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Ashveil Academy #1
Help Wanted
Em is confused about a lot of things: who she is, what she wants, how she’s going to pass Alchemy when she’s awful at it. The one thing she’s not confused about is how much she wants to buy her best friend (and college roommate) the best birthday present ever. Luckily the local magic supply shop is hiring.
Her plan to get a job there would be working perfectly if not for her coworker Phineas who is in turns aggravating and endearingly awkward. She’s not sure if she wants to date him or wants to be him. The more time they spend together the more she thinks it may be both.
Help Wanted is an 18,000 word novella with a gender and sexuality questioning f/m romance. It is the first in a new series about students at a contemporary magic college.
Her plan to get a job there would be working perfectly if not for her coworker Phineas who is in turns aggravating and endearingly awkward. She’s not sure if she wants to date him or wants to be him. The more time they spend together the more she thinks it may be both.
Help Wanted is an 18,000 word novella with a gender and sexuality questioning f/m romance. It is the first in a new series about students at a contemporary magic college.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2018
4 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 22, 2023
A "gender and sexuality questioning f/m romance" starring Em, a college student at magical Ashveil Academy who falls for her co-worker at a magical supply shop. It's charming and kind, and I'm hopeful this will turn into a series, (not just) because MAGIC COLLEGE.
Disclosure: I'm now friends with the author, but this review was written before we met.
Disclosure: I'm now friends with the author, but this review was written before we met.
June 13, 2019
I liked the characters and enjoyed the story, I just wish it was longer! It felt like things were just getting started and then it was over. Waiting impatiently for the next book...
October 12, 2018
This was adorable AF.
You can read my full review here!
You can read my full review here!
September 3, 2018
I really loved this!!
Help Wanted is a wonderfull novella about Em, student at a college for magic, who really needs some money to buy her best friend the most awesome birthday gift ever.
Luckily the nearby magic supply store is hiring. And luckily her coworker Phineas, despite behaving like a jerk at first, agrees to help her not fail her classes. Which is great, even though being around Phineas makes Em wonder about herself.
I loved every aspect of this novella.
The awkwardness of both Em and Phineas was spot on and very relateable.
Em's questioning regarding her gender and her (a)sexuality was equally well done and smoothly integrated into the narrative, and I loved that she was mildly touch-averse.
The various side characters are all interesting and I adored the many nuances and quirks that every single one of them has, regardless of how big or small a role they play. It made the book feel vivid and the characters feel real.
Em's relationship with Phineas never surpassed or competed Em's relationship with Thaian, her best friend, and I enjoyed the interactions within their friend group of four.
The magic aspect was subtle and not overly in the foreground - The college the characters go to just happens to teach magic, adding another cool and interesting nuance to the story.
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Help Wanted is a wonderfull novella about Em, student at a college for magic, who really needs some money to buy her best friend the most awesome birthday gift ever.
Luckily the nearby magic supply store is hiring. And luckily her coworker Phineas, despite behaving like a jerk at first, agrees to help her not fail her classes. Which is great, even though being around Phineas makes Em wonder about herself.
I loved every aspect of this novella.
The awkwardness of both Em and Phineas was spot on and very relateable.
Em's questioning regarding her gender and her (a)sexuality was equally well done and smoothly integrated into the narrative, and I loved that she was mildly touch-averse.
The various side characters are all interesting and I adored the many nuances and quirks that every single one of them has, regardless of how big or small a role they play. It made the book feel vivid and the characters feel real.
Em's relationship with Phineas never surpassed or competed Em's relationship with Thaian, her best friend, and I enjoyed the interactions within their friend group of four.
The magic aspect was subtle and not overly in the foreground - The college the characters go to just happens to teach magic, adding another cool and interesting nuance to the story.
I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2018
Oh I really loved this slow build New Adult magicians story set in Ashveil Academy and giving us a taste of the kinds of classes and events surrounding the first and second years therein. To me, it seemed a little bit like The Magicians (the TV show, not the books as I haven't yet read the latter) but... queerer.
It's also a novella, which interested me because it's fairly uncommon to see this genre of story given the shorter form.
Nevertheless, Emery manages to do a great job of world building. I had a sense of the academy itself, as well as the shops where the magical people get their wares. I had a sense of the dormitories where they lived. If it had been longer, I would have wanted more, but this taste in the introduction of this series was enough to keep me interested and make me want more.
I kinda love Em as a main character. She works incredibly well as our viewpoint into this world. She doesn't know who she is or what she wants, and in the course of this story sets about trying to find these things out. Her main motivations are to look out for her best friend and roommate Thaian, who has just recently entered into a relationship with Sonia (which gives Em many mixed feelings) and getting a job so she can pay for the birthday present she would like to give to Thaian is the main step towards this.
In the process, she meets Phineas, who is rude as heck on first meetings, but manages an apology that is engaging and heartfelt. Although he's abrasive, I found him likeable. He has his own battles to fight. I would honestly love to get a short piece of fiction from his point of view, looking at what it's like to grow up living in a house adjacent to a magical shop, and the relations he has with his brother and parents. Honestly, I'd like to see something even of Dom. That whole family interested me.
Phineas is also an interesting main character because he manages to be, or be good at, all of the things that Em struggles with. She loves the idea of working in the shop where Phineas does. That's probably the easiest thing for her to pick up. Beyond that, she's unsure about how she's going to pass transformations classes, and it just so happens that Phineas is a natural at transformations and has already done all the research in preparation for his presentation. And he just happens to be the exact kind of boy that Em wonders if she wants to be. Although we don't get a change of pronouns from she to he in this novella, it makes me wonder whether that may happen in future stories.
Oh! And this also just happens to be a story where Em experiences her first physical and emotional attraction ever, where it comes to Phineas. No labels are given, but the process of her discoveries are really kinda adorable.
It's also a novella, which interested me because it's fairly uncommon to see this genre of story given the shorter form.
Nevertheless, Emery manages to do a great job of world building. I had a sense of the academy itself, as well as the shops where the magical people get their wares. I had a sense of the dormitories where they lived. If it had been longer, I would have wanted more, but this taste in the introduction of this series was enough to keep me interested and make me want more.
I kinda love Em as a main character. She works incredibly well as our viewpoint into this world. She doesn't know who she is or what she wants, and in the course of this story sets about trying to find these things out. Her main motivations are to look out for her best friend and roommate Thaian, who has just recently entered into a relationship with Sonia (which gives Em many mixed feelings) and getting a job so she can pay for the birthday present she would like to give to Thaian is the main step towards this.
In the process, she meets Phineas, who is rude as heck on first meetings, but manages an apology that is engaging and heartfelt. Although he's abrasive, I found him likeable. He has his own battles to fight. I would honestly love to get a short piece of fiction from his point of view, looking at what it's like to grow up living in a house adjacent to a magical shop, and the relations he has with his brother and parents. Honestly, I'd like to see something even of Dom. That whole family interested me.
Phineas is also an interesting main character because he manages to be, or be good at, all of the things that Em struggles with. She loves the idea of working in the shop where Phineas does. That's probably the easiest thing for her to pick up. Beyond that, she's unsure about how she's going to pass transformations classes, and it just so happens that Phineas is a natural at transformations and has already done all the research in preparation for his presentation. And he just happens to be the exact kind of boy that Em wonders if she wants to be. Although we don't get a change of pronouns from she to he in this novella, it makes me wonder whether that may happen in future stories.
Oh! And this also just happens to be a story where Em experiences her first physical and emotional attraction ever, where it comes to Phineas. No labels are given, but the process of her discoveries are really kinda adorable.
August 22, 2018
A wonderful novella with a perfect balance of worldbuilding (a magic school and a magic part time job!) and character development, including actual questioning representation (both gender and romantic/sexual orientation!) I'm really looking forward to reading more in the setting, whether about the same characters or different ones.
July 21, 2018
OOOOOHHH MYYYY GOODDDDDD
i need more
i need more
August 3, 2018
This short was really cute, and I loved the gender and sexuality/romantic orientation exploration through the main character. Read the full review on my blog!
August 5, 2018
Enjoyed it but it felt underdeveloped--I wanted more! Also
June 13, 2019
2.5 stars
This wasn’t bad and I didn’t hate. I didn’t feel anything and that’s my main issue with the book.
Yes, it has cute urban fantasy magic college setting, it has questioning asexual and questioning trans MC Em, side f/f couple and lovely setting overall.
However, I have read it and I don’t feel a thing. It was not a memorable read.
The atmosphere reminded me of a webtoon(webcomic) Aerial Magic. If you have read Help Wanted, I highly recommend to give that webtoon a read!
This wasn’t bad and I didn’t hate. I didn’t feel anything and that’s my main issue with the book.
Yes, it has cute urban fantasy magic college setting, it has questioning asexual and questioning trans MC Em, side f/f couple and lovely setting overall.
However, I have read it and I don’t feel a thing. It was not a memorable read.
The atmosphere reminded me of a webtoon(webcomic) Aerial Magic. If you have read Help Wanted, I highly recommend to give that webtoon a read!
August 7, 2018
this was so cute i love it. love the exploration of gender and sexuality as a theme through the thoughts of the mc. aro side character. side f/f relationship. also magic in the background? so cool. definitely curious to see the next books
May 13, 2023
Nette kleine Story. Über Freundschaft, ein magisches College und eine erste Liebe.
Rep: Lesbische Charaktere, grey Ace/Aro und gender questioning.
Rep: Lesbische Charaktere, grey Ace/Aro und gender questioning.
March 5, 2020
Five words or fewer: Not a girl. Magic uni.
Em isn’t sure who she is. She’s not a girl, of that she’s at least vaguely certain. And while it’s not specified, she seems autistic. Also, she’s adorable.
Em’s having unfamiliar feelings for her colleague at the magic shop. Is this what a crush is like?
Em is eminently relatable — at least, some people will find her so. I certainly did. Her friends are too. The story isn’t long, but it feels much shorter than it is.
Note: I’m using female pronouns for Em because they’re what the author uses in the blurb and what Em uses in the story. Em may well change her mind later. And that’s okay.
Em isn’t sure who she is. She’s not a girl, of that she’s at least vaguely certain. And while it’s not specified, she seems autistic. Also, she’s adorable.
Em’s having unfamiliar feelings for her colleague at the magic shop. Is this what a crush is like?
Em is eminently relatable — at least, some people will find her so. I certainly did. Her friends are too. The story isn’t long, but it feels much shorter than it is.
Note: I’m using female pronouns for Em because they’re what the author uses in the blurb and what Em uses in the story. Em may well change her mind later. And that’s okay.
July 6, 2023
content/trigger warnings; gender dysphoria and mention of death
rep; em is questioning her gender and sexual/romantic identities, leo is aromantic, and thaian and sonia are queer ladies (labels not given).
i went into this expecting some of that good questioning content, but i just don’t feel like enough happened for me to have an opinion on it??? it’s cool that em stays questioning and without knowing her identities/labels through to the end. but that’s pretty much all i have to say about this, honestly. it needs more. of everything.
usually a two star for me is something like “mostly negative, but don’t aggressively hate it” but in this case, it’s more like “idk *shrug* okay?”
rep; em is questioning her gender and sexual/romantic identities, leo is aromantic, and thaian and sonia are queer ladies (labels not given).
i went into this expecting some of that good questioning content, but i just don’t feel like enough happened for me to have an opinion on it??? it’s cool that em stays questioning and without knowing her identities/labels through to the end. but that’s pretty much all i have to say about this, honestly. it needs more. of everything.
usually a two star for me is something like “mostly negative, but don’t aggressively hate it” but in this case, it’s more like “idk *shrug* okay?”
December 8, 2020
Super sweet, slightly magical story about a college-aged character coming to terms with being non-binary. The blurb copy says that they’re not sure they like the MMC or if they want to be the MMC, which is a pretty good description. It has a couple of lovely magic scenes, and a sweet ending.
August 3, 2025
This book focuses pretty heavily on Em and her journey as she learns magic and also questions her gender and sexuality. She has a few conversations with her friends, who are supportive but don't push her. I really liked how Leo casually covered her so her questioning status was not aired, even for friends she wasn't ready to talk to about it. It was interesting, as someone who isn't very familiar with the Questioning queer status, to find that Em most seemed to struggle with the feeling of uncertainty. It makes sense, because I think a lot of people struggle with not knowing themselves. However, I suspect that Em's gender is pretty nebulous (either trans or gender fluid) and that is contributing to her struggle to find herself.
I was really disappointed that the ending didn't feel conclusive at all. Em has realized that she's attracted to Phineas, but she hasn't fully reached an understanding of herself. I think she says once that she doesn't want to label herself, but that she was still thinking regarding pronouns. I really wanted to see her comfortable in her own skin, without that tight-skin-don't-fit-right feeling. I think recognizing her boundaries, at least to herself and Phineas, would go a long way towards that.
As far as the world building goes, I thought the meshing of magic and the college setting were pretty well fleshed out for a novella. I wanted to see more of what Em is good at, besides glamours. Her academic struggles really weren't helping with her questioning.
I was pleasantly surprised how little angst was in this book for how much questioning Em is doing. At times, this story was sweet and cozy, but I think the lack of resolution for Em really made the final effect less sweet. Primarily because of the ending, I'm not sure if I would like to continue with this series.
I was really disappointed that the ending didn't feel conclusive at all. Em has realized that she's attracted to Phineas, but she hasn't fully reached an understanding of herself. I think she says once that she doesn't want to label herself, but that she was still thinking regarding pronouns. I really wanted to see her comfortable in her own skin, without that tight-skin-don't-fit-right feeling. I think recognizing her boundaries, at least to herself and Phineas, would go a long way towards that.
As far as the world building goes, I thought the meshing of magic and the college setting were pretty well fleshed out for a novella. I wanted to see more of what Em is good at, besides glamours. Her academic struggles really weren't helping with her questioning.
I was pleasantly surprised how little angst was in this book for how much questioning Em is doing. At times, this story was sweet and cozy, but I think the lack of resolution for Em really made the final effect less sweet. Primarily because of the ending, I'm not sure if I would like to continue with this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2018
Cute but possibly lacks substance
This was a very sweet little novelette, but the characters did feel a little underdeveloped, particularly in regards to the main character's questioning of their identity - I didn't realize that they were (or had assumed they were) aro until about two thirds of the way through. I liked all the details about the magic.
This was a very sweet little novelette, but the characters did feel a little underdeveloped, particularly in regards to the main character's questioning of their identity - I didn't realize that they were (or had assumed they were) aro until about two thirds of the way through. I liked all the details about the magic.
March 12, 2021
It's so hard to rate novellas given their length but J Emery managed to make me care about the characters and get invested in their relationships in a very short time so that is impressive. The MC is trans questioning and demisexual with a very cute crush set in a magic school. I would definitely read the sequels.
August 3, 2024
Short, imaginative, and so sweet! You know it's good writing when you fall in love with the characters in only 18k words. I'd read ten billion stories set in this casually magical world!
"'I have it on good authority that I'll say yes if you ask me out. Just a thought,' Phineas whispers, leaning in."
"'I have it on good authority that I'll say yes if you ask me out. Just a thought,' Phineas whispers, leaning in."
November 26, 2024
Super cute and shorter read. Even though the main character Em doesn't really realize and reveal that they are nonbinary until near the end I was never able to see them as a girl which I have to say is PURELY vibe based because that is not something mentioned though most of the book but I guess that means especially for something so short, this book has vibes on lock 👌
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2019
This was a fun novella to read in the train this weekend. I really enjoyed the writing style and worldbuilding. I'm glad to see it's part one of a series, because I would love to read more in this universe!
April 25, 2021
A sweet, simple story about finding confidence ans finding yourself. Very magical and queer. I loved the gentle romance and friendship threaded through the story. The trans storyline was wonderful too, I appreciated how it wasn’t traumatic or painful, just a coming to terms with yourself. Lovely.
July 5, 2021
I really liked it!! I really like reading about characters questioning themselves, especially when they don't find a label for themselves. Em is trying to figure out not only her sexuality but also her gender, and I really loved the small ways it was shown.
I can't wait for the next book!!
I can't wait for the next book!!
August 7, 2025
I loved what this book gave: the writing, the self discovery, the romantic intrigue. But I need more. So much more. I understand it is a novella. But it felt less like a novella and more like an outline of a story that was unfinished. What is here is so good, but it’s not enough.
July 21, 2018
4,5/5
July 29, 2018
V cute novella, soft and sweet but with plenty of questioning and some really cool world building! I definitely need there to be more.
May 9, 2019
Loved it
I identified a lot with Em, and loved how thoughtfully written all of the characters were. Highly recommend for new Ace readers.
I identified a lot with Em, and loved how thoughtfully written all of the characters were. Highly recommend for new Ace readers.
July 13, 2019
So cute and cozy! Love all the little witchy details.
I do wish this had been a bit longer because I wanted to see more of Em and Phineas having open conversations about stuff!
I do wish this had been a bit longer because I wanted to see more of Em and Phineas having open conversations about stuff!
November 13, 2019
A very sweet romance and nicely textured world-building. Too short!! I would like more - which the series title promises I will get eventually.
June 12, 2020
Cute magic school novella about a demi enby who's just starting to figure shit out. I just loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews