Two ex best friends, a magical road trip, and a bucket list to fulfill. Ellie Kobata has just finished her junior year of high school and is looking forward to finally breaking out of her wallflower shell and having the best summer possible with her best friend. However, Ellie is part of a secret magical community, her family runs a magic tea shop and she’s forbidden from letting anyone from outside the community finding out about magic. To make things more complicated Ellie keeps running into her ex best friend Jack Yasuda, who after being best friends for years, ghosted her, humiliated her at school, and constantly makes cruel jokes and tells people how much he dislikes her. His family owns a charm shop that is rival to Ellie’s own family shop. When Ellie decides to play a prank on Jack for years of hurting her it goes terribly wrong and soon reveals magic to her best friend Lia... which causes Lia in turn to have a meltdown and lash out at Ellie... and now as punishment Ellie has to go with Jack on a road trip as they help their parents’ store with supply drop offs leading to a magical convention as they travel down the coast of California. Nothing is worse than being stuck in a car with the person who hurt you so deeply and scarred you and now Ellie is trapped with Jack in this car. When he discovers her bucket list they soon find themselves working through it and maybe even finding out what truly happened and what it means for their future. Let me start off by saying I hated Jack. This man was continuously rude, mean, and just a downright jerk. Even his apology and reasoning was just... girl why did you forgive him? PLEASE WHY?? Maybe I’m too old for this but honestly this just didn’t work for me. Ellie was so deeply hurt and still reeling from the effects of the things he did and said to her. I actually liked Ellie up until the end, she was trying to get out of her box, she was trying to have a fun summer with her best friend, and yes she was trying to finally get back at the one guy who hurt her, can you blame her? But Jack... that man is a piece of work. Jack’s reason for doing what he did is understandable but it still makes him an absolute jerk and honestly I would have preferred more time for her to process and heal from EVERYTHING. This isn’t some magical charm or some fix-it type of situation, this was one of those, it definitely requires time and space to heal from what you did and continued to do until like 3 days ago into this trip. Seriously, I would have preferred if it had ended with them just making up and being friends period. Maybe this would have been great for high school me and I could have related more to the situation and the characters, but I am a grad student by now and just reading about Jack makes me want to beg Ellie to just move on. So while this was a cute idea of two ex best friends turned enemies to lovers on a road trip in a contemporary magic world setting had a lot of potential it unfortunately did not work for me, however definitely give it a go, maybe it’ll be better for you.

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A solid YA romance suitable for teen readers and adults who enjoy less spicy romance books. A lot of YA romance is super steamy so I really appreciated that this book was something I would actually gift or recommend to a teen. The characters had good relationships with their families, were hard working, and we're believably teen. I really enjoyed the characters Jack and Ellie and their "flashbacks/memories" to when they were kids. Their past added more depth and romance and it was a fun way to get to know them.
Ellie is a wallflower and is determined to have the best summer ever and finally be someone. She makes a list of 13 things to do this summer and enlists her best friend Lia to help her check them off. First on the list, get revenge on Jack.
Ellie and Jack have been best friends since they were little, but they had a major falling out a few years ago and now they are enemies. Ellie despises Jack and Jack can barely look at Ellie. When a prank goes wrong, Ellie and Jack are forced to road trip together and help with their family businesses.
Can Ellie and Jack work through whatever happened between being best friends to hating each other? Can they make it on a road trip without killing each other and not mess up even more?
I loved the flow of the book and the family centric relationships and ties.
Thanks to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

While this was a cute and fun read, I really struggled to get into it. I believe this is entirely because of my age and life experiences. I personally struggled to connect with a main character at this stage of life. I think this would have been a great read had I picked it up in/shortly after high school because my high school self really was quite similar to Ellie. Unfortunately, I think that is part of the problem I had. I don't always love reading books that remind me of my younger self. Overall, I think this is a great book, but I'm not quite the right demographic.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review,

This book was so cute! I loved the magical bits that were combined with everything I love about contemporary romance novels. It was such a fun book!

Ellie was a great main character! She was a little sassy, passionate about so many things, and really good at holding a grudge. It was so great to follow her as she worked on her "anti-wallflower" bucket list. Her character development throughout the book as she learned who she wanted to be moving forward and what relationships she wanted to continue was inspirational. I just loved that she was the main character.

I love the magical world Abe built! It was just detailed enough to have some uniqueness, but not so complex that I didn't easily learn it. It reminded me of "Glimpsed" or "Instant Karma" and I loved it.

Also, this book was very clean. By that, I mean the language was mild and there was no sexual content, but there was still plenty of romantic tension.

A few tropes I loved:
-one bed
-ex-bff
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn

Overall, I loved this book so much and wish I could read a hundred more like it! It was magical, romantic, and everything I was hoping it would be. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

What a cute, quick read! The Charmed List by Julie Abe is a young adult, urban fantasy romance that follows Ellie and Jack on their magical road trip to a convention center. When a prank goes wrong, Ellie is forced to take the drive down to the magical convention with her friend-turned-enemy Jack as they make short stops on behalf of their family businesses. Ellie had a plan to spend her summer with her best friend completing an epic summer bucket list, but her plans are quickly upended as the plot ensues.

This is such a fun story. I went into this book thinking it would be a cutesy YA rom-com based on the cover, but the added magical elements were a fun twist to the novel that makes it stand out from many others being released right now. The writing style was easy to follow, the character relationships were dynamic, and the premise of the novel itself combined many of the fun tropes I enjoy reading. It felt like I was watching a Disney Channel original movie or something as it combined the perfect elements to have a funny, lighthearted, urban magical journey. I really enjoyed this story, and it was the perfect book to read in between some of the longer epic fantasy books I've been reading. It's definitely more character-centric, but the characters seem well-developed and realistic. At times, Ellie felt just on the line of almost too awkward, but I was (and probably still am) just as awkward myself at her age. I think the conflict of the novel was realistic, and the plot pacing overall felt just right. I really loved reading this, and I would totally recommend this to other YA readers looking to step into urban fantasy!

My only critique of the novel is I felt like the flashbacks were sometimes a bit oddly placed. I really enjoyed seeing what Jack and Ellie were like when they were younger friends, but I might've preferred for those sections to be brief snippets in between chapters or in chapter breaks rather than mid-chapters straight from present to past to present from one paragraph to the next. It wasn't too difficult to follow by any means, but I just would've appreciated it more with other placement/formatting!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was really fun and light-hearted. Julie did an incredible job in creating such a magical world. It had all of my favourite tropes, such as best friends to enemies to lovers, one bed, forced proximity, and more. The romance between Ellie and Jack were just so sweet.

I’d recommend this book to YA to upper YA readers if you’re looking for a fast and light-hearted read!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC!
release date: july 5th 2022

this book was sooooo cute! childhood friends to enemies to lovers ?? forced proximity?? one bed trope?? AND MAGIC ?? the bucket list trope?? this book had it all! i loved the banter and the dynamic between these two characters. their development was amazing, i just wish the ending hadn’t been so rushed:/ but that being said, this was overall a very enjoyable read!

the relationship itself had so many adorable moments! their tension?? the JEALOUSY?? hello. loved it loved it. this is definitely a book i’ll think about picking up again during the summer!! it’s cute, it’s quick & will have you smiling AND laughing!

the plot was fun, nothing too complicated, nothing too basic! the magic definitely added some intrigue to it, for sure! the writing was also really entertaining, it really made me wanting to keep reading!

& characters? jack i am in love with you.

anyways, definitely check this out xxx

Ellie’s friendship with Jack turns frosty after his mom passes away. He’s focused on tennis, expanding his dad’s business, and a whole new set of buddies. So when they need to spend lots of time together confined in her car on an extended business trip, Ellie’s sure quality time with her former BFF will result in disaster. However, Ellie sees glimpses of the old Jack and can’t help but become smitten again until an old secret rears its ugly head.

The world building in this charming young adult fantasy is magic. Ellie and Jack’s families each own a shop in a special area of Paulo Alto that sells magic-infused goods. The magic users need to keep mum regarding about their spell casting, which creates conflict, particularly with Ellie’s closest friend who is not magic aware.

I just loved all of the products and people associated with the magical businesses. Remy, Ellie’s sister, and Cam, Jack’s brother, made great secondary characters. Ellie’s desire to put herself out there more in the form of her “Anti-Wallflower List” contributed to her solid character arc.

The big secret that kept Ellie and Jack from rekindling their friendship felt like something that could have been more easily resolved, particularly due to their families living and working so close together and having Ellie and Jack’s younger siblings be inseparable.

This romance is great for young adult readers and adults who want to revisit the sweet feeling of first love.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

Good story!

Description
"The best friends to enemies-to-lovers story I needed in my life! The Charmed List utterly enchants with its delightful characters and heartfelt themes of family, friendship, and first love. I adored this fun-filled and swoony road trip romance with a magical twist!" —Axie Oh, author of XOXO and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea

Sometimes you need a little magic to fall in love.

Ellie Kobata has spent most of high school on the sidelines, keeping her art Instagram private and shying away from the world. She can’t even tell her only friend, Lia, who she really is: Ellie is part of a secret magical community, and no one outside of it can know it exists. The only person Ellie could fully relate to was Jack Yasuda – her childhood friend who mysteriously started to snub her a few years ago.

But before senior year, Ellie is ready to take some risks and have a life-changing summer, starting with her Anti-Wallflower List – thirteen items she’s going to check off one by one. With this list, she hopes to finally come out of her shell; even though she can’t share her full self with the world. But when number four on Ellie’s list goes horribly wrong—revenge on Jack Yasuda—she’s certain her summer is cursed. Instead of spending her summer with Lia, Ellie finds herself stuck in a car with Jack driving to a magical convention. But as Ellie and Jack travel down the coast of California, number thirteen on her list—fall in love—may be happening without her realizing it.

Thank you netgallary for the aARC of this book.
Such a fun read a little bit rom-com and add in some enemies to lovies and a bit of magic.

The Charmed List is a great quick YA read that I so desperately need a sequel too! This book flowed extremely well. I loved following the journey of Ellie and Jack, as well as the start of Remy and Cam’s Journey.
Julie Abe perfectly blends in magic, family, and boy next door/childhood best friends story. She takes you through possible ups and down that life can throw your way. It’s the perfect start to summer YA Book.
Ellie and her best friend Lia try and throw a harmless prank on Ellies former best friend and current next door neighbor, Jack. It ends up going a bit off track and next thing you know she’s stuck on a road trip to the convention with her so called nemesis Jack. Little does she know it’s the start of her very own love story and not a horrible punishment.
If you have time I would suggest this to anyone who loves magic and romance.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the Free ARC.

2.5/5 stars

This book reminded me why I should stop reading YA. I just don't connect with the characters and I usually find it more frustrating than watching high school tv shows/movies. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, but sadly, this wasn't one of them.

I didn't mind the premise of the book or the main character, Ellie. But I struggled a lot with the love interest. If Jack hadn't been an asshole actively in the book, this would get a higher rating. I can understand the plot of 'he was mean once and I haven't forgotten about it' but he was actively rude and mean during the book (like three days before they got together). I just don't vibe with that kind of character. I would've a decade ago but I feel like we're over the dickish love interest in 2022.

I also didn't love that Cam and Remy were also hinted at getting together. Is this Jane Austen's Emma? Just a weird vibe to have randomly thrown into the book.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a contemporary YA novel that was filled with magic and first love. I enjoyed the friends to enemies relationship all while the charms of luck, joy, etc were used along the way.

I Loved this book! It was the perfect cozy sunday morning read! Friends to Enemies to lovers. The Chemistry was superb and I loved that they mentioned popular books! So much fun to read!

It was a fun read enemies to lover friends to lovers also itbwas a fun little rom com jack and ellie are super cute together

Holy moly if this book isn’t on your radar then add it - preorder it right now!! I loved this story so much and these characters were just amazing!!! Ellie and Jake were adorable and their chemistry was so wholesome. I loved the road trip involved too!! This is honestly one of the best YA books I’ve read. The way this story is setup and these characters in this situation makes this so much better! I highly recommend this!

This is a cute charming feel good book. This is the perfect summer book!

This book is magical, heartwarming, fun and it has best friends to enemies to lovers!!!

The Charmed almost is very entertaining and it will want you needing more.

I just ❤️ Ellie and Jack!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

3.5/5

Pardon the pun, but The Charmed List by Julie Abe is one charming YA romance. It features many cherished tropes of romance novels in an age-relevant story for teens.

Abe creates this wonderful world with magical vendors who sell goods with charms to boost the days of their magic unaware customers such as a dose of courage or a burst of contentment. An entire square in Palo Alto is filled with these magical vendors. The main character Ellie is the daughter of parents running a tea shop across from a family running a stationary shop. Ellie used to be best friends with Jack the son of the stationary shop family, but a moment in middle school changed everything and they became enemies.

A series of poor choices put Ellie on a road trip with her enemy Jack to take both families' wares to a magical retailer convention in Huntington Beach, CA. And the love story develops from there.

I quite enjoyed the lovely world Abe created in pockets of Central California. As a Central Californian myself, I found this book to be a bit of a little love letter to the area. The magical cottages, villages, and stores made me smile.

The secondary characters and plot were good as well. I enjoyed the siblings of the two main characters quite a bit.

I will definitely get this for my high school library. Our library is genrefied, and this magical romance adds something new to the love and romance part of the collection!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title for review.

Fun, sweet, summer road trip, ex-BFF to lovers, tea, charms, bucket list, magic, Asian food.

This was a super fun, super sweet road trip, ex-BFF to lovers, YA novel. I want to give this book a solid 4 stars but the teenage me would have given it 5 stars with a million “!” So I’m settling with 4.5 wonderful magical stars. Ellie is forced to summer road trip with her archnemesis, ex-BFF Jack, instead of her bestie after a prank gone horribly wrong. Naturally embarrassing shenanigans, self-realizations, romantic tension, and finally, truthful confessions ensue.

There is so much in this book that I absolutely loved, all the tropes I mentioned above and the Asain influence was fantastic. I did have a hard time thinking of Ellie as a “wallflower” as she kept saying because she was so bold in her internal monologue and her hate/hurt towards Jack. With that being said the book was really fun and sweet. I liked how Abe wove in the memories and flashbacks, they didn’t seem forced or contrived but quite organic. The magical component was interesting and gave the story a lot of charm.

Special thank you to #NetGalley, #JulieAbe and #WednesdayBooks for sharing this digital copy for my honest thoughts on #TheCharmedList

3.5 stars
Generally a good book, kept my attention. The story was great, characters well thought out, and the pacing was good. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would read more by this author!! Thank you so much for the ARC!