This was a really fun book. It was genuinely funny, making me laugh out loud at points. The premise and the narrative were delightfully absurd, tongue in cheek from page one. Thorn — a witch who’s still plagued by the normal aches of turning forty — was such a relatable, loveable main character. The side characters were phenomenal and really rounded out the story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Saga Press/S&S, and author Cecilia Edward for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is July 1, 2025!

I LOVED the premise of this book - A witch from the 1600s who time-travels to the present day in search of love? And she can talk to cats? Sign me up!

Thorn, a 39-year-old witch, embarks on an incredible adventure with her sassy and adorable cat, Bandit. This was such a cozy and magical read. I can easily see it being the perfect book to curl up with around Halloween.

I rated this book 3.75/5 stars, rounded up to 4. The first few chapters started off a bit slow, and the world-building was a little confusing at first, but once the story picked up, it became much more engaging. Some of the plot twists were predictable, but they still kept the story interesting. One of my favorite elements was Thorn’s potions and magic. It made the story so intriguing, and I loved how they played a role in her journey.

Her love interests were… interesting, to say the least. Without giving anything away, let’s just say there were moments that had me raising an eyebrow and others that had me completely invested. But beyond the romance, what truly made this book special was the sense of found family. Thorn discovers a wonderful community that accepts her for who she is, helping her grow in confidence and learn to love herself. That emotional depth added so much warmth to the story.

The descriptive writing made it feel like I was right there in Thorn’s cozy cottage, experiencing the magic alongside her. There were moments that broke my heart for Thorn, especially regarding her family history, and others that made me laugh out loud—particularly a certain frog (but you’ll have to read to find out!).

I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of romance, fantasy, and magical realism! Great job to the author on this one!

Thorn and her sister, Rose, have watched their mother's struggles with love, which affects them deeply. Through a series of unfortunate accidents, Thorn finds herself transported to the 20th century - 350 years out of time - and thrust into a modern-day adventure. She finds that she actually likes it! There are wonderful new inventions, plus a plethora of single men interested in dating and potentially more. When she starts remembering things from her past, a mystery arises and places her and her loved ones in danger. This is a fun, light-hearted novel that manages to also tackle some bigger issues. It's a new, wonderful twist on the romcom!

If this isn’t a popular book on Bookstagram and BookTok with romance readers, then something is seriously wrong. An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating was such a lovely read. It was cozy, heartwarming, and absolutely hilarious. This book brought me so much joy, and I’m so thankful to have been granted the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
This book kept me interested the whole time. I genuinely struggled to put it down, and I ended up staying up way too late, and I read almost 50% of the book on night one. After reading a lot of heavier, more meaty fantasy reads this year, this was a welcome breath of fresh air. This gave me Assistant to the Villain vibes. It was accessible, and while it did have some tough topics addressed, it was a pick-me-up read.
Some of the topics were tough (parental loss, sibling loss, and relationship issues), but it never felt too heavy. As a younger person who has lost a parent, I can get kind of sensitive with these topics. With that said, I never felt like I had to put the book down because of that. Even more, I loved the central theme of finding love while being your total, authentic self. That’s a topic that resonates so deeply with me, and the way it was presented was absolutely beautiful.
The FMC, Thorn, was so incredibly relatable. Her inner monologue and dialogue had me absolutely cackling. My own cat looked at me like he was judging me as hard as Bandit judged Thorn (when you read it, you’ll get it).
Her dating journey was so incredibly real, encompassing the trifecta: ghosting, horrific first dates, the unsolicited body part pics. The fact that she was older than most FMCs, and wasn’t a single mom, was a breath of fresh air. The quasi “best friend’s brother” trope was executed so, so well. I was deeply invested in Thorn’s journey, and now I just want to spend more time in her world hearing about what’s next for her.
If you don’t have this on your radar, it’s time to change that.

This is the perfect witchy cozy read for fall! It has the same vibes as The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches and is absolutely hilarious.

One of Thorn's potions goes wrong and she travels from the 1600s to modern day. Her adventures in dating are hilarious as she navigates the 21st century.

She talks to cats, makes potions, and grumbles a lot. I love her so much. This was a great read. When it comes to the romance, it's clean and closed door which I know many people will appreciate.

Thank you Netgalley and Saga Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a fun and cozy fantasy read! With its July release, it feels like the perfect transition for readers who love to get an early start on their fall reading lists.

I loved how Thorn truly lived up to her name—she constantly stands out and can be a bit prickly, though never intentionally. Deep down, all she really wants is love and to be loved, but her attempts at finding it are delightfully chaotic. Beyond the time travel and the immediate comedic shock of landing in modern times, watching Thorn navigate contemporary lingo and dating apps was hilarious.

One of my absolute favorite aspects was the talking cats, especially Bandit, who was delightfully sassy and playfully vicious. It was exactly how I imagine cats would sound if they could talk! Some of the plot points were a bit predictable, but I don’t think a cozy fantasy is meant to be a high-stakes, twist-heavy read, so that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. And without giving anything away, I absolutely loved the ending—it tied everything up nicely while still leaving the door (or maybe a portal?) open for a potential sequel.

Overall, this was a solid 4 to 4.5-star read for me, and I’ll definitely be recommending it to my friends looking for an early witchy read this summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so much FUNNIER than I could have imagined. Thorn’s interactions with the modern world (especially her love of her electric kettle) is one of the many bright points of this book. Thorn is a witch that has been accidentally thrown forward in time over 300 years. And for a witch used to living alone in the forest, suddenly arriving in modern day, she takes it in stride. Luckily her cat familiar, Bandit, and a stowaway annoying neighbor-turned-frog were along with her for the ride, so she isn’t completely alone.

Within the first few pages of the book we know what Thorn wants more than anything. To find a husband. After all, a woman of 39 living in 1690 doesn’t have that much time left, much to her dismay. When attempting to brew a potion to make a man fall in love with her, she’s thrown forward in time. While there she meets a friendly museum tour guide, her virle (Thorn’s words) veterinarian younger brother, Walls, and more friendly cats. And since Thorn is a witch, when she talks to cats (especially Bandit), they talk back. The sassy cat dynamic is VERY reminiscent of Salem in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and it was one of the BEST parts of this book.

Thorn learns a lot about herself and what she really wants throughout the book, and watching her grow is so uplifting. Especially given how she was raised. And she has some difficult hurdles to overcome on her way to her Happily Ever After.

The romance is swoony, the cats are hilarious, and Thorn is as real as can be. HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of or in the mood for a Cozy Fantasy book. Especially if you like talking cats and out of time interactions with the world.

4.5/5 Stars

This is the cozy fantasy my heart desperately needed! This story was filled with laughs, mysticism, and warm vibes. The FMC Thorn is relatable and brilliantly written. I found myself charmed by her throughout the entirety of the story. I adored the cats, potions, and witty banter in the story. There are complex themes explored in this book, such as trauma, and they are explored in a way that feeds the soul. I found myself satisfied as I reflected through the story. I highly recommend this story.

An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating was a cozy, delightful book! If you are a fan of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna, I think you'll enjoy this one as well.

The story itself was wonderful -- Thorn Scarhart, witch aged 39, attempts to make a new-and-improved love potion when she is accidentally whisked to the 21st century with her cat familiar, Bandit. I loved watching Thorn try to adapt to the modern age. Instead of being set up by the local matchmaker like in 1690, Thorn tries the world of dating apps with interesting consequences. As a single person in their mid-thirties, I could empathize with Thorn grappling with her age and loneliness, but really appreciated her desire to work on herself as well. The climax was a bit rushed and awkward at parts, but overall I really enjoyed the book. The cats were some of my favorite characters, especially Bandit's snarky attitude.

Thanks to Saga Press and Netgalley for the advance ebook copy!

This was such a fun and magical time!
I was hooked from the beginning, and I loved every moment of this story.

Thorn Scarhart is a witch that is obsessed with having her own love, so much so that she’s spent years perfecting her mothers true love potion! When things get wild during her latest attempt, she ends up traveling 350 years into the future with her cat and a cursed frog (yes she turns someone into a frog 😂😂).

Once in the 21st century, we experience her charming and funny self love journey as well as her discovery of what love really means. The romance is a sweet slow-burn and the character development that Thorn experiences is well done!

Overall this was such a refreshing, and well-written cozy romance that I definitely recommend 😊 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

Thank you to Saga Press/Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This is a 3.5 star for me.

I enjoyed this. It is a cozy, fun rom com with a fun spin on the world of dating.

I enjoyed watching Thorn go from matchmaking to online dating. It was also a joy to read about her experiences with modern day technology.

This was a light hearted read that was a great palette cleanser in between two very "heavy" books.

I wish there would have been a bit more of a climax when it came to her past and present colliding but there are no holes in the story, which I can appreciate. No untied ends.

Also loved reading about an older MMC looking for love. I have a hard time reading about high schoolers and college loves. Great to read about someone my own age finding love.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC copy!

This story dives into the life of 17th century witch Thorn Scarhart. Still single at 39 years old she is desperate to find love, turning to potions to help. When her spell goes haywire and sends her 350 years into the future pure chaos ensues. I truly enjoyed reading Thorn’s character development. The banter between her, the frog, Bandit and the other cats had me giggling. A refreshing, cozy read that really draws you in. Just as Bandit demands more treats, I demand more Thorn and Walls.

This was such a cozy, magical read! It was full of potions, witches, cats, wishes, and comedy. This story wasn’t just an ordinary read, it was one of a kind. It had humor and romance. I was fully immersed while reading it. I love all the characters, including the minor characters that were involved. I especially loved her cat named Bandit and his witty personality. I loved Thorn and her trying to understand modern technology as she time traveled into the future!

An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is about a thirty-nine year old witch named Thorn, who is eager to find love in the 17th century. She gathered ingredients to make love potions, but none of them worked for her. However, one of her potions that she made ended up going completely wrong and she was time traveled into 350 years into the future! She is now a modern witch, who is still trying to find her one true love.

This book left me feeling joyful and I am grateful to have read such a beautiful story! I give this book a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars! I highly recommend this to anyone that loves reading a fun and cozy fantasy book!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Cecilia Edward, and S&S Saga Press for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a cute take on modern dating. A 39 year old woman from the 1600s is a witch of her time that just wants to be left alone to work on her potions in the forest. However she finds herself in the modern era of dating, friendships, and an internal reflection that had a much darker connection than I anticipated coming! It was so funny to see the MC’s narration to modern dating woes, as well as the surprise and bemusement at modern technology. It was such a cute fun read!

This book was a cozy delight! I love witches and the potions were so fun. Bandit is a great familiar and was a great addition to the story. Thorn is a very relatable witch and I loved the witty moments. The dating apps and navigating the modern world after time traveling was my favorite part about the book. It didn’t make me laugh out loud like some other reviewers said, but it was definitely enjoyable. I think this is a great year round read and not just for fall time. There were some more serious moments like with Thorn’s sister, and it added just enough conflict to keep you reading without taking from the cozy moments in the book. Overall, I’d recommend to a friend!!

4.5 Stars

Thorn Scarhart is a 17th century witch, who has been unlucky in finding love. Now before her 40th birthday she is determined to perfect one of her love potions, and have the next man picked by the local matchmaker fall in love with her. Unfortunately, the potion doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to and Thorn ends up 350 years in the future. Her cottage from the 1600s has been turned into a historical site, and Thorn finds herself surrounded by all of the conveniences of the modern world. After some time getting used to her new surroundings, she discovers things might not be so bad, until she joins the online dating scene, starts remembering things from her family’s past, and trying to solve the recent weird behavior of the cats around the town.

An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating is a cozy, witchy romance that explores the complexities of relationships. Thorn was a a great character and I loved that she was older. Even though she is about to turn 40, she still struggles with how others see her and wanting to change herself to fit the expectations of the men she’s dating. There are some funny moments along her dating journey, and I liked that Edward used more of a dry humor in her writing, rather than making it frivolous romcom dialogue, especially since the story focuses on a mature character.

Thorn’s appearance in modern day is such a great premise, and it was fun seeing her navigate the technology and language. I enjoyed the friendship she developed with Meg and Walls, and thought they were perfect side characters to help Thorn navigate her new surroundings. Thorn’s cat (familiar), Bandit, definitely gets my vote as favorite side character. His dry, sarcastic personality gives the right amount of cattitude, and all of his snarky comments were hilarious.

I loved seeing Thorn grow throughout the story, and find love in a totally different way than she expected. She also has some trauma from her past to deal with, and secrets that were hidden during her childhood have caught up with her in the present day. I personally felt like the family conflict was too easily resolved and forgiven, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the rest of the story.

If you are looking for a well-written cozy, witchy romance with quirky characters and a search for love across time, then I would highly recommend An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating.

I absolutely loved this book! It had me laughing out loud, and the witchy, cozy vibes were just perfect. It's the ideal fall read to really get you into the seasonal spirit. The characters were fantastic, and I adored the slow-burn romance, especially how it emphasized the importance of self-love and truly understanding what love is.

This book was so cozy and silly and lovely! Exactly what I needed right now. Thorn was so funny and relatable from the very beginning. I loved reading about an 39 year old witch (as a 35 year old.) who is trying to find love. There’s potions, time travel, and a charming cat familiar! Such a fun story and the cover is beautiful!

"An Ancient Witch's Guide to Modern Dating" by Cecilia Edward is a charming cozy fantasy that combines two of my favorite tropes: witches and time travel. The premise promised a great tale, and boy, did it deliver!

The book follows Thorn Scarhart, a thirty-nine-year-old witch looking for love in the 17th century—not an easy task at any age or period. After the disappearance of her sister and the loss of her mother, she is all alone, except for her familiar, a cat named Bandit. Despite her arsenal of powerful love potions, none bring her the love she seeks. But when one of her potions backfires, Thorn is hurled 350 years into the future—into the 21st century, no less—with her cat and a frog in tow. There, she discovers both the perks of modern life and the perils of online dating. With the help of Meg, a museum curator, and her veterinarian brother, Walls, Thorn tries to find her footing—and maybe even her perfect match.

I loved this book! Witches, potions, and cats galore graced its pages. And there was even a bit of mystery revolving around cats. I especially loved how the cats treated their owners as mere servants—because, let’s be honest, no one really owns a cat. The relationships between the felines and their so-called "owners" were delightful, and the main characters felt so real that it was easy to connect with them, especially Thorn.

Speaking of Thorn, I loved that she was in her late thirties and hadn’t given up on love. However, I didn't like the way she was treated by her mother and sister. The meaning behind her name was heart-wrenching, and the way her treatment was dismissed didn’t sit right with me. I also felt her mother and sister were forgiven a bit too easily for their actions.

The book explores themes of family, toxic relationships, self-esteem, changing oneself to meet men’s expectations, personal growth, friendship, and love. You can’t help but root for Thorn, with her unusual personality and strong character development. At first, she tries to change her looks and personality to fit men’s expectations, but she eventually realizes that isn’t the way to go.

The writing was smooth and easy to read, making it effortless to get lost in the story. The author’s style perfectly balanced humor, heart, and magic, creating a book that was both entertaining and engaging from start to finish.

Overall, I found this to be a delightful cozy rom-com/fantasy. I enjoyed the book immensely and highly recommend it. Fans of feel-good books filled with hilarity, heart, and slow-burn romance will surely love this one. It has all the ingredients of an excellent read: a fun plot, colorful characters, a fabulous setting, and a romance that makes for a warm, fuzzy experience. Full stars from me!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: this book is so wholesome. If you like cozy fantasy, do yourself a favor and read this. I already knew I loved the “out of place” trope but it was also just so well done here. I can’t say enough good things about this book. It made me laugh out loud, was clever, unique and very heart warming. If you find yourself needing a relaxing, hopeful story I couldn’t recommend this enough.