lizacorn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is one of those cosy books were you might cry a bit throughout. Feels like a warm hug with how human and kind it is.
A truly special story.
Also! Loved how everyone’s skin colour was shared.
A truly special story.
Also! Loved how everyone’s skin colour was shared.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Homophobia, Racism, and Death of parent
dreamingofreading's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
leilah_m's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
angelmoo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It felt like not a lot happened in this book when it came to the plot but if you like all comfort no hurt reads then this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Toxic relationship
dodecashedron's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so cozy!! The characters were so loveable, the stakes low but high enough to be deeply invested.
The magic system is delightful, I loved Mika, Jamie, and everyone else. This is the epitome of found family and it made me all warm and cozy.
I do feel that I have to warn people, I did she'd a few tears during this book, and I had not expected it and was on a train. So be warned. (they were so worth it though).
It's also proof that the chipper protagonist gets with grumpy, mean, seemingly uncaring person with heart of gold is not a bad trope, if you actually make sure the person is just grumpy, does like the protagonist and has a heart of gold! Instead of just being awful to the protagonist all the time and then all of a sudden also being in love???
The magic system is delightful, I loved Mika, Jamie, and everyone else. This is the epitome of found family and it made me all warm and cozy.
I do feel that I have to warn people, I did she'd a few tears during this book, and I had not expected it and was on a train. So be warned. (they were so worth it though).
It's also proof that the chipper protagonist gets with grumpy, mean, seemingly uncaring person with heart of gold is not a bad trope, if you actually make sure the person is just grumpy, does like the protagonist and has a heart of gold! Instead of just being awful to the protagonist all the time and then all of a sudden also being in love???
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Death, and Gaslighting
Minor: Xenophobia, Body horror, and Racism
bookmark3brodi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
ksuazo94's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
trips's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a very kind, witty, and bright book about witches and found family!
Mika Moon finds herself tutoring 3 young witches who according to the "rules" shouldn't be living together. However, Mika herself, having known how lonely it is to grow up with a revolving door of nannies, agrees to stay at "Nowhere House" to help the little found family out.
There is also a love interest, Jamie, who seems to be a grumpy to Mika's sunshine. While I found their relationship cute, I thought it was more touching how Jamie had become essentially a father for these 3 witches...Which isn't to say I don't like Mika and Jamie together, I just think they kinda needed more time to learn about each other before becoming romantic given their individual trauma butttttttt its a book so I understand.
The writing is bright and entertaining, the plot is warm and inviting. Overall I enjoyed this book!
Mika Moon finds herself tutoring 3 young witches who according to the "rules" shouldn't be living together. However, Mika herself, having known how lonely it is to grow up with a revolving door of nannies, agrees to stay at "Nowhere House" to help the little found family out.
There is also a love interest, Jamie, who seems to be a grumpy to Mika's sunshine. While I found their relationship cute, I thought it was more touching how Jamie had become essentially a father for these 3 witches...Which isn't to say I don't like Mika and Jamie together, I just think they kinda needed more time to learn about each other before becoming romantic given their individual trauma butttttttt its a book so I understand.
The writing is bright and entertaining, the plot is warm and inviting. Overall I enjoyed this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
ohheyitskaitlin's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Confinement, Bullying, Grief, Blood, Alcohol, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, and Violence
skudiklier's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was just as cozy and good and magical the second time around! I reread this because we're reading it for my book club, and I'm so excited to have people to talk about it with, because the first time I read it it hadn't come out yet and I was trying so hard to convince anyone I could to read it. I love this book.
Original review pasted below:
I absolutely adored this book. I mean, really. It's got witches. It's got found family. It's got enemies to lovers. It's got queer grandpas. It's got cute little kids. It's got plot twists. What more could you ask for from a book, honestly.
Also--you know that feeling you get when you're deep into a good story, or maybe you've already finished it, and you find yourself wanting to go back to that world and those characters? You could be doing anything and then suddenly you have this weird urge that maybe you can't place for a minute, until you go, oh, I just want to go back to reading/watching that.
I get that a lot, but in most cases it's not until I'm a good ways into the story, unless I'm rereading a childhood favorite or something like that. What's weird about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is that I started feeling that way almost right from the beginning. I was barely into the book, and still would feel myself drawn to the characters. I didn't have a lot of time to read it at first, so I made my way through the first third the book pretty slowly, and it was surprisingly hard to not just drop everything and read it all so I could stay in the story.
By midway through, I sort of did drop everything to finish it. I couldn't help it. And agh, I just, I loved it so much. I have no idea if the author plans to write sequels, but I hope she does, just because I feel like I could spend so much longer in this world and with these characters, and never have enough.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Original review pasted below:
I absolutely adored this book. I mean, really. It's got witches. It's got found family. It's got enemies to lovers. It's got queer grandpas. It's got cute little kids. It's got plot twists. What more could you ask for from a book, honestly.
Also--you know that feeling you get when you're deep into a good story, or maybe you've already finished it, and you find yourself wanting to go back to that world and those characters? You could be doing anything and then suddenly you have this weird urge that maybe you can't place for a minute, until you go, oh, I just want to go back to reading/watching that.
I get that a lot, but in most cases it's not until I'm a good ways into the story, unless I'm rereading a childhood favorite or something like that. What's weird about The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches is that I started feeling that way almost right from the beginning. I was barely into the book, and still would feel myself drawn to the characters. I didn't have a lot of time to read it at first, so I made my way through the first third the book pretty slowly, and it was surprisingly hard to not just drop everything and read it all so I could stay in the story.
By midway through, I sort of did drop everything to finish it. I couldn't help it. And agh, I just, I loved it so much. I have no idea if the author plans to write sequels, but I hope she does, just because I feel like I could spend so much longer in this world and with these characters, and never have enough.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Bullying, Abandonment, Child abuse, Alcohol, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Murder, Homophobia, Abortion, and Death of parent