Willow can do with a little magic in her life. Or some luck will probably suffice. But going into her closet and appearing in her new grumpy tenant’s closet is not her idea of magic or luck that’s for sure. Archer’s idea of leaving behind his difficult life in New York right now doesn’t include buying an historical building to transform it into luxury condos and ending with a magical place full of interesting people or to find the love of his life for that matter. A magical, whimsical love story.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book.
I was super excited to see that we were getting another multi author series with a lot of my fav authors. I wasn't disappointed. Such a cute story.
Lots of fun banter. Grumpy billionaire vs sunshine.
Both from different worlds.

📖: The Serendipity

Book 1 of Only Magic in the Building, multi- author series.

Genres: Romcom, Light Magical Realism

Publication Date: March 5, 2025

⚠️: on page anxiety attacks and agoraphobia

Review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Serendipity, was a wonderful novel, full of love, laughter, whimsical magic and belonging!

Two hearts connected by fate or rather a magical closet. Two individuals looking for more out of life.

Life throws curve balls and Archer and Willa, are no strangers to them.

One is running away while the other is stuck.

Can an affection starved billionaire and a free spirted, struggling baker, find a home with each other?

Or will this magical closet ultimately tear them apart?

Read it now to find out!

I received an ARC copy from the author/publisher. All thoughts are my own.

✨✨✨✨

Bellamy and Sophie are the best. I love how Bellamy came to be in Archer’s life and Sophie is the best bff! I can’t wait for her book!

🐈There is a fun bonus scene for Bellamy at the end!

🌺 Sophie’s story will be in Book 3!

✨“The Serendipity is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind.”✨

“You are a wonderfully beautiful contradiction I never knew needed, and I love you. I love you, Willa.” 🏨🍪✨🚪
the serendipity ARC 4/5⭐️
Thank you to the author and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book!! I loved this book so much, I didn’t want it to end! if you know me you know I LOVE magical realism!! this book was everything I hoped for and better!! I loved the grumpy sunshine trope and the small town! This book is about Willa who lives in a magical building and Archer who just bought the building. Willa goes into her closet and magically ends up in Archers closet. Willa is cheery while Archer is grumpy. I need to read the rest of the books in this series ASAP!! Definitely read this if you like grumpy x sunshine, magical realism, and clean romance!! This book is out NOW!! Go check it out!

The Serendipity is a fun take on the billionaire romance with some grumpy/sunshine vibes - told through dual perspectives of Archer, the son of a billionaire getting out of NYC while his father is undergoing trial for fraud, and Willa, one of the tenants of The Serendipity, the building that Archer has purchased. Archer has bought The Serendipity to turn it into luxury condos by raising the rent on the current tenants and effectively evicting them. However, in a magical meet cute situation, Willa is brought into his life and slowly erodes his icy exterior. Through the help of Archer's surrogate dad, Bellamy, and Willa's best friend, Sophie - we journey through their budding romance.

This was a good, quick read - I really struggled though to get to like Archer at the outset since he was truly such an unfeeling asshole in his perspectives. The romance was very sweet, but that transition from kicking all of the residents out of the building they'd called home for years was a bit too close to home these days. There are some great funny moments as well with the opossum and other animal encounters. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters and they helped humanize everyone and bring more dimension to the characters.

Thanks so much to Create If Writing LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Create If Writing LLC for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Serendipity is a charming start to a series that will be a hit amongst those who appreciate a little magic, a dollop of romance, and sweet friendships to their books.

Archer is a billionaire done wrong and Willa a struggling baker who stumbles into her closet and out of Archer’s. Both our main characters don’t really appreciate this main cute given they have anxiety on a good day, but thank goodness The Serendipity apartments decided it’s what they needed. The most comforting and wholesome read, the story did tackle some more serious mental health topics to add some edge and reality I wouldn’t have expected about a story of a matchmaking apartment building.
Pick this up for comfort, laughs, and a new series you’ll want to slip into.

The Serendipity by Emma St Clair is a sweet, closed door romcom. In the town of Serendipity Springs, magic is real and in the historic apartment building, known as the Serendipity, magic happens to help its residence to fall in love.

Emma’s book centers on a billionaire real estate developer named Archer and a baker named Willa. When Archer purchases the building his plans to turn it into luxury condos, however, the building has other ideas. All the trouble begins when Willa is magically transported from her closet to Archers. From there the relationship between these two characters grows and turns into something neither of these them ever could’ve imagined.
It’s a journey of healing and self discovery.

Emma’s latest book is written in a different style than her other books. It’s refreshing to see. I enjoyed such a fresh story. As always the characters are well developed, story unique and full of heart and humor. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the books in the series.

If you enjoy the grumpy sunshine trope, billionaires and
Small towns, this book is for you!

4.5/5 stars

All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the Victory Editing Co Op for the ARC.

Archibald “Archie” Gaines buys a former dormitory-now-apartment building and takes on more than he bargains for with this magical building and whimsical inhabitants. It’s there that he meets Willa, a resident who also uses the industrial kitchen in the building for her baking and cookie decorating business. Willa discovers by mistake that her closet will *sometimes* transport her directly into Archie’s closet in the owners quarters in the building.

I would’ve liked to know more about some of the other characters in the building, but hope that follow on books in the Serendipity Springs novels will explore them. Willa is great, well written, and has depth to her, as does Archie.

Definitely one to put on your TBR!

4.25 stars! This was a cute and quick read that had me laughing out loud. I knew I would love it in the first few chapters at the mention of a Doctor Who reference, but I digress.

Archer Gaines is an anxious billionaire looking to escape his big city woes and Willa Smith is a struggling baker in his newly-acquired apartment building. The Serendipity is believed by locals to be the source of magic in their small northeastern town, but Archer and Willa's first (and second and third) encounter in the building is anything but magical. Will The Serendipity live up to it's matchmaking reputation?

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys magical realism, cookies, and realistic characters. Not once did I think to myself, "Literally, why would you do that?" I can't express how much I appreciate that.

Emma St. Clair's writing was a breath of fresh air and I cannot wait to read more of her work!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I'm glad this was my first!

This cute, easy read held my attention. I don’t usually read books where people are magically put together but even the characters are skeptical of magic! Enjoyed the Serendipity Springs story set in a small town where everyone knows everyone. It was a really charming cute book that made me laugh out loud at times, while still dealing with fears that limit, and being authentically ourselves when it is not our favorite parts we share with others. The author did a great job of making me smell the baking, feel the mortification and cheer for a happy ending. Thank you to the publishing company for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #onlymagicinthebuilding #NetGalley

This is the first book is the multi author series ‘Only Magic in the Building’
It is a cozy and enchanting read
It did take me just a bit to get into the story but the second half of the story really drew me in and I fell in love with Willa and Archer! There is such a good amount of tension, humor and amazing chemistry between the MCs.
I am so excited for the rest of this series to come🫶🏼

✨Grumpy/Sunshine
✨Forced Proximity
✨Billionaire MMC
✨Baker FMC
✨Anxiety Rep/Agoraphobia
✨Age Gap
✨Boss/Employee (briefly)

Thank you to netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book.

The Serendipity is the first book I have read written by Emma St. Clair and I quite enjoyed the experience.

The character development was good. I loved seeing Willa work through and overcome her agoraphobia. Peeling back the layers of both Willa and Archer was a fun adventure.

The setting and storyline were perfect. I loved the old building and all the character it brought. I haven’t read a lot of grumpy millionaire/sunshine romance, so it was fun to switch up the tropes.

The romance was sweet and kisses only, which I appreciate.

This is not a Christian book so there are no faith aspects, but it was clean. Does deal with “magic” as in a transporting closet, but that doesn’t bug me.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

What will happen when grumpy billionaire Archer takes ownership of the magical Serendipity apartment building and it wants him and cookie baker Willa to be together? The Serendipity will probably use the closets in their apartments to keep pushing them together.

Things I loved about this story:
Lighthearted
A touch of magical realism
Mental health representation x2
Billionaire and baker
Friendship between Willa and Sophie
Bellamy
The scene about books in chapter 3 (relatable)
Slow burn
Archer connecting with Willa's dad over trains!
Spice level: just kisses

The way Emma St. Clair wrote these characters made them so easy to imagine right off the bat. I really enjoyed this straightforward writing style and the side characters. The magical realism elements in some stories are hard to get right, but this one was easy to understand.

I love a billionaire romance and this one was fun, but it didn't include a lot of the elements in a typical book with wealthy characters because they were in a small city away from his normal life. But Bellamy being Archer's "Alfred to his Batman" added so much to the story and I'm glad he was watching over him. I'm glad he got his own bonus chapter.

This could have easily been enemies to lovers, but Willa was super forgiving of Archer taking over the building and raising everyone's rent even though she should have really disliked him.

I didn't enjoy Archer for most of the book but his character grew on me near the end. The social anxiety he experiences was handled well, so it was probably a testament to the author's writing that it was hard to connect with a closed off, socially anxious character who is trying to ignore his own emotions.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those looking for a sweet, no spice romance with magical elements and fun antics.

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Emma St. Claire delivers an utterly charming, laugh-out-loud, and heartwarming romance in Serendipity, blending small-town magic with sizzling chemistry and delightful enemies-to-lovers tension.

Billionaire Archer Gaines isn’t looking for love—he’s looking for a fresh start, far away from his father’s corruption and the scandal that follows him. His plan? Buy The Serendipity, a historic apartment building in Serendipity Springs, flip it into luxury lofts, and move on. Simple. Except… the building (and fate) has other plans.

Enter Willa, a talented baker who’s lived in the building for years and isn’t about to let some grumpy, money-driven outsider ruin her home—or her fledgling business. Their meet ugly (involving Willa accidentally teleporting into Archer’s closet) sets the tone for a hilarious, tension-filled relationship. Things only escalate when Archer increases rent, threatening the lives of the quirky tenants and putting Willa’s dream at risk. But as the building’s “mischief” keeps throwing them together, sparks begin to fly in ways neither of them expected.

Emma St. Claire weaves humor, heart, and just the right amount of magical realism into this delightful romance. Archer and Willa’s journey from reluctant neighbors to something much more is filled with swoony moments, laugh-out-loud antics, and a touching emotional depth that makes their love story feel both fun and meaningful.

If you love grumpy/sunshine romances, forced proximity, and a touch of whimsy, Serendipity is a must-read. It’s a feel-good, escapist romance that’ll leave you smiling long after the final page.

✨🏢 The Serendipity ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I love a multiauthor interconnected book series and Emma St. Clair always knocks it out of the park! From Just Don’t Fall from the Sweater Weather series to the spin off Appies series, she opens these series and introduces us to these magical worlds. When I saw the announcement for this series a while back I knew immediately that I would be binging every book but also not reading the individual descriptions to keep it all a surprise. So I read this blindly only knowing that the building is magic.

The Serendipity is the first of eight books in the Only Magic in the Building series following Willa - a baker and resident in the building, and Archer - the billionaire new owner of the building known as The Serendipity.

The magical element of the teleportation closet causing mayhem by taking the characters to each other exactly when they need the other was sweet. It makes me excited to see where the other authors will create magic in the building.

Secondary characters like Sophie and Bellamy were fun additions and made the building feel robust and alive. Not having read the individual book description (I read the series description) before reading, I had no clue this was a billionaire romance. It’s a trope for a reason and I think Archer needed to drop A LOT more 💰💰

I’m very excited to see where this series takes us!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC!

Do you believe in magic? You will, after you read The Serendipty! Willa, a baker and resident of the apartment building named The Serendipty, was looking in her closet for a sweater, and the next thing she knows, she has been transported to the closet of Archer, new landlord and owner of the building, who is not very popular with the residents. Archer recently purchased the building and moved there to escape his father's legal troubles in New York City. As Archer tries to navigate becoming a landlord when the building manager quit, his assistant Bellamy convinces him to hire Willa to help him as a temporary building manager. Willa is struggling with a failing business and agrophobia. Archer is hiding secrets of his own. Is there magic in the air or something more?

I really enjoyed this romcom. It was full of humor, cute interactions, lots of banter, and even more heart. The main characters had lots of personality, quirks, and of course struggles. The anxiety representation was very well done. This is a closed door romance. Which I enjoyed I feel like the longing is even more exciting. The magic system was very cute. I hope to read more about other characters staying in Serendipity Springs.

This grumpy- sunshine, billionaire-baker, rom-com-fantasy book has a little bit of something for everyone. The scattered but feisty FMC has you loving her from the first page, and the very stoic (aka GRUMP) new building owner has no heart and needs a stern talking to, he is so easy to hate.

He is all about the bottom line and how much money can be made, she is so concerned about the tenants and knows their situations. As they are forced to interact in some less than ideal situations- closets, giant possums, and late night baking, they start seeing each other differently.

It’s sweet, funny, whimsical, and a great way to pass an after 2. I’m excited to see what else the building and the town have to offer unsuspecting singles.

“Emotions are, in general, tricky waters for me to navigate. Dark. Murky. Full of unseen hazards.”

“I’d like to borrow a toolkit from a professional thief so I can pick the locks Archer has around himself.”

“Had you asked me beforehand what was more believable, me falling in love with a grumpy billionaire or the Serendipity actually being magical, I probably would have gone with the magic building.”

The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair (Only Magic in the Building #1)

Format: E-Book
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Magical realism, clean romance, grumpy x sunshine, billionaire romance
Spice level: 🚫 (Just kissing.)
Content warnings: On page anxiety attack and agoraphobia
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This book was such a cute, whimsical story! Willa and Archer were such a good couple. Bellamy was also a very good side character. He was great. I loved seeing Archer and Willa both overcome personal struggles and open up to each other. I loved the character development of both of them. There was also such good banter between Willa and Archer, and there were also lots of funny, and memorable moments between Willa and Archer. This book had plenty of heart and laughs and magic. It was low in angst and had lots of swoon-worthy sweetness. This book was a great introduction to the entire Only Magic in the Building series, and it makes me excited to read the rest of the books in the series!

This first book of the Only Magic in the Building series was a hit! This book is about an apartment building called The Serendipity and how it has magic within it's walls works to put people together. Archer, a weathly New York business, wants a fresh start and buys The Serendipity to run and manage it and on his first day in the building finds Willa, one of his tenants, in his closet. Willa was magically transported from her closet to Archer's but Archer doesn't believe her and thinks she is crazy. Archer and Willa keep meeting up back together and Archer realizes that he can use her help. As they grow closer and both work thru there different anxieties, this book comes to together in a cute rom-com. I am excited to see what Book #2 brings.
Thanks Emma St. Clair, Net Galley and the publisher for a chance to read this eARC!!