LOVESTUCK

A teenager accidentally casts a love curse on the school troublemaker, making him fall obsessively in love with her.

High school senior Riya Khan, who’s cued Pakistani American, is the only one of her sisters to have inherited peri magic, which helps people find emotional clarity. It was passed down from her great-great-great-great-grandmother, who encountered a peri, a fairylike djinn (originally from Persian mythology) who possesses an “intoxicating jasmine scent and otherworldly beauty.” Riya has sworn off magic ever since the Incident, devoting her life to order, control, and getting into Caltech for astrophysics. But then her best friend convinces her to use her magic for help with a crush. Unfortunately, Riya gets distracted and instead accidentally puts a love curse on Filipino American bad boy Kian Kho, making him fall hard for her. Even Riya’s rejection and avoidance can’t deter his over-the-top gestures. She must break the curse before the next full moon—or the curse will be permanent. Riya, who’s worked hard on cultivating rationality and emotional distance, must face the unpredictable magic head-on to save them both. This entertaining romantic mystery centers more on Riya’s character growth than the enemies-to-lovers storyline. While there are some moving moments in which she addresses her various broken relationships, the quick resolution may make readers long for her to express more vulnerability and experience more deep, healing connections.

A light romance with a touch of magic.