“The story began as many stories do, with a girl who bloomed too big for the space that the world had carved out for her.”
Spells for Lost Things, Jenna Evans Welsh
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Attention to all my fall loving, pumpkin spice latte drinking, witchy witches. This book is the PERFECT early fall read. Evans Welsh managed to encapsulate all the warm fuzzies sweater weather has to offer throughout this book. Even though this story is new to me there’s a sense of nostalgia to this story the same way movies like Hocus Pocus, KiKi’s Delivery Service, Halloweentown, and most of all Practical Magic do. Not only does Spells for Lost Things take place in Salem, MA but also revolves around a family of modern witches.

Its the ultimate cozy fall read. And It might be my favorite from this author so far. I can absolutely see myself returning to this book every year around this time. It gives me just enough witchiness to start getting excited for the season. But also the plotline is magical enough to make me feel like I’m on an emotional journey.

As someone who is incredibly close with her mom, it was so emotional to read about two characters as they explore and analyze the relationships they have with their mothers. Mason and Willow grow so much from beginning to end, but the real hero of this book is Emma. (No spoilers, but she made me cry for the first time in ages.) You’ll just have to read to understand my love for this woman.

Evans Welsh’s books are unique YAs. While she wraps her plot around an adorable high school romance, she gives bits and pieces of very mature topics and focuses an almost equal amount on the adults as she does the teens. And that just makes her books perfect for all audiences.

This has to be one of my most favorites books by Welch to date.

I adored everything about it. From the hint of magic. to the real life issues that almost anyone, some how can relate to, the family dynamics, in all their different sizes, shapes and forms and of course, the absolutely endearing love this book has. Everything about it was truly magical and I couldn't get enough of it.

I found myself constantly thinking about the characters whenever I had to regretfully put the book down and I was so sad that it ended while at the same time being perfectly happy and content with how it ended. I did not want this beautiful, deep, wonderfully magical story to be over and I know this will be one I will be thinking about long after I have finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of Spells For Lost Things.

When I read the summery of this book, I thought it was going to be a light-hearted witchy book with a lot of fun and adventures in Salem. I didn't expect it to be so heartfelt and emotional.

From very early in this story, I was rooting for the two main characters Willow and Mason, as neither of them had a great living situation. I so badly wanted a better life for both of them, a life where they find a home and feel safe to thrive and be themselves. This book really delivered.

I also loved seeing the stories of the parents woven into the mystery and adventure of these two teens. Honestly, I feel like I enjoyed the nuance of this book reading as an adult far more than I would have reading this as a teen. The relationships are deep, complicated, and beautiful. And everyone eventually finds a home that is right for them.

I look forward to reading more by this author!

Mason and Willow both feel as though they are looking for something, and they are both going to cross paths for the first time when each finds themselves unexpectedly in Salem, Massachusetts. Jenna Evans Welch has crafted a beautiful, heartfelt story about connection, longing, hope, and love sprinkled with a bit of sweet romance and magic.

Both Mason and Willow were wonderful characters, I loved the fact that the story was told in dual POV and allowed us to get a bit more from each of them. I felt each felt so authentic and different, it was a pleasure to read about their experiences and wants – it was also very sweet to see their interactions together. I was rooting for both to find what they were respectively looking for, and I really enjoyed the element of mystery / magic that the ‘quest’ they were sharing provided.

The story was such a quick and relaxing read, as a native New Englander – I adored the setting and despite the season in the story (summer), I couldn’t help but image this read as one taking place in early fall (my favorite season, and the one that gives me the best cozy, New England vibes). I felt like I was there with them, exploring the bits of Salem and more importantly the mystery (and magic?) around the Bell residence.

Two standout pieces for me had to be the epistolary element that was woven into the story and served as a story within the story if you will. I found the letters (and accompanying story) to be charming and really interesting. I enjoyed many things about the book, but the other standout for me was how things came together and wrapped up in the end. In an attempt to keep things spoiler free, I won’t say anymore.

This was a lovely read, and I think my favorite from Jenna Evans Welch so far. Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read an early copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely offered.

I'll be honest. I was expecting perhaps a fun story but nothing much beyond that going into this book. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that I greatly enjoyed it and also got quite emotional during parts of it! My eyes were not dry toward the end of the book.

Basically, our two main characters have found themselves in Salem near the beginning of summer. Willow's mother is settling the estate of a family member, and Mason is going to live with a new foster family. They meet and help each other in what they are searching for. But this book is so much more than that.

Willow feels estranged from her mother. She longs to travel and is upset that her mother has said no to her plans to study abroad for her last year of high school. But in going to Salem with her mother, she finds out that she knows nothing about her mother's past and the family she left behind (or the curse on their family).

Mason's mother is an addict and although she's tried to get clean multiple times for her son, she hasn't been successful. Mason is going to a new family where the foster mother used to be friends with his mother. But although this is a wonderful family, he longs to be back with his own mother.

This book is ultimately about family and belonging and relationships. I was really drawn into the story and truly cared about these characters and what happened to them. I really liked tying in the story of what happened in the past between Lily and Thalia and how that plays out with the relationship between Willow and her mother. And Mason's journey is heart-wrenching.

If those are themes that you like in your books, I think you'll really like this one.

Super cute!! I love a good YA read and after reading Love & Gelato, I was excited to check this one out.

Setting the story in Salem made the fact that witches appear (charming, hilarious, occasionally naked witches!) less of a fantasy element and more of some local character.

The fact that both Mason and Willow are each grieving different parts of their relationship with their (living) moms gives them a little more depth than your usual YA character.

This is an enjoyable, easy read. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to #netgalley for this #arc of #spellsforlostthings

Witchcraft, complicated family histories, mystery, and romance in a Salem, MA setting? Did Welch write this book for me specifically? It was such a good YA read! I’ve only read Love & Gelato, which gave me such wanderlust that I’m still dreaming of Gelato half a year later, and I’m happy to say I enjoyed this one just as much. Although I didn’t get transported abroad reading this one like I did reading that, the setting of Spells for Lost Things is perfect. I really loved how we got to follow two POVs, Willow and Mason. It’s the summer before senior year and both are dealing with difficult family issues, trying to find their place in this world, and general loneliness. Both Mason and Willow’s story arcs centered around absent mothers; Mason’s is physically absent and Willow’s is emotionally distant. The romance was a bit instalove-y for me but so on brand for a whirlwind teen romance. I just found it so pure and sweet that I wasn’t all that bothered by it. The mystery was fun and the letters from Sage were my favorite part. The side characters were such a treat! I really loved Mason’s foster family and Willow’s crazy aunties. I’m a huge fan of the found family trope and Welch writes it so well. Seeing the growth of every relationship was super heartwarming and I’m such a sucker for for these type of reads. Overall, a cute, wholesome read that touches on heavy family issues with a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommend to YA fans. If you loved her other books, this will be a sure win for you.

So I have a love affair with everything Jenna Evens Welch since the day Love and Gelato came out so I felt a little bias requesting this but I also didn't know what to expect seeing how this book would be different for any of her other books. With that being said I actually enjoyed this and I don't say that as an existing fan I say that as someone who doesn't not like mystery. I loathe mystery--I'm a ridiculously scary people so I stay away. Getting into thing book I new it was going to different and romance geared so I wasn't pushed to put it down but I didn't realize it would also revolve around family relationships which was nice. Overall I think this was great and I'm glad Welch took a chance on writing something new.

A sweet, wistful story--or rather, 2 stories--about a pair of teens searching for belonging, who meet in the middle of their independent journeys and help each other fill the empty places they've been carrying for years. Mason has been buffeted about by the foster care system, desperate to find the mother he has always considered his one and only anchor. Willow is estranged from her divorced workaholic mother, desperate to find a sense of home and family she hasn't felt since childhood, before her parents' split. When the two meet in the most unusual of places--the roof of a witch's house in Salem, Mass,--they begin a journey that will unlock Willow's past, and, perhaps, a new future for both of them. The magic is subtly woven throughout the story, and each reader can interpret how much is "real" and how much is apocryphal. The setting is delightful, a blend of gritty history and kitschy modern charm, with a hint of sparkle in every corner. The romance is sweet and full of Big Feels, though readers will have to be patient as the pair has their first real conversation over halfway through the book, and Welch keeps the narrative emphasis on the individual journeys. Though Willow's family of witches brought lots of smiles as I read, I loved the scenes with Mason's foster family most, and the various ways each member broke through his walls and showed him sincere care. Sloths, stars, and all.

Willow has never felt like she has a home. Her parents are divorced. Dad lives in Brooklyn and is remarried with triplets. Her Mom, Mary moved to LA and started an event planning business. Willow's plan is to graduate high school and travel.

Mason is a foster kid who has been trying to get back to him Mom. His mom's best friend Emma & her husband Simon have signed up to be his foster parents. Simon is a real estate agent.

Willow's mom explains one day that her sister died and they need to go to Salem, Ma. Her mother has this whole back story that Willow knows nothing about. Her Aunt left a house to Mary. Mary is determined to get out of Salem and sell the house.

Mason and Willow have a chance meetup at night on the rooftop. Mason helps Willow discover and untangle her family's history.

This book is so good. I loved the characters and the backstory of Willows family. It definitely gave me Practical Magic vibes. I loved it so much I had to read it in one day. I could not put it down.

I want to thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with an e-galley of this book to read and give my honest review.
Let me start by saying I truly enjoyed the Love and Gelato series by Welch. So when I was contacted to see if I might want to read this one, and it was about witchy things, I jumped at the chance. And I am so glad I did.
Not only does Welch create a setting where you feel right at home, but she weaves her story in a way that keep you turning the pages and not wanting to put a book down.
I love the two person point of view of this book. Mostly because you know from the beginning the worlds are going to collide and the build up to get there is fun.
I easily connected with Willow and Mason. Each with their own issues, each working to becoming the best person they can be. Willow with her traveling bug and Mason with his need to keep a connection to his mother. Both super important but in such different ways. Willow wanting to escape while all Mason truly wanted was to be home.
The one thing about the witch part of this book is its connection to nature and the universe and how things happen because they are meant to happen. It's not everyone casting spells and magic happening in the paranormal way. It's those connections happening because the universe has set things to happen in a certain way. It's why things collide. And it works and makes my inner witchy heart happy!
This book also made me want to visit Salem. I've been there before (though many years ago) but it made me really want to go and see the history and feel that special connection I saw through Willow's eyes. I just might do it!
My only issue with this book was the rushed ending.. Throughout the book, the pacing was on point. But at the end, I felt like Mason's story was more rushed at the end than I would have liked. I appreciated the way it was done but at the same time felt like the author may have been unsure of how to actually get where she wanted the story to go.
Overall this was truly enjoyable and I would definitely love to read future books from this author as her story telling is fun and interesting.

First off thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for Young Readers for giving me a digital arc of Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

I devoured this book. I have read Love and Gelato and for the atmosphere alone, gave it five stars. Spells for Lost Things was no different. The subtle witchy atmosphere was fluffy and absolutely perfect. I loved all the aunts along with all their names, you'll understand if you read it

There was so much going on in this book and it was never boring or lacking in depth. I loved the characters, Willow and Mason, I thought their relationship in a romantic and friendship aspect was super sweet. AND the dual pov is ADORABLE I love seeing the guy's perspective

I don't want to give much away as I went into this book mostly blind and highly recommend you do the same. This was a beautiful coming-of-age story focusing on relationships of all kinds and their struggles. I recommend you read this beginning of October for a fluffy yet emotional witchy read. This one took me by surprise in all the best ways

Every book Jenna Evans Welch writes I love. Spell for Lost Things is at another level for her. It’s smart, compassionate, clever, interesting, thrilling and captivating. A well-written, well-paced mystery romance. The fact that Welch is more or less at the beginning of her writing career is a gift so we can enjoy her stories for years to come. I can’t wait for the next one!

I love Welch's fun and light-hearted reads with a hint of mystery, family drama, and romance and this one did not disappoint. This story follows Willow and Mason in Salem, Massachusetts. Willow has been dragged there for the summer to tie up some loose ends after the death of her mysterious aunt. I loved the witchcraft twist in this book and it was a quick and fun read!

What a fun book! I can’t wait to read this one again in October! It’s got the witch vibes without being creepy or dark. Nothing obscene, which is so nice. I really enjoyed this fun read!!

There are two things that I love about Jenna Evans Welch novels: their travel theme, and the way they portray young people who find themselves longing for things. Every one of her protagonists wants something desperately, but always something intangible, the kind of thing that makes a person's soul ache - and Willow and Mason are no exceptions. Though I didn't absolutely love Spells For Lost Things the way I've loved some of her previous books (I felt like the magic aspect got a little hokey at times), it did what her books do best: portraying the inner journeys of teenagers who don't know how to fill the holes in their hearts. My heart hurt for both of them so many times throughout the story, and their final resolution was like a sigh of relief - I could overlook a lot for that. It's an imperfect book, yes, but lovely, as Welch's books always are.

I was provided with an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I loved this book from start to finish. I have always enjoyed Welch's books, but this added in a bit of magic that just elevated it even more for me. The witchy parts of me loved the setting (Salem, MA), the coven of awesome old ladies (um, kitchen witch who just instinctually makes your favorite food? Yes please!), and a general inclusivity of the magical lifestyle that I really appreciated. I really enjoyed Willow, our female MC, and how she just fully embraced the vibe and the lore of her heritage. Mason was the cinnamon roll that you just want to protect at all costs. I loved the dynamic between Mason and Willow, and their instant bond that wasn't just a physical attraction thing. I made the mistake of starting this book before bed and stayed up until the wee sma's to finish it. I may have been exhausted for work the next day, but it was totally worth it. I laughed, I cried, I was surprised, and I was utterly enchanted.

I requested this book because I loved the colors of the book cover and the title. I love books about witches. The name of the author seemed so familiar to me and of course it is, since she wrote the Love & Gelato series. Here is what did and didn’t work for me:

+ I love Willow and Mason. The characters don’t meet until about 20% into the story but we get a good background of Willow and her need to travel, her feelings of being trapped with a mom who has pushed her away and a dad busy with his new family. Mason’s mom is a drug addict and he’s been in the foster care system for a long time but all he wants is to be with his mom again, but he can’t find her. He moves to a new foster family but maybe this time it will be different or not.

+ The story is set in Salem, Massachusetts and with their history of witches its the perfect setting. Willow learns more of her mother’s secretive past there and meets Mason. I love uncovering the Bell women’s past, including meeting Willow’s aunts who all dabble in a little witchcraft – they are so sweet and funny. The restored house that is part of the secret history sounds absolutely magical.

+ The romance is sweet and really beautiful. I love how Willow and Mason meet, become friends and partners, but feel a magical bond between them. They are still young and have a future wide open to them but I love how they start falling for one another even with their futures undecided. I like the hope of the two of them together.

+ I found myself tearing up at the end of this story mostly because of Mason’s story. He’s had a tough time and all he wants is his mom. He has to realize in the end that she might not be the best person to raise him and I can only imagine his pain and hurt. It’s a surprisingly emotional story! On the other hand, Willow has her own issues with her mom and it does get resolved in the end. I’m just happy Willow found her family and home…same as Mason.

~ Willow’s mom is a hard one to crack – she’s kept her past secret and it hurt Willow a lot. Willow doesn’t know her mom like she thought and I was so frustrated with her mom because all Willow wants, is to be close to her mom. It’s a sad situation. This book was about romance and family, but definitely the bonds between a mom and her child which I can relate to.

~ I thought Nova, one of Mason’s new sister was an interesting character who was there in the beginning but as Mason and Willow spent more time together, we heard less of her – but I’d love to know more about her!

~ the characters don’t meet right away and I do wish they meet sooner. We get a lot of background information on Willow and Mason in the first few chapters, but I do think some of that could have moved quicker to them meeting.


Why you should read it:
*it’s a heartfelt story with innocent romance, and tells a story about bonds between sisters, family, mom and child
*it’s got a little bit of witchcraft, and mystery
*Willow and Mason’s romance is the sweetest thing
*Willow and Mason have their personal life challenges and I like that each had to deal with it in their own way, but they come out safe and loved in the end

Why you might not want to read it:
*it’s not a book about witchcraft – there isn’t much of it

My Thoughts:

This is such a heartwarming story, especially around the themes around family and moms. Mason’s story brought tears to my eyes as he struggles with moving to a new foster home and trying to find his mom. I love that he meets Willow in the process, a girl who is always dealing with trying to find a place that feels like home. There isn’t much witchcraft in the story but I feel like whatever was tied to witches or witchcraft was used to help them hope for something better for both of them in their separate situations. Lovely story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book was an absolutely adorable, quick read. It follows Willow, teenaged girl with severe wanderlust, through the fallout of her parents' divorce and a journey of discovering her family's secret past. Her relationship with her mother is tenuous at best as they travel to Salem, Massachusetts to close out a relative's estate after their unexpected passing. There, she meets Mason, who also offers his POV. Mason is the child of an addict, who has fallen through the cracks of the foster care system, and grown up in less than ideal circumstance. Fate brings Willow and Mason together, and they help each other to uncover the mysteries of their pasts. The story was at times predictable, but overall a very enjoyable read that I wholeheartedly recommend!

loved it. beautiful characters and great pacing. and the side characters (the aunties! the morgan girls!)! only irk is that i wish there’d been more of willow and mason together; before they met, i felt like i was reading/racing TO their meeting, and i really liked their interactions once they HAD met, but at that point i was ripping through the story because it was just so damn good. i could barely put it down - i wanted more plot, i wanted to see where willow’s family’s story went, and i wanted more willow + mason! i held back tears through the final couple of chapters. overall lovely.

#netgalley