I had a really tough time with this one, and just couldn't get into it. I love dark academia and stories with witches, but unfortunately the writing in this one just didn't work. Not sure if there is going to be further edits as this was an ARC, but even so it was not well done. I did appreciate the bisexual main character and her development of her identity, to me that was the best part of the book.

I was really excited about this book, from its concept and the summary I was interested, but everything fell flat. The characters didn't feel shaped well, the story was all over the place, and I really struggled with the dialogue, which made the whole book feel choppy. There's probably an audience out there for this but it did nothing for me.

Livingston Girls is a brilliant queer YA witch story. It's fast paced and the characters are great to read. Briana Morgan's writing style is so enjoyable and she always grips me straight away!

I really wanted to enjoy this. I’m always here for sapphic witches. But in the end, too much of this just did not work for me.

The writing style is under-developed and needs a much heavier edit. I know this isn’t a finished copy, but it still feels far too unpolished to be going out to ARC readers. So much of the dialogue feels awkward and stilted and a lot of the descriptions are clunky.

I also feel vaguely uncomfortable about the way race is treated. I’m not sure if this is just a me thing, but pointing out characters are black or “Latina” or Asian or whatever while not describing the white characters as white kinda gave me the ick, as though white is the default. I highly doubt this is the authors intention but the more it kept happening, the more uncomfortable I felt.

Briana Morgan writes such beautiful books. And this is no different. There are some issues with editing in this ARC. But I’m sure it will be fixed by the time the book is released. I loved every moment of this. It’s different and relatable compared to most books like it.

"Livingston Girls" is a delightful and haunting coming-of-age tale centered around a coven of witches navigating the intricacies of their boarding school.

The novel boasts an intriguing and well-structured magic system that strikes the perfect balance between excitement and comprehensibility, seamlessly integrating the supernatural into the fabric of the story and making it feel realistic in the world. The fight scenes involving the magic were gripping and exciting.

One of the standout features of this novel is its representation of a bisexual protagonist, Rose. Her journey of self-discovery is portrayed with authenticity, capturing the essence of a teenager coming into her bisexuality. The identity that she comes into by the end of the novel is strongly based on her coming to terms with the experiences leading up to her arrival at Livingston School, as well as the friendships she forms there, which play a significant role in this compelling character arc.

The characters had genuine chemistry, which can't be said for many novels. Each girl introduced in the story possesses a distinct personality, and as readers, we have the pleasure of getting to know and appreciate each of them throughout the book. The dialogues and banter among the characters are refreshingly convincing and enhance the book's believability. The romantic scenes are equally well-crafted, radiating charm and tenderness, leaving a lasting impression.

While the pace of some portions of the story may seem accelerated compared to the overall flow, it doesn't detract significantly from the overall reading experience. "Livingston Girls" is, on the whole, an entertaining and captivating read that will enchant those who are fascinated by witchcraft, value female friendships, and appreciate the magic of poetry in storytelling.

If you like The Grimrose Girls and A Lesson In Vengeance vibes, you will love this one.
It's dark academia + angst + magical coven + witches. I love all the drama and the gang! It was a nice read and I loved it. Rose and Charlie stole my heart haha love themmm