This was a cute holiday read. I enjoyed the relationship between Nate and Scarlet and the dynamics of her family relationships. There were a few parts where I feel like the plot was drawn out and could have been more concise.

I won’t be reviewing this on other platforms. I loved the autumn setting, the small town and the relationship between the sisters. Unfortunately I just found myself growing bored; the characters were a bit two dimensional, the romance was boring and predictable and it lacked charm. I wanted to love this, I hope it does well but it wasn’t for me. ,

This was a great cozy fall read. It gave me all of the Halloweentown vibes. This book follows a secret town that you can visit, but you won’t remember that you visited it or be able to find it on a map. In this town, the witches are the only ones with magic. If the men leave the town they have a short amount of time before they, themselves forget about the town. There’s a whole magic versus magicians storyline. The town’s magic source is in jeopardy and the town’s oldest magical family has to race to save it. There was a point towards the end that seemed a little silly, but it’s just a small portion. Overall, this was a cute fall vibes read. Check this one out when it comes out!

A witchy paranormal romance with great characters. It kept me hooked from start to finish. A great book to read around Halloween time.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

With time slipping away, Scarlett must learn that sometimes the greatest spells really do come with the greatest responsibility – especially when love is involved…

Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire is a captivating paranormal romance that I devoured in just one day! Who wouldn't want to escape to a magical village of Oak Haven where secrets lurk beneath the surface? This enchanting tale has earned the author a spot on my list of favorite paranormal romance writers.

It is a must-add for fans of romance with a magical twist. The characters are expertly crafted, with Scarlet and Nate’s chemistry being particularly compelling. While the romance is steamy, I appreciated that it didn't overshadow the plot. I'm hoping for a follow-up book to revisit these characters and continue their story.

If you're drawn to paranormal romance with a hint of mystery, add “Impractical Magic” to your reading list – you won't be disappointed!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Avon Books UK, and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. Witchy Gilmore Girls was how this book was advertised and I couldn’t pass it up.

I definitely got the Gilmore Girls vibe between FMC Scarlett and her sisters Delilah and Luna. I loved their dynamic and how they each saw and treated magic differently.

The banter between the sisters was great and the completely messed up magic was hilarious and very entertaining. I will say, I was not invested in the story or romance at all but read along for fun because I enjoyed the magic and the sister relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC :)

This is a cute witchy read to help you get in the mood for the fall season. It’s sweet and funny. We’ve got some spells and curses going on here while trying to help her sisters. A little second chance romance! I did find this to be a bit more of an average read for myself. I will say, it does give a good Stars Hollow vibe. ✨

Thank you to Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book prior to its release on October 1st 2024.
-
2 stars. I am a bit conflicted on this one. Loved the vibes overall as a Floridian who is trying to feel "The Fall Vibes" in 90 degree heat, this definitely delivered on that front. Where I personally was left wanting more was on the characters as whole!! They all felt at times a bit trope-y and I would have liked to see MORE!!! Nate for example was sooo down bad and seemed sweet but we were told so little about him as person other than like what he does in the town. The characters felt a bit one dimensional and the main internal conflict for Scarlett felt repetitive and when it was resolved it was like oh- okay... This would have been a solid 3.5-4 stars for me had I had a little more depth to the characters and gotten to see more of the connection on that central romantic relationship other than the "Oh we just should be together and have this pull towards each other." All in all, vibes? Immaculate! Characterization and plot? Meh.

I will not be reviewing this book on other platforms as I did not like it and don't believe in review bombing. The writing felt a little choppy and wordy at the same time. And just overall wasn't my jam

Scarlett returns to her home after 10 years, when there is a threat haunting her village and she must help. This was an adventure, there were twists and turns. The story was mainly action, I came in with the wrong expectation, anticipating mostly romance. It’s definitely lighter on the romance so if you don’t want a full love story, this is definitely your thing. Her and Nate were adorable, and with the scenes they did have together it was obvious they’re meant for each other.
Oak Haven is a cozy, seasonal, witchy village that makes you feel like home. The setting of this one is perfect and you felt as if you belong. Everyone is friendly and has a role in the town. It suits the story.
The plot was interesting and I definitely found myself wanting to figure out what happens. The mystery reveals itself in such a shocking way. It was seasonal, warming and always such a fun read

It is an absolutely adorable cozy fanatsy about a magical town called Oak Haven, where magic has gone awry. The town is suffering from some sort of curse, and nothing is going as it should. Scarlett is called home for the first time in ten years to help her sister and her mother figure out the madness. Scarlett must not only face the rickety magic issue, but also face her own demons she ran from in the first place. All the while her childhood best friend Nate still remains in town, and let's just say there is some unresolved feelings. This is the perfect fall read, full of magic, mystery, and romance.

I was hoping for the perfect fall read but this was not it. The FMC is insufferable and I could not stop rolling my eyes at the unrealistic banter. The cozy, witchy, fall vibes felt completely forced. There just wasn't much substance to this and the writing was not my favorite. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this book. I'm a big fan of Gilmore Girls and Charmed, witchy romance books in general, and I love the cover. Theoretically this would make for a perfect read.

The plot and characters had a lot of potential, but I think that the author relied too heavily on mimicking the Gilmore Girls world. The banter in the tv show flows easily but in the book felt forced and there was far too much of it. The replication of the inn, the town meetings, the Taylor like person in charge of the meetings, and the quotes 'Oy, With the Flamingos Already' (in the book) vs 'Oy, with the Poodles Already' (in the show) took away from the story and the authors original ideas.

I wish the book had focused more on the authors original ideas and omitted all Gilmore Girls quotes. I wish they had also spent more time with individual characters building their relationships instead of introducing so many random people who only appeared once or twice.

I think more time could have been taken introducing, and building up the romance, both in anticipation and emotion. It felt rushed and the Nate seemed almost over forgiving and understanding? And I can't even talk about the bookshop scene.

I also wish that the ending were formatted differently, perhaps each bit being a different chapter to show the passage of time instead of the chunks within one chapter?

Overall I like the idea of this book, but it felt like too much of a rough draft, I think it could use some serious editing.

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

Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books UK, and Emily Grimoire for gifting me with a digital copy of Impractical Magic
I loved the general idea behind this book. Not only am I a fan of Gilmore girls and charmed but honestly it reminded me a little of Halloweentown! What a perfect cozy fall mix! Also, being from New England, I can imagine the perfection of each season being perfectly decorated, since the town is run by magic. Only the females have magic (go us). People leave the town, and if the men leave for too long they forget. Scarlett was away for along time and beckoned back by her sister since something in the town is wrong, the magic is off.

This has family, magic, community and mystery. It was a wonderful read!

I want to start this review by thanking Netgalley, Avon Books UK, and Emily Grimoire for gifting me with a digital copy of Impractical Magic in return for an honest review. I am so happy to say that I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down. Honestly, I did not want it to end. The cover is what drew me to the book in the first place because it is so cozy, autumnal, and witchy looking. Really, what isn’t to love? Then I noticed in the corner that it said perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls and Charmed, which had me asking right away for the ARC. I am so glad that I have had the chance to read this one before it hits shelves. Emily Grimoire really delivered on the cozy fall vibes.

This story takes place in New England in a small town known as Oak Haven. This town is like no other town simply because it is run by magic. Seriously, there is actual magic in the air in Oak Haven. The town is always perfectly maintained and decorated for each season, and the smell of the town is the coziest of smells. Oak Haven is run by witches. The town is full of them, and only females are able to do magic. The men of the town hold no magic, but that does not seem to upset them because they all appear content with their lives. Anyone who enters this town once they leave it will not be able to remember a thing about it, no matter how much they loved their stay. The town is kept safe because of a forgetting magic that was placed upon it years before, and this spell is in every part of the town, right down to the crosswalks. When the men of the town leave it for more than three days, they will simply forget it along with everyone they know, whether friends or family; their memories will be gone.

Scarlett Melrose (one of the main characters) has been away from this little autumnal paradise for ten years, and she has no intention of returning anytime soon. It isn’t until her oldest sister reaches out and tells her that something is wrong and she needs to get home now. It is not long before Scarlett leaves California and heads back to New England, where she notices that something is definitely off the second she hits the town. The off feeling she has only gets worse when she walks into her family’s Inn. The signature smell is off, just as it was in town. Not to mention that she has been warned not to use her magic because the magic has been unpredictable. Granted, she hasn’t used it in the ten years she was gone, but it can’t be that bad, right? Scarlett soon discovers just how unpredictable the magic is when she tries to move a piano with it. It is up to the Melrose family to figure out what is happening with the magic. It is clear that if it isn’t fixed soon, the whole town will be struggling. Since the Melrose women come from a long-standing line of witches in the town’s history, it is up to them to figure out what is going on with the magic. The responsibility rests upon their shoulders.

This story is not only full of magic and coziness, but it is also full of second chances, discovery, spells gone wrong, and finding your place in the world. I loved the complicated relationship that Scarlett has with her quirky family and the realizations that she came to toward the end of the book. I thought the author did a great job with the descriptions of the town, and it really made me want to live there. I think that the way the author handled the magic was great. I also enjoyed learning about the different witches that reside in the town, along with the sense of community and belonging. The mystery of what was happening with the magic in the town and the steps taken by the community to try and solve the problem kept me interested. The slow-burn second chance romance I found to be sweet (I mean, he waited forever for her) and meeting all the endless Earls made me smile. Once you read the story, you will understand what I mean about the Earls. If you are looking for a story to get you into the autumnal vibes, then please give this book a go because I do not think you will be disappointed. I know I wasn’t, and I may have suffered a bit of a book hangover after I finished it. The story was just so darn good.

Trigger Warnings:

Talk of Parental Death
Missing Person
Extreme Guilt

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my opinion.
This has potential but was hard to follow. It is advertised as Gilmore Girls with a magical twist and the author did a great job at that, I just felt it was hard to follow the conversations. What makes Gilmore Girls great is all the words they can fit into a sentence quickly, but when reading, it just moves a little slower.
But a very cute premise of a quaint little town that our FMC, Scarlett, does not want to return to. She left for San Fran and wanted to never look back. But one phone call from her sisters brings her back to Oak Haven and to her mother's inn...which is now cursed.

The plot is great, and I'm glad I read it, but could see it benefitting from just a little editing.

This book read like a first draft to me. It felt like it was pumped out of the publishing office as a story for cozy time and they hit a headline and decided to submit before improving anything.

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

This was not the book for me. The writing was painful for me to get through and reminiscent of when I’d write creative stories as a middle schooler. The way the author tries to come off as the witchy version of Emily Gilmore while also acting like she doesn’t know what Gilmore Girls is was such a turn off (could honestly not tell if she was trying to be funny and failed, or if she is that delusional). Everything seemed to be either over explained and fall flat, or under explained and had me rereading parts that left me confused. Usually a book can be redeemed for me if the characters are likable enough and there’s good dialogue/banter, but unfortunately that was not the case for me here.

⭐⭐⭐½

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of Emily Grimoire's "Impractical Magic." This charming novel is an absolute delight and perfect for fans of shows like Gilmore Girls and Charmed.

The book exudes an adorable, cozy vibe that’s incredibly comforting. Grimoire’s writing creates a warm, inviting atmosphere, full of whimsical magic and endearing characters. The small-town setting and close-knit community feel like a hug in literary form, making it an ideal read for those who love a touch of enchantment mixed with heartfelt connections.

While the overall experience is delightful, there are moments when the plot feels a bit predictable, and some storylines could have been developed further. Nonetheless, the charm of the characters and the enchanting world they inhabit more than make up for these minor issues.

In summary, "Impractical Magic" is a lovely, feel-good read that combines cozy magic with endearing character dynamics. It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking to escape into a heartwarming, magical world, and I’m excited to see what Grimoire has in store next.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I wanted to love this cozy fall read, set in a small New England town with witches and magic, but I hate to say that it missed the mark for me. The story felt like a rough draft, with many scenes underdeveloped and the main character’s decade-long absence from home not convincingly addressed. The focus on her high school crush, rather than deeper family bonds, felt unrealistic, and the strained mother-daughter dynamic echoed Gilmore Girls almost TOO closely, and I found that distracting.

Overall, while the witch lore and side characters were enjoyable, the book didn’t fully deliver. With more editing, it could be a charming fall read.