Awww, these teens! I especially just wanted to give Sam a hug and maybe some life advice.

This was so cute. There was magic and danger, but this book was just as much about the difficulties of being a teen, having feelings, navigating friendships/relationships, not always having control over your life, and figuring things out. Sam, James, and Delia each had their own difficulties, whether it was college or family or queerness. This book made me say, “Awwww,” quite a few times, both from squishy cuteness and from sympathy. I enjoy books that capture bits of realism, especially in terms of emotion and relationships.

My only issue was that the ending didn’t quite clear everything up. There was one thing I felt like was such an important part of the story, and then the reader didn’t get satisfying closure. *SPOILER* Apparently Sam decided to move on, but did he and James ever actually talk? Did Sam just decide to process his feelings on his own and move on? What’s going on with their friendship? *END SPOILER*

The audiobook narration by Michael Crouch was good. It wasn’t the most 100% natural style of speaking, but it was still enjoyable. I assume his southern accent suited the small town in Georgia setting. Voices didn’t sound too different, but I didn’t have any trouble keeping track of who was speaking.

Overall, this was a sweet story about teens with magic but also regular teen struggles. I was invested in the characters and story, and I really enjoyed this!

*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Audiobook*