Potions and Proposals is the first book in a new cosy magic town series.

If you're already planning your autumn witchy books this could be a firm contender!

Both our protagonists Benedict and Lucinda are witches and the town contains a mix of regular non magical people and then witches, werewolves, grim reapers etc.

It has an arranged marriage, a childish/prank filled enemies to lovers and elemental magic.

I liked this but I wasn't completely convinced by the switch up from hating to loving. I do think this series has a lot of potential though as it's laid excellent foundations of lore. It really could be expanded in lots of directions and I would be interested in continuing the series to see what happens in the world.

This book comes out in August in paperback but is available on kindle unlimited now.

Thank you to @netgalley and the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#bookstagramuk #netgalley #potionsandproposals #arcreader #arccopy #autumnreads

Set in the Village of Foxford, Lucy Hawthorne and Benedict Matherson always seen to bring out the worst in each other! Lucy has trained for years to take over as High Priestess from her mother but the pranks Lucy and Benedict have pulled on one another are making waves that neither of them expected!
When called into account for their actions the two agree to try and work together for the good of the Village, even if it means being Bound together on All Hallow’s Eve, a fate that neither wants or expects. How on earth can two people who can’t stand each other possibly live and rule together?
Add in a fabulous cast of characters, from family and friends to mortal enemies and the zany and sometimes dangerous adventures begin with unexpected results for all. Join the Village of Foxford and enjoy this wonderful witchy romp! I greatly enjoyed it and will be looking for more books by Kate Callaghan!

Ever since I saw this cover while i was browsing netgalley, i knew I had to read it for myself. The concept of a romance centered book revolving around magical creatures and fantasy really drove me to pick up this book, and let me tell you I had the most absolute fun reading this. When you add a small town with an enemies to lovers romance, you’ve officially had me hooked. Lucinda and Benedict have become one of my favorite comport couples thus far, and I can totally see myself reading this again when I need uplifting, and recommending it to some of my close friends. One thing I loved about this book was how realistic the romance was between Lucinda and Benedict. It didn’t feel rushed, nor pushed just for story purposes. It felt like they truly saw one another and fell in love in the process. If you’re on the hunt for a feel-good story, with banter, enemies to lovers, and mythical characters, this story will not disappoint.

I received this as an ARC with the impression that it wasn't going to be released until August 26th, but apparently that's just the physical release. The ebook was released July 23rd! Surprise! It's on KU!

What a super cute and cozy, witchy read! Lucinda and Benedict are absolutely precious. This was such a fun and lighthearted fantasy romance. I love the Freaky Friday vibes! This book is tons of fun with lots of loveable characters- Perfect for the upcoming autumn season! I know it's like the millionth time I've mentioned fall, just accept it because that's all you are going to hear for the next several months! ❤️🍂🍁

Freaky Friday
Rivals to lovers
Forced marriage
Forced proximity
Elemental magic

Thank you @callaghanwriter and @netgalley for providing me with an opportunity to read and review your book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Potions and Proposals has everything you could ask for in a witchy romance! I loved the characters and the dynamics between Lucinda and Benedict 🔥 💧 Talk about enemies to lovers! This is a great quick read for when you’re in the market for something light and full of magic!

When I initially picked up this book, the idea of a magical arranged marriage combined with magical mishaps sounded super cute and intriguing. The book was definitely cute, but it was a bit more of a slow-burn than I had anticipated. I did enjoy the banter and prank war between Lucy and Benedict, but that combined with the annoying nickname from childhood and the forced proximity made it feel a little too "Hallmark" for me. I did like the twist on the spell - that instead of drawing her partner to her, it swapped her magic for Benedict's and basically forced them to look past the surface and see the real person due to their forced proximity.

I will admit, I kept waiting for Emerson to be revealed to be the culprit behind the spell and/or a bad guy, but I like that he seems fairly genuine. Hopefully we get to see more of him in future books!

Potions and proposals is a fun, light hearted romance set in a magical small town. A witchy take on the classic enemies to lovers tale for the protagonists of Lucy and Benedict, the characters in this story are well written and even the side characters have been developed well. A cosy fantasy read.

I have read the majority of Kate Callaghan's work and I was excited to pick this one up.

I really enjoyed the characters and the premise and the little witchy town she has created. It is a cosy fantasy with magic and supernatural creatures.

But it is missing a satisfactory conflict, I was waiting for a specific character to be something they weren't and I was waiting for more mystery... I feel like I can't say more without spoilers.

It was good it was just lacking a little in the storyline from what I expect from her books.

But I did enjoy reading it! Strong 3.5 stars for sure.

I’ve never read a book by this author before but I absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for the ARC! I loved this story, it was extremely well written. Will definitely be on the lookout for more books by this author!

Overall, a cute and fun story. I really enjoyed the magical small-town vibes, and the main characters were compelling and fun to follow their journey.

The perfect book to start getting into your autumnal feels!
I enjoyed the fact that there was an actual plot, with mention of spells and other mythical creatures throughout.
I think the enemies to lovers trope was executed well without them becoming lovers straightaway. I also loved how the Hawthorne Women are these strong witches who are well respected and yet also a family of three generations.
I am looking forward to the second book, there is potential to learn so much more about Foxford and the other creatures that live there ☺️

I love a good witchy book with some enemies to lovers and banter😍😍😍

This book was cozy and definitely made me excited for spooky season!

Magical small town
Enemies to lovers
Banter
Elemental magic
Spell gone wrong
Arranged engagement

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️

I think it was partly a case of „it‘s not you, it‘s me“ - quaint town romance is not really my cup of tea and even supernatural aspects couldn’t quite rescue the drudgery of the setting for me. The book delivered on cozy vibes but the plot dragged and the worldbuilding was lacking to say the least.

Also, at this point, I‘m really considering starting a petition against frivolous labelling a book enemies-to-lovers, even high fantasy with warring countries rarely delivers on it, this book fell even more dramatically short on this trope.

Such a great read! Found myself giggling a lot of the time.
It was well crafted and I'm hopeful of a sequel that will follow some of the other characters.
If there's not one, well, definitely worth looking into other works by the same author.
Sorry that things are kept short, I don't want to spoil anything in the story for anyone.

Hugely grate to the author Kate Callaghan and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

⭐️📚BOOK REVIEW📚⭐️

Potions & Proposals by Kate Callaghan

Let me begin by saying this - Kate Callaghan is a brilliant writer.

Potions & Proposals is the story of two childhood frenemies. More enemies than friends. Lucinda Hawthorne & Benedict Matherson. Each an heir to their powerful magical lineage. One good and the other bearer of a more darker magic. Benedict's family has had to prove themselves due to their familial history. Their mothers are best friends. Lucinda's mother is the high priestess who is about to retire. It's time to pick the next. Traditionally the seat has always belonged to Lucinda's family.

Lucinda is the town librarian and Benedict has turned his family manor into a hotel therefore bringing business to their town. It's one of those areas where magical people can live and freely practice their magic without the fear of persecution. Each tries to one up the other constantly. The last prank that Lucinda plays on Benedict costs him a negative review in a prestigious travel magazine. When the time comes to decide the next high priestess, the coven is worried that Lucinda alone cannot fulfil the responsibilities.

A binding between Lucinda and Benedict is proposed on All Hallows' Eve. A spell is cast to stop that from happening. But... the spell misfires. Was that done on purpose? Or was it an honest mistake? In trying to undo the side effects of the spell, Lucinda and Benedict develop feelings for each other. The question now is, are the feelings real? Or due to the spell?

Potions & Proposals was a fun, cozy romance that I really enjoyed. The magic, the chemistry and the setting were all endearing. Though I would have loved a little more depth to their connection, this story was a perfect blend of romance and fantasy.

Potions and Proposals had a fun enemies to lovers/arranged marriage premise, but didn't quite hit the note. The pranks the plot started with didn't seem right for characters who were otherwise responsible people and cared so much for their town, and the romance between the main characters didn't seem to have much feeling behind it.

This was the perfect witchy romance with a unique take on body swap. I enjoyed that banter and chemistry. I loved the relationships with the side characters and hope we get a sequel so we can spend more time in this world. This adorable cover provides some adorable clues into the store and is just beautiful. As a witchy romcom lover I highly recommend this witchy romance.

Witches, werewolves, vampires, and more! When Lucy is partnered up with her nemesis Benedict by their coven, will they be able to get over their past and look to the future? After a potion goes awry, Lucy and Benedict get closer than they ever planned. This story is filled with fun, mystery, and plenty of fantasy. The characters are well developed and likeable, which makes this a good read.

I loved. Benedic won my heart. This book is sweet and addictive, I couldn't put it down, it was a compulsive read. The magical contours and all the twists and turns present in the story make it a good pearl.

This was a fun, tropey and cozy read!

After one too many pranks, childhood rivals Lucy and Benedict are faced with the prospect of an arranged marriage in order to stay in their town. But not only that; Lucy's meddling family tries to help her with a love spell, which leads to Lucy and Benedict accidentally switching their powers. Enter the next trope: Forced proximity...

The build-up between the two of them is well done, although the characters felt a bit younger than they are supposed to be. I also enjoyed the side characters and hope to read more about them in the future.