This book has plenty of witty charm, magical elements and a little bit of romance mixed in. Very Charmed meets Gilmore girls and is a perfect read for this autumn season.

Scarlett returns to her hometown full of magic after leaving abruptly 10 years ago when her father passed away. When she runs into her former best friend, possible love interest things heat up again. The will they or won't they vibe picks up where it left off. The town's magic is on the fritz which leads Scarlett and her family to figure out what is going on.

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

This book is a tough one to rate. The plot itself is pretty good, and I found myself very curious to see how the story played out. And as I struggled with other aspects of the book, that interest is the only thing that kept me from DNFing it. There's a mystery aspect where Scarlett, and the other townfolks of Oak Haven, try to discover why their magic is going haywire. And it was executed well-enough.

Now for the parts that make this book a slog to get through. The dialogue in this book is hard to get through. I was reminded of when I worked on a transcription of a panel interview back when I was in school. My first time transcribing the interview, I tried to be as accurate as possible and put all the "umms" and "hmms", etc. My editor bounced it back to me telling me that transciption is not about having the most accurate dialogue, but also about cleaning it up to make it more legible. Grimoire needs to take that advice while writing dialogue. She adds a lot of conversational filler words. And there's also something very stitled and unnatural about the way her characters talk to each other. Sometimes I felt like I was reading mediocre Gilmore Girls fanfiction, where the main characters were witches.

Overall I'd give Impractical Magic 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.

Thank you netgalley for the chance to read this.
I didn't love this. 2/5 stars. It has ALL the cozy fall vibes: a witch moves back to her hometown when things start falling apart. It was toted as Gilmore Girls meets magic meets friends to lovers...all directly up my alley. But the delivery left alot to be desired.
This was very pop culture heavy but not plot heavy, which is a dynamic I don't love. I LOVE me a good pop culture reference, but not when it seems so heavy handed. Nate/Scarlett really never got off the ground developmentally, and while I felt like they should be together, I never really felt a good why. A lot of it seems very hokey and full of wonderful fall vibes but again, more VIBES less plot. After finishing, I wasnt even fully sure I knew what the book was about.

This read felt like it was giving Gilmore Girls meets witch vibes—the perfect aesthetic for fall! I enjoyed reading this book in October for this reason!

The conflict is due to an impediment with the town’s magic. None of the spells the witches perform are turning out right, but no one knows why. The town’s famous family, the Melroses, are tasked with remedying the situation to stabilize the community once again. Scarlet Melrose, whose been on a 10 year hiatus from her hometown, returns to help her family, worrying she will cause more damage due to her past spell-tastrophes… but will she be the key to fixing it all?

This book is comical and cute in moments! I enjoyed the easy going banter and magical elements that swept me away. However, the characters were not always likable and that made it hard to engage or root for them. I wanted to see them kick butt and get their magic fixed, but I didn’t really feel invested in their personal relationships or care about the “will they won’t they” because, honestly, I didn’t think they all deserved so many chances. Some of the characters are quite selfish and dramatic, and as a high school teacher, I get my fill of that elsewhere.

Still, the storyline was cute and the aesthetic was cozy. It’s a read I enjoyed once, but wouldn’t probably read again!

I do love me some cozy witchy reads for the fall season.
There was something missing with this one. I love the idea but it was lacking and a bit much with the references.
It was still fun and full of magic and mystery.

The Grumpy/ Sunshine trope within this book is done perfectly! you find yourself adoring both characters as their story unfolds and we truly get to know them as individuals throughout.
The entire book is so wonderfully written it is impossible to put it down! I loved it.,

This was cute but only ok. Scarlett heads back home after being away for about 10 years. Her magical town has been cursed and her family needs her help to get everything back in order. Scarlett is still struggling with the past when she helped save the city and her dad ended up dying. Scarlett gave up witchcraft after that and is reluctant to use it now. I found it pretty east to guess who was behind the mayhem even though no one in town could figure it out.

This was so cute and cozy. I got a little frustrated with the characters at times, but I feel like the family struggle aspect was really relatable. I just enjoyed the cozy vibes of this sm!!

I had high expectations for this book but it feel flat. I was hoping that it would deliver on the cozy fall vibes but there wasn't a lot of that. It was mostly a good story with a good plot but there was a lot going on and then it felt like the resolution was written very quickly and everything wrapped up nicely without ever addressing the underlying issues. I adored the characters and the world so I was just hoping for a little more!

3.5 stars for me. The premise of this book was great and everything I was looking for - small town, autumnal vibes, witchy drama but I’m sorry to say it fell flat for me. I really did not like the main character and I think that’s what was holding back my enjoyment of the book. I found her immature and annoying, very self-centered and she bickered with everyone, which I tired quite quickly of. The actual story was quite interesting and I enjoyed reading about the beautiful small town and the problem Scarlett and her family encountered and how they solved it. I think on the whole, I enjoyed the story but it did fall flat.

Impractical Magic had a great premise but felt a little clunky in places. There was a lot of over-explaining of some ideas and not enough for others. It was generally fine and I enjoyed it quite a bit, but there could have been some revising to make everything feel more cohesive. It was definitely a nice cozy read that is perfect for the fall, but tried really hard to be like Gilmore Girls and kind of missed the mark. If you are looking for a read that is pretty easy to get through and doesn't require you to focus a whole lot (it's a little difficult sometimes with how much exposition is given in some parts and it's just too much to work with). Overall it was a pleasant read and I'm glad I had the opportunity to give it a try.

Emily Grimoire's Impractical Magic is a whimsical and enchanting novel that whisks readers away to a world of spells, potions, and secret societies. With a delightful blend of humor, heart, and a touch of the supernatural, this book is a magical treat.

The story follows a young witch named Elara, who yearns to break free from the confines of her strict magical academy. When she stumbles upon a hidden society of rebellious witches, Elara embarks on a thrilling adventure filled with unexpected friendships, forbidden love, and a dash of chaos.

Grimoire's vivid descriptions of the magical world and her witty dialogue bring the characters to life. The author's playful approach to magic and her ability to weave a captivating narrative make this book a truly spellbinding read.

If you're looking for a book that will transport you to a world of wonder and imagination, Impractical Magic is the perfect spell.

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC!

OMG! This is a cozy, romance and fantasy wrapped up in one adorable story! I totally enjoyed this whimsical book where magic has gone awry! Such a fun read!

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

This was a cute story with a lot of magic and complicated family relationships. I wouldn't say this was like Charmed, but it definitely had a magical Stars Hollow vibe to it. I enjoyed the book, but when it comes to the conflict, I didn't love the magician aspect. I did appreciate that like most of these stories, it was really a story about being a strong female and learning to trust ourselves and our abilities.

I’m really sorry but this book was not for me and was a DNF at 48%.
I wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t there for me.
I didn’t particularly like any of the characters.
I think the storyline is a good idea but it just didn’t do it

✨ARC Review✨

I honestly did not care for this book and I feel bad about it. It had all the right elements, but the execution was unfortunately lacking.

We have Scarlett Melrose, recently called back home to Oak Haven due to a magical community emergency. She’s been gone ten years ever since a spell cast by her mother, sisters, and she killed her father. She blames herself and basically put herself in exile. Anyway, she’s back because magic has gone wonky in fair Oak Haven. Her family, being the founders, is expected to right the wrong and make magic function again.

Town dreamboat, Nate Williams, was Scarlett’s bestie their whole childhood and just when they’d decided to be *more*, that spell went awry, her dad died, and Scarlett skipped town. Now that she’s back, the old feelings are still there and maybe there’s potential for *more* if only Scarlett (and her family) would quit blaming her for every little thing that goes wrong in Oak Haven. Good Lord, who did they blame in the ten years she wasn’t around?

Bottom line: this book could have been charming and cute, but it just wasn’t. Scarlett is a sad sack of a character that suddenly sees the light of what she can be, but that journey wasn’t well-paced. Her mother is not good to her at all and then suddenly she is saying motherly things and being kind. Like, what? I’m just disappointed, I guess?

Anyway, as with all books/art, your mileage may vary. My subjective review may not reflect your feelings and thoughts and that’s okay.

I was given this eARC via #netgalley and @AvonBooksUK. All thoughts are mine alone.

#books #bookreview #bookrecs #impracticalmagic #bookstagram

I chose not to finish this book. It was not at all what I expected it to be and the writing, especially in conversations is really hard to get through. I think with more editing this book could have been more enjoyable. Loved the idea….it just fell flat

I'm shocked that this has so many negative reviews because this is exactly what I've been chasing!! Too often when books are marketed as "Gilmore Girls Vibes," it means the author has literally just copy-pasted Lorelai and Luke's personalities into a small town. These characters felt distinct, with homages to Gilmore Girls characters, but also felt like a unique story. The town itself felt VERY Stars Hallow coded and there were so many great references to lines of the show. However, this also had a magical witchy twist that made it so fun and perfectly autumnal. I can't put my finger on what movie or show the witches reminded me of, but I loved it and I found the magic to feel fun and draw inspiration from a lot of classic witch stories without directly being attached to any other particular cinematic universe. Overall, such a fun book that I would absolutely recommend to any GG fan or anyone looking for a quirky witchy fall read.

Emily Grimoire's Impractical Magic had me all spellbound with its promise of a cozy, witchy romance. The idea of a small town filled with magic, autumn leaves, and a dash of family drama sounded like a perfect brew. But, alas, this magical concoction fell a bit flat.

While the setting is undeniably charming, the protagonist, Scarlett, is a bit of a mixed bag. She's got moments of wit and sass, but she can also be downright prickly. I found myself more invested in the town's quirky characters and the promise of magical mayhem than in her love story.

The romance between Scarlett and Nate felt a bit forced, like a spell that didn't quite take. I was hoping for more sparks, more sizzle, and less awkward fumbling. Perhaps a stronger love potion was needed?

Overall, Impractical Magic is a decent read for fans of cozy fantasy. It's a bit like a warm cup of apple cider: comforting, but not exactly mind-blowing. If you're looking for a quick escape to a magical world, it might be worth a try. Just don't expect to be completely enchanted.

I loved the Gilmore Girls references, and the overall cozy vibe of the novel. It was a light, quick read. But you can’t think too hard about the magic system, because there are a few things that don’t make sense.