Quick, fun, light-hearted read with witchy vibes. Jessica learned about her magic early in her life and made some big mistakes using it when was a teenager. She doesn't have the best track with magic which is why she's so surprised when a member of the WCW come to tell her that she's the chosen one. Jessica is amazed at this news and at the cute man who delivered the news, Derrick. Mr tall dark and handsome Derrick tells her she must help save her town and help a young witch come into her powers. Jessica has a hard time knowing how to trust and if her feeling for Derrick are real. She must decide how she's coming to save the town she loves. This was fun story and I loved learning about the different types of witches.

Meg, as always, kicks it out of the park with her romance novels! She reminds us that magic can come from anywhere, and that if you make the effort, you can right a wrong.

Jessica once cast a love spell. It nearly ruined a boy's life, and put her in the crosshairs of a rival teen witch. But now she minds her own business and runs a clothing shop. But now she has to save her town, and maybe fall in love, using some spellwork and mentorship.

Tropes this book has:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Slow Burn
-Plus size FMC
Loved the characters with the plus size representation and the book friend is awesome because of his loving kind nature who is a cat lover. A spell gone wrong from her youth and turns out to be a wicked ride.
If you are looking for witches, spells and curses then this book is for you and I loved it.

This wasn’t the book for me. I felt like it was too immature and I just couldn’t get into it. It was also hard to follow the plot as it skipped back and forth. The chapter formatting didn’t help in this area

Jessica's parents find a book at an estate sale written by Goody Fletcher. With the book, she cast a love spell on her high school crush Billy and realize she is a witch. Her best friend Dina helps her as the grow older cast other spells. With the love spell, Jessica gained an enemy in Rosalie. Rosalie wanted Billy because she felt they were destine for each other. Rosalie and Billy do end up marrying each other.

One day, Derrick shows up in their town of West Harbor. He claims he was sent there to find Jessica "The Chosen One." She is to find the Bringer of Light, Esther, and train her to save their town. He will protect them both. Together, Derrick and Jessica train Esther and prepare her for fighting the rife that is coming. Rosalie believing she is a more powerful witch than Jessica tries to drive a wedge between the three of them.

Esther uses the power of word to fight the rife and save the town. Jessica now travels with Derrick when he has to go to towns that need saving.

This was a cute, enjoyable read.

This was a very cute, witchy rom-com! I really enjoyed the main character and the small town vibes. I also loved how Jessica used her magic to subtly help the women in her town feel better about themselves. The romance was cute but could've been fleshed out. The climax felt rushed and somewhat underwhelming. Overall, I enjoyed this one as a low-stakes spoopy read.

This book was very cute and nostalgic for me as I read many of Meg Cabot's works as a teen. The heroine in this story is like many of her others, quirky, weird but kind and fun. If you're looking for a light, cozy, witchy romance, this is an easy-reading option. I did not find the plot incredibly intriguing, nor was the romance super convincing, but the friendships, Jess's funny quips, and the small-town vibes make it a fun fall read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and the author for an advanced e-reader copy.

I think this was a cute read and perfect cozy read for the fall season. We first see Jessica as a teenager in high school cast a love potion gone wrong in which we also meet her nemesis. Fifteen years later Derrick shows up in West Harbor tells Jess she is the Chosen one and must mentor a teenager to help save West Harbor. Learning about Derrick's past was definitely unexpected. I would've liked to see more romance between Jessica and Derrick. Overall a good read.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I haven’t read a Meg Cabot novel in ages, since her Heather Wells series. But when I saw the cover and read the description I knew it was right up my alley.

Witches, small towns and a mysterious stranger? Yes, please!

I loved all the characters, including the secondary characters that rounded out the story. But I especially loved Jessica Gold, a ‘cottage witch’ and boutique owner who suddenly finds herself in the position of having to mentor a powerful young witch in order to save her town of West Harbor.

Add in a steamy affair with the mysterious and hunky Derrick Winters and I couldn’t put it down. This book reminded me why I love Meg Cabot, with a plus-sized heroine, strong friendships and just enough romance to add some spice.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this paranormal romance!

This reminds me of the charm I felt when I first read The Princess Diaries books a million years ago. It is light and frothy and perfect to read when you need a distraction.

I enjoyed this book; the main character is funny and the story line is great to follow if you don't mind witches in with your romance. There is the proper mix of past and present so you get the back story, just enough adventure to keep you going and a short enough time frame that seems ridiculous for anyone to have developed a relationship that fast that you remember its fiction (I mean who wouldn't want that in real life?!?) I would definitely recommend this for some fun romantic fiction and a light read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

A witchy rom com just in time for spooky szn! Love it!

Had all the right vibes, good banter and plot, and enough intrigue and action to keep me hooked.

I’ve missed reading Meg Cabot having not picked up anything of hers in many years. I’ll have to fix that!

I was looking forward to reading this new romance novel from Meg Cabot since I adored her Princess Diaries series, but found this very lackluster.

My first adult Meg Cabot and I didn't enjoy it as much as her YA (cue crying face). It was fine and cute but nothing special. I also did not feel any chemistry between the leads.

A cute, light read for romance and witchy lovers! Jess, a cottage witch, has been deemed to be the chosen one to help the bringer of light save her small town from evil. Derrick comes into town to help guide and lead Jess throughout the potential armageddon while the tension between the two of them begins to heat up!

I really enjoyed the cast of characters and Jess and Derrick's dynamic. The book felt just whimsy enough to get that magical, small town feeling! However, the ending felt very underwhelming and the main plot line (saving the town) seemed to be resolved in like two pages and kinda began to feel like a subplot. Additionally, there were also parts that I felt were unresolved and I wanted so much more from Jess and Derrick's relationship.

So if you're looking for a quick and light romance, this is the read for you!

A cute, light read for romance and witchy lovers! Jess, a cottage witch, has been deemed to be the chosen one to help the bringer of light save her small town from evil. Derrick comes into town to help guide and lead Jess throughout the potential armageddon while the tension between the two of them begins to heat up!

I really enjoyed the cast of characters and Jess and Derrick's dynamic. The book felt just whimsy enough to get that magical, small town feeling! However, the ending felt very underwhelming and the main plot line (saving the town) seemed to be resolved in like two pages and kinda began to feel like a subplot. Additionally, there were also parts that I felt were unresolved and I wanted so much more from Jess and Derrick's relationship.

So if you're looking for a quick and light romance, this is the read for you!

I grew up reading Meg Cabot and typically love her writing, but this book felt so out of place. The plot was all over, the timeline confused me, and I felt like the goal was just to write a book with fall vibes. I did like the love interest, so two stars for that I suppose. Would not recommend and I won’t be reading others in the series.

A fun witchy tale for fall! I actually really enjoyed how it felt both high and low stakes at the same time. The writing was adorable! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Meg Cabot books have been with with me since 5th grade and now to get an adult series from her, yes please and thank you! Loved the flashback with our FMC Jess in middle school, high school, and college and getting those glimpsing of Cabot's writing that I've loved for my reading at those ages. Then the story is focused primarily with Jess in her 30's as a witch who has to save her hometown from a rift that happens every 90 years. She finds out about this curse from our MFC Derrick, and there is more magic that brews between the two of them. Highly recommend this light hearted witchy rom com, perfect fall read!

Rating 4/5

What it’s about:
In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention—as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches.
So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One.
She’s the Chosen One
Not chosen by West Harbor’s snobby elite to style them for the town’s tricentennial ball—though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either—not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she’s done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a “true” witch.
No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself . . .

Tropes this book has:
-Enemies to Lovers
-Slow Burn
-Plus size FMC

This book is here just in time for spooky season. It took a bit to get into but once I was drawn into the story I just had to keep reading. Derrick is definitely book boyfriend material - kind, loving and a cat lover. I love the FMC plus size representation of Jessica! Plus size hero’s are my favorite.
If you are looking for witches, spells and curses then this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.