A fun, magical and cosy read. This is a perfect easy read full of quirky witches using or learning about their magic and dealing with the romance in their life. This was an amazing rom-com and a super easy read perfect for summer especially if you love magic, romance and horticulture.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for an ARC copy in exchange for a review.

3.5/5 stars

This was such an easy and cozy read!! I had so much fun.

The book revolves around Aria. Aria is a bit of a mess when it comes to her magic. She never seemed to be able to control it fully, leading to several disasters throughout her teenage years. So, she decides to leave Charming Cove, her cozy witchy town, and move to London to have a normal life. In London, she doesn't have to worry about causing disasters with her magic. But one day, her Grandma comes to visit her and tells her that the town needs her. There is a magic garden called the Garden of Enchantment in town, where her Grandma gets all her supplies for her potions shop, which the owner wants to sell. The catch is he will only give the garden to someone he seems worthy and he plans to find them with a magic competition. Aria doesn't how she will win when she can't even control her magic and not to mention the sexiest most powerful mage in the whole UK, Callan Hawthrone is also there to compete.

Lately, I've been loving some witch-y magic-y romances so this was the perfect book. The plot of the book was quite fun and enticing but the execution was poor. From the get-go, the pacing was a bit weird. There was no true conflict and whenever there was something resembling any angst/conflict, it was solved very quickly.
While this pacing allowed me to avoid any unnecessary anxiety, it also made the book less exciting. I would have really liked to see some more drama and conflict between Callan and Aria. It would also have been nice if we got more backstory about Aria's history with Stella and Lilac.
Lastly, this book was actually dual-POV but there were so many few Callan chapters that I got extremely frustrated. There were so many chances where it would be perfect to see Callan yearning for Aria but I think there were only a handful of Callan chapters (or, at least, it felt like it).
Overall, this was a quick fun read but it could definitely use some improvements.

***This is my honest review after reading an ARC copy***

What happens when the man who broke your heart comes back into your life through a competition you absolutely, definitely have to win?

If you liked The Ex Hex, you will like this! Very much the same feel to it, which is never a bad thing!
I loved the characters in this and I'm so mad that I can't have a Boris in my life!
Wonderfully written - the story flows effortlessly and the storyline itself is fantastic.
After also losing my grandad who I was close to I really connected with Aria on that front and wish I had a place like she does. (trying to be vague so no spoilers!)
I will 100% be buying a physical copy of this when it comes out and I really, REALLY hope this will be a series

A modern girl's guide to magic was a cute, cozy romantic comedy. Aria is a witch who hasn't mastered her power, and she leaves the magical town of charming cove to try and live a normal life. A contest springs up in her hometown, and her grandma makes sure to bring her back for it. And let me tell you, Gran is a legend!

The other contests in the contests are local witches who bullied Aria for her lack of control in her magic, and billionaire Callan, a man from Arias past who she loathes entirely!

And she works through the contests Aria figures out her magical ability and why she has struggled so hard along aide Callan who while also competing for the garden, is striving to get forgiveness from Aria a women he has never forgotten.

The book was cozy, and a quick read with some great side characters, where can I get myself a familiar like Boris? He was the snark we all needed!

This book comes out June 2nd if you are looking for a quick, witchy, cozy read.

3.5 stars.

This book is a charming as the town it takes place in, Charming Cove.

Everything about this book was sweet and cozy. It's a witchy romance that will leave you feeling relaxed and ready to curl among your houseplants with a cup of tea.

I fell in love with Aria and her struggles with magic and frustrations with never being good enough. There is good character growth as she learns who and what she really is and wants. Her trials as a witch are believable and good fun while still being challenging.

The romance here was cute. We have a thoughtful and handsome rich mage who can't help but win over Aria and those closest to her.

I loved the setting of this book so much and wish I could visit this cute little town with it's charming businesses.

You'll love this book if you like quaint beach towns, summer romance, magic, and plants! There are so many plants!

The writing was smooth and easy to digest. I read this in one sitting. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to netgalley for the earc I recieved in exchange for a review.

Nice lighthearted fantasy romance.

Aria was always a dud at magic, better at making spells blow up in her face than in getting them to work right. She left her small hometown behind years ago, together with her reputation as a failure, and moved into big city life. But her magical failures follow her steps, and when her gran calls her back home to save the family potion shop, Aria begrudgingly agrees to help. How much help can a failed witch be, though, especially when competing against a highly successful handsome millionaire mage and some grown up childhood bullies?

This was a nice easy read. I liked the simple magic and the magical plants and creatures described. It wasn't particularly original - the plot is obvious from the start, but it was still enjoyable. Even with its overly sappy romance - I mean, the guy was perfect in every way - looks and money and charm. But it read nicely without being too over the top. It's nice to read a simple cozy romance with a touch of fantasy every once in a while.

What a whimsical palate cleanser. Cozy romcom with a sprinkle of magic. Felt a little YA with no spice, however I found myself smiling throughout the book. Definitely a cute read. Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC.

So I guess my new favorite thing is magical small towns lol. Super cute little witchy town, Witch trying to figure her ish out, love interest and of course loyal friends and family. My personal favorite Boris the familiar. Looking forward to the next Charming Cove. ♡

what a fun read! a bit of magic, mystery and love the perfect mix.
haven’t read a book by this author before but would recommend and also will look for others titles by her.

This book is hilarious and charming and magical and quirky and sweet and I really enjoyed it! There is a talking badger, a sweet, unexplainable love, and a charming village by the sea.

Aria is down on her luck - her magic is a bit out of control and has random outbursts. When the owner of the magical, enchanted garden in Aria’s hometown wants to retire, he decides to host a competition to determine the next owner and she NEEDS to win (for her grandmother’s shop, for herself, and for the community).

Callan is a handsome, wealthy, sweet MMC (who is a warlock) and is one of the many supportive characters that Aria has in her life. This book was more sweet than spice.

I can’t wait for more from this series!

Thanks so much to Linsey Hall, NetGalley, and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC of this book.

I picked up The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic on a whim because I liked the cover and the blurb sounded fun. I was looking for something lighthearted and fun after some tomes and heavy reading. I went into knowing this is a rom com at its heart, and although it's not a genre that I call my favorite, it can be refreshing to mix into my regular reading. With rom coms you can also count on tropes and clichés, and that's fine. We all need the familiar every once in a while. And even then, it doesn't mean a book can't have something unique or a fun twist to said tropes. Now, when I pick up a rom com I do it with the intention to look over the tropes, but I need something else to engage me - the characters, foremost, but the plot is important too.

What sold me on this particular title was the tone of the blurb, and I expected a fun, quirky MC, lots of banters, and an interesting plot revolving around a magical competition. Alas, my hopes were crushed soon enough, and I decided to DNF at the 45% mark. Both Aria and Callan, the main characters were pretty annoying and one-dimensional - not even talking about insta love which is one of the few things I really can’t get over when it comes to rom coms - their dialogues are mostly cringe-worthy. The plot could have been interesting if anything was happening at all, and it was also super predictable. Look, I already went in with low expectations, but come on. At least make an effort. I also didn’t click with the writing which was repetitive, and didn’t feel very polished to me.

What I liked though, was some of the side characters such as Catrina the niece of Aria’s best friend and far the smartest character… I also liked Aria’s grandmother for the little time we met her, and Boris, the badger. I swear I would have preferred him as the main character, would have been much more interesting to see things from her POV rather than reading about Aria’s and Callan’s moaning. I wanted to slap them both, repeatedly. I don’t think I would have been able to enjoy the rest of the book, even if I was curious about what else they had in store within the competition. It just wasn’t enough to keep me going.

1.5

Is it too controversial to say that I did not quite enjoy this? Witches are one of my favorite fantasy elements, and with a sprinkle of romance, I thought it would be everything that I wanted, but it was just not the book for me.

I know this book was supposed to be low stakes and cozy— and yeah, it was. But too low stake for my preference. I would forget that they have powers when it wasn’t mentioned. The author tried to make the ending dramatic, but it was a fail for me. Maybe the author could have added a little grain of drama before the ending (which I thought was too rushed).

Overall, I think this book was just not for me, although it felt like a novel that BookTok will definitely adore. Although I did had a lot of critics for this novel, it wasn’t all bad. Personally, I thought that one of its strengths is its humor. I thought there were too many pop references, but it wasn’t thrown every three pages like other novels, which I appreciate.

This was enjoyable and fun but it honestly read like most other witchy books that have become popular. It's not bad by any means, but it is a bit forgettable as nothing feels very unique. If you love witchy reads, this would be perfect for you.

I don’t even have words to describe how much I loved this book. It is a hug that warms you from the inside out. It was incredibly well written and beautifully balanced humor, romance, magic, witches, and suspense. It was a hands down five star read for me and is the best witchy book I have read in the past few years.

The story follows Aria who is a powerful witch with little to no control of her power. She returns to her charming village of a hometown (seriously, can I move there?) to enter into a contest not only to win a spectacular garden, but also to save her family’s business. As she works through the contest her perspective on life changes.

Laced with humor and romance, this is a must-read story. I laughed out loud in almost every chapter and could not put this one down until I finished it. Now I just want more and am really hoping that this becomes a series.

Pros; Cute romance, with magical hijinks and the competition of a lifetime. An interesting mix of characters and a fairly easy read. Boris was a hoot. Cons; the romance was only okay, even with the misunderstanding there was no real tension between Callum and Aria. Also I wish Aria’s magical journey had been led more by her and less by Callum. Overall an enjoyable read (3 ⭐️)

I haven’t read a book this good in a while. Seriously, it was phenomenal. I started it in the late afternoon and was up until midnight finishing it up. I could NOT put it down. From the start, it pulls you in with charismatic and lovable characters, and then makes you stay with adventure and a touch of enemies to lovers. I devoured this book and want the next one immediately.
Essentially, Aria is a “failed” witch. Never able to control her power and just blows things up. She moves away from the small town she grew up in to find her own path. Then, her Gran needs her help to save the family potions store. Aria has to enter a town competition to win the land that much of her grandmother’s supply for the store comes from before a greedy, rich man witch(mage) takes it from her and once again destroys something she loves dearly.
My only critical comment would be that I wish there was more content from Callen’s perspective.

Thank you to Bonnie Doon Press for the opportunity to read this incredible ARC of this book via Netgalley.

This started off strong but I found the ending a bit weak. Really enjoyed the magical tasks approach combined with Aria coming to terms with her magic, the romance with Callan fell a bit flat though.

What a lovely romance! Aria and Callan met years before and the situation left Aria with hard feelings. Now they are thrown together in a magical competition, and Aria needs to put those feelings aside so they can work together so she can save her grandparents magic shop.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic to come out June 2, 2023.

I got lured into The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic by that GORGEOUS cover 😍, and surprisingly, I enjoyed it, despite it being outside my typical genres. It's a cozy, sweet little story with a heartwarming, sugary feel to it. Yes, you can guess the storyline quite easily, but it still manages to keep your attention throughout.

One of my favorite things about this novel was the cast of side characters - they're well-crafted and quite endearing, especially the too-smart-for-her-own-good Catrina. She steals every scene she's in, and you can't help but adore her.

Now, let's talk about the less-than-stellar parts. For starters, the enemies-to-lovers conflict was sorted out a bit too early for my taste. After that, the only real tension between the characters is their attempts to hold off on a love connection while they're competing against each other, which, to be honest, felt pretty weak as far as conflicts go (especially when you consider that the competition only lasted a little over a week).

In fact, I felt as though the book as a whole could have done with a bit more drama. Everything is a tad too ideal, right down to the postcard-perfect Charming Cove. A touch more complexity and some good old-fashioned conflict and tension would have made the story even more engaging.

Overall, The Moder Girl's Guide to Magic was a pleasant, if predictable, read. It's the literary equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa - not the most exciting, but still quite comforting all the same.

If you're looking for a book that is easy to read, this is a good book to choose. I was able to read it relatively quickly, but I have to admit I wasn't as enthralled with it as I had hoped to be. I thought the main character needed a healthy dose of self-confidence, so it was nice to see her come into her own, as a person and as a plant witch. It was also nice seeing the male main character fall for her from the start, and how he tried to prove himself.

I would have given the book five stars, but for the fact that it felt like the first challenge the competitors had took a bit to get through, and then the remaining challenges and the conclusion of the book we sped through. I think it would have been nice if the book had been a bit longer, and if the author had fleshed those parts out a bit more.

All in all, it was an enjoyable book, and I'm glad I got the chance to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.