The Magic of Untamed Hearts

Wild Magic #3

by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

After several years stuck as a ghost, Sky Flores learns to reconnect with the living again with the help of her handsome neighbor in this lush romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Witch of Wild Things.

Like her sisters, Sage and Teal, Sky Flores has a touch of magic, and it’s caused nothing but heartache. Not only did she disappear into the woods years ago and reappear with no rational explanation, she’s also more comfortable talking to animals than to people. Different and misunderstood, Sky is shunned in the small town of Cranberry.

Sky’s neighbor, Adam Noemi, has his own problems. After being laid off from a prestigious newspaper, Adam, ever the ambitious reporter, needs a big headline to redeem his career. Enter Sky, a girl with a story that news outlets have been chasing for years. Sky agrees to grant Adam an exclusive interview on one that he befriend Sky, in a very public way, to prove to everyone in Cranberry that she’s not an outcast.

As Sky shares her experiences with Adam, something much bigger than a simple agreement begins to grow between them. But for love to take root, Adam will have to take a leap towards a life that defies expectations, and Sky must open her heart – full of flora and fauna and mystical energies – to his curious mind.

Genres: Romance, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary, Magic

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2026

About the author

Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is a Mexican American poet, novelist, and painter. She received an MFA in poetry from the University of Alaska, Anchorage in 2017. She’s most inspired by fog and seeds and the lineages of all things. When not writing, Raquel tells stories to her plants and they tell her stories back. She lives in Tennessee with her beloved family and mountains. Raquel has published two books of poetry. Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything is her first novel.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this final book in the Wild Magic series that focuses on Sky, the youngest Flores sister who spent 8 years of her life in an undead state missing in the forest and only recently came back to the land of the living at the end of book two when her family rescued her.

Considered the town freak, Sky is lonely and only wants to find a love like both her sisters have. Unfortunately they seem too busy with their own lives to show up for Sky and so Sky finds herself buried in work at the library archives and spending her Friday nights bringing her elderly neighbor William dinner.

Enter Adam, the man Sky grew fond of while she was living as a ghost, only in real life Adam is less than dreamy. Adam himself is struggling though after being let go from his journalist job with the NYT and now living back home with his grandfather who they suspect has early dementia.

Sky strikes a deal for the two to pretend to be friends in exchange for Sky's honest story about what happened to her. What follows is a sweet friends to lovers story that gets complicated by a side of anonymous online texting and some deceptions.

While I wasn't a fan of the third act break up in this story, I loved watching Sky come into her own. I also really enjoyed that the author writes Sky as being undiagnosed autistic (which is really apparent and makes her all the more relatable to me).

A great end to the series that I'm going to be sad to say goodby to. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Angelina M. Lopez, Alexis Daria or Natalie Caña. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Publishes January 13, 2026.

I have to be more careful when requesting books. Here again I ended up with the third book in a series. I guess it was ok as a stand alone, but not having read the first two books I feel like I was missing a lot. For that reason I can only give it 3 of 5 stars.

This book centered on Sky - they youngest of three sister's - all with a special gift. For Sky it is the ability to communicate with animals. And she is returning after an 8 year absence.

This book is fiction, fantasy and sexy romance all rolled up together. Maybe a bit heavy on the 'romance' aspect. But an easy read all the same.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consent + communication during sexy time is HOT AF!

This is a sweet and tender book with lovely autism and latine rep, a swoony romance, and unique witchy vibes in a contemporary setting!

But what really stole the show for me was the sexy times! They were so real, raw, and HEALTHY AF. I loved that they communicated needs and wants and comforts and continually checked in on consent. The intimacy and connections these scenes create is top tier!

This is book three in a set of interconnected standalones. I read this book first and I don’t feel like I missed anything. It stands on its own, but I’m very excited to read the other sister’s books now!

The autism rep was spectacular and made me feel so seen! I loved that there were so many aspects of Sky’s behavior that I could relate to—her overthinking, big emotions, researching the crap out of things she wants to be better at. I appreciated that it was presented in a natural way seamless way, it felt like I was commiserating with a friend rather than pointing out all the ways the FMC is different.


Whats to love…
- autistic + latine FMC
- Red haired (my fav) + sober MMC
- neighbors-to-lovers
- self-discovery and self-acceptance themes
- found family (with a family forward aspect)
- interconnected standalone but can be read out of order (I did!)
- LOTS of animal companions
- This book will make you hungry (aka food is incorporated in a lovely way!)
- THE SPICE! - sweet and sexy and healthy AF

Whats not to love…
- Overall the pacing was just a bit off. This was slow to start and I wasn’t invested till about the 30% point. Once we were there though? 10/10 And then in the end the 3rd act conflict felt a bit rushed.

🌶️ - open door sprinkled throughout and a pretty important part of the self-discovery theme!

4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Berkley for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really sad that this series of interconnected romance novels is over for me. This was a really fun installment.

For the record I do believe for maximum impact and enjoyment these do need to be read in order. You will miss a lot of Easter eggs and might be slightly confused at the timelines if they're not read in order. But if you're really adamant about it, I suppose you could read them in any order you preferred.

I really enjoyed this installment. This sister was the one that had the weakest connection for me through reading the previous two books and honestly, it ended up being one of my favorite parts. Skye was a beautiful and loving character that I felt really shine in her book. The romance was believable and sweet and I really enjoyed it.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the final outing of the Flores sisters.

Sky was a fascinating and very lovely main character, an undiagnosed autistic woman who was dealing with the combined blow of losing eight whole years of her life and literally the entire town villainizing her for it. Small town shit.

Not to mention, her sisters are dealing with their own things, and Sky is both realizing the loss of her sisters and wanting them to realize she's not a child anymore. She's 26, dammit. She lost eight years, but she wasn't entirely gone. She was a ghost.

Anywho, I didn't love this as much as I did the first two books, and I can't really put my finger on why. There is so much to love in this one, and it is SO personal. So much heart placed into Sky's story. I think because when Sky and Adam got together, it became the Sky and Adam hook-up show, and as hot as the sex scenes were, I personally need a bit more plot to advance the story along.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Sky, the youngest of the Flores sisters, spent eight years presumed dead, living like a ghost, when in reality she’d been sheltered and kept alive by the forest. Two years after her return, she’s still trying to find her footing, and my heart ached for her. The town treats her like an oddity, whispering behind her back, and the cruelty she faced ticked me off. One of her only friends is her elderly neighbor. She makes a homecooked meal for him to share weekly and this is where she runs into Adam, his grandson, and her former crush.

Despite a rocky first encounter, Adam turns out to be an absolute sweetheart. I loved how fiercely he defended Sky and how gently he helped her see that she never needed to apologize for who she was. Their chemistry is undeniable, though once they officially get together, the romance leans heavily into the spicy scenes. They’re steamy, no doubt, but Sky discussing every detail with her sisters gave me a bit of the ick. Still, I adored Adam and Sky together.

I did wish Sky’s sisters had shown her more support. I understand they were overwhelmed by their own struggles, but it still stung on Sky’s behalf.

Having enjoyed Sage’s and Teal’s romances, I was excited to finally get Sky’s story, and it didn’t disappoint. Her magical ability to communicate with animals is one of my favorite gifts in the series, and watching her journey unfold was both enchanting and emotionally satisfying. It was an entertaining, engrossing journey to their HEA. I’m happy with how it all turned out.

I voluntarily read a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the previous book, I was so excited to get to Sky's story and this was exactly what I wanted for her.

I loved Sky. She is unapologetically herself and while she does shrink herself at the beginning, she knows what she wants and works towards getting everything. Adam is surprisingly gooey under a very crunchy shell. These two have animosity and sweetness and a whole ton of chemistry.

Plot wise, it's good. There are a few moving parts and some things felt like an afterthought, but I recognize maybe it was so show how scattered Sky was at certain points. The conflict was short lived and I really wanted more from the epilogue as it felt rushed.

Overall, this was such a good story and I easily could have read 500 more pages of Sky and the animals.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Sky, the youngest of three witch sisters, has been in a magical coma for eight years. During that time, she wandered her small town in ghost form and became infatuated with her neighbor’s grandson, Adam. She suddenly wakes up at age 24, and now 26, Sky struggles to make friends and is seen as the town’s “weird” girl, with few people believing her story.

This was such a cozy, cottagecore, small-town romance. Sky’s magical gift allows her to communicate with animals, which only adds to how different she seems to everyone else. She’s also neurodivergent and struggles with social interactions. Adam is the kind, patient man who truly sees her and takes the time to understand her, all while navigating his own personal journey. Sky’s differences were handled beautifully and she was portrayed in such a raw, honest, and deeply compelling way. Both her and Adam’s conversations about how she sees the world, their communication and their fears and hopes really grounded the relationship and made it feel earned.

This is the third book in the series, and I hadn’t read the first two going in. That said, the worldbuilding was very accessible, and I never felt lost within this magical world. I do think I would have had a deeper understanding of Sky’s family dynamics if I’d read the earlier books, but the background and context provided here were more than enough to fully engage with the story. I’d probably recommend reading the first two books beforehand, but it’s not absolutely necessary. The writing was lush and whimsical, and the pacing worked well throughout, perfectly matching the cozy, atmospheric tone of this witchy slow-burn romance. I was expecting a bit more payoff from the church cult mystery. The reveal felt slightly underwhelming and somewhat faded into the background by the end, but this didn’t detract for my enjoying the story.

Overall, this was a whimsical, ethereal, low-stakes romance set in a cozy small town, featuring a witchy, neurodivergent FMC and a strong focus on character development. Readers looking for a gentle, magical romance with heart and depth will really enjoy this one. I know I’ll be going back to read the first two books in the series!

This one is out January 13th, 2026!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kate | bookishkatelizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is the 3rd and final book in the Wild Magic series. I would recommend reading the books in order to avoid spoilers.

This book is so beautifully written, which makes sense after I learned that Raquel Vasquez Gilliland is a Mexican American poet. It absolutely shows!

The tone of this series is heavier than I anticipated; the characters are dealing with serious topics. I recommend checking trigger warnings before reading.

Each of the Flores sisters have a magical gift or curse depending on how you look at it. Sky, the youngest Flores sister, can communicate with animals. Not only can she hear them, but they can sense her emotions as well and visit her during times of distress.

Sky has had an odd life… she was trapped in a tree for 8 years. When we meet the Flores sisters in book 1, she is unknowingly in the tree. 2 years later, no one believes her story and she is seen as the town pariah. People are vile to her and she is very lonely.

Sky finds herself working with her neighbor’s grandson, Adam, a struggling newspaper reporter, to tell her story. The book focuses on the developing relationship between them and Adam’s struggle to believe Sky’s unbelievable story when he has always relied solely on facts.

While I didn’t love everything about this book, I did enjoy the engaging writing. The author’s note explains some of the plot decisions behind Sky’s character; her experiences made more sense after reading. This series also reminds me of how lucky we are to have nature; the Flores sisters show a deep respect and gratitude for wildlife. I struggled with the Outcast heroine/ Town hero trope. It is hard to watch people be cruel and the hero gets credit for the bare minimum, human decency.

Read if you like:
✨ Books with magical realism
💕 These romance tropes: Outcast heroine/ Town hero, age gap, neighbors to lovers
🙊 The microtrope “apologize to her”
❤️‍🩹 Healing Sisterhood

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the free copy; all thoughts are my own. #berkleypartner #berkleybookstagram #berkleyromance

[SelkieReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book for the most part.
I didn’t read the previous books from this author, I read this as a standalone.
Unfortunately, for me, I don’t think it necessarily worked as a standalone because I feel like there was a lot of nuance I wasn’t privy to.

I did enjoy the lore of this book as someone who was born and raised in Virginia. Massachusetts gets a lot of the attention when it comes to the Salem Witch trials, but Virginia has history of its own.

The family dynamics in this book were really difficult to read sometimes because there is a ton of trauma, neglect, and abuse if I’m honest.

For me the main reason this isn’t a five star is the spice was quite frankly too spicy. And it was kind of offputting for the rest of the vibe of the book. It was the equivalent of a Fifty Shades of Grey clip in the middle of a reading rainbow episode. The book has a hole is super feel good, low stakes, sweet…. And then the sex scenes were long, explicit, and frequent once they started.
It just didn’t fit. They feel like they’re supposed to be in another book or that they were forced additions.
I don’t know how to explain other than that

[Christina O’Keefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🪄 magical realism
🪄 multiple story-telling formats
🪄 1st person POV
🪄 single POV
🪄 single timeline
🪄 spice 🌶️

I knowwwww we’re not supposed to judge a book based off its cover 🤪🤪 but I definitely do and I absolutely loooooove this cover 😍😍😍
As soon as I read the description of this one I could NOT WAIT to read it; it sounded soooooo fun 💕💕
I always enjoy when a book uses multiple story-telling formats to tell the story; I really think it adds so much fun and entertainment to the book ❤️
The yearning was SOOOOOOOOO GOOD❣️❣️❣️ They’re talking to each other online but they don’t know it’s each other 😍😍😍😍😍 Sooooooo so good and fun❣️
I was really hoping that this would be a bit more about the magical missing years (being such a mystery girly) but it was pretty much just about the romance.
Thank you soooo much to Berkley Publishing and Raquel Vasquez Gilliland for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕💕

[lilyooka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author’s work. Her descriptions are lush and lyrical, and her stories center on well-crafted character and relationship arcs. This book is no exception! I loved getting to know Sky and seeing her find her HEA. The character’s autism was lovingly and realistically portrayed, shaping her interactions and perspective throughout the book. The love interest was flawed but still dreamy, sweet, and a great match for Sky. This was a beautiful ending for a trilogy focused on family, magic, and love.

[Stephanie (stephreadsallthebooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ARC Review: The Magic of Untamed Hearts by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Pub Date: January 13

Sky Flores was a ghost for many years - she's back in the land of the living now but is an outsider. She'd rather spend time with animals than with people and has never really been able to make friends outside of her sisters since returning. The only other person she's spent some time with? Her grumpy elderly neighbor, whose grandson has been laid off as a reporter and is now staying with him. Adam has always intrigued Sky and she eventually agrees to him writing a story about her, but only if he agrees to pretend to be her friend so the locals stop looking at her as such a freak. But will Adam believe her about what happened?

I liked the relationship between Adam and Sky and thought they had a lot of chemistry and great banter. But what I loved arguably more is the relationship between Sky and her sisters - even as their lives have changed and they have different priorities, you can really sense the love there and I loved seeing how they showed up for each other.

I loved the anonymous pen pal trope and the reveal (and that it didn't go on too long!). This romance itself wasn't super trope heavy which honestly I love.

While I did enjoy this, I think neither of the sequels in this series have lived up to the first book for me - both relationship wise but even more so with the external plot. The first book had a really good balance between the two and a whole lot of angst and I think I find myself chasing the feelings I had during my reading of the first book. I still really do like the books but I've had to sort of adjust my expectations because the external plot is really lacking and the only focus is the relationship between the two main characters.

[Squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts charming, then the author goes too far without respecting the characters as presented. Clearly setting up to show 'growth' but paints the MMC as a true sleaze, a cad. Supposedly a NYT journalist who's 'moved back home' (why is that?), but he impresses a woman my mocking another woman? And the woman goes for him. So the reader pretty much hates the guy, and hopes he falls into a sink hole, breaks his leg, and is institutionalized.

Seriously, HS bully behavior in a post-college adult. Speaking of that, who lets a 'woman' who's effectively spent 8 years in a coma, out into the world without any support, before she's had the opportunity to mature emotionally and socially into an adult? Age alone doesn't do that, experience and interactions are required to mature emotionally and cognitively.

And FMC 'fantasizes' about the creep. Don't miss the Ch 4 inanity - she believes he's seen her when she was wandering as just a spirit, and "He dismissed me like I was nothing." You know, like...a ghost, a specter. The nerve! To not engage a 'spirit'? This seems written for YA. Oh gee, who could the other dating app person be, in such a tiny town? NOT the guy she's already spending time with, who ... seems to not text when she's busy with him ... (sigh)

The hardest part to swallow is the 'poor me' nonsense. It may be reasonable for someone who's missed 8 years of growing up, but its really tiresome to read. And how old is a person by the time they realize pretending to be someone else is not going to lead to happiness?

Also, the character is written the same as someone with autism, and couching that in 'magic' feels insulting to people who live with the condition. The disassociation, issue with crowds/light/loud noises could also just be brain trauma side effects.

Speaking of brain trauma, when the FMC fell, did no one LOOK FOR THE BODY? She was WITH her sister, didn't she run for help? If the body 'magically disappeared', the poor sister and the family would likely be subject to dozens of hours of police interrogation. That's not even hinted at here. Which would involve a whole layer of complication with the family relationships, but still... The writer chose to set this in a modern-day town, but didn't follow through with the reality. (She could have written that no one knew what happened, without the sister being there, if she didn't want to get into those details. But that's not the story here.)

Worse, the reader quickly realizes the promise of an exclusive story is a scam. MMC will fall for FMC and not tell her secret, private, can't be shared story, duh. (sigh) Or is the next book about the endless creeps that come out - plus the government - when they think there's a secret power to grab?

Slips in editing, too. Great Aunt Nadia, who must be Ama Sonya's sister? is "an septuagenarian" ... likely a poor edit from octogenarian? 70s or 80s, both women are still working, full time?

And surely the reader is going to learn that the 'Church' is really the center of the magic/power, and the aunt and grandmother run it, but haven't bothered to teach the girls anything? So does follow the dysfunctional family/irresponsible-adult formula of a YA book.

Yes, along with Aunt Nadia's 'superpower' being able to tell when people are attracted to each other. As if everyone who bothers to look can't see that?

The MCs are going to a public, outdoor spot to discuss private, secret, exclusive matters. Like NO ONE is going to walk up on them or overhear them? Voices magically don't carry in this story?

The story wavers, becomes difficult to get through. What's more unpleasant than reading fictional characters sexting? Ugh. How about, grandma has a Bentley, but the girls were raised without a nanny, at least? And little miss lonely has 5 designer handbags, but can't get anyone in town to talk to her? And it hasn't occurred to her or anyone else it might be resentment of the self-absorbed spoiled-rich-girl. Oh, sorry, after spying on all her neighbors, she deigns to bring food for one person, once a week, right across the street. How could everyone not LOVE that?

This works as YA magical romance, making the extended graphic sex scenes jarring. Would rather read details on the interactions of the FMC with the various animals; but they appear simply as props in the story. I also wonder why the MC never tries to connect with the lonely whale? It's such a poignant detail, why drop it? She's really not going to reach out to the loneliest creature she's heard of, after 8 years of loneliness...because there's no immediate reward for her, or she's too self-absorbed? Make's her comment cheap crocodile tears.

The ending is rushed, and glosses over or sidesteps most of the issues raised. If 'the whole town' hates the FMC, who are the members of the Bruja group? How is William getting on? What are the repercussions of the coyote pack scaring the neighbor - are there any? Why is the 'hidden room' accessed from the inside of a Catholic church - is there a connection or is it camouflage? Does MMC return to journalism, or move into carpentry, or something else? FMC is noted as having design skills, does she move in that direction, or just continue to work in the library dungeon? The missing mother is in town...did she care for her unconscious daughter for the 8 years? What's special or significant about 8 years, what purpose did that serve 'for the old gods'? etc.

Seems like there were plenty of themes presented that could move this into a richer tale. It is a bit disappointing the author substituted step-by-step sex instructions instead of developing truly original material.

[Alix · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the quote at the beginning, before you even get to her experience, you know Sky is coded autistic. I felt it was an interesting choice to not make it explicit in the text or even have her ever become aware of it, especially in light of Teal’s journey with being bipolar. I can see where it would be less urgent/helpful to get an autism diagnosis, but sometimes it’s healing just to know.

I liked Sky as a character, but it feels like we might spend too much time in her head because she is isolated for much of the book. A bit more time spent on the cult angle and less on her anguish/struggles would make this an easier read for me.

I do relate a lot to the beginning-middle. I don’t have siblings & have very few living relatives. I’ve never felt a strong sense of belonging. In my early adulthood I was once ostracized and bullied by my community for lying when I wasn’t. I always feel like I don’t fit and that it’s my fault. So while I’m glad for the happy ending, it also makes me a little sad about real lives that don’t get that.

Her relationship with Adam has some very cute bits, but I would like to have heard more of his process of going from doubt to belief.

I love Adam’s grandpa.

The audiobook narrator was new to me and she did alright. The only thing I had a problem with was there wasn't enough differentiation between Sage's and Sky's voices, but Sage is in the book so little, it's not a big problem. The audiobook did not contain the author's note I've seen mentioned in other reviews, so I'm not sure what that might contain.

It’s a shame romance series don’t ever pivot to non-romance (as far as I know), because I wouldn’t mind spending more time in this world with a non-romance angle.

[Jenée Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley Romance, and NetGalley for letting me read this as an eARC!

This book was very cute. It is a quick contemporary read with some magical elements to it and Latine representation--and let me tell you, could I relate to Sky's meddling Latine elders! I really enjoyed the Latine representation in this novel; between the food, interspersing Spanish with English, and incorporating a little bit of the brujeria tradition, this book was felt a little like coming home. It's so wonderful to see yourself reflected in characters of books, especially in one that's so body positive, one of acceptance of who you are, and one that doesn't shame Latine women for their sexuality.

Following Sky and Adam coming together was a fun journey and I really enjoyed that they were each other's matches on the dating app they were using without even knowing it. I'm really glad they got it together in the end. As a Latine woman who also has two sisters, I loved seeing the sister dynamic in this book between Sage, Teal, and Sky.

What you see is what you get with this book--a fun, spicy, heartwarming, quick read that is a great palate cleanser, especially if you're between novels with a lot of world-building (which I was when I started this book). This book made me smile and I definitely would recommend it to a friend. Four stars from me :)

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This was a quick read romance and the 3rd in the Flores sisters books.

What I liked about the book: the gifts that Sky and her sisters have. The family dynamic. Not all the relationships are easy but they feel real. Sky’s gift to commune with animals. I could have read whole chapters on this alone. Sky’s determination to be absolutely, unapologetically herself.

What I disliked: Adam repeating to Sky many times something along the lines of, “if that’s what you think I must not be doing a good job of expressing myself.” No shit, you come across as an ass for a good portion of the book. The anonymous pen pal trope.

Overall I really enjoyed this whole Flores sisters series.

[Katie Lou Slauson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite thing about this series is that any time a man acts like a pig, they're like, "Hmm, maybe I should use my secret powers against him."
Very proud of Sky being the bigger person in this book. As always, if it were me, I would have been way pettier.
Also, having three chapters in a row that are ENTIRELY dedicated to sex is CRAZY work. I'm not a prude by any means but it was a LOT. This is NOT a closed door romance; I'll tell ya that for free. 😆

[Marisol M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Idara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 was heartbreakingly beautiful.

I was 100% invested from the start. This book made me feel everything. Sky’s need to be loved, seen, and accepted hit so close to home and I connected deeply with her internal struggles. I just wanted to reach through the pages and protect her at all costs.

And Sky and Adam… I am so in love with them. Their connection felt soft, real, and seamless in a way that completely pulled me in.

🎧 The narration was absolutely phenomenal. The narrator brought Sky’s emotions to life so perfectly, and Adam’s voice felt just as natural and heartfelt. Even the minor characters had distinct personalities, which made the story feel so alive and immersive. Every word, pause, and inflection drew me in and made me feel like I was living this story alongside them all.

I literally just finished this and already know it is probably going on my top romances list. It was tender, emotional, and one of those books that quietly warms your heart.

Thank you @BerkleyPub @NetGalley and @PRHAudio for the gifted ARC and ALC.

[LReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️ I've been lukewarm on this trilogy all along, but I was really hopeful for Sky's story. Of the three generational-trauma sisters, Sky--who was dead and a ghost for 8 years--surely had the most compelling story of the bunch. And, at first, that seemed to be paying off: I was choked up pretty quickly when autism-coded Sky was bullied by the horrible members of her community for being a bit unusual. Seriously, the townspeople are monsters.

But then, as the story went on, I was reminded why this series would never rise to the top of my list, despite being a feminist, diverse, witchy small town romance series. It's because it does all of those things in the most superficial of ways, while also dropping the names of pop culture icons (Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo) and brands (Anthropologie, Calvin Klein, Coach--you know, the brands that really uphold the message of indigenous rights) like a series of hashtags. The cognitive dissonance is so very frustrating.

There's also something really not right about the timelines here. Now, I didn't go back to re-read the previous two books, but my understanding is this: (a) Sky was 16 when she "died." (b) Sky returned to the World of the Living 8 years later, when she was technically 24--but is she really?. (c) Adam, her love interest, is 9 years older than she is--so, 33. The present day story explicitly notes that Sky is sexually inexperienced, but very much DTF, as she gets naked for strangers in a hurry. But the effect is that Sky is a 16-year-old Disney princess in a 24-year-old's body, and her child-like wonder about most things makes the age gap with Adam, who has spent his adult life in a long string of casual encounters, even wider. It wasn't bad bad, but it didn't sit right, either.

Adam is not particularly likable. He's mean to Sky several times while she's developing her initial crush. He's arrogant. He's fake. He does, however, care for his grandfather, and he's in recovery and working on a life overhaul, which is good. (Still not sure I'm thrilled about him sexting a stranger while starting things up with Sky, but without his POV, it's hard to say.)

We're asked to interpret his initial doubt in Sky's story as a sign of his being a colonizer asshole, but like, he's a NYT columnist. Is he not supposed to verify sources? Sure, it's a particular culture of journalism and not all knowledge and belief systems align with that, but demanding he believe what was, to him, impossible is a big ask. Adam does believe Sky, eventually, but again, the lack of his POV obscures his journey from thinking she's a scam artist to thinking she's the most phenomenal woman on earth who has at last shown him the meaning of love.

And then there's the witch coven/cult thing. As with the last book, where the "mom stole my magic" plot arose and was resolved in a heartbeat, here we have Sky randomly, for no reason, wondering about a few scattered incidents involving groups of women behaving strangely in their town, then mostly forgetting about it to focus on her new boyfriend, and then (post-break-up) investigating again to fund a cult bunker hidden under the Catholic church, and then...that's it! There's nothing else. And the series is over.

This series had a lot of potential, but in the end, it was trying too hard to be both the earthy, witchy feminism and the brand-conscious Taylor Swift breed of feminism--which is to say, it pitched itself as an indegenous feminist recovery story but got lost in the Tortured Poets Department lyrics, focusing on sex rather than, ya know, the deeper meanings of the cosmos. And while I think there's nothing wrong with a girl liking designer clothes, makeup, and purses, it's a tough look for that same girl to also be pissed when her journalist boyfriend has initial doubts about her stories of old gods, ghosts, and animal telepathy. Especially when he's a tall, handsome, Western-educated white man whom you have appointed to solve all your social problems--which he does.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series Info/Source: This is third book in the Wild Magic series. I got a copy of this to review on ebook from NetGalley.

Thoughts: This was a well done continuation of this series. I enjoyed reading about Sky's story. My favorite book in this series remains the first book, but I enjoyed this one as well. You really feel for Sky and all that she's been through; I thought her autism was well represented too.

Sky has a touch of magic; she can talk to animals. Unfortunately, with her long absence, she is more comfortable talking to animals than people, and the people of Cranberry town have not been kind to her. She feels like a burden on those around her. Sage and Teal have both moved on with their lives but still feel like they have to baby Sky. Sky is doing okay though; she has her job at the library and a couple of friends. She wants more and is trying to put herself out there. After some horrible experiences in an online dating app she finally clicks with someone online. Simultaneously, she keeps running into Adam. He was horrible to her in high school and is now the big time famous reporter (who seems to be down on his luck). Him and Sky have one thing in common, his father who is struggling with onset dementia. As Adam and Sky end up spending more time together via Adam's father, they start to find out that they have more in common than they previously knew.

This was a cute story and I enjoyed it. I was excited to finally get Sky's story, and she is by far the most timid of the sisters. I really felt for her and her feelings of loneliness, not fitting in, and of being a burden on those around her. I enjoyed watching her grow and find her footing throughout the story.

Sky has autism and this is represented throughout the story; she is sensitive to certain sensation and fabrics, has trouble with natural conversation and reading cues but she is trying to own it. I thought Gilliland did a great job representing this throughout the story. Sky is a high functioning individual who just needs to interact with people and things a bit differently. Adam comes off as a bit of a jerk initially, but I grew to enjoy his character more as the story progressed. The two end up having excellent chemistry together.

This story felt a bit slower than the previous two books. Sky had a mystery of a secret coven that she was trying to unravel but that was very much in the background and kept being forgotten throughout the story. There just didn't seem to be as much to drive this story forward as there were in the first two books. I also love the Flores family, but they seem very scattered in this book. They do come together at times, but Sky felt very much on her own because she was very much on her own for a lot of the book. All the other members of the Flores family had valid but different priorities (new baby, new business, etc).

This was easy to read and cute and funny. I enjoyed it and think it was a decent close to this series about these magical sisters.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this and thought it was a quick, cute, and fun read. It was a bit slower than the previous two books and I didn't click with Sky as a character quite as well. However, I did like learning more about Sky and watching her grow and get her happiness. I would recommend this series to those who enjoy paranormal magic with a cozy feel; all of these books have an emphasis on family and finding happiness. I will definitely keep an eye out for Gilliland's future books.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5
I received an eARC for my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Wild Magic series, and I truly loved this installment. This story follows Sky, the youngest Flores sister, and Adam, the journalist she used to visit during the eight years her spirit wandered outside of her body. Now that Sky has finally awakened from her long sleep thanks to her sisters, she must learn how to live in the world again. That isn’t easy for her. She struggles to connect with people the way her sisters do, doesn’t understand why the town labels her a “freak” for talking to animals, and longs to feel understood and accepted. Sky believes that befriending Adam, a respected figure in town, might help change how others see her but sometimes fate, and a meddling aunt, have plans of their own.

I absolutely adored Sky as a character. She is undeniably naïve, but if you’ve read the first two books (which I highly recommend), you’ll understand why. After spending eight years protected by the primal gods while her spirit was separated from her body, that innocence makes complete sense. The plot felt distinct from the earlier books, focusing more on Sky’s personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance, and not just romance. This story is about understanding who you are after trauma, not who you once imagined yourself to be and learning to heal even when you didn’t realize you needed it. And, of course, there is romance.

Gilliland’s writing style is lyrical and easy to follow, and the pacing was steady throughout. The magical and whimsical elements were never rushed, allowing the atmosphere of the story to fully shine. The slow-burn romance fits the narrative perfectly, giving both the MFC and MMC the space to grow individually while discovering what was developing between them. The character growth felt organic and well-earned all the way to the final page.

Sky is a neurodivergent character, and the representation was handled beautifully. She is raw, flawed, and deeply compelling. Her struggles with social cues, idioms, and indirect communication felt authentic, and I loved that she values honesty over skirting around difficult topics. The conversations between Sky and Adam about their fears, desires, and vulnerabilities felt genuine and emotionally grounded. Their relationship grows from friendship into something deeper and more intimate, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch them learn how to love each other while respecting one another’s independence.

The chemistry between them was strong, and the spice level was well done. I especially appreciated Adam’s patience and care, particularly as Sky navigates unfamiliar territory in their relationship. Seeing the Flores sisters continue to grow and understand one another better added another emotional layer to the story. William, Adam’s grandfather, was a standout side character whose banter often had me smiling.

Overall, this was a wonderful conclusion to the Flores sisters’ stories. While I would happily read more books centered on them, this ending felt satisfying and complete. I have no doubt I’ll be eagerly picking up whatever Gilliland writes next.

I want to thank NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to review this book.

[Gabrielle Armstrong Velazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkeley for the free book!

If you grew up wanting to do midnight margaritas like in “Practical Magic” and fantasizing with abilities like the ones in “Como Agua Para Chocolate,” this book is for you!

Tropes
- [ ] Anonymous pen pals
- [ ] Ancestral magic or curse
- [ ] Magical realism
- [ ] Small coastal town
- [ ] Old people friends
- [ ] Talk with animals
- [ ] Broken sister relationship
- [ ] Sleeping beauty in the woods
- [ ] Neurodivergent rep
- [ ] Protective “who hurt you” MMC (page 145)
- [ ] Howling at the moon
- [ ] A cute little bear called Lily

When Sky Flores wakes up in the woods after an 8-year slumber, the last thing she remembers was being a teenager and learning about her ability to communicate with animals. But when she returned, no one believed she had in fact been asleep (she didn’t tell them her body was safe in an oak tree and she was all but a ghost wandering around) and she was promptly nicknamed the freak of the town.

The Flores women have magical abilities that come from generations ago, according to Sky, from the gods themselves. But for two years now, Sky has felt as forgotten and overlooked as when she was ghost and no one could see her. Adding insult to injury, the people in her town were constantly jeering at her or manipulating her for a quick laugh.

In walks Adam, her grumpy neighbor’s (he reminded me of the old man from the “Up” movie) and they make a deal: he’d interview her, and publish her real, unfiltered story, so he could get back into journalism and in exchange, he’d act as if they were friends, so as to improve her reputation in the town.


~ My takeaways ~

I loved the Latine representation, and the subtle weaving of different myths and legends of other marginalized groups—not just Latine.

That first chapter reeled me in so hard!! I was wholly enveloped in Sky’s spell to guarantee an orgasm with this dude. The author really has a knack for capturing readers’ attention.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wished for two superpowers: being invisible and communicating with animals. I found both in this book and especially the animals one is something very close to my heart. I’ve always preferred animals to humans 🐻 🐱 🐶 🐴 🦆 🐦 🐘

Sky’s always struggled with belonging. I found this funny because the book I previously read featured an FMC struggling with the same thing (Eleanor from “The Haunting of Hill House”). Whenever Sky spiraled and expressed her loneliness and frustration at her inability to connect or “be as the people are” to paraphrase Ariel, it H U R T. Been there!!

The sub-plot gave vibes of mystery and suspense and I loved how it contributed to Sky’s own growth as a woman in her own family. At times I wanted to slap Adam because of his tendency to not communicate properly but he came through in the end; he was very attentive. Also this book? Very spicy! I found it refreshing that the FMC, although sexually inexperienced, was very clear and vocal about sexuality. It even caught the MMC off guard 😆. But yes be prepared to blush intensely, grab at your pearls and fan your face, and cry a little bit.

[Aleia · Rating 5 out of 5]

She really saved the best for last in the series!

Sky deserves everything after giving me my first five star read of the year!

I fell in love with the Flores sisters two years ago on page one. The series includes my favorite literary style, magical realism, presented to me as a wee undergrad courtesy of my Caribbean Literature professor and Alejo Carpentier. Magical realism is my forever love because it blends the real world into a life where magic seeps in along the edges. It makes it easy for me to insert myself in the story (doesn’t everyone imagine themselves as the main character?!) and imagine a more magical life—one that includes solutions around the corner that transcend the confines of our reality. It’s not like high fantasy where the magical systems make me feel like I need Spark Notes and a tutor. It’s soft and wondrous and exactly what I need to disassociate from all the foolishness outside.

We’ve met Sky in the previous two books, and we had a very different understanding of her there compared to this one. In previous books, specifically book 2, she was seen as funny and frequently asking uncomfortable sexual questions to her elder female relatives. However, in this book, when it comes to her family, it feels like she’s the often neglected butt of the joke. They ignored her texture aversion, her inability to understand social cues, and the fact that she doesn’t care if people think she’s different. She just cares if they’re mean.

Sky is coded as autistic and it’s clear that it didn’t just occur as a result of being in a coma inside of a tree for eight years. Sky’s the baby sister, raised by her eldest sister after being neglected by the three women who should have been responsible for raising her.

All of the women in the family have difficult relationships with their magic. Sky’s magic allows her to communicate with animals and because of who she is, it doesn’t bother her that people see her being different. If she’s seen talking to squirrels, or carrying bundles of (live!) foxes in her arms, or commanding a murder of crows to attack she doesn’t have shame about her abilities.

And that’s what draws a big line between her and the five other women in her family. With this as the foundation pre-coma, post-coma the chasm is all the more obvious. Which is how we find Sky seeking the services of Adam. Respectfully of course.

If Sky is the pariah, Adam is the town hero. When we meet him, he’s returned back to their small Virginia town after an illustrious career at the New York Times. He’s weary of Sky because he meets her in his grandfather’s kitchen where she regularly brings him food. Which, okay?

Due to the townspeople's intention to be the number one villain, Sky needs a reputation rehaul when she’s not delivering enchiladas to her elderly neighbor.But she does attract someone in need of a win. Their friendship never actually feels fake, which is my favorite type of fake relationship!

Adam is a horrible fake friend because his support for Sky always feels easy and genuine. Especially when he delivers justice to a bully!

In addition to the townspeople giving Sky grief, I spent the solid first half furious at all the women Sky’s related to and their selfishness. I eventually forgave them and remembered why I adored certain characters (Sage and Teal) and tolerated others (here’s looking at you Ama and her sister!).

And then there are a couple of stories within the story that make this a delight to read.

Sky is just an adorably fun character to live inside of and I love to see her grow in strength, ambition, witchcraft, and love. Adam starts grumpy and then thaws over the course of the story.

Their love story is intertwined with a fun mystery and a touch of second chance vibes.

I’m so obsessed with it and hope you will be too!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magic of Untamed Hearts snuck up on me, stunning me right into love. When beginning this book, I had no idea the impact it would have upon me. It's not just one of the best books I read in 2025, it's one of my all-time favorites. A book I *know* I will return to time and time again.

This is the story of Sky, who fell into a magical coma that led to her living as ghost for years until returning to her body. Now she must learn to live again. All while being outcast by her town and overlooked by the only family she has left. Sky remains untethered in life as she was in 'death.'

I so deeply felt Sky's loneliness, alienation, and longing. She's a wonderfully warm and vulnerable heroine I happily embraced, as I saw so much of myself in her. Here is character yearning to live but not quite sure how. Not after all she experienced. Fear becomes a debilitating enemy; for example, she closes herself off from her sisters, believing they are leaving her behind, severing (at least temporarily) much needed lines of communication. And I got it. I truly, truly did. To confront could be to verify her deepest worries. To realize the fear she is unwanted, a mere hindrance. Evidence lined up in a way that was hurtful, and she responded by protecting herself. All she has felt is hurt. And so her only defense is to guard her own heart. She's looked at by the town as a witch, as this othered being who is to ridiculed rather than embraced. And yet she still longs for so much more, as she did when she became a living ghost. Dreams kept her going in her ghostly living. One of them was her burgeoning teenaged infatuation of Adam, her neighbor's grandson. When she came back to life she caught words spoken by him that added to that pile of growing hurt. Until years later he's back, and this time, he's paying attention to the girl, now woman, whose disappearance shook a town. This time, he hears her side of the story. This time, she finally begins to feel seen.

I adored the bonding between Sky and Adam. Although she's back in the living, Sky remains invisible, until Adam begins to see her. It emboldens her to reach for those one-time dreams she harbored. To open her heart to all its vulnerability and hidden truths. To share parts of herself she never dare share before. Sky is able to put aside her fear and strive to find her place again, to find community, to find herself. Whether it's the cranky old man next door who becomes like a grandfather, or it's telling her grandmother how she truly feels, or it's tentatively reconnecting with sisters and allowing her heart to be fully seen. Adam becomes her support until she is able to stand on her own and boldly go forth her path. In turn, getting to know Sky has Adam seeing the world in colors he's never experienced. She shines so brightly, so uniquely and welcomes Adam into viewing the world as he knows it in such a different, unexpected way. There is an authenticity in mere experience that alights in both Sky and Adam due to the bond, and then love, blossoming between them. It all starts with wanting a pretend friend, and suddenly something far more real develops. Something far more impactful.

Not say there won't still be some major angst along the way, but if it does, you will desperately wish Sky to hang onto her newfound self. To love herself, to live for herself, to dream again. To not let it set her back.

From beginning to ending I felt so utterly protective of Sky. I want her to be loved, by family, by friends, by neighbors, and by Adam. By herself. Loved in every way possible. Just as she rightly deserves. Sky's journey brought tears, anguish, elation and comfort. It broke me, it healed me, it inspired by to always be authentically myself.

This is a work of beauty! Thank you Berkley Romance for the eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

[Andrea Rittschof · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Magic of Untamed Hearts, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland gives us an authentic and loving finale to the trilogy of the gifted sisters of Cranberry. From the very beginning, you know Sky has had challenges in her life, she already was a ghost for years after her fall and the townspeople of Cranberry never let her forget that she’s different and not wanted. Sky no longer feels like anyone is on her side including her very own sisters, who have disconnected from her due to events in their own lives. The story is intriguing because its one many people are familiar with, not being able to connect to others even when yIn The Magic of Untamed Hearts, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland gives us an authentic and loving finale to the trilogy of the gifted sisters of Cranberry. From the very beginning, you know Sky has had challenges in her life, she already was a ghost for years after her fall and the townspeople of Cranberry never let her forget that she’s different and not wanted. Sky no longer feels like anyone is on her side including her very own sisters, who have disconnected from her due to events in their own lives. The story is intriguing because its one many people are familiar with, not being able to connect to others even when you are trying.
I love the dynamic between Sky and Adam. Sky is very honest, with no filters and she doesn’t allow Adam to treat her badly. For her, it’s harder when Adam treats her kindly because she has to learn to open up and trust him. And for Sky, trust is hard. Adam also has learning to do, to not run away when things are difficult and to learn to communicate his true intentions to Sky. I love the magic of their connection and I also love the dynamic Sky has with her sisters once she reveals the disconnect and they begin talking again.
If you like loving books about being yourself and authentic communication, this book is for you. If you loved the first two books about Sage and Teal, you will love getting Sky’s story. It is a beautiful romance about trust and communication, authentic and loving in tone. I love the happy ending.
ou are trying.
I love the dynamic between Sky and Adam. Sky is very honest, with no filters and she doesn’t allow Adam to treat her badly. For her, it’s harder when Adam treats her kindly because she has to learn to open up and trust him. And for Sky, trust is hard. Adam also has learning to do, to not run away when things are difficult and to learn to communicate his true intentions to Sky. I love the magic of their connection and I also love the dynamic Sky has with her sisters once she reveals the disconnect and they begin talking again.
If you like loving books about being yourself and authentic communication, this book is for you. If you loved the first two books about Sage and Teal, you will love getting Sky’s story. It is a beautiful romance about trust and communication, authentic and loving in tone. I love the happy ending.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 🐻🐻🐻🐻🦊 (4.5/5 🌟)

I am very honored to have received this eARC from Berkley Romance! I am so excited to read the last book in this series.

Sky returning to the Land of the Living was interesting because as magical as it is, there are darker sides. She’s the town outcast and has an extremely small circle of people that she interacts with. The townspeople talk about her behind her back, to her face, and go as far as accusing her of witchcraft and enacting horrible, demeaning pranks on her. What’s amazing, though, is that no matter how mean people are, she remains SO kind-hearted and sweet. There were a few people that got what was coming to them and that was pretty satisfying! I also liked how she described her time of being “missing.”

Adam was interesting as we saw short snippets of him in the previous books and I ended up enjoying his character. He definitely seemed like he could have been shallow but I was pleasantly surprised. He was a gentleman, incredibly grounded, and acknowledged when he was wrong along with mending things. He cares a lot about his grandpa too, which I found endearing. I liked that his whole character wasn’t just someone who hit a snag in his career and was looking for a way back into the big city. He had layers and I really liked where the author took his backstory.

Their romance and friendship was SO sweet. While they make a deal for an exclusive interview in exchange for friendship, there is a genuine connection between them. Sky is rightfully traumatized at people interacting with her so it was nice to see her grow in that aspect with Adam. I also loved seeing Adam’s mind open up to the world of magic and to see how much Sky makes him laugh. Seeing them become flustered with the other, being oblivious to the romantic tension, and building their connection just felt so satisfying.

I enjoyed Sky's whimsical outlook and attitude about life. She has such a fun sense of humor and I found myself laughing at a lot of the things she says. Going deeper, her view on life is also really unique. She has frustrations on feeling like there is so much about life that she doesn't know about as she went missing for almost a decade. Her fear of being seen as incapable by others, especially her sisters, was so sad to see. I understand why she does some of the things that she does based on her mindset.

There are a lot of other things I loved that I don't have room for lol like Sky's animals, her rebuilding a connection with her sisters, the witch history, and her friendship with William. I do wish the witch history aspect was explored a bit more. It sounded interesting and I felt like we barely scratched the surface with it (here's me hoping there can be a 4th book to dive deeper into it lol). Overall, this feels like a great conclusion to the series! I'm definitely still going to skim them, it's easily one of my fave book series.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rep: Latine/x, autistic FMC, Chicana/Mexican American, Indigenous; bipolar SC; SC with postpartum depression; FMC with PTSD

Thank you so much to @berkleyromance and @Netgalley for the free copy!

The Magic of Untamed Hearts is Book 3 in a series, but don’t worry—you can absolutely jump in here without reading the previous books. Any necessary context is provided seamlessly. This was my first time reading Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, and it definitely won’t be my last. I loved her writing so much that, despite how complete this story felt on its own, I fully plan on going back to read the first two books centered on the other Flores sisters, Sage and Teal.

I wasn’t expecting to relate to Sky as deeply as I did, but her experience of feeling like an outcast—and like life has moved on without her—hit hard. Sky’s life has essentially been on pause after “losing eight years of full-on life due to a long-ass, supernatural hibernation,” and this book explores what it means to re-enter a world that didn’t stop while you did.

While Sky’s experience is rooted in magical realism rather than illness, it strongly reminded me of life with ME/CFS. That sense of living death, of watching people and time move forward while you remain stuck, and of no longer feeling like you belong to your own age group—too young and too old at the same time—was portrayed in a way that felt painfully familiar and deeply validating.

One of the things I loved most was watching Sky slowly find her voice. Her relationship with her elderly neighbor was especially tender, as was her journey toward finding and asserting her place within her family—particularly with her sisters and her nephew. Her fake “friendship” and then a developing romance with Adam—her neighbor’s grandson and the town darling recently laid off from his job—was layered and gripping.

Sky’s bond with magical animals was another highlight, as was her work as a librarian (always a win for me). The story also weaves in magical realism, an intriguing subplot involving the investigation of a matriarchal cult, and strong themes around belonging and identity.

Overall, this book was incredibly powerful—especially for anyone who has experienced disruption, loss of time, or the feeling of being left behind by life.

CW: divorce, sanism, sexism, bullying, trauma, PTSD, depression, near-death experience, sexual harassment, dementia, parental abandonment, neglect, adultification, verbal abuse, death of a parent, postpartum depression, alcoholism, coma, heart attack, caretaking, sexual content