The main character of this book made this a difficult read, and as much as I liked the premise I didn't find the other characters redeeming. I would potentially try another book by this author though.

Impractical Magic had an intriguing premise, blending romance with witchy elements, but unfortunately it didn’t quite deliver. The pacing dragged in places, with long stretches of exposition that made it hard to stay engaged. The characters felt more like sketches than fully developed people, and their relationships often lacked the emotional depth to make me care about the outcome. While the magical world had potential, it was underexplored and sometimes inconsistent, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, the book wasn’t terrible, but it didn’t hold my attention the way I hoped.

I wanted to love Impractical Magic—witchy small‑town vibes, sisterly drama, and a returning‑home storyline were all things that usually draw me in. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark more often than it hit with pacing issues, lack of characterization - I wasn't fully drawn in!

First off I want to thank Netgalley & Avon for allowing me to read it as an arc. Secondly, I wanted to love this so much. I’m such a spooky, witchy, autumnal person that I love the vibes it gave off from the description & cover. My rating? : 3.5⭐️
I feel like Emily could’ve executed the paranormal, cozy, romance aspect together into a mystery a lot better.

I did however love the sister duo dynamic, reminded me a lot of my sisters & I. I understand why Scarlett felt so much guilt but at the same time… we get it! It’s repetitive.

I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I had hoped. When I really get into a book where the storytelling is soooo good I end up not being able to separate my reality from the story, it plays like a movie in my head and I’m the main character lol. Sadly I had none of that.

All in all, again it was a 3.5 because it was a quick little cozy second chance romance with a mystery & paranormal aspect which I love.

I really wanted to love this one and the vibes were there, but it felt like the author knew she wanted to create a cozy paranormal romance and mystery, but couldn't really execute it that well. The heroine returns home after 10 years away living a "normal" life because magic in her town is going awry. They need to uncover what is causing their magic to not work, and she reconnects with someone from her past she had an "almost" connection with. While I loved the mystery aspect and the magic aspect, the romance fell really flat and the characters felt pretty one-dimensional. We were really just told a lot about them and I never felt super connected to them. We also had SO MANY pop culture references that it got to be way too much for a story. They even called people without magic muggles...where is the originality? I love movies and knew all of their references, but it was so heavy handed by the end and took away from the charm of the story itself. Overall, I had high hopes for this one, but it was definitely a miss.

This had a really cool premise, but honestly didn’t hold my attention. It’s cozy and slow paced. I really wanted to like it, but I may just be in a slump.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my digital copy!

Impractical Magic is a charming, cozy witchy-romance perfect for curling up with in the fall. It blends light mystery, family healing, and a tender rekindled romance against a backdrop of small-town magic. If that kind of comforting escape appeals to you—even with its occasional rough edges—it’s a fun and cozy read to brew up on a crisp evening.

3.75 ★

A cute read for people that like cozy magic stories! We have a slow burn and a Grumpy Sunshine mix. I'd agree that it suits fans of Gilmore Girls and Charmed. Like imagine a setting of Stars Hollow with a witchy magic twist!

It took a little while to get into this and I did find it to be a bit dialogue heavy but we did get to see a lot of interaction between our characters. There was a good range of characters with a some family dynamics that seemed fleshed out.

I felt as though there were too many references throughout the book which I take as being a link to Gilmore Girls and the frequent pop culture references but some just felt forced.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I picked up Impractical Magic hoping for a cozy, witchy escape, and it mostly delivered. Scarlett’s return to her family’s inn and her awkward reunion with Nate gave me all the small-town charm vibes I wanted, even if the romance felt a bit slow. The magic mishaps and sisterly tension kept things interesting, but I did wish for more of that Gilmore Girls-style banter.

Impractical Magic was a cozy read that's perfect for fall and anyone fond of witch stories. It follows our main character who returns home when her sister Luna calls for help--the town's magic is not working like it should. The main character is used to messing things up. She blames herself for the death of her father, couldn't follow through with her friends-to-lovers relationship, and has been avoiding magic and home for a long time.

In this book, we see her grapple with her past, reconnect with her family, and find the love story that would wait an entire year to start.

I gave this one three-stars because I enjoyed it, but wouldn't read it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed Impractical Magic! Scarlett’s return to Oak Haven had me hooked from the start—her mix of humor, determination, and magical mishaps made her so relatable and fun to follow. The romance with Nate is sweet and slow-burning, and the small-town, witchy vibes give the story such a cozy, charming feel. I loved the mix of family dynamics, magical twists, and a touch of nostalgia—it felt like curling up with a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. Definitely a fun, lighthearted read for anyone who loves magical romances with heart.

This was a really premise... witches, romance, and plenty of magical mishaps. But honestly, it ended up being a bit too silly for me at times. I did enjoy the cosy, whimsical vibe and there are definitely some charming moments, but the story felt uneven and the characters didn’t always leave much of an impression. Still, it’s a light, fluffy read if you’re in the mood for magical romcom chaos. Good for fans of Erin Sterling’s The Ex Hex or Ann Aguirre’s Witch Please. Perfect autumnal read though

S0, it is advertised as Gilmore Girls with a magical twist and the author did a great job at that. But that the most positive thing I can say,Usually a book can be redeemed for me if the characters are likable enough and there’s good dialogue/banter, but unfortunately that was not the case for me here.

Cute town description.
Scarlett and Nate don't really know anything about each other anymore, but they hope into a relationship that changes life plans without even really talking to each other.
The problem with magic was good, surprised they took so long to find Scarlett and seemed to just "it is what it is" not finding her.

I'm giving this book a 3.5 ★’s.

This book follows estranged sister Scarlett Melrose who receives a call from one of her sisters, she immediately knows something is wrong. The magic at their mother’s inn and all of Oak Haven has gone awry, and they need her help to save it. Magic is a huge park of the town and its hidden from the outside.

Nate and Scarlett pick up where things left off years ago, but can they truly make it work and how when Scarlett lives in San Francisco. Scarlett has a bad past with Oak Haven and spells going wrong, making it harder to be there and stay. Can her being back really help the town and everything going on and to mend the past with family and friendships.

I enjoyed how easy this book was to read and felt like witchy vibe to Gilmore Girls in book form. Cute romance that's not to heavy on the topic. Mending family bonds and just talking to family and the community you live in. Nothing was shocking in the book which was nice to have a cozy book with witches and spells involved, with a slight dark past to Oak Haven.

Not my cup of tea, a bit too cutsey for my liking unfortunately. I feel like the marketing about gilmore girls meeting practical magic is not accurate.

Impractical Magic is a cute and quirky read with a charming premise. The magical mishaps and cozy vibes made it an easy book to relax with, and there were definitely some laugh-out-loud moments. That said, the plot felt a little thin at times, and some of the characters didn’t feel fully developed. It’s fun while it lasts, but didn’t leave a big impression once I finished. If you're in the mood for something light and whimsical, it’s worth a try—just don’t expect anything too deep.

It was alright. I wanted to like this book so bad, but I felt like the story could have been so much more.

Ok, I picked up this book because it was billed as Gilmore Girls meets Charmed. But, the only thing Gilmore Girls about it is that it is set in a small town where everyone knows each other.

I wanted to like this book SO BADLY based on the premise (witches, magic, gilmore girls!) but I felt like the story could have been so much more. Essentially, the magic source in town gets tampered with and must be fixed or all the witches lose their magic. The main character, Scarlett, sets out to make it right with the help of her ex-boyfriend (who is not magical) that she hasn't seen in 10 years because she fled town after high school.

Overall, the book had a sweet romance, but everything about the characters and the plot I felt could have been developed a little more, which would have make the story better.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the advanced copy for review.

Impractical Magic is a quirky and whimsical take on modern witchcraft, blending magical mishaps with heartfelt moments. While the concept is fun and the characters are charming, the pacing feels uneven, and some plot threads don’t fully develop. It’s an enjoyable read, but not as spellbinding as it could have been.