DNF at 40%. I tried, I really did.

I'm a huge fan of Gilmore Girls, and tying this book to that brilliant show is a marketing mistake.

The things that are supposed to give it the Gilmore Girls vibe actually make the writing seem lazy. It's an excuse to put random details in there with no explanation or reason so that Gilmore Girls fans will what, enjoy it more? Like that the love interest owns a hardware store that, for some reason, serves the best coffee in town. I heard there is a Four Thanksgiving chapter, featuring a deep fried turkey, and I am not willing to read that type of Gilmore Girls rip off. I freaking love that episode.

Wow, is the main character unlikable. She refuses to take responsibility for anything. Her attitude was abhorrent. There has been no good dialogue/banter with the MMC. The plot was okay to start, then got more and more lame. A few good ideas couldn't save this story, though.

This review was published on Goodreads on 10/12/24.

This book had a really cute premise and I’m such a sucker for small town witchy romances. Unfortunately with this one I just felt it started quite slow and sped through the ending, and I also wasn’t a massive fan of all the modern pop culture references.

However, I did really enjoy the whole backstory to the town and all the background characters so that got me through the storyline!

Gilmore girls meets Halloweentown in this fun fall read.

Scarlett Melrose is a witch who returns to her hometown of Oak Haven after 10 years away only to find out something is wrong with the magic in town.

This book is super fun and quirky in just the right way. I loved reading about the quirky witchy town Oak Haven, and the Melrose family felt real with their drama. There were also tons of fun references and the author is clearly a big Gilmore Girls fan. The plot was bumpy at times, but I just kinda went along for the ride. Overall a super enjoyable fall read.

4 stars

I was so looking forward to reading this novel and it did not disappoint - a perfect autumnal read best enjoyed with a cup of tea. The author skilfully explores the characters, their rich history, the setting and the plot - I loved the magic system and the characters.

I first applied for this arc because the cover caught my eye! So gorgeous. Upon reading the synopsis I felt it would be an interesting read.
While this book does indeed give "Gilmore Girls/Stars Hollow" vibes, I think leaning so heavily into that point in the marketing and advertising does this story a disservice. This story stands well on its own, and because many readers go into it with those comparisons in mind, they might not be happy with what they find, trying to draw parallels in every detail.

I enjoyed the dialogue and getting to experience meeting the quirky witches and residents of Oak Haven. While Scarlett sometimes read more like a teenager than adult, I found I really enjoyed the other Melroses and supporting cast.

In the end, this was a cozy light read while enjoying the witchy and autumnal season. I hope many people give it a chance and look beyond the Gilmore Girls comparisons.

Thank you for an ARC of this book! The premise of this book is adorable; who doesn’t love a small town story with fall, family and a spooky inn?! While I thought the characters were fun and the upbeat, I do think this book could have flowed better. I found the writing a little clunky and hard to follow on occasion!

Scarlet has been away from Oak Haven for ten years, but a letter from her sister has her returning for the first time.
A really lovely autumn read I enjoyed Impractical Magic immensely

This was a lovely cozy read. Perfect for curling up on the sofa in a winter's day. Loved all the magical elements in this story. Made a refreshing change. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I struggled so hard with finishing this book.

I was super excited at the premise of, I love both GG and PM.
However the follow through was not there.
The writing was adolescent at most times and left me longing for so much more.

I hate that Impractical Magic wasn't a good fit for me, because I really wanted to love it.

This book is the ultimate cosy, witchy, Halloween romance! If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls, you’re going to love the charming small-town vibes, with a sprinkle of magic in the air. I was fortunate to receive an early digital copy of Impractical Magic by Emily Grimoire in exchange for an honest review, and it did not disappoint! It’s like stepping into a spellbound version of Stars Hollow 🎃🍂✨

This was a fun witchy book to read for the Fall season! Loved the characters and the story. It was advertised as Gilmore Girls with magic and I definitely did get those vibes!

When I read this book would appeal to fans of Charmed I picked it up ( or rather chose it form a NetGalley list),
Impractical magic does have three sisters who are witches and are descended from a long line of witches but that is where the similarities end. Impractical magic wasn’t quite the book I was hoping to be.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion

This is a lovely, cosy read, a book that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling when you finish with no shocks or twists. Scarlett’s and Nate’s romance was the real story in this book with magic added in- take the fantasy components out of the book and the heart of the story would not change.
The book is full of lush descriptions of New England and some of the world building is interesting- the chaos with the restaurant and book shop for example and I would have loved to read more about the magical system, how did this little village come to be, how has no one ever heard about it and how do they keep it secret.
The book is easy to read but I’m not a huge romance fan and this is more romance than fantasy according to me.
But if you are looking for a low stake, cosy romance with some fantasy, then this would the perfect book for you.

I was really ready for this to be a great read. I absolutely love the film Practical Magic (less so the book) and was hoping for a cute, autumnal witchy romance. That's clearly what the author was trying for and on the surface achieved, but there was just a such disconnect between the setting and the timing that I couldn't get past. I just couldn't get a hold on the characters and their motivations, the sisters are presented as being in their late 20s/early 30s in a year close to 2024, which is my age, but their references to pop culture felt kind of all over the place. Their motivations were very unclear, they all seemed so keen to blame Scarlett for everything, even when it clearly wasn't her fault, that I just felt annoyed. There was no discernable chemistry between Scarlett and Nate, there was a distinct issue around show don't tell for this aspect.

Overall, despite really wanting to, I just didn't enjoy this book. As this hadn't improved by the 40% mark I decided I had to dnf.

I really wanted to love this and was excited to read it when it said for fans of Gilmore Girls, but would give this 2.5 stars. The storyline dragged on and was so slow at times. I felt like the ending wrapped up quickly and a little melodramatically. It had cute small town charm & fall witchy vibes, but I didn’t connect with any of the characters that much.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I love the cover of book so much; I just wish I loved the actual book as much. While I enjoyed the cozy fall vibes of parts of this book much of the rest fell flat. The characters, especially the FMC, were sadly one-dimensional, and felt a bit too similar to Gilmore Girls characters. Overall, the pacing was off, the story leaned too far into “cutesy”, and a bit more refining. Though this didn’t tick enough boxes for me, the premise is fun and will delight plenty of readers.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

If you're looking for the a blend of coziness and adventure, then "Impractical Magic" by Emily Grimoire is a perfect fit. The summary of this book promises a mix of "Gilmore Girls" and "Charmed" and doesn't miss. With the sisterly bickering, the town of eclectic characters, and a mystery to solve surrounding magic, this book delivers a wonderful story of family, adventure, romance, and facing your fears.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

This one had me with the cute cover, the "Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic" vibes it promised, and the coziness of a fall book. Sadly, this one didn't quite deliver. At times, the author was extremely descriptive, but then all of a sudden was off on another tangent. I also could not tell you what any of the characters looked like, all I know is their personalities were atrocious. The way that the family treated each other was extreme, especially for Scarlet. I felt like their were decent bones to this story, maybe, but it definitely needed some more editing and fleshing out.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book makes for a great quick autumnal read. It advertises being a mix of Gilmore Girls and Practical Magic, but I feel like there is some Charmed vibes too. The plot is easy to follow and I was able to read this with my daughter interupting every few minutes too.

🏘Small Pucturesque Town
🍂Autumn Vibes
👫Second-Chance Romance
✨️Magic
👩‍👧‍👧Family Reconnect
🔍A Dash of Mystery

I was so excited to be approved to read this galley. Thank you to the publisher! I so enjoyed this novel and will be purchasing a physical copy for my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to review this book. This, on paper, sounded like a cute and cozy fall read to get into the spirit of the season. However, I felt like I had to pay very close attention to make sure I followed along, and while I appreciate world and lore building, I wanted something more like Gilmore Girls like this was promised: light, snappy, fun, and cozy like LukeMs flannels.