I’ve known Lindsey Kelk more for her romance novels, so when I saw this on NetGalley I was definitely intrigued!

I did enjoy it and found myself turning the pages to see what happened next and discover the family secrets.
I like books with a magic rooted in nature based system, the description of plants and herbs and their magical properties included were a plus.

I wouldn’t say it was a cosy witch read as there were dark elements to it, but it’s nothing too heavy.

I’m not the right audience as this is a YA so I am remaining neutral, but the romance was the least interesting aspect in my opinion.

Interested to see if LK brings us more in future!

4⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

I’ll start this by saying I do really like Lindsay kelk’s usual romance books, have throughly enjoyed them. However this was a slight disappointment but maybe I’m not the right audience for it. I’m now questioning if I’m too told for YA and if I’m now done with the Romantasy element that seems to be the current fantasy obsession. I was disappointment by that element, do I think this would be good for younger and less experienced fantasy readers…. Yes! It’s not you, it’s me

3.5🌟

Thanks NetGalley for this arc, I really enjoyed it. The book is a fast past easy to read with a small amount of dark content. The book is definitely a YA book with an interesting magic system. The book definitely upped its plot lines in the last 30% making it a proper page turner. It definitely had me hooked.

When I see a pretty cover, read a nice blurb and discover a book is published by Magpie, I pre-order right away. I don't think I've come across many Magpie books disappointing me in the past. And since I'm currently in a witch mood, I really wanted to have this book. Luckily I discovered that the book was also available through Netgalley. I requested a digital copy and I was really happy that Magpie granted me one.

In a way this book is a typical YA novel. A teenager grew up living a normal life and after both parents pass away she discovers that she's actually special. Really special. It's also clear from the start that the boy she meets is destined to become her boyfriend and won't be liked by her grandmother. There is also a prophecy involved. And of course the entire story is taking place in a small and slightly old fashioned town.

This book is not very original. I predicted quite a lot of plot twists way before they were revealed. That didn't bother me however. I enjoyed this adventure and the heroine's journey. That's partly because of the writing style. The book was easy to read and I flew through it. It's also because it's sometimes nice to have a book that's not trying to surprise you all the time. The book has enough excitement to keep you entertained, without the extreme and intense shock and emotions.

Of course, the romance is a little rushed, as is quite typical for teenagers. They know each other for a few weeks and it's an epic and eternal love, but since they were actually doing quite well together and since it seemed they respected each other and really cared about each other, it was also really nice to see them together and to see them use love to make the world a better place and to make better choices. I'm not entirely sure if I'll read the sequel, but if I stumble upon it, I'll probably read it.

If you’re looking for a romantic, whimsical, witchy read then this book is for you!

This story follows 16 year-old Emily who’s father passes and she finds out she has remaining family (a grandmother and an aunty) who live in Savannah in the United States. She makes the move from Wales to the USA to be with them however secrets of her family unveil themselves and all is not what it cracks up to be.

I had a lot of fun with this book. I feel like it was a perfect transition from summer to spooky season reads. It was great to see Emily’s coming of age story and see her character development throughout the book.

There were some great characters in this book. Lydia really brought the southern feel to this book and she was extremely loveable.

The romance in this was very fast paced and at times the writing style was a bit too juvenile for me and the plot was quite predictable.

If you’re looking for an easy read, something to transition you into autumnal reads then this would definitely be for you. If you are looking for something with a heavy plot then I would skip this.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for a copy of the eARC🧹

The Bell Witches was a perfect cozy, witchy autumnal read. Initially, I was a little worried it might feel too YA, but I ended up really enjoying it.

I loved the small-town setting,I felt like I was right there the entire time I was reading. Emily was a great protagonist. She was clever, determined to uncover the truth, and eager to learn how to use her powers. The romance between her and Wyn developed quickly, they fall hard and fast (like usually in YA romances). It didn’t feel forced, given the prophecy and visions surrounding them, it felt natural.

There were plenty of surprising twists and turns. This book was a great start to the trilogy, setting up a lot of intriguing elements for the upcoming books. I really want to know more about Ashley, who she is now that she is not in her mother's shadow anymore. I loved Jackson and Lydia, and I can't wait to learn how their and Emily's mothers were connected. I also suspect Catherine still has a few tricks up her sleeve. It will be interesting to see how Wyn faces off against the werewolves and what the consequences will be.

It feels like this story has only just begun, and I can't wait to see what happens next!!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the eArc, I can't wait to hold my exclusive edition of this book in my hands!!

This was such a cosy witchy read and was perfect for Autumn. I loved the characters and the setting, I really felt it come alive through Kelk’s writing. I saw of the twists coming, but still enjoyed it. I know it was YA, so I went along with the instalove.

This has to be one of my most anticipated reads of this year and it has not let me down! It was everything I wanted it to be and more, I’ve seen it be described as instalove but the FMC is 16 so it’s fitting in this book. The vibes in this book were immaculate, I really felt like I was in Savannah (I really want to visit now) the descriptions were just perfection. I really enjoyed the storyline it was exactly what I thought it would be and it was just like a massive cozy hug in a book! The book may have been a little predictable but I didn’t mind as it was well written. I kind of want to see Em with Jackson though 🙈 I can’t wait to receive my physical special editions of this book!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC of this book in digital copy.

I read Love Story by Lindsey Kelk this summer and loved it. As romantasy made me accept my swoon for the romance genre in its entirety, I requested this book. I have to say it’s really well written and the writing is so different from her usual romcom style.

I liked the plot, characters and world building but something was missing to make this a blow away read for me. This may be as it is YA and I could see the plot coming from a distance which to some is comforting of course.

Perfect for lovers of Twilight, Beautiful Creatures etc.

This YA/emerging adult gothic fantasy/romance by Lindsey Kelk was a surprise. It's a step away from her usual genre but it really works. She captures the feelings of a being a young adult transplanted from rural Wales to Savannah who faces a succession of family secrets, the discovery of a world she didn't know and the exhilaration of first loves and new friends. The story is pact, the dialogue convincing and I raced through it in a day. If you grew up with Buffy, loved Vampire Diaries you'll love this. (Copy received from Netgalley in return for an honest review).

This was okay. Not my favourite from Kelk but an okay read.

I really enjoyed the main character and the friendships she made. However, I was not a fan of the insta-love. There was also some very obvious foreshadowing which made one of the twists not really that twisty, bit I could see the potential. There were a lot of modern slang and references which kind of took me out of the story when they were mentioned, but the worldbuilding was excellent and I truly felt like I knew what Savannah was like.

Definitely a great YA Witchy Gothic read, which was enjoyable but didn't hit that sweet spot for me. I enjoyed but wasn't obsessed.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this book despite it being YA. I’ve seen a few people say the romance side progressed too quickly but I think you have to remember these are two 16 year olds so it’s probably a bit more realistic! Catherine was a perfect villain through and through, very believable. I think the only off putting thing is TikTok style language “unalive” made me cringe a little but again, if I was 16 reading this I probably wouldn’t have flinched as much. If there’s a book 2 I would be interested seeing where the plot goes as I think there is some unresolved threads, like why Em’s mum and Lydia’s mum was in the same locket, Lydia being a potential witch etc.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've never been to the USA, let alone Savannah, Georgia - but oh boy did this book bring it alive! I really felt as if I was there walking the swelteringly hot streets beneath oak trees covered in Spanish moss, drinking sweet tea and eating biscuits for breakfast. While this was slow to start, and read more like a coming-of-age contemporary YA for the majority of the first 30%, things really began to up the ante in terms of magical happenings after that. I ended up liking the slow burn, the unfurling of reveals and secrets like a late-blooming azalea. There's something vicious and sinister behind the southern charm of Emily's long lost grandmother, and as she discovers more about her family and the many surprising things she's inherited from them, the more that unease grows.

Go into this knowing its a YA book, and the characters will act as teenagers so often do - there's some insta-love/infatuation, some silly decisions, and of course plenty of slang and cultural references.

Firstly thank you to the publisher for sending me an e-arc to review.

Sadly I really don’t think this was the right book for me. This book is meant to be a cosy witchy fantasy where the FMC finds herself after losing her only parent. She’s thrown into a new town, world and family where she’s slowly discovering new things about herself as well as catering to the ‘Insta love’ trope with MMC Wyn.

I just didn’t personally feel gripped by this story, which I felt was a shame but I do think that for others, it will be such a great read.

My main issues with the book and why I DNF’d it at 25% is that I felt the plot didn’t really move along at any type of pace. Whilst there’s great writing and great world building, I just found the plot itself to be lacking and this didn’t excite me or make me want to pick the book back up.

It’s spooky season, and there isn’t anything better to read than an amazing book about witches! This book has it all, some romance, some tragedy, overbearing family members, a prophecy, witches and werewolves.

I loved this book, it has an amazing historical backstory based on the true story of the creation of Savannah. The Bell family descended from Emma Catherine Bell, a settler on the good ship Anne. She was an English witch and ever since then there has been an Emma Catherine Bell living at Bell House, Lafayette Square, Savannah.

Emily Caroline James was raised by her father, she moved around a lot due to her father’s academic career. She was sixteen when her father died in a car accident during a storm in Wales. She learned that she had an aunt and grandmother that she never knew about and she was soon on a flight to Georgia to live with them.

Emily soon finds out that she is a witch, that werewolves exist and that she killed one to save her grandmother's life. She is coming to terms with her power that she will need to fully accept on her seventeenth birthday in her Becoming ceremony. She finds out about the prophecy, she will be the most powerful witch in Bell history, but her visions suggest she will be the reason that Savannah burns to the ground.

This book is fast paced, it kept me hooked, I loved the history and backstory of previous generations. Jackson and Lydia are great characters. Lydia the loyal, loving and slightly crazy friend. The relationship between Emily and Wyn is adorable. The ending was also a big reveal. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series to see what happens next. This is a great autumn read, perfect for the spooky season.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction and Magpie for the opportunity to review this ARC.

The Bell Witches was one of my anticipated reads of the year and overall I really enjoyed it.

The atmospheric setting was sublime I loved everything about the Deep South I was transported to in Savannah and even though I’ve never been the writing was so descriptive and thorough that it was so easy to imagine yourself there and immersed into the world building and story that the author created.

This gave me the feeling of reading the YA novels I have always loved..Emily learns she is a witch after she is sent to live with her estranged grandmother and aunt after her father tragically dies and this leads to her discovering secrets about her family history and herself.

The only thing I really wasn’t a fan of is the romance and that is because it is very insta love there isn’t any build up between the two characters they were professing their undying love for each other by the third date and I really wish this had been developed more throughout the book as I’m sure it would of felt so much more believable.

Aside from the romance I did throughly enjoy this book for what it is, a really fun atmospheric witchy YA book perfect for the autumn.

This is a captivating young adult novel with an enchanting setting and an abundance of witchy vibes! Having read a number of Lindsay Kelk’s books, I approached this one with curiosity, as it’s quite different from her usual style. However, I was thoroughly impressed when I finished the book.

The Main character, Emily, relocates from the UK to the Savannah, Georgia, to live with her grandmother and aunt following her father’s death. Soon enough, she uncovers the family’s deeply rooted magical powers, which have been passed down through the generations. Things take an even more intriguing turn when she crosses paths with Wyn, a charming young man whose life is just as mysterious as her own.

One of the standout aspects of this novel for me was the breathtaking, gothic atmosphere of the American South. The setting is a perfect match for the novel’s supernatural themes (if you’ve seen *The Originals*, you’ll have no trouble picturing it). While the plot is relatively straightforward, and some of the twists are predictable, i still really enjoyed reading it.

Lindsay Kelk is known for her brilliant romantic writing, and while Emily and Wyn’s love story unfolds rather quickly, it feels authentic to the teenage experience. I also wish some of the other characters in Emily’s friendship group had been explored in more depth.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The gothic atmosphere and fast-paced narrative sweep you along effortlessly, and despite its simplicity, I found it hard to put down. In fact, I devoured the whole thing in under two days!

This was a beautiful story of those changes that young women go through in their teens but because Emily is a Bell it's not as simple as it is for the rest of us, not that that is ever simple anyway, but for Emily there are many more changes happening to her as she becomes! Learning about her family history was fascinating and kept the pages turning especially once the real truths of what had been happening started to be revealed!
The love story between her and Wyn was very sweet as are Emily's other friendships and her relationship with her aunt and grandmother now that she has discovered them! Following Emily as she learns the truth of her life and discovers those things hidden from her all these years made the pages turn ever faster and I have to say I was a little saddened when I turned the past page. I really hope there will be further books about the Bell Witches and all the others we met in this one, I would love to know more about them all!

Many thanks to Harper Collins, Lindsey Kelk and NetGalley for letting me have access to this ARC. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review and read this.
Rating- 3.5 stars
(E-ARC)
The Bell Witches is a coming of age story filled with magic, witches and suspense. When Emily's father tragically dies, she is forced to go and live with the only remaining family she has. Her auntie and grandmother who are both as mysterious as each other. But it is not all that it seems and Emily realises that the Bell family is hiding secrets. A lot of secrets. However, Emily soon makes a connection with a boy called Wyn and believes that she has found the one as a instant connection is formed. As the sparks and the love grows between them, Emily's life begins to take a exhilarating and terrifying turn where secrets began to unravel and new secrets form. But as she grows to love him more, it begins to take her further away from her family....

I did have fun with this gothic fantasy book. The Bell Witches really engrossed me from the beginning of the book and loved to see what secrets the family was keeping away from her. As someone who loves to guess things in books, this kept me on my toes and I really enjoyed trying to guess what was going on throughout the novel. However as I got through the novel, I had already guessed the plot and knew what was going on as it was highly predictable what was going on. You could really tell from a mile where the story was going to go.

At times, I did relate to Emily at times where she talked about her romantic experience only coming from Kindles which did make me chuckle a bit whilst reading this on holiday. However, there was times where I felt the writing was quite cringey and felt like there was too many references throughout eg Taylor Swift. The Taylor Swift references were rentless and I just wish they could have been toned down a bit. I also felt like the love between Wren and Emily was too easy and felt like there was no challenges between them and was just instant

As much as I enjoyed this book to a certain extent, I really wish that there was more challenges to Emily's and Wren's relationship as a whole and was not as predictable as to what was going on..

I was really excited to read this book and while I think the concept is a good one I just did not enjoy this.
The twists were predictable and the romance felt rushed and completely unrealistic, failing to really engage the reader in wanting the relationship to succeed. We were at I love you after a couple of dates and some kisses.
I also was completely switched off from this book as soon as the author started using phrases like 'unalive you' and 'rizz'. It completely took me out of the book and felt odd and unnecessary.
I think ultimately this book was just too young for me, I know its YA but this felt much younger than other books I've read in this genre.