Cry count: 2
Spice: at first it was fairly tame intimacy, but it escalated quickly. Open-door with roughly six to eight scenes total in the last 40-ish percent of the book. 

I liked this one. I liked this one a lot. While parts of the dialogue did come across as a little stilted, Stein really found her feet by the end and it was just a lot of the things I love about fall books in a cozy, low-stakes adventure that facilitates the romance while still addressing some of the heavier themes of bullying, fat phobia, and self worth.

This is a second chance, slow burn, bully-ish romance with friends to enemies to friends to lovers focused initially on the female main character’s weight. This is a topic that comes up fairly regularly in a way that’s relevant to the story while also being realistic and tactfully handled in relation to the story. I really like the way Stein incorporates these themes into her novels because too often you see a character described as curvy and then treated like they’re thin the whole time. So, having real representation that digs even when it’s uncomfortable is great! 

The story itself: when I say slow burn, I mean SLOW BURN. I made it to 57% and was questioning if this was actually a romance. This was almost immediately shot down two percent later, though. Not all the character motivations are super fleshed out as well, which means I do wish the villains were a smidge more villainous and had a better reason for it. However, I loved the shenanigans, the descriptions of the magical, and the sheer wonder and awe Cassie approached all of it with. Her familiar was the best, the fall vibes are there, and it’s deliciously quirky in all the best ways. 

Stein stayed true to herself as an author and, really, all of my notes for the book can be chalked up to exploring a new subgenre. 

Some of it was so beyond that it just felt fun and didn’t take itself too seriously, so my “complaints” really are things that didn’t take much away from the rest of the story. Other bits were so gorgeous and human and raw yet fit so well with the overall plot that I’m just impressed and cried a little. 

I will say, this book felt a little more “What We Do in the Shadows” than “Gilmore Girls,” but the comps aren’t too far off from what you get. Which is in line with Stein’s work and trying to fit into a new subgenre of romance. If you liked “When Grumpy Met Sunshine” or “Bride,” this one is definitely worth reading. 

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan for the chance to review an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.