A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison was easily one of the best books that I’ve read this year so far! It was the perfect cosy fantasy with a mystery. There was one aspect of the book that I found quite predictable, however, that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book, in fact, it kept me wanting more.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review)

This one was a bit of a struggle to get through, if I’m honest. The premise had potential - witches, potions, romance and mystery - but unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver in the way I’d hoped.

The writing style was one of the first things that threw me off. It kept switching between super simple, almost choppy sentences to these more lyrical, metaphor-heavy paragraphs. It felt like the book couldn’t quite decide what tone it was going for, and that inconsistency made it hard to stay engaged. Normally, if the plot or characters are pulling me in, I can overlook writing style but here, I really had to push myself to keep going.

Plot-wise, it was fine but just not all that exciting. Nothing particularly original or gripping happened, and a lot of it was painfully predictable. The two major twists? Called them almost right from the start. So when the “big reveals” happened, it just didn’t have much impact.

I also wish the magical elements had been explored more. The whole witchy, magical elements felt a little underdeveloped, like we were just scratching the surface of what could’ve been a much richer setting. A little more explanation or depth around how the magic actually worked would’ve gone a long way.

And then there’s the romance. It didn’t really work for me. The main character constantly talks about how much she dislikes the love interest, but we’re never given any actual reason why. Then suddenly, it’s like “oh we’ve been spending so much time together, and now feelings are happening” but we don’t see any of that time or connection. It’s all told, not shown, which made the romance feel shallow and rushed rather than something you can root for.

That said, I did think the found family aspect with the sisters was sweet. It gave the story some heart and had moments of warmth that I appreciated. It was definitely one of the stronger elements.

Overall, it was a cute enough read in theory, but the execution just didn’t work for me. A predictable plot, underdeveloped worldbuilding, and a romance that lacked chemistry made this more of a miss than a hit.

Look at that amazing cover! The colours, the details (which all mean something once you've read the story.) This book will really catch the eye when it's sitting on a shelf.
Bisma is a fantastic protagonist - sharp-edged, fiercely protective, and shaped by past hurt. Her wariness toward outsiders, particularly Xander, makes perfect sense given what she and the Unwanted Girls have endured. The contrast between her potion-making and Xander’s skill in creating cures adds an interesting dynamic to their relationship and the story’s magic system.

Xander himself, while undeniably the perfect book boyfriend - handsome, wealthy, educated, endlessly kind and self-sacrificing - feels a little too flawless to be truly real. But for readers looking for an idealized love interest, he absolutely fits the bill.

The novel is well-paced, revealing backstory at just the right moments, and the cosy elements shine through beautifully. The treehouse the Girls call home, along with the descriptions of food and daily life, make the world feel warm and inviting. As for the mystery, I had the right villain pegged early on but misjudged the cause-and-effect behind their actions - which, to the book’s credit, still made complete sense in the end.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read, blending fairytale whimsy with emotional depth. I expect it will do well, especially with readers who love lush, magical settings and a soft, romantic hero.



Book Recommendation: If you enjoyed the plant magic and deep familial bonds in The Poisoned Garden, you might love Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore. This lush, magical novel follows the Nomeolvides women, who have spent generations tending the mysterious gardens of La Pradera. Their flowers bloom with a touch, but their family is cursed - if they love too deeply, the person they cherish vanishes. When a strange boy appears in the gardens with no memory of how he got there, secrets begin to unravel, forcing them to confront the magic and tragedies of their past. Full of beautifully written prose and rich atmosphere, Wild Beauty is a perfect read for those who love stories where nature itself feels alive.

Movie Recommendation: For the themes of magic, sisterly love and curses gone wrong, it has to be Practical Magic. Sally and Gillian are sisters in a family cursed to lose the ones they love. They must find the solution to the curse before it takes the next generation of their family. Love, potions and magic make this story a great match.

Thank you to Hachette Children's Group and Aamna Qureshi for granting my request for an eArc of A Witch's Guide to Love and Poison.

Cosy fantasy and witchy vibes are my definition of a perfect pairing - put them in a fantasy book together, and something enchanting is created. A Witch's Guide to Love and Poison weaves a beautiful tale of love, family, friendships, and belonging brimming with cosy, cottage-core vibes and magic. My heart felt so full of the tremendous warmth, love, and joy that Bisma and her sisters have for each other. I loved the beautiful diversity of girls' personalities and the broad range of cultural backgrounds they come from to form their own little family under the protection of a sentient enchanted forest.

Bisma has so many different sides to her character, from being the responsible mother figure for her sisters to being the provider and the girl who longs to follow her dreams. She might come across as a bit young at times in the story. She felt genuine in her representation as she juggles her responsibilities, vulnerability, and young age as so many eldest children do in supporting the care and upbringing of siblings. Her character journey was nicely paired with her love story. I loved that she and Xander grew together as individuals and as a couple. He gave Bisma time, patience, and respect for her choices as they worked to save her sisters and the forest from the danger threatening them.

I got swept up in this lovely YA cosy fantasy full of sisterly love and a very adorable rivals-to-love romance between Bisma and Xander. It's a perfect candidate for a Studio Ghibli anime movie with a heartwarming plot and ingenious magical touches. I wish we'd had more books like this when I was a teenager, as the themes and messages are so critical about loving yourself, confidence, and how to grow and heal when people might mistreat you.

A wonderful heart warming cosy fantasy that is the perfect pick me up for those darker days. Characters you will love are at the heart of this beautiful story.

This book is everything to me! I adore Bisma & Xander. The sweet romance & the found family sister relationships & what it means to belong, truly this book stole my heart.

Bisma is an eldest sister & takes that responsibility very seriously. It’s her job to take care of & protect her sisters. She has very little time for herself & what she wants in life.
As an eldest sister, I related so hard to this. The guilt she feels at struggling to look after them. The fear that she will let them down & how she can survive being disappointed in life of not belonging but she cannot survive letting them down.
The want for something she can call her own but knowing that she will sacrifice her wants to take care of her sisters out of deep love for them.
I felt so seen. This is a book teen me needed so badly.

The romance between Xander & Bisma is so sweet. She has so many walls up, refuses to be vulnerable & even feels guilty at wanting to be loved by him but he is so patient & kind. He shows her that he will take care of her AND her siblings. Not through just words but also actions. He is sunshine & he thaws those ice walls she has built around her.

The town where they live is also full of people who care for the girls in their own ways even though Bisma may not always see it & the enchanted forest they live in protects them but is also linked to them & I loved seeing the parallels between Bisma’s inner turmoil & her healing in how healthy the forest is.

The ending was so great & felt true to the story & Bisma. And I especially loved seeing the sister relationships grow throughout the book too.
I also loved seeing the Pakistani culture throughout the story from the food they eat to their clothes & more.

Please go buy & read the book!

Bisma lives in an Enchanted Forest with her sisters (a group of unwanted girls). As the eldest it is her job to look after and protect her sisters from the wider world. As a way to provide for her sisters, Bisma uses her garden magic to create potions and poisons for the towns people. When her sisters start to fall sick Bisma struggles to find a cure and has to turn to Xander the son of the local apothecary and the last person Bisma feels she can trust. This story is about overcoming personal trauma and finding a way to trust and love again, along with developing self-belief in order to save what matters most.
I found the way the story was told pulled you in and made you want to keep reading, although I felt that for a character who was as driven Bisma seemed to be to help/save her sisters she took a lot of time off and got distracted easily.
Overall worth a read creating a warm feeling, reminding you how people can surprise you and that you are not alone.

This was a cosy novel with a sweet romance and cottagecore vibes. I appreciated the Desi elements and loved the found family. I am not the eldest but I have many younger sisters, so could really relate to the responsibility of that in a chaotic but loving environment. Xander and Bisma had nice banter and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and she really deserved to be happy with him. It was pretty fast-paced, too, which made it easy to breeze through.

Even though it moved fast, it sometimes felt too quick, and I would’ve liked to have more moments with the family or the magic aspects, especially before it goes bad. The plot was pretty predictable so it did take the heat out of the reveal. I also think there were some moments where there needed to be more urgency considering the state of things, but the romance was given priority. I mean, maybe Bisma can compartmentalise, but not me.

Overall, though, it was so cute and I enjoyed the experience of reading it. It serves especially as a reminder that no matter how much you love others in your life, it is okay to put yourself first when it comes to your dreams.

This book made me want to run off and live in the magical forest. I loved Bisma’s home and the little group of girls that lived there. The author painted a beautiful picture with cosy vibes and plenty of homemade cooking!

I loved Xander immediately and while Bisma’s objections to him lasted a little bit too long, I enjoyed watching him obviously flirting with her while she was insistent on being argumentative at every turn.

This was on the danger filled kind of cosy, which in all honesty are my favourite. It had a good balance between the action and the cosy vibes.

This was such a cosy book. I’ve been only reading contemporary for a long time so this was a nice break for me. I liked the world building and it reminded me of Howl’s Moving Castle.

Once I heard this book was being compared to a Studio Ghibli movie, I knew I was in for a treat

Bisma the FMC is a passionate and caring garden-witch, who only wants nothing more than to care for the brought together family of sisters she’s acquired over the years, who found themselves home to the Enchanted Forest. What I would do to live in a whimsical place like this

Then we meet the charming Xander - who I absoloutely adored! Think Howl Pendragon and not to give too much away, but when a guy offers to brush your hair, you know he’s a keeper! It’s the little things 🥺

The relationships in this book are so wholesome throughout and the personal growth of Bisma throughout was so inspiring and heartwarming

Fav Quote:

‘Truly, deeply, madly. I thought I knew what love was until I met you and you expanded the very definition of the word, as if you were the one to invent it, this tailor-made emotion just for me.’

If your looking for your next cosy fantasy with a large sprinkle of mystery, this is definitely a must-read

I adored this so so much. The perfect cozy fantasy and one I highly recommended to anyone who loved books such as the Emily Wilde series. Bisma has this huge wonderful family of girls ‘unwanted’ by the local village but ‘adopted’ by the forest, which is a sentient, magical forest might I add. Bisma utilises this forest and works with it, and owns her own potion business.
I love the family dynamic we are introduced to immediately and it is so wholesome and every time the sisters interact it is honestly the sweetest and makes you feel right at home with them all, and every sister has their own unique personality which really makes them stand out. Bisma does take on a lot of responsibility for this family and you do feel her pressure of having to make sure everyone is okay and looked after.

While Bisma makes poisons she makes it clear that what happens from there is none of her business, but enter Xander. A ray of sunshine who makes cures, much to Bisma’s annoyance. But Bisma needs his hel when a sister of hers is poisoned, but they are two very different people, can they manage to work together? I loved their dynamic and the reverse grumpy x sunshine trope I don’t see enough. The way they play off each other and he is a huge flirt at the best of times really makes this so enjoyable. With just enough of an underlying plot to keep the story moving, Highly recommend!

What a wonderful tale of family, friendships and romance, plus a beautiful setting.
This is classed as a young adult book, but please don’t overlook it if you no longer feel you are a young adult!! I’m not but certainly enjoyed it.
The story is about a group of young girls, The Unwanted Girls, who go into the Enchanted Forest to make it their home. The story tells their stories and how they become a family, not through blood, but through a need to care for each other, creating a bond so strong.
The author describes everything so well, you will feel that you yourself are in the Enchanted Forest, feeling the magic that runs deep there.
I loved the main character, Bisma, as she negotiates her new role as Baji, a mum figure to the rest of the girls. She shows how strong she is, yet also still young and vulnerable. The author has developed all the characters so well through this book.
Unfortunately, there is something not right between the Enchanted Forest and the local town and when her sisters start falling seriously ill, Bisma must find a cure. But to do this quickly enough, she must learn to trust another and allow them into her life, and maybe her heart too.

I really enjoyed this, complete escape from the real world for a while, with characters you will (mostly!) really care for.

Xander’s character is again so thoughtfully written and really adds another layer to this story. The ending is also perfect.

So all in all, read it! Enjoy it! Get lost in the Enchanted Forest for just a little while.

This was a really sweet story with beautifully woven elements of found family, sisterhood and belonging. I think this book would be perfect for fans of Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell and those looking for Spring reads. There is an adorable rivals to lovers romance that just adds to the sweetness of this read. It did read a little young at times and I feel like there could have been a little more world building.

I’m an eldest daughter and I feel like that’s an important preface to this review because my god I FELT this book right in the feels.
Bisma is a gorgeous FMC, caring so deeply for her sisters and my emotions were a blubbery mess from very early on. Sisterhood is a theme that is overarching and really so special in this book.

So take sisterhood, add in a REVERSE GRUMPY X SUNSHINE (omg!?!) and the loveliest enchanted wood setting you ever did see? I was immersed and it was gorgeous.

My only gripe was the pacing was a tiny bit wild in places, and it did on a couple of occasions bring me out of my cozy romance reverie, but overall a 4 star read.

Aamna is the queen of the low stakes cozy romance and I’m HERE FOR IT!

I really enjoyed this sweet romance about sisterhood, magic and poisons. Living in an enchanted forest, Bisma sells potions (and the occasional poison) to keep her sisters safe, but when danger threatens she will have to turn to her rival - the handsome and annoyingly, persistently polite Xander - for help.

Bisma's forest home was incredible - well developed, magical and cosy, filled with delicious food and a tight-knit family, and I also loved Bisma and Xander's interactions (this was definitely grumpy x sunshine, as promised!) Bisma's character growth, as well as her interactions with each of her sisters, was another strength.

i absolutely loved this read!! A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison is a must read for anyone who loves young adult cosy fantasies with a cottage core aesthetic! the found family vibes were something that i was absolutely delighted by and the banter?? YES PLEASE! there’s witches, enchanted woods, and rubella to lovers so what more could you want?

THIS was such a cute and cozy read. Aamna seriously never disappoints and this just proved it. This book is perfect blend of fantasy and the desi rep was so pretty. I loved it.

Title: A witch's guide to love and poison
Author: Aamna Qureshi
Pages: 325
Rating: 4/5
Spice/Romance level: 🌶️

Written by the same author who wrote "The baby dragon cafe" this is a cosy young adult fantasy read that offers comfort and sweetness all the way through.

The girls were likeable. I wouldn't have thought I'd have felt sorry for a forest but I did. The plot was predictable but it was such a cosy comforting read. I enjoyed it so much more.

There was a little bit of heated romance with a fade to black and my favourite enemies to lovers trope. I enjoyed hearing the back story from each sister and would love to read more about them!

It was just a nice relaxing read, perfect for the upcoming spring/summer. I loved the people of the village and their different behaviours.

You'll love this book if you like
- cosy fantasy
- young adult
- rivals
- enemies to lovers
- found family of sisters
- witches and enchanted woods
- cottagecore

Aamna Qureshi’s A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison follows Bisma as she takes on the role of Baji, of looking after her younger sisters. During her tenure, her sisters begin to be poisoned and only the boy Bisma has been holding at a distance, Xander, can help her cure them.
Despite the fact that there were some darker themes explored in this book – murder, poison, domestic abuse – this was a very cosy read. The world was vividly described, the characters were fun, the MMC was especially sweet and there lovely details of South Asian sweets and foods that were lovely bright, sparkling moments to me, someone also from a South Asian background.
There were moments where the writing felt more Middle Grade than Young Adult, but it was a really enjoyable read nonetheless.
Thank you netgalley and Hodder for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for a review.