So much about this was right up my alley but I struggled to get into it. Loved some of the pop-culture references and the descriptions of the different families. The romance was decent but not the main storyline so it was a lot of making eyes at each other kind of thing.

3.5 stars

Easily the best of this fall’s witchy rom-com slate. I super liked the magical tournament aspect. I had a couple quibbles/questions about the worldbuilding but overall appreciated that it wasn’t hollow — it wasn’t surface-level, which is all I ask for. Re: the romance itself… hmm. I liked both MCs but felt something was lacking. Maybe it was the single POV? Too much focus on Asshole Gareth? I don’t know. But I definitely think this is worth a read and I’ll try the second installment in the series.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Really 3. 5 stars. I really enjoyed the premise of having the gauntlet/tournament and having the various magical challenges. Maybe it's my failing, because I don't normally read romance, but I just didn't buy that Emmy's romance with Gareth would have meant she completely derailed her life and abandoned her family. Or that the parents of an only child would actually leave her alone if she ran away. I also didn't really buy the romance between Talia and Emmy, and I though the ending was too saccharine, and I was particularly irked that Emmy thought it would be ethical to recommend her company exclusively use Talia's family business. All that being said, I like the atmosphere of Thistle Grove, and the concept of how the magic worked there.

tried but I found myself bored and slightly frustrated with the storyline and @dnf at 50%.

*Spoiler Alert*

Also what kind of best friend dates the ex of said friend and tries to play it off like it wasn’t a big deal? Especially after the heartbreak your best friend suffered!! Seriously?

This was such a fun read. It definitely lived up the the Sabrina meets The L Word blurb. With a bit of John Tucker Must Die and the town of Thistle Grove has some serious Salem vibes!

The atmosphere made it the most perfect October read - plenty of spells and sorcery, spooky season vibes, and just the right balance of F/F romance, female friendships, and revenge to create a perfect potion of dark and magical witchy fun!

I loved all the characters and the buildup and tension - who wouldn't want to live in a big witchy family?! And rival families competing in a spellcasting tournament?! My most favorite part.

I need this to be a movie one day soon!! Please!?

This book sadly was not for me. I did not enjoy the plotlines and often felt confused with the various families. I'm thinking witchy romances are just not up my alley!

This book was a fun read, and its Autumn release was timing perfected. I think it is very likely that I will read others in the series. The writing was fine, and while I found the book entertaining, it didn't stand out for me in any big way.

Lana Harper's debut novel, Payback's a Witch, is the first book in The Witches of Thistle Grove series. If you love witchy romance (and exes), small-town magic, friendship, and lighthearted tales of revenge, this is going to be a series worth checking out.

Emmy Harlow is not a powerful witch. Nobody in her family is. They're the Harlows of Thistle Grove, which makes them the weakest of the witchy families. Perhaps that is why it was so easy for Emmy to walk away from it all. The town and her magic both.

Okay, having her heart broken certainly helped get her to leave – and stay away. But now Emmy must come home, for there's a magical tournament happening in Thistle Grove, and they need the youngest of the Harlow's to officiate it. Just what Emmy needed.

You better believe that I signed up for Payback's a Witch as fast as I could possibly manage! This is one of three 'light witch' novels I read this Halloween season, and I had SO much fun with this little binge of mine.

I love the idea of modern witch society. I don't care if it is super light and fluffy or all dark academia. I'll take what I can get and be happy with it. For example, there's Payback's a Witch. This book had a lot of fun elements: a magical town with a magical tournament, a wealthy/powerful ex, and a broken heart. Oh! Not to mention a sapphic romance. Yes, please!

Learning about the different Thistle Grove families was so much fun, and I can't wait to see what we'll learn in the next novel. At the moment, the Harlows are my favorite, though, given their predilection towards books, that's no real surprise.

Talia's character is amazingly badass, and I'm not going to lie – I would love to learn more about her family (Avramov) as well. Actually, I want to learn about all the families! So, when's the next book dropping? (Answer: According to Goodreads, From Bad to Cursed is releasing on May 17, 2022).

This is a book I almost didn’t read, because romance books that also have magic tend to be written in a way I don’t like. But I loved this! This is John Tucker Must Die meets the Tri-Wizard Tournament, set in a town that’s a mix of the vibes from Practical Magic and Halloweentown, AND featuring a romance between two bi women. It’s truly a delight.

Lana Harper was a guest on the Fresh Fiction podcast on our October 22nd episode about pop culture witches. You can find a link to that episode here: https://freshfiction.podbean.com/e/a-riches-of-witches-lana-harper/

3.75 rounding up

What is the best way to get back at an ex who wronged you? Entice the magic world of hexes and witchcraft to knock that ass off his high horse!
A more adult and LGBTQ+ version of All of us Villains.

A story of revenge is always the best cure-all for a reading slump, and I got that sweet dose of revenge with this book. The atmosphere and characters set the tone of both an enchanting and haunting read, and the balance within each character was so good!
ALSO, I am in love with how Talia's magic and family magic works. When she described their connection to the witch woods and the spirits, it was fascinating to me!

Sadly, I found the magic tournament lacking. I thought the idea and concept were so exciting, and I wish this had more magic and building the challenges to match how cool Talia's magic was described. I think I just saw so much more potential for this magic worldbuilding than there was because, in my opinion, it would have added to the romance or could have made more romance scenes occur in the book, which isn't a bad thing.

I am looking forward to the sequel, though, as I AM FOR ENEMIES TO LOVERS AND as soon as Rowan and Isidora met in the book, I was like THAT! I knew that would be something, and I AM READY!

All the fall read vibes!

This is a charming, fun romcom set in a Salem-esque small town in the Midwest that has real magic fueling its kitschy magical tourist attractions.

I’m not a romance fan, so there was a bit too much of that for me in this book, but the story is excellent in so many other ways that it didn’t bother me as much as it might in a book that was weaker in other elements. And I certainly liked both women and wanted them to make it work.

But the real appeal of this book is in the humor, the clever and delightful atmosphere, and the protagonist’s complicated relationship with her hometown.

Questions of fading childhood friendship, familial obligations, and whether you truly can or want to go home again made this book a cut above a typical romcom.

Delightfully witchy! Lana Harper has created a fabulous and magical world. With a touch of romance and a lot of magic this series is sure to be a hit. I can't wait for the next installment.

This is a fun witchy romance perfect if you need something light hearted for fall. The competition in the book adds a fun puzzle element to a book about healing after heartbreak, coming home and repairing relationships. I do feel the romance got a little bit in the way of the main character getting reacquainted with her family and best friend, neither story line was totally fleshed out which kept it from being a 5 star read.

I really enjoyed this book and didn't want to put it down once I started reading! Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy. I am so looking forward to the second book.

Love love loved this story! Such a wonderful halloween read. I always enjoy the sapphic romance and the bit of revenge here was very exciting. yay!

What a fun, sexy book! The witchcraft lore was well-thought-out without being too heavy-handed, and the romance was sizzling and full of chemistry. Also a story of identity and healing. Well worth the read.

This one was a DNF for me. I tried really hard to get into the storyline for this, but it just didn’t hook me. I will update my feedback if I proceed in the future.

It took me a while to get into the story. It felt like it moved pretty slow and the romance seemed a little rushed. I think more needed to be developed on the romance side.

This was fun!! The witchy tournament was fun to read about, and I quite liked the romance and the characters :) Would definitely recommend reading this during autumn.