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The Best Kind of Magic

(Windy City Magic #1)

Crystal Cestari (Goodreads Author)

3.82 · Rating details · 1,733 ratings · 352 reviews

Amber Sand is not a witch. The Sand family Wicca gene somehow leapfrogged over her. But she did get one highly specific magical talent: she can see true love. As a matchmaker, Amber's pretty far down the sorcery food chain (even birthday party magicians rank higher), but after five seconds of eye contact, she can envision anyone's soul mate.

Amber works at her mother's magi ...more

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Published May 16th 2017 by Disney-Hyperion

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Mar 05, 2018 ☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ rated it it was amazing

A cozy witchy read and on nothing less than the subject of true love and soulmates. Just the way I like them.
Q:
While I may not have the swagger or power of your everyday witch, I’ve come to realize that what I can do is still pretty badass: I can see true love.
I don’t mean the chocolate-covered, mushy-gushy signs of love, but real, destined-to-happen happy endings. All I need is five seconds of eye contact, and I’ll envision anyone’s soul mate.
I’m a matchmaker. (c)
Q:
Sirens are notoriously manipu ...more

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Jul 07, 2018 Always Pouting rated it liked it

Amber Sand comes from a family of witches but is not a witch herself. Amber does have her own unique gift however, seeing people's true match. Amber works in her mother's magic shop in downtown Chicago answering people's questions about their love life, putting her gift to use. Things get complicated for Amber when her mom's best friend's son Charlie Blitzman comes to her to help him find his dad's missing girlfriend. As the two try to solve the mystery together, Amber runs into questions about Amber Sand comes from a family of witches but is not a witch herself. Amber does have her own unique gift however, seeing people's true match. Amber works in her mother's magic shop in downtown Chicago answering people's questions about their love life, putting her gift to use. Things get complicated for Amber when her mom's best friend's son Charlie Blitzman comes to her to help him find his dad's missing girlfriend. As the two try to solve the mystery together, Amber runs into questions about her own gift and it's limits and her insecurities of lacking the same powers her mother has.

I thought the book was really cute but it's one of those books where again it was totally not written with me as the intended audience. It's clearly aimed at younger teens and they might even enjoy it much more than I did. It does deal with a lot of themes that are relevant to growing up, like contending with one's parent's expectations of who they ought to be and the reality of who a person is and reconciling the two. Also the whole dynamic of relationships and whether they're worthwhile pursuing if they're not lasting is one that is understandable even for those of us who don't know who everyone's soulmate is going to be.

I did find it a little hokey though when reading the book, just the characterization of teenagers in the beginning felt like a bit much. Also it felt pretty predictable where the book was going and I just couldn't get on board with the ending. I know it was setting up for a sequel but it still felt a little sloppy the way it jut plays out. I just think at this point I've read enough that I can't enjoy a book like this anymore and I've outgrown books about teenagers because they just behave in ways that don't really feel right even if I can understand their behavior and sympathize with it. Like Amber's insistence her mother tell her everything felt kind of ridiculous.

It was an okay book, something that might be much more enjoyable for younger teens than an decrepit twenty-something like me. ...more

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Apr 15, 2017 ambsreads rated it did not like it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, dnf-2017, magic, may-continue, fantasy, not-for-me, annoying-female-leads, romance, young-adult, d-n-f

This is an eARC, all opinions are my own.

DNF @ 25%

I don't like to not finish ARC's. I feel rude. I feel unworthy. However, I couldn't deal with this one. I could see what the author was going for and I was so excited for witches. 14 year old me desperately wanted to read anything with a witch in it. I loved the idea. Hell, I wanted to be a witch. Unfortunately, I am not and double unfortunately this book was falling super flat for me.

The protagonist, who's name I wouldn't be able to remember if ...more

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Mar 16, 2018 Kat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-2

This was a really cute debut about Amber Sands, a witch from a family of witches, who unfortunately hasn’t inherited her mother’s awesome witchy powers. What she does have is the abilities of a matchmaker. She can stare into your eyes and see the person who is your true love. Interesting scenario! Except trouble ensues when Amber finally meets a boy she truly likes, Charlie, and she can see the girl in his happy future… who isn’t her.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Amber and Charlie, ...more

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Apr 26, 2018 Melanie (TBR and Beyond) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: relationship-goals, ya-fantasy, books-i-own, read-in-2018, friendship-goals, ya-romance

“The merging of two lives, the threshold of possibility: it's an energy unlike anything else.”

Me? Like an ooey-gooey romantic novel? Never! Ok a little... OK OK, I LOVED IT. Stop hassling me!

Yep, you heard it here. I have found an adorable love story that doesn't make me roll my eyes cynically every five seconds. You guessed it, I'm not really someone who reads light/romantic contemporary novels and that is what this book is at its core. I think that there was a fantasy element mix “The merging of two lives, the threshold of possibility: it's an energy unlike anything else.”

Me? Like an ooey-gooey romantic novel? Never! Ok a little... OK OK, I LOVED IT. Stop hassling me!

Yep, you heard it here. I have found an adorable love story that doesn't make me roll my eyes cynically every five seconds. You guessed it, I'm not really someone who reads light/romantic contemporary novels and that is what this book is at its core. I think that there was a fantasy element mixed in kept me interested the whole way. Also, the author cites characters like Buffy Summers and Veronica Mars for the inspiration of her main character so it was a match made in heaven for me.

The main character, Amber, is a matchmaker - she looks into your eyes and can see your soulmate. She is basically at the bottom of the barrel in terms of magical gifts but seems mostly happy with her power. Amber is a very sassy, optimistic but pessimistic (totally possible - I do it frequently!) young woman and she works at a magic shop run by her mother (who is a full blown witch). I loved the environment the story took place in - yes some were normal locations but then you had the magic shop with the coven getting together there - not to mention a shady club for those who are not quite human. We get some witches, vampires, sirens and some other fun magical creatures that I won't ruin the surprise on. The setting really helped the feel of the book for me.

The love interest, Charlie, is also a complete delight. I can imagine being 17 and swept off my feet by this loner/cool-kid. His description sounds like a trope but somehow the author manages to keep his character fresh and believable. I was rooting for Amber and Charlie all through the book and even though they hit some pretty rough bumps in the road - I was glad I followed along for their journey.

The other part I appreciated about this book was that it featured a strong female friendship, which is something that is getting more common in the YA category but still lacking so that was great. Also, Amber had a fantastic, interesting single mother. Her mom wasn't trying to be her daughter's friend - she was a mom but a good one! She made mistakes, said things that she shouldn't sometimes but at the end of the day she loved her daughter and it was really great seeing their relationship slowly grow. More of this in YA please!!!

Bottom line - feeling like something really light but don't exactly want to go into the real world with contemporary? Try this book. You stay in a fantasy setting but still get a huge dose of adorable and fun. ...more

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Feb 12, 2018 chloe ♡ rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-own, blog-tours, beat-the-backlist-2018

I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. I have only read a few magic realism novels, but hey, it might actually be my thing because I really enjoyed reading those books.

Wanting to find love does not make someone weak; it's not a character flaw. Life is hard, and grueling, and having someone root for you and travel beside you is a gift that anyone in this world would be lucky to have. I'm not saying that people can't be happy or fulfilled on their own; of course they can. But being open to the possibilit ...more

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May 15, 2017 Kariny 'Books of Fandom' rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-challenge, tours

* I RECEIVED A FREE COPY FOR THE BLOG TOUR*
FOR THE GIVEAWAY VISIT MY BLOG (US/CANADA ONLY) http://karinysteenbooxfrenz.blogspot....

Amber's not the happiest person on the planet. Coming from a line of powerful witches she isn't thrilled with being a lowly matchmaker that witches look down on. She isn't allowed into the coven or into any of the witch traditions because she isn't considered to a be a witch...*Ouch*. But when the mayor's son comes to her for help to find his future step mom who

...more

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Jul 22, 2018 MissBecka Gee rated it it was amazing

Recommended to MissBecka by: Kat

Shelves: completed-library-rentals, z2018-books-i-read, awesome-books

Oh my, this was so delightfully cute!
First off let me say thanks to ever awesome Miss Kat for turning my head in the direction of this series.
The characters are all so wonderful...especially Amber who has the most amusing personality in the banter she creates I was in stitches a good chunk of this book.
I adore paranormal books and I hadn't read one that was so much fun in ages!
Amber comes from a long line of witches, though the full witchy gene seems to have alluded her.
She does have a super co ...more

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Mar 05, 2017 Cheryl Gladfelter rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite, love, fantasy, audiobook, narrator-excellent, romance, ya-fiction, 2017

Spent the last few weekends savoring this book. A super sarcastic heroine (my fav!) whose magical ability lets her see everyone's soulmate-except her own. This was a light and frothy read, and just the kind of fun escapism entertainment I've been needing. Plan to recommend to teens at my library looking for the same. Can't wait for book 2! ...more

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Dec 28, 2016 T.J. Burns rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-teen, 2017-03-march, netgalley-edelweiss-reviewed, ng, preferred-publisher, fantasy-sci-fi, disney-hyperion

I liked the voice. Amber's matter-of-fact, sarcastic, joke-dropping, sassy, and a little self-depreciating style resonated with me, as did the setting -- my parents are from Chicago.

I thoroughly enjoyed Amber's snide remarks and sarcastic thoughts throughout. Amber continued to surprise me with her witty reactions, comments, and thoughts, which were not at all repetitive, but flexed according to each new situation.

There's a theme that I found intriguing here as well, and that is the idea of fate I liked the voice. Amber's matter-of-fact, sarcastic, joke-dropping, sassy, and a little self-depreciating style resonated with me, as did the setting -- my parents are from Chicago.

I thoroughly enjoyed Amber's snide remarks and sarcastic thoughts throughout. Amber continued to surprise me with her witty reactions, comments, and thoughts, which were not at all repetitive, but flexed according to each new situation.

There's a theme that I found intriguing here as well, and that is the idea of fate. I'm not a fan of fate (or "the fates") predetermining people's destinies. I like to think that people's independent choices determine their destinies. So the whole idea that there is "one true love" for everyone, and this love is predetermined, is for me a bunch of hogwash (put politely in a public forum ;) ).

I am sure that there is more than one ideal mate (probably quite a few), and that each person can decide for himself/herself what s/he wants out of a relationship and life.

So... if this is a possibility, then there is the possibility that Charlie and Amber could side-step "the fates" and choose their own love connection, possibly each other... (Charlie was able to resist the siren in school, so he may be able to resist the fates and their pre-selected mate as well). I think Amber and Charlie have a positive dynamic and I would love to see them laugh in the fates' faces and take control of their own lives.

Some unanswered questions that I hope will be answered in the next installment are:
(view spoiler)

This was a fun read!
I like the idea of a matchmaker, the low-end of the magical totem pole, and yet... love really is the best kind of magic!

I received a copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

BUDDY READ:Paranormal/Fantasy > The Best Kind of Magic (Amber Sand #1) by Crystal Cestari -- Starting March 16th 2017
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ...more

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May 21, 2017 Jennifer Y. rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-digital, 2017-reads

The Best Kind of Magic is a fun read filled with magic, wit, and a bit of romance. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I read Amber's story and even laughed out loud a few times (literally).

Amber is such a fun, snarky character that I found quite relatable and entertaining. You see somehow Amber didn't inherit the gene that would make her a witch like the rest of her family. However, she still has a mystical talent of her own as a matchmaker who can see true love. As she struggles to fit into a famil The Best Kind of Magic is a fun read filled with magic, wit, and a bit of romance. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I read Amber's story and even laughed out loud a few times (literally).

Amber is such a fun, snarky character that I found quite relatable and entertaining. You see somehow Amber didn't inherit the gene that would make her a witch like the rest of her family. However, she still has a mystical talent of her own as a matchmaker who can see true love. As she struggles to fit into a family full of witches who don't fully appreciate her specific talents, she also has to deal with pesky classmates hounding her about their true love matches. She does this all with plenty of sass and humor that had me smiling as it was almost exactly what how I would (or hope I would) react.

And after the mayor comes to her mother's magic shop, Windy City Magic, for help, she somehow manages to become involved in the search for a missing person. She soon finds herself falling for Charlie, the mayor's son, despite the fact that she knows she's not his true love match. But sometimes you have to make your own happy ending...right? Well, you'll just have to read for yourself to find out what happens.

If you do read the book, you'll find a very interesting and colorful cast of characters each with their own distinct qualities and personalities that make them stand out from one another. And while the characters may come across as a bit formulaic, I have to say, the characters of this story are really what made me keep reading. From our narrator, Amber, a snarky, humorous character who struggles to fit in to her sassy, clairvoyant best friend, Amani, to mean girl/ siren Ivy, each character added a little something to the story that I could appreciate and enjoy. I really enjoyed the friendship and other relationships in the book as well. And I can't forget about Charlie...he is such a sweetheart (who just happens to share my fondness for dragons and the film, Pete's Dragon...a favorite from childhood). I could easily see how Amber could fall for him (and not just because of the dragon thing). And thanks to their distinct personalities and the author's writing, I could easily picture each character as I read the story.

Crystal Cestari has also managed to create a fun, magical world that I wish I could be a part of in this urban fantasy set in Chicago. While it's similar to our own world, it still has enough magical realism to make it a different and fascinating place to read about. There are all kinds of magical beings living there and an interesting history to this place which really added to my enjoyment.

But if I had to nitpick, my one complaint would be the pacing of the story and plot. It just seems to move a tad slower than I'd prefer. Despite this, The Best Kind of Magic was very entertaining and I look forward to reading more about Amber and her adventures in the next book.

*I received a digital ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review* ...more

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Jun 25, 2019 Andy rated it liked it

Shelves: own, 2019-read

3.5/5

Such a cute story!! Amber Sand is a matchmaker, a type of witch with very specific magic. She can see peoples' match when she looks into their eyes. The more time she spends with them, the more specific the image. When an old friend comes asking for help, she can't help but see his match. As they investigate Amber begins to fall for him even when she knows it's pointless. Could the fates be wrong about her gift?

I enjoyed Amber's character. At times, she was a bit annoying, but I loved her d ...more

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May 03, 2017 Mandy added it

DNF @ 40% (look! I actually remembered to check!)

Honestly, I think I would have loved this story, like, 9 years ago. It has all the makings of a book back in that book era: blonde bimbo/evil promiscuous girl, the popular boy that every girl wants but really has a heart of gold, supernatural heroine who is SO different from everyone else with a wicked sense of humor and snark, and her sassy best friend who is obsessed with boys or thinking about them (well, one in this case). Doesn't this sound l DNF @ 40% (look! I actually remembered to check!)

Honestly, I think I would have loved this story, like, 9 years ago. It has all the makings of a book back in that book era: blonde bimbo/evil promiscuous girl, the popular boy that every girl wants but really has a heart of gold, supernatural heroine who is SO different from everyone else with a wicked sense of humor and snark, and her sassy best friend who is obsessed with boys or thinking about them (well, one in this case). Doesn't this sound like quite a few books that you read a couple of years ago? I can totally think of a couple right off the top of my head that fit this exact description. And truthfully, back when my book tastes didn't quite realize there was a super big formula and not much substance, I totally ate them up.

However, having much more book knowledge, this novel seemed to just be following a schedule and formula. I could seriously pinpoint when things were going to happen and what was going to happen because it followed so closely to that formula from a few years ago. I just kept thinking, why couldn't this book have come out years ago, because I seriously would have loved it?

That's not say that there weren't parts I enjoyed. I mean, I did stick with it for forty percent, which, you all know, is a pretty big feat for me if I'm going to DNF something. It was engaging, and it was funny. I loved the world that was created with magic on the Navy Pier, and Amber did have a good sense of humor. Those beginning chapters had me cracking up. The magic realism aspect was done brilliantly as well.

It's just the other parts floundered for me. I couldn't get into the story, because I felt that I had read it already. I wanted more from the book, and I just couldn't disconnect. At around 40%, there was supposed to be an important part to it, but I literally just looked at my Kindle app and went, nope, I really don't care. And I realized I had a feeling of not caring for it for a while, and if I wasn't invested, what was the point?

This novel has the makings of a good story. There were a lot of elements that I did like, but the other elements were too overwhelming for this Book Princess. I couldn't get past them, and I think if Cestari had pushed it a bit more, this would have been a story that I would have loved.

A Snow White rating and no stars since I didn't make it to 50%! ...more

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Aug 08, 2017 Laurence R. rated it really liked it

Really cute! This book is very nice, but I wasn't a fan of the ending. I feel like some things aren't finished, which makes sense, since it's part of a series. However, there's one detail that really needed to be cleared up in this book, in my opinion, and it isn't. I would have liked the ending much better if it were. ...more

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Oct 16, 2017 Morris rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-reviews, 2017-favorites, recommend

“The Best Kind of Magic” is a promising start to the new “Windy City Magic” series. It has just the right blend of magical realism, suspense, the supernatural, and romance to make for a fun, light read. It flows well and the sass of Amber kept me laughing. It’s the perfect book for when you need a break from reality. Good for grades 7 through adults. Highly recommended!

This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.

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Jan 17, 2018 PB rated it really liked it

Shelves: all-time-favorites, fiction, series, romance, supernatural, magical-realism-or-urban-fantasy

See full review on: https://bookdragonlair.wordpress.com/...

Review Summary: I had so much fun reading The Best Kind of Magic. It’s funny and different and hard to put down.
Overall, as you probably can tell, I was really taken in. The characters developed well and they live in a slightly more interesting version of Chicago. The sequel will be out soon, but even so, I think that it also works as a standalone. If you’re looking for a light, funny read with unexpected insights on life and love, I h ...more

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Jan 01, 2018 Tissy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

So, this was an incredibly boring book. I tried to get into it as I always feel compelled to read as much of an ARC as possible seeing as I requested it etc but I just had to DNF at 23%. It was becoming a waste of my time to read on sooo...

I genuinely don't get a lot of opportunities to read lately so I'm on a quest to only read what grabs me from the first pages or chapter if I'm feeling generous. I was way too generous in this instance and was right to trust my gut that it wouldn't get interes ...more

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Jun 24, 2017 Samm | Sassenach the Book Wizard rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own

This book was adorable!

It was eary to see my high school social organization and my attitude of heavy sarcasm displayed. The banter involving Amber was so near and dear to my heart and is how I tend to communicate as well.

The romances are cute and complex and there's variations in each of them which I loved.

Well written and I'm really curious to see what the plot for the sequel will be. It's kind of fantasy but also magical realism. ...more

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Jun 05, 2017 Lindsey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018, 2017

Oh my gosh, I freaking love this book!! The sarcasm and the wit that Amber has is amazing! The entire story had me gripped and I already can't wait for the sequel! A favorite of 2017, for sure!!!

Reread in March 2018: Still love Amber and so ready for the sequel!! ...more

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Nov 13, 2017 TheYALibrarian rated it really liked it

Shelves: strong-female-protagonist, arcs-read, favorites, cutesy-light-read, book-cover-porn

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Rating 4.5 Stars

I had such low expectations for this one so it made it more shocking and thrilling that I really enjoyed it. Once I started the audio of this story I could not stop it I was so drawn in this version of modern day Chicago. Even though I have never been to that city myself Cestari painted a pretty vivid picture without being too overwhelming with details.

What really made this story shine was the main character ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Rating 4.5 Stars

I had such low expectations for this one so it made it more shocking and thrilling that I really enjoyed it. Once I started the audio of this story I could not stop it I was so drawn in this version of modern day Chicago. Even though I have never been to that city myself Cestari painted a pretty vivid picture without being too overwhelming with details.

What really made this story shine was the main characters Amber, Amani, and Charlie. Amber is a girl after my own heart. Shes snarky, quirky, and not a girl who obsesses over how gorgeous Charlie is. Her own magical gift is also pretty unique as well. I have yet to read a book with a protagonist who has the ability to bring couples together by being able to see their matches besides cupid. It added a really interesting aspect and drove the plot forward. Amani is technically more powerful being able to see the future but its her personality and dynamic with Amber that makes her great. Alot of her and Amber I see in my own friendships that came and went in my high school years as well as college. Its a friendship that is pretty enviable and was painted so real for me. Charlie is also dreamy but thankfully not in the usual way. He's not this arrogant Adonis who strings along the girl. To me he seemed like an ordinary teenager, tall and well built but has a touch of geekiness because of his glasses. He seemed like a genuinely great guy with no nasty ulterior motive, just to really help out his dad and seeking out Amber's help to do it. Plus Amber and Charlie's romance was a nice slow burn with lots of chemistry between them which is refreshing from the common insta-love formula seen in YA books these days (Thanks to that fact I am starting to get super tired of romances in general ugh). I look forward to seeing more of Charlie and Amber gushiness in the sequel.

There is also a different kind of chemistry that is Amber and her mom. Her mom (sorry I'm blanking on her name right now) is not the typical hard ass mom. Yes she can come down on Amber but that was not a big part of her character. It was more of her mom using her gift to make things better and also use it for needed defense. The scene when she practically chokes Victoria to death for trying to hurt Amber was one of my favorite moments. Amber's mom is not to be fucked with that's for sure. There are also purposeful holes in her backstory that I look forward to being hopefully revealed soon.

The plot also needs a lot of praise. Cestari really fleshed it out and made sure to really follow the important writer 101 of the characters wants, the climax, the resolution, etc. That's not an easy feat its not uncommon to for books to have plot but flounder here and there and there are some that have no fleshed out plot at all. The twists were also really brilliant, especially the big one of Charlie not being her match that plaques Amber through the whole book. Then there was the unexpected arrival of Kim, his true match and it added another great twist and another kick in the ass to Amber because we all know how protagonists must suffer constantly or the book would be boring. The best twist of them all is the possible flaw in Amber's match making abilities. She was convinced that Vincent was Amani's match but Amani turned out to not like the guy at all. Not even a little and that opened a whole new door in the plot; that Amber's gift might not be %100 on point all the time so maybe Kim is not Charlie's match. It is a great thought that I'm itching to find out.

There's also the glaring truth that this book did not have a full five stars. That is really because of the very beginning of the book. Amber seemed more whiny than snarky for a good chunk of the first chapters and the plot started off pretty slow when some things could be cut off to make the important parts happen faster. There was also the lack of world-building. Yes its in Chicago but it was never made clear that not just witches existed in this universe. Instead it was offhandedly mentioned when a guy with elf ears comes into a shop that just made it a little jarring for me. I don't think in every universe that has a supernatural creature it should be assumed that all would exist as well so that was a little bit of a problem for me.

Otherwise I'm ready to gobble up the sequel and I have NetGalley to thank for giving me an ARC so I don't have to wait. It really kicks ass to be a librarian sometimes. ...more

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Jun 30, 2017 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed-by-kate

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.

The vibe one gets from the cover of THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC is that the contents within will be lighthearted and cutesy. The story delivers exactly that - an excellent example of a time a cover is perfect for the book. Unfortunately, while lighthearted and fun, I do have a few complaints about THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC.

Overall, THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC is fluff. It's fun and a quick read, but there were some issues. My primary issue with the book is that the ...more

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May 12, 2017 Claire is looking for Bloodlines series ARCs rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-adult, arc-reviews, middlegrade, fantasy, dnf

*Huge thanks to the publisher for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Don't get me wrong, I can see the appeal when I first requested this book. Who doesn't want to read about a girl who can look at someone's eyes and see their soulmate? I certainly found that intriguing! I'm actually in love with the premise of this book.

The problem? The main character wasn't memorable. ~~I can't even remember her name.~~ I try so hard to k ...more

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Aug 08, 2017 Jessica Robbins rated it liked it

For complete review check out my blog at https://booksaplentybookreviews.blogs... ...more

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May 18, 2017 Nicole M. Hewitt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction-addiction-read

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

I needed this book in my life right now. I was sort of feeling like I was in a reading slump, partially because I’ve just been busy and tired, and I really needed the sort of book that hooked me in and didn’t let go. This book kept me guessing about where exactly it was going and how things were going to work out, and that was perfect. I was wrapped up in Amber’s life and I loved every minute of it!

What Fed My Addictio ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 Kathy Martin rated it it was amazing

Amber Sand comes from a long line of witches. Unfortunately, she's not a witch. She does have one magical power, though. She can see true love which makes her a matchmaker. She works at her mother's magic shop - Windy City Magic - on Navy Pier in downtown Chicago. Despite being able to see a person's true love when looking in their eyes, she is unable to see her own true love. Her best friend Amani is a precog who has visions of the future but they have made a pledge not to tell each other what ...more

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Aug 05, 2017 Lindsay♫SingerOfStories♫ rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, 2017-reads, ya-fantasy, young-adult, 4-star-ya

There is so much that I loved about this book!! 'Windy City Magic #1' felt like a cozy mystery for teens and it was my JAM!!! Or you could look at it as Urban Fantasy/Romance for teens just the same. A couple of my little pet peeves showed up and made my eyeballs twitch a bit, but overall, I can't wait for the second book! Or third or fourth! Let me first give a brief synopsis, and then I'll cover my opinions:

The Best Kind of Magic gives us a tour of all kinds of magic in the Windy City (Chicago There is so much that I loved about this book!! 'Windy City Magic #1' felt like a cozy mystery for teens and it was my JAM!!! Or you could look at it as Urban Fantasy/Romance for teens just the same. A couple of my little pet peeves showed up and made my eyeballs twitch a bit, but overall, I can't wait for the second book! Or third or fourth! Let me first give a brief synopsis, and then I'll cover my opinions:

The Best Kind of Magic gives us a tour of all kinds of magic in the Windy City (Chicago): goblins, fairies, leprechauns, werewolves, vampires, sirens, and of course, witches. Amber Sand is a not a witch. Her mother is, but she is a matchmaker. Meaning that she can look into people's eyes and see their true love. One day, the mayor's son (who is also the most talked-about boy in school) comes in to Amber and her mother's shop, Windy City Magic, requesting Amber's help finding his father's missing girlfriend. Thus begins an adventure with romance, humor, bad guys, a twist and a turn and a to be continued in book 2!! (not a cliffhanger! This book wraps up nicely.)

The first thing I liked about this book was the genre feel. I am a sucker for a cozy mystery, I enjoy paranormal romances, and then put those things in a YA format....have I died and gone to heaven?! Almost too good to be true. I loved it. I wish there was more of this writing out there. So with this genre comes the characters. There was a good mix of humans and paranormals. I liked how Amber and her mother, and even their coven, had a certain struggle with Amber's matchmaking talents. It was a very different and clever spin on the traditional coming of age story that you usually get in YA books and I really liked that. Amani (Amber's best friend) has her own struggles with her magical gifts of being a precog. Their friendship in the book is wonderful, by the way. I just saw a meme the other day that went something like this:

Friend: Oh, I'm so sorry, what can I do?
Best friend: 1/2 price shakes at Sonic. Get your butt in the car.

That's the kind of friends Amber and Amani are. Partially because of their mystic powers and partially because they are comfortable and secure in their own selves (which other high school students find "weird" and "different" of course), the two friends are outcasts and have a very close friendship. Back on track. Charlie is a human and he does a great job taking in everything in the PRN world. You almost wonder every once in a while if he and his father have trace amounts of supernatural in their blood somewhere.

Ok, I will speak of my one biggest pet peeve that occurred in this book: immature language. I hate when authors frequently use immature language. If you want to call it that. To me, its almost Valley Girl...rich snob...Pretty Little Liars...I barely hear kids talking like that and I work in a private high school. Granted, not in Chicago, but in Northern Illinois within 60 miles of Chicago. I do not hear students commonly using the words "natch" instead of natural (I've never heard that), or "cas" for casual (I have heard this, but not frequently). In the first 100 pages of the book when we are first meeting the characters, this kind of abbreviated language is EVERYWHERE. It DEFINES Amber's personality and sense of humor. Toward the middle, it fades out and she is more just sarcastic and witty with Charlie but in the beginning, we are NOT talking to a lowly girl. I just didn't see her as having that much of a consistent attitude. Ivy, the blonde cheerleader mean girl? For sure. But Amber? No. I hated that. I like to read full English sentences. Maybe that's the adult reading a YA novel in me so excuse this paragraph if so. But I'm just saying. I HATE abbreviated teen-speak. Ugh! Not appropriate for books, IMO.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. For full review, please check out my blog: Singer of Stories ...more

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Jun 12, 2017 Savannah rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

This review was originally posted on my blog, Sav Scribbles.

*I received a copy of GOODBYE DAYS from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This affects my review in no way.

This book was quite addicting. I read it within 9 hours, which must be some type of record because I almost never finish books that quickly. (Mind you, that's probably because I'm on winter break and today wasn't as busy as usual.)

Let's get into it, shall we?

I didn't really know what THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC was about goin This review was originally posted on my blog, Sav Scribbles.

*I received a copy of GOODBYE DAYS from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This affects my review in no way.

This book was quite addicting. I read it within 9 hours, which must be some type of record because I almost never finish books that quickly. (Mind you, that's probably because I'm on winter break and today wasn't as busy as usual.)

Let's get into it, shall we?

I didn't really know what THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC was about going into it, because I saw the promises of magic and romance and I was sold.

Let me tell you, this book is much, much, much more focused on romance than magic.
Yeah, the main character's main form of magic is matchmaking, but it's not explained at all. The magic system is not really touched on; it's just a plot device and we're like yeah, okay, magic exists. Cool.

Despite my disappointment on finding that this book would be more focused on romance than magic, I still enjoyed reading it. I am a sucker for any romance story, and I had a bit of the feels™ while reading it, but I wasn't really blown away by said romance or anything like that.

One of the elements that I think was holding me back from fully enjoying this book was the writing. I didn't notice it at the beginning, but as the novel went on, I felt like the author was trying a bit too hard to write from a typical teenager's perspective. I don't know about other teenagers, but I usually don't think "UUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH", and I definitely wouldn't include said thoughts in such a way if I was writing about my experience.
But that's just me.

The characters were also pretty... well, stereotypical. I noticed a few ~I'm not like other girls~ lines or "what more could a girl want?! I'm so quirky and cool!" that weren't appreciated. The main love interest was, again, unremarkable.
I would also like to point out that I have absolutely no idea what any of the characters look like, so I can't comment on the diversity of characters. I don't know if I missed something, but there was just such a lack of description all around, and if I were to try to draw the characters (despite my lack of drawing skills), I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Another one of the elements that held me back from loving THE BEST KIND OF MAGIC was the obvious plot. I wasn't really shocked by anything that happened, and a lot of things are still unexplained, but I'll be reading the sequel because I'm a sucker for a quick, enjoyable romance story. Oops?

All in all, this book wasn't incredibly remarkable in any way, but it was enjoyable and fast-paced. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick read with casual, unexplained magic and a cute, entertaining romance. ...more

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Jun 03, 2017 CR rated it it was amazing

This was such a cute book! It has all the elements of a wonderful story! I've been pagan for over 29 years and although we Pagans and Wiccans don't have the magical powers that are in this book. It does give you some very good advice such as. Magic is a gift and not a right. As well as to follow your heart. There's more to life than fate.

This one was a world wind of crazy laughs, snarky remarks, and some really good romance. It's one I will DEFINITELY be rereading in the future. I really fell i ...more

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Nov 05, 2017 ♡AbbyBooks♡ rated it really liked it

Please please tell me that amber and Charlie would have a happy ending I want the second book now not next year ugh :3 so many feelings!!

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Sep 02, 2018 Nicole Campbell rated it liked it

3.5 stars. This was cute. For me, it wavered between being a middle grade novel and a YA novel but didn't totally fit into either category. A little campy at times, but overall worth the read. ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Year 9 Favourite ...: Miss Match: Always the Matchmaker, Never the Match	1	4	Oct 27, 2019 04:14PM
Miss Match: Always the Matchmaker, Never the Match	1	1	Oct 27, 2019 04:11PM
YA Buddy Readers'...: The Best Kind of Magic (Amber Sand #1) by Crystal Cestari -- Starting March 16th 2017	8	17	Mar 30, 2017 03:57PM

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About Crystal Cestari

Crystal Cestari

205 followers

Oh hey! Thanks for stopping by!

Writing has been my jam since I was very young. In fact, in fifth grade we filled out a profile declaring what we would be doing as adults. I wrote I wanted to be an author because: "I love reading and stories, and want to share that love." My elementary-school self was very wise, because that sentiment holds true today.

I live just outside Chicago with my daughter. ...more