There was so much potential for this book. I wanted to like it. But honestly I couldn’t stand the main fmc. And the book felt so slow

GIVE ME ALL THE FALL VIBES. This was such a cute read. It's a prefect debut from Emily, and during my favorite season of the year. It had all the things that I love in a book: small town, grumpy x sunshine, second chance romance. What more can you ask for.

Scarlett's back, after being away for ten years. She's tasked with 1)finding a solution to the Inn's and town's magic problem 2)if she wants to be with Nate. Along the way a lot of drama happens, both with her family and the towns people. At the end of the day, Scarlett's grown from the beginning of the book to the end of the book - and that's all I could ask for.

A cute little fall read perfect for spooky season aswell!
I love the grumpy x sunshine trope so much and Nate and Scarlett were perfect! While I'm not usually the biggest fan of slow burn I really enjoyed it in this book.

The story was just kind of all over the place and the writing felt kind of cringe. I wasn't having fun reading it and did not want to continue to the next page anytime I tried to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this eARC !

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me. It was a bit disorganized and hard to follow.

Solid first effort for the author, can’t wait to see how much you grow!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Scarlett returns to her New England hometown of Oak Haven after 10 years away to find that the magic that usually runs through the town has gone a bit haywire. Together with her 2 sisters, mother and the other witches of Oak Haven, she must find the source of the issue to restore things back to their version of normal.

This book had the makings of some of my favorite type of book themes/tropes: witchy, small town, friends-to-lovers romance, cozy vibes. And while the book was okay, it fell a bit short overall.

A magical New England town sounds like a place I’d love to visit but…why does it bother me that the town must be protected by a forgetting spell? I guess I prefer to read about magic that doesn’t have to be hidden. And the forgetting spell seems weak anyway, especially when it’s really a “random trivia brain scrambler” spell. The story could’ve still had the conflict of people trying to destroy the source of magic without also being a hidden town where if you ever visit you forget once you’re outside of town lines.

That aside, our FMC was annoying for the vast majority of the book. She said it herself, she’s gone for a decade and comes back and starts acting like a child again. She’s a bit whiny and feels sorry for herself for how people treat her or speak to her but doesn’t actually do much to defend herself. Nate deserves better. He basically held out for her all these years, and she keeps giving him reasons to not pursue and yet he still keeps coming back and supporting her when it seems like no one else will.

The ending somehow managed to feel both rushed and drawn out at the same time. I feel like we didn’t get closure where the magicians are concerned. Also it took a year for Scarlett to be rescued and for what exactly? Why did it have to take a year? Especially because…we expelled the magicians without first questioning them about the starlings so really, it’s the witches fault Scarlett couldn’t be rescued sooner.

I know this book was trying for some nostalgia, but it bordered on annoying because the 4 Thanksgivings at the end was almost a direct rip from Gilmore Girls rather than an homage. Similarly, referring to non-magical people as muggles is so very Harry Potter that I wondered if the author would get in trouble for using the term.

I always feel bad when I end up not liking a book. This one had so much potential, but didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad read but it unfortunately didn’t quite live up to what I had really hoped for from the description. There were a few Gilmore vibes , like with the hardware store and other aspects but idk that it should’ve been compared to “feel like” GG and Practical Magic. I really didn’t love any of the sisters and the miscommunication was heavy. I would’ve loved some more autumn and true witchy fun.

I was looking for a light, fall magic-y book, and this fit the bill. The main character, who ran from her home after a tragedy she feels responsible for, is pulled back to her witchy town due to a disruption in the town's magic. Of course, that means not only re-entering her complicated family dynamics but also running into her former love, who just happens to be the handyman at her family's inn. The vibe was definitely strong on the Gilmore Girls-meets-Hocus Pocus, in mostly fun ways. Most of the characters had some good traits to balance their less-good ones (though none were explored as deeply as they could have been). Overall, I enjoyed the read... but it's only 3 stars for me because there were so many missed chances for it to be more. The Earls were under-used and under-explored, the last section felt a little surface and underbaked, and I felt the author leaned too much on some cute one-offs (the Trump cameos) over spending a little more time on developing meaningful connections and growth in the characters. That said, I would 100% read a sequel if this was the first in a series.

You know those charming, small-town witchy reads that feel like a cozy fall afternoon with a pumpkin spice latte in hand? Impractical Magic tries to cast that spell—but while there's plenty of physical magic flying around, the real storyline magic is missing.

Scarlett Melrose heads back to Oak Haven (cue small-town, Gilmore Girls vibes) to help her sisters fix a magical mess. But instead of saving the day, she makes things worse. Then there's Nate, her old flame, who's mostly described as tall, buff, and... that's about it. Grumpy to her sunshine, sure, but not much more going on there.

The witchy vibes are on point, but the family dynamic? Toxic AF. Seriously, these people need group therapy. The romance is light, and Nate mostly serves as nice scenery, but somehow, despite the lack of depth and development, I still had fun! It’s the perfect light, witchy read to kick off October—just don’t expect it to go down in history as one of the greats.

That said, am I still a sucker for lighthearted, witchy reads to kick off spooky season? Absolutely. Impractical Magic isn’t going to blow your mind or leave a lasting impression, but if you're looking for a fun, quick read with a sprinkle of spells and small-town charm, it does the trick. Just don’t expect too much character growth or intricate plot twists—this one's more about the vibes than the substance.

Final verdict: 3 stars. It's a magical mess, but an entertaining one.

Thank you to Net Galley & Avon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Impractical Magic is touted as "Gilmore Girls meets Charmed" and that's a good description. This was an enjoyable fall read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

A fun spooky season romance! Would recommend for fans of Lana Harper (Witches of Thistle Grove series) and similar authors.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for this ARC!

I was so excited for this one when the blurb said it gave Gilmore Girls meets Charmed vibes. Those are two of my favorites. I love cozy and witchy fall reads, and this one sounded like it would be just that. However, I found that the writing style just didn't work for me. The writing style made it to where the story didn't flow for me. I couldn't really relate to the fmc and found it hard to like the other characters. Some areas I loved how descriptive Emily was, but others barely had any description and left me wanting more.

Overall, this one didn't work for me, but it might for you!

Welcome to Oak Haven, where the leaves are always golden, the coffee is eternally spiced, and there’s just a bit more magic in the air than anyone wants to admit.

If Gilmore Girls had a magical baby with Charmed, you’d get Impractical Magic, a swoony, witchy second chance romance that feels like wrapping yourself in a cozy, enchanted blanket.

Scarlett Melrose, our reluctant middle child witch, is called back to the small town she’s been avoiding like the plague. And for good reason, her family’s inn is cursed, and her estranged sisters need her help. Cue the magic, the sibling drama, and oh, did I mention the ex-boyfriend handyman situation? Yep, Nate, the gruff yet charming guy who’s apparently been fixing more than just the inn’s leaky roof while Scarlett’s been off in San Francisco, is very much still in town…and very much still good with his hands.

But when Scarlett’s first attempt at breaking the curse backfires, causing more chaos than a black cat on Halloween, she realises she might need Nate’s help (ugh). As much as she’d rather escape back to her spell-free life in the city, Scarlett is forced to confront not only the curse but the emotions she’s tried to bury. It turns out that Oak Haven’s not the only thing with a complicated history—her heart’s got a few tangles, too.

With a perfect blend of grumpy x sunshine energy (seriously, Scarlett’s snark vs. Nate’s low-key charm is chef’s kiss), a slow burn romance that will keep you hooked, and a town that feels like it’s straight out of an autumn dream, Impractical Magic is the perfect cozy read. It’s got all the witchy aesthetics you crave, bubbling cauldrons, moonlit spells, and a touch of whoops, did I just summon something weird? alongside a heartfelt story of family, forgiveness, and finding your way back home, both literally and emotionally.

Emily Grimoire’s writing is as light and warm as a pumpkin spice latte, with just enough magical mishaps to keep you laughing (and swooning) along the way.

The town of Oak Haven feels alive with its quirky residents and charming, small town vibe. Seriously, you’ll want to move in and start your own magical candle shop by the end of this book.

Cosy autumn witchy read about a witch who must return home to help out her family, even if she doesn't want to be there like at all! I adored the town and wanted to learn more about the magic system!

This was a cute, cozy, rom-com fantasy, with witchy elements and a light magic system. It honestly gave Charmed vibes with the one sister moving away for some time due to a catastrophic accident and being asked to return home to assist the family with town troubles.

Very cozy friends to lovers small town romance.

Thank you, Netgalley, Avon Books UK | Avon, and Emily Grimoire for the ARC to this book. My honest review is given voluntarily and without coercion.

I loved Scar! This book was so cute and well put together, each page made me want to keep reading to find out what happened. I could picture the Oak Haven and people in it, I could almost smell the pumpkin and spice. The way Emily used each chapter to give us a bit more of Scarletts history was fun, I enjoyed that you could picture her as a child in the town and as a young woman finding her way before she left. I love the way Nate came into the story and was her right-hand man, how she had the push and pull with him in the relationship gave us the perfect conflict to love. I cant wait to see what Emily comes out with next, I've followed her on good reads for the next book!

I wanted to love this, truly.

It starts great. A little bit witchy, has some fun references, perfectly cozy for autumn, and then it just... bursts apart at the seams.

The little nods and references quickly become WAY too much, taking over any existence of a plot. The town of Oak Haven doesn't make sense to me at all. The characters are all insufferable, and there are just far too many people to keep track of. The conversations and dialogue are super stretched out and run off on tangents. And... I just didn't care about the characters or development at all.

I finished reading this so that I could leave a review in good faith, but I'm honestly regretting it. The story just feels like it's trying hard to be funny and quirky with all of the pop culture references, but the characters and story overall end up lacking depth because of it.

𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸 𝓝𝓮𝓽𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓿𝓸𝓷 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀.

What a cute little read!

I loved the cosy vibes from this, perfect for the time of year.

So much mischief and magic gone wrong, whilst serious for the characters, it made for some funny scenarios.

Scarlett kept putting her foot in it and making things worse but she was so funny.

The romance was cute and developed well. Kind of "it's always been you" vibes.

I really did enjoy this. Just a nice light-hearted, comfort read.

This book was packed with cosy witchy vibes! Oak Haven sounds like an absolute dream especially in autumn! Full of interesting characters, lots of back story details and fun anecdotes it felt like you really knew the village. ⁣
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I loved the magical mishaps going on. Especially the gnomes that packed their bags and left ⁣
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This book definitely has a refreshing modern twist. So many witchy books tend to be historically. I loved the topical references, like the spell that tells you which streaming service a program is on! And the introduction of mobile phones to the village which caused a big stir. ⁣
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You could definitely feel the tension in the Melrose family. I did think they were particularly harsh towards Scarlett and used her past mistakes against her a little too often! ⁣
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Overall a wonderful seasonal read with lots of lovely magical moments 🥰

I really wanted to love this one, but it was just ok for me. It was cute and perfect for this time of the year, but it just didn’t wow me and I did get bored in places. I just didn’t gel with the main character, Scarlett. I just think I wasn’t in the right kind of mood when I read this. Maybe if I listened to the audio in the future I may love it more.

Thank you to the publishers Avon UK for the e-arc copy.