Book Review: Spells for Lost Things
Rating: 3.5 / 4

This book comes out tomorrow 🎉🎉

Book Details:
-Genre: YA romance
-Setting: Salem
-written by the author of the Love & Gelato series
-Publication Date: 9/27/22
-Features Salem witchiness, an exploration of family ties, and a really cool house

Seasonal Read
If you are looking for something seasonal to read, but you aren’t a huge scary/fantasy person, this could be a great option! Since it is set in Salem, it is very atmospheric and has a lot of elements that fit well into spooky season. There is magic, but it’s still predominantly a romance (think romance with magic elements rather than a fantasy romance).

Personal Connection
Personally, one of my favorite things was reading this after having been to Salem recently. There are so many mentions of various locations, and many of them I had been to just weeks ago. Throughout the book I was excitedly texting my friend who went to Salem with me about all the things mentioned in the book that we saw while there!

Family History / Timelines
One of the unique elements of this book is that it heavily focuses on family dynamics and family history. While the story is set in the present, there are ways the past is weaved in as well that I really enjoyed. It balances found families and gaining an understanding of your own family history in a meaningful way.

Overall
This book is a quick read and engaging. It feels magical in a cute way, but also deals with heavy topics. I love how it weaves in family history as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

“What was lost, now is found.
Bring it to me, safe and sound.
As I will it, so mote it be.
Under moon, and over sea.”

Willow desperately wishes to find her place in the world. The only way she believes she’ll find it is by traveling the world. But one day, her Mom, who is emotionally neglectful, suddenly whisks her away to Salem, Massachusetts to wrap up the estate affairs of a mysterious aunt that Willow didn’t know existed. It’s in Salem that Willow discovers a family history that she was completely unaware of. Also finding their way to Salem is a boy named Mason who, after a long history of bouncing around foster homes, is transferred to the care of a woman who apparently knew his Mom. Desperate to find a way back to his Mom, the only comfort he has is his love of astronomy. It’s by chance that the two teens meet, and through their mutual feelings of loss, they go on a mission to uncover the secrets of Willow’s Mom’s family history and to find a way to break an apparent curse that has plagued the women in her family for generations. Despite the teens’ powerful connection with one another, will their bond be strong enough to help them find what they’ve been missing in their lives? Or will they themselves become lost in the process?

There are so many things to love about Jenna Evan Welch’s Spells for Lost Things. From the plot to the characters, even the writing itself, there wasn’t a single flaw that I could name for this novel. I was surprised to see that Spells for Lost Things tackled so many themes besides romance. It handled topics of parental strife, feelings of displacement and loss, the struggles of moving on, and so much more. So many heavy topics were explored in this novel, yet they all flowed so seamlessly with one another. What I particularly loved about the structure of this novel was that it was written from alternate points of view between Willow and Mason. Although initially disorienting, this writing technique allowed Welch to explore a variety of ways that the characters felt lost in their lives. Although the blurb of the book focuses on Willow’s story, I love how Mason wasn’t defined by Willow or written just to further Willow’s storyline. Mason had his own desires, his own pains, his own experiences, and it made his story just as important as Willow’s. Even though Mason and Willow’s budding romance was adorable to read, I love how it isn’t necessarily the focus of the story.

Welch also does a fascinating job immersing the readers into the setting of Salem. Her descriptive language helps paint a brilliant visual, especially for those who may have only heard of Salem, Massachusetts from books or shows. My favorite parts in the book were when she’d describe the natural surroundings of the environment in such explicit detail. Welch also did a magnificent job adding depth to the background characters, making them more than tools to further the main characters’ storyline. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves stories with character growth, empowering messages, a touch of teen romance, and a bit of magic. Plus, there is a satisfying twist at the end.


Spell for Lost Things releases on September 27th, 2022.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

I will admit, I was a little leary when I requested this book. I am usually looking for something a little more deep but thought I would give it a shot. And I am really glad I did.

This was a book that was really easy to relate to on so many levels. The story was magical, not only in its content, but in how it was written. The author knows how to draw the reader in, and keep you there, wanting more and not wanting it to end.

Willow only wants to spend her senior year in Paris with a cousin and isn't too happy when her mother informs her they need to take care of business in Salem. Mason is a foster kid who has been bounced around after his addicted mother leaves him. Both come together after Willow's mother puts a witch house on the market that her twin Sage left her. The problem is Willow never knew her mother had a twin or that she grew up in Salem. When Mason's new foster father, a realtor, tries to put the house on the market, her meets Willow. There's a magical chemistry between the two that is helped along by Willow's 'aunties' when they try to solve a mystery that Sage left behind for her twin. Add a book of spells to the mix and you'll find that sometimes there is magic in the cards.

What worked: Poignant story of two teens who try to make sense of their lives after coming to Salem, Massachusetts for the summer. This is a sweet, endearing new story by the author of LOVE GELATO. Readers are introduced to two very unlikely love interests. Seems fate has brought them together. I really loved the backstory of the witch house and the eccentric witch aunties. Willow's reaction to learning about her mother's past is very realistic. She's hurt, confused, and angry. When she sees the house Sage left her mother, Willow feels at home.

There's secret messages left throughout the house. I loved the letters that tell the backstory of Willow's family. Great pacing and chemistry throughout.

Mason's story is poignant and heart-wrenching at times as he continues to try to find his mother. His big escape is stargazing and astrophysics. Little by little he opens himself up to Willow as he tries to help her solve a mystery that Sage left behind.
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Magical story of two teens who try to find themselves and learn that sometimes fate is where you least expect it.

I have nothing but love for Welch’s books, and this was another outstanding addition to her catalog. All Welch’s signature elements were here, combined in all the best ways, but I must admit, it was the them e of finding lost things that really put this over the top for me.

Mason’s mother was unable to care for him due to her struggle with drug addiction, and he was bounced around the foster system. This kept him from making those deeper connections and putting down roots. Willow technically had two places to live since her parents divorced, but felt she had no home. Though their circumstances were drastically different, Mason and Willow were looking for a place to belong. With each other, they found friendship, love, and a sense of belonging. You know I am shedding tears right now just thinking about it. It was a beautiful thing!

But there was so much more to their story. I obviously won’t rehash it all right here, however just know that their journeys resulted in discoveries of a multitude of lost things. I would love to list all those “lost” things, but I want others to delight in finding them as they read this wonderful and heartwarming story.

A quick list of highlights:

° The setting – Welch is a master of transporting me to wherever her stories are set, and this was no exception.

° The curse – Willow and Mason go on a bit of scavenger hunt searching for clues to unravel the curse. I promise it was a lot of fun while also eye opening.

° The Aunties – Willow’s great aunts were a hoot, and fantastic supporting characters. They delighted me with each and every appearance on-page.

° Mason’s foster family – My goodness, this family was wonderful. The three young girls was so sweet, but it was all the love they had to give that has me shedding tears.

° The romance – It was precious.

° The ending – Sorry, not sorry, but I love when my loose ends are tied up, my characters are happy and hopeful, and I am left with a huge, gaping grin on my face. That was the ending of this book. It was perfect.

Spells for Lost Things was really a wonderful experience for me. Between the setting, the family focus, the “curse”, and the adorable romance, the book was on its way to a high rating. But it was that last 10% that was a total feel-splosion. So emotional and so many tears! Some of the tears were the bittersweet kind, some were the broken hearted kind, but the majority were happy tears.

4.25 heartwarming stars!

Spells for Lost Things, the latest book by Jenna Evans Welch, provides her signature style of charm and sweet romance, but throws in a little magic, as well. One of the things I like most about Welch’s writing is her ability to paint a story around a place. She always manages to make the setting come alive, enhancing the story in a deeper and more meaningful way. This time the setting is the historical town of Salem, Massachusetts.

When we meet Willow and Mason, they’re both quite unmoored, longing for family, a stable home, and a connection with each of their mothers. Willow’s life has felt untethered since her parents’ divorce and Mason has lost contact with his mother, being shuffled around the foster care system. They both end up in Salem for the summer and have an adorable meet cute that is the start of a friendship that leads them on a search for answers.

Willow and Mason’s easy friendship made my heart melt like a gooey ball of warm caramel. I only wanted the best for these two characters, and witnessing them finding someone to share their loneliness with was the balm for my weary soul. I had fun along with them as they searched for clues to Willow’s past, explored her aunt’s eclectic house, and stole around the town.

The side characters were the icing on the cake. I couldn’t help but compare Willow’s witch-y great-aunt’s to the aunts in Practical Magic, the house also reminding me of the house and garden, as well. And watching Mason adjust to his new foster family, which included three adorable little girls, was hopeful and pure.

I only wish this one could have been longer. I would have liked even more time with these characters in Salem. Pick up Spells for Lost Things when you need a book guaranteed to warm your heart, make you smile, and reignite your hope in humankind.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.

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Awe! I loved this one. It is definitely different than the Love & Gelato series which made it more enjoyable. I love that series don't get me wrong but it was nice to read something that felt new and fresh.

Willow didn't know her mother had such a mysterious past until she finds herself in Salem with three very eccentric aunts and letters from an aunt she never got to meet.

Mason's been searching for his mother for years and now finds himself living in a foster home consisting of his mother's childhood best friend and someone he's never known before.

I enjoyed the contemporary storyline for both Willow and Mason with all the touches of Salem. I thought their stories intertwined perfectly, the characters well developed, and it had the right amount of slow burn. I definitely recommend this to anyone who has loved Jenna Evans Welch's prior books.

This has to be my favorite YA book of the year!

I absolutely loved the way Jenna tied these two very different stories together. I found myself falling in love with the characters and relating to their stories in a way I didn’t see coming. It was beautiful, tragic, heartwarming and so much more.. plus a little magic never hurts! I will definitely be thinking about this story for days if not months to come.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read this beautiful story!

I received an advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

This novel was AMAZING!! I loved how the story unfolded from the two different points of view with Willow and Mason and the story really kept me guessing, even though I thought I had figured it out, and I was wrong! I like that in these two intertwined stories we also get the history of Willow's family as a separate fun little story to follow. This was a sweet, witchy and magical rom com. The only negative I would say is that I want MORE from the ending!!! And more of those fantastic aunties! Otherwise, such an amazing and wonderful book and I really have enjoyed this author!!

It’s been awhile since I read a Jenna Evans Welch book and I was excited about this upcoming release with its magical seeming story but it unfortunately didn’t meet my expectations.

I think my main issue is the concept of magic in this. I was expecting something more like the Nature of Witches but the magic in this I would say is basically nonexistent. It reminded of the show Good Witch where it feels vaguely magical but not really. There are things relating to witches and spells and magic but not the magic itself.

My other issue was the main relationship felt very insta-lovey and that’s not my favorite. Insta-love can work but it needs to have some sort of solid basis and this relationship did not have that in my opinion.

Although I will say something this book did really well was the familial relationships, the moments between Willow and her mother definitely pulled at some heartstrings and Mason’s overall familial arc was really stunning.

I would say this could be enjoyable but you have to go in with the right expectations. I also think this could be a really cozy no stress fall read if that’s what you’re looking for.

My Review: I really enjoyed reading this YA novel! Willow and Mason were great main characters, and I thought their relationship was lovely. There are definitely a lot of emotional moments in the book. The ending was wonderful, and I loved it. Overall, I thought this was a really good YA book, and I would definitely recommend reading it!

I received a copy of the book from the publisher and blog tour company.

Spells For Lost Things is a whimsical coming of age story that will have you shedding a few tears!

This book has everything you could want and need from a fall read: witches, romance, mystery, realistic family dynamics, humor and magic. This was the perfect cozy read to transition from summer to fall!

I loved the mix of real world emotions and struggles with fantasy elements and unique and relatable characters.

This book feels like reading 2 journals and I appreciated how the author moves the plot forward while managing 2 perspectives. I enjoyed how these 2 characters collide and hire they support each other. This book left me wanting more in a good way. There is a lot of room to turn this into a series. I’d love to see Willow’s travel adventures especially knowing the family secret.

“Spells For Lost Things,” by Jenna Evans Welch is the perfect YA read for the fall season & will totally get you into the Halloween spirit. The setting is Salem, Massachusetts, there are witches, secrets, spells and a bubbling romance. Welch, author of one of my favorite YA books, “Love & Gelato,” crafts an emotional story that centers around the two main protagonists: Willow and Mason. Willow is brought to Salem after her emotionally unavailable mother discovers her sister has died & discovers not only does she have a family she didn’t know about, but that she comes from a long line of witches. Mason recently moved to Salem with a new foster family; his mother is a drug addict and he has moved around numerous times. But this time around, he discovers his new foster mother was friends with his mom, who he is desperately trying to find. Couple these engaging characters with a family curse, aunties who are the funniest witches I’ve come across, the spooky vibes of Salem and you have the perfect read for the season.

“Spells for Lost Things” is a tender story that reminds us that you can’t run away from who you really are or who you are meant to be with.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Jenna Evans Welch & and #NetGalley for a digital copy of this novel & an honest review of this book.
This book is scheduled to be released on September 27, 2022.

- I loved Willow’s chapters, but Mason’s were too whiny and repetitive.
- Loooove the setting. Salem was almost like another character because it felt so alive and quirky
- The first 75 or so pages were a little rough for me. I wasn’t quite feeling the story or the characters, and I wasn’t sure how everything was going to connect. About halfway through the book everything starts coming together, and Mason and Willow’s bond really starts. But after that it got going really quickly and was a lot of fun!
- There was some real depth to this. Mason’s history with his mom and the foster care system; Willow’s struggle with her divorced parents, her dad moving on with a new family, and her constant wanderlust
- The title is PERFECT. Spells because witches,, Lost Things because Mason and Willow are trying to understand who they are and what their place in the world is

The story follows Willow and Mason. Two teenagers who feel lost in the world. The chapters go back and forth from Willow’s and Mason's points of view. You learn what each of them are going through and how both of their stories are woven together.

Willow was dealing with her parent's divorce and being forced to live in California. She then has to go to Salem MA because her aunt has passed away. Her aunt left her entire estate to Willow's mom. Willow finds out that she comes from a family of witches but there is a curse on them. Her aunt also left clues on the real story about the curse. Willow has three aunts in Salem who are witches and they are all so fun! They all have great personalities.

Mason is a stargazing foster child that moved from place to place. His mom's friend who lives in Salem decided to take him in to live with her and her family but all Mason wants is to find his mom again and be back together with her.

It was meant to be for them to both meet at that exact point in time. They both needed each other. And seeing their story intertwine and blossom from a friendship to something more is so heartwarming.

The story has all the witchy vibes so it's perfect for the fall season. The detail of the atmosphere brings me right back to a trip I had taken to Salem MA. It will make you want to drop whatever you are doing and go to Salem.

The ending will tug at your heartstrings. You won’t be able to put this book down, you will keep wanting to know how both of their lives turn out.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved Love & Gelato, so I was very excited about this one! I enjoyed the adventure that they went on to discover more about Willow’s family, and the connections made throughout!

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 takes place in Salem, has a host of witch aunties, and had me feeling more emotions than I thought was possible! Mason, who is in the foster care system, does all that he can, including run away, to be with his mom, even if she can’t take care of him. When Mason would speak of his love for his mother and the abandonment that he feels, I was gutted.

There is also Willow, our MC, who feels like she has never belonged anywhere, especially after her parent’s divorce. Though a rocky relationship, Willow’s bond with her mom was beautifully written.

Although it’s not necessarily a spooky read, I think 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 is the YA book of the season. Welch does a phenomenal job of depicting a multitude of relationships.

Spells For Lost Things is a feel-good, heart-warming book about chasing after what you want and sometimes allowing magic to step in and help. The characters were very relatable and I loved the setting in Salem, MA. This was a 5-star read for me!

Synopsis:
Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.
There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?
Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Review:
Willow and Mason's story was so engaging! I don't think this book turned out how I expected it at all. Their story was captivating and beautiful. I loved getting to know them and how they got together in Salem and then them becoming more. It was interesting and well-paced and the setting added both a fun background and some seriousness. This was my first book by Jenna Evans Welch and I definitely think I would read more.