This book was written for every plant girly who has wished or hoped to wake up with magical powers. A cute enemies-to-lovers romance with minimal spice, lots of flirting, witchcraft, and magical competition, I enjoyed this quick, light, and fun read!

Thank you to Linsey Hall, Bonnie Doon Press, and NetGalley, for access to an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

A cute small town cozy witch romance story. I enjoyed the romance and the low stakes magical competition. I would still definitely love to revisit Charming Cove in the next book if there is one. There are a ton of side characters that could be explored more. Everything was just so happy and I appreciate these lighthearted stories.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I adore the romantic cosy fantasy genre, so I thought for sure I would love this book, but I couldn't find myself getting into it.
The writing style felt slightly immature to me, and some of the world-building came across as quite forced, like when grandmother had to tell Borris she didn't understand him because he wasn't her familiar, but she could guess what he was saying anyway? That felt odd to me and very unnatural.
Additionally, I couldn't find myself invested in the relationship between the main characters. It certainly wasn't enemies-to-lovers like I expected and felt more insta-lovey, which I strongly dislike.
After seeing lots of reviews saying that the book became more fast-paced and interesting around halfway through, I pushed through the first 50%, skimming a lot of the pages, but unfortunately, I skimmed the rest of the book as I didn't find myself intrigued in the story.

This book was cute, cosy and light-hearted. I've never tried books with witches but surprisingly I liked this one. The witch aka Aria was a mess but I liked her. She was so sweet and sensible. While Callan on the other hand fell a bit flat to me as a character tbh. But nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, getting to explore this new world was fantastic and the writing style was good too! Can't wait to read more by the author in the future!

I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review

This book reminds me of a lazy river. It’s almost entirely fluff, and you’re just floating along on the plot. Even though there’s an alleged major conflict, the resolution was like ~okay done~ and that was that. I really felt like this could’ve been better. I love fluff and romance and tropes with the best of them, but this was just a little too far that direction for me.

I absolutely loved everything about this book! The characters were engaging and really made me care about them. This felt like a warm hug. It also made me really want to get into my summer gardening. This was the perfect read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book! I'm a big fan of cosy fantasy meets romance meets competition. It was such an easy read, pulled me out of my reading slump and I finished it in 3 days!!! Aria was such a lovely character, so determined to be happy with herself no matter her magic level. I think it would have been fun if she didn't get her magic but I think that's a different story (one I would love to read Linsey if you're feeling low on inspiration!). The romance was so sweet and I loved that Callan was never really as dickish as he's made out to be. Genuine misunderstanding but in a way that wasn't miscommunication - just emotional teenagers being emotional teenagers. I loved their relationship and watching Aria explore her love of her home town and come into her own. I thought Boris added an excellent bit of comedy - overall brilliant.
What I would say is that in some places it was predictable - not entirely a bad thing but not one to read if you want any surprises. I also felt like a few parts were a bit rushed - particularly at the end with the final challenge that they had to face and the epilogue. Just personal preference, I feel like more information on how she learned about the garden would be great. Side note; I would definitely read an entire gardening journal of Aria as she figures out how to run the garden. Would be fun to read in a diary type format.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Spice level: 2 🌶️

It is a first in a series, but in and of itself it‘s a complete story.

4.5 stars, because I have some questions to get out first (SPOILERS):

A) I know the point of the first task was for Aria to grab the plant. It was important for the story. But I wonder: Why didn‘t the group just use a leviosa of some kind to retrieve it?

B) Why did they fly all the way to Germany if what Gertrude told them could‘ve been said over the phone? 😂

Now that we got that out of the way. How cute was this book? 🥹 If you want a quick, lighthearted, magical, smalltown, enemy to lovers, summer read: GO. READ. THIS. NOW.

Thank you to Linsey Hall and NetGalley for this copy of The Modern Girls Guide to Magic.

3/5 stars for me. This was a lovely story, but there were some grammatical errors and inconsistencies that held it back for me.

This is a classic YA (sort of) enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magical love story, with a focus on a young woman claiming her power & coming into her own.

A good cozy, light read!!

The Modern Girls Guide to Magic by Linsey Hall is a magical, mischievous, romcom full of delightful characters and whimsical worldbuilding. I had a blast reading this cozy romance and Aria and Callan were wonderful main characters! I especially loved how Aria learns more about her magic and fully comes into her power with the help of her friends, family, and newfound love interest. The magical garden and the competition are so interesting! I felt like I was right there with the witches and warlocks and it was so cool to see how they rose to each challenge. I adore the side characters too! Mr. Sparrow and Arias grandma both sound delightful and wise and I couldn't get enough of sassy little Catrina! I was also super excited to read all of the scenes with her badger familiar, Boris. I would love to hang out with him all day and eat treats and drink tea. I am definitely interested in reading more in this series and I'm hoping to learn new information about Tabitha and some of the other townsfolk.

When the story begins, Aria is a down-on-her-luck witch who just got fired. Again. She's been trying to make it work in London, because going back home means facing her failure to control her magic. Just as she's working out her next step, her grandma shows up on her doorstep and begs her to come home and compete in a tournament to inherit a magical fortune that would change their lives and keep her hometown, the idyllic Charming Cove, from falling into the wrong hands. Those hands being hot billionaire Callan Hawthorne who Aria hates with a passion.

This story fits right into the cozy, low-stakes, romantasy genre. Special shout out to Boris for being the best. The low-stakes part of this book also means that there's a certain lack of tension and depth to the world and romance. I never felt connected to Aria or the magic in her world because it was just so superficial. She hated Callan even after nine years passed (juvenile) and yet I'd be right there with her ready to throw down if I had been shown why we hate him so much. Yes, we know he converted her and her grandfather's special spot to a cafe and bar which meant her grandfathers spirit wouldn't come to visit anymore. But find I needed to be shown just how much her grandfather, and that place, meant to her instead of just told. I didn't have any emotional investment.

Now, Callan. He's been obsessed with her since she was 17. And while that's a bit creepy, it's also a bit instalove-y on his part. I typically love a he-falls-first trope, this just didn't work for me. He doesn't seem to understand why she is so mad at him and despite wanting to be with her, he barely tries to find out what happened. I thought the competition was far more interesting here than the love interest, even with that dash of spice in there.

This actually sounded exactly like the kind of book I would adore, I love small towns and loving grandmas and best friends and sassy side kicks. I just feel lukewarm towards it. Overall, it's sweet and cute but doesn't dive deep enough to be satisfying. I will still be checking out the next book in the Charming Cove series to see where we go from here.

Thank you to Linsey Hall, NetGalley and Bonnie Donn Press for allowing me to read The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic.

A delightful and engaging novel of a witch named Aria with uncontrolled power being called home. Her grandmother needs her to compete in a competition to earn the ownership of an enchanted garden. The grandmother depends on the offerings of the garden for her potions shop. Aria feels a failure as her magic always backfires. Handsome, rich mage Callen is also in the competition. He was bewitched by her when they first met years ago and is determined to help her with both her magic and with the competition. Love blooms among the foliage.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Been fully engrossed in playing this game called Wylde Flowers recently (think the mindlessness of Animal Crossing mixed with the magic/relationship building of Stardew Valley with a cute lil story woven in) and all I’m going to say is that this book had the exact same vibes as that game… no thoughts just magical vibes

3.5/5 rounded up

This review has also been posted on Goodreads and Amazon.ca!

I do love a cozy witchy romance, so I knew this book would be right up my alley. Aria is Witch who struggles with her magic. After 18 years of living in a town full of witches and mages, she has had enough of being the outcast and runs away to London. That is until Grandmother and her new familiar (a feisty badger named Boris) comes to find her 6 years later and bring her home to Charming Cove; where she is not tasked with Winning the Garden of Enchantment and thus saving her families apothecary shop. Her biggest competitor is Callan Hawthorn, powerful mage and billionaire, who she also has a personal vendetta against.
If you love Halloweentown, are a Hufflepuff or a plant person, you will love this story. It was a bit of a slow start, but I ended up fallowing in love with the characters and the town of Charming Cove. There is not a ton of world building in this first book, but what we get is so much fun! I loved the story line and the obstacles that had to be overcome for both Aria & Callan. My only disappointment with the novel is that the main plot point conclusions wrap up so quickly. All the moments that were build up come to fruition in a span of a single page it feels like. I just wanted more detail and more of Linsey's writing!
I can't wait to revisit Charming Cove in book number 2, How to Fake Date a Vampire.

Aria is a witch, but has not succeeded in mastering her magic. Whenever she tries to use her magic, it blows up in her face. It never does what she wants it to do. However, there are people counting on her to save the day and the village by using her magic. Aria does not believe she can make it, especially when Callan starts competing. Due to some history between them, she desperately wants to win though. When Callan turns out to be a nice guy who wants to help her, things start to change. Will she be able to master her magic in time to win the competition though?

This was a really fun read. I honestly did not expect too much from it, but it will go on my favorites list for sure. Aria is a really realatble character in the way she reacts to what life throws at her. Yes, the story is predictable at certain point, but that did not bother me in the least. I would have liked some more complicated side characters, or even a little more struggles in the relationship with Callan but that does not change the fact that the book is just great. Read it if you can!

When the story begins, Aria is a down-on-her-luck witch who just got fired. Again. She's been trying to make it work in London, because going back home means facing her failure to control her magic. Just as she's working out her next step, her grandma shows up on her doorstep and begs her to come home and compete in a tournament to inherit a magical fortune that would change their lives and keep her hometown, the idyllic Charming Cove, from falling into the wrong hands. Those hands being hot billionaire Callan Hawthorne who Aria hates with a passion.

This story fits right into the cozy, low-stakes, romantasy genre. Special shout out to Boris for being the best. The low-stakes part of this book also means that there's a certain lack of tension and depth to the world and romance. I never felt connected to Aria or the magic in her world because it was just so superficial. She hated Callan even after nine years passed (juvenile) and yet I'd be right there with her ready to throw down if I had been shown why we hate him so much. Yes, we know he converted her and her grandfather's special spot to a cafe and bar which meant her grandfathers spirit wouldn't come to visit anymore. But find I needed to be shown just how much her grandfather, and that place, meant to her instead of just told. I didn't have any emotional investment.

Now, Callan. He's been obsessed with her since she was 17. And while that's a bit creepy, it's also a bit instalove-y on his part. I typically love a he-falls-first trope, this just didn't work for me. He doesn't seem to understand why she is so mad at him and despite wanting to be with her, he barely tries to find out what happened. I thought the competition was far more interesting here than the love interest, even with that dash of spice in there.

This actually sounded exactly like the kind of book I would adore, I love small towns and loving grandmas and best friends and sassy side kicks. I just feel lukewarm towards it. Overall, it's sweet and cute but doesn't dive deep enough to be satisfying. I will still be checking out the next book in the Charming Cove series to see where we go from here.

Thank you to Linsey Hall, NetGalley and Bonnie Donn Press for allowing me to read The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic. #netgalley #bonniedonnpress #linseyhall

Low stakes, light-hearted, easy read that could have been done with a British editor. From fireflies that do not inhabit the UK to the incorrect use of quid, wanker and bastard, pulled me out of the story every time. The connection with the love interest, Callan, felt quite one-dimensional and flat. The sex scene or lack of led me to read back in case I missed it, removing it would have benefited the book. The side characters, her grandmother, Borris and her best friend and co were absolutely adorable and brought so much more dimension to the world. Overall the premise sounded amazing but the execution could have done with a few more edits and research.

This is magical heaven, I am obsessed with the magic systems that Linsey Hall has dreamt up. This is an amazing and original read that I could not put down. Pure cosy romance.

Such a cute and fun book! I love the characters and the unique magic. This made me laugh so many times and I recommend it as a feel good book.