Author: Jenna Evans Welch

Item: Spells for Lost Things
Rating: 5
Author: Jen

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

October 1, 2022 / Jen / 2 Comments

I'm so excited to help host a spot on the Spells for Lost Things tour! Check out my 5 Star review and enter a fabulous giveaway below. Enjoy♥

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Review:

Spells for Lost Things was an emotional tale filled with family, friendship, love and hints of magic. This book reached into my heart so easily. The characters were so vivid and bright. The story-line made me read this book way too fast. I loved every minute of it, even the moments that made me cry. If you’re looking for a sweet young adult story filled with magic, first love, family mysteries and deep emotions, then definitely make for sure you have this one on your tbr!

“I love this place,” I blurt out.
“Me too,” she says. And then there’s this moment where we smile at each other, and for one tiny second I swear the entire world stands still.

We alternated the story between Willow and Mason, and both of them were both so easy to connect with. Willow felt adrift in the world. Her passion in life was traveling. With divorced parents who were both too busy to give her their time, Willow felt so utterly alone. Mason was in the system and had been in and out of foster homes over the years. When he landed up being placed with his mom’s old best friend and her family, Mason’s whole life changed. Yes he still felt alone but he was determined more than ever to find his mom and be back with her again. When fate landed Willow and Mason together, they both grow in leaps and bounds trying to figure out where they both fit in this world. And along the way, love helped them both in unexpected places.

How do I tell him Everything in my future feels fuzzy except for you?

Willow’s pain radiated out of her and into readers hearts. Her dad was busy with his new family and her mom was absorbed with her work. Neither had time for Willow. It felt like her parents moved on with their lives after the divorce and Willow was left behind in the dust. And her closest friend was a plane flight away. When her mom dragged her to Salem, to settle an estate for an aunt she never knew she existed, Willow started to get peaks into her mom’s life from the past. Willow got to meet her witchy aunts. She read spell books. And was sent on a treasure hunt to break a curse. Willow was focused, had big aspirations and had a kind, gentle soul. She was someone you could talk to for hours and trust with your deepest darkest secrets. She was exactly who Mason needed in his life.

There are so many ways a relationship can go wrong, it’s amazing we keep trying at all.

Mason was drowning in pain too. His mom was an addict and that landed him in foster care. When an old best friend of his mom’s stepped in and said she would foster him, Mason ended up in Salem too. I loved Emma, his new foster mom. Her, her husband and the three little girls in their house completely exploded Mason’s world. With glitter, love and coffee they slowly started to win Mason over. And my heart was bursting for him just to give them a true chance. So I loved when we got to see Mason trying, like breaking into Nova’s world. Or when he allowed the two littler girls to play makeup with him. Or even being able to connect with Emma over their love of coffee. Those moments, no matter how quick they were, meant everything. My heart burst with happiness when Mason would smile or relax around his new foster family. But most of all I loved how he instantly clicked with Willow. It was like destiny was in the stars that they were to meet.

Things that Willow and the Night Sky Have in Common:
1. Beautiful
2. Unpredictable
3. Makes you glad to be alive.

Willow and Mason both clang to hope that their future would lead them to greater things. Willow with traveling and Mason being with his mom again. Yet neither of them were living in the moment, it felt like they were constantly waiting for the future to happen. So when they met it was like they both got to take a deep breath. And when they were together, they lived in those moments. It was sweet, kind and honest. And as they opened up, their friendship became deep so quick. It felt real. It felt like I was there with them. And with witchcraft, secrets, fate, and acceptance, they both were on an emotional journey to discover who they both were. While falling in love along the way.

“Every minute with you is magic.”

With magic in the air, Spells for Lost Things was such a huge hit! Treasure hunts, spells, acceptance and love made this book impossible to put down! There were moments of laughter and there were also moments where tears kept falling down my face. This book tugged on my heart constantly. And with Willow and Mason, I wanted them desperately to be each other’s light in their lives. But at the same time, I wanted their family lives to finally bring them happiness too. Spells for Lost Things was an adorable, emotional tale and I’m looking forward to reading all of Welch’s other books!

PS While I wouldn’t list this book as paranormal, because the spell/witch aspect seemed like it could be in our everyday world. There were a few things that left me questioning just maybe it was more than a contemporary. Like, how did the aunties know about their loves in food? I truly don’t know lol. But I guess anything is possible. ♥

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

About Jenna:

Jenna Evans Welch was the kind of insatiable child reader who had no choice but to grow up to become a writer. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato, Love & Luck, and Love & Olives. When she isn’t writing girl abroad stories, Jenna can be found chasing her children or making elaborate messes in the kitchen. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two young children. Visit her online at JennaEvansWelch.com.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive a physical copy of SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS, US Only.

Ends October 15^th, Midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/12/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
9/13/2022	Kayl’s Krazy Obsession	Review
9/14/2022	Just Another Teen Reading Books	Review/IG Post
9/15/2022	Stacialovestoread	Review/IG Post
9/16/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
9/17/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

9/18/2022	booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post
9/19/2022	Mom with a Reading Problem	Review/IG Post
9/20/2022	wiltedpages	Review/TikTok Post
9/21/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
9/22/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
9/23/2022	OneMoreExclamation	Review/IG Post
9/24/2022	My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

9/25/2022	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post
9/26/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
9/27/2022	onemused	IG Review
9/28/2022	pluvioreads	Review/TikTok Post
9/29/2022	@booksrn_rashi	IG Review
9/30/2022	Novel Novice	IG Spotlight
10/1/2022	Star-Crossed Book Blog	Review/IG Post

Week Four:

10/2/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
10/3/2022	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review
10/4/2022	Book-Keeping	Review/IG Post
10/5/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post
10/6/2022	Celia’s Reads	Review/IG Post
10/7/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
10/8/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review

Week Five:

10/9/2022

The Moon Phoenix

Review/IG Post

BOOK REVIEW: Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

October 27, 2017 / Chelsea / 2 Comments

BOOK REVIEW: Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure.

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept from Lina for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything she knew about her mother, her father—and ever herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

Sonia met my eyes in the mirror. “You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it’s for the same two things.”
“What?”
“Love and gelato.”

I know I say this a lot, but seriously-What a pleasant surprise!! Seriously. There are few books that manage to surprise me, and it’s even rarer that I fall for a book set overseas. Don’t ask why and I won’t explain-Just know that there are really only two books that have successfully stolen my heart that take place outside of the US…and they are Anna and the French Kiss and The Fever series.

I will say this, though; I was MOMENTS away from DNF’ing this. Yup, you read that correctly: A book that turned out to be absolutely adorable almost slipped under my radar. I had been avoiding it for a while, but even when I did give it a try, I almost gave up on it. In the beginning, there was just too much of her alone, her with her sadness, her mourning her mother’s loss…now, come on, I’m not heartless-I realize she had to feel helpless and sad and lost, but I’m already finicky, so I was drowning in those pages.

But, right when I was about to give up, something happened. Something big. Something HUGE-Lorenzooo started sniffing around…and my heart couldn’t take it. I was hooked. Oh, did you think it was actually something huge? Pshh. Y’all know me better than that. Give me a good boy, a quirky little adventure, and some swoony moments and I. Am. All. In.

“Did I dress up enough?”
“What?”
I repeated my question. He slowed for a red light, then turned to look at me. “You look great. We’re wearing the same thing.”
“Yeah, but you look . . .”
“What?”
“Cooler.”
He tipped his head back so our helmets clacked. “Thanks.”

And that’s another surprising thing-I don’t much like frolicking. Like…scavenger hunts, mysteries, journal entries from anyone other than the two lovebirds. And, if I’m being honest here, I didn’t fall in love with it here, either. But I honestly truly loved how her and Ren found each other through her mother’s journal. I loved the places they saw, the things they did, the way they bonded and became closer because of the vivid picture her mother’s words painted. Where most stories find their momentum through all the romance, this story found it’s rhythm in a young girl’s grief. And, frankly, I think I respect this book for that.

Yadda yadda of COURSE I wish there had been a little more romance-sure. But it was all the more special as the romance built and built, giving us spurts of butterflies throughout the entirety of the story, all leading up to an explosion of adorable jealousy and feels that leaves you so happy you’re breathless. Or was that just me?

And, okay, I so wasn’t going to say this, but when I read L&G, I really and for true had Anna and the French Kiss type feels. Yeah. So….this book, while adorable, had a lot to live up to even from the start. And, I admit, this did put a lot of pressure on an otherwise light book that I normally wouldn’t have put so much stake on. But, back to my point: I had read reviews prior to buying this story that said it was similar to AATFK, and those are huge shoes to fill, I’m sorry. Yet…and yet.

“Thinly sliced ham. You’ll love it.” He sat down next to me and I unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite. Of course I loved it. But it was nothing compared to how I felt about Ren. And yes. I’d totally just compared the only guy I’d ever felt this way about to a ham sandwich.

In all the ways that counted, I felt like I was back to my darling Anna and St. Clair’s world, and it felt tremendous. Ren was light-hearted, cute, witty, fun…and just absolutely adorable. He was funny and he made me laugh in the most innocent ways-he was flirty without being smarmy, he DID have a girl…but I can’t say what went on. All I can say is that he didn’t cheat. But, you know, I know some people that are bothered by that fine line…spoiler alert: I AM NOT ONE OF THEM. HA. Anyway, back to Ren’s perpetual allure: He could make me smile with the smallest ‘facial expression’, making for a scene that filled my heart with joy while being so simple. And I think that’s missing in books these days, for me. I just want a simple, cute, breezy YA contemp. Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is: but this book delivered in spades [for me].

And, just like with Anna (Again with those pesky comparisons), I loved our MC. I mean to say: She didn’t annoy the shit out of me-which, honestly, is becoming an increasingly familiar trend. But not here-Lina was sweet, kind, and respectful of Ren’s ‘kind of’ girlfriend. I even liked a certain club scene (Tehe-I love these…) where the knight in shining armor didn’t save the day…but a more unlikely ally shone. I was a bit like pfft WTH! I. WANT. REN…but was immediately satisfied after. Eh. You’ll see. Whatever ha. (It’s getting late, if you can’t tell-since I can’t write reviews during the day anymore and only after little girl is asleep)

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.

So…I don’t know. I don’t like making comparisons where I don’t feel comparisons are due, but I also can’t deny I had a lot of those same feels. Maybe it’s the foreign aspect? The having a significant other? A group of friends? Either way, they are each their own individual story with their own individual storylines, they just have some of the same fun things. Like, for instance, one centers solely on the sordid (though I SEVERELY disagree with that word) romance and school while L&G is after a girl’s mother passes and she gets a journal from her mother’s younger years where she was a student in Italy and how she fell in love…and made the wrong choice. It’s about a girl trying to figure out her mother’s story and finding a fast friendship with a boy who wants an adventure, as well, and them following her mother’s footsteps. I don’t know. Perhaps its as simple as Paris and Italy being places I’ve always wanted to go to and these stories transporting me there with fun journeys, vivid story-telling (whether inaccurate or not, I do not care-again, I’m side-eyeing you, Bug. Just…don’t lol), love and romance, and, of course, Gelato. I mean really…what else could a girl ask for? What else do you need? The answer is nothing.

View all my reviews