this started off REALLY strong and i was so excited to read it: british musician, former boy band member now making it big as a solo artist, tattoos -- i mean, remind you of anyone? how could i not be excited about this.

and then.. it just kind of fell flat. i felt like there weren't enough moving parts in terms of plot to keep me inverted. the writing was fine but i felt like it wasn't leading up to anything or giving me a reason to keep reading.

i do think this will work for a lot of people: the MMC is dreamy and if you like forced proximity this might be for you.

thank you to the publisher for the eARC!

This was cute, super tropey but that’s why we read romance! I enjoyed this and can see it being a popular beach read this summer.

Such a cute story! There was a little “aloof girl has no idea this boy who obviously loves her, likes her at” trope which I can’t stand BUT the story line really made up for those parts. Super cute, super sweet and at times laugh out loud funny.

UNDER YOUR SPELL was a whimsical debut set in the English countryside that follows three sisters and a “spell” they cast. Admittedly, I’m not a true rom-com reader and likely not the prime target audience for this book. I appreciate when the romance is a subplot or side story with a different prominent main theme. With the main characters being the daughter of a famous musician, and an international heartthrob musician, I was hoping the plot would have more musical elements. Instead, the main event seemed to be the hormones of young love and the harmony between the sheets. I did enjoy the setting as well as the way the characters developed over the course of the book. I wholeheartedly believe that fans of the genre will find a bit more enjoyment in this story than I did.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was one of my favorite romance books so far in 2024. I was so giddy reading the budding romance. This book made me laugh and pulled on my heart strings.

4.5 stars 🌟

A few things I loved:
• Theo. He’s a rockstar with a big heart. What’s not to love!
• Clemmie’s character development. There was so much I related to with her story.
• The witchy vibes with the 3 sisters and their relationship.
• The banter, the forced proximity, the slow burn. *chef’s kisses*

Thank you Atria for the arc! I enjoyed this story so much!

This was really slow in the middle. Loved the relationships between the sisters and the mothers and the magic of everything but did not feel the chemistry between the main love interests.

Under Your Spell had elements of it I really enjoyed but it dragged for me in the back half in a way that I can’t exactly put my finger on. I loved Clemmie’s relationship with her sisters. It’s a unique dynamic and worked well in the story. I even liked Theo a lot too. But I think the third act breakup played out in a way I didn’t find justified enough.

This book is an absolute delight! I devoured it like a kid in a candy store, and now I'm sitting here contemplating if it's too soon to declare it the reigning champion of my 2024 reading list. Every time I picked this book up, I felt myself relax, cozy up into my couch, and read slower (the true sign I am enjoying and REALLY savoring a book).

Clemmie and Theo had me captivated the entire book, and I've already mentally adopted them into my fictional friend circle. As for Clemmie's family moments, they're like the warm hug you never knew you needed. I laughed, I cried, and I fell deeper in love with the dynamic of Clemmie and her sisters with each page turn.

This is the first book I have read by Laura Wood, and I just have to ask, Laura Wood, where have you been all my reading life? I cannot recommend this book enough, and I have already added all of Laura Wood’s books to my TBR!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Come release day in June, I will be in line at my local bookstore to add a physical copy for my shelf so I can relive the magic over and over again.

I was so excited to read this one and it fell flat for me. I didn’t buy into their chemistry and it felt very rushed to me. I did push through and read the whole thing but I probably should’ve DNFd. Hopefully others like this more than I did!

OH MY GOD YOU CANNOT CONVINCE ME THIS ISN’T HARRY STYLES FAN FIC

anyway, I’m smitten and kicking my legs and squeeing with delight.

I was SO excited when I got the ARC approval email for this book. A few years ago, I had to select my first book for the book club I'm a part of. I was so nervous and wanted to pick something that would appeal to the entire group, but that was also YA- a genre we hadn't really read much of. Someone suggested A Sky Painted Gold by Laura Wood, and my book clubs love of Laura was sparked. We joke that we're her largest fan club, and we hope her love of Anne of Green Gables will bring her to our little island someday.

Sometimes the transition from YA to adult fiction can be tricky- I've disliked some of my very favourite YA authors adult fantasy or romance novels. This definitely isn't the case with Under Your Spell- it is SO good. This book had me kicking my feet, laughing out loud and I even shed a few tears. More than just a romance, the portrayal of Clemmie, Serena and Lil's relationship had me feeling big feelings. I pictured Theo as Harry Styles because he's my favorite but the great thing about how he's depicted in the book is you could easily picture your favorite male musician in place of him- I know in Laura's Instagram stories she said one of his songs sounded like Hozier's Talk and that gave me a great visual (audio?) of Theo's sound. This will be a great summer beach read and I can't wait to obnoxiously tell everyone to buy it!

It's rare that I will buy a book after reading a digital arc, but this is one I've already pre-ordered as I know I'll revisit it again (and hopefully select for our book club if the timing is right!). HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ahead of all my book club pals so I can annoy them with how good it is before it comes out!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199798015-under-your-spell

I loved the humor in this book. A lot of the time, I find the jokes in contemporary romance to be somewhere between “fine” and “cringey” but the banter and wit was so genuine here, and it really helped bring the characters to life. The pacing was good, if a little inconsistent at times, and the story flowed well. The use of text message and email formats was done particularly well, and there was a good balance of dialogue and description.

This book was everything I wanted in a RomCom. It was sweet, funny, and sexy, but unique enough to not feel like the same old story. I loved Clementine’s relationship with her sisters, and it was refreshing to see the characters genuinely trying to be better people even when they weren’t completely successful. Hurtful behaviors were never excused as “doing what they thought was best,” and the communication between the main couple was excellent.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

5/5 Sometimes playing with magic brings great things.

4.5 stars rounded up. Oh my goodness, I loved this book. I didn't want it to be over! The characters, setting, plot - all perfection. Don't miss it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

SQUEALS.

I’ve been a huge fan of Laura Wood’s novels ever since I picked up “A Sky Painted Gold.” She writes such swoon-worthy, sweet, clever and emotionally resonant love stories, filled with memorable characters and sparkling dialogue. And her adult debut is no exception. I really, really loved this book.

I am a complete music nerd, so I loved how integral it was from the start. I adored the bond Clementine shared with her sisters Lil and Serena and their mothers (the Stevie Nicks vibe was strong with these ladies!). The focus on mental health - and becoming as fearless as possible - was important. I was so proud of Clemmie for being able to work through traumatizing and tough moments, growing so much in the process. The resolution of the complicated relationship with her father Ripp (who I imagined as resembling Mick Jagger) was truly a joy. That scene - what it encompassed and why it happened - was one of my favorite moments in the book!

And that brings me to Theo. HELLOOOOO THEO. He’s definitely become one of my new favorite fictional fellas. I just adored him so very much! How sweet he was. 100% a cinnamon roll. The way he was described - in looks and also his boy band beginnings - instantly brought to mind Harry Styles (I’m glad I am not the only one who thought so!). He and Clemmie were marvelous together. I really didn’t want the story to end as I was flipping pages so quickly, also eager to know what happened next.

Happily ever afters are the best, and Laura Wood knows how to craft them in a magical way!! I can’t wait to see what comes next from her.

My heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC!

I requested this book based on two things: the cover and title. I thought it was a supernatural cozy. based on those things. I was pleasantly delighted to find out it was a rom-com rockstar romance.

This was a stay-up-all-night read. So satisfying. Clemmie, daughter of a flighty rockstar dad, won’t date a rockstar. But finds herself alone in a house by the sea with a hot and sweet rockstar Theo. There are also great family dynamics at play and it’s both funny and romantic. Would recommend to any HEA lover.

I’m happy this is a one and done book, but considering Clem has two sisters, I initially thought we might get a trilogy. Still, looking forward to more adult books by Laura Wood.

Thank you, Atria Books, for this ARC.

Overall, this was a really fun and enjoyable read. Fans of forced proximity, mistaken identity, and rock star tropes will love this!

It started off SO STRONG and then lost me a little in the middle. I adored Clemmie’s family dynamic! It’s so unique and something I’ve never come across before. The mums were amazing and the sisters!! CHEERS TO THE WEIRD SISTERS!! I loved their humour, support, and love for our FMC. We got to know them well and I was rooting for all of them 🫶🏼

There were moments during this read that actually had me laughing out loud and the writing flowed beautifully. It’s smart, funny, witty, and relatable.

Theo was adorable. Total cinnamon roll MMC. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop primarily into friendship. Building that trust and bond before taking things even further.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Clementine Monroe, the daughter of a famous rocker and two siblings in the music industry, is the odd girl out finding her way in the academic world.

However, when her life comes crumbling down, a lost job, a cheating boyfriend, she and her two sisters cast a spell for three wishes to bring some good fortune to her life.

Enter a six week job babysitting the very famous rockstar, Theo Elliot. Will her wishes come true?

This started of a tad slow at the start, but soon found the plot and characters found their pacing, and I loved it.

The romance, sibling relationships, mother relationships, and the fun of the bossy personal assistant, David.

So enchanting and charming. I found myself rooting for the main couple and feeling so deeply for both of them. The tension was immaculate.

It started off SO GOOD. I was swooning for this guy. I meannn-- British singer, former boy band member who's solo career takes off, flowy hair, tattoos, rings on all his fingers, baby of the family, I think you know where I'm going with this?? And then... suddenly I hit a wall and the story turned sour for me. I didn't like who the characters turned into- Theo becomes such a simp and the two lose that flirty energy and confidence that was at the start.

Overall, it's a fun premise and the romance is sweet. Fans of a cinnamon roll MMC and forced proximity will eat this up and it's worth giving a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC.

Fun, readable rom-com that I really enjoyed despite it not being my favorite trope set. This was really well written, well executed romance book that I think a lot of people are really going to enjoy. I read it very quickly as the pace was super fast, I just wanted to see what was going to happen. It is not my favorite kind of book but I enjoyed it very much anyway!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of this book published in June 2024.