SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About TLT
  • Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • A to Z Book Lists
    • Book Review Policy
  • Teen Issues
  • Middle Grade Mondays
  • Programs
    • TPiB
    • Tech Talk
  • Professional
    • Teen Services 101
    • Things We Didn’t Learn in Library School
  • MakerSpace
  • Projects
    • #SVYALit
    • #FSYALit
    • #MHYALit
    • #Poverty in YA Lit

July 8, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor

Book Review: Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa

July 8, 2022 by Amanda MacGregor   Leave a Comment

Publisher’s description

A witchy, atmospheric lesbian contemporary romance set in Salem—from the acclaimed author of Fans of the Impossible Life. Perfect for fans of Nina LaCour and Becky Albertalli.

Seventeen-year-old Eleanor is the last person in Salem to believe in witchcraft—or think that her life could be transformed by mysterious forces. After losing her best friend and first love, Chloe, Eleanor has spent the past year in a haze, vowing to stay away from anything resembling romance.

But when a handwritten guide to tarot arrives in the mail at the witchy souvenir store where Eleanor works, it seems to bring with it the message that magic is about to enter her life. Cynical Eleanor is quick to dismiss this promise, until real-life witch Pix shows up with an unusual invitation. Inspired by the magic and mystery of the tarot, Eleanor decides to open herself up to Pix and her coven of witches, and even to the possibility of a new romance.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

But Eleanor’s complicated history continues to haunt her. She will have to reckon with the old ghosts that threaten to destroy everything, even her chance at new love.

Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches is a romantic coming-of-age about learning to make peace with the past in order to accept the beauty of the present.


Amanda’s thoughts

Here’s the thing about having an anxiety disorder with panic attacks: sometimes, when my brain gets out of whack, I get stuck in panic mode and literally cannot settle down or focus or do anything. It doesn’t happen often, where it’s this bad, but this week it did. I hadn’t been able to sleep, which threw off my whole routines, and routines are what keep me functioning, so it all spiraled. I’m telling you this because I had started this book, loved it, then gone into shutdown mode for like 30 hours where all I could do was snuggle my dogs in bed and watch Superstore. I was annoyed because I really wanted to finish this book. And as soon as my brain quieted down and I felt what is “normal” for me, I burned through the rest of it.

This book was a total delight. Eleanor is not looking for new friends or a new girlfriend or really anything other than to be left alone and survive her day-to-day life in Salem. After some frustrating and tragic events in her life, she left high school, got her GED, and just tries to avoid everyone from her past. She works in a witchy store for her mom’s best friend, gets high, and tries to help out with things for her mom, who has chronic health issues thanks to Lyme disease. None of it’s ideal, but it’s fine. It’s whatever. Eleanor figures everyone hates her and she’s just used to it.

Enter Pix. She invites Eleanor to start hanging out with her coven, and seems to be into Eleanor, something Eleanor finds hard to believe. Through Pix and her friends, cynical Eleanor begins to stretch a little out of her comfort zone, even finally addressing some of what happened in the past. But when a revelation about just exactly how Pix came into her life becomes clear, Eleanor feels betrayed.

I loved the voice in this book. Scelsa also keeps us moving around, with the present, moments from the past, and bits and pieces about tarot. The cast is diverse and mostly queer and the setting of Salem comes to life as Eleanor, Pix, and friends go about their lives there. Readers will fly through this look at toxic relationships, guilt, love, growth, and moving on. Great read.

Review copy (hardcover) courtesy of the publisher

ISBN-13: 9780062465030
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date: 05/31/2022
Age Range: 13 – 17 Years

Filed under: Book Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Book reviewsLGBTQIA+SalemtarotToxic RelationshipsWitchesYA

About Amanda MacGregor

Amanda MacGregor works in an elementary library, loves dogs, and can be found on Twitter @CiteSomething.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

Book Review: Play the Game by Charlene Allen

by Amanda MacGregor

January 2023

Book Review: The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

by Amanda MacGregor

January 2023

Post-It Note Reviews: A mayor dog, a bunch of Big Bads, a mobster, and more!

by Amanda MacGregor

January 2023

Book Review: The Roof Over Our Heads by Nicole Kronzer

by Amanda MacGregor

January 2023

Book Review: Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution by Kacen Callender

by Amanda MacGregor

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The Best Tweets from the 2023 Youth Media Awards!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

The Archie Encyclopedia | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

FREEWATER wins the Newbery Medal, live reactions from Heavy Medal bloggers

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Celebrate Lantern Festival by Making Your Own Magic, a guest post by Gloria Chao

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

“It’s Not Nancy Drew Out There": Writing Tough Topics for Teens

YA Authors Recast Their Problematic Faves

Shaun David Hutchinson Is Taking a Break | Writing and Reading in the Trump Era

Five Debut YA Authors Make Readers Feel Something

Q&A: Kacen Callender on Self-Love, the Pandemic, and 'Lark & Kasim Start a Revolution'

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023