Dnf, it has everything I love in a witchy romance but I’m having a hard time connecting and staying engage with the story and characters

Practical Magic is one of my comfort movies so it was a no brainer to try this book out. Unfortunately, it falls short of its potential and offers little that is new or surprising; the plot often seems unimaginative and predictable. Despite the charming setting and interesting premise, there is a lack of depth and tension, making it difficult to empathise with the characters or really immerse yourself in the story.

This book had the potential to be so good. Small town, witches running an inn, magicians, and childhood crushes. Sadly the book fell short for me. There was this buildup to what I thought was going to be a big battle or confrontation, instead it just kind of ended. I was hoping for a little more. I did enjoy the humor in the book though.

I DNF @ 7% because the writing is just not for me. I do love a good whimsical easy-to-read book, but it felt a little too easy to read and childish for my taste. Just my preference.

A fantastic autumn/Halloween read. Oak Haven is the town for fall/autumn. Magic and coziness in every corner just make the town work, and make it feel like the perfect village. Except somethings gone wrong. Scarlett has to return to figure out what's causing the issues, however she's been away a long time and left a lot of unfinished business in the area, family issues, ex-boyfriends, town feuds. We have it all.

I loved the small town feel and it was really was as adorable and cozy as described. And the mystery throughout that we have to unravel was quite enjoyable to figure out, even if it got a little lost by the end. I loved the characters, and all the pop culture references to Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic for example. It wasnt the most stand out book I've book I've read, and the romance lacked a little pizazz, i wasn't really invested. But a good enough story and perfect for the season.

This was a DNF for me unfortunately as I really liked the cover and premise! The FMC is quite unlikeable and her family relationship was quite toxic.

I thought this was a really cute book. It was a cozy, small town romance that was a mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic. I enjoyed the storyline and the family quips back and forth. Nate was such a sweetheart and I loved his character!! This was a nice fluffy read that was quick and entertaining. It read like a hallmark or lifetime movie which is how it could be described as a book. Definitely worth the read if this is what you like. I do think they left some things unanswered which can be frustrating. But if the author continues with another sister, those questions may be answered more. Otherwise it was a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC copy of Impractical Magic.
Overall, this was a good book with Practle Magic and Charmed vibes. It was a slow burner and took me a while to read but I got there in the end as I dislike DNFing books.

Scarlet is a witch from Oak Haven an Autumnal witch town where there is magic in the trees which feeds the town. The Monroe witches are the founding witches I believe and everyone looks up to them Scarlet has become the black sheep of the family following her father's death and she has not been home in 10 years. She is left a message by one of her sisters that she has to come home to help save the town as the magic is dying. Scarlet is wary of coming as memories of her father and the boy Nate who she was supposed to be with will be there.
The town's magic is going haywire garden gnomes are packing suitcases and getting Ubers out of town, book characters are coming alive and the protection spell that makes normies forget about the town when they leave is breaking. The witches work together to find out what is causing the sickness in their Oak Grove and figure out a plan to save the magic.

This book is a great spooky season read! It had a cosy feel with a sprinkle of spice. There were some great takes on sci-fi/fantasy tv shows, books and even "he who shall not be named" made an appearance (him I could have done without) but it cemented that the book is essentially a contemporary romance, wrapped in fantasy/pnr.

I loved the premise of Scarlett being ordered back to town when its magic goes haywire. Scarlett has a major dose of Survivor's Guilt/PTSD and the haranguing of her mum does not help. Scarlett and her sisters are all very diverse characters and I loved getting to know their personalities. I have decided that I'm a mix of all three - Scarlett's misguided guilt, Lu's eternal student and Delilah's put upon demeanour lol.

The will they-won't they of Scarlett and Nate continues and I loved the interfering of the Earls and the complete faith the town had in the fact that they belonged together. There is some miscommunication/jumping to conclusions but they are under a lot of magical related stress!

It was fast paced, most of the characters I enjoyed (Mama Melrose finally grew on me, Polly I still have no time for!) The setting was great and I actually enjoyed all the wee links to the modern world.

I really hope we get Del and Lu's stories now!

I really enjoyed parts of this story - the relationship between Scarlett and her family and Scarlett and Nate were particular highlights for me. Sometimes I didn’t feel like I could get into the flow but overall I enjoyed the story.

First things first, the cover is absolutely gorgeous and i was drawn to it instantly and luckily the story within was just as wonderful. If you want autumnal, witchy cosy vibes then this is the perfect book and there is a lovely slow burn romance going on as well!

So this is the story of Scarlett who receives a call from her estranged sisters and immediately knows something is wrong, Their mothers inn has been cursed and they need her help.

She really doesn't want to go home and she really doesn't want to run into Nate, her old flame but she comes to help and when the spell she casts to help goes wrong she has to try her best to put things right.

It has a lovely atmosphere to the story and really felt a bit like gilmore girls to me. I'm a sucker for a second chance romance so i really loved watching that play out as well

Highly recommend!

Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire is a lighthearted story about a witch Reuters home to her magical town of OakHaven, in total disarray. Wracked with guilt over a familial death, and an unresolved relationship with her ex/ not ex boyfriend Nate, she feels overwhelmed so say the least. With the town magic in chaos, and the realization that none of her neighbors lives can return to normal without it, her and her family, “The Melroses” take on the task of healing the magical Oak Trees of Oak Haven to restore magic and balance to this otherwise sleepy village.

This novel is filled with sharp and quick comedic banter, and family dynamics reminiscent of “The Gilmore Girls”, this is sure to be a fun and fast fall read if you want a little magic and second chance romance in your life.

I am a sucker for anything that uses Gilmore Girls as a comp but this one fell a little flat for me. It was very cutesy but just didn't pull me in like I wanted it to!

What a fun little trip to a magical New England town! Do I want to live in Oak Haven? Yes. Do I want to be best friends with the Melrose sisters? Also yes. This book was full of magical drama and romance and small town quirks and I enjoyed every moment of it! Impractical Magic is a cozy book to read while sitting by a warm fire and drinking some hot tea while eating your favorite fall snacks. What more could you ask for?

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I started out really excited about this book because the blurb on it says that it’s very much like Gilmore girls. And while I did get some of those vibes. I felt like it tried a little bit too hard to be like it.

We start out with Scarlett, returning to her home town. She has always sworn she would never go back to because until she receives a call from her sister. Her mother’s inn has been cursed and her sister needs her help to break the curse.

All of the family drama and conflict was just very awkward to get through. It made it very hard to read, and I almost didn’t want to continue.

I feel like if this had more time to add more depth to some of the characters and maybe work on the dialogue between the characters a little bit more this would’ve been a higher stars for me, but as it was, it kind of fell flat .

1.5 out of 5 stars for me.

Fun read - I loved the relationship between the sisters and the magic going awry, it felt like a Hallmark film level of cosy fun.

I really wanted to love this one because it had the potential to be a sweet and fun fall read. It's Gilmore Girls fanfic with magic and honestly, that description should be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. It was TOO cutesy and over the top with the references not only to Gilmore Girls but also to current pop culture - I don't think the book will survive relevancy past a few months before some of these are forgotten altogether. It also has one of my personal pet peeves in a book, which is mentioning the characters names every other sentence. You definitely won't forget the female MC, her love interest, or her sisters, because they use each other's names every time they speak. When's the last time you used your sibling's real name when talking to them?!

Emily Grimoire’s Impractical Magic sets the stage for a cozy autumn adventure that promises a delightful blend of Gilmore Girls and Charmed, all wrapped up in a second-chance romance sprinkled with magic. Scarlett Melrose returns to her hometown of Oak Haven when her sisters call for help to lift a curse plaguing their town. It sounds like the perfect setup for an enchanting read, especially with the charming old flame Nate reentering her life. However, what could have been a whimsical tale falls short of its cozy aspirations.

While the premise is endearing, the execution leaves much to be desired. Scarlett’s journey of reconnection and self-discovery feels muddled, primarily because we learn very little about Nate beyond his handyman gig. It’s hard not to draw parallels to Luke from Gilmore Girls but lacks the depth to bring the character to life. Scarlett’s mother channels an Emily Gilmore vibe and not in a flattering way. The dialogue feels stilted, and the magical elements often leave you scratching your head rather than delighting in their whimsy. The story meanders without clear explanations for the villains’ motivations, leaving me wondering why their antics unfolded as they did. I kept turning the pages, hoping for clarity, but it never arrived.

Ultimately, Impractical Magic feels more like a rough draft of a cozy story than a polished final product. The absence of a satisfying resolution—especially regarding Scarlett’s family—left me perplexed and unsatisfied. While the concept of blending Gilmore Girls’ witty charm with a touch of magic is intriguing, the pacing and clarity hinder its charm. It has potential, but the execution makes it hard to follow. If you’re looking for a light, magical read, you might find a better fit elsewhere, as this book stirs up more frustration than warmth sometimes.

Oak Haven is a magical small town story with echoes of Gilmore Girls and Charmed. Scarlett, returns to her hometown, a place that non-witches forget as soon as they leave, after a decade-long absence. She had left for San Francisco following her father's death and is only now returning because something's up with the town's magic. Cue the mystery!

The dynamic between Scarlett and her two sisters felt like what you'd expect from a family full of witches - lots of quirks, arguments, and some definite personality clashes.

There’s also a second-chance romance between Scarlett and her old flame, Nate. It’s sweet, but I didn't think it was the heart of the story. The main focus is definitely on unravelling the mystery behind Oak Haven’s errant magic.

Overall, the characters are well-rounded, and there are some funny moments peppered throughout the book. The numerous pop culture references add a contemporary flair, and the book’s quick pace makes it an easy read for those looking for a light, autumnal story. However, despite these strengths, I felt there was something missing. While I can't pinpoint exactly what, the story didn’t quite grab me the way I had hoped.

For readers who enjoy witchy vibes, autumnal reads with a mix of family drama and magical mayhem.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books

I thought this book was insanely charming. It is described as Gilmore girls meets charmed, and I can say that’s pretty accurate, sometimes too accurate but it was cute.

This story follows our lead Scarlett, who ten years ago left her charming, yet very witchy, hometown to process the loss of her father, and has not been back since. This left her family, friends and potential love interest in the lurch. Scarlett is then summoned home by her family, because the magic in the sweet hometown is on the fritz and they need the help. In this world, only women can yield magic, and any man who passes through will not even remember they have been.

I really enjoyed this one, I thought the writing was great as well as the world building. There were a few times where I thought that Scarlett was great at magic even tho she hadn’t used it in ten years, that just didn’t make sense I’m summing this book up to a 4 star ( 3.75) but that’s because there was a moment I got a bit emotional and that will always boost a rating for me

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.