DNF @14%. This was an interesting reimagining of Cinderella’s sister, but I just couldn’t get into it. The audio narrator was a great fit for this story though.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my audio copy!

DNF I really wanted to like this one I like the premise but it just wasn’t working for me, narrator was fine but story itself just wasn’t grabbing me.

This was just the magical escape read I needed! Featuring tricky fae and evil stepsisters, this was such a fun story that whisked me away from the very beginning. I loved the audio performance by Josie Charles, that added so much to the story.

*many thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Instantly hooked from the start! A fun retelling of Cinderella from the pov of the stepsister. Very much enjoyed this from start to finish. Read it so fast. Fun and instant classic for me.

How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo is whimsical, charming, and a little bit magical. It has an uplifting and playful tone while also diving into themes of self-discovery and personal growth.

I had a lot of fun with this book! The story follows an ordinary woman named Lily, who finds herself in an unexpected situation: summoning a fairy godmother. But it’s not all fairy-tale magic—Lily has to face some real-life challenges and decisions. The humor, quirky characters, and magical elements kept me entertained, and I loved how it touched on the importance of taking control of your own destiny, even in the face of the most outlandish circumstances. It’s a perfect read for anyone looking for something light-hearted but with a touch of magic and heart!

While overall I enjoyed this retelling of Cinderella from the point of view of one of her stepsisters, it wasn’t a standout book for me. Fun while reading (or listening in my case), but this book was one that quickly faded from my memory soon after I finished it. It was still a creative twist on the traditional story, weaving in more fae/faerie elements and giving you some new characters to root for. At times it felt a little slow, or maybe I was just expecting a bit more excitement from the summary. Good start to a series/world building - I’d probably check out a sequel to see what else is in store. If you like fairytales and fae, might be worth giving this a try. The narrator was enjoyable too. Thanks for NetGalley for the audiobook.

Hi. Yes. I will take 10 more books like this one please! The plot, the characters, the human character learning to be less idiotic? The dream

Cinderella meets Princess Bride !
This is a task/quest type novel and there was a lot of humour in it that I enjoyed. Ive been getting into cozy fantasy lately and this one really fit the bill. The only thing I didnt love was that the characters felt a little flat and under developed to me. One caveat with cozy fantasy is the lack of depth sometimes, especially with world building. I would have liked to know more, but we only get glimpses of the world and are more focused on the tasks being completed. With some more fleshing out of the details I feel like this would have been the perfect book

What an absolute drag of a story. The set up is so boring and takes a ridiculous amount of time for something which is known to every Disney-watching person under 60 years of age. Way, WAY too much time was spent on the set up, and making it clear that the main character is not just some poor abused side character, but is actually as spoiled and obnoxious as the Disney version of this story made her out to be. The only entertaining moment I had with this book was where they sarcastically rip into Prince Charming spending hours dancing with his future bride and never once asking her what her name is. I laughed out loud at that, and then went back to being bored. If one is going to do a retelling of a famous story, they should realize that not all the parts need to be told since their audience already know it. Get to the new bits more quickly.

First read of the year... This book hooked me from the very beginning. I could not put this book down.

Fairytale retellings are some of my favorite stories to read. This one is told from the perspective of one of the evil step sisters. I thought I would dislike the main character, Theo, but I found myself rooting for her.

If you're looking for a fun Cinderella re-telling, this is it.

3.75 Stars
Stunning cover!

This retelling of Cinderella is captivating and offers a fresh perspective on the classic tale. I especially enjoyed how the story explores not only the life of the stepsister but also the fairy godmother's world, revealing complex motivations and interactions that add depth to the narrative. While I initially found Theo's character a bit challenging to connect with, I appreciated her growth throughout the story, which made her ultimately more relatable and endearing. Overall, this retelling is a delightful and imaginative take on a beloved story, and I eagerly anticipate the next installment to see where the journey goes from here!

***Thank you to NetGalley, Laura J. Mayo, and Hachette Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book, and I was hesitant in the beginning. It was strange to have a Cinderella retelling from the wicked stepsister's point of view in which the stepsisters were still wicked. Even so, I think it was wonderfully done. Theo was hard to love but impossible to hate. The style and the climax were wonderfully enjoyable.

So much fun! Narrator voices were distinct and the pacing was excellent. The story kept me interested through the end.

This was an interesting read and take on a classic. I was wanting a little more character development, I wasn't rooting for the main character as much as a i wanted too.

This was so goood. I'm so upset I put it off. I need more desperately. Theo is everything to me. PLEASE say there's gonna be a sequel.
Narrator was a perfect choice. Obsessed.

This book is clever, witty, smart, and a great “retelling” of Cinderella, but from the step sisters POV. The character development, plot, and writing were all great, and it was just a lot of fun.

This was a bit slow to hook me, but I ended up enjoying it quite a bit! Will be eagerly awaiting the sequel!

I'm going to be honest, I did not like the first 30% of this book, but then it really picked up for me. I actually enjoyed it enough that I think I'd consider a reread!

Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC!

fairytale 'what-if' story following Cinderella's "wicked" stepsister Theo.

Read if you're interested in:
•Morally Grey characters
•Reversed Fairytale
•Rom-Com
•Whimsical setting
•Generational Trauma
•Older FMC

This was so much fun to read!!! This is a really well written debut, first in a romantasy series that I feel has slipped under the radar for a lot of people & it definitely deserves it's readership!

The narrator was a great fit for this type of story and added more depth to the characters and story,

Theodosia might be the wicked stepsister to Princess Beatrice, but when her mother tries to marry her off to an ancient duke, she knows she has to save herself. She finds Beatrice's notes for summoning a fairy, and make her own deal to escape her upcoming marriage. Of course nothing is easy when you're wicked, so Theo is tasked with completing three selfless tasks to prove that's she's worth of fairy magic.

I really loved the narrator and the way she brought Theo's attempts to be a good person to life.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the twists and turns were so good, and I cannot wait to see where the next book takes Theo.