soph_mills's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
ash_mac's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
colorwriter's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
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
3.5
It took me a bit to get into it as it's a very different style of writing than I'm used. This is a charming and unique style of prose and the author did a great job of describing each person's perspective of the family dynamics, making if feel realistic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Death of parent, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry
karaswils's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment
slipp99's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Was really cute and cozy, I enjoyed getting extra details. It was like a behind the scenes of one of my favorite comfort movies
I do think the movie is way better though. I know - how sacrilege!
I do think the movie is way better though. I know - how sacrilege!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Domestic abuse
favvn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After seeing the movie for absolute years, I decided to finally read the book and wow the changes between the two! I don't know what it was about the 90s and adapting books for film in such a way as to create a wholly separate yet good adaptation but Practical Magic is one of them. (As far as I'm aware because I have yet to read the book, Fried Green Tomatoes is another example of this.)
Super poetic prose which I didn't entirely mind (I wouldn't call it purple prose), but the lack of chapter breaks or nice paragraph breaks sucked as a reader with Other Things To Do than spend the whole day reading.
Super poetic prose which I didn't entirely mind (I wouldn't call it purple prose), but the lack of chapter breaks or nice paragraph breaks sucked as a reader with Other Things To Do than spend the whole day reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
Minor: Sexual assault
meeg_han28's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
lahariel's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was surprised that the movie was so much better than the book. It's written in a manner that is purely exposition, with only a few moments of character dialogue sprinkled in for flavor. If you're looking for something "witchy," you're going to be disappointed. Only the aunts dabble in any sort of spellwork and they're barely in the book. I guess you could consider Jimmy's situation a bit spooky, but he's often treated as a lingering afterthought until an ending is finally needed.
Hoffman loves to wax poetic about every character's entire background (and I mean EVERY character) for pages on end before getting back to the heart of the plot. There are multiple times when I felt like the story just ambled away on me, because ultimately this book is about seizing love in the moment, so it's all about the characters falling in and out of love, seemingly at random, the second they look at anyone.
My recommendation is to just watch the movie.
Hoffman loves to wax poetic about every character's entire background (and I mean EVERY character) for pages on end before getting back to the heart of the plot. There are multiple times when I felt like the story just ambled away on me, because ultimately this book is about seizing love in the moment, so it's all about the characters falling in and out of love, seemingly at random, the second they look at anyone.
My recommendation is to just watch the movie.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death of parent
thesonnetsilence's review against another edition
I tried to get into it, but I just couldn't. It started off very slow and just meh for me. I kept finding excuses to not pick this book back up. When I finally mustered up the energy to try it again, I couldn't get past the triggering content. I was not in the right headspace for this one and I'm happy I didn't torture myself to the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Murder, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexism
issyfrp99's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Sexual harassment