A witchy romance in time for spooky season! I think with this book, you know what you get going into it. It’s sweet, witty, and the right amount of fluffy. I think the premise and setting of the story is super fun and cutesie. If you’re looking for a light and spooky read, this would be a good one to try!

✨Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review✨

Are you looking for the perfect cozy autumnal read that will make you feel like you’ve fallen into a magical version of Stars Hollow? Then Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire is just the novel that you’re looking for!

Characters
It was fun to see many similarities to characters from Gilmore Girls throughout this novel! It made me feel like I was revisiting some old friends. The cast of characters are quite diverse, and it was so fun to see them all come together to save their sweet town. It was also heartwarming to see characters with strained relationships grow closer together over the course of the novel.

Plot
Community is an integral part to this novel’s plot. In typical small town fashion, everyone knows everyone, which means when trouble strikes, there is no shortage of assistance available. And when the town needed help the most, the people pulled through, especially the Melrose family. There are quite a few pop culture/real world references peppered throughout the novel, which fit together with the overarching dilemma the town faces.

Setting/Vibes
The setting and overall vibes are the best part of this novel. I loved Emily Grimoire’s autumnal descriptions the most. They made me want to throw on my coziest sweater, pick up a warm drink, and go for a walk through some crunchy leaves. If you’re an “autumn” and are looking for those perfect Gilmore Girls vibes with a dollop of magic, then you’ll absolutely love this book!

🍂 Second Chance Romance
🍂 Small Town New England Charm
🍂 Sassy FMC
🍂 Cozy Autumnal Vibes
🍂 Reunited Family
🍂 Witches & Magicians

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
When I read "For fans of Gilmore Girls" I knew I wanted to read this book. It is a cozy, magical read, perfect for this fall season.
This story follows Scarlett and her two sisters when magic gives them trouble in their small, forgettable town. The author did a great job creating a picture of the town and building the relationship of the sisters. The author did a great job keeping me engaged with the story line and interested to see what would happen next. Parts of the story I wish could have been developed further, but overall found it to be a sweet, easy to read book.

I -really- wanted to like this book, I did. Gilmore Girls and Halloween? Sign me up. However, this was nearly a DNF for me. Would have been my first. But I was trying to stick it out. I can say that I finished it, but I just did not enjoy it. I felt like it was forced, that the plot was subpar, it could have been great. But I just didn't care for it. The characters tended to drive me crazy, and not in the good sort of ways. I would not recommend this at all. So disappointed. NetGalley - I appreciate the opportunity to review the ARC of this, but it will not be joining my ever growing collection.

I’ll be completely honest here, was it cheesy? Absolutely, yes it was. However sometimes that’s exactly what you need in a book. It was cozy. It was nostalgic. It was relatable. It was fun.

Once I started reading it, I did not want to put it down. It had same vibe as all of our favorite 90s and early 2000s witchy TV shows; mixed in with a Stars Hollow-esque town. Every turn the storyline took was the right one. I wouldn’t change a single thing and that’s rare.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher (thank you!) but my review is my honest opinion.

This was a cute cozy small town romance set in a magic town. The story was sweet, the characters (a family of witches running the inn) were fine. The main romance (with spice) was good. My main objection was the writing. While the descriptive portions were fantastic, sometimes the conversations felt stilted. As the book continued this did improve somewhat. However, the pacing throughout was a bit jarring. Sometimes there were time skips to bring the characters elsewhere, and it was jarring. The resolution to the main conflict was weirdly dragged out (a whole year?!) and then they skipped over a big chunk of the reunion and resolution.
Overall it was a good cozy book for fall vibes.

Unfortunately I found this a difficult read. I struggled with the writing and it took away from the story.

The concept of the story sounded good and there were some fun parts. It did give off some cosy read vibes!

I love this book. It was the perfect witchy story to get me into that fall mood. It gave me warm cozy vibes. I cant recommend it enough. I love the slow burn and second chance. I hope for a second book! If you want a fun witchy read in a small town this is your book! I liked the magicians vs witches in the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars. Impractical Magic was a fun, magic-y read! Scarlett is called back to her hometown of Oak Haven when something is affecting the magic in town and her family needs her help fixing it. There’s also some second chance romance with her old almost-boyfriend, Nate. Overall this had an interesting take on magic and lots of adventures.

This was a great read to start off spooky season. The story of the estranged sisters coming together, bringing back their memories was a heartwarming one. The magical aspect brough whimsy, and a cozy feel to reading this book.

I really wanted to like this book. Cozy small-town/witchy/second-chance romance is right up my alley!

Unfortunately, it took so long to get to the heart of the conflict. And while you learn who one of the bad guys is, you never find out who the Big Bad is. As far as I know, this is a standalone book. And having a vague Boss who is never revealed just doesn't work for me. I wish it was a more simple antagonist if it really is just a standalone. This book could easily be 30-50 pages shorter if it got to the point faster.

As for the romance, I don't mind slow burn (I'm a huge fan of Assistant & Apprentice to the Villain IYKYK), but I want excessive amounts of internalized pining in my slow burns. Nate is Down Bad for Scarlett, but we don't learn much about him beyond what we see in the story. And Scarlett just seems like she's lusting after him, not so much in love with him.

I agree with other reviews that describe the characters as flat. And Scarlett's internal struggles get repetitive.

This book will be available on 10/1.

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

Thank you to Emily Grimoire and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it had so many gilmore girl references, but make it magical. This was a cute and cozy fall read that is a perfect pallette cleanser if you read thrillers or fantasy in the fall. I loved how I couldn't put the book the book down. The writing was intriguing, and the description of the settings was well done.
I loved Scarlettss relationships development with Nate as a second chance romance lover, but more importantly I loved there relationship growth with her family since their relationship was also strained, I feel like alot of people could relate to this.
Overall, this was the perfect cozy fall read, and I highly recommend it.

I had a tough time getting into this book. The magic in it was a little too animated for my taste, but some people like that! The book was compared to Charmed and Gilmore Girls. Both of which I could see. The tension between the sisters was present, but surfaced and light. Overall, I would call this a very feel good, predictable fall story. Great if you are just looking for a reading break from anything heavy.

I fear that I had to DNF at 53%. I kept waiting for it to get better, but all that happened was that I dreaded reading this book. I think the premise would have been super cute, but the follow-through just was not for me, I fear. The FMC was unbearable, and the other characters were not much better. The dialogue was also tough to follow. I think it trying too hard to have Gilmore Girls dialogue, but unfortunately, I don't think it translated well as a book.

Impractical Magic
by Emily Grimoire
Publication Date: October 1, 2024

I really enjoyed this fall story! I loved Scarlett and Nate's relationship and the town of Oak Haven. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy read.

Thank you to Emily Grimoire and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book based on the blurb.

The perfect autumn read where Gilmore Girls meets Charmed in a cosy second-chance romance with a sprinkle of magic. Perfect for readers of Pumpkin Spice Café, Erin Sterling and Lana Harper.

There are so many things I love packed into that sentence. And while this book was enjoyable, it didn't wow me. Perhaps the blurb oversold it. Or perhaps it was trying too hard to live up to the marketing.

What I liked about it (and what you might like too):
-Second Chance
-Quirky Small Town
-Magic on the Fritz

The ending was my favorite part of the book because I feel like the plot finally broke into something orginal and away from trying to fit into a mold. Some of the Gilmore Girl's references were so forced, they were awkward.

Not a bad book for fall, but there a definitely others out there.

If Stars Hollow had a lot of gourds... and magicians. Scarlett has a lot of baggage when she comes back to Oak Haven from San Francisco. Magic was a thing of her past -- and so was Nate. With her hometown in turmoil, overrun by magicians (ick!), and the oak grove sick by a bug infestation, can Scarlett overcome her past traumas to return Oak Haven to its magical state? And what about her relationship with Nate?

Emily Grimoire crafts a fun read that makes a town as cozy as Stars Hollow with town characters just as memorable as their shops. The settings are developed well, and Scarlett's family is a cast of characters. You get a cozy set of characters and a nice autumn vibe. If you're looking for something "spicy", this is not the book for you. It's very light on that subject, which isn't a deterrent for me. It read fine in the context of the plot.

As for the plot, towards the end of the novel, things felt very rushed. Scarlett's place with the oak grove suddenly becomes rushed forward as time moves. While the pieces and players make sense and fall together well, it doesn't feel like it was planned thoughtfully. If this were a television show, it feels like what should have been covered in a season was done in two episodes. There's an incomplete feeling in the way this novel is written, but it's fine reading.

If you're looking for a cozy autumnal read, you'll find it in this.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Such a fun seasonal book! I really enjoyed this one. It’s not something I would usually read but wanted something vibey for fall time and this delivered!

I only requested this book because I love books about magic, and I like a little suspense in them. This seemed a little more romancey, but that was ok. It didn’t take long for me to be immersed in the story, and it was a very light-hearted and fun engagement. I did get a little tired of the bickering between the sisters, but that was an only a mild negative. I was pretty sure I knew what was going on, and I was right, but it was interesting to find out the why. I really enjoyed this book overall, and even if the end bugged me a little, a preference, not an author problem, and it was cute. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

This book was really cute! It’s the perfect cozy Autumn/Spooky season read. I loved all the pop culture references that Emily Grimoire worked in.