francesca_o's review
4.0
A surprisingly emotionally mature YA novel that was quick and pleasant. I agree with other comments re: ending, but still liked it.
endlesstbr's review
3.0
This was fine, the characters obviously cared for each other on all levels, but the central plot was strange and there were so many effects connected in some unclear way that I found myself getting lost at points.
falana's review
3.0
A group of teenagers, who happen to be magic, must cover up one their spells that has gone awry. It was nice to read about a group of diverse teenage girls who were support of one another. Good YA supernatural read that deals with sexuality and becoming oneself.
I have read Sarah Gailey's other adult books (and novellas) and think they did a great job adapting to YA.
I was given a e-galley from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have read Sarah Gailey's other adult books (and novellas) and think they did a great job adapting to YA.
I was given a e-galley from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
teacher2library's review
3.0
Six friends + senior year + magic + a plan to lose virginity gone horribly wrong (like dismembered body parts and exploded penis wrong) = 100% awesome!
izzymendes's review
3.0
i really appreciated this book. the rep it had going - an f/f romance, a character who was implied to be gendrfluid, characters of different ethnicities - was extremely diverse and made me smile. but, there was just something missing.
at some points in the book, it began to feel a bit repetitive. and, the romance disappointed me. so did the ending.
the romance was not very well-paced. we don't get a hint of alexis' crush for the first, like, 20% of the book. absolutely nothing. then, it escalated to her fangirling about her crush. and then the romance kinda only happened at the very end, and not in like a slow-burn way. in like a why-are-they-taking-so-damn-long-this-is-not-cute-its-annoying kinda way. but like also they had zero chemistry so idgaf, yknow?
the repetitiveness was just kind of our main character thinking the same things over and over and over again AND detailing the same things. i was just like I ALREADY KNOW NOW PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
the ending was underwhelming. that's it.
anyway, 3.25 stars. i liked what this book brought to the table, but i expected more than it gave me.
tinny issues: i wanted the magic to be explained better, and maryam and marcelina were literally the same damn person. iris just disappeared after, like, the first half. also why were they so bitchy to gina? like, bro here her out for a sec instead of doing what you did. it was so out of character for these girls. oh, and, i predicted the plot twist.
at some points in the book, it began to feel a bit repetitive. and, the romance disappointed me. so did the ending.
the romance was not very well-paced. we don't get a hint of alexis' crush for the first, like, 20% of the book. absolutely nothing. then, it escalated to her fangirling about her crush. and then the romance kinda only happened at the very end, and not in like a slow-burn way. in like a why-are-they-taking-so-damn-long-this-is-not-cute-its-annoying kinda way. but like also they had zero chemistry so idgaf, yknow?
the repetitiveness was just kind of our main character thinking the same things over and over and over again AND detailing the same things. i was just like I ALREADY KNOW NOW PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
the ending was underwhelming. that's it.
anyway, 3.25 stars. i liked what this book brought to the table, but i expected more than it gave me.
tinny issues: i wanted the magic to be explained better, and maryam and marcelina were literally the same damn person. iris just disappeared after, like, the first half. also why were they so bitchy to gina? like, bro here her out for a sec instead of doing what you did. it was so out of character for these girls. oh, and, i predicted the plot twist.
sunkensea's review
3.0
Book was fine. I loved the characters and the bond between all the girls was so sweet. However, the plot with Josh wasn't my favorite and felt like it was resolved without the characters doing anything.
whatjanereads's review
I read around 50% and then I just skip read.
This story just wasn’t it for me, it was super boring and repetitive even though it had so much potential.
There was no magic system and somehow not a lot of plot itself, it was more like a quiet coming of age story with a few serious topics woven through, but definitely not the story the blurb let me believe it would be.
I have to say that I loved the diverse cast and the sapphic love story though! One of few books where the two girls actually have chemistry and it’s not all just “cute” but they actually feel desire and sexual attraction without being over-sexualised!
This story just wasn’t it for me, it was super boring and repetitive even though it had so much potential.
There was no magic system and somehow not a lot of plot itself, it was more like a quiet coming of age story with a few serious topics woven through, but definitely not the story the blurb let me believe it would be.
I have to say that I loved the diverse cast and the sapphic love story though! One of few books where the two girls actually have chemistry and it’s not all just “cute” but they actually feel desire and sexual attraction without being over-sexualised!
izzymenzies's review
3.0
i really appreciated this book. the rep it had going - an f/f romance, a character who was implied to be gendrfluid, characters of different ethnicities - was extremely diverse and made me smile. but, there was just something missing.
at some points in the book, it began to feel a bit repetitive. and, the romance disappointed me. so did the ending.
the romance was not very well-paced. we don't get a hint of alexis' crush for the first, like, 20% of the book. absolutely nothing. then, it escalated to her fangirling about her crush. and then the romance kinda only happened at the very end, and not in like a slow-burn way. in like a why-are-they-taking-so-damn-long-this-is-not-cute-its-annoying kinda way. but like also they had zero chemistry so idgaf, yknow?
the repetitiveness was just kind of our main character thinking the same things over and over and over again AND detailing the same things. i was just like I ALREADY KNOW NOW PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
the ending was underwhelming. that's it.
anyway, 3.25 stars. i liked what this book brought to the table, but i expected more than it gave me.
tinny issues: i wanted the magic to be explained better, and maryam and marcelina were literally the same damn person. iris just disappeared after, like, the first half. also why were they so bitchy to gina? like, bro here her out for a sec instead of doing what you did. it was so out of character for these girls. oh, and, i predicted the plot twist.
at some points in the book, it began to feel a bit repetitive. and, the romance disappointed me. so did the ending.
the romance was not very well-paced. we don't get a hint of alexis' crush for the first, like, 20% of the book. absolutely nothing. then, it escalated to her fangirling about her crush. and then the romance kinda only happened at the very end, and not in like a slow-burn way. in like a why-are-they-taking-so-damn-long-this-is-not-cute-its-annoying kinda way. but like also they had zero chemistry so idgaf, yknow?
the repetitiveness was just kind of our main character thinking the same things over and over and over again AND detailing the same things. i was just like I ALREADY KNOW NOW PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
the ending was underwhelming. that's it.
anyway, 3.25 stars. i liked what this book brought to the table, but i expected more than it gave me.
tinny issues: i wanted the magic to be explained better, and maryam and marcelina were literally the same damn person. iris just disappeared after, like, the first half. also why were they so bitchy to gina? like, bro here her out for a sec instead of doing what you did. it was so out of character for these girls. oh, and, i predicted the plot twist.
smaxdilweed's review
4.0
4 | I think this might be my favorite of their books so far! It definitely felt like a very mature YA book that any adult could get excited about reading. I love a book that takes place during a short period of time, in this case the week after prom and the night that sets everything off for this friend group. I loved the themes of identity, acceptance and found family/deep friendships set within an interesting witchy context. I appreciated that the ending didn’t wrap up everything with a bow, leaving some plot points more open-ended.