Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for providing the ARC.

If you're looking for a cozy, witchy romance book that has a low-stakes plot and an insta-love story, look no further.

I enjoyed The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic for what it was. Which is to say, a lot of fluff and not a lot of substance. It was very surface level storytelling. The characters were not deep, they only ever experienced inconvenices rather than true trials and tribulations, and everything was sunshine and rainbows at the end of the book. Did I dislike it? No. But I generally like a bit more meat to my stories.

One thing I didn't like was that this book relies on a trope that has a man "saving" or "fixing" the main female character. Aria considers herself a failed witch due to her inability to control her magic, but it isn't until Callan comes along and explains it all to her that she is suddenly able to figure herself out. It's not my favorite trope because it takes away from the potential character growth that a female protagonist might experience. However, since I already mentioned that these characters weren't very deep already, it didn't really affect the story too much overall.

Not a bad read. Perfect for people who like witchy romance books.

Received a copy for review.

This book read a bit like a magical version of The amazing race but focused on plants. Aria has magic she doesn’t understand do she is trying to live in the human world but it’s not going well. When her gran comes to get her to compete the become the keeper of a magical forest, she goes.
Callan built something in a place that was important to Aria and she has not forgiven him.
The “race” was fun and the attraction was clear. It’s a cozy book with lots of interesting characters.

This book was fun and sweet. So many cute moments and definitely something I would read again. I can wait for more books in the series will have to add this to my list to buy a physical copy so I can add to my collection. I dont like giving away anything from the book then what the blurb says. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity and of course the author.

A cute and and easy read of paranormal love. Aria is a witch unable to fully access or control her magic, Callan is a self-made billionaire mage who once turned Aria's beloved spot with her grandpa into a popular cafe. Aria has detested Callan ever since, even as he is unclear on what exactly he did that was that bad (she never fully explains to him that he has caused her grandpa's spirit to disappear).

After several years away, Aria returns to her hometown of Charming Cove to compete to win ownership of the Garden of Enchantment, upon which Aria's grandmother's business relies. Callan is also competing, but for less altruistic reasons. Callan has also never got over his crush on Aria.

Callan and Aria end up working together and falling in love as he also helps her access her true power.

This is a just flat-out fun read. There is no big bad, and things just seem to flow. Callan and Aria are able to resolve their initial conflict with relatively little fanfare and their love story is lovely to watch unfold. I might have liked a bit more sexy time, but I still would 't hesitate to recommend this book.

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

Such a great book! It was an easy read and I loved the characters, ESPECIALLY Boris!! It was just a light and funny read that I would recommend to anyone. It isn’t overly magical and the magic system wasn’t complicated to understand. I can’t wait to read more of this series!

This starts out with a witch whose magic is on the fritz and a lonely multi-millionaire with a heart of gold. If the book just stopped there I would have totally been for it but the author added a really cool competition and interesting magic. This is a quick and fun addition to the urban fantasy romance trend.

4.25⭐

What an absolute delight, fun, and cozy read from Linsey Hall.

The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic is the first book in the Charming Cove series. Aria, our FMC, ran away from home thinking that her magic was a dud only to find out that she belongs to a small, very specialized group of ~plant whisperers~. Nothing holding her back in London after getting fired due to her misfired magic, she returns to Charming Cove for a competition for the Garden of Enchantment- a place where Mr. Sparrow grows one-of-a-kind plants that can't be found anywhere else. One of the people competing against her is Callan Hawthorne (the MMC, a handsome and powerful businessman who already has set plans on what to do with the garden). Aria didn't really like him because he bought the land where she usually goes to to connect with her deceased grandfather. After he built his businesses, her grandfather's spirit disappeared.

The romance part of this book between Aria and Callan does take a backseat to Aria's journey to finding her magic. So for romance girlies, be aware of that before reading. There is one very mild spicy scene.

I also need a familiar like Boris.

I'm not sure how this is supposed to be part of a series but I'm intrigued and I can't wait to read more from Linsey Hall.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me completely under its spell.

I started this yesterday on a journey back from London, and from chapter 1, I was hooked, so much so, I completed it in less than 4 hours.

The main characters are all loveable, fun and relatable. The main romance is sweet and loving and I loved watching it grow and develop.

As a person who loved Cornwall anyway, knowing that it's set there and I can just visual perfectly how it all looked and smelt and the magic that would have been in the air.

It was easy, refreshing and made me smile the whole way through. I honestly can't wait for more in this series. Can it be soon please?

If I was to add/change anything... it would be, a little more spice would have been nice and maybe not bring up "The supermodels" as many times.

However, overall. This is a beautiful summer read and an easy 5 star from me.

Linsey Hall's "The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic" is a delightful and enchanting tale that combines romance, humor, and a touch of chaos. The protagonist, a witch with a knack for magical mishaps, sets three simple rules for herself, only to find herself breaking every single one of them.

Hall's writing is witty and engaging, drawing readers into the world of Charming Cove with its ancient pubs and mischievous familiars. The protagonist's journey to save her family's magical potion shop while navigating a competition and her complicated feelings for the attractive Callan Hawthorne is filled with humorous mishaps and unexpected twists.

The story blends the magical elements seamlessly with the romantic storyline, creating a charming and lighthearted atmosphere. The protagonist's determination to overcome her magical disasters and prove herself adds a relatable layer to the narrative, as readers root for her success and personal growth.

"The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic" is a fun and entertaining read that will leave readers smiling. Linsey Hall's blend of magic, romance, and humor creates a delightful escape into a world where rules are meant to be broken and love can be found in the most unexpected places. Get ready for a whimsical and enjoyable adventure in the magical realm of Charming Cove.

I love books about magic, and books about romance. Books that have a bit of both are too often a guilty pleasure. Linsey Hall’s THE MODERN GIRL’S GUIDE TO MAGIC promises to deliver on all fronts, but ends up falling short.

Structurally, it could use a lot more development. The characters largely lack any form of dimension, and Hall relies on age-old tropes that need to be retired. Plus, there’s far too much telling vs. showing readers how to feel, as you follow along an intriguing but otherwise uneven plot. The romance is also less extremely insta-love, which makes it tough to root for.

My verdict: This book really wasn’t for me, but that’s not to say it couldn’t be an enjoyable summer pick-me-up for other fiction lovers.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.*

This was such a cute story!! I absolutely loved the premise and Linsey Hall did such a wonderful job crafting this magical world full of magical characters. This is more of a teen-targeted book, but it is still captivating nonetheless. I thought the plot was interesting and moved along well, with the elements of magic tied together with romance acting as icing on the cake. I've always been a huge fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and Linsey Hall tackled it nicely and I enjoyed the banter and storylines between the two characters. Overall, this was a cute, cozy, and quick read that any fantasy lovers would enjoy!

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a great book! Easy read, heartwarming, and a nice little boost of serotonin. I hope I get to read more of Aria’s story soon! I received this eARC from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion. Thank you!

this was a super cute cozy witchy read. I'm hesitant to call it a romcom, because the romance was really secondary to the main character's self development. The humor is definitely there though. I found all the characters to be endearing, witty and relatable. Plot development and pacing were all great. Cottage core in book form.

"𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘮?
𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘦."

Before I even get into this review, my favourite character, by far, was Boris. I want to bribe Boris with Bacon Sandwiches, and then Boris can bring home the pinklings and dreamweavers 😍

I thoroughly enjoyed the story this book told! Honestly, it was gripping from the start. I was curious about Aria's magic. I wanted to know more about Callan, and I wanted to know more about the competition.

However, as I continued reading, there were a few things that really kind of threw me off and took me out of the immersion of the story.

Firstly, the amount of time spent on important parts of the story. One being when they went to the cave. It almost came too easy to Aria, and I wanted to see her really pushed. Also, discovering the problem with Aria's magic. It sort of seemed a bit too easy. It felt like there was almost less time spent on the magic training than there was on the champagne in the plane. Basically, I just felt it needed more trial and error to just give it a little bit more substance.

Secondly, the relationship between Aria's and Callan felt a bit forced. From the moment Callan appeared in town, the townies were pushing them together.
Aria just gave up most of her years and years of anger so easily after one tiny conversation, too, which seemed unrealistic. There were some really fun scenes like at the haunted house (give me a one bed trope any day, I'll gobble it right up), but something was missing from their relationship. Perhaps it's that I never really got to connect with Callan? He was helpful and nice, but nothing made him stand out as my next book boyfriend.

Despite these two things, I can't say I didn't binge read this. I did. It was fun. I loved Gran, I HATED Serena, and the other mean people. The pinklings seemed so cute, Boris was the comedic relief I needed, and honestly, this ended perfectly. I wasn't overly surprised by much in this book, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a fun ride.

➛ 𝟑 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for the ebook in exchange for an honest review. I can't describe how good this book is, but I absolutely will try.

This is one of those rare, hug-in-book-form books. The characters were delightful, the spice was well-written, the setting was magical, and the writing made it so easy to read. I couldn't think about much else until I finished.

I loved it. I'm excited to buy a physical copy of this book when it's available as it's quickly become a favourite and I read more from this author!

I encourage anyone who enjoys a good romcom or cosy fantasy to read this book.

Linsey Hall has created a whimsical masterpiece. This book was so intriguing that I devoured it in a day.

Aria left the town of Charming Cove because she felt like her magic was an embarrassment. Taking on life alone in London was even more embarrassing because her magic blew up in the most inconvenient situations- literally. She finds herself back home in Charming Cove to compete in a competition to be named as sole heir of a magical garden that her family’s small business relies on. With the fate of the family business in her hands, Aria works to take charge of her magic and blow the competition away, including Callan Hawthorne.

This book gave me the warm and fuzzies. It made me feel like I was cozied up in a hammock in the most beautiful garden imaginable. Boris gave me Salem vibes, and he kept me laughing hysterically.

I cannot say enough good things about this book!

I wanted to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so sweet and innocent and I ate it up. I read this so fast it didn’t even feel like reading. It was a heartfelt romcom for sure.

Absolutely loved this story. I really was hooked from the very beginning. There's really nothing bad I could say about the book at all.
Firstly I love being able to picture the setting for a book. It makes me feel really immersed in the story and just makes me care more.
I love the way the relationship progressed. Aria absolutely despised Callan at the beginning. Throughout the book their relationship really grew into one of not just lovers but friendship.
Boris the badger. He loves food and threatens to shank people. Enough said he's fantastic.
A book I highly recommend everyone check out.

This was a really fun and cute book. Refreshing really. It was just a perfect little cozy book that made me laugh and forget I was reading. I will say the pacing was a bit off sometimes and there were some typos here and there. Otherwise I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn’t influence my review.
Tropes: paranormal romance, hate to love, competition
Hilarious book! I loved the characters and the vibe of the book. Will definitely recommend this book!