Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Clementine, affectionately known as Clemmie, is facing a series of unfortunate events. After four years of being in a relationship, her boyfriend abruptly ends it and moves in with another woman. To make matters worse, her job, which she had thoroughly enjoyed, is laying her off. Additionally, she is on the brink of losing her flat. Leaving poor Clemmie jobless, boyfriend less and homeless.

In an attempt to cheer her up, Clemmie and her sisters decide to revisit a childhood tradition. They gather together and cast a spell, each sister making a single wish for Clemmie. The question lingers: will the wish work for Clemmie alone, or will it benefit all the sisters as well?

Clemmie’s story captivated me from the very beginning. I devoured the book in a single day, driven by an insatiable curiosity about how her life would unfold.

Beyond the captivating plot, Clemmie’s character is a complex tapestry of emotions and experiences. Her family dynamics are intricate, marked by both love and conflict. Her past is filled with hurtful experiences that have shaped her into the person she is today. As Clemmie navigates her life, she must confront her fears and decide whether to embrace risks and open herself up to the possibility of finding love.

One aspect of the book that I particularly enjoyed was the witty and engaging dialogue between the characters. The banter between Clemmie and her sisters was a highlight of the story, providing moments of levity and humor amidst the challenges Clemmie faced.

Was this review helpful?

Adorbs. I loved the setting, loved the sisters, and loved Theo and Clemmie. This is a love story that encompasses more than just romantic love. It's about healing old wounds, facing the world with bravery, and daring yourself to be more.

Theo is a quintessential golden retriever of a human being and Clemmie is the black alley cat who isn't sure about love because of her past. I'd have liked them to figure their shit out earlier in the book and maybe more spice (this builds FOREVER and then we get like less than half a page? C'mon now)

All in all, a great rockstar romance.

Was this review helpful?

This book was really, really cute. I loved the banter and had so many points where I was literally laughing so hard I woke my toddler up in the middle of the night! The relationship between the FMC and her sisters was really sweet to see, and I liked that she got the closure that she needed from her past relationships.

The relationship between the FMC and her dad felt eerily similar to my own, and it was nice that she was able to get her feelings off her chest and get some sense of closure with that too.

While I immensely enjoyed reading this, the third act break up was pretty annoying and I felt like it was rather unnecessary.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this and highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED this book - I went in blind and it was so delightful. The writing reminded me of a mix of Christina Lauren and Beth O'Leary - it had the feel of a early 2000s romcom and the charm of an English romance book. Right from the beginning this one sucked me in - the writing was engaging, the characters were funny and relatable, and the story was both swoony and laugh out loud funny. It's not often that I love both romantic leads equally (what can I say, I pick favorites) but this is one of the rare exceptions. Both Clemmie and Theo were delightful - you'll be rooting for them from chapter one. I can't wait to read whatever Laura Wood writes next.

Was this review helpful?

2.5/5 - There were parts of this I enjoyed, and others I didn't. It did feel unrealistic at times, and the connection between the characters didn't actually feel as profound and deep as it was portrayed to be, but their interactions were enjoyable to read, especially during the beginning. I felt that they did loose some of their spark near the end, and the conflict didn't really add any tension since it was entirely predictable but instead, made me feel more detached which resulted in the ending falling flat.

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED this book!!! I genuinely didn’t know what to expect but I’m so glad I read it! Clemmie’s character was a pleasure to get to know and I loved the way her love story unfolded! I can’t wait to read Laura Wood’s next book!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved how close knit the sisters were as well as the moms considering how everything played out in the beginning. Strong women all around and all their for each other no matter what happens. Clemmie's love life has had some rocky moments. Being the daughter of a rock star doesn't make it easy for her to trust in the first place, but her one goal is to stay in her private little cocoon. Her sisters gather around during the latest fiasco in her life to support her and weave what they figured is a "fake" spell. Suddenly things start to turn around. Can she believe that Theo is in her life for the right reasons? Can she handle the publicity that comes with hanging around with yet another rock star? I enjoyed the sisters more than the love story but that ended up being pretty wonderful too. This is my first read from this author and I'd have no qualms reading more in the future.

Was this review helpful?

Under Your Spell is a blend of humor, sisterhood, and a dash of celebrity romance. Shortly after Clemmie’s life is upended by a cheating ex and a lost teaching job, her sisters rally to perform a slightly fumbled spell, setting off a series of events tied to their three wishes: career success, hot sex, and finding soulmate love.

When Clemmie takes on a job to host rockstar Theo at her grandmother’s beach house, she’s tasked making him feel at home so he can write his overdue album. She wished for a new start, but he was the wish she never saw coming.

The book’s humor, nostalgia, and exploration of sisterhood were highlights for me, reminding me of summer days spent wild at the beach. While Theo’s reaction to the third-act conflict felt frustrating, it’s understandable in light of his character arc.

If you love a good celebrity romance with a touch of magic, this one’s for you. Bonus: the audiobook performance is fantastic! Highly recommend!

Thank you Atria Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope and third act breakup but I did really enjoy the humor and relationship development! This would definitely be a great recommendation for readers who enjoy contemporary romances.

Was this review helpful?

I love this book... so much so that I have read it twice! This book had the perfect combination of humor, believable connection and a lovely slow burn romance.

Was this review helpful?

Under Your Spell is probably going to be one of my favorite romcoms of the year! I wish I had read it sooner, but I thought it was "witchier" so I was saving it for fall reading. It does have the three sisters "casting spells" but it's more as jest and revenge against an ex, not as actual witches.

The characters in this book were so much fun, and absolutely MADE this book. I loved Clemmie and each of her sisters, and their moms! Even their dad was well done, even though he was a stereotypical rock star playboy with lots of issues. Theo was adorable, and it's as obvious how much he liked Clemmie event though he was trying to first, keep his distance, and then just be friends. The banter and dialogue is perfect, and I was laughing so hard at some of the lines in this book. Don't get me started on David - he was such a great addition, even though he was a relatively minor character!

The chapters where Clemmie and Theo have a bug were so cute, and I loved how Theo took care of her! They had great chemistry, and I love how after the initial one night stand, it was a slow burn as they tried to stay professional and friends while Theo was writing his album.

Overall this was a great read, and I will absolutely be looking forward to the next adult book by this author! 4.5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adored this book!! Rock star romance, one night stand, forced proximity, unique family, very swoony hero and a sweet slow burn! Don’t miss this one!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Was this review helpful?

Y'ALL. Y'all. This never happens, but a part of this book gave me actual butterflies. I could not stop giggling and smiling at this story. Clementine was so relatable in many ways, and I just felt for her and her sisters so much as they navigate adulthood having a rock star dad that just didn't show up when it mattered. Because of the hurt that caused in her past and present, Clemmie is extra suspicious of all musicians, so taking a job assisting a good-looking musician as he tries to create a hit album was very entertaining to read. The witchy elements were so fun, as were the sisters. The romance was fantastic--Theo was one of the most lovely MMCs I've read in a romance. I just adored their whole dynamic.

I will definitely be reading more by Laura Wood. Under Your Spell had me in a chokehold. I adored it. Read it and you might also get those butterflies!

Was this review helpful?

When I first came across Under Your Spell, I expected that it would be a rom com with some witchy elements and magic. And while it starts with a spell being cast, it’s really just a sweet and warm rom com that’s perfect for late summer or early fall.

Clementine’s been through it, losing her job and her boyfriend, and after a couple of interesting events, she ends up with a new job: spending six weeks supervising Theo, a rock star she has a history with.

Under Your Spell is described as perfect for fans of Emily Henry and I totally agree with that statement. Author Laura Wood does a great job of weaving a beautiful love story between Clemmie and Theo, while also making Clemmie’s personal growth a key part of the story. While the romance is central, we get to know a lot about Clemmie’s backstory and how her relationships with her rock star father and her ex have shaped her, and I loved reading about that while also seeing her relationship with Theo grow.

The story was funny in a British Rom Com ™️ way (think Bridget Jones or About Time), but it was perfectly balanced with some emotional and swoonworthy moments. And Theo!!!!! I was picturing him as Harry Styles the entire time which definitely made me enjoy the story even more.

If you’re looking for witchy Practical Magic type vibes, this probably won’t check that box, BUT if you want a hilarious and sweet rom com that does the celeb/normal person trope to perfection, this book is perfect for you!

Under Your Spell is out now. Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Clementine is the daughter of an old rock star (who had two other daughters with 2 other women all in the same year). She is DOWN on her luck, so agrees to a new job one of her sisters set up for her. Because of her relationship (or non relationship) with her father and a BAD breakup with a musician in her past, she has sworn off EVER dating a musician! And this new job….spending six weeks with the most famous man (MUSICIAN) on the planet!!!

This was a cute story. It wasn’t one that I started and HAD to finish. I picked up other books to read and would pick this up every now and then. Every time I picked it up, I enjoyed it! One of the things I did love about the book was Clemmie’s relationship with her half sisters and all the moms! Their little witchy activities were entertaining. Some of the antics and things said had me giggling. It was cute, mostly light and definitely sweet.

*This book is for you if you like: lighthearted romance, self discovery, growth of main characters, and forced proximity.

Was this review helpful?

I whole heartedly adored this.

Clementine is a down on her luck 32 year old. That alone right there made me so excited to read this. Most romances surround young gorgeous 20 somethings that are so career focused and not so often about a woman who's incredibly lost and in her mid thirties.

The FMC is about to lose her job, found out her boyfriend was cheating on her, took the cat when he moved out, and she's about to lose the apartment as well. To support Clemmy in her time of need, her two sisters come over and do a silly breakup spell to help ease her sadness.

The story had fairly basic tropes, forced proximity, he likes her more, sisterly love, but the one thing I appreciated the most? There was no idiotic miscommunication trope to tear the couple apart in the last third of the book. THANK GOD. That is my biggest pet peeve in any romance, as if that's the only thing that can ever go wrong in a love story.

Overall I loved this fluffy romance and would recommend to anyone looking for a cutesy love story without too much spice.

Was this review helpful?

I honestly couldn’t finish this, I got about 25% through. To me, it felt very wish fulfillment-esque. This is very much an it’s me problem though as many others would be into this! It’s just not my jam.

Was this review helpful?

Loved it! Great characters, both main and supporting; funny banter and laugh-out-loud moments; incredible chemistry and romance between Clemmie and Theo. The relationship between the three sisters is fantastic. I couldn't put this down, and hope there will be more books to come with this same cast of characters.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a great romance! The writing captured me right from the start and was so uplifting. Theo. has the biggest heart and was always honest about where he stood with his feelings. The humor was laugh out loud funny and the banter had me swooning. This story had numerous subplots that were well developed, and Wood tied up all lose ends.

Was this review helpful?

Clem it goes through a breakup where her ex ends up taking her cat and moving in with the woman he cheated on her with. Clemmie and her sisters do a break up spell they did when they were kids. Clemmie gets a new job-babysitting a rockstar while he writes an album-and he just happens to be her one night stand post break up!

I laughed throughout this book and enjoyed the relationship between Clemmie and Theo!

Was this review helpful?