Witchy-Sweet Magic & Romance

This sugary confection by Sangu Mandanna is seasoned with enchanted herbs, accented with sassy children, mingled with family longing, and sprinkled with a dash of some surprising spice.

Another wonderful source for my TBR stack of late is the New York Times list of Best Romance Novels for 2022—a brand new list offered by this news source, written by author, Olivia Waite.

I was really happy to have this selection get intuited to me over the transom, AKA the Internet. Without the article, I wouldn’t have delved into my first (I think?) paranormal romance, but I’m so glad I did! This was so much fun.

I listened to TVSSOIW, and the audiobook reader was absolutely fantastic. The story was light-hearted enough for playing during perfect for errands in the car, folding Laundry Mountain, and squirreling away all that had exploded from winter “break.”

This book was so sweet and adorable that when the story was rudely interrupted with swear words—because that’s what it felt like—it was jarring every time. The text would have been stronger without the added, “Jesus fucking Christ,” and all that. It simply didn’t need it.

I’ll admit to fan-casting Mika Moon with this gorgeous model. (Photo by Dellon Thomas on Unsplash)

There’s a slow burn romance between the protagonist, Mika Moon, and the reserved-yet-irresistible librarian/caretaker of Nowhere House, where Mika has taken the job to help three young, orphaned witches learn how to control and wield their power. It’s also where she learns how to have a found-family and that life doesn’t have to be so lonely, even for a witch.

While reading I often found myself wondering if this was written for young adults, and then a detail or word would lean more adult. It’s weird how categories can do that, for better or worse. In doing a little internet sleuthing, I discovered that this novel is Mandanna’s first one for adults after writing YA. So that explains my confusion as a reader when I was wondering, “Who is this book written for?” Does it even matter? That’s a rhetorical question, but again, I suppose the reader in me likes a category, as I imagine is the case for many of you.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

When the sex scene arrived, it too was a bit jarring like those pesky swear words. I think less graphic detail would have better matched the overall tone of the book. Less is sometimes not just more, it’s better.

All that said, I heartily recommend if you’re into witches, headstrong children, and finding family.

Spice-o-meter: 2-3 chilis 🌶🌶 -🌶🌶 🌶. But you’d better have on your Patience Pants, because you have to wait for it!