This is the second book in a series, and I highly recommend reading book 1, The Babysitter’s Coven, first, so that you understand a lot of what is happening.

This story takes place over the span of a few days and picks up shortly after the first one. Everything started around Halloween for Esme and Cassandra, now it’s almost Christmas. In some ways a lot has changed over that time, but in other ways much is the same. Esme and Cassandra are now more secure in their powers and things are going well-ish on the Sitter front, but things in their personal lives are pretty shaky… especially Esme’s.

Esme is still a combination of strong, her dedication to the children she babysits and the people she protects; and fragile, with her ever-growing concerns about her dad. She puts other’s needs before her own, but is forced to put the secrets of the Sitters ahead of her loyalty to her best friend, Janis, and she hates it.

And while the story is still told from Esme’s point of view, we get to see more vulnerability from Cassandra this time around. Though she does continue to have a hard outer shell and is infinitely quirky.

We are introduced to several new Sitters in this story, and it appears they will continue to play a part in the next installment as well. I enjoyed learning more about Sitter history and the Sitter lifestyle through them. And while in the beginning, it looks like they are distrustful of Cass and Esme, the others ultimately have their backs and become great friends.

I don’t want to say too much more to avoid spoilers, but I will say that this book did not disappoint and was a lot of fun, though it did have it’s emotional moments as well. I’m definitely looking forward to book 3!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher {Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press} in exchance for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was not quite as good as the first book, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Still not QUITE sure what’s going on with the characters but it’s fun!

Not as good as the first book, but still a fun read! The pacing and plot were lagging. It's fun to revisit these characters. I would read the third book for sure!

I fell in love with this series after the first book, and I was so glad that the second book was just as much fun! Sure, it's definitely cheesy and campy at times, but that's exactly what makes this book so charming and wonderful. The 90's references bring me right back to my own childhood, and the outfits that Esme and Janis are always pulling together are genius. Pig will always be my favorite character and I'm sure I'm not the first one to say that, I would love to know where to find my own dog who is just as great!

One of the best parts of this book is the tension created for the characters--just when you think things can't get any worse, Kate Williams throws yet another curveball at the characters that leave the reader wondering just how they will manage to get themselves out of these predicaments! When my own anxiety starts to spike because of what characters are experiencing, I know the author has done their job well!

FOR BETTER OR CURSED is the sequel to THE BABYSITTER'S COVEN. I loved the first installment so much. It had a sense of nostalgia to it. It had all the ingredients and trappings that teleported me back to everything I loved about 1990s kidlit and pop culture. FOR BETTER OR CURSED is a suitable sequel, but it did suffer a little from sophomore book slump. The plot had so many promising fun things, but the execution wasn't what I expected exactly. I was so fascinated by the Summit, the Synod, and the worldbuilding, characters, but each took a different creative turn than I had hoped. That's not a bad thing though. I still enjoyed the ride overall and I'd love to read more from Williams.

3.5 stars but I'll round it to 4 stars/5 stars

Esme and Cassandra's relationship is at a point where they understand each other based on body language and unspoken words. This growth in the relationship shows how well they work together as sitters. Their friendship was one of the main reasons I kept reading.
The Summit and meeting the Synod dragged the story along. I was bored for the first 50% because it felt like nothing was happening. The ending felt wrapped up and rushed. In the first book, the resolution was complex with different layers that left you amazed and with so many questions begging for a sequel. In this finale, I wasn't reading each page with anticipation.
For Better or Cursed felt like a filler to get to the next book. I will read the third book because I have questions.

Good followup. I really love these books they are quirky and goth-y which I personally love. Perfect for fans of Buffy! Overall this one was good but I did like the first book a bit more

I did not finish this ARC because I did not get a chance to read the first novel. I am hoping to check this series out soon. Thanks for the early copy.

Honestly, this was a bit of a let-down compared to the first book in the series.

The appeal of the first book was that it was light-hearted and fun, while tackling a few more serious issues and though this sequel delivered the same good pacing, interesting themes, and diverse representation as the first book. In many ways they were very much the same. However it's always harder for a sequel to live up to the first books hype, because it has to feel different and add new information. I personally didn't find this book to be different ENOUGH from the first book to make me be wowed by it. It wasn't a bad read through, just not gripping enough for a high star rating.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

For Better or Cursed is the sequel to the 2019-release, The Babysitters Coven. In this installment, Esme and Cassandra, are beginning to settle into their new normal. They're back at school, babysitting and continuing to learn under Coach Brian's tutelage.

Cassandra's behavior seems a little odd lately, so they've been trying to figure that out as well. She's blacking out and doing incredibly bizarre things during these spells. The girls think she may be suffering from the the effects of a curse, so clearly, that's not good.

In addition to all of this, they receive news that the Synod, the Sisterhood's governing body, has called a Summit and it's going to be in their hometown. In fact, Esme and Cassandra are responsible for planning the grand finale party for the weekend. They're so not prepared for that. Luckily, Brian's interior design skills and expert social event knowledge will definitely come in handy.

I loved the Summit. It was attended by witches from all over the world. The introduction of some new characters was a lot of fun to read. They all stayed at the same hotel and attended classes where they learned more about Sitting and the many threats they are facing. I thought this was a great plot device to build-out the concepts of this world. Incidentally, the girls learning more about Sitting allowed the Reader to learn more right along with them.

As with the first book, I loved the humor in this. It's silly, completely ridiculous and over the top, and because of this, a perfect escape from the world. I laughed so many times. Esme's perspective is dry and hilarious. The most insane things happen during the course of this story. There's never a dull moment. The scenes in the hotel room trying to capture the chicken; I was in tears.

Overall, I think this series, despite its minor flaws, is highly entertaining. It's not perfect, but if you enjoy spoofy types of humor, you could really enjoy this.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I will absolutely be picking up the third book when it releases later this year!

I enjoyed the first book immensely. This book was a bit disappointing. The story is slow and about 30% into it I had no clue where the author was planning to go with it. Cassandra was annoying, and while I wanted to like her, I felt that she treated her brother like dirt and doesn't want to ask for help when it's obvious she needed it.

In this sequel, Esme is just starting to get used to being a demon-fighting babysitter, the governing body known as the Synod calls a once in a generation summit. Should be a cool event, except Esme can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right, and there’s this seemingly perfect guy. It’s all probably too good to be true. There are sure to be demons lurking, and the girls will have to get themselves out of a tough spot.

I continue to enjoy the exploits of Esme and Cassandra. Fast-paced, quick witted, and plenty of battling evil, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It moves quickly with lots of action and antics. Also, Pig is still the coolest name for a dog, ever, and hiding her and Janice in Esme’s hotel room is a complete riot. If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll probably like this one too, and if you haven’t read The Babysitter’s Coven, what are you waiting for?

I didn't like the first book in this series, but I wanted to give book two a try with an open mind. I had the same issues with this book as I did with book one. It then took a weird turn, and I wasn't a fan of the second half. I think that younger teens would like this a lot. I just found it to be lacking.

Im not sure i was the right audience for this book as i felt extremely disconnected from the story and characters. I almost felt as if there was a book before this and i missed it so character development for me wasnt that great. I also felt as if id read this book before.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Kate Williams for an advanced copy of this book! I loved the first book and dare I say the second one is even better. There's still tons of Esme, Cass, Janis, Pig and Brian, but you get to meet more Sitters and the Synod. The pop culture references and fashion are once again on point and the book is hilarious. I can't wait for the next one!

For Better or Cursed is the second installment in the Babysitters Coven series, and this time around, Cassandra and Esme attend their first Summit, which descends (surprisingly) on their boring hometown, introducing them to the global Sitterhood network — charged with protecting kids and preventing demonic portals — and its governing body, the Synod. This would be cool, if it meant the Synod would take another look at Esme’s mom’s curse. And if Esme’s dad hadn’t suddenly vanished with no warning. And if Cassandra weren’t totally acting possessed. And if Esme’s non-Sitter best friend hadn’t sneaked into the Summit hotel because knowing Esme’s secret has made her afraid to stay home alone. And if something shady weren’t going on with portals and the Synod. And — you know what, actually things are a big mess, and Esme’s going to have to figure out how to save the dog, the day, and the world — again.

If you liked The Babysitters Coven, this is a fun, action-packed return to that world — set just a couple of months after the dramatic events of the first book. The wider world of the Sitterhood is pretty interesting, and while some of the Summit stuff feels a little ridiculous and forced, that doesn’t make it less funny and entertaining. I didn't like this as much as the first book, but I’m definitely planning to read the next one.

** Thank you NetGalley for a free review ecopy in exchange for an honest review**
This was not a great sequel. I thought there were a lot of plot holes, the story was not compelling enough for me to remember what happened and I found the new characters we met to be also be forgettable. I see what this series is trying to do but it was just meh for me. I will most likely not be carrying on with this series.

The Babysitters Coven quickly became one of my all time favorite books so I had high hopes for the sequel--and it did not disappoint. Stepping into this world just feels me with joy and 90s nostalgia. I absolutely love that Kate Williams perfectly captures the mood of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and campy 90s movies. Esme, while a magical sitter, somehow remains a super relatable main character that has a lot of normal teenage problems in her life. I love the girls friendship and commitment to love and protect each other in this world where so much doesn't make sense. This series is a must read for anyone who loves paranormal stories!

I feel so fortunate to have the oppurtunity to continue with Esme and Cassandras story. As with the first book the world building as terrific and I truly got a chance to dive into this unique magic system with the girls. I love a good strong female protagonist and this book gave me two!

There are quite a few things I wish to know more about so I am looking forward to the announcement of book three and will once again scour netgalley for it.

For Kate Williams' promising sequel to The Babysitter's Coven Cass and Esme return for more demon crushing exploits with a few road-blocks on the way. Since Cass returned from the Negative, she has been having weird episodes that cause her to lose her sense of self. One minute she can be driving, and the next she begins having fits of laughter or rage that she cannot control. One of the most frustrating parts for me as a reader was having to see her and Esme hide these episodes from their families and Bryan, their babysitter mentor. I know that it is part of Cass' personality to be stubborn, and honestly this is also what drives the plot sometimes, but it was frustrating nonetheless.

On top of this, the Babysitter Council has decided to host a huge gathering in their little town which makes Esme and Cass hosts! As exciting as this sounds, I felt this sequel took a little longer to get to the exciting parts of the novel. Normally I enjoy a good book party, but I felt that there were a lot of issues that Esme had to overcome as a character (the above mentioned as well as some family issues, boy issues, and unexpected demons flooding their town) and it became overwhelming to keep up. Despite my setback of feeling overwhelmed, I did finish the book and was very surprised with the final result of it. This was a reminder of how even though someone can have a lot going on in their life, there will always be help along the way. In the end, I felt that this book was important to have in order to continue Esme and Cass' story.

One of the exciting parts is that the continuation will be coming out in Fall 2021, and there is still so much more to experience with our favorite demon fighting babysitters!