Oh this was adorable i loved every second of this, The setting, the writing was so magical i adored the characters and just everything about this,

Thank you to NetGalley, the author & publisher for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a review.

I really liked this book it was cute and funny with a little witchyness thrown in ☺️ easy read and flowed nicely and MC was very likeable. Would recommend!

If you're looking for a literary masterpiece and intricate world building then maybe this isn't the one for you, but this is a pretty cute easy read with some witchy vibes that I think isn't too shabby.

It had some strong moments and perhaps the thing that lets it down the most is the lack of romance and HEA. Perhaps this is opening up for more books to come but it would have been nice to get that fulfilling ending.

I really wanted to like this book. I enjoyed the blurb and thought it sounded like a fun read. Unfortunately, I made it to chapter 7 and nothing had really happened. I ended up skim reading the rest.

Just not for me.

I do love a cosy murder mystery and this book was exactly that. However, I wouldn’t class this as a romance as there wasn’t much of it present. But besides that, the witchy aspect of the book definitely could have been explored more as I desperately needed details and for Phoebe’s magic to be thoroughly explored in depth.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Something Wicked

Author: Gretchen Rue

Genre: Cozy mystery, woman's fiction, mystery and thrillers, and romance.

Publish date: September 14, 2023

Synopsis from NetGalley and Goodreads:

Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Gilmore Girls in your next witchy rom-com obsession, with a murder mystery twist.

Recipe for a potion to demolish life as you know it:

Step one: pack up your life and move to your aunt’s old house in a small, sleepy town.
Step two: discover that she was a witch.
Step three: discover that you’re also a witch.
Step four: Add a sprinkle of butterflies for your childhood friend (who’s suddenly incredibly hot), a dash of prying neighbours who want you to leave their town and never come back, and – the key ingredient – a murder on the steps of your aunt’s old tea shop (which, as it happens, is also a magic apothecary).

Voila. Your spell is complete.

My thoughts:

I loved this book so much it really put me in a Halloween and Fall mood with the lovely aspects that mentions the cool October weather and decorating for Halloween. I loved how this book got a chubby Orange cat named Bob. It mentions different types of delicious tea flavors. “Lavender Iced Tea Mix” “Lemon Meringue Pie..... A place called Sugarplum Fairy. The Gilmore Girls vibes with the cute small town that got a charming European quality. And the delicious recipes. This book was perfect. I highly recommend it.

Read if you like:

• Slow burn
• Witches
• Magic
• Cats
• Tea
• Small town vibes
• Childhood friends
• Recipes
• Bookstore & Tea store

Favourite annotations:

• but this wasn’t just herbs and crystals. This was magic.

• and whether I should be upset about not getting my letter to Hogwarts as a child.

• there was Bob’s Burgers and pasta.

Romance: 🩷
Spice: 🌶️ None.
Mystery: 🕵️🕵️🕵️🕵️🕵️

Phoebe's aunt Eudora has died and left her a house and shop in the small Hallmark style town Raven Creek. Recently divorced, it seems the perfect way for her to re-start her life. But there are some mysteries to discover about Eudora and the town, that lead to some more dramatic outcomes than Phoebe expected.

The cover of this says that it's for fans of the Ex Hex but I personally don't think it's similar. I wouldn't remotely call it a romance, it's much more a cozy murder mystery. I think you'd like this if you like that sort of genre, especially if you enjoy very light witchy references (though I hope you're not a "new age" witch as you'll feel majorly insulted by this book!)

I found the mystery intriguing enough to follow, and I didn't guess who did it (though I never do, so don't look too much into that!). It's fun to find out more about the town, though in order to set up the murder we're introduced to characters that we don't then see again and whose stories don't get wrapped up in order to act as red herrings. It also touches on elements that I think feel are under explored (such as the magic Phoebe has) until they serve as a very convenient plot point. It ends very abruptly with a lack of tied up ends which was disappointing after investing in the read.

The writing style isn't 100% my sort of thing, but if you're a fan of very slow moving cozy books then I think you'll like this. It's quite atmospheric in terms of the weather and walking through the town.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was in search for a cozy, witchy read to slowly draw myself into the autumn season, and I'm happy to announce I found the perfect book!

Set in small town Ravens Creek, we follow Phoebe, a city girl who comes to live in her Aunt Eudoras victorian mansion and take over The Earls Library, a book and tea room shop (more on that later), after the passing of her Aunt. Phoebe is instantly met with some rather unfriendly and curious neighbours and townspeople, followed by a gruesome murder on the doorstep of her new shop.

You would think this is already enough on Phoebes plate, however, things with her Aunt no longer seem to add up - in particular, her Aunts teas which cause too many VERY specific side effects to be a coincidence. This leads Phoebe to question who her Aunt really was, and who Phoebe really is.

First of all, I just want to say that all things considered (to be specific, murder) I would happily move to Ravens Creek and live in a big old victorian mansion with my cat and run a bookstore AND tea room. I'm pretty confident in saying that is most book readers dreams. I loved reading about Phoebe learning how to run the store, her interactions, and how the author goes into much detail about the surrounding areas and what Phoebe is doing. It felt like I was right there, and I was fully immersed into the story. I know some people prefer these details to be overlooked, but I think in a cozy book like this it just adds to the overall vibes that I was seriously looking for. I can't express how much I LOVED everything about the setting in this one, and with it being set during Autumn it was just *chefs kiss*. I would happily read about Phoebe doing the most mundane things just by how much the author seemed to romanticise these little things.

The murder mystery and witchy aspects helped keep the plot line driving forward, and neither seemed to take over more of the story than the other. It wasn't overly witchified, which I wouldn't have complained about, but I suppose Phoebe is only just learning about her Witch heritage in this book so I hope in future books we learn more about that as the way the witch system worked seemed really cool and like there's a lot the author could write about.

The author also introduced numerous characters who had a certain suspicious vibe about them - at one point I think I had around 3 suspects for the murder. The plot twist at the end wasn't who I actually thought it would be, which goes to show that this is definitely a murder mystery written right. There was plenty of moments of suspense, such as one point Phoebe being chased by a mysterious person... When I tell you I was like 'please just get out of there rn girl'

Overall, I give this book 5/5 stars. I seriously loved it. I wanted to jump into the book, and I'm sad to say I've finished it. Not to worry though, there is a second book in the series and you best believe I will be reading that at some point this Autumn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with an eARC of this book in return for an honest review - Something Wicked is now available in the UK. And thank you to Gretchen Rue for writing and sharing this with us all!

In Something Wicked we follow Phoebe, she's recently divorced and has inherited her Aunt Eudora's house and tea/book shop. What follows is a witchy self discovery, murder mystery story that is such a fun, cosy read, I flew through this book in a couple of days. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the chance to read Something Wicked.

This is the first book I've read from Gretchen Rue and I really enjoyed it.

Its a YA, Small Town, Found Family, New Starts, sweet, witchy, cozy, paranormal, murder mystery with a rom-com thrown in. It's an easy quick read.

The romance is a slow-burn, with a couple of childhood friends.

Phoebe is our mid 30's, divorced neice of Eudora and she inherits her aunts big house & bookshop (The Earls Study) once she passes away.

We meet an aray of other people who live in the town inc a very nosy and not so nice Mrs Dierdre Miller.

Pheobe is a few days settling in and one evening she gets call saying there has been a man murdered outside The Earls Study.

Add in the fact she learns not only her aunt was a witch but she is one also, a childhood friend who grew up to be very handsome and lots of other secrets being revealed.

Really nice, easy witchy book, very tiny sprinkling of romance. Exactly what we all need from time to time.

Read if you like: YA, small town, new starts, found family, magical hijinks and a murder mystery. It is written in the first person and is an easy, quick read.

The story is a sweet, cozy, paranormal, witchy, murder mystery with the beginnings of a rom-com.

It is written from Phoebe’s point of view, who inherits The Earl’s Study, her Aunt's bookshop and tea shop and her house in the small town of Raven Creek. A recent divorcee, she gets the opportunity to start a new life and grabs it with both hands.

With a new house, business and pet cat Bob, Phoebe has her hands full. Her new home opens her eyes to her Aunt's hidden life and she begins to uncover secrets about both her Aunt and herself.

As she comes across friends from the past and makes new connections she begins to think there could be a place for her in Raven Creek.

A murder outside of her shop raises questions and she finds herself in the midst of a real-life murder mystery. Her curiosity leads her down the path of magic, witches and secrets.

There are lots of little twists and turns in the story and Phoebe’s questions quickly become the same as the readers as the plot thickens and Phoebe tries to discover who the murderer is and what it’s got to do with her.

This book kept me guessing until the end and the story was left open with the possibility of more for Rich and Phoebe and more from the other magical Raven Creek inhabitants.

Phoebe is a strong lady and her journey of discovery, acceptance and power is a steep one, but she takes it all in her stride. I really enjoyed the combination of magic, murder mystery, a bookshop, a tea shop, a cat and a little bit of romance.

Phoebe is getting a new start after her divorce and moving into her beloved aunt's house in a small town. She's got a new job as owner of her aunt's book and tea shop, and a new cat as well.


The sleepy town seemed friendly when Phoebe was young but she's arrived to be harassed with offers to buy the house and shop; seemingly chased in the dark; and a murder happens outside her shop during an attempted break in. Will Phoebe settle into her new life, or is she next?


The description says Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the Gilmore Girls (but Stars Hallow is much friendlier) - more like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Agatha Raisin or one of the sillier Hallmark Mysteries.


The book is well-written, you get immersed in the story. Despite other reviews, I didn't have a clue who the murderer was until it was revealed. If I read it again, I'd probably spot the clues!


The romance is a slow-burn, with a couple of childhood friends as the potential new love interest.


The magical element is intriguing (definitely Sabrina-like, maybe a bit Good Witch) but verges on the ridiculous - especially during the murderer's reveal. I think the magic needed more expanding - yes, Phoebe had only just discovered her magic but nothing happens with the magic until the dramatic finale, it was missing a little more set up.


The book sets up the town and the characters for multiple stories - I've seen that there's a book 2 but it feels like it's a setting for a longer series.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a lovely cosy read. This is a small town, witchy and mystery and definitely a big slow burn book.

This story is placed based on Phoebe who moves in into her late aunt Eudora house and takes over her popular business in a small town in which everyone knew her aunt.

I really adored the whole small town and witchy vibe. It was nice to see Phoebe slowly realising the truth about being a witch and slowly figuring what powers she has. But I feel like there wasn’t much on Phoebe powers and her grasp on them. I would have loved to see her exploring her magic side but it was hardly explored.

The add of Leo and Rich gives a little thought of who the love interest will be, this is definitely a slow burn. There’s a tiny hint of romance but the majority of the book focuses on solving a murder.

This book has a lovely pace to it and it made you want to continue reading it. I’ll be honest that I did find the killer suspicious from the start but I feel like I was expecting someone else. I loved Imogen, Amy and Bob so much that without them the book wouldn’t be complete.

Thanks NetGalley and Publishers for providing me an arc of this book.

This is a perfect autumnal read, best enjoyed with a hot drink and a cat of your own on your lap. The best bits included one of the most believable literary cats I've ever come across, an excellent (and very on-brand) recipe section at the end, and a cast of compelling characters occupying a town I am sad I don't live in. I'm not entirely sure why the crime was in this book - it was very drawn out, and then suddenly very rushed. I am pretty sure that the vibes, paired with the lovely setting and interesting characters, could have carried this book without a slightly lacklustre murder. I found myself irritated at the ending, as the reveal was so sudden but also predictable, while I'd been enjoying the gentle pace of the book and the thorough descriptions. I'd happily read another in this series, but I hope the crime is better paced next time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Something Wicked was an enjoyable magical romance story.

This book is very interesting I love the fantasy mixed with a murder mystery, very fun and entertaining.

This book is perfect for people who love cosy, small town books. From looking at the cover I thought this was going to have a lot of romance in, unfortunately this wasn’t the case. The cover is beautiful but a tad misleading. If I had gone into this book knowing it was mainly just a cosy mystery I think I would’ve enjoyed it more, if that’s what you’re after then this is great!!

Really sweet witchy book! I loved the tea manifestation magic in this one, it really felt cosy and like the perfect autumn read. I loved the setting, Eudora’s house seemed really cosy and very Sabrina the teenage witch vibes with the aunt connection. Bob was cute although a really poor name choice for a witches cat in my opinion.

I didn’t connect much with any of the characters really, but did really like Imogen, Amy and Eudora. I thought the murder mystery aspect was fun but felt slightly abrupt in some ways. I think i actually preferred the sections of the book that was more focused on Eudoras teas and books and how phoebe was figuring out who she was and how to run things like her aunt did.

Overall, an easy, enjoyable read, perfect for autumn.

Another new to me author and I'd happily visit Raven Creek again and again. It got me in the mood for Halloween and all things autumnal!

Phoebe's recently divorced and grieving the loss her Aunt Eudora too. Raven Creek offers her a new home, a thriving business and a fresh start. But someone appears to have it in for Phoebe before she even gets to fully unpack!

I really adore small town romances with a little magical/paranormal twist. It was great getting to see Phoebe grasp her magical ancestry and realise that she's not an average witch. The murder mystery running parallel to her personal story gave added depth. The descriptions of the town and its inhabitants were detailed and comprehensive and they all sort of popped into my brain!

Rich and Leo added a layer of "who is the potential love interest" and I really enjoyed getting to know them both. I'm looking forward to see how the romance element of the books develop.

This is a slow burn/cosy/murder mystery/friends to more book. The chapters and shorter and really helped to keep me in the world and I read this in one fell swoop. If you enjoy Jana DeLeon then you'll probably like this too.