Member Reviews
It was a very cute read with the slow burn romance. I really liked the plot line and the characters; they were very fun, entertaining and enjoyable to read about.
This book was super cute and fascinating! It’s nice to see a YA book about something unique like Magic. The story centers around Lia and Beckett, their family history, and ability with slight of hand. The romance is a slow burn but the plot is pretty gripping. I was immediately caught up in the whimsical nature of a magicians act and Lia trying to break ground being a female magician. Very creative.
This book in 3 words: Quirky. Cheerful. Darling.
Lia and Beckett's Abracadabra is rival magician families + a fun mystery + girl power + cutie romance. The plot of this story is truly unique and I really liked the subject matter. The idea of digging into magic tricks and unspoken rules/oaths is intriguing and a great way to explore a subject I don't know much about.
I enjoyed the characters... both loveable and cringe. Our main character, Lia, grows quite a bit and makes you proud throughout.
There's a really powerful component of equality among genders throughout the story and I loved it. It got my little feminist heart beating for a younger person's perspective on what it means to be a woman and also to excel in your field, past gender norms. Well done.
There were a few plot points that were a bit slow and lacked a bit of punch but all in all I enjoyed this book.
Reviewed for NetGalley.
I couldn’t get into this. I had to keep rereading to keep the characters straight, just didn’t work for me.
Lia and Beckett’s Abracadabra was so much fun!. I enjoyed the characters, and it was a quick read. I found the writing to be engaging and entertaining; I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day! I enjoyed every page and thought that the plot/story was very unique. Would recommend to anyone!
"I've never given anyone or anything the power to break my heart...it's scary to decide something's important."
When a mysterious letter arrives from her flighty magician grandmother, Lia finds herself spending the summer in Mirror Lake, a town known for its magic. She finds herself in a stage magic competition up against the tempting (but dangerous) Blackwell boys, most of whom underestimate her because she's a girl. It is up to Lia to prove her worth in the world of magic, and to reveal some generations-old secrets.
This book was so fun. It was such a sweet rom-com that reminded me of the cotton candy sweetness of a summer beach town that you'd get from a Sarah Dessen book. Yeah, some of the rom-com plot points were a little cliched, but I felt like that didn't take away from the overall plot. The magic storyline was really fun and unique - not something commonly found in YA, and was well-done.
The main character of Lia was really strong as well. I loved how she was written - not as just one kind of girl. She was good at math, but she also loved makeup and dressing up and being a cheerleader and a magician. She never felt the need to apologize for being more than one type of girl, and I found that refreshing in a YA MC. I also was a fan of her strong bond with her older sister, it was a fresh take on a sibling relationship.
A magical rom-com that is perfect for fans of summer beach towns, a slow burn romance, strong characters, and smart teenagers - Lia and Beckett's Abracadabra does not disappoint.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Lia and Beckett's Abracadabra in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I loved Lia. She was great to read. Quirky without being self-deprecating and genuinely seeming to know her worth? We love to see it in YA. I also loved the plot and subject matter because there's far too little magic tricks in YA for my liking.
Beckett though? Didn't deserve Lia. I kind of consistently disliked Beckett even though everything from the moment you read the title tries to trick you into thinking they should end up together. Maybe Lia being a protagonist who actually knew her worth contributed to me thinking that he was not it but I really wish they just became cool pals.
Very cute book! Would definitely recommend. I never read a young adult about magic or even an adult book for that matter. I loved how this book didnt have the main focus on romance but had it in the background. I loved learning about magic and the tricks the magic world brings. The author must have done a lot of research to describe all the tricks and I applaud them. Great book! Hope she writes a sequel!
This adorable YA rom-com was lots of fun. The plot centers around a few families of stage magicians and we follow our main character and narrator, Lia, as she attempts to solve a mystery. Her relationship with star-crossed love interest, Beckett, starts off slowly, as there is great distrust between the ladies of her family and the men of his.
Come for the stage magic, stay for the witty banter and teenage summer shenanigans.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
It was a cute read. Very YA, unfortunately. I’ve read plenty of YA romances and even though they’re geared towards a younger audience there’s always a little heat or chemistry between the main characters, and I found that spark between Lia and Beckett lacking for me to really root for their romance. It felt more platonic than romantic than anything.
Plot wise…The story itself was dry without much sustenance to keep me interested. I requested this thinking I would have magic and intrigue when it’s more like sitting at a kiddie’s birthday party watching a magician off the street perform the most basic of “magic” tricks. Not gonna lie I am disappointed there.
You don't have to like magic to enjoy this book. It is so well done. I loved Lia's character. She was such a powerful character that was confident in her abilities.
Lia sends a powerful message to girls/women everywhere. We don't have to be just one thing. We can and are multi-faceted and we should revel in that.
Enjoy.
All in all this book was adorable!
I love books with magic and this filled all my requirements for a delicious read. Yet, I can't pinpoint what it is that leaves me unfulfilled. There are no wrong aspects about the book, I just didn't see what the point of it was.
This, of course, is just my opinion. Thank you!
Review will be up on my bookstagram account closer to pub date!
This is a cute, YA Rom-com with star-crossed lovers! I adored this, but it had a slow start and I wasn’t a huge fan of the magical aspect. I loved the witty banter and seeing Lia and Beckett’s relationship flourish into something more!
This was the perfect Romance Novel to get me out of my reading slump. Beckett and Lia are charming from beginning to end, and I loved the slow pace their relationship took. The facts included throughout the book on women in magic were eye-opening. I couldn't believe the way that the men talked about women in their industry and the lack of respect given to the assistants. Overall, this book is the perfect romance to read in one sitting, and I will be recommending it to everyone I know.