Great narrator and a cozy easy read story. Was very enjoyable. Unique magical world building, I really liked how original it was.

After an ARC for the audiobook version of The Anatomy of Magic, I am happy to share my thoughts. This is my first experience with this author, and overall, it was a positive one. I only later found out that this is the second book in this world, as it was not mentioned in the description. Thankfully this did well as a standalone, so I am not too frustrated on that account.

The general idea is that the main character, Lilly, is taking some time away from her position as chief resident OBGYN after some tragedy occurred. She is returning to visit her family’s flower farm and she is getting triggered by past hurts, including seeing her ex and the love of her life. The book is about her journey discovering what happened in that relationship, and how all these circumstances in her life lead back to her inability to let herself truly feel, forgive, and accept her choices and mistakes. The author did an excellent job of making me feel like I could envision the farm and the ranch. Frankly, I would love to live in that cozy, simple world with horses, Bullet, and the flowers.

I enjoy a well-written magical realism world, although I would say this is on the lighter side of that. It was classified as general fiction and fantasy, however it read more romance forward. The romance was done well. I could feel the tension between the characters, and it was a great second-chance love story. Although there are elements of family bonding, sisterhood, and self-discovery, I felt those really did take a backseat to the romance.

The narrator did a great job mostly, a little slow for my taste and one I had to listen to sped up. Some parts of the book were a little repetitive, but in some ways that makes sense when wading through issues and trying to grow and overcome trauma. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to someone looking for a magic-lite romance.

**5-Star Review: *The Anatomy of Magic* by J.C. Cervantes**

Okay, this book had me *hooked* from page one. If you love stories with magic, family secrets, and a second-chance romance that will *wreck* you in the best way—*The Anatomy of Magic* is *the* read for you.

Lilian Estrada is on track to be a top ob-gyn, but when a traumatic moment shakes her confidence *and* her ability to control her family’s unique magic (which involves manipulating memories—casual, right?), she retreats to Mexico. Enter Sam—her first love, the one who got away, and the last person she expected to run into. Cue all the tension, all the emotions, and a *whole* lot of swoon-worthy moments.

J.C. Cervantes blends magical realism with deep, emotional storytelling, creating a world that feels both whimsical and *so* real. The Estrada family’s magic is woven beautifully into the plot, making it feel like an extension of their personal struggles and growth. And the romance? Absolutely *chef’s kiss*. Sam and Lily have undeniable chemistry, and their journey will have you rooting for them *so* hard.

If you love books with rich cultural elements, a sprinkle of magic, and romance that makes your heart ache in the best way (*think: Emily Henry meets Isabel Allende vibes*), this one’s for you. Add it to your TBR *immediately*!

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity 💕**

I really enjoyed this audiobook ! The narrator did a great job of bringing the magic of this story to life. I enjoy second chance romance stories and this one really drew me in. The magic elements in this story were very unique and kept me interested throughout the book. I look forward to reading more of this author's work. Give this one a listen/read !


Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this title. The narrator really brought out the emotions of the characters and it added greatly to the story. I enjoyed every bit of the story, the magical aspects as well as the byplay of all the characters. It was a delightful weekend read!

This second chance romance had me hooked from the very start. This book has magical family legacy with loyalty and has a super rich cultural heritage.

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced copy of this audio book. The Anatomy of Magic is a book with second chance love story and the strength and love of a family bond. A family has magical spells through flowers. The writing is beautiful and the narrator, Diana Bustelo, does a nice job depicting the emotions. Some spots were so descriptive and beautiful (the ranch and family bins) but others were hard to connect (How in a small town how had his struggles not revealed before 10 years.) I am excited to hear this is part of a series with other family members Magic the focus. Will look forward to reading more.

4.5 Stars

Lily Estrada finds herself returning to her family home in Mexico, following a tragedy with one of her patients in Los Angeles. Lily comes from a long line of women with unique magic, and her memory magic has been affected by what happened at the hospital. Returning home is hard for Lily, since she’ll be facing her family, dealing with her magic that has become out of control, and unexpectedly reconnecting with the man she loved many years ago.

I listened to the audiobook of The Anatomy of Magic and really loved the story. Diana Bustelo narrates the book, and I enjoyed the way she voiced the characters, especially since the majority of them were female. This is just a really great story that does a beautiful job of mixing women’s fiction with magical realism.

The magic in Lily’s family has been passed down to the women in each generation, and it is centered around flowers/plants. The magic is a great contrast to Lily’s profession of being a doctor, and I loved seeing her science side and her magic side. There are some great side characters among the women in her family, and I loved seeing their support for Lily, even when she keeps secrets from them.

The romance in the book is a second chance romance, and I thought it worked well in the story. Lily already had an established relationship with Sam, and I enjoyed seeing how their feelings unfolded after being away from one another for so long. They both have issues to work through, that bring some good tension to their relationship.

Cervantes really weaves a magical story of family legacy and loyalty, a rich cultural heritage, overcoming mistakes, revealing long-kept secrets, and finding what really makes you happy, in The Anatomy of Magic.

The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes showed some promise, but fell flat for me. It began with an interesting concept for a magic system centered around flowers and other vegetation. Unfortunately this system was never completely flushed out. Plot in the book is not overly complex and spends too much time in the romance aspects instead of the development of characters. This could be because it is the second installment for the Estrada family saga, but I was unaware of this because this book is not advertised as such.

I read this book and listened to the audio for it. The overly simple plot, the language used to write this book and the pitch Diana Bustelo's voice, makes this read/feel more like a YA Romance, then a potential second book for the Estrada family legacy.

Finally, I was very disappointed that the book made no actual tie to the "anatomy of magic." This is never addressed in the book and makes the title confusing and unrelated to the story as well.

Because this is Hispanic Literature, I expected a level of magical realism in the vein of Allende or Marquez. Instead if you like the magical realism along the lines of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, or The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, then this is the book for you.

Thank you Park Row & Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and listen to the audiobook. My opinions are my own.

This book was darling. I had the same reaction to it as I did to Spellshop. The cozy magical realism and focus on nature was a delight to read! Then you add in the family dynamics and a love story that punches you in the tummy (hey it’s cozy book we go with cozy language).

I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Harlequin Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

The narrator Diana Bustelo did a fabulous recitation! Not only did she speak at a good listening pace without changing anything, I loved her huskier vocals which added to the story. So many times we get sweet female narrators with high pitched voices so it’s a treat when you get to hear something different. It adds to the cozy experience.

I love second chance love stories and this one I was all in for. Then you have a strong and talented FMC both as an OB/GYN and in her magic and you have a story that is sure to dazzle a wide audience. Where there things I would have liked to see? Sure as there were some thinner parts throughout the book. However, it served its cozy purpose and I was left satisfied.

I look forward to it coming out in March 11th.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This story skewed more toward romance than magical realism to me. Given the title, I expected more magic, but it was subtle despite being the talk of everyone's conversations. There were a few intimate scenes, but nothing very graphic. It was a tame book overall.

I found it to be weak. I wanted more... something. The characters felt a little flat, the plot was predictable, the whole thing was mild. The narrator did a fantastic job and I commend her for her beautiful telling. Lily was a weak character in my estimation, and she felt far younger than her years. For someone who is a doctor/surgeon, she made some not-so-smart decisions and inferences. Sam as well. I didn't get it. The family members who were of Lily's parents' age (aunties, etc.) were so unusually standoffish, it didn't feel authentic. They give her so much space and Lily holds so much back, but they flip out when she does something harmful. Particularly when dealing with fragile, generational magic. It all just felt like it wasn't fleshed out enough.

While I didn't necessarily enjoy the plot much, it did have a lot of potential and the narrator was great, so I did enjoy listening to it. I can see how this would be popular with romance readers who like non-spicy books, but I think it will not have enough substance for the romantasy crowd, despite the magical elements.

This was cute and lighthearted and I love anything involving magic and flowers. I didn't love that both people in this relationship chose to make decisions without the other but overall, it was a sweet little story.

I truly adore listening to this audiobook. It felt so cozy to listen too. Plus, I love the narrators in this audiobooks. They gave the perfect representation of a Latina women finding her love again. No heavy accent or the typical stereotypes, which I absolutely love. So freaking good to listen.

The way that I gasped so loudly when I saw J.C. Cervantes released a new book in the same universe as The Enchanted Hacienda! I immediately picked this book up and started reading as soon as possible.

As soon as I started reading this book, I realized that my heart is going to break into a million pieces. Why? Because the second chance romance between Lilian and Sam is full of heartbreak that leaves me hanging for more. It’s full of angst and pain that I had to keep reading. I needed to know what happened between them and if they are still worth it.

Thankfully, I was able to root for them. It wasn’t a dumb decision why they broke up. It was painful and hurtful, but it made sense. I am beyond glad that Lilian and Sam pulled through. Their love for each other is still there even after ten years. It never went away. It was always meant to be. Just needed to be addressed.

This just wasn't for me. The writing was a little too saccharine, and I wasn't invested in any of the characters. I was supers excited to read it, but it was a real disappointment to me.

I enjoyed reading this book overall. I loved the way the author wove magic into the story in an organic and natural way, incorporating the flowers as the source of the magic. I wish there was a little more explanation about the magic, and how the flowers give their magic. I feel like this book just touched the surface of what could have been. I also found the story to be a little convenient at times; Lily and Sam end up in situations that put them together, but it felt like the circumstances that brought them together were just a little convenient and not super organic. Her car breaking down, a bad storm that washes out the road, etc. Their love story was sweet and enjoyable to read. Overall a great story, and I would definitely recommend and read this author again.

Lily is on leave from her job as an obgyn due to a routine investigation following a patient death. She feels guilty and can't talk about it. Her family has a gift of magic involving flowers and memories that she's losing her grasp on.

She's told she needs to let her heart losen up and realizes she finally needs closure on how Sam, the love of her life, broke up with her 10 years earlier.

I listened to this is audiobook and the narrator does an excellent job. The story pulled me in and I really didn't know how it was going to end up. A great listen!

If you’re like me and find yourself hooked on second-chance romances, then this book is a gem. I’ve always been frustrated when the first time around, the couple didn’t make it—what was wrong with them, right? The tension, the heartache, and that lingering "what if" feeling always stayed with me. But this story? It’s everything I wanted in a second chance: the heartbreak, the longing, the growth, and, of course, the ultimate redemption. I adored how the characters were given the chance to rework their past, heal old wounds, and find their way back to each other. It felt real, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch their journey unfold. If you love the thrill of knowing that love can be rekindled, then this book will hit all the right spots.