Good book, good story. I was invested, but was it life changing? No. Still glad I read it. you should definitely give it a try! :)

A Circle of Uncommon Witches is a bit of a mash up of all your main stay witchy romances. Its an enemies to lovers take on ancient curses -- as Doreen MacKinnon agrees to help Ambrose MacDonald (a witch who was cursed by her ancestors to live forever after he cursed them to never fall in love) break the curse so they both can be free. The book has small town charm, a bit of hijinx, and a lot of heart -- I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a witchy romance this fall.

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.

The synopsis of this one really caught my attention, and I was super excited to read it. It took me a few tries, but I just really struggled getting hooked and into the story.

I always love a witchy read with a. curse to be broken. The problems for me were that I thought the pacing was off, and the fact that Doreen annoyed me. When I started reading, I had to go back and check that this wasn't a sequel (it's not) because I felt like I was missing a ton of pertinent information. Then some parts were dragged out and some parts were sped through.

Not my favorite witchy read, but not awful. I think the execution could have been a lot better, especially with the romance between Ambrose and Doreen.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy to review.

This story has so many elements that I love . . . Centuries old curses, a FMC determined to free her family from this curse, and enemies to lovers not to mention traveling to Scotland! I think the part I struggled with the most is going from being so full of vengeance for the family that kept you from your love and imprisoned you for centuries to falling in love with a member of said family some 13 generations down the line in the blink of an eye. I don’t usually mind insta-love but dang, that many years of solitude to, “hey, girl.” I think most people go insane with that much solitude but he is ready to go on a full on journey with trials fresh out of the tempest. 3.5

Doreen MacKinnon, a powerful witch, is determined to break a love curse that has haunted her family for centuries if she doesn’t, she’ll die of a broken heart. The curse began when Ambrose MacDonald, a male witch, was forbidden from seeing his beloved MacKinnon and retaliated by cursing her family. Ambrose was trapped by magic for many years, but Doreen finds and frees him, hoping he’ll help her end the curse. As they work together, facing magical trials and unexpected adventures, they begin to form a connection.

This book has everything I love in a witch book. Magic, generational curses, trials and tribulations and adventure. The main characters were written so well and were likable, you couldn’t help but cheer them on through the trials. It’s entertaining, fast paced, and full of awesome banter between Doreen and Ambrose.

This book is everything I enjoy in a witchy story—there’s plenty of magic, family curses, exciting challenges, and adventure. The main characters are so well written and genuinely likable; you can’t help but root for Doreen and Ambrose as they face each new trial. The story is fast-paced, entertaining, and packed with witty banter that had me blushing and giggling.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you SMP for the e-ARC!

DNF @ 24%

The way this story is told so far is very confusing to me and my brain is working too much to try and understand the timeline. We start this book and it appears to be told when our MC Doreen is young, and then it suddenly jumps to when she's 29, and it sprinkles in some anecdotes of the past here and there? And there are so many character names to keep track of, and the relationship between these characters is not described well in my opinion. I'm just left feeling very lost with what I've read so far, and I unfortunately cannot continue this book. It had an interesting premise, so maybe I'll try it again someday.

This book was okay. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either. It's one of those books you could pick up to pass the time.

I couldn't really get into the story at first. It took a few chapters to grab my interest. But when it did, I liked it just enough to at least finish it.

The characters were really just okay, I wasn't wowed by them and at many parts found a lot of them annoying. The pace is a bit slow but does pick up after a bit.

Overall, it's a good filler book to read or if you just need a new witchy read to give a try.

“A Circle of Uncommon Witches” by Paige Crutcher is a spellbinding and heartwarming tale that seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and magic. From the very first page, I was captivated by Crutcher’s lush and immersive writing style, which brings the small-town setting and its coven of witches vividly to life.

The characters are enchanting in their own right, each with a unique charm and depth that adds richness to the story. Themes of friendship, power, tradition, and change are woven beautifully throughout, making the narrative both intriguing and heartfelt. While there’s plenty of whimsical magic, it’s the emotional core of the story that lingers the most.

Overall, this is a bewitching and delightful read that kept me engaged until the very last page. Paige Crutcher has crafted a novel that is both enchanting and meaningful, and I am eager to see what she creates next.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this eARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable reading experience.

Paige Crutcher’s The Circle of Uncommon Witches is a charming and whimsical tale that blends magic and self-discovery. The characters are distinct and engaging, with their individual quirks and emotional depth driving the narrative. While the pacing can meander at times, the book’s warmth and originality keep it compelling and romantic. Fans of cozy witchy fiction, IE Practical Magic and of the ilk will eat this up. I really enjoyed it. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book, and is definitely a good pre-spooky season read if you are looking to get into the witchy-mood! I love covens of witches!

I had a challenging time connecting with it at first. The story throws you in without much context, but it caught me. It was a fun, fast-paced story with a cinematic feel and loads of great banter.

I loved this book as an escape from all the politics of the world. Doreen is a witch cursed to never find true love. Seeking to break the spell has her team up with the witch who set the curse in the first place. First, she has to set him free. Teaming up with Ambrose at first has him seeking vengeance against her family but as they work together, a relationship develops.
What a fun, romantic, romantasy escape!

A Circle of Uncommon Witches is a delightful and empowering tale that blends magic, friendship, and self-discovery in the most charming way. The story follows a group of unique witches who don’t quite fit into the traditional mold—and that’s exactly what makes them so compelling. The author does a fantastic job of creating a world where individuality is celebrated, and each character’s quirks are their strengths. The magic system feels fresh, the pacing moves well, and the emotional arcs are grounded in real, relatable struggles. Whether it’s overcoming self-doubt or learning to trust others, the characters’ journeys are both heartfelt and inspiring.

One of the book’s standout strengths is its sense of community. The bond between the witches feels authentic and hard-won, a refreshing shift from the often overly perfect coven dynamics found in similar stories. The dialogue is witty and warm, and the cozy setting makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea and stay awhile. If there’s any minor critique, it’s that a few plot threads could have used more development—but that hardly detracts from the book’s overall charm. A Circle of Uncommon Witches is ultimately a magical read that celebrates the power of found family, embracing your weird, and believing in your own kind of magic.

3.5 stars. I love a witchy romance! I enjoyed the characters, and it felt different than others like it. I liked the setting and the character development was pretty good.

A broken heart is its own kind of curse, but for Doreen MacKinnon, it spells death for her and all those in her family line. Three hundred years ago, the witch Ambrose MacDonald's broken heart ended in his own enchanted entrapment and a declaration of lovelessness for the family that hid his love away. As the 13th generation under this heartless curse, she bears the double-edged sword of being one of the most powerful witches in the family line, as well as one of the loneliest. With the clock ticking towards her own doom, she sets out to find Ambrose and break the curse once and for all.

Released from the endless storm of a loveless existence, Ambrose agrees to help, but plans to use his new-found freedom to take revenge on Doreen and her still-living family. The pair set off on a whirlwind series of trials to reverse their fates which take them to the rocky cliffs of Scotland and into the wild, where strange magic and dark forces rule over a ruthless kingdom. With sparks and revenge igniting on the wild planes, will Doreen be able to sacrifice everything she loves in pursuit of happiness?

I wish streaming studios would pay more attention to these kinds of books, because they would make fantastic adaptations into movies or short series - ESPECIALLY in the adult animation world - I can just picture the kind of older-style hand-drawn 90s-era animation that would bring this story to life on the screen. There was a little bit of everything to love here - trials; family curses; magical realism mixed with ancient magic; tandem worlds; sisterhood; toxic family relationships; multiple story lines that weave together like a coat of splendor; and a dash of he quirky charm you'd expect out of a tale of witchery that toes the line between cozy and poignant in the way tales of generational trauma and heartbreak always are.

I thought this book did a really excellent job of taking a complex story spanning generations (13 of them, to be precise) and keeping tabs on multiple plot lines and twists to bring together a self-contained lore that is at once very familiar (the 300-year-old witch has to keep up with the times, including cell phones, for example) and richly its own (magical creatures, larger-than-life minor gods, hundreds of years past and present, and a coven practice with its own rules and regulations). I read this while absolutely sweating my lifeblood out in the middle of summer and can't wait to revisit this world when the weather is kinder, the winds blow colder, and the scent of spells and scones permeate the crisp fall air! I'll definitely be checking out some other works by the author and will look forward to anything else she writes!

I feel like I needed more context for the relationships. I liked the plot but it felt poorly written and out of pace. both of the main characters were deeply unlikable for me.

Absolutely loved this one! 4 stars for A Circle of Uncommon Witches — a thrilling mix of magic, romance, and fate. Doreen’s fight to break her family’s heartbreaking curse had me hooked from start to finish. Teaming up with Ambrose, the very witch who cursed her ancestors, made for such an electrifying (and complicated) partnership.

The story takes you on a wild ride through enchanted castles, perilous cliffs, and mystical realms — all wrapped in a fierce, passionate quest for love and redemption. Paige Crutcher weaves adventure and heartache seamlessly, making me root for these two despite their secrets and pasts.

Overall, this book cast a powerful spell on me. If you love witches, curses, and a slow-burn romance with real stakes, this one’s definitely worth the read!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.5/5

I absolutely flew through this. I loved loved loved this! I would love to get a book about Margot and Dean. I do feel as though I’m missing something after the last line, but I just loved Ambrose and Doreen. I can’t wait to read more from Crutcher.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin for the gifted copy!

I was really hoping this one would be a hit for me—I love a witchy story with deep lore and a little romance sprinkled in. The premise had all the right ingredients, and I liked the cozy vibe and the idea of curse-breaking, but I just didn’t fully connect with it. The writing was lovely, and it’s definitely a quick read, but I found myself wanting the magic to feel a bit more grounded, and the witches to lean into their powers a little more. The romance felt a bit too insta-lovey for my taste, and I had a hard time staying invested in the plot—it got a bit tangled for me. I can absolutely see this working better for readers who enjoy a softer, more whimsical take on witch fiction, but it ended up being a middle-of-the-road read for me.