This is such a great read, it manages to be light and joyful whilst also a cut romance with witches and werewolves and vampires. This is a normal romance with opposites attracting each other and teasing and slowly having the scales fall from their eyes, or do they? There are potions and charms going on and maybe the romance is a hoax. This book is fun with spells going wrong, or worse,going right and a ut of tenderness too.

3.5 stars!

Potions and Proposals by Kate Callaghan is a cute fantasy that follows prankster rivals Lucinda (Lucy) and Benedict. These two have been pranking each other since they were kids & now they are being bound in an arranged marriage that will force them to work together to lead the town. Lucy's family has been in charge for years, and she assumed once her mom retired that she would be the one to take over.... but boy was she surprised.

Lucy's mom and gram create a potion that will hopefully attract Lucy to her true love before she ends up having to go through with the marriage to Benedict.... plot twist -- Benedict really is her true love after all.

This was fun and lighthearted - I highly recommend this to those who enjoy a witchy fantasy with a predictable not quite enemies to lovers romance.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC - this one was FUN & I'd love to read more from the author in the future!

Lucinda (Lucy) and Benedict are rival witches living in an adorable small town magical sanctuary town. Their rivalry started as children, and even decades later, they are playing pranks on each other and tormenting each other on a regular basis. When their silly pranks get out of hand and cause tourists to panic, it creates some bad press for the town. With Lucy's upcoming promotion to High Priestess of the local witches, her latest prank causes the coven to rethink her suitability, and give Lucy and Benedict an ultimatum. Bind themselves together, and WORK together as joint leaders - or someone has to leave to preserve the peace.

The beginning of the story and set up for the story were a little rough. I think some editing to clarify some of the actions (were the people turned into butterflies or the CUPS? - it was the cups; and how does one take a potion without anyone drinking/using it?), and to solidify who the characters were to each other earlier on would have helped a lot.
There also wasn't a lot of explanation about all of the supernatural races and there were quite a few character threads to the story that didn't tie up at all, or feel like they reached a good resolution. I'm sure some of them would be resolved in later books, but instead of investigating or asking questions when something odd happened...each of the characters just seemed to shrug, like, 'Oh, how weird'...and move on.

The rivalry between Lucy and Benedict was fun, but also a little sad. Lots of misunderstandings and childish ideas were at the heart or the issues they had with each other, but it did feel like a good way to do the "enemies" to lovers.
I really liked Benedict's character, but never really warmed up to Lucy. She was considered the "good" one, but was quick to judge and react- whereas Benedict was thoughtful and considerate of others despite his "dark" family history.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was a light read, and while it felt a little rough at times, the assortment of small town characters was entertaining.

3.5 stars

This was a really cute witchy read! I loved the idea of the sanctuary town of Foxford where different supernatural creatures coexist with the “magless” aka people without magic. The romance was hate to love, forced marriage, he falls first with a slow burn.

Lucinda and Benedict were both great and I enjoyed how playful & well developed their relationship was. I thought the potions and magical elements were really fun and there were some great side characters as well.

I did expect a little more from the conflict and the spice left a lil something to be desired. Nevertheless this would be a fun Halloween read and I am interested in the other characters’ stories so I’m open to continuing the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kate Callaghan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Title: Potions and Proposals
Author: Kate Callaghan
Pages: 440
Rating: 3/5*

Potions and Proposals is a Cosy, low drama Fantasy read about two rivals who are forced to be bound or face leaving town.

This was a gentle read. With my children being a handful this week the book was easy to pick up and put down without losing my place. I loved the playlist that was added at the beginning of the book. I thought this was such a lovely touch.
There was a hint of spice with some nice backstory build up for future series.

I can see Benedict being swooned at my many a reader with his broody, dark troubled past.

I look forward to seeing how the series unfolds in the next Foxwood installment!

*Note from me: I never want to dim people's shine. It's brave for the author to put themselves out there in the public eye. Books/stories are personal preferences. What might be my cup of tea may not be yours. And vice Versa! Keep on creating!

I really liked this book.

I loved the relationship between Benedict and Lucy. I loved the supporting characters, especially Grams Hawthorne.

I'm usually not the hugest fan of an arranged marriage trope, but this one made sense to me. I think because when it was presented to Benedict and Lucy, it made sense to them to some degree, so as the reader, I understood it better too.

I liked how the backstory of the characters unfurled slowly throughout the book, and each glimpse of the past gave better understanding of their actions in the present. It also helped build Foxford up in my head a bit more.

Overall, a very enjoyable read, and I can't wait for the next one!

Enemies to lovers, spice, cosy, Benedict - what more can I say! This book was fabulous, I loved the story, the characters and just the right amount of spice. Kate Callaghan is a fantastic writer and fast becoming one of my favourites.
I would highly recommend this book
I received a copy of Potions and Proposals from NetGalley

This was a sweet enemies to lovers arranged marriage trope! I loved the chemistry between the characters and the build up and set up for the next book to come next year. Was a quick read and definitely something to get you out of a book slumb if ever in one. I loved the banter between the Benedict and Lucinda but this was definitely a good read to have especially coming into the fall.

I enjoyed reading Potions and Proposals, it had all the elements which makes a good steamy romance.
There was a good story behind the characters, although it did feel the author was setting up a few future stories so some of the plot seemed to go nowhere.
I liked Benedict and Ember and it was nice to see their story unfold from enemies to lovers.

Kate Callahan is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. Potions and Proposals is the latest book from her. Don’t miss this one.

“I don’t need any potion or ritual to convince me that you’re my person, just as I’m yours.”

🎃 Arranged Marriage
✨ Magical Small Town
🎃 Rivals to Lovers
✨ Reluctant Allies
🎃 Spell Gone Wrong (or very very right? 😉)
✨ Meddling Families
🎃 No Third Act Breakup (the best news ever)

Overall Enjoyment ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️
World Building 🌎🌎🌎
Romance ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Characters 👤👤👤

I have to start off by saying how much I enjoyed this read, I have been desperate for a book with this cosy warm autumn feel and I’m so glad I found it in Potions & Proposals.

“It could never have been anyone other than you, even if the potion had worked as intended. It still would’ve been you. I’d rather spend the rest of my life bickering with you than at peace with anyone else. I’ve never had to be perfect with you. I don’t have to be a Hawthorne–with you I’m just Lucinda,”

The relationship between Lucy and Benedict was so much fun to read, watching them realise their feelings for each other. Learning that the line between love and hate isn’t quite as black and white as they first thought. The tension and banter between these two was done so well, I couldn’t get enough.

“She was the one thing he’d always wanted, but no matter how perfect he tried to be, she saw through him to the depths of his soul. One look from her, and he couldn’t pretend anymore.”

Their history was complex and interesting too, as you read on you realise their feelings have been building for a while. There were so many moments where they silently supported each other without telling the other, it’s only now they have been forced to work together under these circumstances that they overcome past misunderstandings and learn to communicate. They had such a beautiful connection!

“But why buy them?” She walked past him to the shelf. “I wanted to know what inspired your undivided attention.”

A man that buys the books he’s noticed you reading? Yes please. I need my own Benedict please.

“Pettiness was rife in Foxford. Add magic to the mix, and the usual small-town drama escalated quickly.”

The world building was enchanting, you will be transported to this magical small town full of witches, vampires, sirens and shifters. I just loved all the small town drama, it made the story so light and enjoyable. While the history was rich and compelling, this small town is a sanctuary from the conflicts of the past and it was interesting how it influenced the characters and played a vital role in the characters decisions.

I am so happy I picked up this book, it was exactly what I needed!

Potions and Proposals was a sweet book! I adore Foxford and the world-building was fantastic. I love that quirky town and its residents. I thought the storyline was great and I love Benedict and Lucinda together. I did feel like there were some plot holes, however. Benedict and Lucy go from hate to love rather quickly, without much buildup. I also thought there were some wonky timelines (Hughes shows up a couple of days after a spell, but Grams says it’s the next day at one point). This book also could’ve been helped by writing in the first person. There were a few points where I wasn’t sure who was saying what; there were multiple sentences of “she said” but no telling which person.

Overall, a very sweet book. The spice really wasn’t there at all. There’s one open-door, almost fade-to-black bedroom scene, and lots of kissing, but that’s it.

I received a copy of Potions and Propsals from NetGalley. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Potions and proposals is a delightful “not-quite-enemies to lovers” story about Lucy, the apparent choice for the next high priestess, and Benedict, the town outcast who is just trying to prove he’s more than his family name.

This is billed as an arranged marriage story and the tension of that situation follows us through our journey as Lucy and Benedict explore their feelings for each other and try to determine if it’s true love, or just the side effect of a love potion. This is all while the upcoming election, which has our lovers (potentially) pitted against each other looms in the background.

Overall, this was a quick, easy read that really pulls you into the world of Foxford, where witches quietly exist in the background of society, running their own second government, but trying not to flaunt their magic too much. I really loved the dynamic between our two main characters, even if I felt their relationships with their families fell a little flat. Still, I cannot WAIT for Peter’s story in book 2!

This was a delightfully fun romcomesque book with magic and wolves and witches and potions. It felt almost cozy with some spice and banter and a hint of drama. No third act breakup either! Pick this up for a delightfully fun time. Cannot wait for the second one and I’m secretly hoping book three will be about Rosie and Emerson. 👀

Potions and Proposals is a cute, cozy witchy romance that will warm your heart and your cauldrons.

Lucy and Benedict's romance is proof of how opposites attract really does work and exist. These enemies to lovers witches end up having to work together to help lead the future of the coven. You will laugh, you might roll your eyes and you will definitely want to curl up and get cozy. It's a cute, quick whimsical story that you can easily read in one sitting.

Releasing August 24, 2024 just in time for witchy/halloween time!

*ARC provided by Kate Callaghan via NetGalley for an honest review*

'Potions & Proposals' by Kate Callaghan is a wonderful, quirky, rom-com, that centers around a small town, a witchy romance that contrasts enemies and lovers, making it an ideal read for the fall months. A wonderful piece of writing that drew me in from the very beginning to the very end! It is a lighthearted and hilarious book, with lots of fun witchy moments to keep you entertained. Especially when two people used to "hate" each other and were constantly pulling pranks on each other, while also caring about each other on a day-to-day basis, such a unique relationship can be hard to measure and to define but I think Callaghan did an amazing job!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantasy romance that is entertaining and engaging. Also, it is a little on the lighter side of spice as well, so it may be a good pick for those just getting started in the romance genre. Throughout the book there is an excellent balance between writing strong characters, which enthralls the reader into their lives. I especially enjoy the banter between the main characters, as well as their rivalry with each other, and the moment they realize they each love each other.

There was no doubt in my mind that this would make for a great quick read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves reading paranormal romance books.

This was a sweet and witchy small-town romance. I loved the steady character development for Lucinda and Benedict and enjoyed reading from both perspectives. I felt that the plot was stretched out a little too long and could have ended around 20 pages earlier. I also wished there was more information given about the spells and elemental magic in the witch's bloodlines (but that might be me being picky and nerdy!)

In Potions and Proposals, Kate Callaghan stirs up a cauldron of laughs, love, and a touch of rivalry in the charming town of Foxford. Lucinda Hawthorne, our determined translator with dreams of becoming High Priestess, suddenly finds herself in the ultimate witchy predicament: facing off against her arch-nemesis, Benedict Matherson, for the coveted title. But, of course, there’s a catch—the magical equivalent of a shotgun wedding on All Hallows’ Eve.

What follows is a delightful mess of spells gone awry, magical binding rituals that refuse to stay in their lane, and enough banter to make you wish these two would just admit they’re perfect for each other. Lucinda and Benedict’s bickering is like a warm cup of spiced cider—comforting, a little tart, and impossible to put down.

The story is as cozy as an oversized sweater on a crisp autumn day. In fact, I’m almost mad at myself for not saving this one for the fall. The town of Foxford feels like a place you’d want to visit—if only to see how the local coven handles their next magical mishap. And while the writing is simple, it flows as smoothly as a well-brewed potion, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

If you’re looking for a book that’s the perfect mix of cozy, funny, and just a little bit magical, Potions and Proposals is your spellbinding solution.

An engaging talr featuring Benedict and Lucinda, whose characters are well drawn. I enjoyed the novel. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

To say I'm obsessed with Benedict and Lucinda would be an understatement.

The novel follows Benedict and Lucinda who have been childhood enemies and as a result of their hatred, their families arrange for them to be married. Yet due to a spell gone wrong, they find themselves working together. I love how their relationship developed steadily, with some uncertainty before fully accepting their feelings for each other. The writing style was also easy to get into, hooking me right from the beginning. I can't wait to read the other books in the series once they come out as I'm in love with the characters.

This has officially become one of my top reads of 2024, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to receive an early copy in return for an honest review.