The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic

Reviews

• julie ✨
  adventurouslightheartedFast-paced

  Started October 24, 2023 · Finished October 27, 2023

  I really wanted to love this book, but I ultimately didn't. I enjoyed the magical elements (it's a little wacky, in a way that reminds me of the magic in the Harry Potter books), and the writing style was very approachable and easy to fall into. But this book's biggest issue is its length. It is so short that it never felt like there was strong character or plot development. While we get relatively close to Aria, the female lead, I never found her to be exceptionally likeable; she's fine, and I don't hate her, but I wasn't endeared to her by the end of the story. As for Callan, the romantic interest, he exists solely to adore and worship Aria. It is insta-love from his POV. And then there is the plot. I liked the idea of a magical competition to inherit this famed garden, but everything about Aria's successes in the competition felt easy and convenient. Her gut feeling was always correct and she never had the wrong answer; also, when she faced significant struggle, she still pulled out a win at the last second. While I'm usually game for romance in a book, in this it was kind of awkward and stilted. Like I mentioned, it was insta-love from Callan's POV. Aria didn't like him in the beginning for something he'd done several years before the story starts, but warmed up to him so quickly it was a little unbelievable. Then it didn't feel like there was much romantic development throughout the story, and then they're suddenly declaring their love for one another and getting married in the end. All in all, I think the only reason I finished this book is because it was so short. If you're in the mood for something short, fun, and easy, this might be for you.

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