Witchful Thinking

May 1, 2022

Backman's The Winners revisits the small but tough rural community first seen in the multi-best-booked Beartown, inspiration for the HBO original. From Cousens (This Times Next Year), Before I Do features Audrey, who's about to marry dependable Josh when his sister turns up with the guy Audrey always wanted. With Thief of Fate, Deveraux and Sheets wrap up a trilogy about an 1840s Irish thief in contemporary Providence Falls, NC, who is tasked by the angels with righting the wrong of having lured away Cora from her intended (75,000-copy paperback and 10,000-copy hardcover first printing). Hilderbrand's Endless Summer offers nine stories serving as prequels, sequels, and interim chapters illuminating her beloved novels (375,000-copy first printing). In Edgar-nominated Kennedy's Billie Starr's Book of Sorries, down-on-her-luck Jenny Newberg (mother of the eponymous Billie) unwisely accepts money to seduce the so-called Candidate (75,000-copy first printing). Macomber gets us in The Christmas Spirit with the story of two friends, a bartender and a pastor, and what they learn when they trade places for the holidays. Second in a series set in Wishing Tree, WA, Mallery's Home Sweet Christmas features two women--one a town newbie, another home temporarily--with Christmas surprises in store (250,000-copy paperback and 10,000-copy hardcover first printing). Bringing together stay-at-home witch Lucy Caraway and merman Alex, out of his element in Freya Grove, NJ, Martin's Witchful Thinking launches a series featuring Black characters with books already slated for publication in 2023 and 2024 (45,000-copy first printing). Nigerian British Nwabineli debuts with Someday, Maybe, about a young woman struggling to recover from her husband' suicide (75,000-copy first printing). Thanks to Patterson and coauthor Safran, lonely widower Henry Sullivan and children Will and Ella end up welcoming a raucous bunch of animals and houseguests to their Harlem brownstone during The Twelve Long, Hard, Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas (125,000-copy first printing). Picoult and Boylan's Mad Honey stars a wealthy wife returning to her New Hampshire hometown after discovering her husband's ugly side. In Steel's latest, a sensational young singer who hits all The High Notes must wrestle freedom from those who would exploit her, including her father.

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July 11, 2022
Martin’s delightfully imagined debut rom-com introduces modern day witch and teacher Lucy Caraway, who lives a ho-hum life with her sisters in their enchanted seaside hometown of Freya Grove, N.J. As her high school reunion approaches, she’s disheartened to realize she’s got nothing worth noting in her high school alumnae notes. That is, until a drunken wish about all the things she dreams of doing with her life comes true. Suddenly, she is singing karaoke, baking elaborate desserts for the town’s annual bake sale, and has her high school crush, Alex Dwyer, falling at her feet. After 10 years of adventure, merman Alex returns home and finds that his parents have purchased him the house across the street from Lucy’s in a bid to convince him to settle down. However, though Alex has had feelings for Lucy since high school, he has serious doubts as to whether he can promise her a happily-ever-after. Martin’s light touch with the paranormal makes for an irresistible romp, and her charming supernatural characters will easily entice even the most skeptical readers into this magical world. This sparkling outing marks Martin as an author to watch. Agent: Lauren Biekerm, FinePrint Literary.

September 15, 2022
Told in a month-by-month format, Martin's tale portrays Lucy Caraway, one of three sister witches living in Freya Grove, New Jersey, who are roped into helping with their difficult cousin Ursula's wedding. Teacher Lucy is thrilled to celebrate the end of the school year at the Founder's Day Festival, but her fortune gets stuck in Madame Zora's Mystic Fortune Booth. Up steps Alex Dwyer, her high-school love. A merman who travels the world finding treasures, he ghosted her on their graduation day 10 years ago. When Lucy bemoans the fact she has nothing exciting to report for their tenth high-school reunion, Ursula tells her to write down her dream life. When a spell goes wrong, and her dreams are published as accomplishments in an alumni email, Lucy is motivated to change her life; will Alex play an essential role? Readers who can't get enough witchy tales from Erin Sterling, Lana Harper, and Ann Aguirre will be happy to see this romance featuring witches of color that launches Martin's Elemental Love series.

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August 1, 2022

DEBUT Summer fun and soulmate connection will engage readers in this novel featuring a witch and a merman. History teacher Lucy Caraway may know how to conjure magic spells and read tea leaves, but she hasn't known excitement in her life for quite some time. As she runs into her old crush Alex and a high school reunion looms ahead, she fiercely wishes for more noteworthy endeavors. When vagabond photographer Alex Dwyer's merfolk parents gift him a house he does not want, Lucy's talent for interior design is exactly what he needs to find a potential buyer. Sparks flying with every encounter between them, the romance is enjoyable, although the stakes are low. Not all is resolved, but the Caraway sisters' storylines are compelling and promise more to come. The setting is delightful, and its supernatural aspect is made into the norm with magical whimsy incorporated into the town's daily life, luring tourists instead of remaining hidden. VERDICT A charming paranormal romance that will make readers want to stay and fall in love in Martin's fictional Jersey Shore town and wish alongside its resident witches.--Hazel Ureta

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.