The Serendipity by Emma St. Clair

This book the first book series called Only Magic in the Building. There’s 8 books total and you can meet some of the characters already in this book. Which was super nice and I’m looking forward to read!

I got this book via @netgalley as eARC and heres my thoughts about it, which are all mine.

I love grumpy MMC so I was immediately so swoon to Archie. Story was so easy to read. It hooked you right away! This book is great intro for the series, giving glimpses about other characters and just the building itself.
Both main characters are suffering anxiety, which myself I’m also very familiar with. That was written very well, as it was relatable.
This book (and series) is must read and I really enjoy my time to read it!

4/5

Review published March 10th at instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/DHBFNZeNmOo/

This was something different then my regular clean romance reads. I like the small elements of magic. I thought this book had a good cast of characters, although it was definitely a little slow in the beginning. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series since this will be continued.

The Serendipity is a wonderful start to a new fun multi-author series. Willa & Archer are quirky characters, who meet in an unconventional way. I loved seeing their personalities develop and their relationship blossom. I do wish we got to know them a smidge more but it was still fabulous! Bellamy may have been one of my favorite aspects of the story as well.
The Serendipity had all of the fabulousness of an Emma St Clair novel & i am excited to see where the rest of this series takes us.

If there’s one thing Emma St. Clair knows how to do, it’s deliver a swoon-worthy, laugh-out-loud rom-com with just the right amount of heart—and The Serendipity is no exception! This book is like your favorite comfort movie: charming, hilarious, and impossible to put down.

From the very first meet-cute (which, let’s be honest, is more of a meet-chaotic-disaster in the best way possible), I knew I was in for a treat. The chemistry between the main characters crackles off the page, filled with witty banter, awkwardly adorable moments, and just the right amount of tension to keep you hooked. It’s the kind of romance where you want to grab the characters by the shoulders and shout, Just kiss already!—but, of course, Emma St. Clair makes you wait for it in the most deliciously frustrating way.

Beyond the romance, The Serendipity delivers on humor, heart, and that perfect small-town charm that makes you want to pack your bags and move there immediately. If you love fake dating, forced proximity, or books that make you laugh so hard you snort your coffee, this one’s for you. Seriously, don’t sleep on this gem—it’s the perfect feel-good read!

I loved this book so much! I loved the mental health aspect and how to deal with your anxiety! Love Archer and Willa the person 😉 such a great first book to the Only Magic in the Building series!
Grumpy/sunshine
Rich billionaire/ poor baker (I love this because I’m a baker haha)
Magic closet!

It was so cute! We love the mental health aspect and bringing light to anxiety and how it can look different for everyone! We loved getting to know Archer and Willa, the person 😉 such a great introduction to the Only Magic In The Building series! We definitely can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series and explore Serendipity Springs more ❤️ the next book in the series is out on March 12th by @courtneywalsh who is also one of our favorites!!

Thanks again @netgalley and Emma St. Clair (@kikimojo) for this ARC

✨grumpy/sunshine
✨rich billionaire/poor baker
✨daddy issues
✨mental health/anxiety
✨magic closet

Just to name a few 😉 now go read this cutie asap!!

#onlymagicinthebuilding #netgalley #arcreview #bookiebesties

Willow can do with a little magic in her life. Or some luck will probably suffice. But going into her closet and appearing in her new grumpy tenant’s closet is not her idea of magic or luck that’s for sure. Archer’s idea of leaving behind his difficult life in New York right now doesn’t include buying an historical building to transform it into luxury condos and ending with a magical place full of interesting people or to find the love of his life for that matter. A magical, whimsical love story.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book.
I was super excited to see that we were getting another multi author series with a lot of my fav authors. I wasn't disappointed. Such a cute story.
Lots of fun banter. Grumpy billionaire vs sunshine.
Both from different worlds.

📖: The Serendipity

Book 1 of Only Magic in the Building, multi- author series.

Genres: Romcom, Light Magical Realism

Publication Date: March 5, 2025

⚠️: on page anxiety attacks and agoraphobia

Review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Serendipity, was a wonderful novel, full of love, laughter, whimsical magic and belonging!

Two hearts connected by fate or rather a magical closet. Two individuals looking for more out of life.

Life throws curve balls and Archer and Willa, are no strangers to them.

One is running away while the other is stuck.

Can an affection starved billionaire and a free spirted, struggling baker, find a home with each other?

Or will this magical closet ultimately tear them apart?

Read it now to find out!

I received an ARC copy from the author/publisher. All thoughts are my own.

✨✨✨✨

Bellamy and Sophie are the best. I love how Bellamy came to be in Archer’s life and Sophie is the best bff! I can’t wait for her book!

🐈There is a fun bonus scene for Bellamy at the end!

🌺 Sophie’s story will be in Book 3!

✨“The Serendipity is a standalone book in the Only Magic in the Building series. These closed door, whimsical romance books are all set in the same historic building, which has a habit of playing matchmaker with its residents. There are light magical elements, but no spells, shifters, or dark magic of any kind.”✨

“You are a wonderfully beautiful contradiction I never knew needed, and I love you. I love you, Willa.” 🏨🍪✨🚪
the serendipity ARC 4/5⭐️
Thank you to the author and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book!! I loved this book so much, I didn’t want it to end! if you know me you know I LOVE magical realism!! this book was everything I hoped for and better!! I loved the grumpy sunshine trope and the small town! This book is about Willa who lives in a magical building and Archer who just bought the building. Willa goes into her closet and magically ends up in Archers closet. Willa is cheery while Archer is grumpy. I need to read the rest of the books in this series ASAP!! Definitely read this if you like grumpy x sunshine, magical realism, and clean romance!! This book is out NOW!! Go check it out!

The Serendipity is a fun take on the billionaire romance with some grumpy/sunshine vibes - told through dual perspectives of Archer, the son of a billionaire getting out of NYC while his father is undergoing trial for fraud, and Willa, one of the tenants of The Serendipity, the building that Archer has purchased. Archer has bought The Serendipity to turn it into luxury condos by raising the rent on the current tenants and effectively evicting them. However, in a magical meet cute situation, Willa is brought into his life and slowly erodes his icy exterior. Through the help of Archer's surrogate dad, Bellamy, and Willa's best friend, Sophie - we journey through their budding romance.

This was a good, quick read - I really struggled though to get to like Archer at the outset since he was truly such an unfeeling asshole in his perspectives. The romance was very sweet, but that transition from kicking all of the residents out of the building they'd called home for years was a bit too close to home these days. There are some great funny moments as well with the opossum and other animal encounters. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters and they helped humanize everyone and bring more dimension to the characters.

Thanks so much to Create If Writing LLC and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Create If Writing LLC for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Serendipity is a charming start to a series that will be a hit amongst those who appreciate a little magic, a dollop of romance, and sweet friendships to their books.

Archer is a billionaire done wrong and Willa a struggling baker who stumbles into her closet and out of Archer’s. Both our main characters don’t really appreciate this main cute given they have anxiety on a good day, but thank goodness The Serendipity apartments decided it’s what they needed. The most comforting and wholesome read, the story did tackle some more serious mental health topics to add some edge and reality I wouldn’t have expected about a story of a matchmaking apartment building.
Pick this up for comfort, laughs, and a new series you’ll want to slip into.

The Serendipity by Emma St Clair is a sweet, closed door romcom. In the town of Serendipity Springs, magic is real and in the historic apartment building, known as the Serendipity, magic happens to help its residence to fall in love.

Emma’s book centers on a billionaire real estate developer named Archer and a baker named Willa. When Archer purchases the building his plans to turn it into luxury condos, however, the building has other ideas. All the trouble begins when Willa is magically transported from her closet to Archers. From there the relationship between these two characters grows and turns into something neither of these them ever could’ve imagined.
It’s a journey of healing and self discovery.

Emma’s latest book is written in a different style than her other books. It’s refreshing to see. I enjoyed such a fresh story. As always the characters are well developed, story unique and full of heart and humor. I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the books in the series.

If you enjoy the grumpy sunshine trope, billionaires and
Small towns, this book is for you!

4.5/5 stars

All opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the Victory Editing Co Op for the ARC.

Archibald “Archie” Gaines buys a former dormitory-now-apartment building and takes on more than he bargains for with this magical building and whimsical inhabitants. It’s there that he meets Willa, a resident who also uses the industrial kitchen in the building for her baking and cookie decorating business. Willa discovers by mistake that her closet will *sometimes* transport her directly into Archie’s closet in the owners quarters in the building.

I would’ve liked to know more about some of the other characters in the building, but hope that follow on books in the Serendipity Springs novels will explore them. Willa is great, well written, and has depth to her, as does Archie.

Definitely one to put on your TBR!

4.25 stars! This was a cute and quick read that had me laughing out loud. I knew I would love it in the first few chapters at the mention of a Doctor Who reference, but I digress.

Archer Gaines is an anxious billionaire looking to escape his big city woes and Willa Smith is a struggling baker in his newly-acquired apartment building. The Serendipity is believed by locals to be the source of magic in their small northeastern town, but Archer and Willa's first (and second and third) encounter in the building is anything but magical. Will The Serendipity live up to it's matchmaking reputation?

Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys magical realism, cookies, and realistic characters. Not once did I think to myself, "Literally, why would you do that?" I can't express how much I appreciate that.

Emma St. Clair's writing was a breath of fresh air and I cannot wait to read more of her work!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC. I'm glad this was my first!

This cute, easy read held my attention. I don’t usually read books where people are magically put together but even the characters are skeptical of magic! Enjoyed the Serendipity Springs story set in a small town where everyone knows everyone. It was a really charming cute book that made me laugh out loud at times, while still dealing with fears that limit, and being authentically ourselves when it is not our favorite parts we share with others. The author did a great job of making me smell the baking, feel the mortification and cheer for a happy ending. Thank you to the publishing company for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #onlymagicinthebuilding #NetGalley

This is the first book is the multi author series ‘Only Magic in the Building’
It is a cozy and enchanting read
It did take me just a bit to get into the story but the second half of the story really drew me in and I fell in love with Willa and Archer! There is such a good amount of tension, humor and amazing chemistry between the MCs.
I am so excited for the rest of this series to come🫶🏼

✨Grumpy/Sunshine
✨Forced Proximity
✨Billionaire MMC
✨Baker FMC
✨Anxiety Rep/Agoraphobia
✨Age Gap
✨Boss/Employee (briefly)

Thank you to netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book.

The Serendipity is the first book I have read written by Emma St. Clair and I quite enjoyed the experience.

The character development was good. I loved seeing Willa work through and overcome her agoraphobia. Peeling back the layers of both Willa and Archer was a fun adventure.

The setting and storyline were perfect. I loved the old building and all the character it brought. I haven’t read a lot of grumpy millionaire/sunshine romance, so it was fun to switch up the tropes.

The romance was sweet and kisses only, which I appreciate.

This is not a Christian book so there are no faith aspects, but it was clean. Does deal with “magic” as in a transporting closet, but that doesn’t bug me.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

What will happen when grumpy billionaire Archer takes ownership of the magical Serendipity apartment building and it wants him and cookie baker Willa to be together? The Serendipity will probably use the closets in their apartments to keep pushing them together.

Things I loved about this story:
Lighthearted
A touch of magical realism
Mental health representation x2
Billionaire and baker
Friendship between Willa and Sophie
Bellamy
The scene about books in chapter 3 (relatable)
Slow burn
Archer connecting with Willa's dad over trains!
Spice level: just kisses

The way Emma St. Clair wrote these characters made them so easy to imagine right off the bat. I really enjoyed this straightforward writing style and the side characters. The magical realism elements in some stories are hard to get right, but this one was easy to understand.

I love a billionaire romance and this one was fun, but it didn't include a lot of the elements in a typical book with wealthy characters because they were in a small city away from his normal life. But Bellamy being Archer's "Alfred to his Batman" added so much to the story and I'm glad he was watching over him. I'm glad he got his own bonus chapter.

This could have easily been enemies to lovers, but Willa was super forgiving of Archer taking over the building and raising everyone's rent even though she should have really disliked him.

I didn't enjoy Archer for most of the book but his character grew on me near the end. The social anxiety he experiences was handled well, so it was probably a testament to the author's writing that it was hard to connect with a closed off, socially anxious character who is trying to ignore his own emotions.

Overall, I would recommend this book to those looking for a sweet, no spice romance with magical elements and fun antics.

I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰

Emma St. Claire delivers an utterly charming, laugh-out-loud, and heartwarming romance in Serendipity, blending small-town magic with sizzling chemistry and delightful enemies-to-lovers tension.

Billionaire Archer Gaines isn’t looking for love—he’s looking for a fresh start, far away from his father’s corruption and the scandal that follows him. His plan? Buy The Serendipity, a historic apartment building in Serendipity Springs, flip it into luxury lofts, and move on. Simple. Except… the building (and fate) has other plans.

Enter Willa, a talented baker who’s lived in the building for years and isn’t about to let some grumpy, money-driven outsider ruin her home—or her fledgling business. Their meet ugly (involving Willa accidentally teleporting into Archer’s closet) sets the tone for a hilarious, tension-filled relationship. Things only escalate when Archer increases rent, threatening the lives of the quirky tenants and putting Willa’s dream at risk. But as the building’s “mischief” keeps throwing them together, sparks begin to fly in ways neither of them expected.

Emma St. Claire weaves humor, heart, and just the right amount of magical realism into this delightful romance. Archer and Willa’s journey from reluctant neighbors to something much more is filled with swoony moments, laugh-out-loud antics, and a touching emotional depth that makes their love story feel both fun and meaningful.

If you love grumpy/sunshine romances, forced proximity, and a touch of whimsy, Serendipity is a must-read. It’s a feel-good, escapist romance that’ll leave you smiling long after the final page.