Review Detail

NO CHARM DONE is a dual-POV book for young adult readers. Lily Allerton and Chrysanthemum Quinn have been at odds for three years. Lily is descended from one of the original families in Thornhaven. Chrys moved to Thornhaven three years ago, with Chrys having high hopes of no longer being the outcast in town. For three years they have competed and despised one another, but it all comes to a head at the start of senior year. Lily wants the new boy, she believes that he’s her ticket to a perfect year, but Chrys won’t let that happen. When the two attempt to hex each other, a curse is created that only they can see. Will they be able to stop the curse or will they continue to deny the truth?

What I Loved:
NO CHARM DONE is an enemies-to-lover romcom and it manages to handle both of those topics well. Chrys and Lily have been enemies for three years, since Chrys moved to Thornhaven. This is a story that is revealed to the readers as they get further into the book. It might not fit every readers definition or hope of enemies-to-lovers, but it is a solid ground that allows the two of them to work through their issues.

The author manages to develop a sweet romance between the two, that does not take away from either characters’ development or personality. Over the span of the book, the two characters get closer to one another and they eventually start having feelings. It’s a sweet romance given time to develop as well as allowing the characters to feel their doubts and worries. The author also did not change either character to make the romance fit. Chrys is still standoffish at times, Lily is still an anxious mess. They just also happen to like each other.

The curse was spooky without being scary. The book is advertised as a romcom, so having a curse that could elicit nightmares in readers would not have matched the vibes. This curse has creepy moments and spooky elements, but is not outright scary. Or it won’t be to most readers. It edges that point of being dangerous enough to have stakes without changing the genre of the book.

What Left Me Wanting More:
The novel briefly touches on classism and a more in-depth history of the Thornhaven familiues. It’s brief mentions of Chrys’s mom having to work harder and struggling to make payments for witch school as well as Chrys being descended from an original, but ostracized, family. It would have been nice to see those topics come up more in the book. To get a deeper look into the family research that Chrys was doing. To see more conversations between Chrys and Lily about the differences in their upbringings.

Final Verdict:
NO CHARM DONE is a young adult romance between two witches who do not like one another. After an accidental dual-sided hexing causes a curse to form in the town, the two must become reluctant allies to solve the problem. Well-developed and consistent characters create a solid base for the story. The curse is given enough details to seem spooky and threatening without changing the book from its romcom vibes.

A charming, cozy read NO CHARM DONE is a quintessential rivals-to-lovers fall romance read. A base of romance, a hint of comedy, and a dash of spooky mischief make the perfect witches brew.