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Don't Expect Magic (Magic #1)

by Kathy McCullough (Goodreads Author)

3.5 of 5 stars 3.50 · rating details · 594 ratings · 135 reviews

Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck in California with "Dr. Hank," her famous life-coach father—a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right. Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother—an f.g.—and he can prove it. And by the way? The...more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published November 13th 2012 by Ember (first published November 8th 2011)

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Jan 29, 2012 Yarethzia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wished-i-owned

Full Review : http://yarebookreviews.blogspot.com/2...
Short || Thoughts right after reading :
The cover is gorgeous & I now actually understand what it means ^_^

Okay so this is obviously a light, fun, but cute read,as you can probably predict before reading the book and just the sypnosys.

The characters were hilarious in their own way, and they weren't flawless. They were just .. different and themselves. There were definetly some twist and a happily ever after feeling after reading it. It was...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Valerie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Pretty fun read; nothing way too in depth but a feel good comfort read. I always have to give authors kudo points for making me laugh because I find it hard enough to make people laugh even with voice inflection and facial expressions.

Each character’s personality stood out from one another, but I can't help but feel that it was more because they were cookie cutter stereotypes than really just letting the characters sink in (if that makes sense?). I know one of the lessons to the book was to be...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Maddy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book actually gets 3.7stars but that is not an option. It was a sweet book with a sweet ending. However it was really short. The characters were really well developed. the plot line wasn't that captivating but fast enough that I did not get bored. I really liked the main caracter. Her and her boots were so awesome. I wish I was as talented as that but unfortunately all my desgins are still on the sketch pad and will probably never come off.

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Dec 29, 2011 Alice in Readerland rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Would it be wrong to say that part of the reason I had to get this book was because I loved the cover so much? Because I love those boots and the beach setting (although I’m not exactly sure one would be wearing those boots on the beach in real life)!

Anyway, I guess one thing I should say is don’t expect (a lot of) magic in “Don’t Expect Magic”. That’s not a bad thing by any means, but I just want to say that if you’re reading this specifically for the whole magic part, then you’re probably go...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Don't Expect Magic by Kathy McCullough follows Delaney who moves to California to live with her estranged father, a famous life coach after the death of her mother. Delaney feels blinded by the sunshine and positive attitudes in California and longs to go back to New Jersey when she finds out a secret. Her father is a fairy godmother, able to make transformations to fulfill wishes and Delaney may be one too.

I loved this book. It was cute and quirky and filled with great characters and a bit of m...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

We've all read about vampires, fairies, werewolves, angels, witches, etc. but Kathy McCullough brings us an often overlooked fantasy character...fairy godmothers, and not in the way we'd expect them.

Delaney Collins is such a great character. When tossed into a new situation she doesn't conform to the popular crowd, instead she stays true to herself and her spunky personality. Delaney and her father have a strained relationship, but things get better when she finds out he's not only a fairy godmo...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Chelsey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When we first meet Delaney Collins, she is on a plane headed to move in with her father, not something she is most excited about. We learn that her mother has recently passed away, and now her only option is to move in with dear, old dad or “Dr. Hank,” as Delaney calls him. Delaney is pretty down on her luck and only wants to find a way to escape, until she learns a secret that will change her life forever. Her father is an f.g. or better known as, a fairy godmother. Hesitant at first, Delaney s...more When we first meet Delaney Collins, she is on a plane headed to move in with her father, not something she is most excited about. We learn that her mother has recently passed away, and now her only option is to move in with dear, old dad or “Dr. Hank,” as Delaney calls him. Delaney is pretty down on her luck and only wants to find a way to escape, until she learns a secret that will change her life forever. Her father is an f.g. or better known as, a fairy godmother. Hesitant at first, Delaney soon embraces what she has learned and is hot on the trail to see if she has the powers of an f.g. as well!

Delaney Collins is one of the most witty, yet cynical characters that I have read in awhile. Delaney is a big part of the pleasure of reading this book. She has a lot of brainy one liners, which I was constantly writing in my notebook. Her character is artistic and way too intelligent for her own brain! There were small added details about Delaney that made her all the more real to me. For example, she has a thing for black boots and she often gets creative with them and adds new designs to her boots and even roller skates, this is why you see black boots on the cover. Delaney is going through a spell of grief and devastation when we meet her, but even then I still love her character.

This story is just plain cute! I loved the magical aspects that were woven in and I don’t think I have read very many fairy godmother retellings. We always get the Cinderella stories, but never the fairy godmothers. I don’t want to spoil the ending for anyone, but one could argue that Delaney is in fact a Cinderella character! This was like a coming of age story in a way, but the whole time Delaney was trying to get a hold of her new f.g. powers and learns to use her magic. She starts out a bit naïve and clumsy, but eventually gets the hang of it. She has to learn to use her heart and not her head. Delaney just wants to fit in and be accepted, just like most teens, I was happy to see her start to break out of her shell once she discovered that she was unique and had a purpose.

The best part of this book is the story between Delaney and her dad, Hank. They have never really had a relationship until now. She lived with her mother, while she was alive, and hasn’t seen her father in years. From the start I wanted them to mend their relationship and even before I knew much about it, I already liked her dad. I loved how they bonded over the fairy godmother stuff. You would expect it to be a mother and a daughter, but I actually really enjoyed the twist. This story is super fun but short. I was done before I had even started; I guess that’s a good thing that I wanted it to last longer!

***A big thank you to the author, Kathy McCullough, for providing me with a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review***
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Aug 06, 2012 Lauren rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After her Mom’s unexpected death, punk-wannabe Delaney is sent across the country to Orange County, California to live with her advice-guru Dad who, by the way, also happens to be a fairy godmother. And, oh yeah, Delaney might be one too. Fun set up … ruined by a completely unlikable protagonist. It’s the faux-goth version of Rory Gilmore syndrome (wherein a whiny, spoiled character is loved by all, solely because the writer decided it must be so). There are scattered moments of Delaney grieving...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Tammy Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-reviews

Delaney's story begins on a plane. Her parents are long divorced, her father estranged and her mother has just passed away. It is a tragic beginning to her story and it is not surprising that she has a bit of a chip on her shoulder and acts out a lot, especially since she is being forced to move across the country to live with her estranged father who is a celebrated author of self help books. What she doesn't know and what she comes to find out is that he is also a fairy godfather, which is her...more Delaney's story begins on a plane. Her parents are long divorced, her father estranged and her mother has just passed away. It is a tragic beginning to her story and it is not surprising that she has a bit of a chip on her shoulder and acts out a lot, especially since she is being forced to move across the country to live with her estranged father who is a celebrated author of self help books. What she doesn't know and what she comes to find out is that he is also a fairy godfather, which is hereditary, but is known to skip generations. He is certain that she does not carry the gene, that is until Delaney starts making inexplicable things happen, usually to the detriment of those she is trying to grant wishes to. In order for her to get her fairy wand, she must find a client and successfully grant them their wish. Granting wishes for others is not an easy as it seems, especially when she finds she has a wish of her own that won't come true if she can successfully grant the wish of her first client. But what she thinks people want and what they actually do want are not always the same thing.

I had a hard time with this book in the beginning because I just wanted to slap Delaney upside the head and tell her to get over herself. She is self-absorbed and doesn't seem to care who she hurts around her. It is a mask to hide behind, though, because she is hurting inside. She thinks her father abandoned her, but as she learns the real reason her parents' split and exactly what his job entails, she finds that she can start to forgive him and understand him. She begins her journey as a fairy godmother for purely selfish reasons, but she starts to change inside and open herself up. She finds that she really does care about the people around her and the new life she has been given. It is a worthwhile journey and I enjoyed her transformation. I found that along the way, I came to care about her, too. I really enjoyed this book and while it is not your every day book about about magic, it is comforting to believe that there is power in wishes.
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Mar 25, 2012 Amber Wortz rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Amber Wortz
Modern Fantasy

"Don't Expect Magic," by Kathy McCullough is a young adult modern fantasy novel about Delaney Collins, a teenager who has moved across the country to live with her father after her mother's death. Delaney knows that her dad is a famous author and life coach, but she has no idea that her father is a modern day Fairy Godfather. Soon after finding out, she discovers that she has the fairy gene and she will also be able to grant wishes after practice. Her new ability helps h...more

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Feb 20, 2012 YAL Book Briefs rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Okay, I really, really, tried to get into this one, but I couldn't. It had a cute setup. I mean, the whole f.g. thing seemed pretty cool, but it sort of failed on it's face. It might have been in part due to my instant dislike to Delaney. I get that she's been through a lot and McCullough was trying to depict her in a realistic manner, but I just couldn't warm up to her. She just came off as very immature. And yes, I know she's a teen, but I wanted to shake her a couple of times through the book...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, gentle-ya, humor

Aside from a few salty words, this one of the gentlest YA books I've read in a long while (and I do mean a few, and no f-bombs either). It's a twist on the Twilight-formula of normal teen meets paranormal world, although in this case, the normal teen is grumpy, custom-boot-creator Delaney and the paranormal is her distant Dad, Hank, with whom Delaney is sent to live after her mom dies. Turns out Hank is a fairy godmother! Delaney thinks she might have the f.g gene, too.

It's a pretty predictable...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Delaney Collins is a very ‘cool’ chick; she has been for a good, long time. However, when readers first meet up with her she is having beyond a bad day. This is a girl who buys second-hand boots and refurbishes them to make them look beyond awesome. She loves clothes - the dark, weird type - and she and her best friend were even looking at doing a line of clothing called, “Shredded Death.” That was until her Mom, a nurse, became the patient, and was taken away from her far too soon.

Now Delaney i...more Delaney Collins is a very ‘cool’ chick; she has been for a good, long time. However, when readers first meet up with her she is having beyond a bad day. This is a girl who buys second-hand boots and refurbishes them to make them look beyond awesome. She loves clothes - the dark, weird type - and she and her best friend were even looking at doing a line of clothing called, “Shredded Death.” That was until her Mom, a nurse, became the patient, and was taken away from her far too soon.

Now Delaney is on a plane flying across the country to live with a father she has barely ever seen. His name is Dr. Hank, one of those ‘life coach’ gurus that writes books (Luck is For Losers), and stands up on stages across the country with a fake smile plastered on his face promising people that he can solve all their problems, as long as they give him a lot of cash.

Delaney wants nothing more than to stay in Jersey and live with her best friend, Posh. Instead, the law stuck her with this guy, and she is sitting on a plane with a little girl who is the ultimate fairy-tale princess bugging the bejeezus out of her the entire flight.

When she meets up with her father, he’s just like she remembers as he drives her to a house in a “Stepford-type” neighborhood. The house seems almost empty, and her father explains that he travels a lot and isn’t home much. In fact, two minutes after Delaney gets there he has to run out to deal with one of his “clients.”

When she gets to school Delaney soon finds out that she is in the laid-back world of pep-rallies and pastels - not a real Goth in sight. She does meet Flynn, a boy who likes his camera and becomes her lab partner, not to mention one of the only people who remotely seems normal. Cadie is the supermodel of the teens, and her perky friend, Mia, is the sweet annoying one who always seems to start a sentence with: Like, you know.

But what Delaney soon figures out is that first impressions are very misleading - especially when it comes to her father. Seems that a life coach is a cover for something far more interesting and his “supernatural” gifts have apparently showed up in Delaney’s DNA.

This is a fantastically fun tale that teaches readers if you want to ‘change’ something, change it on the inside, then the rest of the world will look a whole lot better. This is one you will not forget!

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
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Dec 26, 2011 Crys (The Hodgenator) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, ya, my-interests, magical, magic, coming-of-age

Delaney Collins has just lost her mom, and now she is headed to California to live with her absentee dad, Dr. Hank. He has a unique job as a famous life-coach author - but that's not all. He is also a fairy godmother. Yes, you read that correctly, and his job takes him where his client is - and where his daughter is not. But Delaney does not let that get her down. Staying with her dad is only temporary as she plots to find a way back to her “true” home in New Jersey. Will Delaney settle in her n...more Delaney Collins has just lost her mom, and now she is headed to California to live with her absentee dad, Dr. Hank. He has a unique job as a famous life-coach author - but that's not all. He is also a fairy godmother. Yes, you read that correctly, and his job takes him where his client is - and where his daughter is not. But Delaney does not let that get her down. Staying with her dad is only temporary as she plots to find a way back to her “true” home in New Jersey. Will Delaney settle in her new life and find comfort as the daughter of a fairy godmother, or will she throw it all away with her bad girl ways?

McCullough delivers a solid novel with her debut, but this is a character-driven novel. For this reason I am going to address my favorite three characters first.

Delaney is a tough character to love at first because it is the one thing she seems to not want. This is a character full of pain – not just for the loss of her mom but for the loss of her way of life. Readers will experience her ups and downs, her moments of triumphs and moments of, well…not triumphs. But in the end, readers will root for her as she travels her road to self-discovery.

Dr. Hank brings a nice contrast to his daughter. His job as a life-coach writer adds another element of hilarity as he tries to help his daughter grieve the person she loved the most. Mix in the fact that he is a fairy godmother – not godfather – and the irony is just too much not to enjoy. He wants to be a good father to Delaney; he just does not know how to balance his client and his daughter. Being a godmother is the only thing he knows, but readers will be pleased with him as a character.

And then there is Flynn, an adorable, lovable yearbook geek who Delaney is convinced needs her help. He just wants to be allowed to be himself, but Delaney has other plans for him, plans that involved the most popular, the most beautiful cheerleader in the whole school. What Flynn wants is not what Delaney thinks, but readers will know – readers always know – and readers will be delighted with his character.

The plot of this novel is an intriguing one, and while it did not keep me turning the pages (the characters did) I did enjoy its concept. I love magical books, not metaphorically but literally, and I loved this book. I am wishing for a sequel, and I hope my fairy godmother is paying attention.

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Jul 27, 2012 Charlie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recommended, chick-lit, young-adult, fantasy

Fast and light read with a cute magical setting minus the fluffiness. I really don't mind it being short even though I'd love to know more about them. More chapters would make the story dragging and I love that the quick happenings in the book didn't make it feel something less; like everything is already there and lacks nothing.

Delaney's character is very relatable and real to me. Given the situation she had, her hostility was predictable and understandable but I love the slow change of charact...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Saleana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I loved this book. Delaney Collins just lost her mom. We don't know why, but we do know that her mom was sick, from the sound of things I'm assuming cancer. She has to move from her home of New Jersey to where her father, Dr. Hank, lives. Dr. Hank is a life coach who sells a lot of books on the subject and is all khakis and tucked in polo shirts. Delaney, who wears leather books and rocks a "don't talk to me" kinda vibe, hates him, as she has for most of her life. You see, perfect Dr. Hank rarel...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Shannon Kitchens rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'd probably give this book a 3.5 review, but I enjoyed it enough to bump it up that extra star.

I loved the narrator, Delaney. I loved her spunky, her snark, and her umreliability. She borders on being Diablo Cody witty, but I doesn't come through in the dialogue as much, making it more believable. I love Delaney's quirks as a character and the subtle changes as she grows into her new life in California.

What I didn't like about the book is a little hard to pinpoint. It starts off slow. Verrrry s...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Yan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

According the law of conversation of mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed. So how would you transform your ratty PJs for a slinky red dress? Through physics and chemistry…and you know, a handy fairy godmother to make it all happen. What if you don’t what to be a fairy godmother? Tough cookies, you really have no choice.

That’s where Delany is right now. Apparently her no-good dad, Dr. Hank, is a fairy godmother (who ever said f.g. has to girls?) and the gene is hereditary.

Delany is far fr...more According the law of conversation of mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed. So how would you transform your ratty PJs for a slinky red dress? Through physics and chemistry…and you know, a handy fairy godmother to make it all happen. What if you don’t what to be a fairy godmother? Tough cookies, you really have no choice.

That’s where Delany is right now. Apparently her no-good dad, Dr. Hank, is a fairy godmother (who ever said f.g. has to girls?) and the gene is hereditary.

Delany is far from what you would expect from stereotypical fairy godmothers. First off, she’s not really a people person. Her homemade kick-ass boot garners praise, but her attitude isn’t the most inviting. A bit rude, a little pretentious and definitely not bubblegum pink nice, Delany has trouble fitting in to her new school and her life ever since her mom passed away and she’s shipped off to her dad. She’s not well liked by her peers, teachers, and me, the reader. Her actions and personality gives off a bad vibe like she’s better than everybody. If a person is genuinely nice to you on the first day of class and she’s pretty popular, be on your toes because that person is obviously ought to get you. Should my hair stand up and the claws start jutting out if someone smiles at me or says hi?

Since Don’t Expect Magic incorporates some science facts to help explain the supernatural, which by the way was a very nice touch and was well-thought out and something I definitely appreciate in a fantasy book, I’m going to bring in Darwin—survival of the fittest yadda yadda yadda. If I was Delany’s guardian spirit, I’d slap her and tell her to adapt and deal with it. Why make an enemy out of everyone? Assess the new environment, adapt to the new environment, and survive in the new environment. Or else you’re going to die. Or fail high school.

Things are touch and go for most of the book. I admit that it was hard to read through it, but once Delany’s personality approved, Don’t Expect Magic became a lot better for me. We start to get more of the fairy godmother business (again, something that I really appreciate in this type of story), further development of the father-daughter relationship, more humor and fun, and a stronger multidimensional main character.

The character of Dr. Hank, I felt, was ironic. Here was a man doing motivational books and speeches telling people how they should live their lives when he could barely live his own life. I quite enjoyed his character because of the way it changes throughout the whole book. He’s much nicer than Delany and you can feel the charisma from the pages making him more approachable. The connection he has with Delany as a parent was a great emotional aspect to the book.

While the romantic interest in the novel seems more like a good friend, I could see potential. I wished, however, I knew more about him and that Delany and he had more dynamic conversations. I’m not entirely comfortable with where they came from and how they end up, but I can see it happening.

Don’t Expect Magic has a good moral: to never hide yourself in fear of what others think. It’s a debut that definitely shows promise of what Kathy McCullough is capable. Don’t Expect Magic has a unique story plot, a solid foundation, and a budding group of characters that just needs a few tweaks.(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Bridgid Gallagher rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Even if it wasn't just a really well-written book, I would have been drawn to DON'T EXPECT MAGIC for the premise: A girl who is leading the antithesis of a fairytale life finds out her dad is a fairy godmother. What's not to love?

Lucky for us, beyond the catchy premise, the book is also well-written. The characters are complicated and interesting, the blinding California sun and shiny happy setting are just brilliant (you'll have to read it to see what I mean), and the plot and pace move along i...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Lorena rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, fantasy

This book was really cute. I've been waiting a couple weeks to get a copy and finally bought one yesterday.

Delaney is the protagonist. She's sarcastic, whitty, and a smartass. I really loved that about her. Throughout the story I would just start smiling form the things she would say. She also sketches and designs boots. I loved her character.

The story is about Delaney moving from New Jersey to California to live with her dad after her mom dies. When she gets there her dad tells her she's a f....more

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Nov 18, 2012 Ashley Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A book that totally surprised me….

….and maybe not always for the better. This book, humph, was okay. Getting from this summary I thought this was going to be a full on romantic, charming, and magical read. I mean, with fairy godmothers in the play, why shouldn’t it be all those things with a hopeful sweet high school romance on top. Right? Well, wrong.

Instead this book came off more as a guide on how to form a bond with your estrange daughter that just so happens to have the family trait. Delane...more A book that totally surprised me….

….and maybe not always for the better. This book, humph, was okay. Getting from this summary I thought this was going to be a full on romantic, charming, and magical read. I mean, with fairy godmothers in the play, why shouldn’t it be all those things with a hopeful sweet high school romance on top. Right? Well, wrong.

Instead this book came off more as a guide on how to form a bond with your estrange daughter that just so happens to have the family trait. Delaney (love that name) moves in with her famous life coach of a father in this so fool cheerful town that reminded me a lot of times of the TV show Suburgatory. Delaney was most definitely the odd girl out as apparently a lot of town folks are cheerfully wearing bright pastel colors. She dressed more on the dark side and I adored that she just so happen to make and design her own boots, with wheels! How freaking rocking!! That’s the first time I’ve read a young adult character that has that type of hobby, it was….refreshing.

Anyways, the writing was easy to follow and I could have read it in a day (I miss those days, haha). However, I just couldn’t really connect. Don’t Expect Magic totally had its charming, magical moments. My favorite was the café scene, I freaking adored that moment! ^_^ It was Delaney’s somewhat shining moment on trying to get her client, with the supposedly gal he likes, to finally talk.

But there were things I wasn’t a big fan with. Like the romance, Delaney finally figured she liked her client, in the last few chapters. She finally found out she liked him, like, ¾’s within the book. Now, I’m not asking for instant love here but I would have liked to be able to connect more with her feelings for her client, that’s all. You know, get what the summary was offering. Which is why this book was just, humph….okay.

Though I did enjoy how she was a match maker for her dad, how quickly she found out about her family secret and how not so easily she took it. I mean, in most paranormal otherworldly books, the main characters just right up front believes what they are told. Instead, Delaney’s brain tries to logic it out, which I loved! It was a nice change, you know.

Overall, this was an okay book. I was hooked yes, but I felt like it was missing something. Or at least, I was expecting something and I got something completely else, which is probably why it’s really just an okay book for me. I will probably pick up the second book and thankfully there is no cliffhanger at the end of this one. I was very happy with how Don’t Expect Magic ended.
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Apr 03, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Every now and again you find a book that warms your heart in a nice, good feeling kind of way. What's even better is this book I feel is something most people from 10 years and over could read. The story follows Delaney who's having a really bad time; firstly her mother whom shes lives with all her life dies, she is then made to move with her Dad who she hardly knows and holds much resentment for and also has to leave her best and closest friend behind. Add to this her Dad is a 'self help' Life...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Ravenous Biblioworm rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Here readers come to know a sour, angsty Delaney, whose mother had died and has gone to live with her father in southern California. Though the flap describes the book being magical in form, it slightly drifts away from being truely magical (I meant in a fantasy type way, not about the book itself). There was a bit of magic sprinkled here and there, but the book focuses on the characters and their relationships with one another. McCullough excelled here with her character protrayals. They were f...more Here readers come to know a sour, angsty Delaney, whose mother had died and has gone to live with her father in southern California. Though the flap describes the book being magical in form, it slightly drifts away from being truely magical (I meant in a fantasy type way, not about the book itself). There was a bit of magic sprinkled here and there, but the book focuses on the characters and their relationships with one another. McCullough excelled here with her character protrayals. They were full, believable characters. They had problems and issues like any family, but nothing dsyfunctional (though I guess dsyfuncational can be applied to everyone’s family… so thought that way…). Delaney, of course, objects coming to stay with her father and rejects him for her own reasons. Through finding out that her father is a fairy godmother/”father,” the changes begins to occur with Delaney and those around her. She becomes enchanted with the idea of being a godmother herself and aims to prove herself by altering the life of Flynn, a boy in her Chemistry class and yearbook club.

McCullough builds the characters one by one through various means: the type of people they are associated with, their hobbies, their reactions to a certain scene. The pacing was steady and consistant throughout the book; because of that consistency the changes in the characters in the book come off as believable and not rushed for the sake of plot. The book mentions depth in a person personality and I can say there is depth in the character’s of Don’t Expect Magic. This novel is a character driven book.

If you are expecting something along the lines of potion, magical spells, and raging msytic energy, this book is nowhere near there. In fact, if McCullough took out the magic factor of her book, it’ll still be a complete story (of course with adjusted plot pushers). The story is more comtemporary in nature rather than supernatural. I picked up the book expecting a magic inspired, plot moving book. Readers of Jenny Han, Sarah Dessen who would enjoy a touch of magic would enjoy this book. Those of you looking for a magical explosion may have to look elsewhere, but if there’s a day you find yourself wanting a simple, easy, and contemporary read, I can recommend this book.

Verdict: Not really my style, but I did read it in one sitting. I would recommend to others to read. For me personally, I would not buy. For others, whose taste in book that’s different from me: yes.

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Dec 10, 2012 Darcie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-fall-quarter-2012, review

Delaney Collins is grieving and fed up. Her mom just died, and she has to fly across the country to live with her father, who she barely knows. He’s a famous life coach and the world knows him as Dr. Hank… and so does Delaney.

She wants to go home. Until she finds out that her father is a f.g. - a fairy godmother. It’s a hereditary gene, so she might be one too.

When she finally comes in to her powers, she realizes that magic can’t fix everything.

The character development in this book is great....more

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Nov 07, 2011 BlackroseBlackheart rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Younger teens

Recommended to BlackroseBlackheart by: Goodreads

Shelves: first-reads, fell-in-lurve-with-it, super-dooper-good-book, young-adult, own-it

Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck with in California with "Dr. Hank", her famous life-coach father- a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right.
Then Dr,Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother- an f.g.- and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother....more Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck with in California with "Dr. Hank", her famous life-coach father- a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right.
Then Dr,Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother- an f.g.- and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother.
Even though she's not the pink and sparkly type, Delaney soon finds herself with a client: Flynn Becker, a boy at her new school who's hopelessly in love with a girl who doesn't know he exists. Flynn's wish is Delaney's command.
With her customized black boots and chopstick wand, Delaney does everything in her power to make Flynn's wish come true. But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

I really, really liked this book. "Don't Expect Magic" isn't one of those sparkly ooh-look-I'm-a-twinkly-fairy sort of books. It's a book about problems, and point of views, and one girl finding her way in a whole new place.

To be honest, I think the magic part of this book was unnecessary. It's a pretty good book without it. But I guess that was the whole point of the book. "Don't Expect Magic." Kinda obvious, now that I think about it. Don't go around expecting magic when you can do it on your own.

I loved Delaney's sarcasm, and it made me laugh like a loon sometimes. My mum thinks I'm a nut job, laughing randomly and smiling to myself.
I think Flynn's character could've been given more depth, but I liked the way that it wasn't love-at-first-sight, like so many of the books these days do. C'mon, people, you barely know the guy. Looks aren't everything. It was very believable.

I also like the way Delaney and her father's relationship improved slowly throughout the book. It gave me this happy warm feeling in my tummy, it was that sweet.

I also love the author, Ms. McCullough's writing. She has a way with words. I never felt that the sentences had been put together in a rush, or that something was missing. I loved the was the prose flowed seamlessly, it was lovely.

This cute, sweet book is a great read if you're looking for something for younger teens. It's squeaky-clean, but really fun.

Thank you Goodreads, for picking me to send this book to as an ARC, and thank you Kathy McCullough, for writing such a sweet book and sending it to me to read early.
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Jun 18, 2012 Jeni rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, young-adult

I think this is technically YA, but it was so fluffy and light and silly that I imagine it appealing more to Disney Channel fans of the 8-10 year old range. Plus, it fits the Disney mold. Dead mom? check. Clueless dad? Check. Pseudo-rebellious-sort-of-angry-punk-chick (a la Wizard's Alex)? Check. Cute boy? Check. Fairy Godmothers? check. yikes.
The characters had zero depth. Delaney, the main character, grieves for her dead mother hardly at all, yet we're supposed to believe that they were incred...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Sandy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Delaney's mother has just died, and even though her life is not great in New Jersey, she would much rather move in with her best friend than move to California with the father she barely knows. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a choice. So now she starts a new school and discovers her father's biggest secret - he's really a fairy godmother. And it's hereditary, so Delaney is convinced that she's also a fairy godmother. Now she has to figure out her powers so she can get what she wants. Yes, altho...more

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Jul 27, 2012 The Young Book Collector rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Getting straight to the point I didn't really get into the book like I expected to. I felt continuously barbered with the same information in the narration, which resulted into me not finishing it. Delaney's whole attitude through out the book was “DGAF”, and that began to annoy me. I did like how Hank, Delaney's father, explain to her that their ability is like an aptitude. That with their magic they’re not recreating something but manipulating what’s already present. I know this isn’t my very...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Delaney reluctantly goes to California to move in with her dad after her mom dies. Shortly after moving in she finds out her dad’s secret to success – he’s a fairy godmother. Yes, a fairy godmother. It’s hereditary to the females in the family, but her dad was the exception to the rule. Delaney starts to think that she must be a fairy godmother as well and seeks to try this gift out. Her target – her schoolmates. She thinks she knows who has a wish and wants to make that wish come true. Through...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Ducky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cover-lust, delightful-chemistry, fluffy-cotton-candy, morbid-curiosity, thoroughly-enjoyed

Okay, so Don't Expect Magic is about as unpredictable as a brown paper bag (read: I knew what was going to happen ten pages into it). Once you get over that, this book is possibly the most adorable, happiness-inducing thing I've ever read. I actually couldn't tear myself away from my laptop, and I felt so giddy inside for two hours straight even though every sentence bordered on cliché. This book is like raspberries drenched in a dark chocolate sauce with a ton of whipped cream on the side. Seri...more

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About Kathy McCullough

I'm a novelist and screenwriter living in L.A. My first young adult novel, Don't Expect Magic, was published by Random House/Delacorte Press, and a sequel is in the works. In addition to my website, Delaney Collins, the main character of Don't Expect Magic, has her own site at http://delaneycollinsfg.com.

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