Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review. I love a witchy romance and this ticked all the boxes for me. The characters were so cute and it was such a cosy read. Boris was amazing and a true highlight of the story. He really made me giggle. There was many little elements that made me feel all warm and happy inside: Gran, Boris, the cat in the library. It was wonderful!
It would have been a higher star read for me if it wasn't for the age gap which made me feel a bit icky.

Thank you for granting me an ARC for this book.

This story has enchanting world building, a compelling main character, cute and heartwarming side characters and even an ever hungry talking badger sidekick. There was nothing not to love about Charming Cove and its inhabitants. I liked the magic and the people. I loved Aria too, from the dejected disaster to the journey she braves to find herself. The book plot was solid and stayed away from too many cliches and those it did, it did well.

Unfortunately, where this book dropped the ball in my opinion was the love interest and therefore the romance between the two. Whether accidentally or on purpose, I ended up hating him in his first two POVs because he’s knowingly entitled and condescending, he uses magic to circumvent rules and to get images of people he probably shouldn’t have, he destroys things and thinks he’s improving them and he thinks disparaging thoughts of others without knowing them. This was all just his first POV, in his second he realized he had hurt Aria pretty badly in the past and his first thought isn’t to try to figure out why and apologize, it’s to think how do I convince her she’s wrong to be hurt and I did the right thing! Then he proceded to cap it all off by threatening a man so far beneath him that he really needn’t have bothered. The man in question never makes a come back in the story so it’s not even plot relevant. At this point I consider him a walking red flag parade!

His outward behavior does improve a bit through the story and he does do helpful things for the plot however when in his head after this, everything he’s thinking is about her. We never really sort through the mess that is him. It means that by the time I have to close the book on this couple I think the ‘I love yous’ are premature and that this relationship won’t survive past a few months, not unless he goes to therapy. A man who has somehow made it to adulthood without a single good friend, a man who made his whole young adult life about his father and then immediately latched onto a woman and has now made his life about her isn’t one capable of healthy relationships long term. I need a sequel where this man goes to therapy.

Sorry about the ranting. I may have made you believe the book is bad. That’s not true, we don’t spend enough time with the guy for it to end up bad and it’s mostly about Aria and her journey and that’s told very well through a very interesting plot I don’t want to spoil. I did enjoy the story overall and I would read other stories happening in this world because it’s a beautiful wistful world.

🥰 I saw this book all over bookstagram and really wanted to read it! So I’m so glad and lucky I got an eARC.

🫶🏼 After some intense books (most recently Fourth Wing), I really needed this adorable cute book. It was quick to read, and the lovable cast of characters kept me hooked. Boris the Badger and Catrina were my favourite cheeky little characters 🦡

I would’ve given this 5 stars (who doesn’t love a cute book with magic, plants and competition?) but the typos started to annoy me in their frequency… I don’t know if this was just in the ARC, but eg Tabitha v Tabatha early on caught my eye, and there were a few others that took me out of the magical world of the book.

I will be posting a review on Instagram as well.

Thank you to @netgalley, Bonnie Doon Press and Linsey Hall for a chance to read this E-Arc.

What do you get when you throw together a witch who’s unsure of her magic, a sassy familiar named Boris and a sexy mage love interest?

A cosy, heartwarming read that touched on connection and believing in yourself. I liked that it wasn’t a typical romance story in which boy swoops in and sweeps main character off her feet. We got to watch them work together and grow.

I’m looking forward to more in this series, I need more Boris in my life. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Thanks to Bonnie Doon Press, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This was a lovely, quick and easy read. The first book in a series which promises to be a lighthearted, magical read. There's definitely some adult content, but to me it read mostly like a New Adult Supernatural Romance. I really liked both Aria and Callan. Aria's character was well-developed, as was Tabitha and Aria's Grandmother. Callan was less developed as a character but served his purpose as wealthy, hot love interest.

My favourite was Boris the badger - just so funny.

This was a very quick and fun read.

A wonderfully cosy story with magic, a witching community, enemies to lovers, and a grumpy familiar who loves bacon sandwiches! I loved the characters, the magic challenges were fun and inventive, and the magic system was interesting. A great read to while away a few hours and immerse yourself in magic and friendship. Recommended!

This book was a delight! I would very much like to live in Charming Cove. Since that’s not possible, I look forward to reading more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bonnie Doon Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. Thank you, Bonnie Doon Press!

We love a witchy romcom. A sweet, cozy read set in an English village called “Charming Cove”.
While the plot has a heavy focus on romance, I loved Aria’a personal development and I hope we get to see more of her!!
Written like a YA and even though it was a predictable read, it was very comforting.
Also a big fan of Boris the badger!

Aria has pretty much left magic behind in Charming Cove. Not that she was ever that great - all her attempts kind of blew up in her face. But when another disaster befalls her at her job in London, it coincides with a request from her gran - to represent their potion shop in a magical contest. Aria knows she has two outcomes in the competition - losing and epically losing!

Callan is the epitome of mage about town. He's wealthy, driven and has a new woman on his arm every week. But he's become the one thing he didn't want to - his father. When he too is asked to participate in the Garden of Enchantment competition and realises that the Aria is also competing, he sees a chance to make up for the way he treated her the first time they met. But will working together actually help or hinder his plans?

Small village setting in Cornwall, charming scenery, quirky locals and a chance at revenge on the mean girls who made Aria's childhood a nightmare! I loved the warmth and strength of bond between Aria and her bestie, even though they haven't seen each other in years. An independent and interfering gran and her network of buddies and a familiar who is very full of himself!

Callan and Aria are a great match, the banter is strong between these two! Both realise that they need each other to progress but neither is willing to sabotage the other. Sweet with a slice of spice.

THE MODERN GIRL’S GUIDE TO MAGIC - Linsey Hall

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨?”
“𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴.”

⭐️ | 5/5
📖 | 316 pages
📆 | released 6/2/23 (YESTERDAY!)
📨 | publisher: Bonnie Doon Press

I have to say this must be one of my favorite books this year. Think Harry Potter meets spicy romance in a cozy small town by the shore. I couldn’t get enough of it.

✨Aria is invited to a competition against others to own the town’s magical garden, with sweeping acres of lush flowers and forests and old iron greenhouses filled with botanicals for potions. She has always had difficulty harnessing her magic, but with the help of some family and a scalding hot billionaire mage she learns that her powers are more special than she realizes. ✨

If you’ve read some of my reviews you know I’m a total sucker for personification of animals - wait til you meet Boris the beaver 🦫 and his sarcastic little nature. He’s Aria’s familiar, an animal that imprints on a witch and becomes her furry companion. 🥹 And he’s the cutest little thing ever despite—or maybe because of—his snarky quips!

The development of Aria and Callan’s relationship is a slow burn but quickly picks up into some spicy 🌶️ scenes which were much anticipated. You quickly grow to love both characters, and fall in love with the picturesque imagery that Hall conjures in this small town of Charming Cove. 🌊

Thank you to @netgalley, Bonnie Doon Press, and @linseyhallauthor for my advanced review copy! 💜🩵

A seaside town in England? Some romance? Plants, magic, and familiars? Count me in! I really enjoyed this story and the main character Aria. The enemies to lovers trope was really well done, they talked about it like adults quite at the beginning to clear up the air. That's how it's done!
I loved all the different types of magic intertwined into the story, I was really into the story and couldn't put the book down. I just wish Callan had more backstory, but all in all, it's a well-written witchy romance, perfect to relax and escape reality for a while :)

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The only thing that stopped this book from being a 5 star was that I feel as though the story wasn’t over. I needed just a little bit more. But overall this book kept my attention. And while it was pretty easy to figure out what was going to happen it still held my attention. And Boris may be my favorite.

This was such a cute take on a competitive, save your family, witchy rom-com and I found myself unable to put the book down from beginning to end. Beyond the plot I really enjoyed all of the characters in this book! Aria was amazing from the get go, with a strong sense of right and wrong and I loved the growth that Aria had in this story from learning to forgive not only others but herself, as well as working to overcome any and all obstacles in her way! If you love enemies to lovers, one bed, he falls first, you need to try this book. If that's not enough, then think about the old pubs and cozy seaside vibes with tea shops, apothecaries, and all the warm comforts of a witchy town!

This book hit it out of the park, stratosphere, and then out of the galaxy.

This book was so good I binged it!

It has one of the most unique and interesting magic systems. I’ve read about in a long time!

The author did not reinvent the wheel, but she definitely put such a new and interesting spin on the tropes in her book (clumsy/untalented witch, a competition with an inheritance involved, etc.) that it felt so refreshing to read!

She managed to tie in the romance aspect and plot so seamlessly that they really worked in harmony to make this book great!

I really really love the authors writing style. It was engaging and just very well done. I don’t know if this will turn into a series but I really hope so. I would love to return to this world.

perfect for anyone looking for a witchy rom com that gives them sarah hawley or erin sterling vibes

this was a tad bit drawn out and i wish the romance had been a bit more developed, but overall an entertaining ride

Aria is a walking disaster when it comes to her magic. She has no control over it, and it has cost her numerous jobs thanks to the way it just seems to blow up out of nowhere. It even got so bad she moved away from her home in the magical village of Charming Cove. But now, she has been called home because of a contest..... a contest that her Gran says she is destined to win, and is the only thing that will keep her shop open. No pressure, right? Add to that a mouthy badger familiar, and Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage she has hated for years. Well this is going to be fun.... not.

This book was so much fun. I loved Aria -I mean, I always love a good underdog story, and I also loved that Callan redeemed himself. Oh, and the story was brimming with magical plants and animals that were just delightful - well, maybe not ALL of the plants. I really hope that there is going to be a sequel, because I feel like these characters have so much more story to tell, and Aria is just beginning to explore the boundaries of her powers, so it will be interesting to see how powerful she really is. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy fiction.

I ended up enjoying this book more than I thought I would. The premise seemed interesting (which is why I was interested in reading it) but had so much more to it than the description would have you believe. I loved Aria right from the beginning and loved following her journey to accepting herself and coming into her magic. She didn't need to be fixed, she just needed to understand herself better. And Boris won me over the second he flipped Aria the bird (you'll understand once you meet himself yourself). The characters of Tabitha and Gran were great as well. They were the perfect support system/cheerleaders for Aria. I also really liked getting Callan's point-of-view, it helped add more depth to his character. It was hard not to like him once you knew he saw how great Aria was (even before she fixed her wonky magic). My only complaint regarding his character was how many times the author felt it necessary to tell us he was gorgeous, it just got old after a while. The challenges for the competition were interesting on their own and never felt overdone or just filler in between the romantic moments. I wish a little more time had been spent on the sabotage towards the end of the novel - especially an explanation as to why they only went after Aria. But I did love how the aftermath of that showed Aria how much the town loved and supported her. I was so excited when I discovered this would be a series because I would love to return to this little town and see what else happens with these great characters. Maybe a little romance for Tabitha?

This was a nice story. All characters were nice, conflicts were solved in a nice way, and the competition over the magical garden was nice. Aria and Callan were mature adults who communicated and didn’t create unnecessary conficts. They genuinely wanted to help one another. There was no third act breakup. Sex was nice and it was over quickly.

All this made a nice but not a very passionate romance. The plot was more about the competition than romance anyway, although they worked seamlessly together. Aria had a nice growth arc. Callan was more a side-kick even with his own POV chapters.

Boris the familiar was fun, all main characters under thirty were orphans, and the rest were octogenarians, which made for a rather odd cast. Magic was able to do miracles with little or no cost. The world didn’t always feel English, but with magic in the mix, who can tell. All in all, this book left me feeling good and not terribly excited.

3.5-3.7 stars

I've been foiled again by the inability to give half stars.

Overall, I really enjoyed this! I liked the setting A LOT, I mean, a magic seaside town? Perfect! I'd love to live there. I liked the backstory of the town and I liked the magic system a lot, as well as the reveal that there can be different types of witches. I thought it was really clever and well-based in the natural world and the idea of spiritual energy, and I enjoyed that a lot. Aria's growth is also inspiring, and I really enjoyed seeing her grow into her abilities and overcome her past. I liked the focus on self-worth, and how Aria learns that her self-worth isn't based on what other people think of her. That's a hard thing for a lot of people to overcome, so I felt like it was an excellent message! I also really enjoyed the cast of side-characters, they were entertaining and witty and very interesting, even those who only had a chapter or so of page time. I think Boris and Mr. Sparrow were my favorites! But I loved how well-written Aria's family was and how they were there for her. It was a really good lesson about love and how it comes in different forms.

But, I felt like the plot was rushed at times, and there should have been more attention given to certain details, and that we saw too much of Aria's personal thoughts and not enough descriptive details of places or events. I know this is part of a series, so it's possible some of that will be filled in later, but I did struggle with it a bit. I also felt like Callan needed more backstory. It was hard to root for him as an MMC because it felt like his only motivation, aside from the short description about his father's legacy, was that he was pining after Aria. I think that, since some chapters are in his POV, that could have been explored more. But that's just me :)

But overall, I think that if you're looking for something fun with magic or a nice romcom, this is a great read and everyone should absolutely pick it up! I also think that, despite being witchy, the seaside setting makes it a perfect read for summer!

This book was a cute British romcom about a witch with wonky powers that she can’t seem to control. She entered a competition for her family to win a greenhouse that her family relied on for potion ingredients. No one told her that her nemesis, a rich guy who destroyed her grandfather’s tower years ago, was also competing.
Cue the enemies to lovers romance!
The book reminded me a little of The Ex Hex/The Kiss Curse but with enough of a different witchy vibe and setting. I loved the characters and the setting. Aria loved plants and she found her way into her magic with Callan’s help.
I definitely recommend this one for a feel good witchy romcom. It was adorable!