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laurel616's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Was this groundbreaking, or something that I will remember years from now and think back fondly on? No, absolutely not. Was this a fun, cozy-but-still-young-feeling book to read while sitting by the pool this summer? Hell yes.
This was an easy read, with good vibes all around. Happy ending, the kind of drama that I love to hear about irl, all painted over a fun, witchy, fall environment. Man, I am excited for autumn after reading this.
One thing that I will say - I, like the author, live in Chicago, and some of the parts talking about Chicago were totally odd. Some examples:
- Dissing on fall in Chicago - what?!?! Fall is great here!
- Specifically naming restaurants being nice because they have "$15 cocktails" - girl what nice restaurant are you going to where $15 cocktails seem expensive?
- Listing three "favorite go-to" restaurants that are like, the most varied locations possible. How are these the MC's go-to places that makes NO sense to me.
But, making it worse - I am from Chicago, and have strong opinions. I can only imagine as a reader NOT from Chicago how boring and little sense those sections would be read as. Either make it a love letter to Chicago that makes people want to visit or make it a less-specific downer (or mixed-bag) on a city that more people can relate too.
This was an easy read, with good vibes all around. Happy ending, the kind of drama that I love to hear about irl, all painted over a fun, witchy, fall environment. Man, I am excited for autumn after reading this.
One thing that I will say - I, like the author, live in Chicago, and some of the parts talking about Chicago were totally odd. Some examples:
- Dissing on fall in Chicago - what?!?! Fall is great here!
- Specifically naming restaurants being nice because they have "$15 cocktails" - girl what nice restaurant are you going to where $15 cocktails seem expensive?
- Listing three "favorite go-to" restaurants that are like, the most varied locations possible. How are these the MC's go-to places that makes NO sense to me.
But, making it worse - I am from Chicago, and have strong opinions. I can only imagine as a reader NOT from Chicago how boring and little sense those sections would be read as. Either make it a love letter to Chicago that makes people want to visit or make it a less-specific downer (or mixed-bag) on a city that more people can relate too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Misogyny
fatherprozac's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Classism
boba_nbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this story quite a bit! The magic aspect was fun, and the characters and feuding families made the story come alive.
The main theme of the novel seemed to be coming home for yourself, and I think the author hit the nail on the head with it. It was well executed and showed how you can want something for yourself while also wanting to be with the person you love.
The main theme of the novel seemed to be coming home for yourself, and I think the author hit the nail on the head with it. It was well executed and showed how you can want something for yourself while also wanting to be with the person you love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Misogyny
melodyseestrees's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny
thehobbitbarbie's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I thought I was going to love this book and was so excited to read along as the series progresses. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for me to realize this was not the cozy fantasy romance I was looking for. While the setting was charming at times and the spicy moments delivered as promised, the main character's motivations are weak, the relationships all feel forced and awkward, and no one seems to exist past the main character's sphere. For a book that was pitched to me as having Halloween Hallmark vibes, I feel like this missed the mark on the community aspect that makes small-town romances like this successful, and in truth, it felt more like the plot of a Sims neighborhood story than a Hallmark movie. I will also admit that I have a strong bias against characters referring to themselves and each other by their last names outside of sports media, so that certainly didn't win this book any points.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Classism
kdailyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity
thecourtofreading's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
well wasn't that a big fat disappointment. it seems like such an interesting premise too, but i ended up feeling rather disappointed by it. even for me, there were too many pop-culture references, and although i got them, they got way too annoying. at one point, one of the characters says "TBH" and i think they're supposed to be adults? also, why was bridgerton mentioned for gods sake?
in terms of atmospheric, this felt like i was reading about stars hollow from gilmore girls, which is perfectly okay because i love that show, and this book was a fun read (i guess) for october/november but it still disappointed me more than enthralled me
in terms of atmospheric, this felt like i was reading about stars hollow from gilmore girls, which is perfectly okay because i love that show, and this book was a fun read (i guess) for october/november but it still disappointed me more than enthralled me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing and Violence
steffiraquel's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, and Classism
bebidocrimes's review
funny
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
4.75
I've never understood the 'Top 10 Book Boyfriends' lists on IG, but Talia could steal my heart any day. This is such a perfect autumn read, Thistle Grove really feels a little like Halloweentown, and there is so much love woven through these pages. The care in the development of all of these relationships was incredible for how much other action was packed in the Gauntlet. Everyone is bisexual and the closest thing to homophobia we get is Dickhead Blackthorne being shocked at two girls he cheated on were an item now, but that was more his ego than homophobia. It's so refreshing to move on from coming out arcs. Definitely in my top reads this year, possibly in a long time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
sarinaslibrary's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I've heard good things about this book, mostly that it was a good witchy book with no violence or scary stuff in it, and it was LGBTQ+ - perfect for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was written well and I enjoyed the characters. It gave perfect October witch cosy vibes and I adored it all.
The only thing I didn't like was everyone bullying Emmy a little for her leaving the town and doing her own thing outside with the humans, they didn't like that she didn't visit or call but they could have done the exact same thing to her. Her girlfriend didn't want Emmy to go back to Chicago and didn't want to what a lot of couples do which is to visit her there sometimes, Emmy even said that she would visit the town to see her again after doing her work in Chicago. Emmy was willing to travel but Taila wasn't - to me it was selfish of the character.
Overall I did enjoy the book and it's one my cosy witch books list to read in the spooky season.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it was written well and I enjoyed the characters. It gave perfect October witch cosy vibes and I adored it all.
The only thing I didn't like was everyone bullying Emmy a little for her leaving the town and doing her own thing outside with the humans, they didn't like that she didn't visit or call but they could have done the exact same thing to her. Her girlfriend didn't want Emmy to go back to Chicago and didn't want to what a lot of couples do which is to visit her there sometimes, Emmy even said that she would visit the town to see her again after doing her work in Chicago. Emmy was willing to travel but Taila wasn't - to me it was selfish of the character.
Overall I did enjoy the book and it's one my cosy witch books list to read in the spooky season.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol