This was very well done! As someone who reads a lot of books with witches, I really enjoyed this. The only downside for me was that the pacing was a bit slower than I'd hope for.

This book was a story steeped in magic, family, and the push-pull of belonging. At its heart is Carrie Morgan, a woman who fled the small mountain town of Woodsmoke a decade ago, leaving behind family, friends, and a legacy of ancient magic rooted in the land. But when her grandmother Ivy passes, leaving Carrie her cottage at the mountain's base, she's drawn back to a place she never thought she’d return to.

The story beautifully weaves the threads of grief, love, and identity as Carrie wrestles with the town’s secrets, her family’s curses, and the generational power tied to the infamous Book of Spells. From the haunting legend of strangers vanishing with the spring thaw to the complex dynamics with her bitter Aunt Cora, there’s an undercurrent of tension that keeps you hooked. And then there’s Matthieu—a mysterious newcomer who brings warmth to Carrie’s frostbitten heart, even as his presence threatens to fulfill an old, tragic prophecy.

What makes this book shine isn’t just its witchy atmosphere—although it has plenty of that, with cozy cabins, dried herbs, and the kind of magical aesthetic you’d find on your dream Pinterest board. It’s the way Rachel Greenlaw balances that magic with raw, human themes of loss, forgiveness, and finding your roots. The romance is bittersweet, the family drama gut-wrenching, and the history of Woodsmoke feels alive, pulsing through every tree, stream, and shadow. I enjoyed reading it!

The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells didn't have as fast of pacing as I was expecting, and I had hoped for a more magical reading experience, too. I desperately wanted to love it, but I struggled to engage with it and ultimately decided to DNF, at least for now.

I adored the Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells. It’s a fantastic story with aspects of magical realism, romance, sacrifice, and the power of friendship and love and family.

After 10 years of being away, Carrie is back home in Woodsmoke following the passing of her grandma. The plan is to fix up her home and sell it, but she’s also hoping to find a piece of home for herself through the process. Problem is, 10 years prior she ran out on her high school sweetheart, and also her best friend Jess. Carries return brings a lot of emotions to the forefront, for everyone. Including her great aunt Cora, who’se been longing for Carries return as well. Carrie goes on a self discovery journey where not only is she hoping to find a sense of home within her grandmothers homes walls, but also the possibility of love when she meets the mysterious Mathieu in the mountains, the mountains who always expect a sacrifice in turn for something that you desire. I loved it!

Carrie is back in Woodsmoke after 10 years when her grandma, Ivy, leaves her home to Carrie in her will. The only stipulations are that she renovate it and take over the lease where Ivy sold candles in town. As if returning home isn't hard enough for her, it's even more difficult as a Morgan woman and the rumors that have long spread of them harnessing the powers of the mountains and manifesting in magic.

Chattering in hushed tones spread, all gossiping about Carrie, her return, and what happened those years ago to make her flee. Convinced that she's here just for the winter to renovate and sell the cottage, she's warned by her grandmother's sister, Cora, to be careful and not forget all of the powers and things that can happen in the small town. Don't stray from the mountain path or you may never come back.

As told in her family heirloom "The Book" tells the history of the Morgan women and warns them of The Trapper who appears with the frost and disappears with the thaw. But Carrie has a hard time believing the stories and certainly doesn't think that's the case for her with Matthieu, the man she's hired to fix up the cabin with her. Was she destined to flee from Woodsmoke or will the winter convince her to stay?

Thank you to Harper Collins/Avon for the free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw blends magical realism, folklore, romance, and more in a heartfelt story set in Carrie Morgan’s hometown of Woodsmoke. After leaving the mountain town a decade ago, Carrie returns when her grandmother passes away, leaving her the rundown cottage she grew up in and her candle shop. Carrie plans to fix up the cottage over the fall and winter, sell it in the spring, and move on. But then she meets Mattieu as the first frost settles in and hires him to help with the renovations.

Despite her great-aunt Cora’s warnings about the old stories surrounding the town, Carrie starts to fall for Mattieu. When he disappears, Carrie sets out to find him, ignoring all the cautionary tales. But is Mattieu real? And is Woodsmoke where Carrie belongs, or will she keep wandering the world?

Carrie is curious and stubborn, often ignoring the advice of others. She feels lost, unsure of where she fits, and hasn’t painted in over a year. Will Woodsmoke help her find the answers she’s been searching for?

This story had a warm, cozy vibe, but it ended up being slower and less magical than I expected. The narrative jumped between three points of view and alternated timelines, which sometimes disrupted the flow. Themes of family, friendship, self-discovery, grief, small-town dynamics, and how communities treat those who are different were all woven into the plot.

While the book wasn’t quite what I hoped for, the world-building was fantastic, and the exploration of relationships was well done. It made for an atmospheric and thought-provoking read, even if it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting.

This contemporary take on low key rural magic with a family legacy and nature magic is intriguing. After 10 years Carrie Morgan returns to Woodsmoke after inheriting her grandmothers dilapidated cottage, feeling unwanted and avoiding even her former best friend. The Morgan women have always kept their own last name and a book of spells passed from grandmother to granddaughter for generations. Carrie's great-aunt has the spell book but no granddaughter. A man that nobody else seems to have ever seen, brings her flowers and helps with renovations but is he real or imagined?

Multiple POV's in a non linear timeline doesn't always work, but this book handles it so well. It drew me and made me invested in each of the characters.

A slower read than what I'm generally used to diving into. And I truly was expecting more magic. So not quite what I expected.

thank you netgalley for the arc. This was a very deeply emotional story and while it's not my usual cup of tea and I was really worried it would take away the ending I wanted, I was happy to have it put back into place. Most of the story could be resolved with simple honest conversations which is why it lost a bit of a star for me but it was very atmospheric and reminiscent of Practical Magic which is always a vibe I'm down for. Definitely a read that's good for the season!

Sadly wasn’t a big fan. Interesting premise but I couldn’t get through it. Kind of boring characters and story

Normally, I would absolutely love a cozy, witchy book. Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I had a hard time getting into it, and it was a little slow. I think I just wanted there to be even more magic. It felt like the story was lacking something.

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

I enjoyed this book. The vibes were perfect. My biggest complaint was that there was suspiciously very little magic for being a book about generational magic.

This book was a perfect one for Witchy season! Easy to understand and well written! If you are looking for something super new and innovative this one might not be the one for you, but if you are looking for for an easy read with a good vibe this is a win!

I loved One Christmas morning so when I saw that Rachel Greenlaw had a new book coming out I knew I had to read it and I’m glad I did because I was not disappointed. Such a cute and cozy fall read with multiple POV’s I loved everything about it! Rachel Greenlaw is officially on my “gotta read every she writes” list.

This had a great atmosphere but lacked the driving plot it needed to get past that point. I never yearned to know what happened next or was excited to pick it up, but it wasn’t bad. It just didn’t grab me the way I hoped it would.

I absolutely loved The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells by Rachel Greenlaw. The story is such a beautiful blend of magic, resilience, and sisterhood—it really pulled me in. The characters felt so real, like people I’d want to sit down and share stories with, and their journeys were both inspiring and heartfelt. Greenlaw’s descriptions of nature are stunning; I could almost smell the woodsmoke and feel the forest around me. If you enjoy stories about finding strength in yourself and in the people you love, with a little touch of magic, I can’t recommend this one enough!

The Morgan women and the magic of Woodsmoke completely drew me in. Carrie Morgan’s return to her grandmother’s cottage after years away is a mix of cozy renovations, family secrets, and mysterious mountain magic. Her great-aunt Cora’s warnings about the mountains and the man helping Carrie with the renovations added an eerie layer to the story, especially when he disappears just as things get serious.

I loved how the story blended past and present, giving a deep look at the Morgan family’s history and the legends surrounding the mountains. The mix of magic, heartache, and love felt so real, and the setting was so vivid it felt like another character. The characters, especially the Morgan women, were complicated and relatable, and their struggles hit close to home. This book was such a beautiful, emotional read—I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Probably more of a 3.5…

The Morgan women have always been a bit odd and a bit of outcasts to the other people of Woodsmoke. Carrie Morgan ran away from woodsmoke when she left her man at the alter but is back now that her grandma died and left Carrie her cottage. Carrie meets a man while she is renovating the cottage but is warned against him from her great aunt Cora believing that he isn’t real and will leave her when the frost comes.

I think I mostly wanted more magic and less repetition. It was cozy and the mystery did keep me engaged.

Thanks to netgalley and Avon Harper voyager for an eARC

Thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy for the review. I realllly enjoyed this book. It kept me wondering what was next, and excited to go back everytime I had to put it down for something