OLD FLAMES AND NEW FORTUNES

A witchy florist is reunited with her high school love in this lightly magical second-chance rom-com.

In Moonville, Ohio, a town steeped in lore about magic and love, Romina Tempest and her sisters run The Magick Happens—a shop with flowers, candles, and books. Romina calls herself a “flora fortunist” and uses the language of flowers to help her clientele with their romantic woes. Her own love life has been nothing but heartbreak, so when she unexpectedly encounters her first real love, Alex King, whom she hasn’t seen in 11 years, old feelings resurface. The two of them antagonize each other, but their flirtation comes naturally. Too bad Romina is fake-dating her friend Trevor Yoon—who also happens to be Alex’s soon-to-be stepbrother—as she tries to secure Trevor’s father as an investor in the shop. Lies and secrets will eventually be revealed, and Romina will have to decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart once more. The magical elements add a nice touch of whimsy to this humorous tale, while Romina’s damaging former relationships and desire to be a mother add realistic dramatic heft. The story feels like it’s trying to do too much at once, however—too many side plots and tropes—which makes it feel messy and meandering. Some readers may also be put off by all the secrets Romina and Alex keep from each other initially. Still, Moonville is an enchanting town many will hope to revisit.

A somewhat muddled yet still charming small-town love story, with magic.