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Nilufer Ozmekik's Reviews > Enchanted to Meet You
Enchanted to Meet You (Witches of West Harbor #1)
by
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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.
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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:
medium.com
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Reading Progress
June 5, 2023
– Shelved
June 5, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 16, 2023
–
Started Reading
June 17, 2023
–
Finished Reading
