As a part of the ARC-sharing group, #BookAllies, I received an advanced copy through in exchange for an honest review.

In this coming of age story, I appreciated the main character’s platonic friendship with the neighbor boy, the relatable struggle of balancing new and old friendships, and the way Josh Roberts depicted the setting. I loved the way Roberts described the different locations in Willow Cove, from the previously abandoned asylum to the cool, damp caves. Throughout the story, the author beautifully describes magic as a way of knitting the threads of nature’s magical elements together to make something happen. Readers who enjoy a bit of middle school drama mixed with supernatural adventure and suspense will love this book. My middle school self would be obsessed!

Perfect for fans of Hocus Pocus, this dark and mystical story contains just the right mix of ingredients needed for a fantastically-spooky witches’ brew…erm, I mean…for a fantastic middle-grade novel 😉

Set in a small town in Massachusetts – Willow Cove – the book begins on Halloween, setting the scene perfectly for things to come. We meet the main protagonists, Abby and Robby, as they are about to set off ‘trick or treating’. On their way, when they bump into Zeus (who is wearing a costume that completely contradicts his name!) and mention that they are actually headed for ‘Whispering Hill’, you just know that trouble (f)lies ahead…

The reader doesn’t have to wait long to find out what form that trouble takes, as the action kicks off early in the book, towards the end of the first chapter. I was completely hooked in by the time I had read the beginning of chapter two, and things only served to get better from there on in.

With new girl Becca arriving at their school, and the purple-haired Amethyst revealing the secret she shares with Abby, the two main characters begin to go their separate ways whilst the reader follows their two paths. This was cleverly-handled by Josh Roberts. Reading along with Robby and Abby as they learned about the mysterious ‘Miss Winters’, and sharing their different experiences with them, added to the suspense, until the two paths intertwined towards the end to reach a nail-biting yet satisfying conclusion.

Add into the cauldron flourishing friendships, first crushes, a great balance of likeable (and deliberately despicable) characters who all play their own important part in the book, and cute – yet unusual – animal ‘familiars’ and you have the perfect potion!

The Witches of Willow Cove makes the reader laugh, smile, gasp, cry, wince and hold their breath. I would recommend it to older middle-grade readers (11+) and young adults due to the romantic references and some sensitive content. I think the author has definitely left room for a sequel, and I would be first in line to read it!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The witches of Willow Cove is a fun, middle grade book about teen witches and haunting past. Up until 13th birthday Abby Shepherd thought she was a normal teenager but that all changed when she and her best friend, Robby sneaked into Whispering Hills, an abandoned place famous for ghosts haunting from the mental asylum. After their escapade goes weary, Abby learn something that stuns her. Abby is a witch and not only that, there are five of them along with her. Gradually they find out and with the arrival of Miss Winters, finally it felt like they have found someone who can teach them about witchcraft and magic.

Willow cove is a small town but it’s teeming with powerful secrets and a dark history. And now the past seems to be blurring with the present and something sinister is about to happen. Can Abby and the others truly trust Miss Winters? Why does Abby gets second thought about Miss Winters motives?

And what happens if Abby’s friends lives are in danger, will she be able to stop the wicked plans?

I loved this book. The author’s writing style was absolutely engaging. The narration was amazing because while we are following Abby’s story (present), the author also gives us glimpses of the past, its history and all. I never felt left out, all the characters including the villain were great.(my favorite was Zeus)

I also loved that this book kept a focus on friendship all while giving us a baffling mystery and a bewitching witches story.

Thank you netgalley, author and the publishers for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice easy read, it was definitely a welcome read in between a heavy fantasy month. I found that I read this book at night in bed where I just wanted to relax and wind down for the night and this was a perfect choice.

I did enjoy the characters I found that they were very complex and enjoyable. I felty like I built a good connection with them to the point where I wanted to know more regarding them and could sympathise with them.

The plot of this book I feel is really unique compared to other middle grade stories I have read before. I find it difficult to find original ideas especially in this age range and genre, they are normally the same stories written in a different way. The Witches of Willow Cove did not do this for me and therefore I enjoyed it a lot more.

I would recommend this book to others and will be recommending it to my friends.

I felt like this one dragged on a bit. The twists and turns of the witches and the mystery around Joanna was good and kept me wanting to know more. But I felt that there was a lot that happened in this book and some parts got a little boring.

The Witches of Willow Cove is a fun and engaging title, perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Hocus Pocus. Along with the exciting fantasy elements, readers will relate to the universal MG themes of friendship and finding your place. This book also fills the need for more upper MG with 13-year-old characters. Highly recommend.

Oh my god this book was so fun !!!
It's my first time reading middle grade books and I loved it !
The plot was awesome, the characters were so lovable!
My only wish is that we get a sequel to know more about the Order and if Joanna was right !!! I need more of this universe with all our witchy squad ! ❤️
5⭐

Really liked this book. Reminded me of Harry Potter meets Hocus Pocus. Excited to read more. Hopefully this becomes a series. It would also be good to adapt to TV.

This was just the most perfect escape and a reminder of why I fell in love with reader as a child. This middle grade, early teen, story is filled with adventure and friendships and it took this 42 year old right back to a time when I too believed that magic was real. The writing is superb and all the characters played a part. I loved the sense of comradeship and the hidden danger that lurked in every page. Abby, Robby, Zeus, Becca, and Amethyst reminded me of my childhood and the adventures and I thoroughly enjoyed being emerged in their world of witchcraft and mystery solving.

Another wonderful story from the amazing Owl Hollow Press publisher, and one that I’m sure young readers as well as oldies like me will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Owl Hollow Press for providing me with this book.

The Witches of Willow Cove was a really entertaining middle grade book with a strong cast of characters. I particularly enjoyed how they worked together, the friendships that were made and the mystery surrounding one character.
It should pleased everyone who loves witches and stories about teenagers discovering they are more than mere mortals.
Hopefully, we’ll get a sequel?! There is definitely room for it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this heartwarming and spooky MG novel. Abby and Robby are best friends who go in search of adventure on Halloween night and end up flying on Abby’s broom. Abby soon discovers she and some of her classmates are witches who are being trained by Miss Winters. However, it seems their training might end up endangering the lives of the witches in training and their friends.

Thank you to Netgalley, Owl Hollow Press, and Josh Roberts for a gifted advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read! There is lots of discovery, adventure, friendship hurdles, and, of course, magic!

Abby and Robby had no idea how their lives would change after their secret visit to the house on Whispering Hill! Witches exist and reside in Willow Cove, and there is one who has been around for hundreds of years that is suspicious and has a questionable history! New friendships are formed, old ones are put to the rest, and buried secrets are revealed!

I am a big fan of stories that include witches and magic, there is something so fun and mysterious about them! The characters are very likeable (with the exception of those we aren’t meant to like), and I like that the author brought together such a broad group of personalities! As someone who works in a vet clinic, I also appreciate the presence of a veterinarian!!

I find the magical components and the learning of magic to be believable in this middle grade story. The author does not give abilities so far beyond what you feel they should be, which helps with the believability. I enjoyed that the action and adventure start early on; it pulls the reader in right from the beginning and it is so easy to get caught up because you want to know how it will all play out!!!

I would definitely recommend this book and can’t wait to read the next one!!!

Excited to have read this Advanced Readers Copy from Josh Roberts! #BookAllies

This middle grade fantasy/adventure follows two middle schoolers who have been friends forever. Friendships, crushes and supernatural challenges are about to shake up everything! This story follows a centuries old mystery that has depth and emotion, all while staying true to what middle grade readers want and need in a book!

Readers will not have to wait to get sucked in, as the action and suspense start right away. As a teacher librarian I know that this is so important for young readers, and it will not be hard to sell them on this book.

Abby, Robby, and Zeus used to always hang around together, but middle school is hard on relationships. Zeus is busy with football, and Abby is tired of fielding questions from her mom about whether or not she LIKES Robby, especially since Robby is interested in the new girl, Becca. Things get weird when Ms. Winters moves into the long abandoned insane asylum on Whispering Hill, and luckily Abby meets Amethyst, who is able to give her some pointers about her new magic powers. At the same time, Robby's step mother disappears, in the very same way that his mother did year ago. It turns out that Willow Cove was once part of Salem, and there were six girls who were executed for being witches. Their descendants (at least the girls) seem to develop their own magic powers in middle school. Ms. Vickory, one of Abby's teachers, seems to know a bit about this, but she also disappears. While Abby is learning about her background from Ms. Winters (and not trusting her completely), Robby and Becca delve into the history of the town and its dealings with witchcraft. Will the two friends be able to figure out what Ms. Winters' evil plan is before more tragedy befalls the town?

Strengths: Witchcraft and magic are very appealing to middle grade readers; I remember repeatedly checking a book of spells out of the public library and being very disappointed they didn't actually work. Abby and the other girls are able to levitate, ride brooms, and do other typically witchy things. The tie to the history of the area is interesting, and the research that the children do is fairly thorough. The inclusion of an evil plan always makes things better, and it's great to also have some middle grade friend and romantic drama.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters to keep straight, and the magic powers could have been more fun.
What I really think: I'm not sure if I will purchase. It's not available from Follett, which the only source I use for books at this point.

I loved this book! It was keeping me on cliff hangers and I kept wanting to read it. It is different to other books because it always always keeps you interested and not wanting to stop reading.



I loved all the characters and all their personalities, my favourite is defiantly Abby and Amethyst.


It is about a group of young witches and their adventures as being witches! It is also about Robby and his friends Becka and Zuis going on an adventure to find out what happened to robby’s mum and stepmum


If this interest you I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to @joshwhowrites (Josh Roberts), #BookJunkies, Owl Hollow Press, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles, for allowing me to be an early reader of The Witches of Willow Cove by debut author, Josh Roberts, in exchange for an honest review. I loved this middle grade magical mystery! Best friends, Abby and Robby, get the surprise of their life on Halloween when they ride a witches’ broom through the sky! Quickly Abby finds out she is a witch from Miss Winters (a witch herself) but posing as a substitute teacher. With Miss Winters urging Abby identifies five other witches, but everyone must keep this secret, which is a problem for Abby because this secret causes a rift in her friendship with Robby. Robby is perplexed by Abby’s behavior and they grow apart. What I totally enjoyed about this debut novel was the quick and suspenseful pace of the plot; I could not stop turning the pages. As Abby and her “new” witch friends learn more about their powers from Miss Winters, Abby is also trying to figure out what happened to Robby’s mom and most recently, the disappearance of Robby’s stepmom. At the same time, Robby is trying with two friends to find out more about the Abby, the witches and their history in Willow Cove. Is the disappearance of his mom and stepmom connected? The pacing of the plot, the mysteries as they are revealed, and the friends’ relationship drama was authentic and gripping. Readers will relate to the friends’ drama; both Abby and Robby do not want to expose their friends to any danger, so they keep secrets and this causes judgments on both sides. I really enjoyed this debut novel, the teen witches, and the past of Willow Cove which definitely includes witch history. What will happen to teen witch Abby and her witch friends? Readers will be treated to an exciting, suspenseful read; highly recommended!

I loved this book! I could not put it down and read it in basically one sitting (I only stopped to eat) and I experienced the book grief for the first time in a long time. It had everything: mystery, magic and friendship. Exactly what you would hope from a kids book. I particularly enjoyed the fact that this story was plot driven, I could not wait to find out the answers to all of my questions that were bubbling every time that something happened. I could completely see this being one of those books the kids in my class would groan at me for stopping reading during story time.

I particularly loved how in this story, the step-mother was not portrayed as evil. So many children's books that are available have this trope and when we know there are an increasing number of children with step-parents, it is so important that we do not demonise them. Tina was such an amazing character, and I really like how much she cared for Robby.

My favourite character was Piper (although she is only a minor character in comparison to some of the others). I fully believe that if I were a witch I would want to be like Piper. She reminded me of a combination of your standard Hufflepuff from Harry Potter with  Osgood from Doctor Who.

I thoroughly enjoyed the elements of history entwined in the plot. I remember learning about the Salem witch trials at school and being disturbed by the treatment of women during that time, so revisiting it bought back a lot of memories of GSCE(?) history. I have a feeling that if children have not already learnt about the witch trials, this will definitely spur them on to research it for themselves.

The only fault I can pick with this book is there was quite a lot of romance in this book for a children's story. The teenagers in the book go to visit "Whispering Hill" which is renowned in their local community for teenagers visiting to make-out. At the start of this book, the characters are 12 which I feel is a little young for the parents to be accusing them of sneaking off. For this reason alone, I imagine the intended audience is the older section of the middle-grade category. I think possibly it could work for Year 5 if you have a particularly mature child.

I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars. I honestly think it is going to be a new favourite!

What a joy this was to read. The flow of the story had be from the word Witch and didn't let go till The End. From the first page the action starts up and keeps going and keeping, but not at a breakneck speed that leaves us whiplashed but enough that we can't put the book down and have to make it to the end to see where we end up.

There is nothing I like more than witches, well I love young witches a great deal more. I love all the exploration and uncertainty of the young. Each character is their own person and you can tell them apart. None of that #hasthtag let's be TikTok hip with our novels. Just genuine characters in extraordinary circumstances.

The insta-love did annoy me a bit and I hoped a middle grades book would avoid it like the plague but it was easy to just skip over and get back to the good stuff. I'm really tired of every YA and now middle grades book throwing in love, relationships and insta-love at us. At this point its not necessary and we are growing weary of it.

I like the dual main characters aspect and the back an forth between them, with their stories converging in the end. It was very George R.R. Martin in that respect. The author never lost the story thread for each man character and was able to juggling the competing point of views.

The Witches of Willow Cove is a spooky supernatural adventure. It combines the adventures that only can occur in middle school with the bonds of friendship that know no end. I felt bonded to Abby and her friends as they worked to navigate the mystery of their town - all while trying to not get grounded! You will cheer for the bonds of friendship from childhood and shutter with the memories of bullies. The characters represent a variety of personalities - showing that there is room for everyone. The struggles are real - but age appropriate for Middle Grades. I highly recommend this book and can not wait to see what Josh has in store for us next time.

eARC WAS PROVIDED TO ME BY NETGALLEY FOR A FAIR AND HONEST REVIEW

As I was looking through Netgalley, searching for a new middle grade, I stumbled across The Witches of Willow Cove by Josh Roberts, and was immediately intrigued. How could you not be, when the first line of the description is “Six teenage witches. One mysterious stranger. A secret that could destroy them all.”

I was incredibly pleased with how much I enjoyed reading this book. I quite honestly did not want to put it down! It is about a whole group of thirteen year olds learning to navigate life, relationships, friendships, and of course a whole lot of weird magic and mysterious happenings!

Right off the bat I loved how Roberts truly gave us thirteen year olds that felt like thirteen year olds. They didn’t feel too young or too old for their age, which is unfortunately a common occurrence in YA and Middle grade fiction for me lately. And even more important I think is how little we are seeing of this age demographic in fiction now a days. We need more of this younger YA about the 11 to 14/15 year olds that are sorely lacking in a lot of the YA that has been aged up so much.

We start with Abby and Robby, who are both incredible characters, who are best friends and neighbours, and one night - the eve of Abby’s thirteenth birthday - they fall into the hands of a truly terrifying woman who makes them have to jump of a cliff to escape. But instead of falling into the water or onto some rocks, surprise, but Abby learns she can fly!! (Reminder, it’s halloween, they’re dressed up as a witch and wizard, fittingly. Abby has her broomstick of course!)

This sets off a chain of events which separates Robby and Abby as both make new relationships, start hiding things from one another, and have magic introduced into their lives. From the word go I was hooked - Roberts’ writing is incredibly polished, and he weaves a story like a complete pro.

One of the two main things that I loved most about the story was the friendship group. I loved how realistic and tenuous the relationships/friendships are, but also how foundational they all are (as many of our relationships are at that age). I will never say no to a group of friends that all band together to save the day in a book, especially when five of them are witches!

The second thing I loved about this story is how Roberts’ weaved history and magic into the narrative. As the kids find out about the history of Willow’s Hill and the five girls’ common ancestor, so does the magic ramp up in the story. With Robby, Zeus, and Becca on one side coming in with their research, and the five girls who are learning to perfect their magical abilities, this was an incredibly well crafted story right down to the very last historical detail.

I highly recommend you pick up this book when it is released!! It was so much fun and a super quick read.