Big Little Spells by Hazel Beck

*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication Date: August 29, 2023

Publisher: Graydon House

Pages: 384

Genre: Romance, Witchy

Rating: 4/5

Big Little Spells is the sequel to Small Town, Big Magic and it immediately picks up where the first one ended. Except for this book follows Rebekah, sister of the first book’s protagonist, Emerson. The sisters are deemed to be dangerous by the coven of women (Joywood Coven) in charge so they are forced to redo the same tests they did as teenagers. Helping Rebekah is her old mentor/teacher/love interest Nicholas, the immortal and grumpy witch who begrudgingly helped them in the first book.

While I enjoy these books and the characters who makes up these stories the witchy aspect seemed to take a back seat in this story. Rebekah has a very interesting power and I wish the parts that dealt with that had been a bigger aspect of the story. Also, the “trials” and events they are forced to be a part of never makes much sense. Why would they have to go to the same dance they did as teenagers… with a bunch of teenagers. I also never found the romance between Nicholas and Rebekah that great. I much prefer the romance in the first book with Emerson and Jacob.

I did enjoy the themes of finding yourself, trusting yourself and trusting those around you with your honest self. Rebekah going against the Joywood Coven was the true driving force of this novel and everything else felt extra. Watching her figure them out and ready herself to go against them were the high points of the novel for me. Also, the parts where Rebekah grappled with her grief and loss of her Grandma really hit home for me which cemented my connection with her.

This book also spent a bit of time on building up to the third book in the series. Ellowyn and Zander used to date and something mysterious happened to break them up to the point where they barely tolerate each other. Which makes me excited to finally find out what happened between them and how they learn to trust each other again. If you love contemporary romance and want that extra paranormal aspect I highly recommend this series. Each book has been a fun time that seems to speed by.