From the cover to the.blurb, I knew I wanted to read Bad Luck Charm by Julie Johnson! I'm in my witchy romance era, so I had to get my hands on this book!

In Bad Luck Charm we meet Gwendolyn Goode - an occult shop owner in Salem, Massachusetts (yes, THAT Salem!) who is sunshine personified with a huge dash of snark. She was such a wonderful main character that I'm really sad that I didn't love Graham Graves. The book had the vibes and Julie Johnson's signature writing style, but it really seemed to struggle finding a central plot. There were many side quests and two main mysteries that didn't really make sense at times. It was a LOT going on at once and I wish it had been simplified a bit because it felt like two different books at times.

I also really struggled with the male main character - he is an alphahole personified and his go to mood is "angry" all of the time. He also has to be right and never truly listens to Gwen. While she would stand up for herself, he never really apologized when he took things too far and that really grated on me. I kept trying to find redeeming qualities, but then he would say something totally cringeworthy that went beyond fun banter and it pulled me of out of the story.

I did enjoy the small big town setting and her wonderful descriptions of Salem. It's such a cool town in real life that I loved seeing it so well depicted in this book! Plus like a lot of small town romances, the cast of side characters adds depth and fun to the story. There's also a great female friendship between Gwen and her bestie, which I love in my romances!

This book may not have been right for me, but I know people are going to love it! I'm hopeful book 2 in the series will be more enjoyable for me because I really like this author overall!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

I thought I would love this book more than I did. Fall, spooky, and witchy vibes. The combination of that all usually is a huge winner for me! But, I still enjoyed the book and will be reading the next one once it comes out. I loved Gwen. She was witty, kind, and definitely a loveable character. Her best friend/partner in crime, Flo, also was a favorite for me. Plus the old lady coven of witches, ERM my goodness I want to hear stories of what they got up to when they were younger.

My major but with this book is the MMC. He was alpha, and really wanted to take care of the FMC but the forcing her to stop talking by kissing multiple times throughout the storyline just did not do it for me. The first time, okay cute, but the next couple times were not. Especially when he uses her physical feelings for him against her. Queue the red flags.

But once the two characters finally figured out how to be a couple my gripes sort of end with the MMC.

The pacing of the story was good, and I enjoyed the plot line. Spooky mystery for the win. I loved the hint for the next book, and will be looking out for the next book!

Phew! What a ride this one was!

Pros:
- lovable female protagonist. Gwen is sharp, witty, and undeniably lovable.
- enemies to lovers
- spooky season vibes
- steamy, steamy, steamy
- gripping plot line
- the well-paced writing never feels too fast or too slow and gives the reader adequate time to enjoy the details.
- slow burn

Cons (for me)
- longer chapters: I like shorter chapters because I hate when I have to stop reading mid-chapter!
- overly protective alpha MMC: this is a personal preference for me. I liked Graham, but he was a little *too* alpha for my taste. I prefer an MMC who admires and encourages female independence.

I will definitely be reading At Last Sight, and I am kind of hoping for a book on Aunt Colette and the Bay Area Coven’s baby witch years!

Bad Luck Charm by Julie Johnson is one of my quickest, enjoyable, most unputdownable reads!
It was such a great and wonderful read! I had a really hard time putting this one down.
The entire story and its unique cast of characters held my attention from beginning to end.
This is a very well written book with great characters.
I loved following Gwen‘s story. This book was full of amazing suspense.
With an intriguing mystery that kept me glued to my Kindle.
Ultimately uplifting and heartwarming rom-com that’s utterly enjoyable!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Julie Johnson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Grey’s Promotion’s and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 stars. I really thought I was going to love this since it’s based in Salem, MA and has witches, murder mystery, overprotective MMC, and spice BUT it took everything in me to finish this. The book was way too long and then when we get to the big murderer reveal it gets resolved so fast. The MMC was so misogynistic and not in the hot way. The amount of times he forced kiss her to shut her up - sure one or twice but it kept happening and we get it. He also kept insulting her so I just could not get on board with liking him. I tried, but I honestly didn’t like any character here except for Flo, her best friend. Also the amount of times “Hellfire” was used as an explicative made me want to scream.

I did enjoy the setting and the overall vibes this book gave. I probably will read book 2 since I’m interested in the ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a most definitely enjoyable read!
As a Fall and spooky season lover, Bad Luck Charm put in the cozy mood I'm looking forward to as September fast approaches.
The chapter 'headers' were so much fun, a great additional touch. Overall, Gwen had lots of laugh out loud moments, which I always appreciate in romance.
I'm not sure how I feel about Graham - I liked that were was a duality to him, but sometimes his being overbearing wasn't my cup of tea. I also thought the dialogue between Gwen and Graham could feel a bit forced at times.
I was pleasantly surprised by the intrigue and mystery aspect of the story, I thought it made everything more interesting and took the stakes to a higher level than what you'd see in most romcoms.
I must say I was disappointed in the repetitive use of JKR references - it's not something I support seeing as this book is brand new and surely written after she was exposed. I would have largely preferred for those references not to be there as they were easily replaceable.

That being said, I will apply for and ARC of the second book should that be made available - I thought the nudge about the couple whose story will be told in book two was pretty interesting.

A perfect mix of both dark themes and light-hearted romantic comedy. This is the book I’ve spent my whole life looking for. It was everything I’ve ever wanted. This may sound strange, but I felt like this book was a cross between a Witchy Rom-Com Mystery book and Haunting Adeline.

Why I loved it:
✔️Witchy Fall Vibes
✔️utterly Hilarious
✔️amazing banter
✔️enemies to lovers with so much tension
✔️slow-ish burn
✔️the chapter blurbs are genius words to live by and will just make your day 😂
✔️murder mystery
✔️morally grey possessive/protective MMC

Bad Luck Charm is told from the POV of our leading lady, Gwendolyn Goode, who inherited an occult shop in Salem and adds in a cozy cafe. One day. Graham Graves, an arrogant private investigator whom Gwen can’t stand even though he’s annoyingly attractive, shows up in her shop to consult her on a series of occult-like crimes in the area. When it starts to seem that Gwen may be the next target of these crimes, Graham becomes extremely protective and doubles down on Gwen’s security which does nothing but drive Gwen absolutely crazy (in more ways than one).

I compare this hilarious witchy book to Haunting Adeline because of the blurred lines relationship, Gwen’s hate/attraction combo, Graham’s boundary pushing possessive/protectiveness, mixed with the high stakes situations our characters continue to find themselves in with powerful and terrifying groups of people.

Highly recommend that you add Bad Luck Charm to your fall TBR. Thank you so much for the ARC!

4.5 Stars! This book was so fun and also kept you guessing with the added element of mystery and suspense. I loved that this was a witchy book, but also not so supernatural that it felt unbelievable. I loved Gwen so much with her strong personality. She was a great female main character and I loved seeing her character arc throughout this story. I also loved getting to meet Flo, Gwen’s best friend. Their relationship was such a wonderful part of the book as well. This was such a great love story, mystery/thriller, and so much more. This dealt with some deep things like learning how to be vulnerable when you’ve gone through a lot of trauma in your past. This was well done and a great read that kept you locked in. I also think the first person narration from Gwen added so much to the story. I loved how smart and funny her character was as she narrated, adding in little asides here and there. I think everyone should read this if you like romance with a mystery added in!

I ate up every word and I still wanted more. The author Julie Johnson knows enemies, witches, small town, and mystery. I think my favorite parts were the standoffs between Detective Cade and Graham, because Graham protecting Gwen was straight up hot. Gwen and Graham’s banter is pure fire I loved it. I didn’t need a Graham POV chapter, Gwen did a great job at describing Graham’s emotions. The writing was phenomenal I could not put it down I ended up reading all night. Can’t wait for book 2.
GG + GG = SOULMATES

Thanks to author Julie Johnson, Johnson Ink, Inc., and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

SIGH. Everything about this book fell flat. The main character, Gwendolyn Goode (Gwen) owns an occult shop in Salem, Massachusetts. Things start going terribly wrong in town, and a crime in her back alleyway pushes her into close proximity with Graham Graves, a man she crushed on as a kid but has come to hate as an adult.

So where to begin? I’ll start with Gwen. I’m assuming this book is set in modern day, so if I’m wrong, then I’ll take this all back. Gwen is 24, but everything about her, from her wardrobe, to her speech, to her pop culture references, to her taste in music, to her humor, feels 32. I can’t explain why, but she’s screaming stereotypical, annoying millennial (I say this as a millennial with a popsocket - even I have to draw the line somewhere). She’s also incredibly pretentious and lacks depth. She wasn’t super fun and was pretty judgemental.

The description of this book led me to believe Gwen would be fun and witchy, but she’s not even that. She doesn’t believe in, and even talks a little shit on, the books and trinkets in her shop. How misleading. Witchy things keep happening to her, and all she does is ignore it. Boring.

The love interest, Graham, also has no depth. He’s pushy and rude with no redeeming qualities.

The mystery was fun enough, but even there, it almost felt like too much was going on. Things took way too long to circle back or connect and I stopped caring. The writing was just average, but I pushed through to see if things got any more interesting.

Maybe the humor just wasn’t for me. This book is definitely more of a romcom set in a witchy place, and I’m more of a witchy with a side of romcom (or all rom, no com even) kinda girl.

This book! Seriously one of my favorite reads of 2023. A perfect book to get you in the mood for Fall- the setting, the atmosphere, the description- I have loved the summer, but gimme all things fall now, please! A deliciously sweet and spicy rom com set in Salem, MA with mysterious and witchy elements, top-notch characters, and chemistry that was *chefs kiss*. Here is what to expect:
Slow Burn
Grumpy/Sunshine
Enemies to Lovers
Witchy Vibes
Suspense
Witty Banter
Spice

I was so surprised by this book. It was unlike most rom coms, with an unexpected amount of mystery, suspense, and action. This book was outstanding, and I did not want it to end because I truly could not get enough- which luckily for me book two is coming this Winter! Make sure to check out Bad Luck Charm when it releases on 8/8!

Prepare to be enchanted by the delightful blend of mystery and romance in this captivating novel! From the very beginning, I was charmed by the cozy setting and thoroughly enjoyed the perfect balance between the two main plotlines.

Our protagonist, Gwen, returns to the enchanting town of Salem, MA, after inheriting her aunt's house and occult store. Fond childhood memories contrast with a difficult upbringing under an abusive mother, making Salem a safe haven for Gwen. However, her peaceful life takes an unexpected turn when a gruesome crime occurs outside her store, hinting at a more sinister mystery to be solved. To complicate matters further, her childhood crush and current rival, Graham, is leading the investigation.

The book effortlessly weaves together the rich charm of northeastern life with its witchy vibes and captivating mysteries. Gwen's occult store adds an enchanting element to the narrative, drawing readers into a world of magic and intrigue. The found family dynamic adds depth to the story, making us care deeply for the well-being of the characters.

The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed flawlessly, making Gwen and Graham's interactions brim with tension and passion. Their chemistry sizzles on the pages, and their journey from adversaries to romantic partners was a joy to witness. In fact, Gwen and Graham may well be my favorite literary couple this year, their complex relationship tugging at my heartstrings throughout the story.

Humor plays a significant role in the narrative, adding light-hearted moments that perfectly complement the darker mystery elements. This delightful balance kept me fully immersed in the book, making it difficult to put down as I eagerly followed both the unraveling mystery and the blossoming romance.

I must admit that I simply didn't want this story to end. The author's skillful storytelling and vividly drawn characters had me invested in every aspect of the tale. I found myself equally engrossed in solving the intriguing crimes as I was in witnessing Gwen and Graham's relationship evolve.

In conclusion, this book is an absolute gem for fans of cozy mysteries and heartwarming romances. Its charming setting, well-crafted characters, and perfect balance between mystery and love make it a must-read. I wholeheartedly recommend this enchanting tale to anyone seeking a delightful and captivating read.

Five stars. This book was amazing. I’ve acquired a need to go to Salem and a new book boyfriend! Thank you so much to NatGalley and Julie Johnson so an ARC copy. It’s a top book for 2023 for me.

I found myself laughing and swooning through this whole book, I never wanted it to end. Gwen and Grahams story was fun and spicy! It was a fantastic witchy romcom with mystery and suspense, perfect vibes for spooky season and fall!!! The chemistry between Gwen and Graham was phenomenal and the spice was so good!

And now I’m really excited to read the next book with Cade!!

*I have always wanted to visit Salem and now it feels more like a need than a want!!

Let me start by saying, this book gives great fall witchy vibes. I highly enjoyed the witty headings/quotes from Gwen at the opening of each chapter. The characters were enjoyable, and the storyline itself is not bad, but this just wasn't the book for me.

The relationship between Gwen and Graham just took off too quickly especially considering the amount of time Gwen spent pining/loathing him and him basically ignoring her. He comes across very aggressive, arrogant, and the way most of his dialogue is written irritated me. While he did have a lot of redeeming qualities, the relationship between the two just didn't grow organically or make me tense waiting for them to get together.

I feel like the "who is behind this" mystery got overshadowed and felt disconnected - popping into the story when it was convenient. I did enjoy the ending of that storyline as I did not see it coming...even though I thought I knew.

Overall, I think this will be an enjoyable book for a lot of people, it was just a little too chaotic and disconnected for me.

I'm always on the lookout for a good romance novel that combines the atmosphere of genre fiction with a heart-stopping love story, so I was thrilled to pick up Bad Luck Charm. The town of Salem oozes personality, Gwen's book/coffee/various-witchy-things shop drips with comfy, cozy vibes, and a delightful cast of characters rounds out the setting nicely.

Add an occult mystery to pull the plot along and yank our opposites-attract lovers together, and you've got me hooked.

However, the one thing that I just couldn't sink my teeth into was the budding - and then fiery - relationship between Gwen and Graham. This isn't the book's fault - the author does alpha-male to a T, and I'm sure many will be SWOONING over Graham's brusque, domineering manner. But for my tastes, I found him to be a bit over-the-top, occasionally toxic, and overall just a very forceful character. Some will LOVE his unapologetic ways, no judgement; I just couldn't get past them enough to root for the couple.

Overall, Bad Luck Charm was well-written, full of deliciously good fall, witchy vibes and an intriguing plot, but with the core of the story revolving around a romance I found too harsh for my liking, I just couldn't love it like I wanted to. However, I'm sure the story will resonate with readers familar with and looking for a more alpha romance, and all the best to them!

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley for review - all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

This was a… time. I was intrigued with the plot of the book (okay, and the cover, absolutely gorgeous!). A strange message left behind the alleyway of Gwendolyn's workplace? A mystery that needed to be solved with her enemy of sorts? Sounds fun to me, especially with autumn (or fall, whichever you prefer) coming in soon! I, unfortunately, did not get the witchy vibes that I wanted. I got something else entirely.

I had a few issues with this book, but one of the big ones being Graham, the MMC. Graham is very much an alpha male character. Some of his behavior in the book was toxic and a little concerning to read about, such as telling Gwen she can't go certain places, making himself a copy of Gwen's key without her permission, and not taking her home when she specifically requested him to do so. I found this a bit concerning to read about and almost DNF'd the book, to be honest.

Another issue I want to highlight is (slight spoilers ahead) at around 10%, the author goes into heavy detail about how Gwendolyn (age 10), the protagonist, and Graham (age 15) meet. Gwen discloses that she had a crush on Graham, which isn’t out there for a 10 year old to have a crush on a teenager (it makes her a little fleshed out; one of her more humane moments). There's an incident with her stepping on a sea urchin and Graham, the lifeguard at the time, helped her out and her called her by a nickname. Three years pass and then Gwen (13) meets Graham again (18) at a restaurant. He acknowledges her by calling her the nickname again, letting us, the readers, know that he hasn't forgotten about her, despite her being only 13. Gwendolyn acknowledges that she has changed (because you obviously change from being a preteen to a teen), and she said previously after that incident that he hasn't acknowledged her in any way after the sea urchin incident. I found this scene a little uncomfortable once I read it again (it flew over my head the first time), but it showed me Graham in a different light.

I read on because I was curious to see who was behind the mystery, but I couldn't stand either of the main characters by the 60% mark and had to push myself through it. It was hard to get with the alpha male vibes that Graham was bringing to the table and Gwendolyn wasn't much better. It was difficult to get through, mostly because I wanted more mystery and witchy vibes. Like, I honestly wished Gwendolyn or Graham was a witch or something to play up the atmosphere. Set in Salem, I was expecting something more in line with the occult or modern witchcraft. Something to bring those vibes in.

I will end on a positive note to say that when the book was focused on the mystery and the witchcraft, it was really good. It held my attention, but those moments were far and few in between. This book has the foundation of a good plot, but it felt lost to me with the aimless side quests and the heavy alpha presence. The author definitely knows how to write mystery and suspense, I just wish it was more focused on that.

Whew. Everything about this book should have worked for me. I loved the Salem setting. Gwen is relatable and fun and watching her work and live in this witchy community was so much fun. Graham was grumpy and no nonsense and they should have worked perfectly together. However, there was just so much going on in this book. There's a witchy ritual mystery with a potential threat to Gwen. The psychic is missing. The Irish Mafia is after them. He hates her. But he loves her. She has personal issues and the store is busy and SO MUCH STUFF. If one piece could have been edited out, it would have been so much easier to read and stay invested in. But it was a lot.

I LOVED this so much. It had so many twist and turns but in a gentle way, I really love the enemies to lovers trope and this was done so well!

Have you ever wondered how your past and beliefs can hinder a future of happiness? Sometimes, more than we like to admit, we can be stuck in our own little world where we sabotage a perfectly good adventure before it can even begin. And that is exactly how Gwen Goode’s story starts, or should I say, fail to start? Our female protagonist is a quirky, fast-talking, twenty-something with a penchant for designer brands. Her life looks perfect. With a successful occult shop in the heart of Salem, a beautiful Victorian house inherited from her aunt, a best friend who cares for her, she couldn’t possibly want anything more. Until things begin to shake up in her neighbourhood that leaves her polished facade in shambles, and her own life, in danger. Enter the dashing Graham Graves, a private investigator you wouldn’t want to mess with — he is a cross between Fast and Furious and James Bond character. The main character. He is one of the most eligible bachelors in town and guess what, he is best friends with Gwen’s best friend’s boyfriend! Get it? Despite having the same circle of friends, Gwen wants nothing to do with Graham. Not only because he was her childhood crush but also, she believes that he doesn’t want anything to do with her. So, before she gets hurt, she chooses not to.

Despite the tension between the two, Graham chooses to protect a stubborn Gwen and helps solve the witchy murder mystery that may or may not involve her imminent demise. As a strong independent woman that she is, along with her “I don’t need your protection and I can take care of myself” attitude, Graham is even more irked by this. Hence, he goes out of his way to make sure that she understands who he is and the lengths he will go to protect her. These two alphas are always butting heads and frankly, it’s like watching two old married couple who thinks their way is the right way. I couldn’t help but laugh in some of their ridiculously heated moments that I wish they would just kiss already. All because I cannot, for the life of me, keep up with the banter knowing that they care for each other as much as they would like to “kill” each other. LOL.

This book is like a hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream, sprinkled with cinnamon + spice and marshmallows. It’s everything you would want in a spicy romantic-comedy and mystery.

BAD LUCK CHARM COULDN’T BE ANYMORE PERFECT FOR FALL AND HALLOWEEN IF IT TRIED.
The humour of Gwen as the narrator, the tension and banter between her and Graham, and the slow burn are undeniably entertaining. Grumpy and sunshine, frenemies to lovers, spice, laugh out loud, confronting your past and fears, witchy vibes, and murder mystery all in one! If this combo sounds like your jam, you will love digging into this in one sitting! Follow Gwen and Graham’s story as it begin to unfold in the middle of a mystery where one coven fights for peace and the other, for power. Will Gwen muster up a courage to face not only a dangerous enemy but also her feelings that is slowly becoming more evident as Graham gets close to her? Will Graham be bold enough to not give up on taking down Gwen’s defences?

I must add, I especially loved Gwen’s backstory and there were some amazing quotes that just melted my heart. It’s one thing to feel good and be entertained by a rom com but it’s another to be pierced through the heart because you know how it feels to be in that character’s shoes, in one way or another. Here’s some of my favourites:

“When you’re a kid, you think by the time you’re an adult, you’ll have it all figured out. Life, that is.”

“There is no age which you’ll ever have it figured out; no magic number where every missing piece falls abruptly into place. You will get older, there’s no stopping that, but there’s no guarantee you’ll ever get wiser. If anything, you merely get better at pretending. Acting like you have all the answers, holding all the loose threads of your life together in one fist, so they resemble a rope strong enough to guide you along until your time on earth expires.”

Although this is a fun read, I found it a little distracting in two or more instances when the author chose to extensively describe some of what I think are secondary or unimportant details before moving forward with a scene. In my head, the characters were suspended in mid air for a long while as the narration/world building continued, before the conversation flowed again. I also found a few problems with how some scenes were skipped but then told in a phone conversation which could’ve worked anyway if it was told as it progressed. It could be an artistic choice, but as a reader, I found it distracting. In saying these, it didn’t take away much of my enjoyment and the overall amazing experience I had with this book.

Will I be recommending this to friends? YES!

Will I be reading the next book? YES!

Rating: 4.75/5 stars!

Spice: 3/5 stars

Special thanks to Johnson Ink, Inc. and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Absolute perfection, honestly! Every single thing about this book worked for me. I am honestly devastated to be done reading it, I loved it that much.

Perfect for spooky season, and set in Salem MA, Gwendolyn Goode runs an occult shop that she inherited from the only real family she ever knew. What she wasn't expecting was for her childhood crush/hero Graham to also have moved back. Instead of being the heartthrob she remembers his remarks on her first night out after her aunts passing make more heartless than anything and from that night forward she vows to her bestie to hate him.

Fast forward two years and some mysterious circumstances, and Gwen finds herself unable to stay away from Graham, even if she wanted to he runs Gravewatch (an ultra intense security firm) and he is dead set on protecting her.


The story comes together so well, the mystery was super engaging and had me on the corner of my seat, the spice was A1, and all of the characters were AMAZING. I cannot wait for book 2 in the Witch City series.