Linsey Hall

So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules…

1. Never get involved with magic

2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England

3. And definitely don't fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you've hated for years

So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It's the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop.

But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process.

This'll be fine. It’ll all be fine.

Riiiight.

Charming Cove #1

The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic

Shelby Caswell

I fully believe cozy autumn romance should be it’s own sub-genre and this would be top of the list!!

This was such a simple, cozy read. Every page had me wanting to curl up with a blanket, snuggle in, sip on a cup of tea and read. I couldn’t recommend an easier read.

It truly was a complete joy.

Aria is a “broken” witch who has either explosive 
or nonexistent power. Callan is one of the most successful mages, with an affinity for real estate and business. He travels the world, builds successful businesses and schmoozes beautiful women.

They are both participants in a magical competition, to win control of an incredibly powerful and magnificently complex magical garden.

My only issue with this book is that it felt very surface level. We didn’t get a whole lot of depth to anyone aside from Aria, and maybe her grandmother. I also thought the conflict / resolutions were very quick to happen which felt shallow. 

I don’t believe this lack in depth hindered the experience, I think it made it an incredibly easy read that truly just leaves the reader feeling warm and cozy. 

The story was simple, fun and captured me from the moment the competition started. Boris is a fantastic addition to the dynamics. The plants and animals that inhabit the world that Charming Cove exists in are something out of a fairy tale, the creativity into those details were lovely. 

I cannot wait to read the next one!

3.5⭐️
.5🌶️

Lmfao not to be mean, but I don’t understand why this book has so many high reviews. I wanted a mind numbing book. Something as a filler before I start a heavy series, and this book was just not worth it. I almost DNF’d after the first two pages but I kept going just to get to a smut scene and even that was anticlimactic and mediocre. The main love interests even felt dry and unseasoned. I felt no connection to them at all. The ending was rushed and pretty boring as well, it could’ve been better by just adding a few more pages of content. There’s more to this series but I really couldn’t be bothered 

Kassandra Nordeste

🦇 A Modern Girl's Guide to Magic Book Review 🦇

❝ Funny how one could be gone from home for so long but slip right back into old rhythms upon return. ❞

❓ #QOTD What type of animal would you have as a familiar? ❓

🦇 Aria has accepted her fate as a magical failure--that is, until she's forced to return to her hometown of Charming Cove to save her family's potion shop in a magical competition. Her self-doubt grows when she realizes she's competing against Callan, the wealthy, powerful, all-too-handsome mage who burned her in the past. Can Aria get past her self-doubt to win the competition and Garden of Enchantment, all while ignoring the growing tension between her and Callan?

💜 A Modern Girl's Guide to Magic is full of charm, laughter, and of course, magical hijinks. The protagonist, Aria, is sassy yet sweet, while her struggles with childhood bullying and questionable self-worth are both relatable (despite the magical genre). Her badger familiar, Boris, is tirelessly hungry, equally sassy, yet supportive, while Aria's makeshift family is a heartwarming delight. The worldbuilding is simple yet vivid, never stealing from the story's real plot and message. I adored the reveal regarding Aria's magic (though it was relatively obvious from the story's start). Callan is generous and sexy, though too much of his character and actions are focused on Aria, rather than his own motivations. Linsey does a wonderful job at building Aria and Callan's slow-burn relationship while focusing on Aria's character development and the competition. Aria is by far one of the most relatable magical characters I've read in a while. 

🦇 While the story is sweet and Aria's internal dialogue is amusing, the stakes never feel high enough. Aria's trying to save her family's potion shop while Callan is trying to build his legacy, but it doesn't feel like those motivations clash nearly enough. The flashback and explanation that Callan hadn't pursued Aria when they first met because of their age difference felt unnecessary, as did the rushed smut scene, which felt like a forced plot point. The pacing is a little slow since the stakes feel so low. Overall, it's an easy, lighthearted read.

🦇 Recommended for fans of cozy magical stories; perfect for spooky season.

Jazelle H

🦇 A Modern Girl's Guide to Magic Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❝ Funny how one could be gone from home for so long but slip right back into old rhythms upon return. ❞

❓ #QOTD What type of animal would you have as a familiar? ❓
 
🦇 Aria has accepted her fate as a magical failure--that is, until she's forced to return to her hometown of Charming Cove to save her family's potion shop in a magical competition. Her self-doubt grows when she realizes she's competing against Callan, the wealthy, powerful, all-too-handsome mage who burned her in the past. Can Aria get past her self-doubt to win the competition and Garden of Enchantment, all while ignoring the growing tension between her and Callan?

💜 A Modern Girl's Guide to Magic is full of charm, laughter, and of course, magical hijinks. The protagonist, Aria, is sassy yet sweet, while her struggles with childhood bullying and questionable self-worth are both relatable (despite the magical genre). Her badger familiar, Boris, is tirelessly hungry, equally sassy, yet supportive, while Aria's makeshift family is a heartwarming delight. The worldbuilding is simple yet vivid, never stealing from the story's real plot and message. I adored the reveal regarding Aria's magic (though it was relatively obvious from the story's start). Callan is generous and sexy, though too much of his character and actions are focused on Aria, rather than his own motivations. Linsey does a wonderful job at building Aria and Callan's slow-burn relationship while focusing on Aria's character development and the competition. Aria is by far one of the most relatable magical characters I've read in a while. 

🦇 While the story is sweet and Aria's internal dialogue is amusing, the stakes never feel high enough. Aria's trying to save her family's potion shop while Callan is trying to build his legacy, but it doesn't feel like those motivations clash nearly enough. The flashback and explanation that Callan hadn't pursued Aria when they first met because of their age difference felt unnecessary, as did the rushed smut scene, which felt like a forced plot point. The pacing is a little slow since the stakes feel so low. Overall, it's an easy, lighthearted read.

🦇 Recommended for fans of cozy magical stories; perfect for spooky season.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🌱 Cozy Magical Vibes
🌳 Enemies to Lovers
🌿 Small Town Rom-Com
🪴 Dual POV
🍃 First of a Series

it felt like they forgot they had to write an ending to this book and threw something from the mary sueniverse together in ten pages 

Cici Pearson

The author, Linsey Hall, knows what works for her audience. Charming Cove is her 7th series, with How to Fake-Date a Vampire, the next book after The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic. Each of her series is geared toward a different kind of romance reader, which is why it looks like the next book will also be a rom-com.

This is why it shouldn't surprise you that this book has all the tropes! Aria, our main character, is tiny but very powerful (with rare abilities) and familiar with a lot of personality. Callan is rich, good-looking, with some daddy issues, but has a heart of gold, and is very powerful. They share a bed. They are forced to work together.

All in all, it was perfect for a Hallmark movie book. Aria comes into her abilities very quickly after meeting the other plant witch, while feels like a bit of a cop-out; a better story would have had her deal with her magic being a bit wonky and still being okay. Everything is wrapped up nicely, and we should love that Callan makes dumb business decisions.

However, it also fell kinda flat, if that makes sense? There wasn't much substance to it and it is a bit unmemorable

Seher Mohsin

The author, Linsey Hall, knows what works for her audience. Charming Cove is her 7th series, with How to Fake-Date a Vampire, the next book after The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic. Each of her series is geared toward a different kind of romance reader, which is why it looks like the next book will also be a rom-com.

This is why it shouldn't surprise you that this book has all the tropes! Aria, our main character, is tiny but very powerful (with rare abilities) and familiar with a lot of personality. Callan is rich, good-looking, with some daddy issues, but has a heart of gold, and is very powerful. They share a bed. They are forced to work together.

All in all, it was perfect for a Hallmark movie book. Aria comes into her abilities very quickly after meeting the other plant witch, while feels like a bit of a cop-out; a better story would have had her deal with her magic being a bit wonky and still being okay. Everything is wrapped up nicely, and we should love that Callan makes dumb business decisions.

However, it also fell kinda flat, if that makes sense? There wasn't much substance to it and it is a bit unmemorable

Aria has pretty much left magic behind in Charming Cove.  Not that she was ever that great - all her attempts kind of blew up in her face.  But when another disaster befalls her at her job in London, it coincides with a request from her gran - to represent their potion shop in a magical contest.  Aria knows she has two outcomes in the competition - losing and epically losing! 

Callan is the epitome of mage about town.  He's wealthy, driven and has a new woman on his arm every week.  But he's become the one thing he didn't want to - his father.  When he too is asked to participate in the Garden of Enchantment competition and realises that the Aria is also competing, he sees a chance to make up for the way he treated her the first time they met.  But will working together actually help or hinder his plans?

Small village setting in Cornwall, charming scenery, quirky locals and a chance at revenge on the mean girls who made Aria's childhood a nightmare!  I loved the warmth and strength of bond between Aria and her bestie, even though they haven't seen each other in years.  An independent and interfering gran and her network of buddies and a familiar who is very full of himself!

Callan and Aria are a great match, the banter is strong between these two!  Both realise that they need each other to progress but neither is willing to sabotage the other. Sweet with a slice of spice.

Nicola Sarah Brooks

Aria has pretty much left magic behind in Charming Cove.  Not that she was ever that great - all her attempts kind of blew up in her face.  But when another disaster befalls her at her job in London, it coincides with a request from her gran - to represent their potion shop in a magical contest.  Aria knows she has two outcomes in the competition - losing and epically losing! 

Callan is the epitome of mage about town.  He's wealthy, driven and has a new woman on his arm every week.  But he's become the one thing he didn't want to - his father.  When he too is asked to participate in the Garden of Enchantment competition and realises that the Aria is also competing, he sees a chance to make up for the way he treated her the first time they met.  But will working together actually help or hinder his plans?

Small village setting in Cornwall, charming scenery, quirky locals and a chance at revenge on the mean girls who made Aria's childhood a nightmare!  I loved the warmth and strength of bond between Aria and her bestie, even though they haven't seen each other in years.  An independent and interfering gran and her network of buddies and a familiar who is very full of himself!

Callan and Aria are a great match, the banter is strong between these two!  Both realise that they need each other to progress but neither is willing to sabotage the other. Sweet with a slice of spice.

The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic Charming Cove #1

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