I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS by Jenna Evans Welch Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Jenna Evans Welch was the kind of insatiable child reader who had no choice but to grow up to become a writer. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato, Love & Luck, and Love & Olives. When she isn’t writing girl abroad stories, Jenna can be found chasing her children or making elaborate messes in the kitchen. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and two young children. Visit her online at JennaEvansWelch.com.
Title: SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS
Author: Jenna Evans Welch
Pub. Date: September 27, 2022
Publisher: Simon &Schuster Books for Young Readers
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 368
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
From the New York Times bestselling author of Love &Gelato comes a poignant and romantic
novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously
dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.
Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a
true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her
aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of
an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.
There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of
foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching
for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and
take care of her. Isn’t it?
Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret
past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this,
the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage
between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage
to hold onto each other?
This book is the author's best work. There, I said it. I don't think this because the book is set in Salem (my birthplace!) but because both POV's were heartfelt and raw. Spells for Lost Things is full of hope and magic.
Willow feels she doesn't have a place in the world. Her father has a new family while her mother gave her life over to her work, leaving Willow wanting nothing more than to travel the world and see if she can find where she belongs. But her plan goes awry when her aunt passes away and she and her mother fly to Salem to settle her estate. There, she meets Mason, a stargazer who has bounced from foster home to foster home for years. They bond over their own "lost things" and discover Salem has more magic than they thought.
I haven't been home to Salem in over seventeen years, but the great thing about the city is that little changes over the years. I have fond memories of some of the landmarks, especially Salem Willows and merely walking the city, taking in the sights and learning its tragic history. I believe it's the perfect setting for two teens who feel like their worlds have tilted.
I enjoyed both Willow and Mason's characters: both stories intertwined perfectly. This is the perfect fall read for those who want to experience the city without having to go. This is also a great choice for those looking for a found family story with a sweet twist.
1 winner will receive a physical copy of SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS, US Only.
Ends October 15 th , Midnight EST.
