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bookie936ange's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.75
Sisters. Magic. Plants. Love. Healing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
taynicole2698's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I didn’t love it, but I did enjoy it. It’s fairly light and surface level which makes it a quick read but it does touch on some heavier themes. The hardest part for me was the narrator’s voice, she just sounded very young/bubble gum-ish
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Abandonment
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
This was an unexpected delight. The characters are great and it flows really well and is just so enjoyable in all the elements. I will say there is a lot going on and some convenient narritive elements but it's so charming that I can't bring myself to mind it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment
delyse22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
iamnotclara's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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? No
4.0
Witch of the Wild Things is a light-hearted, witchy, rom-com.
If you're a big fan of the Cinderella Story movie staring Hilary Duff but wish she didn't actually meet and fall in love with Chad Michael Murray in high school, then do I have a novel for you! Sage, Teal, and their ghost sister Sky are born into a family that has been "cursed" with magical powers. Sage's power allows her to talk with plants a beneficial thing when she returns to work at her old summer job. Only problem is so did her old AIM flame, Tennessee. Now forced to work together, searching for plants across Virginia Sage and Tennessee are learning more about each other. Only problem, Tennessee doesn't know Sage is that mysterious girl from AIM all those years ago and enlists her to help find that girl.
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland has set up the anthology perfectly. The stakes just high enough. The romance and charisma between the two main characters is enigmatic, which allows the books to be one you just don't put down. The mysteries and dealing of changes and returning to one's home town after moments of what feel like failure is alluring to anyone looking for that classic love story motif.
If you're a big fan of the Cinderella Story movie staring Hilary Duff but wish she didn't actually meet and fall in love with Chad Michael Murray in high school, then do I have a novel for you! Sage, Teal, and their ghost sister Sky are born into a family that has been "cursed" with magical powers. Sage's power allows her to talk with plants a beneficial thing when she returns to work at her old summer job. Only problem is so did her old AIM flame, Tennessee. Now forced to work together, searching for plants across Virginia Sage and Tennessee are learning more about each other. Only problem, Tennessee doesn't know Sage is that mysterious girl from AIM all those years ago and enlists her to help find that girl.
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland has set up the anthology perfectly. The stakes just high enough. The romance and charisma between the two main characters is enigmatic, which allows the books to be one you just don't put down. The mysteries and dealing of changes and returning to one's home town after moments of what feel like failure is alluring to anyone looking for that classic love story motif.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Domestic abuse
bstephens0515's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship
carbs666's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Okay this book wasn't my usual cup of tea but I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it despite that fact! It is narrated in the first person which typically I really can't stand, especially in a romance, but in this case it made sense bc Sage is experiencing things (her sisters haunting) that no other characters are experiencing. However, it does put us in a difficult position with Tennessee where a lot of time I felt like his motivations weren't super clear, or maybe felt like they didn't make much sense? He is so vulnerable with Sage, which is the only way to give readers insight into his emotions and inner world, but it makes it extremely to watch Sage lie and withhold from him while he is choosing to be open with her because.....he likes her? I guess? I also found it kind of hard to watch Sage hold a grudge against Tenn for something that happened when they were IN HIGH SCHOOL at the big age of 30. At least Sage can admit to herself that it's stupid. The author did a great job of making you root for Sage despite that, because her family and friends treat her SO unfairly??? Watching her learn how to stand up for herself, to break things so they can grow back together better, is gratifying.
This book is actually quite heavy and deals with a lot of different kinds of trauma that both MCs hold. However, I think this book is a real testament to my belief that romance can handle those topics, and handle them with nuance, depth, and sensitivity. I also rly enjoyed the elements of magical realism and felt they were deployed effectively. The twist at the beginning of the 3rd act felt a bit rushed - we could have spent maybe a bit more time building to it? - but overall I rly enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.
This book is actually quite heavy and deals with a lot of different kinds of trauma that both MCs hold. However, I think this book is a real testament to my belief that romance can handle those topics, and handle them with nuance, depth, and sensitivity. I also rly enjoyed the elements of magical realism and felt they were deployed effectively. The twist at the beginning of the 3rd act felt a bit rushed - we could have spent maybe a bit more time building to it? - but overall I rly enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
crystalisreading's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Colonisation
Mention of death by aneurysm Mention of cop as love interest Destruction of woodlandscaseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cursing, Sexual content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Infidelity
httponyo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
Sage spends her entire life being emotionally neglected by her Aunt while having to pseudo raise her two younger sisters after their mom abandons them. This ofcourse leads to a BOAT load of trauma for all parties involved and as always , the eldest sister is the scapegoat for everyone's pain.
I don't agree with some people's assessment of this book. I think Gilliland is a great writer , this book is written beautifully and the information about plants didn't feel forced to me. I liked the way there was a flip back and forth to the past & present with the messages and I found Sage and Tenn to be cute. They communicated pretty well , for the most part , and work really well together. Now the part where everything resolved a little too quickly ? Yes , I do agree that it happened WAYYY too fast ,especially when Skys body was found , alive & well. i think if Nadia had communicated better and everyone had mourned properly than Sage wouldve been told them about the ghost thing. Sky also felt MUCH less traumatized than i feel is reasonable, she spent so much time as a ghost & lost so much of her life. Other than that , I feel like the complaints of Sage's personality is unfair when you think about all she's gone through.
Personally , I feel that the depiction of grief is realistic and fair. Some people run away , some blame everyone else & themselves and some don't move on at all. The resolution came a little fast for me but it's still worth a read.
I don't agree with some people's assessment of this book. I think Gilliland is a great writer , this book is written beautifully and the information about plants didn't feel forced to me. I liked the way there was a flip back and forth to the past & present with the messages and I found Sage and Tenn to be cute. They communicated pretty well , for the most part , and work really well together. Now the part where everything resolved a little too quickly ? Yes , I do agree that it happened WAYYY too fast ,
Personally , I feel that the depiction of grief is realistic and fair. Some people run away , some blame everyone else & themselves and some don't move on at all. The resolution came a little fast for me but it's still worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Racism, Sexual assault, and Colonisation