Series Name: Witchington #1
In less than a month, I’ve had three opportunities (what some might call dates) to observe Mitilda Grace Sherwood in her usual habitats and study her reactions to low-level cunning magic. We aren’t talking gloating teacups or corporal transformation (what most witches call body swaps), but tactile reverberations and misdirections. These are the kind of basic magic that even a newborn infant picks up on, the indescribably ghost fingers of something being out there that the child cannot see but can feel.
Tilda, however, tested null at every turn. It was extraordinary. Not only was she an outré, she was the most flatlining non magical being on the record books. I’ve spent enough time with her to keep my handler from getting suspicious about whose team I’m really on – the council’s or the Resistance’s.
Of course, the only team I belong to is my own.
Witcha Gonna Do is a delightful first in new witchy romcom series.
Could it possibly get any worse than having absolutely no magical abilities when you’re a member of the most powerful family of witches ever? It used to be that I’d say no, but then I keep getting set up on dates with Gil Connolly whose hotness is only matched by his ego. Seriously. I can’t stand him. Even if I also can’t stop thinking about him (specifically kissing him) but we’re going to pretend I never told you that part.
So yeah, my life isn’t the greatest right now, but then it goes straight to the absolute worst hell when I accidentally make my sister’s spell glitch and curse my whole family. And the only person who can help non-magical me break the spell? You guessed it. Gil the super hot jerk.
Now we have to work together to save my family and outmaneuver some evil-minded nefarious forces bent on world domination. Oh yeah, and we have to do all that while fighting against the attraction building between us because I may not be magical, but what’s happening between Gil and I sure feels like it.
Tilda and Gil are two people who can’t stand each other. However, Tilda keeps running into Gil, and she can’t figure out why. They are set up over and over again by a dating company, and he always seems to be where she wants to go. I really loved watching Gil and Tilda dance around each other. Tilda is the only non-magical person in her family of super-powerful witches, and she’s got some serious baggage about this. However, Gil has his own mysterious backstory, which involves being exiled to a remote island, a witch resistance and a Witches Council that rules magic but is focused on its own power and control. I went into this book expecting a light, fluffy rom-com, and I was so delighted by the unexpected action and adventure in this book: A train adventure across the country, a risky heist during a black-tie gala and a ragtag group of misfit witches and a unicorn. This book is an absolute delight, and I already can’t wait for the next one in the series.
Tilda and Gil are terrific enemies to the lover trope brought to the page. The chemistry these two had from the get-go was apparent, even if they didn’t want to admit it. I loved that this book alternated chapters between the two of them so you could really learn more about the small magical town called Witchingtown and the politics and magic system without it feeling overwhelming because it was layered with their own perspectives. Sometimes first books in these types of series can feel a little like information overload, but Avery balanced her backstory with some steamy relationship building. Tilda and Gil together are so delightful, and I really loved how Gil brought out the best in Tilda and helped her gain self-confidence, which she was seriously lacking, thanks to her perceived flaws. Gil has some serious baggage and is clearly not used to having someone else to support him. Tilda, with her big, loving and overbearing family, can give him the support he needs to become his best self during a critical time. I even really enjoyed the third-act misunderstanding because I still ended up cheering for Gil even when I thought he was acting like a wank. The characters are just that fun and enjoyable, fleshed out.
Honestly, my biggest complaint is that the ending was rushed. It was such a rockingly fun adventure with a big showdown at the end, and then it suddenly wrapped up. I wanted the ending to be drawn out more. That does only get me more excited about book two, however.
Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
