I think I am a smidge too old for this title. It is definately for a young audience, and is a fluffy read. Not for me, but I can definately think of some customers that would enjoy this

I was pretty surprised by how much I really enjoyed The Best Kind of Magic. I flew threw it and read it in just a day. There are lots of different magical elements in this book as well as different magical beings; witches, vampires, werewolves, goblins, fairies and more! It was a lot of fun to read and had me laughing out loud quite a bit. Amber was pretty funny with all her sarcastic remarks and jokes. She was such a fun character. Honestly, the entire book had a good cast of characters that fit well with it.

Amber isn’t a witch like her mother, but she has the magical ability to look at someone and know who their match is; who they’ll spend their lives with. She can see everyone’s matches except for her own. That was a really interesting part of the book. She starts falling for Charlie (who I loved!) as she helps him find his father’s missing girlfriend, but she’s seen his match and it’s not her. That was a little frustrating, because I was really hoping it would be her. Even if Charlie isn’t Amber’s match, deep down I’m still rooting for them. Her best friend Amani is a precog, which means she can see visions of the future. I really loved Amani and Amber’s friendship throughout the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Best Kind of Magic. There was a bit of an adventure with Amber and Charlie running around Chicago looking for Charlie’s father’s girlfriend and that was fun. I really liked that it also throws fate into the mix and gives you a lot to think about when it comes to it. One thing that I noticed is that at times I forgot that Amber was in high school, because sometimes she would come off as a lot younger than someone in high school. Overall that aspect of it didn’t hurt how much I enjoyed the story though. I still had fun reading it and there are a lot of unanswered questions (and a twist) that I am really looking forward to seeing answered in the sequel.

Do you believe in fate? Do you think our lives are predetermined or do you think our choices are the ones that determine our destiny?

A powerful story of learning to believe in yourself and to appreciate the gifts life has given you. Brimming with raw, heartfelt emotion and plenty of ups and downs, my only complaint as a lover of a great happily ever after is that the ending will leave you wanting more.

I'll admit, I had pretty high expectations for The Best Kind of Magic. I mean, how cool must it be, to be able to actually see true love? And while it's frustrating for her, I did like the fact that Amber couldn't see who her true love was and that she ended up falling for someone who she knew had another person as their "true love".

The plot is very predictable, but I think it does a fairly good job of mixing traditional magic elements with modern witchcraft and the real world with supernatural creatures even if the story fell flat most of the time. So while I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would, I didn't hate it per say. However, I will say that this is a book that would definitely appeal more to a younger YA audience, as well as those who enjoy teen sitcoms like The Wizards of Waverly Place or Every Witch Way.

This book was fun and light to read. I really enjoyed the story and the characters. But I have to say, some parts of the book I was a little bored. It just felt like there is no real plot or the same plot twists over and over again. I love this story anyways and will definitly buy the physical story and the second book.
Altough the book doesn't quite end with a big cliff hanger, I still care how this story will go on.
I will recommend this book to anyone who would like to have a fun read. And who love sarcastic characters.
Much love from me to this wonderfull and entertaining book!

(The same as in our blog)

Amber Sand comes from a long line of witches. Unfortunately, she's not a witch. She does have one magical power, though. She can see true love which makes her a matchmaker. She works at her mother's magic shop - Windy City Magic - on Navy Pier in downtown Chicago. Despite being able to see a person's true love when looking in their eyes, she is unable to see her own true love. Her best friend Amani is a precog who has visions of the future but they have made a pledge not to tell each other what they see.

Beyond the magic, Amber is an ordinary teen. She's good at school. She and her best friend are slackers in Phy. Ed. And she has conflicts with Ivy who is a siren and who seems to delight in making Amber look bad. Her dream is to become a pastry chef but she hasn't submitted her application to the Chicago Culinary Institute for fear of not being accepted. I love her quirky personality and way of looking at things around her.

When Charlie Blitzman, son of the mayor and crush magnet at her school, comes to her for help, she tries to discourage him. He wants to find her father's fiance who is missing because his father wants her back. After seeing a picture, she knows that she isn't the mayor's true love. During their investigation she and Charlie explore different parts of Chicago's supernatural scene and fall in love. Amber tries to discourage this and protect her heart because she has seen his true love -- and it's not her.

When she runs into Amani's true love during the investigation, she introduces Amani to him. Only, she hates him. This makes Amber question her gift. Are all the matches she sees really true love? Or are there exceptions? And, if there are exceptions, might she and Charlie be a match after all?

This was a fun story. I liked the magic and the romance.

4 stars out of 5

This book was so cute, I really loved it. It had a little bit of a shaky start, but after a few chapters, I was fully engrossed, and I’m very much looking forward to the sequel.

Amber was a fab main character. Apart from being really funny, she was very relatable. As a matchmaker, she was often looked down upon for not being a “proper” witch. It wasn’t that she wasn’t powerful and good at what she did, but rather that what she did was very specific, and didn’t have many other applications. The other witches viewed her as not really one of them, and Amber often felt left out because she wasn’t allowed to attend coven meetings or really know what was going on in the witchy world. Sometimes she thought her own mother wished she could be different and carry on the family tradition, and I could really sympathise with her. That being said, she was a top notch matchmaker, and seemed to know a lot about the supernatural world. Amber could be a little judgmental at times, but she had a tough time at school and I could understand why she acted that way. I also found myself deeply relating to her on a person level when she was talking about group projects – they really are the worst.

Amani was another great character! She was Amber’s best friend and I really believed their relationship. Amani was very funny too, and she knew that Amber often felt like she wasn’t good enough because she was “only” a matchmaker, and did her best to be there for her. She was often a bit on edge when it came to her precognition though, and I would definitely love to see more of that in the next book, and get to explore her power a bit. It was interesting, and the way she never wanted to reveal anything about Amber’s future had me curious. And her reaction to Vincent! I am very intrigued to see what happens there (is there hope yet?).

Charlie was really lovely, and I very much enjoyed seeing his relationship with Amber develop. He originally approached her for help finding his missing stepmother, but as he became more acquainted with the supernatural world, he and Amber got a lot closer, and it was so cute! I do wish we had found out a little bit more about him (maybe in the next book) but overall, I liked him. He was sweet and had a lot of great lines that made me smile and laugh. I could completely understand Amber’s struggle in regard to her feelings for him – he wasn’t her match, and her whole business was finding people their matches. She kept thinking that surely she would be a fraud, a terrible person for being with Charlie when she knew some other girl was really the one for him? It was a difficult situation to be in!

Plot-wise, this book started off a little slow, and the writing was kind of cheesy to begin with, but as I said, a few chapters in and I was really engaged. I loved exploring Amber’s supernatural world and seeing how she used her matchmaking power. I actually wish this had been explored a little more, because I wasn’t a 100% sure how Amber’s powers worked (but then, neither did she!) and it was strange that she was still putting so much stock in who was and wasn’t a match when she was in such a tangled situation herself. However, I know this is a series (and I am very glad), so hopefully we’ll get some more answers in book two (especially after Kim joined the mix! Kim! And what did the Fate guy mean?! So many questions!). I am personally hoping the next book will be from Amber’s POV again, just because I really enjoyed her narrative, but I’ll still be reading it even if it’s not!

Overall this was a very fun, very adorable read, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something fairly light-hearted with a bit of magic. Now to wait for book two!

Amber is a match maker. That's cool, right? Not necessarily. Her mom is a powerful witch and the magic (except the matchmaking) completely skipped Amber. And being a matchmaker doesn't make her very popular. People don't like hearing that the person they're with isn't the person they are destined to be with. When the son of her mom's best friend comes to her with a problem, Amber isn't sure what to think. She wants to help him, but he's always so aloof at school. When they team up, sparks fly, but Amber knows she isn't the girl for him. That doesn't keep her from having feelings though.
Overall this was a fast and interesting read. I actually want to know what's going to happen in the next book.

This was such a fun bit of escapism for my weekend reading! I will be passing it along to any of my middle and high school students who enjoy romantic stories with a bit of magic.

Quick note while reading this: the e-galley is missing random paragraphs and pages, making the reading experience *very* frustrating. This was a cute story, with significant problems. First Wicca is treated not as a religion, but as genetics. Second, several elements are thrown in just to fill the need for diversity, but are not fully explored. For instance, the usage of American Sign Language and that the best friend is a Person of Color feels that they were added just to check off boxes. Third, there was absolutely no character development.
I am honestly unsure I can recommend this book in good faith to a reader.

The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari was an enchanting read (pun COMPLETELY intended)! Although it is a YA book, I found it refreshing that the couples in the book did not take their physical relationship any further than kissing. Full disclosure: If you are considering whether or not to recommend this book to a middle grade audience, there is an extremely mild usage of profanity (I counted 6 utterances).

I loved the idea of this book...what would you do if you were falling for someone but were able to see that their match was someone else? Would you step aside or take a chance? I was hooked on this book from the get-go.

Supernatural beings in this book include: witches, vampires, fairies, leprechauns, goblins, shape-shifters, and possibly others I am forgetting. If you don't enjoy at the very least a touch of paranormal, this may not be the book for you.

This book takes place in Chicago, which was a fun setting.

I don't like to give spoilers in my reviews, so I will just say that I fell in love with the main characters in this book and am invested in their story. I look forward to the release of the next book in the series and can't wait to see where their story leads.

Thank you to Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was an enjoyable read that was just the right amount of reality and escape. The narrator was sassy and sarcastic with a good sense of humor and the story line featured adventure and love and everything else you need to make a good read. The entire time I truly felt for Amber and what she was going through and wishing that she wouldn't fall for who she did, all the while wanting her to because they are so good together! The question of Fate vs. Choice was an interesting struggle to read and brought up some interesting points. The world was fascinating and was reminiscent of other urban fantasies--ie Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc, and as a result gave me a sense of nostalgia as I eagerly dove back into the world of the Supernatural. Overall, I'd definitely recommend the book to a friend and plan to pick the second one up.

When you first open the book and start reading, it seems a little genetic, you know Amber telling you she is not a witch and how high (or low) she ranks in the witch and mythological world and what she does with her magic. But after that is all sweetness and unicorns.

Literally.

Amber loves sugar and unicorns.

Amber sees people’s soulmates, not creepy, not dangerous, just sweet and charming. But then she gets involved with this kid, Charlie, who wants his dad, the mayor, to not find his fiance. The major asked Amber’s mom, and actual powerful witch to help him find her because he loves her, but Charlie thinks she is a gold digger.

Amber knows she is not a witch therefore she can’t just find the mayor’s fiance like her mom would so instead of asking for her mom’s help, she, Charlie and Amani create their own adventure trying to figure out where the fiance is and in the process learn more about themselves.

Amber learns that Charlie has a soulmate and finally meets her best friend’s soulmate. Charlie learns about mythical creatures and falls in love for the first time. Amani finally meets her soulmate and in some ways starts to actually deal with her power.

What I liked about TBKOM is that the drama is at a bare minimum. There was the classic bad high school girls, but this time they were being lead by an actual siren. Also there were other creatures in school and somehow being a witch or a matchmaker or a mythological creature wasn’t something people really freaked out about.

Also there were no real life threatening events. It was all very normal, very human and relatable story of two young people falling in love.

The reason it has five stars is because it is a romantic novel that is real. Aside from the magic part of things. It’s just realistic, the way love develops and how we as humans learn to express it and deal with it.

The Best Kind of Magic is full of sense of humor and charm and it’s just the perfect kind of book that keeps you reading and reading not wanting to stop and leaves you with a smile on your face. The perfect book to read whenever you feel down or want an easy, fast and lovely story.

Amber, Charlie and the Windy City Magic are more than a romantic teenage story. This book is not only about falling in love, but knowing from the get go that it is not meant to be.

And then Charlie is just fantastic so it would be hard to not fall for him even if Amber knows he is not her match. And he is adorable, with the glasses and saying all the right things. So yes I loved him and all he represents.

Amber Sands is a matchmaker; she can see everyone's perfect match, except for her own. In the paranormal world, Amber is just a step above a troll, she isn't respected like her witch mother. So when Amber is tasked with learning the truth about her childhood friend's soon to be stepmother, she will dive right into the paranormal world, determined not to need her mother's help. This story was fun, easy to follow and I was pretty bummed that I have to wait a whole year to hear more about Amber and Charlie's story. Will be highly recommending!

This was a wonderful book! I enjoyed the romp through a slightly alternative universe in which magical beings walk among us . The plot was just romantic enough to appeal to young readers. Fantastic. I'm definitely buying it for my middle school library!

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the different types of magic that was present in the book, the whole magical world really came to life within my own imagination. It was well written and descriptive, and kept me captivated and on the edge of my seat, especially closer to the end! I cannot wait for a second book!
I will be recommending this book to my teenage niece and her friends, who also enjoy a bit of magic cand romance.

'The Best Kind of Magic' is a pefect reading material for those who look for a bit of magic as well as appreciate good sense of humour. The main protagonist - Amber is a matchmaker amongst witches but it's not as big a problem for her as the fact that she cannot foresee her own match. To make things worse the boy (Charlie) she falls for seems to have a match that's not Amber. At the end I felt the lack of closure to their story but it can be justified by the fact that it's the first part of the series therefore it ends with a cliffhanger. A really light reading. The no crying, no serious drama love story with a pinch of magic. Enjoy!

The best kind of book; the best kind of read. Most uplifting, beautiful, and magical. This book made me deliriously happy. I'm buying the hardcover when it comes out. This book is a keeper.

Cute, cute, cute.

This gorgeus looking book was provided by Disney hyperion for an honest review and I am really thankful I got approved to this.

Do you remember Kiersten Whites super cute Paranormal trilogie that I loved? This reminded me so much, I want to reread Kiersten White!

But don't worry, Cestari knows how to take her spotlight. Best kind of magic is a sweet lovestory with lots of paranormal beings strolling around. Set in Urban Chigaco I really got in the mood for a holiday. Her describtions of this town are wonderful and engaging, a perfect setting for a little magic.

Amber is our guide in this new world. With her bestie Amani she'll encounter many monsters and fairytale beings in her quest to help Charlie, son of her mothers best friend and son of the mayor! Her matchmaking ability showed her clearly that she isn't the love of Charlie's life, but knowing so isn't helping her falling for him... And while they have their adventures in the chigaco underground with Vampire encounters and goblins along the way, the reader starts to question her talent, as it is clear that these two match so so well. Well written chemistry waves off the pages from them.

I loved Ambers reluctance, fearing the big, eventually happening, heart break and her thoughts on it. Next to the lovestory, it was the friendship between her and Amani that I really enjoyed. Also the fact that amani got so hung up on her perfect match that he couldn't swoon her anymore later on. Ha! Nice little nod towards building high expectations!

I'm not sure I would have needed a series out of this, the ending is kinda okayish to read as a stand alone. Everyone is responsible for his own fate, I like this message. Well let's see what Book 2 has in store for us!



** thanks to netgalley and Disney Hyperion for providing me this ARC for an honest review. Review will be published on my goodreads and my blog on publication date**