A cute witchy story for the darker season with sprinkles of cozy magic inside!

I wanted to love the book, but ended up having a really enjoyable time with it and sadly nothing more ~ maybe my expectations were too high. The writing was really good and made flying through the pages so much more easy and the MC was relatable in a lot of ways, but couldn't really involve me? It's hard to describe, but I had a lot of fun accompanying her.

The story itself was decent, however the story couldn't really catch me and the same goes for the ending. I expected something like this but didn't really enjoy it and I just hoped for something a little bit more believable.

Witches get their powers when they’re 15 and are pretty much left to their own devices after that, as is custom. Belle is almost 30 and as witches are getting rarer and rarer, the only other witch in her life is her mom.

Belle only uses her magic in small every day ways and she absolutely loves working at Lunar books. But when the owner is about to retire and asks her to buy the bookshop from her, she feels too insecure to do so.

A magical letter, brought to her by a male which, who seems a bit too sure of himself, changes everything. Belle is about to fail one of the biggest challenges of her life and it’s the start of a journey full of heart, magic, mystery and self discovery and maybe even love.

Thank you Pan MacMmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of Rewitched and thank you Lucy Jane Wood, for writing this magical comfort read, a new favorite of mine.

Rewitched was so much more than I expected. The fantasy part is so good, it’s not just a comfort read. And there’s so much love woven into this magical story.. Belle has such a fun roommate/best friend and the mother-daughter relationship is chef’s kiss! I did feel like the portrayal of the supposedly warm and amazing relationship between her and her mentor was a bit lacking, I didn’t completely feel what was told.

There’s a blossoming romance and although it was pushed into the enemies to lovers corner a bit too forcefully at the start (especially her overreacting to him barely saying/doing anything), once that was over and especially when we got to see how he really was, I loved it!!!

This was the perfect autumn read and I just know you will fall in love with this book too if you love a good story where you slowly get to discover a magical community and lots of different kinds of magic, while still mostly staying in the real world and where a lot is at stake and several mysteries are being unraveled but there’s always the support and love from family, friends and even a new romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a warm hug of a book. The characters were really well-developed and I really loved the relationship dynamics, particularly Belle's relationships with her mother and Ariadne. While the initial plotline is slightly contrived (what is Belle hadn't been born on 1st October?!) the overall narrative is satisfying and it's a perfect cosy autumn read.

I requested this on NetGalley after being drawn in by the gorgeous cover but then worried that the book itself wouldn't live up to it - but I was wrong! It was such a cosy, uplifting and heartwarming story and I was sad when it ended. Bella is a relatable and loveable character with all the self-doubt, worries, and life dramas you'd expect from a 30yo main character, and her relationship with her best friend Ariadne was just beautiful.

It felt like the plot unfolded rather slowly, but ultimately this didn't matter in the end as I loved the story so much. Lucy Jane Wood's descriptions of settings, sounds, sights and smells is so rich and vivid that I could clearly imagine Belle's flat, Lunar Books, and chilly autumnal London. I also love a backstory and so learning the dark history of the Selcouth Coven added a twisted extra dimension to the story.

Would 100% recommend Rewitched for the perfect read for cosy nights in. It took me a while to read it (life etc) but I could've absolutely read this in a couple of nights otherwise!

Absolutely loved, loved, loved this book. If you like witches and warlocks, this is the book for you.
Belle is a 30 year old witch who has to pass her final tests to reach the full potential of her powers. But someone seems to want her to fail. Belle is assigned a mentor to help her achieve her full potentials. Will she succeed?
This book was like being wrapped in a cosy blanket.
You would be a fool to pass this book by.

I really wanted to love this sweet witchy tale, but it ended up just being sort-of-okay. The pacing is wildly off, for a start - it takes nearly half the book to get Belle into the position she's at by the end of the blurb, so there's no suspense in the first half of the story. The minutiae of Belle's life are painstakingly described, and while this could be considered cosy, for me, it was boring. And I'm someone who often falls in love with characters and their lives *before* the inciting incident in a fantasy, and would happily read more of them going on in their regular situation; not so with Belle, who I found myself desperate to see doing *anything* interesting. Belle's witch training should have been a particular highlight for me, as this is the kind of slice-of-life fantasy I live for, but it was oddly flat. The romance is half-baked and barely features, which is a let-down when it's treated like it should be a hugely satisfying part of the plot. The final chapters were fun, because there was finally something going on in the plot department! I honestly think this is just a misclick for me; so close on so many levels, but I really struggled to get invested.

I genuinely hope this is the beginning of a long and vibrant author career for Lucy Jane Wood! What a beautiful story, and something that was so desperately appreciated and needed as someone approaching 30! This is amazing for a debut novel, and Belle was an equally frustrating and relatable character, I think she will stay with me forever.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.

Review posted on Instagram 22 Oct 2024
Review posted on StoryGraph & Goodreads 03 Nov 2024

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood is a charming, heartfelt spell of a story that feels like coming home to a cozy world of magic and self-discovery. Lucy’s writing is witty and warm, capturing the humour and wonder of embracing one’s quirks and finding power in unexpected places. With endearing characters and a plot that sparkles with light-hearted whimsy, Rewitched is the kind of book that wraps you in a gentle hug, reminding you of the magic in the everyday. It’s delightful, refreshing, and impossible to read without a smile.

Unfortunately this was not for me, I struggle with authors who (imo) over explain/describe everything, so I struggled to want to pick it up. I will try this again in another format.

4.5⭐ rounded to 5⭐

Belladonna Blackthorn hasn’t lost her magical spark, but she hasn’t seen it in a while either. Balancing work at her beloved London bookshop, Lunar Books, with handling her toxic boss and concealing her witchcraft from those around her – Belle is burnt out. But, when her thirtieth birthday brings a summons from her coven and a trial that tests her worthiness as a witch, Belle risks losing her magic for ever. With the month of October to fix things and signs that dark forces may be working against her, Belle will need all the help she can get...

I really loved this book so much. I loved the characters, I thought they were incredible - they were so fleshed out and distinctive. There was beautiful familial relationships and it gave me such found family vibes, which is my favourite trope of all time. I love how it had conversations about self doubt, believing in yourself, confidence, bravery, standing up for what is right and your beliefs, not letting fear overcome you and stop you from being able to do things. I feel like that hit such a cord with me and I loved it. I feel like it's a book that I'm going to be thinking about a lot and at the time I read it, it felt this book had came at the perfect time because I related to Belle so much.

I was obsessed with the atmosphere, I felt like I was inside the book and it had the most perfect autumnal vibes. There was such vivid descriptions for the setting, which just added to the great time I had with this book. I truly couldn't put this book down as every time I did, it lived in my mind rent free and I couldn't wait to get back to it. I truly didn't want this book to end.

I loved the plot and found it so interesting. I was so intrigued and wanted to know more because I adored the writing style. However, I do truly believe that the ending let this book down because to me, there was things that just didn't quite make sense. I feel like I still had a lot of questions about how certain things had went down. I also think the ending was quite rushed, it truly needed a bit more to make it more fleshed out to give it the extra detail that it deserved. I do think that it was quite predictable at times, which is not necessarily a bad thing but I would have liked to be kept on my toes a little bit more.

Thank you to MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: body dysmorphia, death, murder, grief; mentions vomiting, misogyny, alcohol use, derogatory language⚠️

Sweet, enjoyable and a lot more believable than the fantasy premise might otherwise have suggested. Almost-30 year old Belle, doesn't exactly embrace her wicche status but isnt above using the odd spell to tidy up the bookshop she works in either. One day a mysterious stranger comes into the shop and tells her she's going to have to face up to her magic talents and it transpires that unless Belle completes some tests before October is out, she runs the risk of losing her status altogether.

I wasn't sure fantasy like this was for me but the witchiness is just a part of Belle's character and it's dealt with in such a matter of fact way that I stopped fussing about it really early on.

I'm not entirely clear what age group the book is aimed at, as I'm considerably older than Belle and did find some of her actions and thoughts quite naive and wondered if I was maybe too old but the themes of family, friendship, growing self-belief and finding your own way in the world felt relevant whatever your age.

An enjoyable read, just the sort of book that's perfect for reading whilst curled up in front of the fire with a cup of tea.

Perfect for this time of year, Rewitched is Charmed meets cosy fantasy with an adorable dash of befriending a pensioner.

Belle feels like such a relatable protagonist - as she turns 30 she just doesn't trust herself or the choices she's made and she looks around her life wondering what she needs to do for herself to be happier.

The magical mentorship between Belle and Arty is absolutely adorable, she works in a bookshop with a boss you just love to hate and over the course of the book she battles the forces in her life that are telling her who she gets to be.

I'd have loved a bit more about Belles acceptance of herself, particularly considering the body dysmorphia raised early on in the book, but overall this was lovely, funny and stuck to a northern accent in the audiobook which I adored.

Oh wow. This book is literally made of magic.

This is such a cosy, heartwarming read perfect for autumn. Witchy and bookish and emotional, I loved our main character Belle and connected with her in so many ways - not only in the accuracy of what it's like to be a bookseller (lol), but also in exploring self-love and the fear of failure. There is a romance but it's far from the main focus of this book, which I actually really appreciated - I loved that the main love story is Belle learning to love herself. I think we could all do with reading books like that.

I wasn't expecting the twist in the plot either; I had predicted the dark magic would turn out to be one way, and while that kind of came true, even more happened that I did not see coming, which I found really fun! Admittedly, sometimes the dialogue was a little stilted, and felt a bit... not cringeworthy, but close to it; however, I did absolutely love this and the comfort it brought me, so I can't knock it down.

I'm very excited to see what Lucy Jane Wood brings out next!

❤️ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀:
🔮📚🌙💔🧙‍♀️🍂

✍️ 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁
Rewitched introduces us to Belladonna Blackthorn (Belle), a witch who’s been letting her magic collect dust. Between dealing with her horrible boss at Lunar Books and hiding her witchy side from the world, she's feeling burnt out. But when Belle turns 30, she gets summoned by her coven to prove she still has what it takes to keep her powers—or risk losing them forever. With only October to figure things out, Belle must lean on her friends, a mysterious mentor, and, of course, a charming yet annoyingly attractive watchman.

💭 𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
This book is such a perfect cozy read, especially when you're wrapped up in a blanket on a crisp autumn evening. I loved Belle—she’s exhausted (relatable), a bit all over the place (also relatable), but still fighting to keep her magic alive. The found family in this story made my heart so happy, and the slow-burn romance? It was worth the wait! Lucy Jane Wood writes in such a funny, warm way. If you're looking for a witchy read with lots of heart, this one’s perfect!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for my eARC of Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood!

This was a very cute and cosy read and definitely helped get me into the cosy Halloween spirit. I liked the concept of a witch rediscovering her spark and love for magic again. There were some great twists towards the end of the story which I really enjoyed however I found it a little hard to get into the first half of the story,

Loved it.

It was a perfect balance of found family, magic, magic schooling, feminism, confidence building, self-love and female-friendship.

I loved the magic systems, especially Bonnie's magic.

Please send any other witchy books like this my way!

There's nothing particularly bad about this story, it's just that I feel like I've read it before and the writing just feels a bit clunky. You can tell this is a debut. I also think the pacing was a bit off, and it could have done with a tighter edit - cutting out a lot of the internal waffling on to make this feel a bit pacier and more dynamic. I also need to accept that I'm not that into witchy books. I always like the idea of them, but witch magic is just uninspiring and a bit boring to me. And that's definitely more a me thing, and had nothing to do with the book.

I did really enjoy some elements of this. It's a very cosy romance with a gentle relationship that feels a lot like a warm jumper and cup of hot chocolate. It's a story for self love, discovering yourself and accepting all those bits about you that you might not necessarily like but still make up you.

A great Autumnal read, but I need to accept that witchy books aren't for me. Even with the promise of romance.

The perfect book to curl up with an open fire and a mug of hot chocolate as the autumn nights draw in. This book is a wonderful mix of witchcraft, fantasy , friendship, and a slow burn love story. Bella is just turning 30 when she discovers that she must prove her worth as a witch to keep her magic. However things are not straightforward and she needs to help with all her friends and family to succeed. There are many wonderful characters in this book, but I have to say I fell in love with the wonderful elderly eccentric warlock Arti, who is tasked with being Bella is mentor. I hope we will be able to return to Bella’s world sometime in the future, and I will certainly be looking for more books from this wonderful author. Many thanks to NetGalley, and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for a honest review.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood is a cozy low fantasy novel that tells the story Belladonna Blackthorn, an insecure soon to be 30 year old who is happy with her life working in an independent book shop.

The only two problems in her life is the owner keeps giving her the chance to buy the store which she has turned down so her accountant nephew is running the store to her displeasure.

The Second thing is Belladonna is a witch and has just found out that she could lose her powers forever.

If you are looking for a novel that feels perfect for when it’s cold outside and you're wrapped up in a warm blanket, then .Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood is the perfect one.

Firstly we have Belladonna Blackthorn who is the main protagonist of the novel, a 29 year old who has found her place in the world which is below her ability, but does not have the confidence to reach this.

But when she fails the test to Keep her powers as a witch, in comes Rune, a watchman who is there to protect Belladonna although maybe Rune has another reason to be there.

Then we have the person who is helping Belladonna to keep her powers, a witch who has been kicked out for years but there may be more to the story than that.

Yes Rewitched, does have its flaws, as it is not quite sure what it is, for example the story does have a romance as part of the story but it does not control the novel.

It would even be classed as low fantasy as witchcraft forms a large part of the story, but strangely this is almost just a setting for the story similar to that of its location.

And yes it definitely is a cozy novel with the style of language used and the depth of detail the book goes into in various scenes.

It can also be classed as coming of age story as the Belladonna Blackthorn begins to find her true capabilities and what she wants out of life.

In addition there is a mystery element covering the book as a whole as Belladonna finds out about her family's history.

All of these elements are things Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood wb Pinterest pin 2that play a large part in the story however if you read Lucy Jane Wood’s debut novel (which is hard to believe with the quality of the story as a whole).You may be disappointed.

This is because while all of the elements are key to the novel none of them take over the story completely, for example the romance is there but it is just hinted at.

Although if the author wanted to have taken Rewitched into a more specific genre direction, all the elements were strong enough to do that.

So Lucy Jane Wood’s novel is a cosy, low fantasy, mystery, romance, that is just the perfect novel to read and delve into a book that will take you away from real life.

I need to start by saying this is one of my most anticipated releases for this year. I was so excited to get it, and the waterstones exclusive signed edition is stunning I absolutely was not disappointed I liked this this was a 6 star read amazing it was such a cute little witchy read which needs to be read in October it has all the vibes it's so autumnal it's about a witch called belladonna blackthorn what a name who works in a bookstore and has a really boring but happy content life doing the odd secret spell that is until a dashing male warlock enters the bookstore called rune who is as infuriatingly annoying as he is hot to tell her that on her 30th birthday she has to enter a coven and partake in a lot of trials to see if she is worthy of being a witch if not she will lose her powers forever so you follow her along as she gets help from a few new and old friends to help her along the way this is not only a cosy fantasy it has a little spindle Of Magic and a good old mystery along the way I loved this book so much it's my favourite book of October so far I think this will be a favourite comfort reread for many years to come