savvyrosereads's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Out September 27, 2022 [Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!]
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Lucy Caraway is a young witch who loves her life but yearns for more. But when she makes a wish for a more exciting life and her old crush Alexander Dwyer (who just happens to be a merman) shows up, she just might get more than she bargained for…
This one is cute, witchy, and romantic, but ultimately fell a little flat for me. It was one of those reads where I’m not entirely sure what the problem was…I wanted to love it, and it had all the elements of books I enjoy, but something never quite clicked. The world-building felt inadequate and I never fully understood how Lucy’s magic or her wish actually worked. The characters weren’t fully fleshed out (which made me really dislike almost all the supporting cast) and a surprising amount of things were left unresolved considering that this is meant to be a lighthearted romance novel.
All that said, I love that this book offers diverse representation, loved the themes of chasing the life you want rather than sitting back and waiting for something to happen to you, and the last chapter/epilogue were super cute. If you think this sounds good to you, I say go for it!
Recommended if you like: witchy romance (with BIPOC rep!); second chance romance; reflections on growing up.
CW: Abandonment; mentions of loss of loved one/grief.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Abandonment
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