Just Like Magic

by Sarah Hogle

Read Dates: 4/18/25 to 4/18/25

Review

I went into this book really hopeful—the blurb totally hooked me, and the holiday-themed premise sounded like it could be a cozy, heartwarming win. The idea of the holiday spirit literally stepping in to help someone rediscover joy and kindness? Adorable. But unfortunately, that charm didn’t carry over to the actual reading experience for me. I’m all for a flawed main character—hero, villain, or somewhere in between—as long as I can feel some kind of connection. But in this case, I couldn’t find anything to latch onto emotionally. I tried, I really did!

The main character just rubbed me the wrong way from the start. I know the intention was to watch her grow and transform, and I can appreciate that kind of journey when it’s done well. But her shallowness and attitude made it tough to root for her or even want to stick around long enough to see that growth happen. I found myself more annoyed than intrigued and ultimately had to call it quits at 26%. It’s a cute idea in theory, but without a character I could connect with, I just couldn’t stay invested.