I love a good "coming out of your shell" story since I can really relate to that! I think other introverts will really relate to this as well. It's also the perfect enemies-to-lovers magical story! If you're looking for a cute, magical read, this is a great pick.

3 stars ☆ If you’re looking for a perfect summer read, this would be the one for it.

childhood friends to enemies to lovers
forced proximity
and with magic? yes, please.

This was such a cute and quick read. What I loved was the tension between Jack and Ellie >> and what intrigued me the most about this book was the magic since I haven’t read this concept in a ya romance ykwim.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC !!

What a cute little YA romcom!

I truly loved this book. Everything about was cutesy and magical.

This has everything you’d want in a young adult romcom. It even has an added bonus of magic. I love books with magic and witches and fantasy-esque elements. It added to the book, in my opinion.

The characters were lovable. Their story was cute and I felt like they had growth throughout the book. It’s a second chance romance and I was here for it.

The Charmed List

The Charmed List is an adorable contemporary romance with magic. Ellie and Jack are best friends to enemies to lovers due to a quarrel between families. I loved how the magic works through emotions and how Ellie catches the magic particles to make spells had me actually laughing out loud. Not only did I enjoy Ellie and Jack’s story, but I also loved how the younger siblings did not let the enemy families ruin their friendship.

Thank you NETGALLEY and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC. I will definitely be recommending this book to all my book besties!

The Charmed List is a delightful YA romcom! Ellie hates Jack. Ever since he ditched her at school and their families began competing, their friendship has disappeared. Both Ellie and Jack come from families that can do small forms of magic that make life more joyful. Or at least, that’s what Ellie’s family focuses on. Jack’s family is more interested in power. Despite these differences, they are in equal amounts of trouble when they accidentally expose magic to a non-magical person. To make up for it, they set out on a road trip together to a magical convention. Can they mend their friendship- and maybe find something more- along the way?

I absolutely loved The Charmed List! This book was filled to the brim with beautiful magic, scheming siblings, and friends-to-enemies-to-friend-to-lovers…my favorite! The Charmed List is simply magical. While concocting magical cupcakes and good luck charms, Julie Abe tackles grief and the pain of lost friendships. As she weaves these serious topics in, the focus remains on joy and finding ways to restore broken friendships. The Charmed List is a lighthearted, swoony YA romcom that I would highly recommend to anyone. This would be the perfect escapist read- only make sure to have some delicious treats on hand when you read! I’m looking forward to what Julie Abe writes next! I’m hope to see more from this beautiful magical world.

The Charmed List is available now. Thank you to Julie Abe, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

#TheCharmedList: ⁣
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“just because someone else has slapped a label on me, it doesn’t mean that I have to accept their definition of who I should be”⁣
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I literally had no idea there would be a magical element to it. I don’t know why the fact “charmed” didn’t zing me into magical mode. When Ellie started talking about it, I literally did a screeching halt in the middle of the grocery store to read the synopsis to make sure I heard correctly. I did and became even happier than before. ⁣
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This was such a sweet romcom about two neighbors/ex-friends being forced as punishment to road trip to a magical convention. This was supposed to be a fun road trip to conquer her Anti-Wallflower list with her bestie, but things change. While I do feel like her bestie ignoring her was a bit too much, I did love the list and the new road-trip. ⁣
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The audio was wonderfully read by Natalie Naudus. I really enjoyed her Ellie and Jack. I felt that listening really helped me with the convention magic and all the magical places they visited along the way. It really added that element of wonder. I highly recommend the audio. Speaking of the convention, can you imagine a real magical convention? It sounded exactly how it sounds and it was described so well. I want to be able to go! 😂⁣
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Overall, a fun YA romcom to add to your witchy TBR. There are some trigger warnings so please be mindful! Thank you so much @wednesdaybooks and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy. The Charmed List is out today!⁣
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QOTD: You own your own magical tea shop. What’s your favorite tea potion? Mine would be the tea that makes my kids listen to me the first time 😂⁣
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PS: You will want boba while reading this.

The Charmed List is a Young Adult Modern Fantasy Romance Novel by author Julie Abe. The story advertises itself as essentially an enemies to lovers novel (or well, friends to enemies to lovers), featuring Asian-American characters in California in a world with secret little magics, and well a lot of that sounded real fun to me - making this an easy request on NetGalley.

And The Charmed List is an incredibly cute young adult romance novel, even if certain aspects are very predictable. Main character Ellie is adorable as an anxious someone introverted high school girl trying desperately to come out of her shell, who is forced by a series of coincidences onto a road trip not with her best friend as planned, but with the boy who used to be that for her until they became enemies. Add in a touch of a magical world, and well you have a very enjoyable sweet romance - even if it's a very chaste one that only even has a kiss at the very end. This will be an excellent romance for younger young adult (or even middle grade) readers.

-------------------------------------Plot Summary------------------------------------------------
Ellie Kobata has spent her high school years in her own shell, with only her best friend Lia really seeing her for who she is - a fun loving artist who is a bit terrified to reveal her art by making her instagram public, who is a bit afraid to do things like get her first kiss or go on a roller coaster or get an second ear piercing...etc. With Lia's help, she's made a list of thirteen things that she's going to do on their road trip down to southern California to finally break out and reveal herself to the world.

There's one part of her life she can't show off to Lia - the fact that she's part of a secret magical community, one which Lia isn't allowed to know about. But when a prank Ellie plays accidentally reveals the magical world to Lia, her whole summer plans go badly awry: Lia is badly hurt and not talking to her for keeping the secret, and Ellie's road trip plan gets a horrifying change: she'll now be going down with Jack Yasuda, the magic-knowing boy who was once her best friend until he gave her the cold shoulder and became her enemy.

Yet as Ellie and Jack go down the California Coast and do errands for their families' rival magical shops, Ellie begins to realize she might actually achieve the goals on her list after all....and that the Jack she grew up with might have changed into a more interesting person than she realized...and one she might be falling for.
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Let's be honest: The Charmed List is in many ways a book that is full of clichés. You have an "enemies to lovers" plot that features a boy who used to be friends with the protagonist before he seemed to go cold for no reason - of course he has a reason she doesn't know about, and of course he has far more depth than she realized. Of course Jack has a potential other girlfriend - or so Ellie thinks, and of course there's a misunderstanding there, and there will be one later in the book that will throw her growing attraction for him in a loop. You even have one of the absolute classic romance tropes - "only one bed" - thrown in here as well (although this is such a chaste romance that that last one is kind of wasted).

But Clichés exist for a reason: they can be pretty good when deployed effectively in a story, and The Charmed List deploys them effectively. This is helped by Ellie being a very believable shy girl desperate to break out of her shell whose list of things to do to do that feels very believable and realistic, her growing feelings for Jack being done very well, and the other characters (like Ellie's and Jack's meddling best friend siblings) being very enjoyable. There are also a few subversions here and there, particularly in how the two characters' family stores are setup as a rivalry of supposedly cold and impersonal vs personal and heartfelt that instead goes a different direction, and this also helps quite a bit.

And then there's the magical setting to foreground the tropey plot, which is really well done. Here magic is a thing that's hidden...but in large part because it isn't some super powerful force, but is instead best used to do small minor things, like provide extra joy or bravery in a food/drink item, or provide magical cottages that can turn a roof into the night sky, etc. The magical community here isn't one that's better than the non-magical one, nor is it held secret because of some thought-about superiority - it's held in secret whenever possible because otherwise it'll lead to misunderstandings about what might be possible (as well as some minor but sometimes significant mayhem). It's a nice and different touch from the usual hidden magical world, and it helps color the growing relationship between Jack and Ellie with, well, magic - and it makes everything about it very charming. And Abe uses that magic in combination with modern ideas (There's one part with an Escape room in particular) to really create interesting ways for the characters' relationship to grow and grow until it finally culminates in the end.

Really my biggest problem with The Charmed List is that not only is it a Chaste Romance, it basically saves that culmination for the end - like literally this book ends just on the kiss, which you'd expect might've happened earlier than that. So if you're the type like me who sometimes yells "just kiss already!", well this might frustrate you a bunch! But it's a short book, and this'll work well for the younger YA readers who aren't ready for a more mature romance, so this isn't really a complaint lol.

So yeah, the Charmed List is a really delightful romance for younger young adult readers, even for middle grade readers (and for those looking for Asian American characters, this will be an additional plus). I wanted a light and enjoyable book when I started this one, and I got it.

This was such a fun and cute and sweet read, the world Julie Abe had created was very well written and very much relatable, it wasn’t anything extreme that needed too many details, it’s like she had filled up a missing space in our real world, like this is actually there only we can’t see it. An extremely cute best-friends to enemies to lovers that had me going for a whole hour and I finished the book in three. I also loved the nice touches of topics like finding one’s real self and gaining confidence in who you really are, the character development was slow and steady. Just how it should be. . I loved the scenery she had explained, and imagining them alone made me feel like magic was right there at my fingertips.
It was a nice pg-rated read when you need something light and fluffy. The whole tea and books atmosphere did help as well.

The Charmed List is a very cute, fluffy story that is perfect for those who need something fun to read. There's not too much melodrama or angst. Some misunderstandings and romance scenes revolve mostly around kissing. The magic in the story is not that prevalent. It's more like a light dusting of powdered sugar on freshly cooked donuts.

Sure, some of the characters' actions may be annoying as well as their thought processes but it's not unbearable. The writing is quick and easy to read through and is a nice summer read in a cozy nook. If you haven't read the author's middle grade books I highly recommend those as well!

eArc provided by NetGalley.

actual rating: 3.25/5

This is a fun, quick read that I flew through in a day. It was super cute, and I thought that the magic system was fairly simple to understand. The magic is just a nice touch to the setting and atmosphere, not really the main point of the story which simplifies things.

The one thing that really bothered me about this book was Ellie’s best friend, Lia. I felt like she was not a great friend to Ellie no matter how many times Ellie told us that she was. She’s Ellie’s only friend after Jack, but she holds Ellie hostage over a secret that she couldn’t share with anyone.

I wish we had more moments of depth between Jack and Ellie because I feel like we only scratched the surface. I loved the flashbacks to when they were younger because they helped develop their relationship, but I still like something was missing to really grow their relationship. Despite this, I thought that they were really sweet, and this book is a great choice when you need something light to read.

3.5 stars

So so sweet!

A friend mentioned what a cute and sweet book this was, and she was so right!

This book was bunches of fun with a road trip and forced proximity trope between two friends, Ellie and Jack, that had a falling out but always cared for each other in the time they weren't together. And let's not forget about magic!! I wish there was more of it but the places that Jack and Ellie visited were certainly magical!

This is a great YA book to get lost in and soak up in one sitting!

That cover is just the cutest thing I've ever seen, the boba and cupcake constellations are just the best!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the earc in return for an honest review.

Abe's The Charmed List is a sweet summer read with an interesting magical world interlaced with everyday, normal California. Predictable but everything you want in a quick immersive read that keeps you smiling. The friends to enemies to kindled romance roller coaster that Ellie and Jack take readers on as they quickly road trip down the coast of California from Palo Alto to Huntington Beach is work the read. The touch of magic made me want to know more about the magical aspects of their world, and I wouldn't mind having the opportunity to delve further into that world.
I think this book firmly rests within the YA, maybe even young YA, romance genre, and with a little suspended disbelief pertaining to the super sweetness of this story I think lots of people can/ will enjoy this quick, delightful read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eGalley of this work in exchange for my honest review.

I received an e-galley of The Charmed List by Julie Abe from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Cute, magical, charming, fun, and just the right dose of young love - this is what I found as I was reading The Charmed List. In this young adult contemporary romance novel, Julie Abe introduces a magical world that lives alongside our less-than-magical one. Those in the magical community must keep their powers a secret, or face consequences that may take away their magical abilities and connections. Ellie finds herself on a dreaded road trip with her childhood friend-now-enemy when a prank goes horribly awry. Her current best friend is now mad at her for keeping secrets and she now has to spend time with Jack, the last person she wants to spend it with. Along the way, Ellie and Jack discover that there may still be a chance of friendship (and more) as long as they figure out how to navigate the past and the family tensions that still exist.

This was such a perfect start-of-summer read as I was taken away on this road trip with Ellie and Jack. I loved that magical elements interspersed into the world that Julie Abe created. I love the idea of charmed bubble tea and desserts - I could definitely use a charm of luck or joy when I indulge in those treats. I think I'll be reading The Charmed List again this summer when I'm wishing for a fun road trip of my own.

YA romance could be a hit or a miss but this!!! this one isn’t a miss and it made me want to read it so fast cause of the cuteness in this book!

The Charmed List takes place in a mildly fantastical world which sets up the background of the story. Ellie wants to no longer be a wallflower, so she makes a list of things to do before her senior year of high school. One of the items on the list gets her and her bestie, Lia in trouble, so instead of going on a road trip together, Ellie has to go with her old best friend, now enemy, Jack.

This is a cute YA romance that's actually for Young Adults. It is sure to put a smile on your face. Reading this book feels like watching those older Disney Channel movies in all the best ways, and I say this as someone who devoured them as a teenager.

This is the third book I've read by this author. I love Julie Abe's magical worlds. They're always cozy, whimsical and fun. This is no exception, even though the magic in this world is a lot smaller scale compared to her Eva Evergreen series, it is well thought out. There are no strong spells here, but little charms, like calming teas, joyful pastries, secret cottages...

The romance between Ellie and Jack is quite adorable. I loved the progression of their relationship, even though they're "enemies" it's always obvious how much they care about each other. The adventures they go on on their road trip and the way they start to trust each other was so cute to see. They had so many adorable scenes together. Also Jack was great as a love interest. He's really thoughtful and nice. He makes mistakes, but throughout the book, you can always tell how much he likes and cares for Ellie. I enjoyed all the flashbacks we got in the book of when Ellie and Jack were friends. The memories helped emphasize how great a friend Jack was and how Ellie must have felt after losing such a great friend.
I thought they were so cute together that I wish we had more of them as a couple in the book.

Aside from the romance, I also loved loved all the non-romantic relationships in the book. I especially appreciated the close relationship between Ellie and her sister Remy, Ellie and Lia, and Remy and her BFF Cam (Jack's brother). I loved Remy as a character, and as a sister. She was always there for Ellie, but also was ready to give it to her straight when Ellie was in the wrong.

I didn't like how repetitive the book got at times. For example, Ellie rightfully had misgivings about trusting Jack after how he treated her, but for most of the book, whenever she had any positive thoughts about him, she'd follow it up with but I can't trust him after the way he treated me.

Overall this was an adorable and age appropriate YA romance with some magical aspects. Highly recommended for YA readers.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC.

This was a very cute young adult romance with light fantasy. I loved the premise of two teenagers that grew up together & are now enemies, are forced to take a road trip that will inevitably bring them close together. They are sorcerers that live amongst non-magic-aware people, (general public) & their town is filled with secret hidden magic. I absolutely loved the magical element, it made this a very unique YA read !

Ellie makes a list of 13 things she wants to accomplish this summer, but none of them include rekindling her friendship with Jack, the boy she now despises. Number 4 on her list is actually to get revenge on Jack, not to get a crush on him. Will Ellie be able to stick to her list, or will love & friendships win her heart over.

You can expect :

* Friends to Enemies to Lovers
* Light Fantasy
* California Coast Road-trip
* Self Discovery + Growth
* Closed Door Romance
* AAPI Rep
* Forced Proximity
* Childhood Friends
* Sweet Magical Romance

This was a perfec YA comfort read tat gave me lil heart aches and so many smiles! Our main character Ellie is working to overcome a lot of her insecurities and shyness when she unexpectedly loses the chance to road trip down the Cali coast with her best friend, and instead has to make it through the trip with her rival, neighbor, and former bestie.

The magic in this story was SO pure. It wasn't a crazy difficult world to understand since each little bit of magic dust was so small but so kind, I loved how real the setting remained. I got definite Tweet Cute vibes from this book which is a pretty high bar for me so I will definitely be recommending this book to so so many readers.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5, the only thing I would have changed is a bit less slow burn of a romance.

Ellie (a magic user) has her summer all planned out. She has a list of 13 things she would like to do, which includes revenge on Jack, her former best friend. Ellie and Lia (her current non magical best friend) are planning a road trip. Unfortunately, something goes amiss with magic and Lia can no longer go. Lia is instead stuck in a course designed for non magicals. Ellie is now forced to go with Jack instead so they can deliver all of each set of parents wares from their stores. The high tensions at the beginning of the trip melt as the two get to know each other again.
Opinion
I was lucky enough to get a copy of not only the ebook but also the audio version. Natalie Naudus, the narrator, did a great job keeping me engaged in the story (even while cleaning or driving.) She did a great job with inflection and changing tones when the characters are speaking, thinking or just reading what is going on.
This book is perfect for young romance readers. It has enough tension that the reader anticipates something but does not go too far. I would feel comfortable putting this into the hands of a young teen/adolescent.
The story is magical, both in subject but also in its quality. The story flows in an enchanted rhythm captivating the reader completely.
Many thanks to Net Galley, St. Martins Press and Macmillian Audio for providing me with an ARC of the ebook and the audio.

Julie Abe builds an interesting magical world with The Charmed list that didn't quite mesh with its main storyline, making the novel feel off-balance. Ellie Kobata has big plans for summer, including taking a road trip with her best friend, Lia, and checking off items from her “Anti-Wallflower List.” Ellie is determined to be more outgoing and less of a background character. When a prank on Jack, her mortal enemy and former best friend, goes wrong, all of Ellie’s plans go down the drain. As punishment, she is forced to go on the road trip for her family’s tea shop with Jack. Ellie is part of a small community of sorcerers who use their magic to put a little good into the world. On its surface this magical world had its charm, but I never felt like it really enhanced the plot. Take magic out of this story and unfortunately nothing would have been lost. Ellie is also a hard character to sympathize with. Ellie hates Jack and never misses an opportunity to say so. This began to get really repetitive and when given context, still didn't feel justified. Ellie often comes across as very mean and while mild annoyance would make sense, her vitriol is grating. I was deeply disturbed by a particular scene in which Ellie decides to torment Jack with fake mice, knowing how scared he is of them. This felt particularly cruel when it's further explained that the reason Jack is afraid of them is because of stories told to him by his great-grandmother about being imprisoned in an internment camp and being overrun by mice every night. So many characters in this one have these over-the-top reactions that only made sense in the shallowest of ways. For the most part, these reactions felt forced and a way to drive the plot forward without feeling like they actually made sense. Even when these characters did reach an understanding of each other, it felt compulsory rather than earned. Less to do with character development and more to do with steering these characters toward a desirable ending. Overall, Julie Abe's The Charmed List didn’t have any real emotional payoff and felt very unsatisfying.

What a magical book! It was so cute! I absolutely fell in love with the characters Ellie and Jack. I wasn't sure what jacks problem was with Ellie or how he could be so mean to her. I'm so glad they worked it out in the end. I really felt for them both. They've had different struggles but they have made it through! I won't spoil anything but I wasn't sure where this story would end but I Adored it!

I also really enjoyed the magical element to it. It really gave it something extra!! This is a perfect summer read. Go and pick it up today.

Thank you so to netgalley and St martins press for this ARC