Witches Get Things Done by Molly Harper
1st in the Starfall Point series. Paranormal romance. Mild Cliffhanger for the series.
After a rather disastrous ferry ride, Riley Everett arrives on Starfall Point Island in the upper peninsula of Michigan. She’s expecting to meet long lost family, but instead learns of her aunt’s death. She’s given a letter to be read on the steps of the Victorian home and finds herself tied to the house full of antiques that are attached with ghosts.
Riley feels a unique connection with Alice and Caroline and they flounder their way into their own coven. Riley also comes to rely on the town’s main librarian Edison Held. Together they all can keep the ghosts from becoming out of control and also keep the townspeople from having a reason to get into the house.

A delightful “new” witch scenario with quirky characters, both living and dead, and opposing threats to add a bit of tension. A bit of humor, a potential threat, a bit of romance and passion. Plus making new friends and learning her own family history, adds a depth that gives Starfall Point a 3D feel to the story.
I enjoyed the world building and look forward to more of the series.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

3.75stars—WITCHES GET STUFF DONE is the first instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult STARFALL POINT paranormal, mystery/suspense series focusing on Riley Everett, librarian Edison Held, and the newly formed witch’s coven of Starfall Point.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Riley and Edison) WITCHES GET STUFF DONE sets the tone for the Starfall Point Series. An invite from her aunt Nora, sends Riley Everett to the Upper Peninsula in Northern Michigan where our heroine will discover her aunt has passed, and she is the sole heir to a haunted mansion known as Shaddow House. Riley Everett will learn she comes from a long line of powerful witches, and each successive generation is tasked with housing/collecting and locking down an assortment of items attached or possessed by its’ late user but Riley is unaware of her heritage, and is about to be thrown to the proverbial wolves as she encounters a house full of objects, each with an attachment to someone dead and gone. Meanwhile, a chance and sickly encounter on the ferry to Starfall Point with a stranger is the beginning of a new relationship when said stranger is the man with whom Riley will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Riley and Edison; the introduction of Shaddow House ghost butler and Riley’s mentor Plover; Riley’s new coven members- Caroline, Natalie and Alice; and the potential fall-out as someone is targeting Riley, and the house in which she will come to love.

The world building reveals some of the background of Shaddow House: its’ purpose, its’ inhabitants; and Riley’s job to oversee the attachment objects and the ghosts to which each belongs, and to free the ghosts who wish to move on. As the story unfolds, Riley will be tasked with locating nine ‘locks’, locks that someone else is desperate to find.

The relationship between Riley and Edison begins acrimoniously. Riley struggled with severe motion sickness, and the ferry ride to Starfall Point leaves much to be desired but someone else has occupied the lone bathroom stall, and Riley is about to come face to face with her future in the guise of Edison Held. Edison has loved and lost but struggles to move forward from the ghost of his own past. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Riley’s coven: Caroline and Alice; ghost mentor and house butler Plover; ghost Natalie; library employees Margaret and Kyle; attorney Clark, and an assortment of townies and ghosts who come in and out of Riley’s life.

WITCHES GET STUFF DONE is a story of ghosts and magic, secrets and revelations; obsession, determination, greed and power. The slow building premise is intriguing, entertaining and engaging but dragged in spots as the author set the stage for future story lines; the characters are energetic, sassy, determined and interesting; the romance is a bit of an issue. I didn’t feel any palpable attraction, sexual or otherwise. There was no longing, yearning or desirous actions-the relationship went from zero to ten at the turn of the page. WITCHES GET STUFF DONE ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.


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My Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5

Disclaimer: I received a review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks, to the author and Netgalley.

General Thoughts: ARC review. Fun, cute, original. Magical realism featuring a haunted house, a newly discovered witch, and a small town. An enjoyable read for spooky season. I wasn’t as drawn into the story as I would have liked to have been, but I think that may have just been because it wasn’t my cup of tea, as I’m not sure there was anything wrong with it. A teensy but of spice. Emphasis despite being dual POV seems to be more on the haunted house and ghosts. I had a harder time seeing them as a couple. It seemed kind of instant and surface level. And I think that was my real complaint with this one now that I think about it.

But it was an enjoyable read and fits the season. This is the start to a new series involving ghosts, witches, dueling families (not MMC’s family), mystery, a pinch of steam, and a girl friend squad. I’m glad I gave it a go. If you like magical realism and romance, this may be a great one to read for spooky season.

Steam Meter: ❤️‍🔥.5 Fairly tame steam. Not overly descriptive.

Tropes
-dual POV
-magical realism
-dislike to like
-small town
-witches
-ghosts
-dueling families (not MMC's)

You can read more of my reviews at mylastromance.com. You can also find me on Insta @mylastromancenovel.

From the moment Riley set foot in Starfall Point, magic was just emanating from her. Riley seeks out a coven for sisterhood and support, because her late aunt's journals and ghost butler, isn't quite enough. The last thing she expects is to be attracted to the town's head librarian, Edison. He knows almost everything there is to know about Starfall Point, but Shadow House, the Victorian haunted house Riley inherited, was always a mystery. But if he could convince Riley to let him inside, he knows there is so much he can learn, and he finds himself captivated by the new witch in town.

Witches Get Stuff Done is the perfect romcom witchy book as we head into spooky season! I found the relationships between Riley, Alice, and Caroline to be a delight, and I enjoyed Edison's character. There were definitely some fun magical and haunting surprises that rounded out this book for me. If you're looking for more witchy books to add to your TBR this season, pick this one up. It is out today, 9/5/23!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review it honestly.

Happy reading!

Riley has just discovered that she is a witch. She has floated through life doing whatever menial job available and come to find out, she has a destiny. Her parents kept all this a secret from her. She did not find out anything until her aunt died and Riley was blindsided. Riley has inherited her Aunt’s old Victorian home. But she soon discovers it is full of ghosts and thousands of secrets!

I just adore Molly Harper. I have been a fan since I read Sweet Tea and Sympathy. She always has some great characters and this book has some of the best! I just loved Riley and all the ghosts in the house! I cracked up at their antics!

This book is perfect for fall…ghosts, witches, enchanted items and a little bit of love thrown into the mix!

Need a cute read to get you in the mood for Halloween…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I found this a fun, relaxing read. Riley and Edison are both very likeable, if slightly quirky characters. I liked the focus on the island’s community and characters, especially Riley’s new female friends. With a house full of ghosts and enchanted objects, there are plenty of amusing incidents and Riley learns how to manage them. I hope Caroline and Alice both get their own stories, later in the series, as they are such fun characters! The mysterious Welling family and lawyer Clark’s connection to them, is a mystery still to be solved, so perhaps there will be further clues in the next book. Although this does have a different feel to the author’s previous books, I really enjoyed it.

Feeling at loose ends after the loss of her mother, Riley travels to the island of Starfall Point to meet her newly discovered aunt. After the unpleasant shock of losing her and a just plain surprising shock of discovering she’s a witch, she ends up taking her aunt’s place as caretaker to the mysterious Shaddow House. A house that is chocked full of ghosts. Like, seriously, So Many Ghosts.

Edison is an exceptionally awkward librarian. He’s afraid of boats - for good reason - but in a fit of grief and desperately needing a change still chose to start his life over on an island. It sounded like a good idea at the time? For a while he’s been trying to find his place with the people there while also trying to find a way into the historic house.

Even if this book isn’t set in fall, it definitely has the vibes for fall reading.
And for a book so much about death, which you can’t really avoid with all the ghosts, there is also so much humor. Snark is my love language, so I was here for it.
It starts with the messiest meet ugly, I’m not sure if it could have gone worse! Then you have the island locals, especially the meddlesome Nana Grapevine, keeping things interesting with constant rapid fire gossip and speculation. The Shaddow house aka “haunted Scooby-Doo storage warehouse” is filled with mouthy ghosts, and some out inside of it.
I really enjoyed both the MCs making friendships, and all of the characters trying to help the ghosts while also solve the mysteries of the house. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series to see how it all plays out!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC!

This is a witchy romance that is full of surprises. Riley is a fish out of water in her new town and home. As she is landing from Florida and swiftly learning that she isn't here for a visit, it is now home, in Michigan. We watch her grow into her surroundings and new magic. The cast of characters is built, and I liked them all. She becomes friends with the locals in town, both human and spiritual as well as the ghost that haunt her new house. As her tribe assembles so does her love interest in Edison, the town librarian. She makes her way through family trauma, tricky situations and what seems to be an endless treasure hunt for clues about her new magic. It was cute, sweet, funny, and emotional at times. I really enjoyed it and recommend you add it to your list of reads for spooky season.

Unfortunately this book just didn’t work for me. I’ve read a few Molly Harper books before and I’ve always really enjoyed them; I enjoy her writing style and the quirky edge to her stories. This did have some good points. The worldbuilding is fun and there’s some genuinely interesting ideas here of how the magic works. I loved all of the ghosts and how creepy parts of it were – that was all very well done.

The romance, though, left me feeling a bit cold. The pacing was all off – I felt, whilst reading it, that Riley and Edison spent barely any time together. I didn’t feel there was a lot of development of their relationship over the course of the book. It felt like they went from disliking each other to being romantic with very little build up. As as result, I never really felt invested in their relationship or how it would play out. On a similar note, I didn’t really warm to either character. Neither of them felt that fully fleshed out.

I can see why people would enjoy reading this, though, and I think if you’re in the mood for a witchy, small town romance with lots of ghosts then this might work for you. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t the book for me. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Death of a parent, death of a romantic partner, references to drowning, murder, intimidation / harassment, sexual harassment, difficult relationship with parents, toxic relationship with siblings, phobia of water, panic attacks, vomiting, seasickness, blood, head injuries, grief, on-page sex.

Let’s be real—Autumn is my favorite season because of the dark academia, gothic, witchy, and atmospheric vibes portrayed in books.

September-November has the best book releases in my opinion. When the chance to experience all of fall’s delights early came in the form of an e-arc of Witches Get Stuff Done, you best believe I dropped everything.

Witches Get Stuff Done is a romantic mystery set between a witch and a librarian. As a librarian myself, the plot couldn’t be more perfect!

Molly Harper dazzles with her unique storytelling!

I don’t read much of women’s fiction, but Harper has me second guessing that decision. If Molly Harper writes it, I’m going to read it!

Witches Get Stuff Done ended on a cliff-hanger and I am looking forward to reading book two!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this advance galley.

You can pick up a copy September 5th, 2023!

This books is the perfect cozy and witchy paranormal romcom mixed with a bit of mystery. I highly recommend this one for autumn/halloween for people who doesn’t want to read extremely scary books, but still want the paranormal or witchy vibe.
The cozy vibe of it reminded me a bit of The Ex Hex, though I liked this one a lot more.

The only thing I didn’t like that much was the pacing of the book. It felt a bit too fast sometimes.

I am very excited for the next book in this series and I hope it will be just as good as this one, if not better.

Welcome to Starfall Point, where the houses are picturesque, the smell of fudge is piped out into the streets, and the house on the hill is very, very haunted. Riley Everett knows nothing about this when she travels to Starfall to meet the aunt she never knew existed. Then – BAM! – on the ferry ride over the magic hits and Riley learns she’s got an inheritance like nothing she could ever have imagined: Riley is now the caretaker of Shaddow House and its ghostly residents.

Witches Get Stuff Done is a cozy paranormal rom com with magic, mayhem, friendship, and found families. Molly Harper’s first Starfall Point is entertaining, fast-paced, and good fun.

Riley’s inheritance is a lot for one person to take, so what’s a witch to do? Form a coven, of course. The two women Riley is drawn to, Alice and Caroline, are delightful. I liked how the three of them clicked immediately and slid into the business of helping ghosts with ease. But her new friends aren’t the only ones Riley is drawn to. After a slightly gross non-meet cute, Riley can’t help but be captivated by Edison Held, town librarian. The two of them don’t get off to the best start, but it’s not long before they’re irresistibly drawn to one another. Like the friendships Riley makes, her romance with Edison is sweet and charming.

I struggled with rating Witches Get Stuff Done because on the one hand, I really enjoyed it. The story entertained me, I loved learning about the ghosts and the lore of Shaddow House, and I’m eager to read the next Starfell Point book. That being said, I cannot deny that the book and its characters are shallow. If you want depth of character, this isn’t the story for you. But if you want light and cozy entertainment with witchy vibes? Then you’re in for a treat.

3.5 stars

It took a bit for me to get into this. It just felt like it dragged for too long. Also, there were random time jumps that came out of nowhere. The relationship between Riley and Edison went from 0 to 100 so fast with almost no buildup. Certain things just didn’t make sense.

I enjoyed the friendships between Riley, Caroline and Alice. The magic kind of forced them to bond but it still felt genuine.

The book ends on a cliffhanger but I just don’t know if I feel enough to continue with the series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! This book was a fun read for spooky season. The characters were great and I loved the little island town, but I wish the relationships had been more developed. Maybe that’s something that happens in the full release of the novel instead of the ARC, though!

Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper is a cute paranormal tale once you get past the beginning. I have trouble reading about people tossing their cookies (and the author was really graphic). I found the story to be easy to read, but the pacing is uneven. It is hard to tell how much time is passing unless you are told. I also found there to be repetitive details. I enjoyed most of the humor. I did find some of it to be forced. Riley Everett is a relatable character. She has had a number of jobs over the years and none of them have suited her. What she learned from all those jobs, though, may come in handy. I enjoyed meeting the other residents of Starfall Point. I liked Riley’s relationship with Alice and Caroline. One of my favorite characters is Plover, the butler at Shaddow House. I had to agree with Plover about Riley’s use of foul language (there was too much of it and it was unnecessary). Edison Held is the opposite of Riley. He is a bookish man who has multiple doctorates. I understood his need to get inside Shaddow House (I wanted to explore it as well). I did feel the romance between Riley and Edison happened too fast. I wish they could have become friends and gotten to know each other before they moved on to tonsil hockey and hanky panky. Shaddow House is an interesting abode (you could get lost on the way to the bathroom one night and it could take you hours if not days to find your way back to your room), and it is filled with special antiques. I enjoyed learning about Riley’s gift. The mystery added another element to the story. I have a feeling the bad guy is right under Riley’s nose. Of course, we will have to wait for the next installment to find out more. Witches Get Stuff Done is a spirited tale with the sprawling Shaddow House, a blood thirsty doorknob, a spectral butler, a myriad of roommates, a fine-looking librarian, charmed mates, and a mystifying mystery.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. The characters are well-developed and their journey to self-development is interesting. I loved the idea of a small town witchy romance, and the found family vibes hit the spot. However, I feel the characters could have done better in a different story.
The plot was interesting and I found myself wanting to know the mystery, how I didn't find myself entertained the way I expected to. I love witchy books and I was all here for the Charmed witchy vibes. But the characters were a little too happy-go-lucky? They let the plot happen to them instead of doing anything to influence the plot.
I loved Edison and Riley love story, and I wish I could seen it to the end. However, I have to admit that I DNF'd this book at the second to last chapter. Something happened in this chapter which ties back into the characters letting the plot happen to them. Their reactions to this big event just didn't sit well with me, and I couldn't go on.
These are my opinions and regardless of them, I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking to read a small town witchy book. The atmosphere is definitely right to put you in the mood for Halloween.

Riley Everett has been summoned to a tiny island in North Michigan to meet her Aunt Nora Denton that she never knew existed. After an adventurous ferry ride she discovers her aunt has died before they can meet. Following that sad news Riley Denton-Everett enters a blood contract with a house that is more Warehouse 13 or a "Scooby Doo storage warehouse" and begins to wonder what she has gotten herself into.

Riley begins to gather helpmates that are much needed, who are Alice, Caroline, Edison and the unique butler and together they start to work through the mysteries of the mansion.

Witches Get Stuff Done is a delightful and engaging read, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are funny and entertaining, the book is full of detail and amusement. This is book one of a new series, can't wait for book two.

Witches Get Stuff Done is a cute witchy romcom. Molly Harper creates a creative story with lots of plot, humor and some romance too.

3.5/5 stars

Riley has no idea what to expect when she’s on the ferry to visit her aunt on the remote island of Starfall Point, Michigan. She doesn’t expect to be seasick. Or to meet librarian Edison, and throw up on his shoes. Once she makes it to the quirky small town, though, she finds out her aunt died, and left her spooky Shaddow House. Sure, it’s home to real ghosts, and no one ever told her she was a witch, but she’ll figure it out. Now that she’s attached to Starfall Point, how will she manage her magic legacy? And how does sweet cinnamon roll Edison fit into her new life?

I enjoyed this book. Molly Harper includes hilarious comments and quips that made me giggle. I also liked the matter of fact attitude towards witches and the supernatural; everyone accepts it pretty easily.

But the biggest drawback is the long set up to all the world building. It takes ages for Riley to even discover she’s a witch, let alone what that means for her life. The romance is a slow burn with just a tiny bit of steam, and the cozy mystery aspects of the plot overshadow Riley and Edison’s romantic interactions.

Witches Get Stuff Done is an enjoyable romcom that will get you in the mood for the spooky season ahead. Riley, Edison and their friends are fun to spend time with, and now that the world building is out of the way, I’m looking forward to seeing what they do next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Witches Get Stuff Done started out great. I loved the premise and the mystery of the house. I also loved the setting - an island in the middle of one of the Great Lakes bordering Michigan called Starfall Point. The story's first half, which focuses on the mystery and the newly discovered witchy powers of the main character, Riley, reads very quickly and ultimately holds me immersed in this world. But then things changed.


The second half fell victim to plot holes and a romance that felt very inauthentic to me. I'm not sure why the storytelling changed to make the second half disappointing, but I know that I struggled to find the magic that the story began with. I would have loved for the relationship between Riley and Edison to progress slowly, even if that meant it didn't become a romantic relationship until the book's end. Since a mystery and a twist already existed in the story, it just didn't need the tension of a breakup to fuel it.


I would have also loved to see those plot gaps filled in - which would mean more development of the mystery of the house and the magic development. This is the first book in a series, and I liked the first half of this book enough to possibly read book 2 with a dose of healthy skepticism.

**Three-Star Review: Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper**

"Witches Get Stuff Done" by Molly Harper presents a mix of magical intrigue and charming characters in a debut installment that promises potential for future growth. While the story's premise and characters are engaging, notable issues hinder a complete immersion into the magical world the author is building.

One of the book's main setbacks lies in its continuity and spatial positioning. The occurrence of characters hugging across counters or moving unconscious individuals with implausible ease disrupts the reader's ability to suspend disbelief. The concept of time becomes somewhat muddled, as when a "few days" are only two days. Such discrepancies are distracting and prevent the seamless flow that a fantasy story demands.

The novel's pacing leans toward the brisk side, resulting in whirlwind relationships and difficulty keeping track of time progression. Relationships that develop rapidly might leave readers struggling to invest fully in the emotional arcs. However, despite these pacing issues, the characters shine as the book's redeeming quality. Their likability and distinct personalities contribute to the overall appeal of the story.

As a first installment in a series, some leniency in judgment can be granted, acknowledging the space for growth and development. The publisher's description of the book alludes to a promising foundation, witchy powers, a ghost-filled mansion, and a captivating coven dynamic. This initial offering lays the groundwork for future exploration of the magical world, allowing room for the series to mature and evolve.

One notable misstep in the book is the awkward placement of a single explicit scene. It feels out of sync with the overall tone and pacing, detracting from the story's cohesion. The impression is that the book tries to cater to a broad audience but attempts too many angles, resulting in a slightly disjointed reading experience.

In conclusion, "Witches Get Stuff Done" introduces readers to a world of magic, ghosts, and potential sisterhood, with engaging characters that mitigate some of the narrative's shortcomings. While continuity, pacing, and thematic focus detract from a fully immersive experience, the groundwork laid for future books in the series offers hope for improvement. Those willing to overlook the initial hiccups might find themselves eager to see how the world of Starfall Point evolves in subsequent installments.