4.5 rounded up

Ellie used to be best friends with Jack--their families both are part of a secret magical community.

Then something happened, Jack became Ellie's worst enemy. And now the two have to take a road trip together.

We know the tropes, including the wacky bucket list of things Ellie "has" to do during the road trip. We know how it will end. The fun is in getting there. This was the perfect late night read after a way when the news just seemed impossibly grim. It was a light, lovely bit of magic.

The Charmed List is an enchanting YA read with a perfect mixture of romance, adventure, and magic. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish!!

Ellie is a quiet and shy girl who is eager to break out of her shell. She is tired of sitting on the sidelines and wants to challenge herself to show the world her true self. That gets her to make her Anti-Wallflower List that's filled with thirteen items she wants to accomplish during the summer.

THIS WAS THE SWEETEST.
You had me at secret magical cottages. Then there was one bed- MY ALL TIME FAVORITE TROPE!? Yes please.
The writing created such personal and touching atmosphere, following Ellie on her journey to coming out of her wallflower bud. It put a smile on my face to see the other books tributed in this one and there were other little things that just made Ellie feel like a friend and not just a character you were reading from.
We also had Jack. Her childhood friend, turned jerk, turned... something more?? The road trip was such a blast for them to go on together even though the reason was sad. That whole situation was so smart of the author to think of. It led to well-needed reveals and relationships that furthered to greater lengths.
If you like magical imagery, super attractive love interests, and sweet endings, this is the book for you!!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so wholesome! I loved how whimsical it was, and you can tell the author also writes/came from middle grade (in a positive way!) by the way she was able to give it that cozy feel. I liked the small magics and the way the magic communities were so close-knit and the magic town Ellie and Jack visited. I was also rooting for Ellie and Jack to become friends again the whole time, and I love their scheming/supportive younger siblings and the way both older siblings had individual relationships with the other's younger sibling. Overall good vibes! I smiled my way through the book.

The Charmed List is about Ellie who goes on a road trip with her ex-best friend, Jack, who she can't stand.

This was a really cute friends to enemies to lovers book! Seeing Ellie and Jack relive childhood moments together was so sweet and wholesome.

The magic system in this was really fun and I enjoyed reading about it.

What I didn't like about this was how repetitive it got at some points.

Other than that, it was a fun and sweet summer-y read!

Guys if I could give this more than 5 stars I would! This was beyond adorable and filled with the perfect amount of magic. I loved getting to see Jack and Ellie as they relived some of their childhood memories and some of their stories as best friends.
With some of my favorite tropes (forced proximity, childhood best friends, and enemies to lovers) I knew I was in for a treat and boy was I right. Seriously though I cannot explain to you how much fun I had reading this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I didn't realize the mentions of magic were literal, but it was so fun to realize it was! The book incorporates magic into a contemporary setting, with Ellie's and Jack's families having neighboring magical shops. After a mishap occurs, Ellie and Jack are tasked with traveling to a magical convention together, giving them time to reconnect after a falling out of their friendship.

Childhood friends to enemies/strangers to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. However, I do think the romance between Ellie and Jack could have been better developed. Their reconciliation felt slow-paced, so I would've liked to see more of them re-establishing their friendship before committing to a romantic relationship. While I think Ellie and Jack's relationship could've had better development and more depth, the book had lots of cute moments and an interesting use of magic!

Cute magical rom com all about trying to love up to your family's expectations while finding your place in the world. A fun former-best-friend-to-enemies-to-lovers situation plus a road trip and a dose of magical charms.

3.6 stars. thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC! in ARC review fashion, i’ll now be sharing my positives and negatives of this book:

(+) forced proximity trope was present, but (-) enemies to lovers was lacking. did ellie hate jack? mmm, sure. did jack hate ellie? hardly. there’s nothing more disappointing than a one-sided enemy via poor communication trope.

(-) “we used to be best buddies, and now we’re not” yes ellie, i know. I KNOW. the story had so many mmm-i’ll-never-be-best-friends-with-jack-again moments that (back to my enemies to lovers point) it was less hatred and more i-miss-my-bestie-who-i’ve-grown-away-from.

(+) urban fantasy element. the whole magic system is nothing too serious and more of a “it’s here in the background of this contemporary read, just happening in a disney channel sort of way” which i actually didn’t mind at all. i haven’t read from this genre in absolutely forever, so it was a nice change of pace!!

(+) the bucket list plot. it’s a bucket list plot, no need to be ashamed. corny? a bit. but i actually enjoy bucket list plots (something about that step by step itinerary that keeps a book booked and busy) so i appreciated it.

(-) such a minor thing, but when books mention other books the weird product placement of it all makes me want to cry. this book did that and it felt like the youtube “this video is sponsored by…” moment.

-

recommend: considering this actually wasn’t as corny as the last few YA chicklits i’ve read (even though this one has every trope under the sun), sure. the urban fantasy adds a little something new, and this would work well as a quick feel-good summer beach read. understand before reading that it is beyond cliche, though. and sometimes there’s nothing wrong with that if it’s what you’re looking for!

review posted on goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4520034854

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
This is such a cute story!!! I love the two main characters and their relationship. Ellie has a summer bucket list to break out of her comfort zone this summer. The plot isn't much but I wasn't expecting much and it felt just right for the story.

Thank you to netgalley, Julie Abe and Wednesday Books for the chance to read The Charmed List in advance. This is my honest review.

With that out of the way, I absolutely loved it. It transported me to a world where magic could exist amongst our own. It's everything I didn't know that ya books were missing and I really, really hope that there will be more books in this magical society that Julie Abe's created.

I have nothing bad to say. It's a solid 5 star read all around. The characters feel so real; the banter, forced proximity, understandable miscommunications, friendships and siblings. Then throw incredibly real feeling magical additions (there were several scenes where I just set it down because I was so content and in awe) and y'all- this book is just lovely.

I predict that The Charmed List will be the must read ya book of the summer. That everyone will see it posted everywhere and it's very deserving. Gah, I haven't felt this rave-y must tell everyone and shove the book in everyone's hands about a book in ages.

There were moments i couldn't put it down and moments i thought were dragging on. I feel like it wasn't explained enough to be believable that they had magic inside a world of non magic. The reasons non magic couldn't see the magic just seemed like a far fetched but overall a cute quick read.

Thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with an e arc of this enchanted book!

Last year I read Eva Evergreen: Semi Magical Witch by Julie Abe and it became one of my favorite books. So many of the things that I adored about that book stand tall in this new work by Julie Abe.

This is a relaxing and readable YA that is filled with all your favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, one bed, road trip, list making, second chance romance (in some ways) and more.

I thought the main characters were interesting, funny, and complex. I liked the arc of Elissa especially as we see her learn to step out of her comfort zone and trust herself.

Similar to Eva Evergreen- what really made this book stand out to me were the incredible settings and the food writing. Julie Abe is a master at creating cozy magical havens that you can disappear into and they are always filled with incredible food descriptions and fun magical moments. I actually found myself salivating at the description of s'more macarons!

That being said, there were some places in the novel where I wanted more. The whole book surrounds a simple miscommunication which is probably my least favorite romance trope and there were also moments where I wanted to know more about the side characters (it felt like the couples family and friends were just there to further the plot in some ways).

Overall, this was a quick enjoyable relaxing read and I would recommend especially to those who want something cozy and magical to read.

I would love to thank netgalley, wednesday books, and julie abe for a copy of this book! This was a 3.5 stars from me, it was super cute and light to read.

The Charmed List follows Ellie and her determination to finish her 'Anti-Wallflower List'

-Conquer (aka survive) the giant dipper at the santa cruz boardwalk
-Pierce my upper ear cartilage and (hopefully) don't faint
-Crash a wedding with a +1
-Revenge on Jack Yasuda
-Go on a picnic date
-Win a contest, and contest
-Dance under the stars with someone
-Make my art instagram account public. maybe
-Have a fake model shoot to use as a senior yearbook photo
-Sneak onto the beach for midnight s'mores
-The perfect first kiss
-A summer boyfriend (or maybe for more than just the summer?)
-Fall in love

She gets stuck with Jack, the boy she hates that she was once friends with, on the way to a magical convention. you really get to understand their relationship and watch it unfold! The magic elements of the story was super adorable. I really loved the writing style of this!! I laughed so much during my read.

Not gonna lie I didn't like Jack too much through most of the book cause he just seems like a jerk, but that was definitely this character and it was written very well.

This was very lighthearted to read and super fun. I definitely recommend this if you don't mind magic in books and something fun! Enemies to lovers and forced proximity are my favorite tropes so I also enjoyed that part ☺️

Quick Summary: The Charmed List was magically sweet and a pure breath of fresh air.

Julie Abe is a YA romance master, I am convinced. With this story, she was able to charm the socks off this reader. What she got right: the magic, the mayhem, the angst, and the reconciliation.

The Magic -- Not only did Abe paint a beautiful picture of a magical world that exists just beyond the awareness of those who are not magically inclined, but she also crafted a story that weaved in charms, potions, and everyday spells meant to conjure up healing, positivity, wellness, and wholeness. Additionally, I found magic in her characters. I absolutely loved her charmed protagonists and the supporting cast.

The Mayhem - The chaos that comes from a friends to enemy to lovers story will always be a draw. This story showcased that pattern brilliantly. The emotional angle that led to the relationship disconnect was heartbreaking. I didn't understand the why of it all until I did, and by that time, I was fully invested and hopeful for this couple to work towards figuring things out.

The Angst - Ellie and Jack were both written so well. The Wallflower and the Former BFF (who just happened to be a hunk) were such likable characters. They were textured, layered with relatable complexities. Their existing conflict greatly hindered their forward progression both as friends and as individuals. Because of that, it was perfect setup for their inevitable encounter.

The Reconciliation - The reconciliation was multi-layered, and I was totally here for it. I was concerned for a bit, but thankfully I got my HEA on all fronts, as Abe did well tying up every loose end.

Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes (most definitely)
Audience: T/YA
Cover: 5/5
Specials: Nods to Asian culture, Shout outs to real-life places in CA

Appreciation is expressed to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley, who provided this reader with access to a digital review copy of the book in exchange for an honest report.
* Posted on Goodreads

Magic is in the air with The Charmed List!

The book explores a coming-of-age story with a twist because of the added modern-day magic. It is told through Ellie Kobata, a shy and more reserved girl who wants to break out of her shell the summer before her senior year. I think Ellie's personality is relatable for someone entering their senior year and I saw a lot of the same problems I went through at her age; trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to do as she approaches graduation. The book has references to Asian media which I really enjoyed from snacks to music (like BTS hehe) it was great representation. The romance aspect of the book follows a childhood friends to enemies to friends to lovers trope which followed a nice and fairly realistic progression. I like how Ellie and Jack didn't rush into things when they reconnected and their reconciliation came with natural chemistry.

Personally, as someone who does not tend to read fantasy, the magic in the story was not too distracting, so I didn't really mind it and thought it added a fun touch. But for those who enjoy fantasy and want a cute romance, I think they will really fall in love with the story and the characters!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Charmed List follows the story of Ellie and Jack, childhood best friends turned enemies. When a prank goes awry, Ellie and Jack are forced to spend an entire roadtrip together, a feat made more complicated by the secret list Ellie's made with the goal to stop being a wallflower.

I really liked this book. It was charming and fun, while still managing to bring depth to the characters and their relationships. The author did a great job of weaving in Ellie and Jack's past selves with their current relationship, and I loved seeing Ellie grow throughout the book.

I really liked this book and will definitely be reading it again! 4 stars :)

If you’re a fan of cutesy very YA contemporary romance you’ll like this book. Personally it wasn’t for me. I really enjoyed the infused culture and the magic, but I was not at all invested with our MCs and their relationship. I felt that most of the characters weren’t flushed out well and needed a lot of work. Def a lot of potential and I’d like to learn more about the magical hidden world! Too YA for my taste with predictable tropes.

Thank you NetGalley for an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really want to LOVE this book. I liked it. I enjoyed the read.

I did however how to take many many many breaks when reading.

I loved the idea of magic in this book, it was easy to follow and not hard to grasp. But I do think so much more could've been achieved with it. It seemed like such a huge part of the book, yet so minimal. There was no real... significance? Magic felt like it was more inconvenient at one point lol.

I liked the MC, but Jack, however (love interest) was hard to like. I don't know what it was but I was expecting so much more from his character. He felt bland and had minimal.

If this didn't have the magic, I would've probably liked it more. Because at least that would explain the LACK of it. But even the magical village even seemed to show close to nothing significant.

Maybe it'd make a cute movie.

Such an adorable story filled with all the magical moments you can dream up.

I loved watching Jack and Ellie reconnect along the California coast. It made me wish all of these magical spots were real. I want to visit!

Remy and Cam are so sweet and were one of my favorite parts. I honestly hope they get their own story in the future. More so, everyone needs a friend like Lia. Someone to pull you out of your shell and I’m glad Ellie had her.

Really enjoyed this magical road trip of a story.