Loving this one but I'll be continuing it from the physical copy I have, just so lighthearted and fun!! I love the concept of this book and it feels like a warm hug!!

We Used to Be Magic is a beautifully written, painfully real story about grief, trauma, self-identity, and healing. Do not be fooled by the pastel-coloured cover. While this book has moments of levity, it also explores deep, emotional themes, so I highly recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand.

The writing is raw and immersive, and I saw pieces of myself in both Ezra and Audrey’s journeys. I related to Ezra’s feelings of being lost and unsure of his future while also connecting to Audrey’s experience of stepping into the world on her own, away from her family. As someone with PTSD, I found certain depictions of trauma to be very accurate, which made parts of the book deeply impactful.

That said, the ending felt somewhat rushed, particularly in how it approached recovery. The process was depicted in a way that felt more linear than it actually is, and I would have loved more time spent on the emotional journey rather than just the resolution. The book also sits in that in-between space—not quite YA, not quite NA, and not quite adult fiction, which made the narrative feel a little disjointed at times. The tone shift midway through almost felt like two different books in one, and I’m still processing how I feel about that.

And the ending… I’m still not sure what I think. Regardless, We Used to Be Magic is a thought-provoking and deeply human book. It’s one that lingers with you, and I know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

📖 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a magical read, it reinvigorated my love of romance books, if something is meant to be then the universe will make it happen!

I'm still processing all the feelings of this book! I’ll be real with you, this book grabbed me and wouldn't let go - I literally couldn't put it down until I reached the last page.

The way Ezra and Audrey meet is anything but your typical coffee shop run-in, and I'm so here for it. She's working the modelling scene while he's deep in that "who even am I?" phase we all go through. But what really hits hard is how the book dives into their emotional baggage and past trauma. The author doesn't just scratch the surface - Bea goes deep, but in a way that feels real and respectful.

Can we talk about Ezra and Aubrey for a second? Like, yes, I wanted to shake them both and yell "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER! TELL EACH OTHER HOW YOU FEEL DAMMIT!” but also... I get it? They're fresh out of school, trying to adult while life keeps throwing curveballs their way. It feels messy and real because, let's be honest, that's exactly how life is at that age.

The switching perspectives between Ezra and Audrey? Pure genius. Getting inside both their heads made everything click - even when they're making choices that had me wanting to throw my book across the room, I totally understood why.

And those side characters? *chef's kiss* Marika and Caroline aren't just background noise - they're fully realised people who bring so much to the story. Major props to Bea for making them feel just as real as our main couple.

This one's a solid 4.5 stars from me. It made me FEEL things (which, trust me, doesn't happen often), and that alone makes it special. The tension and angst had me in a chokehold, and I'm not even mad about it. This is definitely going on my “will forever recommend" shelf!

I was hoping to love this because I read that it's for fans of Normal People and One Day. I could definitely see the similarities between those (which are books that I love!) but it didn't hit the spot for me.

The writing was great but personally I didn't gel with either of the characters enough!

Thanks so much to Hachette Children’s, Bea Ingall and NetGalley for the eARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I have mixed feelings about the book. The general plot was great and I loved seeing the way Ezra and Aubrey tackled their individual challenges. The insight and pressures into the modelling world was really well conveyed and the portrayal of grief was super moving but I really struggled with the pacing, and at times found the plot slow moving.

In general, it was a well written book and would read anything else by the author.

“…but what if it was never as big as that? What if it was as small and simple and utterly miraculous as a single piece of string?”

In sitting down to write this review I honestly struggled to concisely describe just how special this book is.

This book invokes all the magic and emotions of those classic New York romcoms we know and love but with a completely fresh, modern story. The theme of fate vs chance plays out beautifully in the book as we follow the story of Ezra and Audrey and ponder whether people are truly brought together through the “invisible string” of fate or if it’s simply random coincidence.

I loved the choice of the dual POV as it made Ezra and Audrey feel so well rounded and real, not to mention it drives the story so effectively that it was only until I was on the last 50 pages I realised and started panicking as I knew the story was coming to an end.

It’s cinematic and romantic but also nuanced and touches on themes that feel both universal but also incredibly relevant for today.

The reference to both pop and classic culture kept the story grounded in reality but also adds another dimension to the novel by allowing the reader an opportunity to discover the world of the characters outside of the story which I loved.

Overall the novel manages to create a sense of timelessness which means it’ll be something I know I’ll be coming back to again and again.

Also *spoiler free* but this has to be made into a move as I NEED to see the final chapter brought to life!

this book was totally magical.
It's not just about two young people falling in love it's about destiny and how to find your path in a big city.

We Used To Be Magic is a fun fast paced YA novel set in the world of fashion and New York City. I loved the writing and how easy it was to get lost in this beautiful story of two lonely people who meet while each dealing with their own inner struggles. For Audrey it's being a new model on her first trip abroad and dealing with the highs and lows of the fashion world, for Ezra it's trying to deal with grief from losing a parent and his connection with his family.

The difficult subjects the author develed into such as losing a parent, alcohol addiction and mental health was handled with so much care and dedication..the only thing I would of liked to have seen where Ezra was concerned was him going into therapy and his progression develop over a period of time as I feel he had the longest journey to go.

The ending wasn't one of my favourites as it leans towards a HFN but overall I really enjoyed this debut novel and its question of whether it's coincidence or is it fate that leads to two people meeting.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a arc before publication.

I had high hopes for this, especially since it’s been compared to favourites like Ali Hazelwood’s books, Normal People, and One Day. But unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. It’s rare for me to not finish a book, but I found myself struggling to connect with the storyline and the characters.

While I could feel the tension between Audrey and Ezra, I wasn’t really rooting for them, which made it hard to stay invested in their stories. I did enjoy the dual POV - it gave better insight - but overall, I just didn’t care enough about the characters to keep going. I got to about 60% but this one just wasn’t for me.

This is a captivating debut set in the fast-paced world of NYC fashion. It's a fun YA romance full of tension and raw emotion. The story delves into heavy themes like grief, addiction, and mental health with sensitivity, though I would have loved to see more of Ezra’s journey in therapy. The ending leans towards an HFN (gah) but overall, this was a compelling and well-written read.

Raced through this in a couple of days (might have been quicker had I not had two shifts at the bookstore to fit in the middle) - pure One Day/Sally Rooney vibes, I loved it.

This is a perfect romance for teenagers. There are enough challenging themes to make it stretch their thoughts but it doesn’t veer into sexually explicit material that renders it inappropriate for all readers. The characters are flawed but lovely and I was invested in finding out what would happen to them. It was written in such a way that whilst you routed for them it wasn’t obvious what would happen at every turn and there were some truly moving moments.

This book is a heartfelt, slow-burn masterpiece that captures the chaos of young love. Audrey and Ezra are deeply flawed yet irresistibly magnetic characters whose chemistry leaps off the page with every smouldering glance and sharp exchange. Their connection feels raw and unfiltered, making you ache for them even as their insecurities and struggles threaten to pull them apart. Yet, amidst the turmoil, there’s a spark of hope that keeps you turning the pages, rooting for these two to find their way. It’s equal parts glamorous escapism and deeply relatable emotion. You’ll laugh, you’ll swoon, and by the end, you might just believe in the universe’s meddling hand.

this book oh my god I LOVE LOVE LOVE!

this book is about a rookie model called audery, who is navigating New York for the first time. and then Ezra who is no stranger to the city who returns from studying abroad and he comes back with a broken heart. auderys and Ezras connection is instant.

I loved this book thank you for allowing me to read this!

I NEED A BONUS CHAPTER NOW!!!!!

This is a beautifully written story about a 18yo old girl who has just become model and an 18yo guy who has a broken heart and a messy family, both British discovering their way around New York.

What I loved the most about the book is how real these characters felt. They are young and awkward but feel so much so deeply. This isn’t a romance story but it’s a story about them finding themselves in this new world and finishing each other in the process.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Oh, this gave me sooo many feels!

Set in NYC, with the FMC in the fashion world, I really liked the style and feel of this story.

The 'will they won't they' romance between Audrey and Ezra gave me Normal People vibes (which I loved!). And the whole style felt really current and fresh.

There were alot of diffucult subjects the author delved into such as alcohol addiction, loss of a parent, grief, as well as mental health struggles that both MCs go through for different reasons. I thought they were well handled. However, I would have liked to have seen Ezra actually go into therapy and see his progression develop as I feel he had a long way to go.

The ending leaves this very much an HFN, which isn't my favourite as I like to know EXACTLY what happened, so I guess my brain will just have to come up with it's own HEA for them 😅.

We used to be magic was a solid debut novel that I really enjoyed! Thank you to netgalley for letting me read an advanced copy!