Allison Saft is a favorite author of mine. The tension between Niamh and Kit was to die for! The characters were lovable, and the friendships were precious. I appreciate how cozy Saft’s books can be. I finished reading this book, and couldn’t stop thinking of the lining and romance for days!

Overall, I enjoyed this, but I would have liked to see more depth in the magic system and world-building. It just felt like they weren’t explained enough.

The beautiful cover is what grabbed me on this book. I wasn't able to connect with the characters. The audiobook was fine though!

I know this review is about the audiobook but I am Allison Saft’s biggest fan. Everything she writes I am ready to eat up. This audiobook was no different. Whether my undying love comes from me my appreciation for her prose or the expert narration, I am unsure, but it is five stars nonetheless.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I didn’t enjoy it like I thought I originally would. I hope other readers connect with it more than I did.

This one wasn’t for me. I found the premise interesting but ultimately it fell short for me. I would be willing to give this author a second shot though.

Audiobook was good though!

"A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft is a beautifully woven tale that captivates with its rich prose and emotional depth. Set against a backdrop of magic and intrigue, the story follows a young protagonist as she navigates the complexities of friendship, love, and self-discovery in a world that balances enchantment with the fragility of human emotions.

Saft’s characters are intricately developed, each carrying their own vulnerabilities and desires that make them relatable and engaging. The interplay of magic within the narrative serves as a metaphor for the complexities of relationships, and Saft skillfully explores themes of trust, sacrifice, and the consequences of choices.

The pacing of the story is well-balanced, allowing moments of tension and reflection that draw readers deeper into the protagonist's journey. The enchanting setting is vividly described, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall atmosphere of the novel.

Overall, "A Fragile Enchantment" is a compelling read that combines fantasy with heartfelt storytelling. It invites readers to reflect on the delicate balance between dreams and reality, making it a memorable addition to the genre. Saft's writing is both poetic and poignant, ensuring that this book will resonate long after the last page is turned.

I must have requested this for the beautiful cover and the heroine's Irish name. The accent could use some work. I didn't find Niamh and Kit to have any chemistry whatsoever. The wannabe Gossip Girl is just that.

Do you like regency romance? Do you like romantasy? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, you’ll love this book. Are you not anti-regency romance or romantasy, but willing to give it a shot? Well… meh.

This didn’t feel fully predictable - there were quite a few twists and turns - but nothing about it really ~enchanted~ me. The magic was soft and sweet, but it didn’t seem to add anything to the story. The fictional world was clearly a metaphor for England and Ireland, and it just didn’t feel very original to me. I think this book would have been just as good - if not better - had it just been a regency romance rather than a fantasy romance. The author seems to play with the concept of queer normatively - numerous characters have backstories with a same sex romance - but the world itself is not queer normative, which confused me. Plus the only on-page romances were male/female, though it seems both main characters are bi.

It’s a romance, it’s sweet, but wasn’t anything special for me, as someone who doesn’t read a lot of romances.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft & MacMillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

While I loved the gorgeous cover art for this one, the story left me unsatisfied.

I enjoyed the prose & the characters & story were ok, but overall, it was a miss. The romance between Kit & Niamh was completely unbelievable. How do you go from hating each other one second to being instantly in love the next – with ZERO transition? The was the worst part. It was almost like the author was ready to be finished & just hurriedly slapped something on the page. There were still unresolved problems that never got wrapped up. The ending was a lesson in procrastination – “We’ll just worry about all our problems another day. Let’s just focus on our completely unrealistic love story for now – that’s enough.” NO! That doesn’t not work if this was not intended to be a series.

Many friends rave about this author, so I was expecting something more. I apparently chose the wrong book to be my first by Saft. I do not have a second lined up on my TBR.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook! I really liked this book, which is no surprise because I usually love Allison Saft's books. It felt a little lighter and less atmospheric than other of Saft's books because this one was a lighter regency story, but I did still like it.

I think the character development left me wanting a little more, especially from our main couple. However, I would read a whole other book just about the extended cast of characters here because I did want more of them

I held my review in solidarity with the St Martin's Press influencer boycott, hoping that the publisher would choose to acknowledge their employee's behavior and to share how they protect their readers, influencers, and authors.

Nine months in, I no longer have an expectation of anyone receiving a meaningful response to that simple request.

If SMP chooses to speak up, I will be happy to update this feedback with my actual review.

I enjoyed the Bridgerton vibes of this, but I think I was just a little underwhelmed at the romance and the plot overall!
The narrator was great, and I loved the accent.

DNF @ 28%. "A Fragile Enchantment" by Allison Saft sounded like a promising, cozy fantasy romance based on its description. Unfortunately, it is full of unnecessary details and a lack of oomph. I wish I cared more about Niamh and Kit. Their enemies to lovers story could have been so much more effective, and instead, I found it to be grating and contrived. Kit is such a jerk! I know that's sort of the point of enemies to lovers, but it is hard to find any redeeming qualities in him, like he doesn't deserve Niamh. There does manage to be some good banter in the first 28%, but it also feels like it unfolds so slowly that I was shocked that the book wasn't already half over. It is so poorly and slowly paced! Any yearning there might be between the two of them is displaces by how snail-like the plot is unfolding. Fran Burgoyne is a great narrator and she does a wonderful job here, but her narration can't save a story that is bogged down with issues. I might get to this book again some day, but as of right now, it is a DNF for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Saft, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This romantic fantasy weaves magic and emotion, with a bit of mystery and intrigue. Strong Bridgerton vibes with a drastic class system and a gossip publication airing out dirty laundry. The narration was superb, bring the characters to life.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story. In fact, I loved the story more than I thought I would. It is whimsical and beautiful all at the same time. Very well written and the pacing is also done well. It makes you want to believe in magic.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This was a lovely mix of historical fantasy and romance. Like a YA version of Bridgerton.
really enjoyed the magic lore and wanted to dive into it more but this was more of a romance than fantasy book. The ending was a bit fast, things wrapped up and I kind of wanted it fleshed out more -- this is more for the characters than the world building/plot but a lovely read

I had such high hopes for this story- however it read far too focused on a teenage audience, despite being somewhat adult material. If you’re old enough to get married, then it should not be a YA novel.

A fun idea: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🎧The premise of this story is great and I think it had great potential. I love the chronic illness representation and the world building was unique. The audiobook narration was fairly good. It is slow to start and difficult to get into but if you like Bridgerton mixed with YA fantasy you might enjoy this!

Author: Allison Saft
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Audio: Macmillan Audio

🔔Content notes: fantasy violence, chronic illness, death, severe language throughout (f***, bas***, b****, he**), explicit romance described, lqbtq rep

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the author, and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC