***DNF at 18%***

I think this is a classic case of "It's not you, It's me." THE CHARMED LIST by Julie Abe is a YA contemporary romance with an urban fantasy flair. While I typically love urban fantasy, I did not enjoy it here. It's the start of summer break and Ellie is looking forward to a magical convention down in San Francisco that her family attends every year with all the other witches and covens in the area until she learns that her nemesis Jack will also be attending and somehow winds up roadtripping with him down to the convention. This is where the book succeeded in being a YA contemporary romance. There were plenty of romcom moments in the part that I read between Jack and Ellie. Where it failed for me is the magical component. It felt like an afterthought and a gimmick to make the book stand out among all the other YA romances. It was not a fully thought out magical system, like who has magic, why do they have magic, how does it work, etc. If the fantasy component (which was light to begin with) was thrown out, I'd have enjoyed the book a lot more.

The Charmed List was on my most anticipated reads of the year list — and it did not disappoint!

I absolutely adored this book — it's charming, oh-so cute and down right lovely. Julie Abe is definitely on my radar as a new favourite young adult contemporary/romance author!

I loved the characters and the overall story. It's sweet and charming and full of magic — both in the true sense of making magic happen, and in the feeling you get while reading.

I can't wait to recommend this read to my friends!

The Quick Cut: A girl decides to get off the sidelines and stop being such a wallflower when she's stuck on a road trip with her former childhood friend.

A Real Review:
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing the ARC for an honest review.

It's natural for people to grow apart as they get older. Sometimes common interests fade or distance makes it hard to remain close. On some occasions, the other person chooses to distance themselves. For Ellie, Jack is that person - someone who used to be his best friend and is now an enemy in this contemporary romance story.

Ellie has always been a bit of a wallflower, but she's determined to change that. With the help of her best friend, Lia, she wants to take on a list that will help her break out of her usual barriers and share her art with the world. Unfortunately, one of the items on the list goes wrong and ends with her in trouble. The consequences? She has to take her summer road trip with enemy Jack instead of best friend Lia. Can Ellie get her childhood friendship with Jack back? Or is there too much bad blood to go back?

A good story has an unspeakable magic that pulls the reader in, but this story has more than that. It's not only an enjoyable contemporary romance story with enemies forced to work together, but it also has a magical element added to the world this story takes place in. The author took a realistic environment and added magic to it's world in such a way that it feels possible to actually exist. Rather than the magic being powerful and life changing, it's limited and small and minor in nature. It's a brilliant addition that adds intrigue to an already great storyline.

Ellie and Jack are adorable in the way they compliment each other well, but don't see it for themselves. As they interact with other characters, it's clear they have issues to work through but still have strong feelings for one another. Seeing them fight and bicker and argue until they're willing to be honest with each other makes you want to see them be on solid ground again. With the personal journey that Ellie takes, it also makes you want to see her share her art with the world as well.

An enthralling contemporary romance with magic galore.

My rating: 5 out of 5

This is a YA read with the classic once enemies now friends and eventually love storyline with a side of magic. Admittedly, I wasn't sure about the magic element as that's not typically my jam, however it was written in a way that really normalized it and worked. The story centers on Ellie who is tired of being a wallflower and decides to write a list of 13 things that she believes are guaranteed to break her out of her shell throughout her summer. But then, things take a turn, and she ends up having to road trip with her once friend now enemy Jack. As you might infer, this time in car means Jack and Ellie have to talk to one another and work through some things. This was a good little read - light and fun while also having some feels throughout. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this recent July 2022 release!

Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of how whimsical and over the top sweet this was.

I feel like had this idea been given to an adult romcom without the teenage angst/drama this would have worked out better, at least for me.

That being said, I thank the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this! I don't normally gravitate towards magical realism books, but I loved the 'subtle' nods to it! And the characters were great!

Jack and Ellie used to be best friends. However, after Jack’s mother passed away, he started ignoring Ellie, quickly becoming a stranger in her eyes. When a harmless prank goes horribly wrong, Jack and Ellie are forced on a road trip together. With a sprinkle of magic at every turn, The Charmed List will surely have readers swooning over the duo as they journey together.

I didn’t quite expect the magical elements of the plot. Of course, this is a side effect of skimming the synopsis and picking up the book wholly based on vibes. While unexpected, I found I enjoyed the whimsical elements of the world. Magical realism isn't my thing so I was nervous at first that that was what The Charmed List was going to introduce. Instead, the magic reminds me of all the whimsy of the classic Sabrina the Teenage Witch. There's even an adorable dog (that, unfortunately, doesn't talk) named Mochi too!

The premise of a bucket list of goals to accomplish by a certain date, like the end of summer, is not a new idea. However, while the element can be found elsewhere like in Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney or Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson, Julie Abe puts her own spin on it by throwing magic and a road trip into the mix. Regardless of seeing the list element in other books, I must note that I adore it. If I hear about a book that has a physical list of goals the protagonist is completing, count me in. It must be the organization lover in me.

When readers think of those classic YA characters, the protagonists usually love the classics—books like Jane Austen to music like ACDC. It is absolutely refreshing to find a YA protagonist like Ellie in The Charmed List actually like books from this era. The book mentioned Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim (which is a fantastic book) and so many more.

The Charmed List has a whole lot of heart at its core. It's heartwarming and enchanting, wrapping readers in a comfortable blanket.

Ellie and Jack embark on a road trip filled with mini errands and with each stop, they get closer together. The structure of the book is absolutely lovely and endearing. It's a book about friendship and magic.

There are multiple scenes in the book where Ellie sketches her surroundings. Abe truly captures the perspective of an artist, describing the creative process in detail. It's both incredibly calming and inspirational. Plus, readers are able to receive a deeper understanding of Ellie through her work.

Road trip books are so much fun because they lead the way to so many opportunities. Authors are able to add more elements with a variety of different settings. My favorite sequence must have been the escape room challenge which sounded like so much fun. However, every time Ellie and Jack came across a magical village, I swooned. If I could live in the world Abe has created, I most definitely would.

The Charmed List by Julie Abe is the perfect beach read, complete with all the feels, romance that will have you swooning, and magic that feels both nostalgic and enchanting. Julie Abe whisks readers away on a magical road trip. You seriously do not want to miss this one.

4.5 stars

I’m sorry but this just wasn’t for me. I didn’t connect with the plot or the characters. The romance was just not good in my opinion, and the reasoning behind certain things just did not make sense to me. I wouldn’t say this was bad in any way, I think there are some who would probably really enjoy this just unfortunately was not me.

Let me start off by saying that, for the first half or so of the book, I was not particularly charmed. I felt like the book was giving cardboard cut-out vibes and that not even the Asian-American leads could make me like it. Luckily, the latter half proved me wrong as we delved more into the main characters' pasts and their relationship. I found myself genuinely caring for them at the point and rooting for a happy resolution to all their problems.

This book isn't perfect by any means, but it is a sweet rom-com with the friends to enemies to lovers trope + the only one-bed trope. I would recommend probably recommend this for the younger end of YA readers as I think it would hit best with them and also, while it has sweet moments, it has absolutely no steaminess (i.e. not even makeout sessions).

This was the cutest YA enemies to lovers read. This book had me hooked right from the start. I loved the magical elements in this book! I thought it made it so fun and unique. I thought Ellie and Jack were such sweet characters, and I loved seeing where the story would take them. This is a very slow burn romance. I would say the romance was only a small portion of the book. Overall, I thought it was a really fun YA summer read, and I would highly recommend it!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this read! I love the mix of magical in the regular world. The characters were likeable and well written. The world of the magic aware sounds like a fun one to be a part of, but don't break the rules! Thanks NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

What a sweet YA book!

Filled with young love, teen drama, frienemies to re-found friendship, and MAGIC! Magic always makes every book better!

I love the evolution of Ellie’s character from wallflower to confident young lady with the help of her “anti-wallflower list” and a long road trip with neighbor and ex-best friend Jack. Seeing their relationship blossom and rekindle through during this road trip was heartwarming!

Don’t get me started on all the Asian food and drink references! I wanted to go get a boba drink at least 30 times while reading this!

I think any teen in high school should devour this book! If I was a young teenager girl again I know I would have read it in a day!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

The charmed list.

This was a sweet cute magical story . There is great friendship then a fall out and then turn to enemies and then friends to lovers again.
I loved the magic elements which have been described well..i wanted to be a part of that world while reading it.
Recommend it to those who are looking for a light read..not much fantasy.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

It took me a minute to get into this but once I was I couldn't put it down. Ellie had an all-too-relatable falling out with a friend, and it was so nice seeing them come back to each other. The world building was simple but effective, and it made me want to eat everything on the page! I cannot wait to see what's in store for Julie Abe!

this was a sweet, slightly-witchy, romance that's perfect if you want a great palette cleanser after reading high fantasy. but, while i had fun with this one, it's unfortunately a book where i might forget about what even happened in a month or so.

additionally, what's stopping me from giving this book a four star review rather than a three star, is how heavily it leans against miscommunication between the main characters to further the plot. it's all a bit unfortunate, as it's one of my least favorite tropes/story devices. but ignoring that factor, i did generally enjoy the ex-friends/second chance story line.

The Charmed List is a YA friends-to enemies-to lovers romcom with a dash of magic. Ellie lives in a magical community hidden in plain sight in Palo Alto. Unfortunately, only magic aware can know about it, so Ellie is forced to keep the secret from everyone including her best friend Lia. The only friend she ever had that could understand was Jack, but they haven’t been friends for years since he changed and started ignoring her.

Jack and Ellie are forced to take a road trip together for their parents’ businesses after a prank on Jack goes wrong and Ellie’s friend Lia can no longer go. Much to Ellie’s embarrassment, Jack finds the summer checklist she wrote to help her come out of her shell and decides to help her complete the items. Ellie is convinced her list is cursed, but after spending time reunited with Jack, she finds out it is charmed after all.

I’ll be honest, when I first picked this up I only read a few pages before switching to something else. I think that is because even though I read other YA fiction, this one read a bit younger than I am used to. However, after I finished another book I came back to The Charmed List and read it in one day. It is a super sweet story and the element of magic added a lot of interest. Some of my favorite parts were the different magical shops and communities we see throughout the story. It plays on the forced proximity, and enemies to lovers tropes while touching on grief management, family relationships and finding yourself to round out the character development.

Overall, it’s a cute and easy read. I would caution that it felt more appropriate for a younger YA audience, especially if you are used to reading YA fiction with more adult content.


Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this!

Ahhh! A best-friends to enemies to lovers road trip with magic and tropetastic vibes, this was so, so fun. I think maybe their issues were slightly glossed over in favor of a quick resolution, but overall I really enjoyed it! A fun summer read :)

This is the story about Ellie Kobata and her ex-best friend Jack Yasuda. They both are part of magical families but something in their past had them drift apart. The Summer before her senior year in high school, Ellie and her best friend Lia have big plans for a summer road trip however when a plan for revenge backfires on her, Ellie finds herself stuck on a road trip with Jack instead. While on the trip Jack finds Ellie’s list of things she is determined to do over the summer. That is when things start to happen.

This was a very good book about friends and family. It also teaches us that things don’t always seem as they appear.

OMG magical Palo Alto! Day trips to Santa Cruz getting treats at Marini's, riding the Giant Dipper. Ok this settles it. I need a trip to Santa Cruz. Trips through San Jose, Gilroy down south to San Luis Obispo. Love this! I know all these areas and I loved the added magic!

There are a few places mentioned that I need to go and to try! Shuei-Do Manju! I want to go there!! And I really want to go to all those magical cottages but those are probably fictional.

So yes this is exactly the read that I needed this week as I am in a little funk. This had the second chance friendship and high school angst plus magic and friends to lovers that I didn't know I needed.

These magical stories always seem to be places that are already a bit nature magical but to enchant the Bay Area is sublime to me. Please do it again!! I want to hear more about Remy and Cam or Lia. I love looking for those hidden doors, fairy houses, and crystal shops. But now I will be looking for tea and stationary shops!

This is a perfect summer read and such a sweet coming of age story. It's enemies to dating/friends to dating, it's in between that, frenemies to dating?. I love when there is so much childhood history of friendship and then the pain of growing older and apart then being forced back together to work an event. Claps hands love!!

It is also full of really hard topics and the difficulty a family has to endure after and the fall out of the friendships in the wake of the horrible grief wave that takes out a person. We all grieve differently, you can never get over the loss of a parent you just have to learn to live without them. There is always someone to talk to even if you might think you will overburden them with your pain. As in me I am here so DM me. It's been 5 years since my Dad passed and I still get taken out by a random song he sang to me or a smell of a treat we liked. 

Thank you stmartinspress and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I highly recommend some food while you read this or a road trip if you're listening to the audiobook. This may be the perfect reading vacation book, honestly, at least for me. It's cute, it's fast, it's full of love, but more full of romantic friendship than plain romance, which made it way more enjoyable for me. I loved this one! 10 extra points in my book for the pretty cover!