Ellie spent high school as the quiet girl, but she's ready to shed that persona with her Anti-Wallflower List. Her list includes things like a best friend road trip, riding rollercoasters, and revenge on Jack. But when crossing off revenge on her list doesn't go quite as planned, she ends up stuck on a road trip with Jack instead of her best friend.

The Charmed List was such a cute story. Jack and Ellie have such good chemistry, and the characters are very well developed. This was a perfect summer read.

⭐️ rating: 3 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 genre: young adult, fantasy

I'm going to start this review by saying that SOMEHOW when reading about what this book was about, I totally missed that there was any magical element involved. So - right from the start of this book, I was very confused. Luckily, and in a way unluckily, since there isn't a lot of world-building or. magical history to keep up with here, it was easy to pick up the magical elements and move forward with the story.

With that said, I just wish this book had MORE. I loved the idea of having little nuggets of magical villages in big cities - where you could pick up magical items without even knowing it (candy to be chill, tea to be calm & courageous, yes please). But I wish there had been more history about HOW these communities came together, why they're in the places that they are, etc.

Additionally, while there was magic & the use of magic, there was not a lot of lore surrounding how you learn magic, who teaches it to you, or even many instances of USING magic. Which would have been really cool! Most of the magic in this novel is commonplace & solves everyday problems, and that would have been fun to see people learn or to watch mistakes play out.

Ultimately, this was a cute book. It's a book about childhood friends who lose each other & then find their way back again (with the help of some meddling siblings, because what book doesn't need those?). Definitely a great palate cleanser between heavier novels.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this arc. All thoughts are my own and this review is not paid or sponsored.

THE CHARMED LIST by JULIE ABE is a young adult novel of mixed genres: contemporary, romance, and fantasy. It follows the perspective of Ellie, a teenager that has felt lik she's been living parts of her life in secret. Her best friend doesnt know about magic and the community she's in, she keeps to her friend group, and her art private. She created a list of thirteen things that she wants to do before her senior year- her Anti-Wallflower List. She hopes that the list will help her come out of her shell and have the best summer possible. However, when the fourth item on her list- getting revenge on Jack Yasuda, her ex best friend- goes horribly wrong, she's for sure that the list is cursed somehow. Instead of the perfect summer she planned, she's stuck on a road trip to a magical convention with Jack... and somehow he knows all about her list.

THE CHARMED LIST has an interesting premise and was charming from start to finish. However, I was not fully invested in the main characters as I hoped to be. For me to be more invested and give this book a higher rating, I would have liked to see a more in depth conversation about Jack's grief and his mother. Even though this is a lighthearted story, I think more of that conversation could benefit readers, especially those that are younger and may be in a similar boat as Jack. The magic system was a little confusing to me because I didn't get how it worked. It seemed mostly used for convenience and reminded me of Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Another issue I had was that this book is marketed as enemies-to-lovers but I didn't feel that they were truly enemies. Jake and Ellie aren't on the friendliest terms ever since their friendship fell apart and also are a part of families that own competing businesses. The enemies label makes sense for marketing but I don't think it matches their situation. Besides those, I enjoyed the story and wouldn't mind picking up another by the author.
3.75✨️


Tropes: ex best friends-to-rivals-to-lovers, road trip, one bed, closed proximity, bucket list,
Content and Trigger Warning: parental death mention, cancer, grief

This was such a cute, magical story! I really enjoyed how both characters developed throughout the book. I loved the side characters as well.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I found this book sweet. It was a good enemies-to-lovers book. Ellie has a list that she wants to complete during her summer to come out of her shell. She is supposed to go on a road trip but things change and she ends up in a car with the person she dislikes the most, Jack. They are on their way to a magical convention. It was a light quick read that I enjoyed. It makes me what to see what else this author has or will come out with. It is one of those books I might have to read again.

I had a hard time getting into this. I normally love something with magic vibes and summer is the but The Charmed List wasn't for me. A bucket list summer felt relatable but overall not my cup of tea.

I mean seriously if you are not convinced by the description than I don’t know another to convince than to restate my favorite parts. ENEMIES TO LOVERS, but not just enemies to lovers; friends to enemies to lovers. Like come on, it’s a enemies to lovers Rom com, it’s a latte but you’ll love it ;)

I love road trip books and this one didn't disappoint. I thought it was inventive to have this magical realism element woven into the story. Watching Ellie grow and find who she wanted to be through her checklist and road trip was exciting. There were ups and downs, but I think they only made her story that more interesting.

Getting to see how Jack and Ellie interacted was a road trip of it's own. The friends to enemies to friends to lovers story was a whirlwind, but I liked getting to explore their entire relationship. Seeing them become friends again while on the road trip was inspiring.

Are you a fan of road trip stories? Do you enjoy a sweet version of spite to love? How about a sprinkle of magic thrown in? Then this might be the romance for you!

This book is a solidly written and sweet read. The magical additions were pleasant and added to the experience. I think the beginning was a bit slow and the world-building was a little generic, but the characters were likable and their interactions were fun to follow.

Thank you to the author an publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is a solid and well written book. It made me laugh and cry and it was an easy read with an acceptable ending. I will eventually add this to the reread pile.

This book was absolutely ADORABLE! When 2 childhood friends are not only forced back together but have to go on a road trip together, you can bet there will hijinks and intimacy.
I loved the Anti-wallflower list so much! It really was relatable as someone who is a wallflower and longs to take risks and face fears known and unknown just like the FMC. I also loved the magical aspects of the book. As someone who is heavy into witchy and magical things, i love the world building and use of magicalism.
the book was such a lighthearted book, and the banter and funny moments were on point!
The character development for the FMC was so perfectly written. Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday book for allowing me to read and review a copy.

In The Charmed List by Julie Abe, two neighbors and former childhood best friends, Ellie Kobata and Jack Yasuda, who have drifted apart, are forced to take a road trip together to a magical convention. On a road trip filled with cupcakes, tea, a to-do list of challenges to check off, magical sparks of joy, enchanted villages/cottages, and dancing together beneath the stars, can they slowly find their way back to each other?

I love Ellie’s Anti-Wallflower List—it has some cool tasks for her to check off. The list is creative and, in conjunction with Ellie’s Road trip, it’s an opportunity for her to take risks and face things she fears with courage. But, of course, there’s one thing on the list that doesn’t quite fit, and it gets Ellie into trouble, throwing her summer plans off course and jeopardizing her friendship with Lia, which helped Ellie survive the loss of Jack.

Abe’s creative mythology, deft worldbuilding, and vivid description immediately drew me into the novel. While she creates a story about magic, people who can wield magic, and magical places, the characters are still bound by natural laws and experience the ups and downs of human existence. As a result, the novel’s tone is a bit more angsty and emotional than I expected, but Abe nicely balances this with sweet, lighthearted, and humorous moments.

She skillfully develops complex, imperfect, relatable characters through colorful, snarky, witty, and funny dialogue and interactions. The characters evolve organically with Abe’s fascinating story. I love that Ellie and Jack’s sister and brother provide contrast to them in how their relationship developed and thrived despite life’s ups and downs and the same circumstances that caused Jack and Ellie to drift apart. Ellie’s a stubborn planner. She’s a shy artist who longs to be seen, break out of her shell, and be free to be herself—but to share her magic use and knowledge of magic would result in her being kicked out of the magic world. So, Ellie hasn’t fully/truly been able to be herself since she and Jack drifted apart, even with Lia, her closest friend.

Ellie Kobata’s been the quiet girl for long enough. She’s ready for a life-changing summer where she finally takes risks. Her Anti-Wallflower List includes 13 goals she wants to complete and check off, like riding rollercoasters, sharing her art by making her Instagram public, if she’s brave enough, and taking an epic road trip with her best friend, Lia. Unfortunately, #4 on Ellie’s list—getting revenge on her former best friend Jack Yasuda, captain of the tennis team— takes a disastrous turn, propelling her summer straight from charmed to cursed. Ellie gets stuck in a car with Jack traveling to a magical convention. Will #13 on Ellie’s list—fall in love—catch her by surprise as Ellie and Jack drive down the coast of California to the convention, spending time in each other’s company for the first time in years?

Abe’s novel beautifully examines the difficulty of losing a friend who’s been by your side for most of your life. For Ellie, it’s like she lost part of herself. Would it make things easier if she knew why? At times it’s tempting to wonder if Ellie is an unreliable narrator because she’s so bitter and angry at Jack over the state of their friendship. But then things happen that make you go, well, maybe not. So, what is the deal with Jack? Abe presents quite the irresistible mystery with the conflict between Ellie and Jack. Jack seems to still care deeply about her, but it’s hard to reconcile that with his abandonment of Ellie and their friendship and cold, aloof treatment of her. Without spoiling anything, I’ll say the reasons for Jack’s behavior and why they drifted apart turn out to be complicated and heartbreaking. Lately, I have read a few books with this theme of childhood BFFs who drift apart after the guy breaks things off suddenly, painfully, with similar storylines. So, much more angst than I expected.

Angsty, funny, and sweet, The Charmed List is an enchanting, surprising, and thoroughly entertaining, fanciful YA, former friends-to-lovers road trip romance about taking chances, self-discovery, rejecting labels, and changing your life to make yourself happy.

Advanced review copy provided by Wednesday Books via Netgalley for review.

This was an okay story, but I did find the characters quite annoying and it really didn't find it's feet until the last 50 pages. The magical elements really started to work at the end, especially with the magical Escape Room Ellie and Jack found themselves in, but for most of the book the magic felt layered on top of a really generic rivals-to-lovers romance.

The characters and relationships in this book are so tender, and I love the neatness of the storyline. The magical concept was wonderful to explore. Highly recommend!

I'd like to thank Netgalley and Wednesday Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with the cover so I never did read what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was about two teens who grow up in the magical community. Once best friends Jacks suddenly stops talking to Ellie and they become enemies. Forced on a trip together they again turn to friends and then lovers. I loved the magical element in the book. I loved watching their friendship and relationship grow. It's a cute book and perfect for a summer beach read.

What a sweet, beautiful story about magic, friendship, love, and breaking out of your shell. ⁣
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If you’re a fan of:⁣
Road trips⁣
Boba⁣
Friends to Enemies to Lovers⁣
Forced Proximity⁣
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This is the book for you!⁣
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I absolutely loved this! Julie Abe’s writing is so magical and captivating - I was hooked from the very start. This story is fast-paced and easy to read, which I really enjoyed. The audiobook is also really great, especially since my favorite, Natalie Naudus, narrates!⁣
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Ellie’s perspective was what really drew me in, because she was very relatable and conveyed her emotions very clearly in her narrative. I liked that she was such a direct protagonist who made it easy to understand her. She is very vivid in her descriptions, and her emotions came across very clearly.⁣
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The magical contemporary world Ellie and Jack live in made this story all the more fun, and I just really adored this story! I can’t wait to see what else Julie comes up with next.

I really enjoyed this book and liked the plot and found the characters to be likeable! It was a little slow at times but it was worth it for that ending and I’m very glad I read it. Overall 4/5 star rating

This book was so cute! It follows high school students Ellie and Jack on a road trip to a magical convention for their family businesses. They are former best friends turned enemies. If you like friends to lovers, or enemies to lovers you'll enjoy this one. I love the way that magic works in this book. It feels so natural and beautiful. The main characters were relatable. I feel like the story did a good job of giving enough depth to understand what they're going through but remaining a light read. The "anti-wallflower checklist" Ellie made for the trip was a fun addition. If you are looking for a sweet teenage romance check this one out.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A super cute YA that is perfect for fans of To All the Boys and Sabrina the Teenage Witch! A great fall read for sure, with witchy and back to school vibes.

I love that i had the chance to read this book! I’m ready to reread it already! I had such a great time! Pick this up if you want such a cute sweet YA romance!