaker). Perhaps, I was unable to leave that world behind to fairly judge this one. . .
*ARC provided by GRR, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.*
February 25, 2024
Things I liked about this story:
-the world building— details feel carefully scaffolded and the bigger picture of a world shaped by magic (and some dystopian responses to it) is intriguingly formed. I’d definitely like to see more stories in this setting.
-the premise. Magic tournament? Complicated political and social structures? An enemies-to-lovers connection and some fraught family dynamics? Check and check.
-(most) of the characters (we won’t speak of Anwer’s parents). Shay and Anwer’s sibling vibe is deep and spiky and relatable. The connection that develops between Chris and Anwar shows interesting facets of them both, and while I could have lived with it being a bit more of the focus of the story, ultimately it had some lovely moments.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
-the world building— details feel carefully scaffolded and the bigger picture of a world shaped by magic (and some dystopian responses to it) is intriguingly formed. I’d definitely like to see more stories in this setting.
-the premise. Magic tournament? Complicated political and social structures? An enemies-to-lovers connection and some fraught family dynamics? Check and check.
-(most) of the characters (we won’t speak of Anwer’s parents). Shay and Anwer’s sibling vibe is deep and spiky and relatable. The connection that develops between Chris and Anwar shows interesting facets of them both, and while I could have lived with it being a bit more of the focus of the story, ultimately it had some lovely moments.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
March 13, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
I found Just Like Magic to be a very surface-level book. The magic system, the world and it’s consequences, even the characters feel like only sketches somewhat filled in. Chris and Anwer do well at the initial animosity, as Anwer has been raised on anti-magic bigotry. A witch was responsible for his mother’s murder, as her car blew up in his face when he was a child, and his father and stepmother have made it their mission to control, regulate, and protect the world from further magical violence. But his bigotry goes away with a pretty bit of magic on Chris’ part. There’s no talk, no resolution, no need for Anwer to prove he’s changed. He just does.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
I found Just Like Magic to be a very surface-level book. The magic system, the world and it’s consequences, even the characters feel like only sketches somewhat filled in. Chris and Anwer do well at the initial animosity, as Anwer has been raised on anti-magic bigotry. A witch was responsible for his mother’s murder, as her car blew up in his face when he was a child, and his father and stepmother have made it their mission to control, regulate, and protect the world from further magical violence. But his bigotry goes away with a pretty bit of magic on Chris’ part. There’s no talk, no resolution, no need for Anwer to prove he’s changed. He just does.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
February 18, 2024
Such a great magical romance, it's a real enemies to lovers, as they are so firmly on opposite sides of a political magical landscape. Its a slow burn romance with fade to black, which I didn't hate, it went well with the flow of the story. I would say it felt like more of a happy for now than a real resolution of Chris and Anwer's romance story. I NEED MORE! I wanted their ending to really wrap up a lot more of their story but hopefully we will get that in the subsequent books, because it was sooo emotional towards the end. I was in tears!! Such a well written story, not read much of this author before but will definitely be following this series as there is still two more books to come and I can't wait for more stories!! I received an Arc of this book but the review is my own.
February 23, 2024
This was such a magical story!
The characters were really wonderful and their development was oh-so-satisfying. We are talking about every single one of them, not only the MCs.
I loved the magical system and all the magic that we experienced.
Anwer and Christian were amazing together. They are such nice guys and I loved the support they showed each other.
Let's not talk about Christian's final decision... It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The writing was also really good, even though I cannot handle a lot of chapters. I always prefer longer and fewer chapters. But I managed...
I cannot wait to read the second book!
Thank you to @gay.romance.reviews for the copy!
The characters were really wonderful and their development was oh-so-satisfying. We are talking about every single one of them, not only the MCs.
I loved the magical system and all the magic that we experienced.
Anwer and Christian were amazing together. They are such nice guys and I loved the support they showed each other.
Let's not talk about Christian's final decision... It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.
The writing was also really good, even though I cannot handle a lot of chapters. I always prefer longer and fewer chapters. But I managed...
I cannot wait to read the second book!
Thank you to @gay.romance.reviews for the copy!
July 18, 2025
Anwer walks a fine line. His parents are obsessively anti magic. He doesn’t really agree with them but can’t say anything. Then the unthinkable happens and his sister Shay develops magical abilities. Unable to help her himself he gets the best teacher for her. Unfortunately Christian is also the target of most of his parents rage and fears.
This was a quiet book. A slow burn, dislike to love. The magical aspect was interesting but at the same time seemed kind of vague. I liked the closeness of Anwer and Shay and thought they played well against each other. I didn’t really feel the connection between Anwer and Chris till the end of the story.
This was an okay book but I just didn’t connect to it.
I received an arc of this book.
This was a quiet book. A slow burn, dislike to love. The magical aspect was interesting but at the same time seemed kind of vague. I liked the closeness of Anwer and Shay and thought they played well against each other. I didn’t really feel the connection between Anwer and Chris till the end of the story.
This was an okay book but I just didn’t connect to it.
I received an arc of this book.
February 19, 2024
“Just Like Magic” is a lovely story about two men on opposite sides of the magic users divide overcoming past hurts and falling in love. I very much enjoyed it and strongly recommend it to those who enjoy strong plot lines, magical world building, some mystery, and two men falling in love.
I really enjoyed the character development. The reader learns about Chris and Anwer as they learn about each other, sucking you in to the story. They each have their strengths and weaknesses, but are good people at the core who come together over their mutual desire to protect Anwer’s sister – from intense dislike to begrudging respect to falling in love – with some last minute drama just to keep you on your toes.
The side characters are just interesting enough to make you want to read the next in series while still keeping the focus on our main couple.
I really enjoyed the character development. The reader learns about Chris and Anwer as they learn about each other, sucking you in to the story. They each have their strengths and weaknesses, but are good people at the core who come together over their mutual desire to protect Anwer’s sister – from intense dislike to begrudging respect to falling in love – with some last minute drama just to keep you on your toes.
The side characters are just interesting enough to make you want to read the next in series while still keeping the focus on our main couple.
February 16, 2024
I haven't encountered this author before, and I'm glad I took a chance on this book. I thought the way magic's relationship with mundane society was portrayed was interesting, and the characters were engaging and believable. I'm not sure I found the Big Climactic Gesture fulfilling, though. All in all, though this didn't hit five stars for me, this was a very enjoyable book, and I'll be looking for more from this author.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this book.
My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this book.
March 16, 2024
*I got this book for free, but this opinion is my own.*
I loved reading this book. It was a pleasure from start to end. The character dynamics are amusing, even funny, especially the siblings. That's one thing; the author is really good at puppeteering emotions, so you learn what to feel really quickly.
The only downsides I could come up with is that the move from hate to love was so fast, I got whiplash.
The other thing that I didn't like was that the main character has to show loyalty to his sister, but she never once shows loyalty back, only when it works best for her.
Other than that, I couldn't put the book down.
I loved reading this book. It was a pleasure from start to end. The character dynamics are amusing, even funny, especially the siblings. That's one thing; the author is really good at puppeteering emotions, so you learn what to feel really quickly.
The only downsides I could come up with is that the move from hate to love was so fast, I got whiplash.
The other thing that I didn't like was that the main character has to show loyalty to his sister, but she never once shows loyalty back, only when it works best for her.
Other than that, I couldn't put the book down.
February 26, 2024
The story is original. The characters are well written. The enemies to lovers trope is right on. I can't wait for book two. I ABSOLUTELY hated the ending. Love overcomes all obstacles....bleh. Bittersweet endings are not my thing.
The buildup to the Santiago was edge of seat stuff. Chris was the perfect teacher. The perfect advocate for magic users. An's love for his sister and his protectiveness was very sweet.
It was an intense, mostly enjoyable story. I just wish the ending.......
I received an advance copy of this book an this is my review.
The buildup to the Santiago was edge of seat stuff. Chris was the perfect teacher. The perfect advocate for magic users. An's love for his sister and his protectiveness was very sweet.
It was an intense, mostly enjoyable story. I just wish the ending.......
I received an advance copy of this book an this is my review.
February 28, 2024
This is a new author to me and I quite liked this book. I will say it did feel a little long at times and I would have loved more time to focus on the romance side of the plot. As a first book in a new series, there is a good amount of world building going on and that part was well executed. I liked the focus on magic which was super interesting and detailed, I just wish it was more balanced with the relationship. Original storytelling and I liked the characters. I’ll definitely read more from this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
March 1, 2024
The author did a great job of showing us things with the story and characters, not just telling us about them such as Chris" magical power, the initial animosity between Anwer and Chris and the surprise and fear when Shay's powers start to manifest. The romantic relationship that develops between Anwer and Chris is believable and nicely paced. I'm really looking forward to more in the series in hopes we get more world building and seeing if and how this society's view of magic and its practitioners evolves.
March 18, 2024
When I started reading this, I was interested in the magic theme, and getting to know the characters. I found that as I read on, I didn't really connect with the characters as I expected. They were likeable and endearing, but I didn't really relate to any of them. I also didn't really feel any of the romance or chemistry between the characters.
Thank you to Booksprout and the author for a free copy to review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you to Booksprout and the author for a free copy to review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2022
Better than anything I have read in a while, but
It ended happily, but was really more like a cliffhanger, or, at least, unresolved issues to me. Definitely not a total Happy Ever After, more like that nag in your chest, that says, more is needed, something missing. I was hoping vol 2 might resolve the issues, but the synopsis hints at a different couple...ah, maybe vol 3? I can hope...please. But, still, definitely 5 stars as opposed to the 3 stars I normally hand out.
It ended happily, but was really more like a cliffhanger, or, at least, unresolved issues to me. Definitely not a total Happy Ever After, more like that nag in your chest, that says, more is needed, something missing. I was hoping vol 2 might resolve the issues, but the synopsis hints at a different couple...ah, maybe vol 3? I can hope...please. But, still, definitely 5 stars as opposed to the 3 stars I normally hand out.
February 16, 2024
I didn't care for Anwer in the beginning. I get that he was raised that way, but I didn't like his attitude. I loved that he loved his sister & would do anything to protect her. When he meets Chris you can see he didn't want to like him, but readily agrees to a deal in exchange for Chris helping his sister. We finally watch them get close and things that start to unfold, causing them to grow close. The ending kind of ends on a minor cliffhanger, and I am looking forward to the next book.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
February 24, 2024
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I enjoyed it, the story is about Anwer and Chris who go from enemies to lovers, it starts off as quite a slow burn but does quicken up as the story progresses. The world building and character development and introductions is good, the story has some angst and is emotional in places as well but overall a good read, did not finish with a Hea and ended with a bit of a cliffhanger so I’m looking forward to reading what comes next in this series.
February 28, 2024
I'll be honest, at first I wasn't sure about this book. It seemed to start off a bit slow for me. But as I continued to read, the more invested I got in the characters. I really liked the characters in this book. Shay was a delight. I loved that magic wasn't just mentioned in passing and played a prominent role. The tournament was fun. When the conflict happened, I felt heartbroken for both MCs. I really enjoyed Just Like Magic and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews