Book review: Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

I'm a long-time follower of Lucy Jane Wood on YouTube; she's the ultimate cosy content creator who loves Gilmore Girls and autumn as much as me. I particularly rate her book videos so I was absolutely thrilled when she announced she had written her very own novel. And the description sounded just as cute and comforting as her videos, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy! 

About Rewitched

Belladonna Blackthorn works at a bookshop in London. On the surface it sounds like she’s living the dream, but she has to manage an infuriating boss who doesn’t appreciate the magic of bookselling and wants to turn the shop into a sterile money-making machine. Oh, and Belle's also a witch, who has been hiding her magic from all of those around her – including her lifelong best friend.

But when she gets a summons from her coven on her 30th birthday to prove she’s worthy of her magical capabilities, suddenly her relatively mundane life is turned completely upside down. She will have to rediscover the spark that’s been hiding inside of her for too long through the daunting trials, while navigating some brand-new wiccan friends and foes along the way…

My review

I'm in my witchy era, so Rewitched has come out at the perfect time for me to get my spookiness on. And, let me tell you, I absolutely adored everything about this book! Even though I originally read it back in June, thanks to an early copy from the publisher, I immediately felt all cosy and went into full-on autumn mode as I devoured the pages. From the very first sentence I was hooked, I felt a crisp chill in the air and started imagining twirling red leaves dancing in the wind: 

"A witch will always sense that she is in the presence of another born of magical persuasion."

And it only got better from there. Belle is the heart and soul of this novel and her characterisation is so realistic and comforting. A protagonist hitting her 30s and struggling to figure out her path in life? Hard relate. She is surrounded by a rich cast of characters, from human best friend Ari to furry best friend Jinx. Not to mention the eclectic coven of witches, including her flaky but loveably mum Bonnie, unlikely mentor Artorius, and broody but oh so handsome watchman Rune. Swoon. Talk about a dreamy book boyfriend. Despite the current hype for spice in novels, I was very happy that Rewitched stayed true to its cute and cosy core even on the romantic front, rather than jumping on this bandwagon. 

If the well-rounded and varied characters don't already transport you into this fictional world, then the absolutely perfect settings author Lucy Jane Wood has magicked up within the pages most certainly will. I don't know what I loved most: the cosy walls of Lunar Books, the gothic creepiness of Highgate Cemetery where the coven meets (a location not too far from where I used to live, so I loved returning to it!), or the seemingly haunted and aptly named 8 Quill Lane where Artorius lives. Lucy brings all of these to life so wonderfully that as a reader you can really imagine being there alongside Belle. And tricky trials and tribulations aside, who doesn't want to explore such cool locations?!

And I must also give a mention to another setting... the time period. I loved that the story took place in the 90s, such an inspired decision! Not only did it make me feel all nostalgic for what, let's be honest, was the very best decade to grow up in, but it also meant there were no distractions from modern technology that would've taken some of the magic out of the story. 

While I was already a long-time fan of Lucy and I was, perhaps, slightly biased while reading, I was so incredibly impressed that this is her debut novel. I read a lot of books and not many have really held my attention this year, but this one certainly did. Lucy has written a fantastic story that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy after turning the final page. Think You've Got Mail meets Practical Magic. It won't come as a surprise to anyone that Belle & co will join my annual autumn routine, alongside my umpteenth Gilmore Girls rewatch, cosying up with a fleece blanket and a steaming hot drink, and baking all things pumpkin spice. 🍁 🎃 🍂 

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood is published today by Pan Macmillan so you can now buy your copy from your favourite local book shop (I particularly recommend the stunning Waterstones sprayed-edges edition, which should also be landing on my doorstep tomorrow. Such a beauty!).


Disclaimer: This book was gifted to me, but this has not impacted this honest review.