Sophie Morgan has conjured up the witchy friends to lovers, second chance, “it’s always been you” romance of my dreams! The magic was clever, tension perfectly balanced, banter so witty and sharp, and the romance was 💥🔥

Gosh, I loved Emma and Bastian! While there was some growth from both, it wasn’t a radical transformation, more that they came into their own and embraced what others deemed to be flaws. It was so satisfying seeing Emma find her the grit she had buried down and I was cheering her on when she used her voice. And the supporting characters, Tia, Leah, Sloane, were equally as wonderful and I would love to join their coven.

I didn’t quite care for all the derogatory remarks about Emma’s appearance - she’s repeatedly talked down to and made fun of because her “looks are lacking” and as such was “undesirable.” This felt very unnecessary.

For anyone who has ever felt they weren’t enough, who didn’t quite fit in, or thought they had to mold themselves to others’ or societal standards, Sophie Morgan has, through Emma and Bastian, created a community where all feel seen, accepted, and valued. The Witch is Back was such a feel good read that will sweep you off your feet!

4.5 stars!

This book seems like it was written for a young woman who loved the world of Harry Potter as a child and grew up a misfit in a status-obsessed family. I, on the other hand, am a middle-aged woman happily raised by hippies who grew up reading Ursula LeGuin. So maybe that other woman likes this book, but I couldn't finish it, despite usually enjoying romances and witchcraft. It certainly wasn't helped by the unrecognizable depiction of Chicago, where I was living when I was a young woman.

I love a good romcom, but this is the first one I've read of the witchy variety!

Emmaline Bluewater has shunned witch society for a life running a bar in Chicago, and things are going swimmingly until her childhood sweetheart, Bastian, turns up out of the blue and announces that he wants her back.

This was the perfect light hearted, exciting, humorous read and was right up my street. Emma and Bastian's chemistry felt so genuine and both characters were brilliantly flawed which made it so easy to relate to what they were both going through. I loved following their journey in this book, both as a couple and on their own individual paths; I can relate to Emma on many levels and it's a testament to how well her character has been written that I was fully invested in her getting the ending she deserved!

A fantastic, bewitching read that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend! Released this August.

I found myself drawn into this story from the beginning. I found myself relating to the main character, Emma, so much. She's someone who was looked down upon in her family and had a lot of pressure to be good enough, even though she was constantly belittled. This is the story of her blossoming and coming into her own power and confidence, while also finding love. I absolutely loved this story and found elements of it surprising (which is hard to do for me!). Highly recommend for those who love a good romcom.

4.5 Stars This witchy, second-chance romance with a dual POV was so good! Seven years have passed since witch Emmaline "Emma" Bluewater's fiancé, Bastian Truenote, skipped town in the middle of the night, leaving only a note for his parents that said he couldn't marry her. Emma has mostly left the witch society behind in New Orleans, instead moving to Chicago to open up a bar with her friends. When Bastian walks through the door of her bar after all these years and with that same charming smile, she's flabbergasted. Even more so when she hears why he's back and what his plan is. Bastian can't tell Emma why he left in the first place--or even ask if he can trust her at all--but he can tell her that he needs Emma to marry him in order to fulfill their marriage contract and save his mother's life. Emma agrees and think that she can get through this marriage of convenience without spilling all of her secrets to Bastian and without a broken heart...again.

Second-chance is my favorite romance trope, especially with all of the angst and heartbreak when one half of the couple returns and they are reunited. This was a very emotional romance, with themes of vulnerability and trust, found family, and having the freewill to choose the life you want to live, rather than the one you've been forced into. I'm really hoping that I'm right when I say that the book seemed to set us up for some sequels, with Emma's friends, Tia (and some warlock named Henry?) and human Leah (with Emma's older brother Kole).

3.5⭐️

Emma is less than thrilled when Bastian shows up at her bar, just as handsome as ever, seven years after he abandoned her right before they got married. When he tells her he’s back because they have to get married because of the marriage contract they both signed, which had a curse clause neither of them knew about, she agrees to keep his mother from dying. Both Bastian and Emma are keeping secrets from the other however and can they truly have any kind of relationship based on deceit?

This was fine. Very predictable which is sometimes ok but this just felt very formulaic- complete with a third act breakup (again??) which just felt childish. Though the characters admit to it being childish which helped some. Overall it was fine, cute witchy romance and the spice was nice

I just didn't love it. I wanted more witchy scenes - the exhibition was just glossed over. Also, I get that Emma was dealing with severe trauma, but the whole conflict of the romance was based on her being immature and unwilling to talk. Also, a lot of the phrasing of the sentences was weird. I had to re-read them several times to understand what was happening.

I was not prepared for how much I was going to love this book. Arranged marriage for a popular “higher family” Warlock and a “lesser family” shy witch. He runs off before the wedding and she leaves town to get away from the gossip that he didn’t want her. Fast forward 7 years and he waltzes back in her life. She’s not the same shy girl he remembers. Can they make it work this time around or has time, secrets and deep hurt made sure no magic can bring them together? I loved the side characters and would love more stories in this world. My only gripe is how many times “movie-star” is used to describe an attractive person in the book like 5 times. It just felt lazy like instead of describing them it was like “readers know movie stars are attractive just toss it in again”.

It was cute. A 3.5 to be honest. Just sweet and a good palette cleanser. I wish it had revealed more of a depth to any of the characters. They seemed rather one-note and that bugged me. But it was sweet and effective at filling the time between books.

It turns out that witchy romance books are a genre I really enjoy. This one was great, I loved the 2 main characters, and their conflicts and issues were reasonable. The way they got around the just won't talk to each other problem was very good. I did not like Emma's two best friends, because they were not very nice to her, so I'd be interested to see if there are sequels about them and if I start to appreciate them more. Anyhow, if you also love a witchy romance, check this one out.

This is a great read when you are in the mood for a light witchy rom-com. Childhood sweethearts Emma and Bastian have great chemistry together, until Bastian abruptly ends the marriage contract and disappears. Shy and conservative Emma is very relatable, however the villain/mom character was a little over the top. Her friends are also a bit on the bossy side, but do seem to have her best interests at heart.
Bastian suddenly returns, insisting on honoring the binding marital contract to prevent dire consequences of a broken contract. As the two get reacquainted, sparks fly, but both must learn to trust, appreciate and embrace the changes each has made.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and the unexpected twist in the resolution was quite the surprise and the plot was engaging throughout.

Thank you to @Harlequin for the ARC. This book had it all. Friends to arranged marriage, Curses, Betrayal and Romance. Emma was so relatable and sweet. Her love for her sister was strong, love for her friends was unwavering and the boy who came back a man romantic. I plan to read more by Sophie H. Morgan.

This was a quick and fun read. I enjoyed the characters but would have liked a little more info or back story on their world. It did all come together very nicely at the end.

"The Witch is Back" by Sophie Morgan is a charming and fun romantic comedy with a magical twist. The story follows Emmaline Bluewater, a witch who has given up on fitting in with her own society and is content with living a human life in Chicago. But her world turns upside down when her former childhood sweetheart, Bastian Truenote, shows up at her bar, Toil and Trouble, wanting her back.

What follows is a delightful romp as the two of them navigate their complicated past and try to forge a new relationship. Along the way, they must deal with magical contracts, a goofy dog familiar, and a best friend who is more than willing to use her magic against Bastian. The chemistry between Emma and Bastian is palpable, and their banter is witty and entertaining.

Sophie Morgan has done an excellent job of blending romance and fantasy in this book. The magical world she has created is unique and interesting, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. Emma's journey of self-discovery and acceptance is a central theme of the book, and it is heartwarming to see her find her place in the world.

Overall, "The Witch is Back" is a delightful read that will have you laughing, swooning, and cheering for Emma and Bastian's happily ever after. If you enjoy romance and magic, then this book is definitely worth picking up.

If I had to choose one word to describe The Witch is Back, I choose "lovely." From the first few pages til the very end, I loved Emma's story. Emma (short for Emmaline) is witch that chooses to live mostly outside of witch culture for several reasons, including a huge heartbreak. Unlike many romances in which a new man comes in to mend the broken heart, Morgan brought back the heartbreaker.
I truly enjoyed the characters-well developed, likeable, and a good mix of fun, serious, and evil. Morgan doesn't spend a lot of time world-building the magical world which I actually prefer but others might find it lacking in that aspect. My preference is for time to be spent on character building and Morgan delivered! I also appreciate a romance in which the third act conflict is not overly dramatic or drawn out and this has the right balance.
I feel like I'm raving but this story was just wonderful! I would love to see more books focusing on these characters-maybe the friends can find love one by one?
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this title!

Emma and Bastian's parents enter them into a marriage contract when they are young, but one day, Bastian disappears. FOR SEVEN YEARS! When he finally returns, it's only because if he and Emma don't fulfill the contract, his mom will die.

Witch lite: It's 💯 witch vibes, without the hardcore witchiness...does that even make sense? Yes, Emma and Bastian are witches, but that is secondary to the development of them as individuals and a betrothed couple.

I'm a sucker for a good witchy book, and this definitely was an enjoyable read for me. I loved the banter between all of the characters, the chemistry between Bastian and Emma, and the writing made it a page-turner.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and @harlequinbooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity.

The Witch is Back by Sophie H Morgan is a light, beach-read book. The characters' magic was used effectively to enhance the story.

Emmeline Bluewater was contracted to marry Bastian Truenote her whole life. Seven years ago, he left without a word to her. Witch society blamed Emma, and treated her with scorn or pity.

She escaped to Chicago where she and two friends started a bar called Toil and Trouble. All is going well, until Bastian walks into the bar and says he wants her back. His failure to marry Emma has caused unexpected problems in his family. The only remedy is for them to get married.

But Emma is not the girl he left behind. She has secrets she can't share, and someone put a hex on Bastian that prevents him from explaining his reasons for leaving.

How it gets sorted out made for an amusing read. There were hints that additional books could be forthcoming with secondary characters taking center stage.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and the plot never dragged.

It’s a cozy romance that really makes you feel good! Is this an original plot line that changes your reality? No. Does it make you want to curl up by a fire and get warm fuzzy feelings? Absolutely! I loved the banter and the fact the love interest wanted the MC to have a spine!
I’m typically not a fan of second chance romances or friends to lovers. But this just hit in the feels. These characters had to face the fact they both needed to grow up and experience life before finding each other. I love early on they both recognize that they are not the same people and respect the other has changed too. Yes there’s a miscommunication trope but honestly it has complexity that is usually lacking.
My only issues were the pacing was sometimes off. When it was good it was like flying through pages. But there was a lot of gaps that were being filled in that could have been great plot points. And the ending felt a little two easy to fix. I appreciate the choice the characters were given and not a drawn out second act.
Overall a solid 4.5 for a cozy read! A great selection for fall and really cute love story about growing up to become the person you want to be!

I loved Emma and Bastian and how their families both brought them together and drew them apart. Emma's progression throughout the book was wonderful and I really enjoyed the story!

This book was so wonderful! I will admit it took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did I fell in love. Bastian and Emma are so perfect together and their chemistry is undeniable. I loved that the book switched back and forth through their perspectives in some of the chapters. It really gave a look into how both individuals were feeling about a situation and made their chemistry so much more believable.

Overall, The Witch is Back is a fun romance with a some fantasy. It is perfect for those who enjoy friends to lovers, second chance romance, and marriage of convenience. I absolutely loved this book and I would love more stories within this world,

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review!