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Witches of West Harbor #1
Enchanted to Meet You
A witchy rom-com from New York Times bestseller Meg Cabot about a plus size witch who must team up with a handsome stranger to help protect her village from an otherworldly force—but will she be able to protect her heart?
It’s Magic When You Meet Your Match In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention—as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches.
So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One.
She’s the Chosen One Not chosen by West Harbor’s snobby elite to style them for the town’s tricentennial ball—though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either—not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she’s done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a “true” witch. No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself...
As Summer Ends, Her Power Grows But just when Jess is beginning to think that she and Derrick might have a certain magic of their own—and not of the supernatural variety—Jess learns he may not be who she thought he was. And suddenly Jess finds herself having to trust Derrick and work with him to combat the sinister force battling to bring down West Harbor, or use her gift as she always to keep herself, and her heart, safe. Can she work her magic in time?
It’s Magic When You Meet Your Match In her teenage years, lovelorn Jessica Gold cast a spell that went disastrously wrong, and brought her all the wrong kind of attention—as well as a lifetime ban from the World Council of Witches.
So no one is more surprised than Jess when, fifteen years later, tall, handsome WCW member Derrick Winters shows up in her quaint little village of West Harbor and claims that Jess is the Chosen One.
She’s the Chosen One Not chosen by West Harbor’s snobby elite to style them for the town’s tricentennial ball—though Jess owns the chicest clothing boutique in town. And not chosen finally to be on the WCW, either—not that Jess would have said yes, anyway, since she’s done with any organization that tries to dictate what makes a “true” witch. No, Jess has been chosen to help save West Harbor itself...
As Summer Ends, Her Power Grows But just when Jess is beginning to think that she and Derrick might have a certain magic of their own—and not of the supernatural variety—Jess learns he may not be who she thought he was. And suddenly Jess finds herself having to trust Derrick and work with him to combat the sinister force battling to bring down West Harbor, or use her gift as she always to keep herself, and her heart, safe. Can she work her magic in time?
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2023
About the author
Meg Cabot
239 books34.8k followersLibrarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
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Want to read
September 5, 2023PLEASE DON’T BE IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE ELSE
PLEASE DON’T HAVE SOMEBODY WAITING ON YOU!
(Is this book inspired by Taylor? Probably not, but it need to be said)
PLEASE DON’T HAVE SOMEBODY WAITING ON YOU!
(Is this book inspired by Taylor? Probably not, but it need to be said)
June 24, 2023
This entertaining paranormal romance completely captivated me from start to finish. I found myself eagerly diving into the pages during my writing breaks, unable to resist the allure of Jessica's story and the enigmatic silver-eyed Derrick. The book's enchanting purple cover only added to its allure, beckoning me to delve deeper each time I reluctantly put it down. (I must commend Meg Cabot for earning the adoration of Swifties by cleverly choosing "Enchanted" as the book's title.)
What sets this book apart is not only its perfect portrayal of a plus-size positive message, but also its realistic depiction of high school life. Jessica Gold, the main character, is a quick-witted and creative soul who possesses a unique talent for helping her customers find clothing that makes them feel truly good about themselves. However, she still carries the weight of her high school experiment to become part of the witch community, an incident she desperately wants to forget.
After her travels in Europe and graduating from college in New York, Jessica returns to her quaint hometown in Connecticut. With dreams of opening her own boutique called "Enchantments," she hopes to breathe new life into her love life, embrace the freedom of singledom, reconnect with her best friends from high school, and adapt to life as a cat mom. However, her tranquil existence is shattered when a striking silver-eyed stranger named Derrick Winters appears in her store. He reveals that a long-unresolved crime from the past threatens to destroy West Harbor, and Jessica, as the CHOSEN ONE, must work alongside the intelligent high school witch queen, Esther Dodge—a.k.a. the "Bringer of Light"—to protect the town.
Naturally, Jessica is plagued by questions. For years, she has been excluded from the World Council of Witches (WCW), labeled a "cottage witch" due to her lack of ancestral witchery. She feels like an outsider, with no knowledge of Esther Dodge or how she can harness the light within her. To complicate matters, Derrick is cryptic and vanishes after dropping this bombshell, leaving Jessica in the dark.
As the story unfolds, we are transported back and forth between Jessica's high school years and her present-day journey. We witness how her life changed after her mother gifted her with "Goody Fletcher's Book of Useful Household Tips" and the disastrous love spell she attempted, which ignited a bitter animosity between her and Rosalie—a member of the WCW and the school's queen bee—who now utilizes her superpowers to send storm stones as acts of retaliation.
While Jessica attempts to forge a connection with Esther, Derrick shadows her every move, driven by a hidden agenda that remains shrouded in mystery. Their time together intensifies the attraction between them, even though the chemistry falls somewhat short of sparking fireworks. The book's fantasy elements overshadow the romantic aspects, and although the pacing slows in the middle, the conclusion ties up loose ends satisfactorily.
The characterization in this book is a true highlight. The supporting characters, such as Esther, Dina, and Mark, inject additional fun and depth into the narrative, further enhancing the overall reading experience.
Though I yearned for a stronger romantic connection between Jessica and Derrick, the abundance of fantastical elements left me thoroughly enchanted. Consequently, I have no hesitation in raising my rating from 3.5 stars to a solid 4!
"Cute," "enjoyable," and "fast-paced" aptly describe this delightful read, making it a highly recommended choice for fans of the author and readers of paranormal romance.
A heartfelt thank you goes to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for graciously providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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What sets this book apart is not only its perfect portrayal of a plus-size positive message, but also its realistic depiction of high school life. Jessica Gold, the main character, is a quick-witted and creative soul who possesses a unique talent for helping her customers find clothing that makes them feel truly good about themselves. However, she still carries the weight of her high school experiment to become part of the witch community, an incident she desperately wants to forget.
After her travels in Europe and graduating from college in New York, Jessica returns to her quaint hometown in Connecticut. With dreams of opening her own boutique called "Enchantments," she hopes to breathe new life into her love life, embrace the freedom of singledom, reconnect with her best friends from high school, and adapt to life as a cat mom. However, her tranquil existence is shattered when a striking silver-eyed stranger named Derrick Winters appears in her store. He reveals that a long-unresolved crime from the past threatens to destroy West Harbor, and Jessica, as the CHOSEN ONE, must work alongside the intelligent high school witch queen, Esther Dodge—a.k.a. the "Bringer of Light"—to protect the town.
Naturally, Jessica is plagued by questions. For years, she has been excluded from the World Council of Witches (WCW), labeled a "cottage witch" due to her lack of ancestral witchery. She feels like an outsider, with no knowledge of Esther Dodge or how she can harness the light within her. To complicate matters, Derrick is cryptic and vanishes after dropping this bombshell, leaving Jessica in the dark.
As the story unfolds, we are transported back and forth between Jessica's high school years and her present-day journey. We witness how her life changed after her mother gifted her with "Goody Fletcher's Book of Useful Household Tips" and the disastrous love spell she attempted, which ignited a bitter animosity between her and Rosalie—a member of the WCW and the school's queen bee—who now utilizes her superpowers to send storm stones as acts of retaliation.
While Jessica attempts to forge a connection with Esther, Derrick shadows her every move, driven by a hidden agenda that remains shrouded in mystery. Their time together intensifies the attraction between them, even though the chemistry falls somewhat short of sparking fireworks. The book's fantasy elements overshadow the romantic aspects, and although the pacing slows in the middle, the conclusion ties up loose ends satisfactorily.
The characterization in this book is a true highlight. The supporting characters, such as Esther, Dina, and Mark, inject additional fun and depth into the narrative, further enhancing the overall reading experience.
Though I yearned for a stronger romantic connection between Jessica and Derrick, the abundance of fantastical elements left me thoroughly enchanted. Consequently, I have no hesitation in raising my rating from 3.5 stars to a solid 4!
"Cute," "enjoyable," and "fast-paced" aptly describe this delightful read, making it a highly recommended choice for fans of the author and readers of paranormal romance.
A heartfelt thank you goes to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for graciously providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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September 18, 2023
Oh… I don’t even know where to begin…
Let me first start off by saying that I have read other books by this author, and have absolutely loved them. I was super excited to read this one for that very reason… And unfortunately, this one just didn’t match up.
Did it give fall vibes? Yes. Was it witchy? Also yes.
Did it seem like the author had multiple plot points and decided to mash them together? 100% yes. Did it seem like there was no actual love story and just some creepy guy falling in love with a girl he just met with? Yes to that too.
Don’t even get me started on the story itself, when I said the plot points were mashed together, I am not exaggerating. Demons? A rift? The chosen one? I was confused for 85% of this book.
I feel mean for giving this review, but I wanted to be honest.
Let me first start off by saying that I have read other books by this author, and have absolutely loved them. I was super excited to read this one for that very reason… And unfortunately, this one just didn’t match up.
Did it give fall vibes? Yes. Was it witchy? Also yes.
Did it seem like the author had multiple plot points and decided to mash them together? 100% yes. Did it seem like there was no actual love story and just some creepy guy falling in love with a girl he just met with? Yes to that too.
Don’t even get me started on the story itself, when I said the plot points were mashed together, I am not exaggerating. Demons? A rift? The chosen one? I was confused for 85% of this book.
I feel mean for giving this review, but I wanted to be honest.
August 25, 2023
I’ve been reading Meg Cabot’s books since I was 13 yo, there’s something about her books that feel almost like magic, the way she pulls us in from the very first chapter and keep us entertained throughout the whole book. It happened with The mediator series, Queen of Babbles, All american girl, and now it happed with Enchanted to Meet You.
From the very first page I was pulled in and I couldn’t stop reading until the very last page, I loved Jessica and Derrick, I loved the small town of West Harbor and I loved the story.
Jessica is a self taught cottage witch, she uses herbs and spices to make smalls spells that bring good fortune, wealth and even love, she’s the proud owner of a shop called Enchantment, where she works her special kind of magic selling all types of clothes for the people of West Harbor.
The book starts with Derrick showing up at Jessica’s shop and telling her she’s the Chosen One, the person who’s going to help the Bringer of Light, who just so happens to be a teenager girl, to come into her powers and save the town from the forces of demons.
Enchanting to Meet You was a very captivating book, I’m glad I gave it a chance, and I can’t wait to find out if Meg’s going to write more about West Harbor, I definitely wouldn’t mind finding out more about Jessica’s brother, Ethan.
Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
From the very first page I was pulled in and I couldn’t stop reading until the very last page, I loved Jessica and Derrick, I loved the small town of West Harbor and I loved the story.
Jessica is a self taught cottage witch, she uses herbs and spices to make smalls spells that bring good fortune, wealth and even love, she’s the proud owner of a shop called Enchantment, where she works her special kind of magic selling all types of clothes for the people of West Harbor.
The book starts with Derrick showing up at Jessica’s shop and telling her she’s the Chosen One, the person who’s going to help the Bringer of Light, who just so happens to be a teenager girl, to come into her powers and save the town from the forces of demons.
Enchanting to Meet You was a very captivating book, I’m glad I gave it a chance, and I can’t wait to find out if Meg’s going to write more about West Harbor, I definitely wouldn’t mind finding out more about Jessica’s brother, Ethan.
Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review
September 6, 2023
Thank you Netgalley etc etc
DNF at 20% because it is very clear how Meg Cabot actually views fat people (junk-food crazed unable to process emotion without binge eating). I’ve had enough with fat people portrayed this way in media. No thanks.
DNF at 20% because it is very clear how Meg Cabot actually views fat people (junk-food crazed unable to process emotion without binge eating). I’ve had enough with fat people portrayed this way in media. No thanks.
September 23, 2023
I did it.
I finally completed this book and it was.. terrible.
So disappointing.
The reviews are raving about how good this book but i only see a mess.
Honestly, can't wrap my head around the fact that Meg Cabot - a woman who's been in the publishing industry longer than i have been alive - has written such a bad book.
Is it yet another case of trying hopelessly to resonate with the modern audience? Because that's truly what it felt like.
I have a lot of problems.
Number 1:
Is Jessica stupid? Because she seems to be. Please tell me how.. HOW are you going to offer a mysterious man - who, btw, you met only twice - your home as temporary shelter?
You've had like two conversations with this guy and you're just.. letting him live in your home. Just because he's hot?????
This could lead to two of these options; either a cringey, rom-com with no flavor or well, a murder. Fortunately for us, Miss. Cabot chose the romance path.
Number 2: as you can already tell that the romance was cringey, insta love with zero chemistry. I couldn't even bother with this book tbh.
Number 3: Ahh nevermind.
I can't bother with this review. No amount of autumn descriptions, small town vibes could save this book. It just felt like one of those disney movie skits you see on Youtube but in a book form. Especially that last speech. I want to erase that from my memory. 😭
SPOILER (I can't bother with that format so just skip this if you want to read this book)
That last speech??? She saved this town from an apocalypse because of an emotional, heartfelt speech??? You're
building an entire book towards to a big apocalypse only for it to be stopped by KINDNESS???
What is this disneycore, enchantedbakwas ?? 😭
I finally completed this book and it was.. terrible.
So disappointing.
The reviews are raving about how good this book but i only see a mess.
Honestly, can't wrap my head around the fact that Meg Cabot - a woman who's been in the publishing industry longer than i have been alive - has written such a bad book.
Is it yet another case of trying hopelessly to resonate with the modern audience? Because that's truly what it felt like.
I have a lot of problems.
Number 1:
Is Jessica stupid? Because she seems to be. Please tell me how.. HOW are you going to offer a mysterious man - who, btw, you met only twice - your home as temporary shelter?
You've had like two conversations with this guy and you're just.. letting him live in your home. Just because he's hot?????
This could lead to two of these options; either a cringey, rom-com with no flavor or well, a murder. Fortunately for us, Miss. Cabot chose the romance path.
Number 2: as you can already tell that the romance was cringey, insta love with zero chemistry. I couldn't even bother with this book tbh.
Number 3: Ahh nevermind.
I can't bother with this review. No amount of autumn descriptions, small town vibes could save this book. It just felt like one of those disney movie skits you see on Youtube but in a book form. Especially that last speech. I want to erase that from my memory. 😭
SPOILER (I can't bother with that format so just skip this if you want to read this book)
That last speech??? She saved this town from an apocalypse because of an emotional, heartfelt speech??? You're
building an entire book towards to a big apocalypse only for it to be stopped by KINDNESS???
What is this disneycore, enchantedbakwas ?? 😭
June 24, 2023
This book is PEAK Meg Cabot (in the best way). Sweet romance, quirky antics, laugh out loud humor, simple yet effective magical world-building, and a healthy dose of feminist commentary about witches.
One of the first Cabot books I ever read was Jinx , a book about witches from way before witches were having the cultural moment they are now. I LOVED Jinx so I was absolutely thrilled to see Cabot writing another witchy book all these years later.
And YES, it delivered!
Cabot really gave us another lead in BIKER BOOTS. Takes me right back to Rob in 1-800-WHERE-R-U... and Suze in The Mediator... and Mia Thermopolis in her Docs. Why do I get the feeling all of Cabot's characters would be good friends?? Probably the same reason I want to be friends with every single one of them.
Jess and Derrick were great leads. I was intrigued by Derrick and all his secrecy, but Jess and Esther really stole the show. I loved Jess' passion for fashion and how she weaved magic into her work. Esther was a fascinating character and I'd love to see her explored more in later books!
The setting was also really lovely. Small, coastal New England town feel with impeccable spooky season vibes! This will be a perfect read for autumn!
All in all, I loved this book and I'm really excited for the rest of the Witches of West Harbor books (Unconfirmed as of yet but which seem to be in the works!).
_________________________________
OMG OMG OMG I got the ARC! Thank you to the lovely team at HarperCollins. I can't wait to dive in.
_________________________________
Enemies to lovers, fake dating, and slow burn... oh my! Cabot has promised some amazing tropes with this one. 😍
Can't wait 'til this is on the shelves!
One of the first Cabot books I ever read was Jinx , a book about witches from way before witches were having the cultural moment they are now. I LOVED Jinx so I was absolutely thrilled to see Cabot writing another witchy book all these years later.
And YES, it delivered!
Cabot really gave us another lead in BIKER BOOTS. Takes me right back to Rob in 1-800-WHERE-R-U... and Suze in The Mediator... and Mia Thermopolis in her Docs. Why do I get the feeling all of Cabot's characters would be good friends?? Probably the same reason I want to be friends with every single one of them.
Jess and Derrick were great leads. I was intrigued by Derrick and all his secrecy, but Jess and Esther really stole the show. I loved Jess' passion for fashion and how she weaved magic into her work. Esther was a fascinating character and I'd love to see her explored more in later books!
The setting was also really lovely. Small, coastal New England town feel with impeccable spooky season vibes! This will be a perfect read for autumn!
All in all, I loved this book and I'm really excited for the rest of the Witches of West Harbor books (Unconfirmed as of yet but which seem to be in the works!).
_________________________________
OMG OMG OMG I got the ARC! Thank you to the lovely team at HarperCollins. I can't wait to dive in.
_________________________________
Enemies to lovers, fake dating, and slow burn... oh my! Cabot has promised some amazing tropes with this one. 😍
Can't wait 'til this is on the shelves!
November 5, 2023
Read for the video: Reading Witchy Romcoms (so you don't have to) 🧙🏻♀️ | Halloween Reading Vlog 🎃
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiq_Y...
Oh wow this was so bad.
I started off optimistic, but was put off very early on by the issues surrounding consent. Also, our main character Jessica is plus size, but it’s written in a way that comes off as fat phobic.
As well as that, the romance was so shit. It was so underdeveloped and lacked chemistry. The plot was boring and nonsensical, with the most anticlimactic ending I’ve ever read. Also, the character felt so immature.
I also really didn’t like how Derricks POV was in third person, with the rest of the book being written in first. It felt really lazy, like the author couldn’t be bothered to try and write 2 distinct voices, so she just changed the perspective. Also, this is just a personal preference, but Derrick was described as having long hair, and at one point had it in a low ponytail, and I’m sorry but that’s not giving sexy, it’s giving Founding Father.
Lastly, it was pretty much closed door, which is fine, except the characters went on and on about how great the sex was and how they were having so much sex. So it just felt weird to mention it so much, but not actually include any scenes. Either be closed door, and don’t make it a huge part of the romance, or be smutty and give us what we want!
Overall, would not recommend, but it was readable and I didn’t HATE it, so 2 stars instead of 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiq_Y...
Oh wow this was so bad.
I started off optimistic, but was put off very early on by the issues surrounding consent. Also, our main character Jessica is plus size, but it’s written in a way that comes off as fat phobic.
As well as that, the romance was so shit. It was so underdeveloped and lacked chemistry. The plot was boring and nonsensical, with the most anticlimactic ending I’ve ever read. Also, the character felt so immature.
I also really didn’t like how Derricks POV was in third person, with the rest of the book being written in first. It felt really lazy, like the author couldn’t be bothered to try and write 2 distinct voices, so she just changed the perspective. Also, this is just a personal preference, but Derrick was described as having long hair, and at one point had it in a low ponytail, and I’m sorry but that’s not giving sexy, it’s giving Founding Father.
Lastly, it was pretty much closed door, which is fine, except the characters went on and on about how great the sex was and how they were having so much sex. So it just felt weird to mention it so much, but not actually include any scenes. Either be closed door, and don’t make it a huge part of the romance, or be smutty and give us what we want!
Overall, would not recommend, but it was readable and I didn’t HATE it, so 2 stars instead of 1.
September 8, 2023
This is a cute paranormal rom-com start to a new series. The story is interesting and the two main love interest characters are great. I did think the book was a little slow, but overall I definitely enjoyed it. Jessica is proud to be a witch, even if her heritage doesn’t have documented witches and she isn’t eligible for membership with the world council of witches. She and her best friend both are practicing cottage witches until one day the mysterious Derrick Winters comes to town telling Jessica she is the Chosen one and needs to find the Bringer of Light so that they can stop the from being destroyed. I liked that the story had a good bit of humor in it. The romance was ok for me but it wasn’t my favorite trope. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up and I will keep an eye out for book two.
May 1, 2024
I started this because my current read was depressing but it was underwhelming & chaotic both at once 🥲
October 29, 2023
I was so excited about a witch romance by the author of Princess Diaries!
Pros:
Lovely Premise: A man comes up to our witch lead that there's a danger coming to their town! They now have to work with each other to save their town!
Small Town Romance: The side characters are so humorous! I loved their stories!
Cons:
I just wanted a big battle full of magic and that didn't fully happen. So, I'm kinda bummed about that.
The romance: As much as I loved the Male Lead, Derek, I think Jane and Derek jumped into their relationship quite fast.
You can check my in-depth review Here.
Pros:
Lovely Premise: A man comes up to our witch lead that there's a danger coming to their town! They now have to work with each other to save their town!
Small Town Romance: The side characters are so humorous! I loved their stories!
Cons:
I just wanted a big battle full of magic and that didn't fully happen. So, I'm kinda bummed about that.
The romance: As much as I loved the Male Lead, Derek, I think Jane and Derek jumped into their relationship quite fast.
You can check my in-depth review Here.
September 4, 2023
Review coming soon.
August 7, 2023
** thanks to netgalley and harper collins for my first ARC!** this was a plus-sized, paranormal romance that was cozy and fun! i loved the sapphic young couple & the way Meg Cabot gave jessica so much life. she used her magic to make women feel confident and loved & she just felt so genuine and fun. i finished wishing this town was real and i could visit and be best friends with jessica. i think the climax could have had a bit more oomph, but i always love a no-stress fantasy. overall, really enjoyed this one.
September 22, 2023
Petition to retitle this book “Horny to Meet You”.
I listened to the audiobook so it saved my eyeballs from reading this mess but even at 3 time speed, this was not enjoyable.
I don’t have direct quotes and I wasn’t going to sit here and transcribe them.
This book is one of the most cringe, ridiculous, pick me energy, and honestly fatphobic book I’ve ever read.
They’re in their 30’s and it’s literally high school but make it worse.
She’s literally the “chosen one”. 🙄
The repetition was killing me, hence the 3 times speed listening. She was CONSTANTLY saying how she’s a witch and it’s a secret. And she’s a chosen one.
I literally laughed so hard towards the end when Derek’s plan fell apart and the conflict arose. Their third act breakup was ridiculous.
Also this book was so horny but also closed door? But they wanted you to make sure you understood that they BOTH are only thinking about banging each other since basically they meet. And stuff fades to black and we get “so we ‘made love all night’ and how he managed to get up and run is beyond me” several times. I don’t know how they managed to do anything because I swear they were thinking about sleeping with each other or the book would fade to black on their many nights of sleeping together.
Absolutely one of the biggest disappointments of the year. And to use Taylor’s lyric as a title in vain? Rude.
I listened to the audiobook so it saved my eyeballs from reading this mess but even at 3 time speed, this was not enjoyable.
I don’t have direct quotes and I wasn’t going to sit here and transcribe them.
This book is one of the most cringe, ridiculous, pick me energy, and honestly fatphobic book I’ve ever read.
They’re in their 30’s and it’s literally high school but make it worse.
She’s literally the “chosen one”. 🙄
The repetition was killing me, hence the 3 times speed listening. She was CONSTANTLY saying how she’s a witch and it’s a secret. And she’s a chosen one.
I literally laughed so hard towards the end when Derek’s plan fell apart and the conflict arose. Their third act breakup was ridiculous.
Also this book was so horny but also closed door? But they wanted you to make sure you understood that they BOTH are only thinking about banging each other since basically they meet. And stuff fades to black and we get “so we ‘made love all night’ and how he managed to get up and run is beyond me” several times. I don’t know how they managed to do anything because I swear they were thinking about sleeping with each other or the book would fade to black on their many nights of sleeping together.
Absolutely one of the biggest disappointments of the year. And to use Taylor’s lyric as a title in vain? Rude.
August 28, 2023
We could’ve had it all…
This was a cute read. Unfortunately I found the plot to be incredibly confusing at times, somethings started to piece together at the end but overall I didn’t understand everything that was happening. The Romance was also very scarce*cue the crying* Derrick was so cute and Jess was so funny, I loved them both but I felt as though they had zero romantic chemistry and I just couldn’t picture them together😭
Thank you to Avon for my review copy, I’m very thankful!!
This was a cute read. Unfortunately I found the plot to be incredibly confusing at times, somethings started to piece together at the end but overall I didn’t understand everything that was happening. The Romance was also very scarce*cue the crying* Derrick was so cute and Jess was so funny, I loved them both but I felt as though they had zero romantic chemistry and I just couldn’t picture them together😭
Thank you to Avon for my review copy, I’m very thankful!!
November 12, 2023
Meg Cabot writes such charming rom coms! And this one has one of my favorite fantasy elements: witches, combined with my favorite modern romance type: bikers! BIKER WITCHES. YAAAASSS. Plus lots of sexy talk about pretty clothes. And ancient Puritan witch grimoires. Also, a sassy black cat. It just has all the things, you know?
A fun way to take your mind off your real life, which (if you're me) has a lot less magic in it.
A fun way to take your mind off your real life, which (if you're me) has a lot less magic in it.
October 27, 2023
2.5 stars.
"Enchanted to Meet You" by Meg Cabot is a fall-feeling witchy romance with way too much going on to be successful. There are far too many plot points and characters in this story. At some point, I found myself confused by it all, all of the rules and guides and abilities and people. Apart from a few spicy scenes, this could have easily been a young adult novel. It reads as extremely juvenile to me. The insta-love between the main characters, Jessica and Derrick, didn't feel or seem realistic. They did not have any chemistry with one another. There is no believability to their relationship. They don't trust each other enough to tell each other the truth, so I as a reader don't believe they actually care about each other (apart from wanting to hook up physically). Derrick has a "secret," but this is neither mysterious nor important to the crux of the story. It's fairly easy to guess what's going on and is not surprising in the slightest. Derrick might be described as attractive, but he is soooooooo painfully boring as a main male character. I almost fell asleep a few times while reading this book. What a big ol' yawn of a character. Though I appreciate Jessica's feminism, I didn't find her all that interesting, either. The finale epic battle comes and goes as little more than a whimper. In the end, "Enchanted to Meet You" feels like one cosmic misfire after the other. It's not particularly captivating or well-written. Really disappointing stuff.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Cabot, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Enchanted to Meet You" by Meg Cabot is a fall-feeling witchy romance with way too much going on to be successful. There are far too many plot points and characters in this story. At some point, I found myself confused by it all, all of the rules and guides and abilities and people. Apart from a few spicy scenes, this could have easily been a young adult novel. It reads as extremely juvenile to me. The insta-love between the main characters, Jessica and Derrick, didn't feel or seem realistic. They did not have any chemistry with one another. There is no believability to their relationship. They don't trust each other enough to tell each other the truth, so I as a reader don't believe they actually care about each other (apart from wanting to hook up physically). Derrick has a "secret," but this is neither mysterious nor important to the crux of the story. It's fairly easy to guess what's going on and is not surprising in the slightest. Derrick might be described as attractive, but he is soooooooo painfully boring as a main male character. I almost fell asleep a few times while reading this book. What a big ol' yawn of a character. Though I appreciate Jessica's feminism, I didn't find her all that interesting, either. The finale epic battle comes and goes as little more than a whimper. In the end, "Enchanted to Meet You" feels like one cosmic misfire after the other. It's not particularly captivating or well-written. Really disappointing stuff.
Thank you to NetGalley, Meg Cabot, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
September 20, 2023
Not a fan. Insta-love, characters are one dimensional, not too much to be excited about in this one.
January 10, 2024
#MegaSpoilerAlert #badbook #honestreview
If I could give it a 0 I would, but I can’t, so I give it a 1.
Was this book written by a 5th grader?
I don’t even know where to start, this book has so many things wrong with it. The writing is poor, there is little to no explanation of lore, the romance is boring, and Cabot in attempt to be hip, went so far the other way.
The story as a whole is choppy and the characters are simple. Cabot repeats the same words over and over, I don’t think she knows what a thesaurus is. I get it, they are witches and the word witch is gender neutral. However the plot lines are what bugged me the most. There are two main ones, save the town from the rift and the romance between Jessica Gold (Chosen One) and Derrick Winters. From my understanding the rift would destroy West Harbor which is the town where they all live. At one point, Derrick says, no not the whole world just West Harbor will be affected. As the reader why should I care about this town I have no connection too? Cabot made no attempt to make this a relatable story for the reader. For West Harbor to be saved the Bringer of Light and the Chosen One must meet and channel their powers together. In theory it is a cool idea, but what was written was possibly the lamest cop out I have ever read. The town was saved by a speech that was half a page, and I could not tell you the main point of it. After Esther (Bringer of Light) spoke, the rift magically stopped, the rift being a thunderstorm, and everyone cheered.
I was most confused about the lore for the witches. I know that they have been around for a long time, Gaia is the mother of all creation, and Bartholomew started the World Council of Witches in the 80’s. Other than that, where the HELL is the lore? There are real witches and cottage witches. The first are witches who have ancestors and the latter is just anyone who wants to practice magic. I’m confused because why can everyone practice magic if there are actual descendants of real witches? Also you’re telling me the World Council of Witches was started in the 80’s? That’s the biggest scam ever. The book mentions that witches have been around since the dawn of time and then to trust an organization that has been around for 40 years. Seems a little sus ngl. There were also mentions of Demons and Wolves. Come to find out the Wolves were there to protect the town from the Demons. There was never a Demon interaction. For the amount that the word Demon was used, I thought there would be an interaction.
The romance is half baked and is awkward. They meet and then two days later he’s living with her, eating her food, showering with her, and loving her? Kinda fast champ. There’s no tension, no pain and no gain. No sexual build up. Both of them just want to bone and there’s no hiding it. They are also fake dating? But for fake dating there’s a lot of real sex.
The lack of secrets in this book is astounding. There are two options: the answer is revealed on the following page or a bomb is dropped out of nowhere. Cabot does not know what foreshadowing is. The writing is so simple that if it weren’t for some of the adult themes, a fourth grader would eat this up.
Don’t get me wrong I am all for inclusitivioty but when it is written about by a Gen X author who is trying to reach a younger audience it is just cringy. Throwing together 10 different popular stereotypes of millennials and gen-z’ers just ends in disaster, especially when the author is solidly in her 50’s. There were many points in the book that I was just blatantly uncomfortable. Cabot made a big deal about body positivity and being comfortable in your own skin then used words like “plumper” and “small and round.” The author also made a big deal over describing the two friends, Esther and Gabby, who are in high school and the difference in their bodies. To a point where it seemed to me to be fat-phobic. Then of course the one who isn’t conveniently attractive is the one with anxiety and confidence issues. Maybe I’m wrong for thinking this but it just feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Overall this book is bad. I can’t believe I actually spent money on it. Besides the title there are no Taylor Swift references. The only other references to popular culture made are: Mean Girls and Frozen. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy to read this book.
If I could give it a 0 I would, but I can’t, so I give it a 1.
Was this book written by a 5th grader?
I don’t even know where to start, this book has so many things wrong with it. The writing is poor, there is little to no explanation of lore, the romance is boring, and Cabot in attempt to be hip, went so far the other way.
The story as a whole is choppy and the characters are simple. Cabot repeats the same words over and over, I don’t think she knows what a thesaurus is. I get it, they are witches and the word witch is gender neutral. However the plot lines are what bugged me the most. There are two main ones, save the town from the rift and the romance between Jessica Gold (Chosen One) and Derrick Winters. From my understanding the rift would destroy West Harbor which is the town where they all live. At one point, Derrick says, no not the whole world just West Harbor will be affected. As the reader why should I care about this town I have no connection too? Cabot made no attempt to make this a relatable story for the reader. For West Harbor to be saved the Bringer of Light and the Chosen One must meet and channel their powers together. In theory it is a cool idea, but what was written was possibly the lamest cop out I have ever read. The town was saved by a speech that was half a page, and I could not tell you the main point of it. After Esther (Bringer of Light) spoke, the rift magically stopped, the rift being a thunderstorm, and everyone cheered.
I was most confused about the lore for the witches. I know that they have been around for a long time, Gaia is the mother of all creation, and Bartholomew started the World Council of Witches in the 80’s. Other than that, where the HELL is the lore? There are real witches and cottage witches. The first are witches who have ancestors and the latter is just anyone who wants to practice magic. I’m confused because why can everyone practice magic if there are actual descendants of real witches? Also you’re telling me the World Council of Witches was started in the 80’s? That’s the biggest scam ever. The book mentions that witches have been around since the dawn of time and then to trust an organization that has been around for 40 years. Seems a little sus ngl. There were also mentions of Demons and Wolves. Come to find out the Wolves were there to protect the town from the Demons. There was never a Demon interaction. For the amount that the word Demon was used, I thought there would be an interaction.
The romance is half baked and is awkward. They meet and then two days later he’s living with her, eating her food, showering with her, and loving her? Kinda fast champ. There’s no tension, no pain and no gain. No sexual build up. Both of them just want to bone and there’s no hiding it. They are also fake dating? But for fake dating there’s a lot of real sex.
The lack of secrets in this book is astounding. There are two options: the answer is revealed on the following page or a bomb is dropped out of nowhere. Cabot does not know what foreshadowing is. The writing is so simple that if it weren’t for some of the adult themes, a fourth grader would eat this up.
Don’t get me wrong I am all for inclusitivioty but when it is written about by a Gen X author who is trying to reach a younger audience it is just cringy. Throwing together 10 different popular stereotypes of millennials and gen-z’ers just ends in disaster, especially when the author is solidly in her 50’s. There were many points in the book that I was just blatantly uncomfortable. Cabot made a big deal about body positivity and being comfortable in your own skin then used words like “plumper” and “small and round.” The author also made a big deal over describing the two friends, Esther and Gabby, who are in high school and the difference in their bodies. To a point where it seemed to me to be fat-phobic. Then of course the one who isn’t conveniently attractive is the one with anxiety and confidence issues. Maybe I’m wrong for thinking this but it just feels like a step in the wrong direction.
Overall this book is bad. I can’t believe I actually spent money on it. Besides the title there are no Taylor Swift references. The only other references to popular culture made are: Mean Girls and Frozen. I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy to read this book.
September 24, 2023
I’ve definitely read better Meg Cabot novels. But it was cute enough, I guess.
March 31, 2024
I really loved the book I wish I could give the book more than five stars. Jessica and Derrick make a really cute couple and are perfect for each other. I had a feeling Rosalie was lying about her daughter being the bringer of light and I still don't believe that Rosalie loves Billy at all.
August 3, 2023
It’s been a long time since I read a Meg Cabot book! I used to read her books in middle school. I felt very impressed with the writing & representation in this! The young sapphics really stole the show for me, and one is also mentioned to have an anxiety disorder!
I honestly didn’t care about the main romance that much although I liked both characters. I’m not a fan of the chosen one trope or love spells. I liked that there’s some Jewish rep too! Also there’s a cat named Pye! Not to mention the title is a Taylor swift lyric
I honestly didn’t care about the main romance that much although I liked both characters. I’m not a fan of the chosen one trope or love spells. I liked that there’s some Jewish rep too! Also there’s a cat named Pye! Not to mention the title is a Taylor swift lyric
September 6, 2023
3.5 rounded up
This was a really fun first book in the new Witches of West Harbor series by fan favorite Meg Cabot! I loved the small town, Buffy vibes that sees a 'cottage' witch, Jessica Gold being told by motorcycle-riding, new to town Derrick Winters, a World Council of Witches member, that she's the "Chosen One," and needs to help find and nurture another baby witch or the world will end.
Full of a great cast of secondary characters, excerpts from an old grimoire, MCs with fantastic chemistry and perfect for fans of authors like Erin Silver or Hazel Beck and books like The babysitter's coven series. I'm excited to see where this goes next when we focus on Jessica's brother!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was also good on audio narrated by Piper Goodeve and Tim Paige.
Steam level: fade to black/closed door
This was a really fun first book in the new Witches of West Harbor series by fan favorite Meg Cabot! I loved the small town, Buffy vibes that sees a 'cottage' witch, Jessica Gold being told by motorcycle-riding, new to town Derrick Winters, a World Council of Witches member, that she's the "Chosen One," and needs to help find and nurture another baby witch or the world will end.
Full of a great cast of secondary characters, excerpts from an old grimoire, MCs with fantastic chemistry and perfect for fans of authors like Erin Silver or Hazel Beck and books like The babysitter's coven series. I'm excited to see where this goes next when we focus on Jessica's brother!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was also good on audio narrated by Piper Goodeve and Tim Paige.
Steam level: fade to black/closed door
November 27, 2023
Fans of Meg Cabot will not be disappointed by her latest offering, the first of a new series. The difference with this book is that the protagonist is a friendly witch but otherwise, the format is what you expect, a rated PG romance novel with a hint of spice.
One interesting aspect was learning that there were witch trials in CT, long before the more well-known trials took place in Salem, MA. Reading the authors note at the end, at time of press, CT was still working to exonerate all individuals accused in the 17th century. In May 2023, Connecticut finally did pass a resolution to exonerate all those accused of being witches.
One interesting aspect was learning that there were witch trials in CT, long before the more well-known trials took place in Salem, MA. Reading the authors note at the end, at time of press, CT was still working to exonerate all individuals accused in the 17th century. In May 2023, Connecticut finally did pass a resolution to exonerate all those accused of being witches.
August 5, 2023
DNFed at 9%
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot started off cute with a heroine who comes across as resourceful, witty, & approachable, but there are a couple of early flashback segments to her life in high school—when she flexed some of her witch muscles on a crush—that give me the ick.
She uses a love spell on him & then they become physical, seemingly without his consent. Those chapters made me feel uncomfortable & I decided to DNF.
Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Enchanted to Meet You by Meg Cabot started off cute with a heroine who comes across as resourceful, witty, & approachable, but there are a couple of early flashback segments to her life in high school—when she flexed some of her witch muscles on a crush—that give me the ick.
She uses a love spell on him & then they become physical, seemingly without his consent. Those chapters made me feel uncomfortable & I decided to DNF.
October 23, 2023
I enjoyed the cozy witchy vibes of this book but that’s pretty much the only thing I enjoyed about it. It took me forever to get through because I found it incredibly boring and didn’t feel emotional attached to any of the characters. Kind of wish I ditched this book but oh well!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2023
i’m so mad. IM SO MAD. this ending made me so mad.
January 24, 2024
meg cabot is a visionary. i mean truly why have a big dramatic fighting sequence using magic in the final conflict of your witch book when you can just…speech and debate the demons away.
December 22, 2023
What did I know about this before starting?
It had a purple cover, with a pretty script title and it might have witches in it?
It did indeed have witches, and giggles and adventure inside.
I really enjoyed this and am excited that Cabot is making it a series.
It had a purple cover, with a pretty script title and it might have witches in it?
It did indeed have witches, and giggles and adventure inside.
I really enjoyed this and am excited that Cabot is making it a series.
September 1, 2023
Thank you to Harper Collins for the pre-released copy of this book. I love Meg Cabot sm and this was very cutesy.
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