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quinnpjd930's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Classism
yarisbooksandbevs's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
This was super cute. I loved the vengeance plot (while still keeping a cozy, low stakes vibe), the romance, and all the witchiness. There were lots of cute moments and a few OH SHIT moments. I really loved Talia and Emmy was sarcastic and funny. Lin is also super interesting. The world building with magical realism was don’t really nicely and explaining all the families was done really well. I enjoyed this and I could see myself picking it up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
Minor: Death
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I thought this was cute. Although I didn't love the relationship conflict. It felt like it was solvable and shouldn't have been a huge issue. I do love girlies in a revenge plot. And also a look at how friendships are really hard to maintain and people have to make a real effort to keep them alive, which sometimes means apologizing for being bad at it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, and Classism
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
itsheyfay's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
3.0
📱
This book was an unexpected delight. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I liked the town, it's kinda reminded me of Halloweentown. I liked the romance between Emmy and Talia.
This book was an unexpected delight. I wasn't sure if I would like it. I liked the town, it's kinda reminded me of Halloweentown. I liked the romance between Emmy and Talia.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny and Classism
mkate4's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book was entertaining and the narrator did a good job. I did think the characters read a little immature for being in their mid-late twenties. There was a third act fight / breakup that felt contrived for drama I also felt like Emmy’s reasons for refusing to even visit her home town for nearly a decade were weak. Despite these issues, I’ll probably read the next book in the series if my library offers it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
deelistedbooks's review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
Cozy, witchy, fall vibes!
Adult Harry Potter meets Gilmore Girls with a John Tucker Must Die set up. Diverse characters with lgbtq leads. Perfect fall read! Best enjoyed with a PSL in hand.
Adult Harry Potter meets Gilmore Girls with a John Tucker Must Die set up. Diverse characters with lgbtq leads. Perfect fall read! Best enjoyed with a PSL in hand.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
jackiepreston's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Sexual content
turrean's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Entertaining and better written than many other witchy rom-coms I’ve read, and I’m a fan of the genre. I have my usual questions about the way the world’s magical framework holds together (what do Chicago witches use for power, and why can’t Emmy tap into it? Why did every single Harlow Arbiter make the decision to keep their skills secret, if it was a royal pain, upheld an unfair caste system, and was not required by the rules of magic? ) but on the whole, the author was consistent. Gareth was a loathsome overindulged peacock, but not a villain. I would have liked to see a more substantial threat to overcome than just some financial opportunism and sexist behavior.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
readwithria's review
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.0
Payback’s A Witch is an interesting book, and a fun read, but the world building is a little weird. Allow me to explain…
The small Illinois town of Thistle Grove makes almost no sense to me. There are mansions, and giant private estates, and a whole medieval castle, all in a small town that also has regular people living in it? There’s haunted woods, two orchards - how does all of this fit in a small town that also has regular businesses, a high school, and regular people living in it?
All of the town layout conundrums aside, I had a fun time reading this. It was silly and low stakes, and easy to consume.
That being said, I didn’t believe all of the character relationships or the plot setup. Why does Emmy still care about a breakup from nearly ten years ago? What do Emmy and Talia have in common? Why does the competition have to happen? None of this is ever really explained. People even point these things out in the book, and they’re just kinda brushed off as “the way it is”
Is this book fun? Yes. Is it super groundbreaking or impactful? Not in my opinion. 3 stars.
The small Illinois town of Thistle Grove makes almost no sense to me. There are mansions, and giant private estates, and a whole medieval castle, all in a small town that also has regular people living in it? There’s haunted woods, two orchards - how does all of this fit in a small town that also has regular businesses, a high school, and regular people living in it?
All of the town layout conundrums aside, I had a fun time reading this. It was silly and low stakes, and easy to consume.
That being said, I didn’t believe all of the character relationships or the plot setup. Why does Emmy still care about a breakup from nearly ten years ago? What do Emmy and Talia have in common? Why does the competition have to happen? None of this is ever really explained. People even point these things out in the book, and they’re just kinda brushed off as “the way it is”
Is this book fun? Yes. Is it super groundbreaking or impactful? Not in my opinion. 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity