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.

I’m always attracted to a classic retelling and Cinderella always has an endless array of them.

Mayo had a special way of inviting us readers in, the familiar romanticized origin story provided and immediately giving us whiplash as we find we will be following one of the stepsisters. Names have changed as Beatrice is our new Cinderella and one of her sisters who we follow on this particular telling is named Theodosia.

As for the plot, the spin is completely unexpected and welcomed. It is Theo who needs assistance from a not so familiar fairy godmother. The attention to the characters fresh personalities is wonderful. There was both humor and heartbreak throughout and a bundle of new characters to enjoy!

I am a theorizer when reading and often felt the direction going one way for our main character and her future, I disagreed with her perspective on Beatrice many a time and was surprised by what I learned along the way. Mayo kept the magic and heart alive right through the absolutely perfect ending!

In this unique retelling of Cinderella, Theodosia Balfour finds herself facing an unwanted marriage to an elderly duke, a situation she’s determined to escape. Summoning her stepsister Bea’s fairy godmother, she agrees to prove she’s a good person in exchange for freedom from this fate. What unfolds is a delightful series of hilarious escapades that reveal what Theo truly desires in life.

While the book offers a fresh perspective on a beloved fairy tale, the pacing can be uneven. The first quarter feels overly familiar and could have been condensed into a prologue, which may leave some readers impatient for the action to begin. However, once the fairy godmother enters the scene, the story gains momentum and introduces amusing plot twists that keep the reader engaged.

Theo herself is a standout character—initially prickly and rude, her journey of self-discovery is both entertaining and relatable. Her witty one-liners and knack for insults add a layer of humor that enhances the narrative. The vivid world-building creates an immersive backdrop for her growth.

Though not without its flaws, including moments of sluggishness, this book is a charming addition to the fairy tale genre. It’s particularly recommended for fans of Cinderella who appreciate a new twist on the classic story. If you enjoyed the Disney Cinderella sequels, you might find this enchanting retelling to be just the right fit. Overall, it’s a fun read that balances humor and heart, making it worthwhile for fairy tale enthusiasts.

“She was Theodosia Balfour. Good things did not happen to her.”

Theo is engaged to be married, despite her wishes; her mother has bartered her to an ancient, badly behaved duke for the prestige of his title and the money she must have to keep the family manse. Beggars can’t be choosers, amirite? Her stepsister and the prince have barred her from their castle due to her own unseemly behaviors, and her sister is about to be wedded to a more desirable man. There’s only one way out of it: Theo needs to find her stepsister’s notes on summoning a fairy godmother. Only magic can possibly get her out of this mess.

My thanks go to Orbit Books, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the review copies. This book is for sale now.

Because I am lucky enough to have both the print and audio galleys, I pair this book with my morning regimen on my exercise bike. While my feet are doing the work, my eyes and ears are on a pleasure cruise, listening to the story as read by the talented Josie Charles. At the outset, I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy it. After a handful of quick laughs, the story and voice actor seem to be a little over the top, perhaps trying too hard. However, a number of other reviewers that I respect have really enjoyed this thing, so I keep an open mind, and sure enough—about a third of the way in, I realize that I’m bonded to the protagonist. As I follow the narrative and become accustomed to the writing and narrative styles of the author and performer, the whole thing grows on me, and before long I find myself looking forward to my wretched exercise bike, because Theodosia needs me.

Once the fairy has been summoned, Theo is magicked away to fairy land, and she is provided with a set of tasks she must accomplish in order to be freed from the loathsome old toad to whom she’s betrothed. She is provided with some assistants and supervisors, and it’s a good thing because she needs rescuing now and then. The hardest part, perhaps, is the caveat that as she completes the steps required, she must behave respectfully—at all times!

The chapters are brief and have hilarious titles. A couple of examples: “Chapter 5 Where Theo Should Probably Think of Something Before She Ends Up Married,” “Chapter 11 Where It Becomes Quite Clear Theo Was Never Trained as a Lawyer.” There’s lots of snarky dialogue, with a tender moment or two tucked in here and there. There’s a twist at the end that I absolutely did not see coming.

Should you listen to the audio, or read the printed version? There are some American readers that don’t like a British accent, and Ms. Charles’s is a heavy one. Once I’m used to it, I rather like it, but you know what type of reader you are. Follow your usual go-to. If you enjoy an audiobook, this one could make your commute much pleasanter.

Highly recommended to those that enjoy fantasy and/or humor.

A fun twist on an old tale! Perfect for readings who love Olivia Atwater's books and fairytale retellings from a different perspective. This book was delightful, fun, and the romance was so sweet.

It's very well written and doesn't feel at all like a debut novel. The story is compelling, and the resolution absolutely perfect.
I loved the setting, the atmosphere and the characters, especially Theo, the MC. She is complex, funny, smart and so relatable. The other characters might not be as developed, but each of them bring something great to the table and they worked perfectly together, or against each other.

WOW is all I can say about How to Summon a Fairy Godmother. I adored this from page one. The writing was so immersive and adept, I'm a little shocked this is a debut novel. The cover, too, is just stunning and conveys the tone of the story perfectly.

I love fairy tale retellings, especially from points of view that are not the typical heroine, and Theodosia was certainly an unexpected heroine. She does not want to get married, summons a fairy godmother to assist her, and shenanigans ensue. From the first line, it has a slightly irreverent tone that kept me glued to my seat until the book was done. And as much as I enjoy a retelling from a new perspective, I especially love the ones that explore what comes after the Happily Ever After (I'm looking at you Just Ella).

Also, since this was an audio ARC, I have to say that the narrator did a fantastic job bringing Theodosia to life. Overall, I loved this and I'm so excited to see what Laura J. Mayo comes out with next.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for granting me an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous. It’s what made me want to pick it up in the first place. This is a wonderful pick for cozy fantasy readers.

How To Summon a Fairy Godmother reimagines the classic Cinderella tale from the perspective of Theo, one of the stepsisters. Instead of focusing on Cinderella, the novel follows Theo's journey of self-acceptance, and taking charge of one's life. Mayo's writing is rich and humorous, blending fairy tale magic with darker themes of identity and choice. Theo is a flawed but determined heroine. If you're looking for something light, playful, and filled with magical musings, this is a delightful read.

At first, I was unsure if I was going to like this book. I was completely wrong though.

I truly enjoyed reading this books. Theo's growth as a person was amazing. Having never had someone believe in her during her life, once she had people in her life that did, she recognized the potential she had the entire time. I loved it!

Though this has romance in it, for me it was more about a woman trying to find her way in the world in a different way that was acceptable to current society/culture. So relatable. So fun. So lovely.

Hmmm.... I liked this book but didn't LOVE it.

It's a cute, humorous tale about Cinderella's stepsisters AFTER Cinderella gets married and life goes on. In this story, one of the sisters, Theodosia, gets excited when she learns her mother has promised her to a duke! Only to quickly find out the duke is about 10 million years old. Haha.

So, the basic plot revolves around her calling on Cinderella's fairy godmother to get her OUT of her engagement. The godmother sets Theo up with three tasks that she must complete before she'll grant her wish, and the tasks primarily take place in the world of fae.

Now, the imagery is lovely, and the prose is quite good. I have no complaints with those aspects of the story. But unfortunately, the book was a bit slow for me. It picked up a bit when Theo meets a handsome but tricksy fae gentleman, but it wasn't enough to save it for me.

I saw someone's review on Goodreads that said something about the first 1/4 of the book could have been summed up in a single chapter, and I tend to agree with that. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, and this story didn't significantly change that story (other than to make Cinderella a bit entitled and bratty and a little more deserving of her fate). So yeah. I think the author would have captured my attention better if she hadn't spent so much time re-telling the Cinderella story.

By the time she got to the good stuff, I was a little bored with the book already. As I said, the fae bits picked up the pace quite a bit and made the book enjoyable. (Before this point, it was going to be a 1.5- to 2-star book at most.) But since I was already a little bored by the beginning, it wasn't enough for the whole thing to turn around and be "great" for me.

I also had some issues with the ending. The "twist" wasn't a problem. I didn't mind that. But the ending ultimately left me a bit dissatisfied. I can't say more than that without risking spoilers, though.

Still, if you enjoy fairy tale retellings, you might get into this one. It's not a bad book at all.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for the free audiobook. I really enjoyed listening to this retelling of the Cinderella story with fairies and familiars. The narrator was excellent and I found the story to be very enjoyable! I am excited that this is the first book in a series, as there are so many characters that I would like to read about again and get to know better. Also, I felt like Theo's story was not fully concluded I'd like to see her makeup with Lock, as I really do think there is more to that story.

The romantic aspects of the book fizzled out in a slightly disappointing manner. However, the descriptions of fantasy and magic were exquisite. Theo's adventures were at turns hilarious, infuriating, and sometimes daring. I loved the wardrobe details and the general sass of most of the characters.

Now that Theo is a familiar, I wonder what animal shape she will take? Additionally, I love that she chose to end her family's cycle of abuse and chose to forgive her step-sister, and to apologize to the little girl she tormented. That in itself was a very satisfying conclusion to her story.

I recommend this to lovers of fairytale retellings and Romantasy, although I will share that the romance elements are not the main focus of the novel. It does read akin to cozy fantasy to me with a few elements of childhood abuse that are discussed throughout the book.

I really wanted to love this, the synopsis sounded so good and the book cover / title pulled me in, but I was unable to get pulled in by the audio. I didn’t enjoy the narrator and she made it hard to want to care about the story. I decided to DNF for those reasons.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Orbit for this Audio ARC Copy! 4.5 Stars

I had such a fun time with this book. I loved every minute of it and the Narrator did a perfect job with the story. I love a good retelling, especially when they focus on well known characters that aren't usually the main character, and in this story we follow 'Cinderella's' step sister. It was really interesting getting the different POV and seeing things out of the fairytale lens.
I really enjoyed the fae in this book as well, definitely more the traditional sneaky fae and not the sexy kind.
I can't wait for the next book in the series!

How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo is a charming twist on the Cinderella story, seen through the eyes of one of her stepsisters. I was hooked from the start! Theo may seem a bit annoying at first, but as her journey unfolds, you really start to connect with her. The story is packed with fun twists, and the mix of romance and fantasy keeps it engaging throughout.

This book was so fun and satisfying! The audiobook narrator is incredible and really brings the story to life. Overall, I loved this book!

Netgalley gave me a free audio copy in exchange for an honest review. I like fairy tales and retellings, but the fae world can get boring for me. This book was not boring at all! Theo is an interesting heroine, not perfect, but you're on her side in general. She learns and grows, but still has her flaws by the end of the story. I like when retellings show the hidden sides of characters that were mostly just props in the original story.

I really liked the premise for this book as a unique twist on the Cinderella story told with one of the 'evil' stepsister's as the protagonist. However, I thought the execution of the story fell a little flat. It started off strong but lost steam for me towards the middle and I struggled to stay interested towards the end. It was still good on audio and I would recommend it for those who enjoy fairy tale retellings. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

“The silence that surrounded them was the auditory equivalent of pudding-thick, heavy, and uncomfortable to sit in.”

I discovered How To Summon A Fairy Godmother through its audio version. I loved how Josie’s Charles’ narration enhanced the writing’s rhythm and sounds, and also made it look like a fairy tale even more. Because a fairy tale it was.
What happens after the end of Cinderella? That’s what explores the book. Theo, one of the “evil stepsisters”, is the main character here, and tries to summon the same fairy godmother who helped her sister to marry the prince. More than a redemption arc –even though it can be considered like that– this story is more a way to look the whole story through her eyes and –maybe– learn to have empathy for her –yes, it’s a tour de force that manages the author here. I loved that, because nothing in life is black and white, but a marvellous shade of greys instead, and discovering all the points of view in a situation is always very enlightening.
This tale was sometimes (very) funny, sometimes enraging, sometimes thrilling, sometimes sad. I loved to discover the fairytale world, to see that not everything is beautiful there too, discovering the whole gallery of side characters, all very funny –and mostly all morality grey, no matter the species.
When I finished listening to the story, I had bittersweet feelings about the whole, and especially the end. But after a few days, I came to the conclusion that it was the best decision possible, as it was –in the end– the best arc possible for that character. I hope, however, that we will see her –and that she’ll have more developments– in the next book of the series.

Thank you Laura J. Mayo, Orbit, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. My opinions are my own.