The Wycherleys – Bridgerton with Magic (and a Whole Lot of Love Confessions)

This is a YA Regency fantasy that’s light and easy to read. But before you grab your fan and smelling salts, let’s talk about what worked and what had me dramatically sighing like a heroine in distress.

✨ Effortless Writing – The prose is smooth and easy to digest, making it a breezy, quick read.
✨ Straightforward Plot – No tangled webs of intrigue or overly complex subplots. The story moves along at a nice pace.
✨ A Bright, Charming World – The setting is colourful and fun, perfect for those who enjoy a lighter fantasy.

🌪 Inconsistent Characters – The main characters felt a bit all over the place, like their personalities shifted depending on what the plot needed at the moment.
🌪 Regency in Name Only – It may be set in the Regency era, but don’t expect historically accurate language, manners, or social dynamics. It reads much more modern.
🌪 YA… but That’s Not an Excuse – I had to keep reminding myself this is a YA book, but even so, the world-building and character depth could have been much stronger.
🌪 A Mystery That Fizzles Out – The central mystery was intriguing at first, but around the halfway point, it stopped being mysterious at all.
🌪 The Love Story Overload – I was considering a solid 3-star rating, but by the last 100 pages, the relentless barrage of love confessions, eternal pledges, and dramatic declarations had me rolling my eyes into another dimension.
🌪 Magic System? What Magic System? – No rules, no structure—just vibes.

If you’re looking for a light, easy-to-read fantasy with a fun setting and don’t mind a bit (or a lot) of cheesiness, The Wycherleys might be for you. However, if you want solid world-building, period-authentic writing, or a well-thought-out magic system, you might end up as exhausted as I was by the end. A cute idea that doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

5 stars - YA fantasy - Bridgerton with witches

In a reimagined regency London the debutante season has begun. The young witches have three years to find a magical match / tether before their magic ebbs away. Tethers can either be for love, friendship or just for more power. Aurelia Wycherleys magic has recently been cursed by a generational family curse, struck by the Nightly’s, in which to who she tethers becomes sick. It’s decided she cannot tether but can enjoy the debutante season then become non magical. Enter Jules Nightly, who is looking for a way to help his sister Evelyn, find a way to keep her magic without tethering. The two team up and begin fake dating as a ruse to cover their treasonous intentions.

Bridgerton/ regency inspired fantasy may be my favourite setting, especially if it also contains witches. I was expecting to like this, but I thought with the cover it seemed more middle grade, but the Wycherley’s is a story full of loveable characters, sweet romances and great world building - both past and present.

I absolutely loved Aurelia as a character - unluckily burdened with her family’s curse she still tries to enjoy her limited time in the magical world, by entering the season with her close friend Constance and brother Vaughn. She holds her head high despite the snickers from the other debutantes and her ex best friend Sebastian.

Jules or Nightly, as Aurelia names him, is super sweet trying to help his sister and I loved their “fake” dating especially the love letters. I enjoyed their hunt for the mysterious runes and as they become closer as a pair.

It ends on a slight cliffhanger and I’m really looking forward to continuing the series. I think fans of the crimson moth or divine rivals would really enjoy this one.

2.5/5
First things first: Petition to save all characters whose eye color makes up 70% of their personality. Enough. Please.

The Wycherleys—or as I like to call it, YA Cotillion Drama with a Side of Magic (and a Broom That Has More Personality Than Half of the Character).

Now, onto the book. The first few chapters felt a little dry, but once the main characters’ connection clicked, things picked up nicely. The world of witches and elite magical families is fun and full of potential, and the concept of tethering for power rather than love was an interesting twist. It makes far more sense for witches to prioritize strength over romance—after all, love isn’t always forever, especially when you’re seventeen and could very well break up a week later.

The trials and magical experiments were some of the strongest moments in the book, which was, unfortunately, in the last 25% of it. The event guides sprinkled throughout the story added a cute charming Gossip Girl-like touch to the book. That said, I had to remind myself a lot that these were teenagers because their decisions often felt questionable at best. It’s not that YA books can’t have young characters making impulsive choices—it’s that those choices need to feel organic rather than frustrating.

The book also leans a little too much on exposition, delivering long-winded explanations instead of letting the reader experience the world naturally. If there had been a glossary at the end, it would have saved a lot of unnecessary info-dumping. A section outlining the different types of witches, the strongest houses/covens, and the council structure would have helped clarify things without slowing down the main story.

Another issue is that the magic system feels unfinished. There are too many “wait, but what ifs?” left unanswered, which makes it hard to fully invest in how things work. The relationships also lacked the depth needed for lines like “Always together,” to truly hit. A bit more time spent developing those bonds would have made the emotional stakes feel stronger. But then again, these characters are seventeen, so maybe I’m asking too much.

Also, the fake-dating trope is for the soul, guys, but let’s be honest, it only shines in fanfics.

I loved this cover and couldn’t wait to start the book. A romantic fantasy that is perfect for fans of Divine Rivsls (me!). 17 year Aurelia Wycherling is entering the debutante season but there is one problem. She is cursed and faces the reality that she may lose her magic. All young witches must ‘tether’ to form a strong magical bond. Who will tether with Aurelia knowing what lies in her future?
Aureliua learns a witch called Nightley, from a rival family is searching for a way that a witch can keep their magic without tetherin. A forbidden alliance is formed but together they perform the strongest magic seen. The book is full of family secrets, balls, duels, dark forces, magic and kissing!

The Wycherleys is a sweet young- adult romance story, featuring traditional magic - think broomsticks, glamoured balls, and curses. The characters are young - sweet 17, so the romance is as suspected - very sweet, angsty in parts, and that kind of all-consuming powerful love that makes you forget everything else around you.

Aurelia is everything you want in a main character - she's flawed (with her curse), she doesn't give up and is determined, and she's bold. The idea of tethering for a magical partner was a cute touch and Jules is a good match for her. I think I would have really enjoyed this read when I was younger - the idea of a magical world alongside ours, that teenage all-encompassing love, fighting against the odds - young me would have been spellbound, and I'd love to share this with my daughters one day.

I must admit, I did find it hard to stay engaged so I can't comment on the plot, but I think that I was just the wrong audience for it, and I can't discredit it for that! The world building was immaculate, with unusual variants (such as the magical tethering) to make it feel different from all else that is out there in the market currently.

I thought the concept was very clever ! Ang magical London was a great idea !
Loved the MCs separately but not so much together.

A delightful YA novel about witches, with a great magic system, sweet romance and an action-packed plot. I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did!

First of all, I really appreciated the worldbuilding. It’s simple, yet it works very well. The action takes place in an alternate London during the Regency period, but in this world, alongside non-magical people, there are also witches. Unlike in the non-magical world, young people entering witch society don’t search for a husband or wife, but for a magical partner with whom they must tether in order to retain their magic. If, within three seasons, they fail to find their tether, they lose their magic. The main protagonist, Aurelia, is the bearer of a family curse and knows she cannot tether with anyone, meaning she will lose her magic. To prevent this, she teams up with Jules, a member of the family that cursed her, who has his own agenda to find a way to preserve magic without the need for tethering.

In addition to the concept of magical bonds, I really loved the idea of a parallel community of witches existing alongside our own world. They live their own lives, attend their own schools, and have their own social structure. I’ve missed something like this since the days of Harry Potter—the book fills that longing perfectly.

The book is very fast-paced and packed with action. There isn’t a single unnecessary scene, and the entire story reads quickly. I should also note that the plot includes a criminal mystery. The timeline of Aurelia and Jules' actions coincides with a series of witch murders in London, the motives for which remain unknown. The mystery is well-plotted, and it’s clear we’re dealing with a deeper intrigue that will continue in the sequel.

I really liked the characters—both the main ones, Aurelia and Jules, and the secondary ones, who aren’t just flat stereotypes. Aurelia’s brother Voughan and her friend Constance were particularly likeable, but there are also some well-written adult characters.

As for the romance, it’s a YA book, and the characters don’t try to act more mature than they are. On the other hand, in 1814, 17-year-olds were already entering adult society and even marrying, so focusing a Regency story on characters of that age felt natural. Aurelia and Jules are really sweet, by the way. Their dynamic is a bit like enemies to lovers, but of course, they were never truly enemies, so it’s no surprise they fall in love quite quickly. For many, this might feel like insta-love, but in books about teenagers, I’m willing to accept that dynamic. I’ll also add that while the romance is an important element of the book, the plot stands on its own and isn’t solely centered around the romantic relationship.

In the end, it’s hard for me to find any criticism of this book. What it sets out to do, it does well. It’s truly a fine YA book, and I would recommend it to both teenagers and older readers. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Rating: 3.5 ⭐

Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley is entering her debutante season, where witches must find a match to tether their magic to—or risk losing it. But Aurelia’s magic is cursed, making her an outcast. Her only hope? Jules Nightly, heir to a rival family, who is searching for a way to keep magic without tethering. Their forbidden alliance leads them through glamoured balls, perilous trials, and a dark mystery that threatens their families and the magical world itself.

Now, onto my thoughts!

The Wytcherleys instantly caught my attention with that gorgeous cover, and I’m happy to say the world inside is just as intriguing. The reimagined Regency London setting, infused with magical realism, is beautifully crafted, and the lore behind witch society is fascinating. Plus, the secondary characters? Absolutely adorable and just as easy to root for as the main ones.

Beyond the swoon-worthy romance (Jules Nightly, where do I find one?), there’s also a gripping, well-plotted mystery running through the story—a series of strange murders that kept me flipping pages. That balance of romance and intrigue was one of my favorite aspects.

Now, where it lost me a little: the romance itself. While sweet, it leaned a bit too much into insta-love for my taste. I wanted to feel the tension of their supposedly feuding families before seeing it melt into something deeper, but that transition happened a little too quickly. If you’re expecting a strong enemies-to-lovers dynamic, it doesn’t quite hit that mark.

And speaking of the murder mystery, while the setup was compelling, I unfortunately guessed the culprit too early, which took away some of the suspense. I wish there had been a few more twists to keep me on my toes!

That said, if you love historical fantasy with a mix of mystery, romance, and magical charm, this one is still worth picking up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was such a fun, clever take on the Bridgertonesque Regency romance. I looked forward to reading it each night and think it will be a big hit with both YA and adult Bridgerton fans alike. The chemistry between Aurelia and Jules was brilliant and the magical twists and turns of the story added drama and depth to their blossoming relationship. I can't wait for book two and will be keeping my fingers crossed for a TV dramatisation in the future.

This was such an unexpectedly sweet book with a really distinct narrative style and plot. Centered around multiple Sabbaths in the first debutante season of Aurelia Wycherley this had the feeling of a dystopian read and of a subtle regency influence.

Reading a book where the heroine knows what is expected to happen to her, and even knows that she will be shunned from society even further than she already is when her seasons are over could have made the book more of a darker read. However while I felt it did dip into exploration of what happens if you are the exception that slips through the cracks of an otherwise heavily organised society the romance kept things light and warm (I don’t know if warm makes any sense but Nightly and Aurelia just radiated it).

The romance was just right for me and I loved how Aurelia was willing to let Nightly go, she wanted what was best for him despite her feelings. Often this leads to the miscommunication trope but their relationship didn’t stumble down this path. We had a parallel relationship as well, the relationship of their ancestors hundreds of years earlier and how Heston Nightly had cursed Mathilde and how Nightly and Aurelia were unravelling that past.
This book was just the lighter romantic witchy read I needed and I 100% recommend it!

The Wycherleys is a spellbinding mix of romance, magic, and high-stakes intrigue that completely enchanted me. Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley is supposed to be finding her perfect match to tether her magic to, but there’s a problem—her magic is cursed, dangerous, and unwanted. With time running out, she forms an unlikely alliance with Jules Nightly, her family’s sworn enemy, who may hold the key to keeping her magic without a tether. But as they navigate glamorous balls, perilous trials, and hidden betrayals, their forbidden connection threatens to unravel everything.

This book has everything I love—family secrets, magical tension, swoon-worthy romance, and yes, lots of kissing! The chemistry between Aurelia and Jules crackles with tension, and the world-building is immersive, with just the right balance of elegance and danger. My only tiny complaint? I wanted even more depth to the magic system. But overall, this is a gorgeously written, romantic fantasy that kept me hooked from start to finish.

If you love forbidden romance, rival families, and magic-laced intrigue, The Wycherleys is an absolute must-read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (Well, 4.5, but close enough!)

Aurelia has always been seen as different because of her magic and her curse but when she meets Jules she open her eyes and he makes her value herself more. There is more of her than just the way people see her.

Together they start to investigate a “imagery” and the more they spend time together the more the start to like each-others

It was a super fun and good book. Love the main characters as well as all the side ones. Jules and Aurelia made me fall in love with young love all over again. And let me tell you I wanted to be in the book just to spend time in that library with them.

He is her only exception of course and we love them for that .

The Wycherleys is the perfect blend of Regency romance, magic and danger. The world-building is a delight, crammed with balls, glamour and unforgettable characters. It's also very cleverly plotted as Aurelia seeks to unravel the mystery around her cursed magic. The story drew me in right from the start and kept me guessing all the way to the end.

Thanks to Annalie Avery and Simon and Schuster for the early read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

Somehow, I've managed to read two 5-star books in 2025, both with male main characters named Jules, and it's only February.

I loved Jules in this so much - honestly, he's just...perfect.

Aurela Wycherley comes into her magic on her seventeenth birthday, just like every other witch in Briton. But when she gets her magic, a family member dies, and she inherits their family curse. The curse, bestowed upon a Wycherley ancestor by a Nightly, means that anyone who performs magic with her suffers serious side effects. As a result, she's banned from tethering with anyone (tethering her magic to someone else's to bolster their magic and allow them to perform more complex spells), which means she will lose her magic.

This is because witches who get their magic become debutantes and have three years to find a tether. If they don't manage to do so, they lose their magic and risk becoming ostracised by magic society. In the backdrop of all this are non-magical folk who aren't happy with witches and commit acts of terrorism.

Understandably, Aurelia is distraught at being cursed and finds herself isolated when only her best friend and brother interact with her. Well... except for Jules Nightly, a final year debutante who is also descended from the man who cursed her ancestor. Aurelia is determined to find a way to keep her magic without a tether, and surprisingly....so is Jules. So they decide to work together whilst pretending to be courting.

I'm sure you can imagine that the fake courting doesn't pan out for them both because they have some serious chemistry together - physically and magically.

Aurelia was a great character - she was allowed to feel human with her hurt and upset at how the rest of magical society treats her, but she just let it bolster her resolve and confidence. She will enjoy all her time with her magic before it goes, and she won't let anyone else dictate what she should and shouldn't do or feel. Her friendship with Constance was lovely, and I adore that Constance didn't abandon her when the curse hit. Her brother Vaughn is equally protective of his little sister, and it felt good to see such staunch advocates in Aurelia's corner. She also has a curious mind and latches onto mysteries quickly - because there's more to this book than romance, tethers or magic. There is also a murder mystery happening.

As I said, Jules is just a fantastic character. He comes from a privileged position, as does Aurelia. Only he will be able to maintain that position, while Aurelia will lose hers. Despite this, he's dedicated to those he cares for and passionate about helping them. Once Aurelia becomes one of those people, he's just as steadfast in defending and helping her. He's also effortlessly charming and witty, so it's hard not to fall for him.

The ending suggests that this could potentially be read as a standalone, but I'm pretty sure there's going to be a sequel, and I'm more than excited to read it!

A magical delight! This highly anticipated YA romance has been quite rightly pitched as Bridgerton with magic and did not disappoint. Set in a reimagined Regency London, it has rich worldbuilding and gorgeous characters to root for. But underneath the swoon-worthy romance, there is an intriguing, intricately plotted mystery with all the accomplished attention to detail I love so well in a good book. 
Reminiscent of my favourite magical childhood reads, I curled up each bedtime, swiftly swept away in a world of feisty witch debutantes, ballgowns and broomsticks. Surely a future classic.

Many thanks to Annaliese Avery and the team at Simon&Schuster for the early read.

Forgery, bribery, extortion, trespass, theft… Exactly how far are Aurelia Wycherley and Jules Nightly prepared to go for magic and love?

Enter the sparkling world of debutante witches, hoping to secure their future with the match of the season.

The Wycherlys certainly cast its spell on me. I was totally hooked from its first explosive line. This is an unputdownable, breathtaking adventure of danger, rivalry, magic and first love. It has incredible world building, unforgettable characters and a clever plot that keeps you guessing until the dramatic finale. It was a huge wrench leaving the world and its characters behind and I can’t wait to meet them again. For the Kingdom and the the Magic, surely there will be a sequel?! Thanks to Simon and Schuster and netgalley for this early read.

Thank you to the author and publishers for allowing me to read an ARC via NetGalley!

Summary: this is a book about a young witch who has been unluckily selected as someone who carries the family curse. Throughout the book, we explore her friendships with other witches, and she begins to discover lots of information about her family and the curse.

What I liked:
- the character building is amazing, you really get a feel of how different each character is
- there are a few plot twists which keep the reader thinking
- the ending is satisfying but also makes me want to read the next book as soon as possible!!
- it’s a different storyline to other books within the genres which made it a refreshing read

Rating: 5/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)