I wanted to enjoy reading this book, and thought I would based on all the elements noted - cozy small town, bakery owner, witchcraft and Halloween. I kept reading hoping it would get better, and all make sense, but it fell flat.

Flair has returned to her hometown, begrudgingly, after discovering her husband slept with his nanny. I was surprised her daughter was so old given the way the early parts of the story were told, and why she couldn't just tell the truth.

The plot about Jude, with a moment in the forest, seemed farfetched - an amazing moment abruptly ended and that caused what seemed to be self-imposed distancing and escape... then driving rude, avoidance behavior...

David, her ex, seemed to be in the story way too much - I didn't get WHY? Yes, he's a jerk but it seemed a distraction versus adding to any bit of the plot.

Then the drama with her mother, Renee, her young daughter.... not listening to anyone. Just wasn't my cup of tea no matter how I tried.

When I saw that Playing the Witch Card was on NetGalley, I requested it so fast! Practical Magic meets Gilmore girls is the witchy vibe of 2023! There is something about that small town witch that just does it for me. In this book you get yourself a comfy cozy fantasy. Imagine baking tarot cookies that accidently unleashes your magic?? Sounds like a good time... until it isn't. I enjoyed mama Flair, and I felt for her when her daughter is moody, and her ex-husband is a cheating scum bag. I mean sometimes being a mom is so hard. If you're looking for a fall book with magic that makes you want to curl up with a knit blanket, open your windows, and listen to the winds howling in the background, pick this one up! Playing the Witch Card is out 9/12/23.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC and giving me the chance to read and review it honestly.

Happy reading!

Playing the Witch Card by K.J. Dell’Antonia
Narrator: Jesse Vilinsky
Rating: 3 stars
Pub Date: 9/12

When I saw "Playing the Witch Card" described as having Gilmore Girls meets Practical Magic vibes, I knew I had to read it! And I’m glad I did! It offers a fresh twist on the age-old theme of rediscovering one's magical heritage and is a delightful blend of magical mayhem and complicated family dynamics.

Flair Hardwicke has sworn off magic and love due to her mother's tumultuous past. But when she inherits her grandmother's home and bakery, she can't escape the enchantment that surrounds her family's magical Tarot cards, which seem to have a mind of their own. Add that to the unexpected arrival of her ex, a small town obsessed with Halloween, and a cast of quirky characters, and the stage is set for a lighthearted Halloween tale.

This reads more like women’s fiction, as it shines a light on the complexities of motherhood and the sometimes complicated relationships between generations of women. Dell’Antonia skillfully explores the messiness, regrets, and fears that come with being a mother, making the story relatable and heartfelt.

As much as I enjoyed the cozy fall vibes and the Halloween themes, I couldn’t rate this one higher because of it being extremely slow to start (the story didn’t pick up until 40%), having very unlikable characters, and a plot that was difficult to follow. The magical Tarot cards added a unique element to the story, which at times felt too much like Practical Magic. The miscommunication between the characters also made me a little crazy after realizing that everything would have been fine if they just talked to each other.

Minor issues aside, I think the atmosphere and Halloween charm make this a fun seasonal read. Thank you so much to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy and to PRH Audio for my free ALC.

Read if you like:
*tarot cards
*witchy vibes
*Practical Magic
*haunted trails
*complicated mother/daughter relationships

After Flair’s grandmother dies, she moves to Kansas to take over her bakery. But there’s one part of the business Flair refuses to continue: fortune telling. Although the women in Flair’s family, as well as a few other families in town, have had magical powers passed from generation to generation, Flair wants nothing to do with magic. But a set of Tarot card cookies Flair bakes unleashes those powers, and leads Flair to chaos and needing to fight for the people she loves the most using her own magic.

This was a great book that gave me all the Fall vibes. It’s pretty reminiscent of Practical Magic and I was here for that! A small town that loves Halloween and even has a few magical residents is exactly the setting I needed to get me in the spooky season mood. I loved the importance of family in this story, the touch of romance, but most importantly I loved the Tarot card readings. I thought that’s where Flair as a character really shone. This was a fun and quick read that is a great addition to any Halloween TBR.

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This was the perfect book to read ahead of fall and get me in the cozy season vibes! It took me a bit to get into the characters and I'm glad I stuck with it! I think it has similar vibes to The Ex Hex series and would recommend if you're a fan. Perfect light October read.

I have been a fan of KJ Dell'Antonia since Chicken Sisters, so I was excited to read this book with Halloween vibes. However, I was not a big fan of this book.

It had spunky and fun female characters, which I really enjoyed. Flair was a fantastic character even though I thought she was a bit too lenient with her daughter. I liked the witchcraft incorporation and thought it could potentially be a fun book for the fall.

I did not enjoy the tarot card aspect (that is not something that I understand or am interested in), and I thought the backstories of how the characters knew each other to be very clunky.

"Playing the Witch Card" by K.J. Dell'Antonia had the potential to be a captivating tale, blending elements of romance, magic, and family drama. However, it fell short of expectations due to several key issues.

The book's first chapter left me feeling disoriented and disconnected from the story. It was filled with emo foreshadowing and references to unexplained elements, making it a challenging start for readers. Additionally, the protagonist's conflicting desires regarding her hometown felt implausible. Wanting to return but rejecting the day-to-day aspects of her hometown life seemed inconsistent and made it difficult to relate to her character.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the book was the main character's stubborn refusal to acknowledge the importance of magic despite clear evidence that it played a significant role in her life. Her flimsy reasons for rejecting it added to the frustration. Furthermore, her decision to move back to her hometown under the ultimatum of "learn magic or leave forever" felt contrived and questionable.

The character of Flair is unlikable and comes across as a know-it-all who is willing to disregard the well-being of others to achieve her goals. Rooting for her or becoming emotionally invested in her journey was challenging. Ultimately, unlikable characters, a rushed plot, and unlikely and bizarre character choices hindered the story's potential.

While the publisher's description promised a blend of "Gilmore Girls" and "Practical Magic," the execution fell short of delivering on this enticing premise. Overall, "Playing the Witch Card" had potential but failed to live up to it due to these issues.

I love me some unique witchy books and Playing the Witch Card absolutely delivered! This is the perfect cozy fall/Halloween book to get the season started with all the atmospheric elements for small-town autumnal magic. I found the magic system really cute and unique and loved the emphasis on the variability on how tarot cards can be interpreted.

I also appreciate that the characters were in their 40’s, reading about older folks’ messy lives makes me feel a little more secure in my own chaos 😅

The only critique I have of the book is it’s strange pacing, where almost half of it was exposition and the action only began 60% in. But overall this was a cute fall witchy read.

🧁 Second Chance Romance
✨ Small town autumn
🧁Baker fmc/Chocolate maker mmc
✨Tarot Magic
🧁Quirky townspeople

Playing the Witch Card by KJ Dell'Antonia is a captivating story with loads of small-town charm and magic!
A fantastic contemporary witch novel in time for the fall season.
This book was beautifully written, I was immersed in the story from the get-go.
The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive.
KJ Dell'Antonia delivers an atmospheric, engaging and beautifully written tale with great characters, a captivating setting and an extremely enchanting storyline.
I love a good Women’s Fiction with that added paranormal revolving around magic and witches.
Hands down, the best witchy, magical novel I've read in awhile.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The description said it will feel like Gilmore Girls with some Practical Magic involved. I couldn’t agree more. It gave me all the Gilmore Girls feelings and that is what we all need for the fall. 

Flair’s family is surrounded by magic, which she refused to accept as she got older. Her grandmother had passed and left her with a bakery in a small town in Kansas. She wasn’t sure what to do with it at first. She then took it as an opportunity to escape with her daughter to get away from her cheating husband. 

The small town in Kansas takes Halloween very seriously with trails and Halloween decor all over town. Flair was told she had to make treats for the trail so she decided to make sugar cookie tarot cards. That was my favorite part. You really got to see Flair shine when she was handing out the cookie tarot cards to customers. 

This is a great book to get you in the spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Playing the Witch Card by K.J. Dell’Antonia is a stand-alone paranormal novel revolving around magic and witches. Flair Hardwicke, our heroine, returns home to Rattleboro, Kansas after many years away; taking her 13-year-old daughter, and leaving her husband who cheated on her for the last time. Flair left home all those years ago because she did not want to be part of the magic from her grandmother and mother. Her decease grandmother left her the house and bakery, but she is determined not to accept the family’s legacy of magic, including a special deck of tarot cards, which she hides. Flair also has issues with her daughter, who wants to go back home where her father is; not knowing the truth of why Flair left.

With business poor at the bakery, Flair is asked to make cookies for Halloween, and as she makes them, she doesn’t remember how she made them, as they were wonderful tarot card cookies. Immediately, her bakery becomes a hit, with business blooming, and even when asked by customers what do some of the cookies mean, Flair finds herself automatically telling each of the customers. Is Flair finding that even though she does not want magic, it seems magic wants her.

To make matters worse, Flair’s mother, a famous author who writes about magic, comes to visit, and brings Flair’s husband to town, as he has been bespelled by the mother. What is Flair to do? She needs to hide him from the daughter, since Flair does not want the daughter to go with the father.
Rattleboro was founded by a coven of witches years ago, and Halloween always has a meaning; with all the shops decorated, scary, fun, treats all through the night; helping to raise money for charity. Loretta and her daughter, Renee are witches, and Loretta with Flair’s friend, Josie, will try to find a way to break the spell; but Loretta convinces Flair that she has to be part of the annual Halloween Trail, and she needs to create more of the magical tarot cookies. They will all gather near the end of the trail and free the spell.

What follows is an exciting mind-blowing last third of the book, as the characters get together to stop the spell and solve the issue with Flair’s husband. But a plot twist that no one expected changes everything, and despite Flair’s wanting to burn the tarot cards, she knows she needs to use the magical cards to help save everyone; especially dealing with a powerful witch. Who will survive?

I did enjoy Flair meeting her childhood boyfriend, Jude (his mother is Loretta and sister, Renee), and really rooted for them to be together. I also loved Josie, who was a great friend to Flair, always helping her. The daughter Lucie was a bit annoying, but that was due to Flair not telling her all the truths. Flair’s mother was not a great mother, but as we move toward the end, she does get better.

Playing the Witch Card was an entertaining, fun and exciting read, that deals with magic, romance, family, tarot cards, and witches in a small town. I did enjoy this book, which was very well written by K.J. Dell’Antonia.

I’m so confused by this book! I didn’t get Gilmore Girls or Practical Magic vibes and if I’m being honest, I found the book rather annoying. So many one step forward, 2 steps back moments. And what I thought was a slow burn with Jude and Flair ended in a fizzle in the sense that we got nothing. I know it’s insinuated but it didn’t feel like enough. All in all it felt like nothing got fully resolved despite all of the problems and questions that were raised throughout the book. I’m left searching for the heartwarming and cozy feels I was expecting from this book.

Oh KJ- I was huge fan of her first two books but this, this was not what I was expecting. Somehow a woman discovering or recovering her witchy powers has become a trope and the hottest thing this season. Throw in a cheating husband, an angry teenage daughter, a small town bakery, a best friend, and add in the second chance romance, and well, that's that. Flair inherited her grandmother Marie's tea shop, house, and dog, giving her a place to go when she caught her husband David in his latest affair- with daughter Lucie's sitter. She's turned the tea shop into a bakery that had not had any customers since it opened (how is she keeping going?). And then her friend Jess cuts down the window box plants and she's invited to make treats for the upcoming Rattleboro ramble through the woods (I didn't understand how this worked). She makes- but doesn't remember icing- cookies based on the family tarot cards, which somehow also brings her mother, with whom she has a difficult relationship back into the picture. Along with her husband (almost ex) David, who is stuck in a spell cast by her mother. Then there's her childhood boyfriend, son of the most powerful witch (and woman) in town and brother of her sorta enemy, who is a star pastry chef. There are some bright and fun spots here but overall, this just disappointed me. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. I'm still looking forward to whatever Dell'Antonia writes next.

This one had me at 'Glimore Girls meets Practical Magic' - and it didn't disappoint!
I loved that there was a bit of romance, but far more important to the story was Flair - the main character - discovering that you can't hide from yourself, and what you might lose in the process of trying to do just that.
I think the pacing was good. It maybe started a bit slow, but by the time I hit 60%, I binge read the last 40% in the middle of the night.
If you're looking for Fall vibes, Halloween reads, witchy characters, etc, this one will be a winner!

This book was decent. I went into this book really really excited about reading this book, unfortunately the book fell flat from what I was hoping for. For starters the book is very slow. I found it hard to really like the main female character because so much about her was wishy washy. It felt like I was reading about a young adult who is still trying to figure out life opposed to a grown woman with her own bakery and a kid. This book had a ton of potential, but just wasn't enough to get to what it could have been. I loved the halloween aspect of it and there were moments in the book that genuinely made me laugh.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book,

Short Synopsis:
Flair takes over her grandmothers bakery after her husband cheats on her. The town is BIG on Halloween and she’s wrangled into the festivities and makes tarot card cookies to celebrate. But the catch? The cookies unleash her family’s magic.

My Thoughts:
This one reads much more Women’s Fiction than romance, so go in with the proper expectations. I tend to like my fantasy books action packed, so it was a fairly slow start for me. The middle went a little unhinged at times, but it was definitely shocking! But if you’re looking for small town fall vibes, this is a great pick.

Read This for Witch Week if You Like:
🎴 Small town vibes
🎴 Second chance romance
🎴 Mischievous magic
🎴 Moody teenage daughter
🎴 Tarot magic
🎴 Women’s Fiction
🎴 If you’ve ever wanted to accidentally curse an ex

I was so excited to read this book, it had some of my favorite elements - Small Town, Bakery & Witches. I love the tarot card aspect and loved how magic they were. Sadly, I didn't connect to any of the characters though or the romance. I found myself confused most of the time regarding the main characters choices. Perhaps setting this up as Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls put too high of expectations as I didn't get either of those, except the small town and they were witches.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this book!

Thanks to Putnam for the copy of this book!

I’m always up for a witchy read, and loved the thought of small-town, Gilmore Girls, and tarot. This was definitely a slower-paced, more meandering witchy read with a lot of complicated relationships. Playing the Witch Card is good for people who like small-town stories and aren’t necessarily huge fantasy readers.

In the midst of a divorce, baker and onetime tarot reader Flair has returned to her sometimes-hometown of Rattleboro to turn her grandmother’s magical tea shop into a non-magical bakery. Flair has decided to leave her family’s witchy past behind and to raise her daughter in a stable home. But as Halloween approaches and Flair is drawn into the town’s legendary festivities, she discovers that the secret of the past threaten her family’s future, and confronting her magical heritage is the only way to protect her daughter.

Playing the Witch Card has a full deck of themes and plot elements, including multiple generations of mother-daughter relationships, romances old and new, and the balance between safety and meaning. And yet most of the book’s first half is devoted to vague background on Flair’s past and fall / Halloween vibes.

The action picks up in the book’s second half, developing into a suspenseful battle between mothers and daughters; present and past. I found myself on the edge of my seat toward the end of these much tighter and more engrossing chapters, But I would have found the overall effect far more compelling and memorable if the first half had drawn me more deeply into Flair’s story - both the magical and non-magical sides.

This witchy read stands out as unique among the usual witch offerings each fall.

Flair has run from magic since his teenage years, when her grandmother gave her the ultimatum to either stay and properly learn to use her powers or leave her small town in Kansas. The female line in her family get their powers from a deck of tarot cards, and after an exhausting childhood where Flair’s mother made decisions based on card readings, Flair hid the cards away never to be used again. Over one eventful Halloween season, the cards come back into her life in a mysterious way.

Flair is in her forties with a middle school aged child, which was a nice twist on this genre. Her family relationships are complicated with her daughter, her mother, and her husband, who she is separated from. The decline in their relationships made for a good background story to the witchy antics.

I really enjoyed the focus on tarot cards and readings, which I found to be so unique. Reading how each card can mean two things that are complete opposites was fascinating, where the Death card can mean the worst but can also stand for change and rebirth. I felt like the author really did her research on this.

The small town is full of fall decor and vibes, and the big gathering at the end of the book sounds like such fun and like something that would be a huge hit on Halloween!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.