Love Spells and Other Disasters by Angie Barrett Published by Entangled: Teen in February 2021
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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I didn’t know when I wrote the first love spell that it would actually make things happen. Like, actually make people fall in love with each other…
How could I have known something like that? I mean, magic isn’t real, right?
But here’s the thing—the spell does work and so does the next one and the next one...and suddenly I’m getting a whole lot of attention from everyone at my high school. Me, Blend-into-the-Walls, Please-Let-Me-Introvert-in-Peace Rowan Marshall. And not only that, but I’ve also caught the attention of Luca Russo, a godlike, football-playing hottie who claims he likes me just the way I am. Ummm...
But as I’m about to learn, playing around with things you don’t understand means when things go wrong—like really, very awfully wrong—you don’t know how to fix them.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions shared are my own.
Love Spells and Other Disasters by Angie Barett is a quick, fun read that is perfect for February. A girl that is skeptical of anything paranormal despite the fact that her mother is an expert on ghosts finds herself writing love spells that actually work for a school project. Of course, as they always do when tampering with magic and love, things go terribly wrong.
The story was mostly light-hearted but highlighted some issues that a lot of teens face, like peer pressure and the desire to fit in. Rowan, the main character, makes a lot of mistakes in the story as she navigates writing love spells and becoming part of the popular crowd by dating the former football star, Luca. As the story progresses, she finds a way to fix things and grows along the way.
I personally really loved how Rowan had to find a solution to her love spells gone wrong on her own. I think doing it on her own really highlighted her character growth. She truly had to work at it, accept things about herself, and face the consequences of her actions. It wasn’t as easy as writing a counterspell. I adored how she went about fixing things with her peers, and it’s honestly a solution that would apply in a lot of situations when trying to make up for mistakes.
I did, however, find the stereotypical cliques a tad cringy. In particular, there was a scene during a party at the popular, rich kid’s house that did not sit well with me. Although I understood how the cliques worked for the story and Rowan’s character, it felt a bit over the top. Rowan was already an outsider because of her mother’s unusual profession and her past history with the popular girl. The football clique and their girlfriends seemed a bit unnecessary.
Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, quick read with some light magic and romance, I do recommend Love Spells and Other Disasters by Angie Barrett, releasing on February 1, 2021.
Have you read Love Spells and Other Disasters by Angie Barrett? What are your thoughts?
