I enjoyed Old Flames And New Fortunes last year so I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it didn't really have the same charm as the first book. I didn't really care for Zelda or Morgan. It just felt all over the place and didn't have much structure. I also didn't care for the conversation or the romance. The "spice" scene was super cringe!

I was excited to get read Zelda’s story after reading Old Flames and New Fortunes last year.

Zelda is a magic skeptic living in a town obsessed with magic and witches. No, not even a skeptic, Zelda doesn’t believe it at all. But she’s happy to be back with her sisters and her niece, even if that is all they talk about.

Despite not believing, it’s what Zelda writes about in her books. Which attracts Morgan Angelopoulos, who thinks if he can get close enough to a real witch, he’ll be able to obtain so magic too. Which is all he wants. Joke’s on him since Zelda wants nothing to do with it…or does she?

Together they start to experience and uncover some interesting things going on that only Zelda seems to be able to see. And in the meantime, the attraction becomes more than just to the magic.

I really enjoyed this book, but did feel the pacing was a little off near the end. I loved the enemies to lovers that was going on and the slow burn, but then it seemed kind of thrown together quickly at the very end. Not a deal breaker at all, I still really enjoyed most of the story, I just kind of hoped for the progression to be a little different once they finally did give in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Zelda Tempest has recently returned to her hometown, Moonville, Ohio, after she's been running from it most of her adult life. As she struggles to write her next novel, she finds herself dodging the flirtations of Morgan Angelopoulos, who only wants a date with Zelda because he thinks she is a witch. Moonville is a town full of magical believers, and Zelda is the odd woman out, as she hasn't believed in magic for years. Her sisters and pre-teen neice all claim to be witches, but Zelda thinks it is all BS until she starts to see strange animals that others cannot. As she opens herself up to the possibility of magic again, will she also open herself up to the possibility of love?

I really loved the first book in this series, and was excited for this sequel, but it ultimately didn't captivate me quite as much. This book was a lot more fantasy than romance, which felt unbalanced and ultimately made the romance itself feel a bit rushed. I really liked Zelda and Morgan and their banter, and wish we got to explore that more and see their relationship unfolding a bit more in-depth. The plot itself was all over the place and could have used some refinement, because the premise was a good one, but the delivery ultimately didn't live up to its potential. I'm excited to read Luna's book next!

For some background, I’ve enjoyed all of Sarah Hogle’s books, including Old Flames and New Fortunes, which is book one of this series. The Tempest sisters’ bond and lore account for one of these stars. The other is for the lovely parts on the magic of words and books.

But this story was complete chaos. At no point did I understand what was happening. So many loose ends left untied, magic-wise.

I could not relate to these characters or buy their motivations. There was very little about the MMC to fall in love with and the romance felt unearned. I kept waiting for it to make sense and it just didn’t.

I’ll be back for Luna’s book if only to watch Aisling torment some poor shmuck.

Zelda is a skeptic in a family of "witches". Morgan is an ordinary man who wants nothing more than to be witchy. Together, they set off on a mystical journey filled with humor and love.

In book two of the Moonville series, Hogle continues her magical storytelling with her signature quirky and satirical sense of humor. Here's what I liked:

Moonville: As with book one, this entire town is built to enchant the reader. I loved how quirky this entire town is. In this installment, you also get a magical witch search as Zelda and Morgan search the surrounding Moonville woods. These scenes have the most humor and outlandish magic. I loved it.

Zelda and Morgan: These two were great together. Zelda is so hesitant to give Morgan a chance and he's over the top with his adoration. Together, they make such a cute couple.

All in all this is a perfectly witchy romance with lots of humor!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

The Folklore of Forever
4.25 ⭐️

For some reason, I was so nervous going into this one that I wasn’t going to like it. Happy to say I was completely wrong!

In a small town in Ohio, Zelda had two magical sisters but still remains a skeptic. She’s hit with some writers block for her latest novel, but starts to slowly see inspiration from the most unlikely of places—her paranormal seeking neighbor.

This was a slow start but built up so solidly once you got into it. I haven’t read the first in this series but now I have it on my list to go back and read it! I don’t think it detracted at all from the enjoyment. And I loved Morgan and all the bizarre animals!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

I was so excited for this book since I was OBSESSED with the first one of the series. This gave into the more paranormal magic world vs romance. I really didn’t think that Morgan was redeemable after their first date. Like how am I supposed to like this guy now? Definitely didn’t really get into the romance aspect of them until 70% through. They really are perfect for eachother I just wish we got more of them and less of them not being on speaking terms for most of the book. This gave charmed vibes and I’m so happy we got a look into the Romina and Alex I love them so much. Was it a bit chaotic?…yes but the sisters saved them book for me. I’m excited about reading the next sister’s love story though, I just hope we get more of a love story instead of mostly magic.

Thanks to NetGalley & Putnam Books for this ARC

Not the follow-up I wanted for Old Flames and New Fortunes. I was primed by the preceding book for a fun romance centered on Zelda and Morgan, yet that is easily the worst aspect of this story. He is a walking red flag for at least 75% of the tale, engaging in highly punchable behavior that she for the most part tolerates due to her physical attraction to him. Although Trevor is also this type of individual, the demeanor works with him because it's featured in much smaller doses, becoming infuriating when it is a primary feature of the male main character. The plot here is a disorganized jumble; I was glad to be reading instead of listening because I would have eventually been lost with the audiobook. However, the setting of Moonville and the characters within it are still quite charming, and I liked seeing how Zelda eventually came to accept the fact that she is a witch, with her ability to see unique creatures a clever invention. The last quarter is pretty great, and to me, what ultimately made this worth reading is Hogle's writing, which remains whimsical and strong, and I cherished her multiple beautiful passages that highlight the wonder of both words and books. While I don't mind weird or messy content, this tipped the scales too far into chaos, and I hope that Luna's story features more stability and satisfaction.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing this copy.
I loved and devoured Old Flames and New Fortunes in one sitting, but I lost interest halfway through this one because of the pacing. The concept of the book was promising but sometimes I felt lost and didn't feel the connection between Zelda and Morgan.

I have loved many of Sarah Hogle's books, but this just didn't work for me. Is this magical realism? I thought after book 1 that these sisters didn't actually have magic, but this book made me doubt that. Either way, the plot was very bizarre. I also got confused by the romance. In the beginning it seemed like maybe this was going to be a love triangle, but then it clearly wasn't. I still didn't feel the chemistry, though.

3.25 stars
The Folklore of Forever is a quick, fun, and whimsical read! I enjoyed the characters and creatures in this story.

Zelda being a skeptic with a family of witches made for some funny moments, but loved how her sisters’ feelings toward her remarks were also mentioned. Morgan grew on me. At first, I did not really care for him. I think his personality really shines in the last half of the book. Luna, Romina, and Aisling are lovely characters and I love their interactions with Zelda.

The journey to finding the Black Bear Witch is incredibly chaotic, which made it so difficult to put this book down. It is fun and intriguing with the newfound creatures and magical aspects.

Overall, this book was entertaining and lighthearted with witchy vibes. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle is a whimsical and heartfelt paranormal romance that takes readers on a magical journey through Moonville, Ohio. The story follows Zelda Tempest, a paranormal skeptic and writer struggling with creativity, who is reluctantly drawn into a ghost-hunting adventure by her charming and persistent neighbor, Morgan Angelopoulos. As Zelda begins to uncover the town's hidden magic, including bizarre creatures and mysterious voices in the woods, she also discovers the transformative power of belief and connection. Hogle’s signature humor and vivid descriptions bring Moonville to life, making it feel both enchanting and relatable. The banter between Zelda and Morgan is sharp and entertaining, adding depth to their evolving relationship. This book is a delightful mix of romance, magic, and self-discovery, perfect for anyone who loves a quirky, feel-good story with a touch of the supernatural.

In The Folklore of Forever, we get to go back to Moonville, Ohio. In this story, we follow Zelda, who is a well-known author and doesn’t believe in magic even though she writes about it and sees her family believe in it.
The story is whimsical and fun as we see Zelda and the protagonist, Morgan, search and truly believe in magic. The dialogue is witty and deep while Zelda and Morgan gradually learn to love and trust one another.
Overall, this story is pretty quirky and humorous, but it is very different from the rest of Sarah Hogle’s other stories so it might not be for everyone as it isn’t a straightforward romance and focuses more about finding magic and who you are.
Thank you to to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for my advanced copy and letting me share my own opinions.

3.5 stars maybe?

Thank you, NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Sarah for the ARC. I was excited to receive this since I had bought and enjoyed the first book in the series and couldn't wait to jump back into Moonville.

This was a quirky, charming book about magic and love but it lacked some romance between Zelda and Morgan. I loved the magic system, and how quirky and whimsical the writing is. The love and progression between the three sisters.

I needed more from Morgan as the MMC. It was too jumpy between him and Zelda during like the first half or more of the book. I think it would have helped if earlier on it showed how Morgan has trouble talking about strong feelings when they are real. I would have given this book a higher star rating if the romance plot was fleshed out better. I loved the banter between the two and how toward the end you see how both of them complimented and loved each other's unique strangeness.

This book felt like a lot happened but at the same time nothing happened.

It felt like a warm cozy autumn hug but also I felt very disconnected from the characters and the story.

Overall it’s enjoyable. Just maybe not my cup of tea.

This was a fun, cute paranormal romance but I really didn't have any strong feelings about it. For me, it was ok. I didn't think the plot was well executed and couldn't really connect with the characters.

I have been a Sarah Hogle fan since "You Deserve Each Other" left me laughing, crying, and rooting for Naomi and Nicholas to find their way back to each other. I have enjoyed every one of Sarah's books and won't let this novel deter me from picking up Luna's book but I really didn't enjoy this one. Morgan was immediately unlikeable and wasn't written in a way where I felt like he had earned any redemption. It was a slow burn, but we really didn't get much insight into what made Zelda begin to trust him and what actually made them fall in love. While the story was chock-full of Sarah's signature silliness and wit, at times it felt over the top to the point of making the story difficult to follow. This was especially true as the story dove deeper into the magical subplot and with the forest scenes til the end. Thank you Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

ARC Review of "The Folklore of Forever" by Sarah Hogle
⭐ 4/5 Stars

A whimsical and charming romantasy, “The Folklore of Forever” is a delightful blend of quirky magic, ghost-hunting adventures, and slow-burning romance. Forced proximity, a reluctant believer, and the boy-next-door make this not only a love story, but one of self-discovery and the power of belief.

This book made me smile so much! The magic was wonderfully weird, the humor was sharp and dry, and the love story unfolded in such a sweet, natural way. Zelda and Morgan’s banter had me grinning, and their slow transition from skepticism and teasing to something deeper was so satisfying to read. The town of Moonville itself felt like a character, full of oddities and charm that made every twist feel exciting, even when the pacing slowed at times.

The characters were imperfect in the best way - lovable, flawed, and full of personality. I adored how Zelda’s journey mirrored that of the protagonist in her own novel, showing how she was shaped by the people who loved her. And Morgan? He was just as charming and mischievous as you’d expect from a hero trying to make a skeptic believe in magic. Their relationship was layered, funny, and filled with quiet moments of tenderness that made me swoon.

As a(n obsessed) book lover, I especially enjoyed how books and storytelling were woven into Zelda and Morgan’s relationship. This was my first book by Sarah Hogle, and I’m excited to follow her work!

I was generously provided an ARC by G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own ♡

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7403081896
And StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/98bde4bc-9173-4a85-b11b-2f51d80f9ec8

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of The Folklore of Forever by Sarah Hogle. The book has an intriguing premise, and perhaps if I had read the first book, it would have clicked better. The themes are thoughtful, and there’s real depth to the story, but I struggled to connect—whether due to the pacing, style, or just personal preference. While I ultimately chose not to finish, I can see its appeal and would recommend it to fans of Sci-Fi & Fantasy Romance. Sometimes, a book just isn’t the right fit, and that’s okay! I’m still looking forward to exploring more from this author.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the early copy, but I unfortunately DNF this with a quickness.