Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with this digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own, honest thoughts about this book.

Spells for Forgetting - Incredible books from Quercus Books Spells for Forgetting - Incredible books from Quercus Books

The writing itself- meh. It was okay. It was trying to be atmospheric and tense, but it just came off as super slow and boring. The characters felt very one dimensional and not really distinct at all. Each chaper was from the POV of a different character, all in first person perspective, and if it weren't for their name at the beginning of the chapter I wouldn't be able to tell who's head I was in. The individual voices were not distinct at all. If you're going to write different characters in first person I should be able to easily differentiate between them because their narrative voice (like the thoughts in their head) should be individual and different. And it felt very YA, and not adult at all. The main characters are supposed to be 32, but they act and sound like teenagers. And the pacing of this book... ugh. It took until 75% before anything of significance happened. You have to struggle through 75% of this bad writing and unremarkable characters before you begin to learn what really went down oh so long ago. No one is more bummed than I am that I didn't love this as much as I thought I would. I had been eagerly anticipating Spells for Forgetting ever since the book was first announced, and maybe this is just a case of expectations vs. what the book actually is. I was hoping for more magic, a compelling murder mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers/second chance romance, but what I got was little-to-no magic (even magical realism is pushing it), a murder mystery that I lost interest in, and two main characters who's beige characterization made it impossible to become invested in the romance. If you enjoy atmospheric, slow paced novels with fall vibes, you might enjoy this more than I did. Spells for Forgetting is a fabulous read, especially if you're looking for something with autumnal vibes, a moody atmosphere befitting the Pacific North West (PNW), and a murder mystery taking place in a small, isolated town where everyone has their secrets.An island off the Washington coast welcomes tourists Spring through Fall with its abundant apple orchards planted centuries ago. It's what keeps the island alive. Quaint shops, rumors of folklore and ancestral magic are additional lures calling out to curious visitors. But he wasn’t just a college roommate. He was a friend. Maybe the only one I had. He was also the only person I’d ever told about Saoirse Island, even if I’d never uttered a word about what happened there. “I mean it. Thanks.” Pretty handy when your college roommate turns out to be a lawyer.” He half-laughed. “Anyway, I’m sure I owe you for one thing or another.” Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over. The magical realism captured in the story aids in subtly highlighting the strange beliefs the families hold dear and enhances the flavor of the moodiness that the author has wonderfully created. One can feel the autumn winds and the coming winter in the author's beautiful writing. Told thru multiple points of view interweaving the past and the present with romance, deception, secrets, and lies, Spells For Forgetting has everything and more. Emery and August were such wonderful characters, both unable to move on and forget the love they shared, learning to trust each other the second time, and with the kind of past that hangs over their heads, it was particularly beguiling in intensity. With Emery determined to find the truth of their friend Lily’s death, the layers in the story untangle in bits and pieces luring the reader to read a little more to get to that unexpected ending.

Spells for Forgetting: A Novel by Adrienne Young, Paperback Spells for Forgetting: A Novel by Adrienne Young, Paperback

A deeply atmospheric story about ancestral magic, an unsolved murder, and a second chance at true love Spells for Forgetting is a story with an unsolved mystery at its core, surrounded by hints of the practice of magic from one generations to the next, and a second chance at romance. The island setting and menacing residents give an eerie, dark tone to this Fall seasonal read. This setting is so immersive and moody—a remote magical island, with a mysterious history and a cold case to boot. The residents who rely on the large orchard that draws tourists, also run apothecaries and tea shops. It’s creepy and beautiful at the same time.I really enjoyed Fable, so I was very excited to get this book on Netgalley. This is Adrienne Young's first adult book, but the core of the story is very YA, and the book seems confused about what it wants to be. Is it a mystery? Magical realism? It doesn't do either well, so I ended up disappointed. You may like this book if you enjoy atmospheric reads. The problem is that there's not much under the surface. Spells for Forgetting audiobook with nine narrators is confusing. Their voices aren't that different from one another and most do voicing of the other characters, as well, making things feel fairly muddled in the mix. I would prefer one female and one male narrator with excellent voicing skills. Less is more, I believe, and with that said, it was still a compelling listen.