In this funny, cute and well written retelling where we are following Theodosia (Theo) in a "What happends the two (evil) stepsisters of Cinderella (Beatrice) after she is wisked away with the Prince".

Theo dreams of her own fairytale and when she gets marry a Duke it seems like a wish comming true... or is it?

Desperat to change her luck, she summons a fairy Godmother and gets 3 tasks before she will be granted her wish.
A beautiful, funny and heartwarming story - Defently worth a read! And the audiobook was great!

Post on IG (one_:fairy_tale_at_the_time) 12.nov 2024

I ended up really loving this story and retelling of what happens after the princess (Bea, aka Cinderella) gets swept to the palace to marry the prince, leaving the stepsisters to forge their own ways, reviled for the treatment of Bea. But love it and Theo with her own fairy bargain and working with cute familiars. That twist was fun too, even if I guessed it before the big reveal.

Theo is a prickly character, always ready to deliver the most cutting insult which actually makes her very entertaining in the fairy courts. It was easy to feel for her and the life she had lead after her mother married Bea's father. She fits right in alongside Cecily's familiars Phineas and Kaz and it makes for a humorous, whimsical, cozy story as Theo completes three tasks in order to avoid having to marry and odious old duke (really quite the piece of work!) Along the way, Theo is also able to bloom into what she was meant to be. There are many chuckle bits and I was very satisfied with the ending which showed the true characters of all those in the fairy tale.

This may be a debut novel, but it was really well written and I enjoyed listening to it. The narrator did an excellent job in bringing the characters to life and making the story feel alive. You can be sure I will be following this author, waiting very impatiently for the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book to listen to and review.

This was a cute little story. A bit of nostalgia mixed with some Bridgerton vibes it was an easy listen. The production of the audio book did a great job and it was easy to listen to. The beginning was a bit hard to follow for me personally, but overall a solid read

Honestly this book really is a fairytale with a twist. And while I still feel the need to rant about it after finishing, I did genuinely enjoy this book and I think it’s a nice mix of fairytales with romantasy (not genre romance though so please don’t explicitly go into it with those expectations). I’m a sucker for fairytale retellings, and even more so when the characters getting their stories retold were framed as the villain. This book is the story of the youngest stepsister of maybe-Cinderella, and it really makes her a complex character who admittedly is not a nice person, but also doesn’t exactly deserve what’s happened to her. I think this book ends up doing a pretty good job of playing with nuanced, morally grey characters, although the ending is very fairytale like in its morality play. I don’t know that I had a lot of expectations going into the story, but I ended up enjoying reading this and I thought it was very readable!

As far as the audiobook went, I thought it was a great way to read this book, especially since the fantasy elements aren’t too complex. While the narrator didn’t always have completely different voices for the various characters, I feel like she did a good job of still making the characters distinct and where I could tell what was happening in scenes with more characters. I also think I ended up enjoying the romance aspects of the book a little bit more via audiobook than I would have with a physical copy. All in all, worth the read if it sounds like something you’re interested in!

5 ☆
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Hooked from beginning to end! In the beginning, the Theodosia Balfour character was very insufferable, but once you start the semi-healing journey with her, you start to understand her a lot more, and honestly, I felt for you and could really relate to her. Wild! The twists and turns were *chef's kiss*. Highly recommend.
The audiobook was great. I couldn't stop listening. If I didn't have to go to bed, I would have listened to this story in one day. The narrator did a great job. She was easy to listen to and understand, and I could listen to her forever.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•Cinderella Retelling
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Hachette Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I love a villain origin story. This book is a Cinderella retelling from one of the evil stepsister's point of view after the royal wedding. She needs help because they are broke and the new queen is telling lies about how evil they are, so she enlists help from the same fairy godmother that her step sister used. Chaos ensues.

Our main lady, Lady Theodosia Balfour, is just as awful as the original fairytale would suggest, but her character arc took me on a ride.

It was entertaining, I was surprised by the twists, and the narrator was fun to listen to. This is the first book in the Fairies and Familiars series, but it doesn't end on a cliffhanger, so it's safe to enjoy before the next one comes out.

Pick this up if you enjoy:
Debut authors
Single POV
Magical worlds and creatures
No spice
Fairytale what ifs?
Unlikeable narrators
Regency mixed with fantasy
Character growth
Faerie bargains

"How to Summon a Fairy Godmother" by Laura J. Mayo and was captivated by the fresh take on the classic Cinderella tale. The story is told through the eyes of Theo, Cinderella's stepsister, offering a unique perspective on what happens after the famous pumpkin carriage scene. Left behind, Theo struggles with a tarnished reputation and an uncertain future. Facing an arranged marriage and unexpected stepchildren, she decides to summon a fairy godmother and embark on a quest for her own happiness.

Theo is a complex character who undergoes a significant transformation throughout the story. Initially sharp-witted and resentful, she evolves into a more empathetic and courageous individual. The romance between Theo and her suitors, Lock and Kas, is delicately portrayed, adding depth to the narrative. However, the core of the story remains Theo's journey towards self-love and personal growth.

Cecily, the fairy godmother, is a standout character with her whimsical and morally ambiguous nature. Her presence adds an intriguing layer to the story, and I would love to read a novella from her perspective.

The audio narration was excellent, and the plot twists kept me engaged. The protagonist, Theo, is a compelling character, and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning. While I enjoyed the book overall, I felt that Theo's transformation from villain to hero could have been more developed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eager to get my hands on a hard copy. I look forward to news about the sequel, as I believe it will be a magical ride!

3.75 stars!

This was a fun take at a “what happened next” retelling. I agree with other reviewers that the beginning feels like a lot of information we could’ve done without and wish this started at the marriage proposal.

Despite that this is cozy fun fantasy and I really loved the familiars and the setting. The writing is beautiful and the audiobook was a really fun listen - the narration is great and fits the story well.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

I really enjoyed this one! I'm always a fan of a fairytale retelling and I liked how Laura J.Mayo took a twist of the typical Cinderella story. The wicked step-sister character got a full personality which was both sassy, emotional and loving. And the narrator was so smooth, the audio book was a delight!

4.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5 stars)

How to Summon a Fairy Godmother by Laura J. Mayo is an enchanting, whimsical twist on the classic fairy tale, brought to life even more vividly in the audiobook format thanks to the delightful narration by Josie Charles. With a charming balance of magic, humor, and self-discovery, this book is a joy to listen to and offers a refreshing take on the "evil stepsister" trope.

Lady Theodosia Balfour, unfairly labeled as the villain by her stepsister, Princess Beatrice, finds herself trapped in a miserable reality—facing an unwanted marriage to the foul-tempered Duke of Snowbell and a family estate teetering on the edge of ruin. In her desperation, she seeks the help of a fairy godmother, hoping for the same magical intervention that landed her stepsister a prince. But the fairy godmother Theo summons, Cecily of the Ash Fairies, is no fairy tale savior. Cunning and mischievous, Cecily is more interested in deals and favors than waving a wand. Theo is given three tasks to prove her worth, and what follows is a journey of self-discovery, adventure, and unexpected companionship.

Josie Charles brings this magical world to life with her narration, perfectly capturing Theo’s mix of vulnerability, humor, and determination. Her voice lends warmth to the audiobook, making Theo’s struggles and triumphs feel even more real and emotionally resonant. Charles also excels in differentiating characters—whether it’s the devious and cunning tone of Cecily or the sharp banter between Theo and Kasra, the aloof fox shapeshifter who’s far too handsome for his own good. Each character has a distinct voice, and Charles’ narration draws you further into the whimsical and fantastical world that Laura J. Mayo has created.

The relationships in this story, especially Theo’s growing kinship with Cecily’s familiars—Phineas, the flirty human-turned-mockingbird, and Kasra, the sarcastic shapeshifter—are enhanced by Charles' ability to deliver the witty dialogue with perfect timing. Their humorous and heartfelt exchanges add layers to the narrative, making their adventures as engaging as Theo’s internal struggles.

Mayo’s clever twist on fairy tale conventions, combined with the narration, makes the audiobook experience particularly enjoyable. The "fairy godmother" here isn’t a benevolent figure, but a sharp, wily Ash Fairy who has her own agenda. Theo’s tasks are not just about earning magical help—they’re about finding her own strength and deciding what future she wants. The added depth of these themes, along with the well-crafted humor, makes this audiobook a fun and meaningful listen.

The pacing of the story is smooth, and Charles’ narration keeps you hooked from start to finish. If there’s any critique, it’s that the ending wraps up a bit quickly compared to the depth of character development throughout the book. However, Charles delivers the resolution with such emotional clarity that it still leaves you satisfied.

Overall, How to Summon a Fairy Godmother is a delightful audiobook experience. Josie Charles' narration adds an extra layer of magic to the witty, heartfelt story, making this version perfect for fans of lighthearted fantasy with strong themes of self-discovery and empowerment. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to listen to in one sitting, drawn in by both the enchanting world and Charles’ engaging performance.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

HOW IS THIS A DEBUT? i actually had to double check that this was lauren j. mayo’s first novel because everything from the world building, dialogue and character development/interactions were fantastic.

this was an absolutely fantastic retelling of one of cinderella’s stepsisters, named theodosia, or as none of her friends call her, “theo”. lauren j. mayo develops theo’s character magnificently in under 400 pages, and those PLOT TWISTS!! wow, now i need the next book in this series.

the narrator for the audiobook was fantastic

overall this was just an amazing ride and i’m very excited to see what mayo cooks up next

I absolutely loved the audiobook of *How to Summon a Fairy Godmother*! The audio production was top-notch, and a lot of that credit goes to the fantastic work of the producer. The editing was seamless, with every transition smooth and natural. The production was clean, with no distractions, allowing the story and emotions to shine through.

The narrator did an incredible job differentiating each character’s dialogue, making it easy to follow who was speaking, even in the more fast-paced scenes. The use of silence added just the right amount of suspense, and the clear pronunciation ensured every word came across perfectly. On top of that, the emotion behind each sentence was palpable, pulling me even further into the story.

As for the story itself, it’s a wonderful retelling of *Cinderella* with a unique twist. It was cute, fun, and filled with surprising moments of emotion. I laughed, got excited, and was even moved to tears at unexpected points. This audiobook is a charming and magical journey, and both the story and production deserve high praise!

I loved this book. It's been a while since I just ate up a story, but this had everything I love in it. Magic, fairytales, and I can't stay away from a Cinderella retelling.

I will be honest, I didn't know what to expect going into this book so my expectations weren't very high. But wow did How to Summon a Fairy Godmother take me by surprise!
A funny Cinderella retelling that looks at one of the evil step sisters life after the happily ever after.
Theo makes a bargain with the same faerie, Cecilly, that granted her stepsister Beatrice her wish to go to the ball. In order for her wish of ending her marriage to an old and awful duke, Theo must complete three tasks to orove she is a good and kind person.
There are twists and turns throughout the story that keeps you hooked and trying to guess what will happen next.
The journey Theo goes on throughout this book is so enjoyable. It makes you see the world from her perspective, and I found myself.routing fo her from the very beginning.
The characters are all well written and believable, and really bring the story to life.
Josie Charles does an amazing job at narrating, I will definitely be looking out for more of her work. The emotion and energy she puts into the characters is top tier. Chefs kiss to you, Josie.

If you like fairytale retellings, fmcs taking control of their own life choices and witty characters.. then this is the book for you!

This was fabulous!
What a lovely take on Cinderella.
This starts off with the ball and then takes a whole new angle from one of the stepsister's perspectives.
I loved the way this used bits and pieces from the original story and also introduced a whole new ploy as well.
The personalities of the characters were vibrant and fun and there is a lot of adventure that is not in the original fable.
I absolutely adored this one!!!
Much love to NetGalley & Hachette Audio for my ALC.

First off, this book is a Cinderella retelling with the main female lead, Theodosia, being reminiscent of one of the evil stepsisters. I loved that most if not all of the characters in this book were morally grey as I feel that sometimes there is pressure on authors to have a huge distinction between “good” and “evil” characters.

In the story, Theo’s family is in financial ruin. In order to remedy the situation, Theo is unwillingly set to marry the Duke of Snowbell. She then begins her mission to do whatever necessary to stop the wedding - even if it means using the spell she found in her step-sister’s bedroom to summon a fairy godmother. But she may have gotten more than she expected…

This book was awesome, and I’m excited to see that there will be a series as I wanted to know what happens next. Favorite character is Kasra the fox shifter. Favorite moment in the book is when Theo gets stabbed because it was kind of funny (leaving this vague to avoid spoilers). The audio narrator also did a great job!

🧚🏻 Thanks so much to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and author Laura J. Mayo for providing me with a free audiobook version of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for sending me an audio-ARC of How to Summon A Fairy Godmother in exchange for review.

3.75 stars

I love a fairy tale and I love a retelling/origin story/etc. I love giving a new spin or chance to a character that may have been written off or made to have been disliked when really we all know villains have their origin story.

I’d definitely say that Theo is definitely not so wicked~ this story was so fun and fast paced. I love our witchy Cecily of the Ash Fairies godmother the narrator did an amazing job and I could totally picture her. Like I really want to be her friend. I love her familiars as well because fox boy (I don’t need to say more).

I flew through this in 2 days and thoroughly enjoyed this it definitely is on the same level as most fantasy stories I read and it’s definitely not giving “debut novel” so that excites me for Laura’s future releases.

The narrators voice reminded me of Kate from “You” season 4 in the best way. Loved it!

Thank you again for the delightful time this provided.

How To Summon a Fairy Godmother
Laura J. Mayo
We are all familiar with the story of Cinderella, the glass slipper, the pumpkin coach, the midnight curfew and the fairy Godmother, but what if that was only part of the story and much of it not true.
Lady Theodosia Balfour is the youngest of the two stepsisters. Beatrice (the Cinderella of this story) has married her prince. She has told everyone how dreadful her life was living with Flo, Theo and her stepmother. The Balfour’s are broke, the creditors have come calling and the cupboard is bare. Theo’s mother has found her a Duke to marry, an old Duke, a really old Duke. The Duke of Snowbell is rude, obnoxious and ill-mannered. Theo has no desire to marry the man, raise his children nor bare his children.
Out of desperation Theo summons a fairy, after all a fairy provided a prince for Beatrice surely, she can prevent a marriage as easily as she can create one. No one ever warned Theo not to make a deal with a fairy! The fairy, Cecily of the Ash Faries, agrees to help Theo but only for a price; you see fairies do not do anything for free. The prize is three tasks that will prove that Theo is unselfish and generous. Cecily has two familiars, they are humans that provide guidance, support and magic: Kasra, an extremely handsome fox shapeshifter and Phineas, a mockingbird shapeshifter.
This is a great book; I was shocked at the lower ratings. It is definitely a 5-star read in my opinion. I love fairytales and this one is a unique turn on the original Cinderella story. In this tale the youngest stepsister is the main character. The original story makes her a villain and at first, I kept seeing her from that perspective. But soon I saw her as more of a victim. She was mistreated by her mother, her sister and yes even her stepsister. She seemed to have a big L printed on her forehead; everyone treats her terribly except Margot.
The plot of this tale has some great twists and turns. The ending had an unexpected twist. There was also a lot of humor in this tale. The secondary characters were delightful, especially Lockland and Kasra. I don’t know if this is a new series, but I sure hope it is.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

This is Cinderella’s stepsisters story and I ended up really liking it! It’s funny and doesn’t take itself too seriously whilst still dealing with some hard hitting stuff. Theo was such a morally iffy main character and I thought her character arc was well done. Hopefully we have a sequel 🤞🏼

This is a delightful twist on a Cinderella story, told from the point of view of one of the "wicked" stepsisters. Theodosia, desperate to get out of an arranged marriage to a much older, wealthy but disgusting Duke, discovers a way to summon the fairy godmother who made all her stepsister's dreams come true. Throughout the book, Theo is rude and insulting to nearly everyone and expresses an extreme hatred and resentment for her sister, but as the story unfolds. you understand that there are good reasons why. Is she truly as bad as everyone thinks? This book is full of twists and turns, magic, redemption, romance, and has a very satisfying and unpredictable ending.