A well-wrought story that skillfully blends magic, mystery, and the spellbinding power of love.
A lonely 18-year-old spellwright becomes embroiled in scandal when she endeavors to find her mother’s spellbook and ends up the main suspect in the case of a stolen grimoire.
Fia Ives’ magic is “rather fickle,” and ever since her mother’s death, their spellshop has gone quiet, much like Fia’s life. Until the night she breaks into the Thistledown archives seeking a spell strong enough to lead her to her mother’s missing spellbook. Unfortunately, Fia is accused of stealing a powerful grimoire from the archives and using it to unleash curses all over town. Needing time to clear her name, she advertises for a helper at the shop, and Penbrook, a cursed young man around her age from the wealthy Madbury family, applies. Thanks to magician Penbrook’s presence, the spellshop draws in customers—and Fia doesn’t feel alone anymore. But she’s determined to find the grimoire and use it both to prove her innocence and save Penbrook from his curse. Along the way, Fia discovers that people aren’t always who they seem, and sometimes ordinary moments are the most magical. This beautifully written coming-of-age story with leads who are cued white poignantly explores loss and self-discovery. Quirky, lovable Fia is filled with grit and determination, while handsome Penbrook is clever and amusing; their relationship will steal hearts. The quick pacing and intricate narrative puzzle with its web of connections will keep readers turning pages.
A well-wrought story that skillfully blends magic, mystery, and the spellbinding power of love. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
ISBN: 9781665989985
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: today
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A worthy second-chance romance.
In this follow-up to 2021’s Better Than the Movies, a 20-year-old college freshman gets a second chance at his dreams.
After the death of his father and his mother’s subsequent physical and emotional disappearance, Wes Bennett left behind all of his plans and the girl he made them with to go home and take care of Sarah, his younger sister. But now, Sarah has graduated, his mom is back on her feet, and by some miracle, Wes has an offer to pitch for UCLA’s baseball team. Liz Buxbaum, the girl he’s always loved, works for the university’s athletic department, taking photos and video of the team for social media, which means that maybe he can have a second chance at love, too. But since Wes left, Liz has made every effort to protect herself from ever feeling that broken again; there’s no room for love, because she doesn’t believe in it anymore. Or she doesn’t want to. This second-chance sports romance includes fake dates, quippy and quirky best friends, real heartache, and the sweet ache of first love. The clever dialogue keeps readers from drowning in the main characters’ emotional push-and-pull. Reading the first novel isn’t necessary for appreciating this one, although knowing the full history between Wes and Liz will only add to the ache and longing readers feel from and for them. Main characters are cued white.
A worthy second-chance romance. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781665947138
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
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