When Harlow Estrada is abruptly fired from her dream job and her boyfriend proves to be a jerk, her world turns upside down. She flees New York City to the one place she can always call home—the enchanted Hacienda Estrada.

The Estrada family farm in Mexico houses an abundance of charmed flowers cultivated by Harlow’s mother, sisters, aunt, and cousins. By harnessing the magic in these flowers, they can heal hearts, erase memories, interpret dreams—but not Harlow. So when her mother and aunt give her a special task involving the family’s magic, she panics. How can she rise to the occasion when she is magicless? But maybe it’s not magic she’s missing, but belief in herself. When she finally embraces her unique gifts and opens her heart to a handsome stranger, she discovers she’s far more powerful than she imagined.

3.5 stars

This was my first time reading this author, and unfortunately, it was a bit of a disappointment. There were a few elements I enjoyed, but overall, it didn’t quite work for me. I did listen to the audiobook, though, and I have to say the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life.

That said, there were a few content issues that pulled me out of the experience. The language was stronger than I typically prefer, and there are some open-door romance scenes that didn’t appeal to me. They aren’t overly graphic, but I’d rate them around a 2 peppers out of 5 on the spice scale. There are also some feminist and anti-patriarchy comments that felt off-putting to me.

The story is often described as Encanto meets Practical Magic. I haven’t seen Encanto, but I could definitely see the Practical Magic influence. I really appreciated the focus on Mexican culture and family dynamics, but I found myself wishing the setting, especially the farm in Mexico, had been more vividly described. It felt a bit too vague (it could’ve been anywhere), and I never fully felt transported.

One of the highlights for me was the magic system, which is tied to flowers. I thought that was a unique and enchanting concept. I also loved the emotional connection between the women in the family and how they supported and cared for one another. At its core, this is a coming-of-age story with meaningful themes around self-love and self-discovery.

However, the pacing was slow, and not much really happens for a large portion of the book. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but it often felt flat. The premise had so much potential, but the execution didn’t quite deliver. I wanted more depth, more atmosphere, and more magic.

There is a twist in the final third that I did enjoy, and it definitely made things more interesting. I just wish it had come earlier, as I found myself bored for much of the story leading up to it.

The romance was another letdown. It leaned heavily into insta-love/insta-lust, which isn’t a trope I enjoy. There’s also a significant miscommunication element that didn’t feel well-developed. Overall, I didn’t feel much chemistry between the couple, and by the end, I found myself not very invested in their relationship.

In the end, this wasn’t a terrible book, but I expected so much more from it. I was hoping to be swept away by a richly magical setting with a swoony romance, but it never fully got there for me. It felt more like a romance with a touch of magic rather than a magic-forward story with a hint of romance.

The sequel follows the younger sister, but I’m unsure if I’ll continue with the series. While this book had promise, it ultimately missed the mark for me.

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it, as there are stronger magical realism stories out there. However, if the premise appeals to you, it might still be worth giving it a try. It just may work better for other readers.