eARC Review – Witch Please by Ann Aguirre

Title: Witch Please (Fix-It Witches #1)

Author: Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication date: September 7th, 2021

352 pages

4.5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Practical Magic meets Gilmore Girls in this adorable witchy rom-com with:

• A bisexual virgin baker with a curse
• A witch looking to avoid romantic entanglements
• And a chemistry between them that causes literal sparks

Danica Waterhouse is a fully modern witch—daughter, granddaughter, cousin, and co-owner of the Fix-It Witches, a magical tech repair shop. After a messy breakup that included way too much family “feedback,” Danica made a pact with her cousin: they’ll keep their hearts protected and have fun, without involving any of the overly opinionated Waterhouse matriarchs. Danica is more than a little exhausted navigating a long-standing family feud where Gram thinks the only good mundane is a dead one and Danica’s mother weaves floral crowns for anyone who crosses her path.

Three blocks down from the Fix-It Witches, Titus Winnaker, owner of Sugar Daddy’s bakery, has family trouble of his own. After a tragic loss, all he’s got left is his sister, the bakery, and a lifetime of terrible luck in love. Sure, business is sweet, but he can’t seem to shake the romantic curse that’s left him past thirty and still a virgin. He’s decided he’s doomed to be forever alone.

Until he meets Danica Waterhouse. The sparks are instant, their attraction irresistible. For him, she’s the one. To her, he’s a firebomb thrown in the middle of a family war. Can a modern witch find love with an old-fashioned mundane who refuses to settle for anything less than forever?

Review

Modern day witches is a very niche genre but i absolutely adore it and get so much joy out of reading witches experiencing modern day life. In Aguirre’s story, these witches are descended from those in Salem but migrated west to avoid persecution and set down root in small towns. They each have separate talents, and our MC is a technomancer and owns an electronic repair shop with her cousin. There is an insta-love trope in this story which isn’t always my favorite, but I appreciate the innocence that emanated from Titus.

Told in alternating POV’s (which is my favorite in romance books), Danica and Titus meet an immediately want to spend more time together. The problem? Titus is a mundane (non-magic) and there is a curse on Waterhouse witches that means if they marry a mundane they will lose their magic forever. Danica must choose between Titus and her magic, which proves to be a challenge.

This book was exactly right for me. There was a solid level of steam/spice with some great sexual tension, family drama, and a fun magic system that isn’t explained very well – but it doesn’t feel like you’re missing anything when reading. I adored Titus and his sister something fierce and I will accept no argument about them. Also, there is a a lot of LGBTQIA rep with both main characters and side characters. Also I desperately want the cinnamon rolls that had Titus nicknamed the CinnaMan.

I am excited for Clem’s book next and will definitely be continuing to read the series.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Happy reading, folks!